Blog

NAN-S-14
Salaries
By Aderonke Ojediran-Lawal
Lagos, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) Ex-international, Victor Agali, has appealed to the League Management Company (LMC) to urgently look into the non-payment of salaries by clubs as the 2016 /2017 season approaches.

Agali, who plied his trade with Olympique Marseilles of France and Hansa Rostock FC of Germany, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the non-payment of salaries is demoralising to players.

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“I have heard a lot of stories of professional league clubs owing five months, six months.

“It’s uncalled for; it’s detrimental to the players’ health; it’s detrimental to the players’ future.

“The league organisers should look into that and ensure that these players get what they are promised at the end of each month.

“And if it exceeds three months, a proper disciplinary action should be taken against those clubs.

“We don’t need to have 18 teams (in the league).

“If it’s 12 serious teams that we have, let us keep them and then let our league be organised.’’

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OAF /ERO/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Emmanuel Yashim
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No casualties from communal clash says Police

NAN-H-34
Crisis
Ikot Abasi (Akwa Ibom), Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Akwa Ibom Police Command has refuted claims that its personnel deployed to quell the communal clash between Ikot Akpan Udo and Amazaba communities suffered casualties.

“No policeman sustained injury during the crisis,’’ the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Cordelia Nwawe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

“None of the personnel was injured. All our personnel performed their duties professionally. There is high police visibility and peace has returned to the area”.

Nwawe noted that the policemen were professional in quelling the crisis that resurfaced on Nov 21 after some respite.

Rumours were rife that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ikot Abasi Division, SP Inyang Abia and seven others were wounded as a result of the sporadic gunshots fired during the crisis.

The people of Amazaba in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area and Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi LG a neighbouring community had been feuding intermittently over boundary dispute.

Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi, Edidem Udo Ntukobom, has sued for peace, enjoining the two communities to live in peace as brothers.

Ntukobom, then, appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Government to come to the rescue of the people of the area to avoid further escalation of the conflict.

He pleaded with government to evolve measures aimed at forestalling the lingering crisis noting, that the hardship of the people be cushioned.

The Transition Chairman of Ikot Abasi LG, Mr Ubong Uquang, also urged government to release the White Paper on the crisis.

Uquang noted that the unfortunate development had created serious disaffection among the two communities that once lived in harmony.

He enjoined the people of Ikot Akpan Udo to remain calm as government would not hesitate to deal decisively with the perpetrators, to serve as deterrent to others. (NAN)
SDB/BB/TON
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NAN-H-49

Malpractice

By Kate Obande

Abuja, Nov.23, 2016 (NAN) The Exam Ethics Marshal International (EEMI) a non-governmental organization, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) to set up a Special Task Force on examination malpractice to identify and punish culprits.

Chairman of the organization, Mr Ike Onyechere, made the suggestion in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting a paper during an anti-corruption sensitisation workshop for examination bodies, organised by ICPC.

Onyechere said that the taskforce was necessary to the rampant cases of examination malpractice as it would identify culprits with a view to prosecuting and banning them from further participation in Nigerian exams.

He noted that 10 million results had been cancelled in Nigeria due to malpractices, 6,500 ‘magic’ centres uncovered and 10,000 rogue exam supervisors reported, yet nobody had been prosecuted.

“Results of 10 million candidates in post-primary exit and tertiary institutions admission examinations have been cancelled between 1996 and 2016, yet nothing happened.

“Over 10,000 principals, supervisors, teachers and invigilators as well as other administrators have been announced to abet and aid exam malpractice.

“Their identities are however treated as top secrets, foreclosing any efforts at bringing them to justice as there is no record of prosecution and conviction of law court of any of the kingpins.

“Unless and until these embedded exam fraud syndicate members are identified, removed and brought to justice, the process of examination, admission and training, will continue to be hopelessly criminalised,’’ Onyechere said.

He also advised that an exam malpractice desk be established in the department of education in the commission to drive the process of collecting and collating information relating to exam malpractices.

He added that for corruption to be effectively addressed in the education sector, examination boards should expose and publish names of rogue exam administrators to deter others from such practice.

The chairman said that it was imperative for examination boards to regularly screen their employees, supervisors and centres, to weed out embedded members of exam fraud syndicates.

In her address, Mrs Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanthe, Registrar, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), also called for the prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of exam malpractice.

She defined examination as a tool used in measuring the proficiency in knowledge and skills possessed by candidates.

Isiugo-Abanthe added that exam malpractice in Nigeria was a cankerworm that posed a threat to authenticity of educational qualifications.

“Examination malpractice is any form of deliberate, dishonest or unethical deed, contrary to official examination rules and regulations, which make a candidate, have an unfair advantage or disadvantage over others.

“It is illegal and can be perpetrated by an individual or group,’’ she said.

The Registrar attributed the causes of exam malpractice to moral decadence, undue emphasis on examination results and certificates, as well as the quest for material wealth.

She added that incessant strike by academic staff which interrupted school programme was a major contributing factor to malpractices, explaining that most times, students just returned to school after strike and entered exam halls.(NAN)

KTE/ASH/ASH

NAN-H-65
Suspension
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had suspended the licences of six petrol stations in some border communities of Kwara due to smuggling activities.
The state Controller of Operations, Philips Salvation, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin at the Media Parliament, a programme organised by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Salvation said that the border route had become a window for smuggling of goods meant for the South-West.
“This is not peculiar to petroleum products alone. It applies to all other goods meant for the South-West and Kwara.
“We are aware of this ugly development and DPR will not relent in bringing sanity to the sector,” he said.
He, however, noted that the new price regime in the petroleum sector had reduced the rate of smuggling activities in the area.
According to him, government is aware of the illegal activities and it is working tirelessly to curb the menace.
The DPR boss identified total deregulation of the downstream sector as the permanent solution to the illegal activities in the area. (NAN)
AUO/MAS/PAD
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Edited by Moses Solanke, Peter Dada

NAN-S-11
Sponsorship
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Nov. 23, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, says the ministry will do everything possible to restore the confidence of corporate bodies and multinationals on sports sponsorship.

Dalung made the assertion in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Anibeze on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement said there was need to correct the misgivings on sports sponsorship funds to sports federations and other sports organisations.

It said the minister made the promise when he visited the Chief Executive of Total Upstream Nigeria Companies, Mr Nicolas Terraz, adding that the ministry was embarking on some major reforms.

It noted that the ministry would work with corporate sponsors to supervise and monitor all sports sponsorship funds and grants to ensure they were used for the purpose.

The statement said minister thanked the Total Group for the 15 million dollars invested in African youths through the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over eight years.

“That is an evidence that Total Group recognises that massive talents  abound in Africa and appreciates the role sports can play in engaging and empowering youths.

“It can also help in solving the problems of poverty and crime and the reckless immigration journeys to Europe by our youths.

“Although Nigeria did not qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, we have exciting young talents like Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and others who are world class players.

“This will make Nigeria get global attention at the World Cup in no distant future. So, we hope that this sponsorship will trickle down to Nigeria,’’ the statement said.

“It is important to perform well at international competitions but most importantly, is to invest and develop structures and systems to harness and nurture the talents that abound in Nigeria.

“To become world class stars who will create wealth for themselves and the nation. The more sports talents we can produce and export the better for us.’’

The statement said that Terraz had thanked the minister for the visit and said he agreed with him on the need to use sports to solve problems of poverty, crime and immigration.

“Total has been very supportive of sports programmes and creative activities in Nigeria, especially in our host communities and areas with youth restiveness across the nation.

“We shall continue to do more to support sports in the country,’’ the statement quoted the managing director as promising. (NAN)
DE/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

ONDO 2016: Public opinion poll on election fraudulent, says APC

NAN-H-31
APC
By Tayo Ikujuni
Akure, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has described the report of a recent public opinion poll on the forthcoming governorship election in the state as fraudulent and misleading.

The APC said that the report of the poll, which was widely reported in a national newspaper, was purportedly conducted by an unknown company in Lagos.

Its Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, said in a statement in Akure on Wednesday that the result of the poll reported in  the newspaper of Nov. 19 with the caption “Opinion poll tips Oke to win” was an attempt to mislead the public.

Adesanya said that the newspaper failed to provide the details of the organisation that allegedly conducted the “fake opinion poll.’’

“It was fictitious as there was no opinion poll conducted anywhere in Ondo State as reported by the newspaper.

“It is not the true reflection of the wishes of Ondo State people, but the opinion of a few individuals who are promoters and financiers of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

“It is unfortunate that the newspaper could be used for an unprofessional job.

“In any case, in the recent past, the newspaper’s opinions have largely been incorrect and inconsistent with the reality and the wishes of the people.

“It is on records that the newspaper’s opinion was that Hilary Clinton will defeat Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America.

“That Pastor Eze Iyamu will defeat Godwin Obaseki to become the Governor of Edo State and also that Dr Segun Abraham will emerge in the Ondo APC Party’s primary held on Sept. 3.

“None of these and many others came to reality.

“We are not perturbed by whatever induced opinion written by a few hands that is portrayed as the Ondo State peoples’ opinions.

“The fake and conjured media prediction is to satisfy ownership interest.

“It is the people of Ondo State that will decide who will be their next governor and not subjective opinion poll or prediction done in Lagos to justify the huge financial investment of some people.’’ he said. (NAN)
IKU/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-52
Contract
Dutse, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government has awarded a N1.3 billion contract under a joint project of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

A statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim in Dutse, explained that the money would be provided by the state government as matching grant for the second, third and fourth quarter of 2014 intervention projects.

According to the statement, the fund would be used for the construction and rehabilitation of primary and junior secondary schools across the state.

It added that classroom furniture would also be purchased and supplied to schools.

The statement noted that the contract was part of the present administration’s commitment under Gov. Muhammad Badaru to develop and improve facilities in schools across the state. (NAN)
MS/OIF/IS

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ismail Abdulaziz

NASEMA to train stakeholders on conflict resolution
NAN-HG-6
Training
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Lafia, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) says it will train community leaders and other stakeholders on conflict resolution strategies.

Mr Usman Ahmed, Acting Director, Relief and Operation of the agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lafia that the training would be done in collaboration with state coordinating unit of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

He said the expected stakeholders include directors of social services from the 13 local government areas of the state, NGOs, religious and community leaders as well as security agencies.

He explained that the training would be anchored on mediation and negotiation between parties in conflict as well as address the incessant farmer and herdsmen clashes in the state.

Ahmed pointed out that given the right training, the stakeholders, who were closest to the people in the rural areas, stood the better chance of resolving conflict before it escalated into full blown crisis.

He said the workshop would hold on Tuesday (Nov. 29) in Awe local government area  of the state. (NAN)
BAB/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-AE-9
Water
Dutse, Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government on Wednesday approved N392.8 million contract for various water projects across the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, said this after
the State Executive Council’s meeting in Dutse.

Ibrahim explained that N137.5 million was approved for the rehabilitation of Ringim Water Supply Scheme in Ringim Local Government Area of the state.

He said that another N178.6 million contract would be awarded for the construction of 29
solar-powered water supply schemes across the state.

According to him, N76.7 million has been earmarked for the construction of 140 hand pumps in various villages and towns.

He noted that all the projects would be executed and supervised by Ministry of Water Resources.

The commissioner added that the present administration in the state under the leadership of
Gov. Muhammad Badaru was committed to providing potable water for the people. (NAN)
MS/OSA/HA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-33

Dam

By Alex Enebeli
Mpu (Enugu State), Nov. 23, 2016 (NAN) A team of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) monitoring federal projects in Enugu State has been jolted over the shoddy work carried out at the N7.9 billion Ivo Dam project at Mpu in Enugu State.

The dam was sited at Mpu in the Aninri Local Government Area, to generate water for communities in the area as well for communities in the neighbouring Ebonyi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that communities in Aninri Local Government Area have no access to portable water over the years.

The area was also guinea worm endemic until the Jimmy Carter Foundation came to the rescue a few years ago.

The building of the Ivo Dam was assigned to an indigenous company, Anbeez Service Ltd. since 2009.

The FRC team was disappointed when it discovered that only 60 per cent work had been carried out at the site, in spite of the huge amount spent so far on the project.

It was also discovered that the spillway structure of the dam had collapsed, exposing the weakness of the entire structure.

The leader of the FRC team, Mr Sampson Eletno, blamed the collapse of the structure on
the failure of the contractor to use specified and approved materials.

He told the contractor to rectify the anomalies before the next visit of the FRC, pointing out that the team would be visiting again to ensure a good job.

“This is not a threat but the contractor will be arrested if the error is not corrected when the commission visits again.”

Eletno warned the contractor against using fake materials in executing the multi-billion-naira project, pointing out that doing shoddy work could result to tragedy.

The team leader, however, lauded Setraco Nigeria Ltd. for the quality of its work on the Oji-Achi, Mmaku-Awgu, Ndiagbor-Mpu-Akaeze and Isiagu roads even when government had not paid for the work.

Eletno, however, appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that the project was captured in the 2017 budget to ensure payment of the contractor.

He berated Arab Contractors for abandoning the Ozalla-Akpugo-Amagunze road.

“Very soon our people will be coming home for Christmas and we do not want this road to be a nightmare for them,” the team leader stated.

The Site Engineer of Anbeez Services, Mr Chijoke Ogbonna, blamed heavy rainfall for the collapse of the base structure of the Ivo Dam, assuring that lapses would be corrected.

“It is better that the error occurred now so that we take corrections,” he said.

Ogbonna said that the dam would be ready for inauguration next June.

Similarly, the Deputy Manager of Arab Contractors Ltd., Mr Hassan Kassem, said the company would return to work as soon as money was paid to the company.

He said that government owed the company to the tune of over one billion naira. (NAN)
AAE/MNA/SN

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Silas Nwoha