Blog

NAN-ELS-8
Movie
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Fast-rising Yoruba actress, Adekemi Taofeek, on Tuesday stressed that if an actor does not strive to become a producer in the movie industry, he or she will never gain the required respect and reward.

Taofeek took to the social media platform, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and said that the new trend in the industry was to become a producer, so as to be able to achieve some respect.

“If you don’t produce, you will never gain good respect from movie producers.

“Secondly, it is a good way to showcase your talent because you are able to give yourself the role you desire, which you may not be able to get from any other producer.

“In most cases, as an upcoming actor, you do not get more than five scenes from other producers. And there are the financial matters too,’’ she said.

Taofeek, who just released her latest movie titled Babymama, said being a producer was a great way of doing a role you love to do, because other producers may not give you the roles you desire.

She also noted that every Yoruba actor was a producer, including the English movie sector as well, which has also followed the trend.

NAN reports that Babymama, being the second movie produced by the enterprising actress, after her first which was Tibi Tire.

She is set to do her third titled, ‘Aaye Mi. (NAN)
BAG/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

NAN-H-98
Cities
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, a renowned Nigerian fashion designer, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to create fashion hub and special cities to boost the development of garment industry.

She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

She said that the industry possessed potential to grow the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
if adequately harnessed.

She added that “if government can create fashion hubs and special cities like it is done in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India, it will help to grow the industry.

“Aba in Imo can become like the garment hub of Nigeria, if government invests in it.

“Regular power supply, technical improvement, training and encouragement of engineers to manufacture sewing machines and creative ideas will enhance productivity in the garment
industry,’’ she suggested.

She, however, commended government for doing so much to diversify the economy and bring it out of recession, noting that “but we will need a lot more to get the fashion industry to where it needs to be.

“Nigeria is a country with over 170 million people; imagine if people dress in Nigeria’s local attire,
it will create jobs and save us money and we can export to boost our GDP and earn foreign exchange.

“The fashion industry is a huge deal for Nigeria if only we can look inward and get the most out
of it.”

Amos-Tafiri said that the attitude of craving for foreign goods was impacting negatively on the country’s local content.

She, therefore, urged government to encourage Nigerians to patronise made in Nigeria products.

The fashion designer listed some of the challenges confronting the industry to include poor technical skill and the lack of direction.

She said there was need for stakeholders in the fashion industry to improve on their end-products to meet international standard.

“Nigerians love buying quality things from foreign countries and that kills local industries.

“That is why the garment industry is not growing, and textile factories are folding up.

It would be recalled that Kuddus Kolawole, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) recently said that the nation’s fashion industry was worth about N1.55 trillion and should attract investors “because it is juicy”. (NAN)
OOG/AIB/HA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-HG-14
Nets
Bauchi,Nov.22,2016 (NAN) The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) said it would distribute 56,120 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLIN) across 340 health facilities.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Mansur Dada, stated this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the exercise in Bauchi.

According to Dada, the distribution is a collaboration between the state Government, the National Malaria Elimination Initiative and Global funds in its continuous efforts to combat malaria.

“Any pregnant woman that attends her first antenatal clinic(CAN) will be given one LLMN and any child that completes `penta’ 3 of the routine immunisation after 14 weeks will also be given one.

“The beneficiaries can access the commodity in either primary health facility or General Hospitals in the state,’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agency has also distributed over one million doses of anti-malaria drugs free to residents to control the disease. (NAN)
AE/EAL/AMY

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-AE-7
Cassava

By Angela Atabo
Abuja Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) said the use of cassava leaves as livestock feed would reduce crop farmers/herdsmen clashes in the country.
The acting Executive Director of ARMTI, Dr Olufemi Oladunni, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that unlocking the potentialities of cassava leaves in the production of livestock feed would be a massive step forward in the sector.
Oladunni said it was unfortunate that the conflict between farmers and herdsmen had caused so much losses that could have been avoided if stakeholders in the sector had considered the other potentialities of the cassava plant.
“The Minister of Agriculture mandated the institute to carry out a research on cassava to identify the benefits of using cassava leaves as livestock feed and to develop the cassava leaf value chain.
“The benefits of cassava leaves are enormous in terms of improving our livestock production mainly in the area of more proteins for our animals especially the ruminant ones.
“The problem on ground is how to feed the cattle.

“That is why we have been having crisis; the herdsman wants to feed his animals with plants and on the other hand, the crop farmer is the owner of that resource.

“How do we balance the two?
“One of the ways is the cassava lifting we are trying to advocate.

“Over time, we have neglected the other components of cassava as a crop especially the leaves that have been wasting away.’’
Oladunni said cassava leaves could serve as a good source of revenue for a crop farmer and a provider of jobs.
He said the institute would hold a seminar on Nov. 24 to rub minds and see how cassava could be eaten as hay.
He said the institute would also propose a livestock feed mill where such feed could be packaged and sold in markets.
“Nigeria has not focused on it as a nation and that is why we are bringing it to the fore to see how we can develop it as a value chain and as a source of employment.
“Generating a new feed resource for livestock would lead to a reduction in the spate of conflict between crop farmers and herdsmen, these are the areas the seminar will touch on,’’ he said.
Prof. Dolapo Lufadeju, the Managing Director, Lufarmco Investment, a consultant to the institute, said Nigeria had not been able to move from pastorialism to domesticating cattle due to lack of feed.
Lufadeju said pastorialaism had been all over the world especially in countries such as  the U.K, America, and Russia in time past.

He said it was after such countries had developed their livestock industry into a business that they began to domesticate cattle.
He said they succeeded because they had all the feed their cattle needed.
“Here we don’t have anything on which our cattle are based upon and development is fast catching up with the system of pastorialism.

“That is the reason for the conflict between farmers and herdsmen.
“What we are looking at is a major cattle industry that needs to be developed as a business.

“Crop production has advanced, but nothing has happened in terms of development of livestock in this country,’’ he added. (NAN)
ATAB/DO/YEE

Edited by David Onilede/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-90
Ranches
By Maureen Okon
Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Federal government has been urged to assist in providing self-sufficient ranches for pastoralists to prevent conflict between farmers and herdsmen.

Mr  Benson Abounu, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, on Tuesday in Abuja, disclosed this at the end of  the organisation’s“Mercy Corps”, four year initiative programme.

The programme, tagged, “Conciliation in Nigeria through Community-Based Conflict Management and Cooperative use of Resources (CONCUR) stakeholders forum”, sponsored by the UKAid and Mercy Corps.

He said government must come out with a clear cut idea to  ensure that laws are made and also not broken.

“As far as we are concern, solving this conflict between herdsmen and farmers, government need to demarcate  places  for animals to be reared.

“ The name for such a place is called ranch .It is not a one day affair, because it is not possible to develop ranches over night and it is not possible to develop ranches that would be self sufficient for this country even in the next 10 years,”he said.

He admits that, “ It’s going to take time, but government must sit down and work out a policy, to put up the designs, do the drawings and demarcate the areas.
“Because our animals move from one place to another , fatigue sets in and you see them losing weight.

“The government must come in with clear cut ideas and ensure that laws are made and those laws are not broken,’’ he said.

He explained that government must therefore bring about an end to insecurity coming from the herdsmen and the farmers.

“Since it concerns both parties, we cannot blame it on one side, because both sides are guilty.
“But for now , government  has to do something even if it means securing a temporary grazing place where it would be possible for pastoralists to graze,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Ms Iveta Ouvry, Country Director, Mercy Corps Nigeria , said that since its inception , the organisation had been able to address the pastoralist, farmer’s conflict through negotiation.

According to her, since the opening of Mercy Corps in 2012 , it now has branches in four states of Nigeria; namely Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Benue.
“We have been able to address sources of conflict through strengthening social and economic ties at the community level, by integrating economic growth,  governance and resource management into the reconciliation process.

“We also ensure that the resulting peace is sustainable,’’ Ouvry added. (NAN)

Edited by David Onilede/ Julius Enehikhuere
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NAN-H-93
Assault
By Blessing Ibegbu
Mararaba (Nasarawa State), Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court on Tuesday granted N100,000 bail to a 67-year-old farmer, Geoffery Akuluku, who allegedly assaulted a police officer.

thereby obstructing and resisting arrest.

The Area Court Judge, Albert Maga, also ordered the defendant to produce one surety in like sum.

Maga said that the surety must own a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and must have
a national identity card.

He added that “if the defendant fails to meet the bail terms before the next adjourned date, he will be remanded in Keffi prison.”

The defendant, who resides at Toko Road, Yelwa village, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, is facing a three-count charge of criminal intimidation, assault and arrest obstruction.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Friday Adaji, had told the court that the farmer committed the offence
on Nov. 11 in Yelwa village, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

Adaji said Akuluku and his wife, Bridget, were reported to have obstructed and resisted the police from performing their lawful duty.

He added that a team of police detectives from  ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, led by Sgt. Nengak Tibin were sent to invite the defendant to answer an allegation levelled against him.

The prosecutor said “Akuluku used cutlass and wood to threaten the police, but was overpowered and brought to the station along with a dane gun found in his room.

“After series of questioning, it was discovered that the defendant had no proper permit for the
dane gun.”

Adaji said the offence was punishable under sections 171 and 265 of the Penal Code.

Akuluku had pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned until Dec. 2 for further hearing.
(NAN)
BLE/ORO/HA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-92
Patience
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Tuesday, refused to restrain a brother judge from taking steps in relation to the frozen 15.5 million dollars allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan.

Idris declined an application by counsel to the former first lady, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), who sought an order to restrain Justice Babs Kuewumi from taking further steps on the frozen sum.

Adedipe had urged the court to stop  Kuewumi from making any forfeiture orders, in respect of the said sum, which was frozen by the EFCC, until the determination of an interlocutory application on the subject.

It will be recalled that Jonathan had instituted a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC, claiming the sum of 200 million dollars as damages for inconveniences suffered.

In her suit, she had joined the EFCC, Skye Bank plc, and a former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo Dudafa as respondents.

Also joined in the suit are four companies namely: Pluto Property Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

It will be recalled also that Dudafa was charged alongside the four companies before Justice Kuewumi, on 15 counts of money laundering.

Representatives of the four companies, which the EFCC claimed were used by Dudafa to launder the said  money, had all pleaded guilty to the offences.

The said 15.5 million dollars, is the same sum which the former first lady claims belongs to her as sole signatory to the accounts of the companies.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Justice Idris acknowledged a letter from counsel representing Skye Bank, Mr Lanre Ogunlesi, stating that he was indisposed and could not attend the court.

The judge added that since Ogunlesi has requested for a new date to enable him appear in court, the hearing of the application on notice can not proceed.

Meanwhile, before the court could adjourned the case, Adedipe had urged the judge to direct the EFCC not to tamper with the subject matter of the case pending the hearing of the interlocutory application.

In response, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that the accounts which housed the money had been frozen.

He urged the court to dismiss the application with a “wave of hand”; adding that there was already an order of court convicting four defendants for warehousing proceeds of crime.

In a short ruling, Justice Idris held that he could not go into the merits or demerits of the interlocutory application, until it is moved.

He ordered accelerated hearing of the case and said that he could  not make any order that will be prejudicial to the outcome of the main suit.

He consequently, adjourned the case to Dec. 7 for hearing of the main application.

In her suit, Jonathan is urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, and restraining the EFCC and it’s agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts. (NAN)
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Yusuf Zango

NAN-H-87

Transport

By Ifeoma Aka

Enugu, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) is to re-launch operations next year to reap from the increasing patronage on its routes.

The General Manager of the company, Mr Bob Itanyi, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.

Itanyi said the company had improved its fleet to meet the demand of its customers.

The manager said the company was currently engaging in franchising, whereby people could use the company’s brand name to operate.

He said that the company would surmount its challenges with the addition of more vehicles to its fleet.

“The patronage is there. I do not agree with the insinuation that people prefer private transport outfits to state transport outfits.

“If you look at the history of mass transit in Nigeria, you will agree with me that the state transit pioneered in mass transit services in Nigeria.

“Entraco is an offshoot of TRACAS (Transport Corporation of Anambra State) and if you go through the history you will agree with me that TRACAS pioneered mass transit.

“When states were created, Anambra had to move, Enugu State had to maintain the transport outfit and now re- branded it Entraco.

“Ever since then, we have been doing a lot in moving our people in both near and far distances,’’ he said.

Itanyi said that the company had resorted to self- help because of the dwindling resources of the government and the cost of borrowing from banks.

The general manager explained that the company’s approach was to procure buses to re-launch operations. (NAN)
IFO/MNA/SN

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Silas Nwoha

NAN-AE-6

MoU

Emmanuel Antswen

Makurdi, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Benue Government and Humanitarian Environmental Project Company (HEPC) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth €400 million for the mechanisation of agriculture in the state.

Speaking during the ceremony at the People’s House in Makurdi, Mr Wim Belt, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HEPC, said the project would provide 5,000 jobs and education to the local populace.

According to Belt, the company intends to introduced an international advanced system of agriculture value chain by customising it to suit the state.

He further explained that the company would also build fruit and wine factories, abattoirs, clinics, houses and other infrastructure in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue Government, Prof. Denis Ityavyar, the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, assured the investors of the government’s commitment to the success of the MoU.

Ityavyar also disclosed that the government had already approved land for the company’s  housing project.

He also assured the delegation from HEPC of adequate security. (NAN)

AEB/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-H-89
E-libraries
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Nov.  22, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Michael Afolabi, Registrar, Librarian’s Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), has called on the Federal Government to establish e-libraries in government’s institutions in the country.

Afolabi made the call on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of national workshop on e-Library for Library and Information Science Professionals at the University of Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop was “E-library Services: A Redefinition of Library and Information Services in an Era of Change’’.

The registrar noted that quality change was required in every aspect of Nigerian economy for the nation to achieve meaningful development.

He said that e-library would open the widow of opportunities to Nigerians to have seamless access to deluge of information that would provide them life-long learning skills to improve their quality of life in an information age.

“E-libraries will help societies to make information more available, raise its quality and increase its diversity.

“It will also make research easier for scholars and ease the budget pressure on libraries and solve the urgent preservation problems.

“We are determined to raise the stakes of librarianship higher than it is now and we are looking at taking advantages of the social media to provide effective library services to our clients,’’ Afolabi said.

He said that the council as an agency of the Federal Government had been living up to its mandate.

According to him, within the last seven years the council has continued to offer its stewardship to the profession to ensure  quality service delivery and to re-position the library sector for national development.

Afolabi said that the workshop would equip librarians with the necessary skills to set up and manage electronic libraries, saying that modern library practices involved infusion of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

He urged corporate organisations to consider donating standard e-libraries to communities and schools as an attempt to bridge the digital divide in the country.

Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, called for synergy between the library profession and other professions.

Olayinka, who was represented by Prof. Emilolorun Aiyelari,  the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, University of Ibadan, said that e-library was essential in this era for effective development. (NAN)
SYS/OSA/GY
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Grace Yussuf