Blog

NAN-DS-4

Crashes

By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Tuesday in Abakaliki ascribed fatal road crashes on Nigerian roads to over-speeding and use of second-hand tyres.

The Ebonyi Sector Commander of the commission, Mr Charles Aborchi, disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Aborchi said more than 60 per cent of fatal road crashes in the country were due to excessive speeding.

He frowned at the wanton destruction of innocent lives and goods on the highways due to avoidable road accidents.

He then appealed to motorists to apply the Highway Code on defensive driving.

The sector commander further appealed to owners of mass transit companies to install the speed limiting device in their commercial buses to regulate their drivers’ speed.

“It is vital that motorists learn to drive to stay alive by avoiding over-speeding and use of second-hand tyres.

“Over-speeding and burst tyres are known to be major causes of fatal road crashes in Nigeria and motorists should imbibe safety principles.

“Available statistics based on research carried by the organisation, reveals that no fewer than 60 per cent of road crashes in Nigeria are caused by over-speeding.

“I am appealing to both private and commercial motorists to adhere strictly to the traffic code while mass transit owners should install the speed limiting device in their vehicles.

“Lives and millions of naira worth of goods are lost every day on our roads due to road accidents, while many people have sustained permanent disabilities from such accidents,’’ Aborchi said.

The sector commander stated that the commission has embarked on drive-safe awareness campaigns at major motor parks in the city in its determined effort to ensure accident-free ember months.

He said the commission would soon embark on the enforcement of the installation of the speed limiting device in vehicles.

He, therefore, urged motorists to equip their vehicles with the device.

“We will impound vehicles that are not fitted with the speed limiter because enough awareness has been created and vehicle owners have been given enough time to comply,’’ he added.

According to him, the first phase of enforcement will begin with the 10-seater, 14-seater and 18-seater buses.

He called for partnership with the press to enhance public awareness on the dangers of over-speeding.

He further advised motorists to always use the seat belt in the while driving

“We urge motorists to shun acts that will endanger their lives and the lives of passengers on board their vehicles by applying safety standards in line with traffic rules.

“Drivers should always put the seat belts on while on the steering,’’ he added.  (NAN)

ODO /UDO/YEE

Edited by Udochukwu Ifionu/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-S-6
Golf
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Brig.-Gen. Hamisu Hassan, the Commander of 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Tuesday debunked claims by golf enthusiasts that the game was exclusively for the wealthy and senior citizens.

Hassan, an amateur golfer, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a ceremony organised in his honour as Grand Patron of the Air Assault Golf Club in Port Harcourt.

He said the game could be played and enjoyed by both the young and old, rich and low income earners, provided such individuals were fit and patient.

“There are golf kits that are affordable with which people can learn to play golf in their houses provided it is spacious.

“A full golf course is 18 holes and by the time a golfer finishes the game; the individual would have covered about eight kilometres which will keep the individual fit.

“The assumption that the game of golf is for the old only is wrong because it is a sport meant for all irrespective of their ages and class,’’ Hassan said.

The commander said that golfing was among the cheapest sports to go into when compared with other popular games in the country.

He said that quality golf kits ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 dollars, adding that fairly used kit could be purchased at a lower cost.

According to him, the sport is among the liveliest events in the world such that it could be played throughout a calendar year. (NAN)
DES/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-AE-1

Animals

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

Ibadan, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) A Veterinary Doctor, Dr Mutiu Oladele-Bukola, has advised farmers to keep their new fowls and animals in quarantine for some weeks to protect them from diseases.

Oladele-Bukola, a veterinary doctor at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, gave the advice in Ibadan on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that separating new livestock brought to the farm from others in the farm for two or three weeks would help in curbing the spread of diseases.

“These new animals should be put in pens far away from others, if the new ones happen to have diseases.

“The symptoms of the disease(s) will show before the end of the three weeks,’’ he said.

The veterinary doctor suggested that farm animals should be vaccinated at the right time to help impart an acquired immunity in them.

“With the immunity, the animals will be able to combat the invasion of the pathogenic organisms.

“Diseases are caused by the entry of pathogenic organisms into farm animals through contaminated feeds, water, faeces or close contact with animal carriers.

“To prevent diseases, one has to prevent the pathogenic organisms from entering the body of farm animals, ‘’ he said.

He also emphasised that good hygiene or sanitary measures must be taken for animals on range and those in confinement.

“Animals that are properly fed are resistant to disease attacks.

“Protein, vitamins and minerals and carbohydrates fed into animals in the right proportions prevent malnutrition diseases and give protection against parasites.

“Also, disease resistant stock should be maintained on farms, rotational grazing should be practiced so that the build up of ticks, internal parasites will be avoided.

“The infective stages of parasites should have died by the time the animals come back to where they first grazed, ‘’ he said.

According to him, sick animals should be separated from healthy ones to pens where they would be treated, to prevent the entire flock from contacting the disease.

He further explained that upon outbreak of any disease, a veterinary doctor should be contacted and be furnished with information that would enable him to diagnose the disease.

Oladele-Bukola noted that livestock diseases such as tuberculosis, a cough followed by loss of condition with discharge from nose and eyes could be transmitted to humans through milk and meat.

“There is need for us to take care of  animals because when they are healthy, they will be able to produce enough protein, other resources for consumers in and outside the country.’’ (NAN)

CC/MOL/MO
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Morayo Omolade
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Marriage
By Justina David Auta
Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday identified distance relationship as major contributor to marriage woes, resulting in extramarital affairs and increase in divorce.
The residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, noted that long distance between spouses had negative effects on marriages, children upbringing and moral decadence in society.
Aisha Umar, a mother of two, attributed her separation from her ex-husband to distance, which, she said, allowed other problems to creep into their marital life.
“My marriage was greatly affected by the fact that we stayed in different states. We only meet during weekends, public holidays or when either of us is on leave from work,’’ she said.
Umar said it got to a point that none of them felt the need to risk his or her life to be on the road for visitation.
Such an excuse gradually started affecting other areas like finance, sex life and their children’s welfare, hence they had to go their separate ways.
Similarly, Kehinde Sunday, a resident in Karu, said distance relationship made him engage in some extra-marital affairs, which, he said, nearly cost him his wife and children.
“I was residing here in Abuja, while my wife was in Ibadan due to her job.
“And it was cheaper for us to bring up our children there because of the high cost of living here in the FCT.
“I got into a relationship that was so difficult to leave as I started having feelings for the girl.
“This affair affected my relationship with my wife and children to the extent that family members had to intervene to sustain our marriage,’’ Sunday said.
Sunday said he regretted his action and advised couples to strive hard towards sustaining their marriage for the good of the children and the society.
Mrs Joy Okafor, a housewife and business woman, stressed the need for couples to always find a way of staying together to avoid problems that might affect their marital life.
“I believe, when couples stay together, it would be easy to resolve quarrels immediately, build love, respect and encourage responsible behaviour as well as satisfy their sexual urge,’’ she emphasized.
However, some residents were of the opinion that long distance had actually sustained their relationships as “the less you see and meet, the less you fight’’.
According to the residents, staying separately gives each of the spouses some privacy without feeling suffocated by each other.
For Sani Danjuma, a civil servant, distance relationship actually contributed immensely to peaceful coexistence in his home.
According to him, it increased the longing to meet after some days of separation between him and his family.
“We lived together as a family in Kaduna, until I was transferred to Abuja.
“My wife and I decided that she should remain in Kaduna with the kids, while I visit them every weekend and public holidays.
“This arrangement has worked for us with little time to disagree or quarrel over irrelevant issues and has further strengthened our relationship.
”We always look forward towards spending the little time we have in a peaceful and loving atmosphere,’’ he said.
Also, Isuwa Titus, an unmarried artisan, said staying in separate location with one’s spouse decreases the rate of quarrel between spouses as well as serves as a family planning strategy.
Titus said that “the less you see and meet, the less you fight,’’ which he said would enable couples not to feel suffocated, trailed or caged in a relationship. (NAN)
JAD/UDO/WOJ
(Edited by Udochukwu Ifionu / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-HE-2
Bond
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange recorded another feat with the admission of N7.96 billion Sterling Investment Management SPV bond.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the N7.96 billion represents series 1, 7-year at 16.50 per cent fixed rate unsecured bond under the company’s N65 billion debt issuance programme.

Speaking at the listing on Monday, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, the Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, the sponsor of the bond, said that the bank had accessed the bond market last in 2011.

Suleiman commended investors for the confidence placed in the institution by participating in the offer in spite the current volatility in the Nigerian financial market.

He also acknowledged FMDQ’s contribution to the growth of the Nigerian Debt Capital Market (DCM) by facilitating active secondary market trading.

Suleiman said that the bank was offering greater value to its esteemed investors by listing on FMDQ to enhance the liquidity of the bonds.

Ms Tumi Sekoni, FMDQ Vice-President & amp; Divisional Head, Marketing and Business Development, congratulated the issuer for successfully raising ₦7.96 billion from the Nigerian Debt Capital Market (DCM) in spite of the current economic climate.

Sekoni said that the listing would contribute to the growth of the Nigerian corporate bond market and as well renew confidence in the DCM.

She also assured all parties that FMDQ was continually refined and tailored to provide among others, a unique opportunity for issuers to raise the profiles of their issues and access a deep pool of capital.

According to her, listing on the platform will help issuers to meet their long-term funding needs even as investor confidence is promoted through the availed transparency, information disclosure, price formation and visibility.

Mr Niyi Omojola, Partner at Constant Capital Partners Ltd., the lead issuing house to the transaction, said that the company crafted a unique and innovative investment structure which enabled the Sterling SPV bond share in the same investment grade rating as Sterling Bank Plc.

Omojola said that the innovative structure protects investors by providing the Federal Government of Nigeria bonds-backed credit enhancement, while investing in the Tier II Note of Sterling Bank.

This innovation has allowed investors to benefit from an enhanced rating while providing Tier II capital to Sterling Bank PLC.

Omojola added that Stanbic IBTC, Vetiva Capital Management and SCM Capital acted as joint issuing houses to the issue.

NAN reports that FMDQ is committed to developing the Nigerian bond market through a highly efficient registration process, instituting requisite world-class standards to drive transparency, governance and credibility among others. (NAN)
JNC/FAT/PDE
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(Edited by Fatima Sule/Peter Ejiofor)

Youth council attributes crimes to unemployment

NAN-HG-4
Youth
Birnin Kebbi, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The National Youth Council (NYC) has attributed youth restiveness and crimes to rising unemployment facing majority of the youth nationwide.

Mr Abdurrahaman Manga, the North West Zonal Vice Chairman of the council, said this at a news conference in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

He said about 80 million of Nigeria’s estimated population are youth but majority of them have graduated from schools without employment.

While noting that the burden was too much on government, Manga however urged the government to fashion out modalities of addressing the menace of unemployment.

“An unemployed youth is a time bomb,’’ the NYC leader said.

He called on government at different levels to implement their budgetary allocations with a view to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth.

Manga also called on public officers to be considering the youth on political appointments and other relevant positions.

He said most of the youth were engaged in crimes like insurgency, drug abuse, cattle rustling, kidnapping and vandalism of national assets because of unemployment.

The NYC vice chairman identified anger, frustration, unemployment and poverty as some of the factors responsible for high rate of crimes among the youth.

He called on the legislature to enact a law that would check the issue of political violence as according to him some politicians were using the youth as cannon powder to foment crimes.

But Manga commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari on his efforts at curtailing corruption and insurgency, saying “we should continue to pray for his success’’.

Besides, the youth leader appealed to clergymen to avoid hate preaching, promoting religious sentiments and intensify efforts on issues that would solidify the unity and tranquility of the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NYC conducted elections into its various elective offices nationwide in August this year. (NAN)
BKD/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-34
Aviation
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Mr Isaac Balami, President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has called on the Federal Government to translate policy plans into action to rescue the nation’s aviation sector.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, Balami, said that government should provide an enabling environment for airlines to operate competitively and profitably.

He said that aviation was critical to the development of the country, urging the government to see it as its priority by providing the necessary infrastructure support for the industry.

According to him, aviation is expensive and cost intensive but the sector is in bad shape in Nigeria because an airline needs millions of dollar for C-Check, D-Check, insurance and other things.

“The industry itself is under fire and the government needs to wake up, be aggressive in ensuring that there is an enabling environment for local carriers.

“Now that some foreign airlines have even stopped or have reduced their frequency, I think that it would have been nice to have one or two airlines to compete on that route.

“The industry before now has been bastardised because there is no clear direction and the challenge we are having is that aviation is one industry that we don’t have maintenance facility.

“At the last stakeholders meeting, the minister was able to show us what he is doing and the effort he has made in terms of security in the airports which is very important.

“He has also assured us that the government would create an enabling environment that will help us to compete favourably and we are looking up to it because people are losing jobs.

“Local operators are frustrated and people cannot even trust any airline to book their flights now and go on time because of fuel and other challenges,’’ he said.

The NAAPE president said the scarcity and high cost of getting aviation fuel was another major challenge confronting the industry, adding that the domestic carriers pay as much as N200 per litre to get it.

He said the structure that would make airline operate profitably were not on ground in the country.

According to him, even the national carrier being canvassed by the government cannot work well under this condition; it cannot survive because the environment is too hostile.

Balami also disclosed that his union had no issue against the planned concession of four major airports in the country, adding that NAAPE supported whatever programme that would not lead to job loss.

“We should know that aviation is about creating jobs and if aviation is about job creation, the concession should not bring about job loss.

“It is obvious that government does not have the money to put in place a first class airport like Heathrow Airport and Dubai Airport, which is why we are in support of the concession arrangement.

“We are advocating that the process should be done transparently and openly,’’ he said.
OYS/AOS/MO
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Morayo Omolade

NAN-H-13
Recruitment
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has urged the management of the organisation to ensure that its ongoing recruitment exercise produce the right people.

The President of the asssociation, Mr Benson Adegbeyeni, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said it was important that the exercise was transparent and not politicised in order to prevent the employment of unproductive people who would not add value to the organisation.

“We commend the management for the ongoing recruitment and we strongly believe it is going to solve the problem of under-staffing in the organisation.

“However, we advise the management to ensure the whole process is transparent and not politicised so that we can get the real people that can drive change for the organisation.

“A situation where politicians and others impose unqualified people on the management would not augur well for the future of the organisation.

“We support the succession plan of the management and we hope it will be done rightly,’’ NAN quotes Adegbeyeni as saying.

He also commended the management for addressing issues surrounding the promotion of workers, adding that the move would motivate workers to do their best.

NAN reports that NPA had recently invited applications for some vacant positions, which were mostly for the Harbour Department of the organisation. (NAN)
BHB/BOLA/AJA
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(Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-HG-9
Conference
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) An NGO, Women International Networking (WIN), is set to launch the first women international networking conference in the FCT.

The conference is aimed at empowering women and raise global leaders.

Kristin Engvig, the founder of the organisation said this in a signed statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, in Abuja.

He said the conference, with the theme: `Leading the Way’ would hold on Nov.  22 to 24.

According to Engvig, the conference is aimed at empowering women and advancing the organisations they lead.

He said:“at WIN, we believe that change must happen in a pattern where feminine values such as compassion, empathy, caring, win-win approaches to negotiate and sharing are lead roles.

“Our programme is carefully designed to inform participants of the realities faced by leaders working in different business markets, sectors and countries in relation to themselves.

“Our vision is to model a global leader as we empower, develop and connect leaders in a feminine, authentic and global way through plenary sessions, practical workshops, coaching among others,’’ he said.

Engvig said the conference would attract and engage the best talent, actively working to create an inclusive organisation and committed to developing women in leadership.

He said the conference was co-organised in Nigeria by Women International Networking Conference Switzerland in partnership with Human Resource Working Partners, (HURWORPS) and would attract over 500 participants. (NAN)

TIM/HS/AEA
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Edited by Halima Sheji/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-12
Reconstruction
By Mohammed Mamman
Ngurbuwa (Yobe), Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, Yobe Deputy Governor and Chairman Committee on Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, said government embarked on reconstruction of public structures to fast track resettlement in liberated communities.

Aliyu said this on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen in Ngurbuwa and distributing food items to returnee communities.

He said government had reconstructed the Katarko bridge blown off by the Boko Haram insurgents to reconnect Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas with other parts of the state.

The deputy governor said work had also commenced on the 77 km Damaturu-Magza road linking Yobe and Southern Borno, Adamawa and Gombe States.

“We appreciate the peace and security across the state and government is working hard to rebuild schools, healthcare facilities, roads and bridges destroyed in these areas,’’ he said.

Aliyu said Yobe Government was partnering with the Dangote Foundation to rebuild health facilities destroyed in Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas.

“The Dangote Foundation, has in addition to its contribution to victims of insurgency, offered to assist the state to rebuild the destroyed health facilities,’’ he said.

The deputy governor said the foundation donated 10 trucks of food items comprising 1,200 bags of rice; 6,000 cartons of Spaghetti; 6,000 cartons of noodles; 3,000 bundles of sugar; 2,250 bags of salt; and 3,000 cartons of food seasoning for distribution to IDPs.

Aliyu said the resettlement process was capital intensive and solicited for assistance from governments, Non-Governmental Organisations and humanitarian agencies to resettle and rehabilitate the IDPs. (NAN)
MM/AJA
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(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi)