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Yola, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) A Non Governmental Organisation, Bindo Economic and Social Transformation, has distributed water pump machines, seedlings and fertiliser to more than 2,000 dry season farmers, mostly Internally Displaced Persons in Adamawa.

Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, the Director-General of the organisation, made this disclosure on Saturday while distributing the equipment in Jimeta, the headquarters of Yola North Local Government Area of the state.

Lawal explained that the distribution targeted mostly vulnerable farmers from the areas affected by insurgency in order to revive and improve their farming activities and reduce poverty among the populace.

“Today, we are presenting agricultural inputs to more than 2,000 dry season farmers, who were selected from the areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency,” he said.

Lawal said the benefiting council areas included, Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Song and Hong.

He said that the organisation provided the equipment for the beneficiaries free, even as  agricultural extension workers had been engaged to assist the farmers.

The farmers also received seedlings such as tomato, onion, okro and pepper while each farmer got bags of fertiliser and insecticide.

According to the Director-General, the organisation is to expand its activities to cover rural communities and assist women groups in agriculture.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Emanuel Tizhi from Michika council area, thanked the organisation for the gesture. (NAN)

AMA/ORO/YEMI

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

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Fitness
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday said physical fitness among military personnel was key to their effective and efficient service delivery.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made the statement while briefing newsmen at the end of NAF Fourth Quarter Route March, in Abuja.

Abubakar was represented by AVM Ahmed Iya, Chief of Training/Operations, Air Force Headquarters, Abuja.

“I thank God for having a successful route march devoid of any casualty. I am particularly happy that we have had all the scheduled route march OF 2016 successful.

“It is my desire therefore, to continue to have more of the exercise in the coming year,” he said.

The CAS promised to do everything humanly possible to improve the wellbeing of NAF personnel to improve their lives.

He also promised to take sporting activities to greater heights in the service.

“Especially in this period that requires vigilance, alertness and general wellness of personnel.

“I congratulate you all for putting up a brilliant performance during the combat games in Kaduna and the just-concluded NAF games in Katsina, “Tagged Katsina 2016’’.

“I am happy to know that Hedquarter NAF came first and second respectively in the aforementioned event,’’ Abubakar said.

He, therefore, urged the personnel to keep the feat up as there was no substitute for exercise.(NAN)
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAFDAC warns against patronising local drug vendors

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Drugs

Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Dutse, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against buying drugs  from local drug vendors.

The Agency’s Coordinator in Jigawa, Mr AbdusSalam Lawan, gave the warning on Saturday in Dutse after an executive walk to commemorate the “2016 Africa Safety Day/World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.”

Lawan advised the public to stop patronising local drug vendors, pointing out that drugs bought from such vendors were often expired and dangerous to health.

He explained that such drugs were not kept under the prescribed temperature, thereby rendering them harmful for human consumption.

The coordinator also urged the public to ensure that any medicine they buy carries NAFDAC registration number on it.

“People are buying drugs without NAFDAC registration numbers.

“They are doing it not because they wanted to do so, but they were not properly informed of the necessary things to do,’’ he said.

‎According to him, the agency will not relent in its effort to combat the circulation of unwholesome and fake products in the state.

Earlier, Mr Angus Ibezim, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, noted that the UN and Africa Union dedicated the third week of every November to remind road users on the need to exercise caution while on the road.

According to him, the day also offers opportunity to increase public awareness on burden of road traffic crashes on individuals, families and communities.

He said there was the need to initiate and promote efforts at stemming road crashes.

The commander noted that the commemorative walk coincided with the corps’ routine monthly walking/jogging exercise.

He said the exercise was based on the scientific research outcome which revealed that people who exercise regularly are healthier physically and mentally.

“This boosts the energy of those who exercise to think more clearly and sleep better.

“It has equally been found to improve mood, reduce anxiety, decrease the effect of stress and raise self-confidence.

“And all these are good attributes for alertness while using the road,” Ibezim said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that officials of the NAFDAC, NDLEA, Police and other para-military agencies participated in the exercise. (NAN)

MNB/AIB/OU

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Obike

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Ukoh

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Scout
By Olayinka Owolewa
Abuja, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) An initiative to search for aspiring U-18 football players at the grassroots has been launched by the Change the Game Projects (CTGP), an international NGO based in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the resolve to embark on scouting followed a stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Friday.

Declaring the meeting open, Dr Ademola Are, the Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the objectives of CTGP was in line with that of the ministry.

This, he said, was why the ministry was supporting the project.

Are challenged stakeholders at the meeting to see the initiative as their pet project and ensure its success.

He urged the meeting to evolve a blueprint that would ensure a smooth takeoff and completion of the project.

Earlier, the President of CTGP, Mr Robinson Adakosa, said the NGO was saddled with the mission to discover talented youths at the grassroots.

He said the objective of the project was to breed future stars through sporting activities and productively engage them.

According to Adakosa, CTGP is collaborating with the Department of Grassroots Development in the sports ministry because it is the custodian of sports development in the country.

He added that the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) was involved in the project to ensure proper coordination with the support of its zonal offices.

Adakosa said the project would be executed in three phases, with the first being elimination stage to be held at the state level.

The zonal play-off, the second stage, would hold at designated centres across the six geo-political zones while the final stage would take place in Abuja.

“It is expected that YSFON officials will ensure massive participation and proper coordination across the 36 states of the federation including Abuja.

“We are expecting international scouts in Abuja for the final stage of the project.

“We are looking for U-18 youths with the hope of helping them achieve their dream of playing football at the international level.

“We will give scholarships to those who wants to combine football and education, ” Adakosa said.

Adakosa added that an all stars team would be selected for the competition and it would travel to Holland for a tournament.

NAN reports that some of the stakeholders at the meeting pledged their support for the programme.

The meeting agreed that entries for the project would be received between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31, 2017.

According to the meeting, the state elimination round will begin from March 15 to March 30, 2017, while zonal play-off  is expected to commence from April 6 to April 9, 2017.

The meeting also agreed that two teams–state champion and selected team–would qualify for the zonal play-off.(NAN)
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

FRC decries poor supervision of government’s projects by ministries

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Supervision

By Ejike Obeta

Ugboha (Edo), Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), has decried the shoddy supervision of government’s projects by the awarding federal ministries and relevant authorities, describing it as a disservice to the nation.

The FRC’s Chairman, Victor Muruako, expressed the concern at Ugboha, Essan South-East Local Government Area of Edo, after verifying the N2.47 billion Federal Government water supply project in the area.

The chairman and some officials of the commission on a verification tour of Federal Government projects in the Niger Delta, had earlier visited the Ogwashi-Uku Multi-Purpose Earth Dam project in Delta.

He accused the ministries and the agencies of conniving with the contractors to defraud the nation by allowing the full payment for such contracts without being completed.

He said: “These problems are clear manipulations of human beings. There are lapses between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Benin/Owena River Basin Authority.

“From what I have seen from this project verification exercise, I can say without any contradiction, that there has been near zero supervision of the projects by most supervisors.

“There are situations where things go overtly wrong and the supervisors cannot raise alarm and have issues with the contractors. They are obviously working with the contractors.

“In this case, they have allowed the full payment of the contract sum of N2.47 billion. The contractor has also been allowed to collect the retention for the contract while the water scheme is not functioning.

At Ogwashi-Uku, he expressed displeasure that the N3.6 billion multipurpose dam was not near completion even when the contractor, Nelson Benjamin Ltd. had been paid N3.3 billion.

Muruako said it was disheartening that the hydro power component of the project had not started, while the drainage system of the three kilometre access road to the dam was a sham.

He expressed disappointment that the contractor was not on site to explain issues even when he was duly informed about the visit.

He called on the Edo and Delta governments to show interest in the projects because they were for the benefit of the people of the states.

“I want governments of Delta, Edo and indeed other states in the federation to take special interest in the projects located in their areas.

“These projects are ultimately the property of the state governments, local governments and indeed the communities where they are located.

“I don’t see that attitude here and I condemn it totally. People are lackadaisical about such projects.

“The contractors should be called to account for all these. Government knows what to do in this case and we will do our own report and submit to Mr President,” he added.

The Project Engineer of the Essan water scheme, Mr Etim Akakam, however, said that the project was awarded to the contractor, CGC Nig. Ltd. in 2005 and was completed in 2011.

According to him, the water scheme was not inaugurated on completion because of misunderstanding among the people of the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that at Ogwashi-Uku,  Mr Ben Obi, the Resident Engineer of the Consultant, Vibro Engineering Conpany, conducted the team round the dam project. (NAN)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-DS

Arrest

Lagos, Nov. 18, 2016 (NAN) Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday said they arrested 11 suspects and destroyed 2, 317 bags of cannabis weighing 30,992kgs.

The agency’s spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

He also  said that some 67 bags were  also transferred to Osun State Command of the agency as exhibits for further investigation.

“The cannabis will also serve as evidence against 11 suspected farmers arrested during an  operation inside the cannabis plantation.

“The suspects arrested in connection with the cannabis cultivation are Kofi Mensah, Godwin Monday, Albert Aniama, Liberty Onyeka and Peter Nelson.

“Others are Harrison Ewoka, Ossai Nelson, Sulaiman Niyi, Dominic Tobechukwu, Mutiu Kolawole and Chucks Oghenekwu.

“The raid operation codenamed ‘Operation Herb Spring’ was in response to an intelligence received by the Agency on the activities of cannabis cultivators in the forest.

“The exhibits was estimated to worth three hundred and nine million naira (N309million).

“These exhibits were found in 27 camps used as storage facilities located within a farmland at Orita-Ijebu forest reserve, Ikoyi area of Ikire in Ayedade LGA of Osun State.

“Drug cartels have invaded government forest reserves for the cultivation of cannabis,“ the spokesman said.

He also  quoted the Chairman of the agency, Mr Muhammad Abdallah , who said concerted efforts were needed to stop cannabis cultivation.

He said that farmers should be encouraged to cultivate food and economic crops.

“Unless the current trend of cannabis cultivation is addressed, the country is on the verge of a devastating food insecurity.

“It is worrisome that the cartels are using government forest reserves in the cultivation of cannabis.

“Stakeholders must strategise on how to increase food production and prevent criminal organisations from diverting arable farmland for cannabis cultivation.

“A situation where food and cash crops is paving way for cannabis plant portend danger and deserve urgent attention.

“The operation was a sweet victory for the agency because the farmers had done all the work by harvesting and processing the cannabis awaiting evacuation from the farms.

“It was a perfect timing for the Agency and a painful loss to the drug barons.

“They had prepared the cannabis in bags waiting for shipment when we raided.

“The Agency will continue to launch similar devastating attacks on drug trafficking cartels until they are completely defeated.

“All suspects will be arraigned soon,” Abdallah said. (NAN)

HOB/DO : Edited by David Onilede

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Shiite protests: Ganduje says group should respect authority of security officials

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Shiites

By Temitope Ponle

Abuja, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Kano, popularly known as Shiites, have to recognise the authority of security officials by seeking their permission before they hold any gathering.

Ganduje said this in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the third Edition of the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award in Abuja on Friday night.

The governor said that members of the sect could not keep breaking the law and tampering with the rights of other citizens.

“As far as they continue breaking the law, the police have to come in. They cannot use they-have-the-freedom-to-do-whatever-they-want because they are crossing other people’s human rights.

“As far as we are concerned, they have to recognise the  authority; they have to get permission.

“If they do not get permission, then the police will not allow them to continue the procession that they do.”

No less than eight people were confirmed dead and many others injured following a clash between members of the the group and the Police in Kano city on Monday.

It was reported that trouble broke out around Tamburawa, on the outskirts of Kano city, after the Police tried to stop the Shiite members who had embarked on the annual Arbaeen trek from Kano to Zaria.

The Kano State Police Command, however, said security operatives including anti-robbery squad units only intervened as the Shiite members began attacking motorists and passersby.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf confirmed that one Police officer was also killed.

The Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim, on Wednesday, also said the police should be appreciated for the method deployed by officials of the force.

Idris said that the police had a responsibility to ensure that law and order was maintained adding that the activities of the group needed to be checked.

The incidence is reportedly under investigation.

In October, Kano police banned IMN from conducting street processions ahead of the annual Ashura celebration. (NAN)

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Edited by Yusuf Zango

Nigeria should promote SMEs to enhance economic growth, food security—Ganduje

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SMEs

By Temitope Ponle

Abuja, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has called for the promotion of  Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance economic growth and ensure food sustainability in the country.

Ganduje said this at the third edition of the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award in Abuja on Friday night.

The governor said that the SMEs needed more attention than they were currently getting to promote the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the economy.

“In order to feed ourselves, produce and export, we have to look at the SMEs,” he said.

He said the state was  investing in basic infrastructure to ensure that SMEs were actively involved in “stimulating commercial activities” .

“We have 37 very strong micro-finance banks and we have an agency responsible for the banks.

“We secured a loan of N2 billion we distributed through the banks to farmers, real farmers, and we provided the sum of N100 million for weak farmers to buy improved seeds.

“We produce fertilisers beyond the boundaries of Kano which has more qualities than imported ones.”

Ganduje added that youths in the state were also being trained in different skills to build the manpower gap in the state.

He noted that promoting youth development and skills acquisition in the country would impact on its economic growth.

The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr Bashir Wali, said that SMEs were regarded globally as the bedrock of development in any economy.

Wali was represented by Head of Strategic Planning, NEXIM, Mr Tayo Omidiji.

The NEXIM boss said that there was need to develop proper police responses to the issues and challenged  SMEs in the country to support efforts by the government to diversify the economy and enhance economic growth.

“In Nigeria, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency has observed that there are about 37 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Nigeria employing about 60 million people.

“The MSME sector is also also reckoned to contribute about 50 per cent to the GDP and seven per cent to export earnings.”

He disagreed with the notion that the major challenge of SMEs was poor access to finance.

He said that improper project project conception, implementation and poor management practices were the main challenges of SMEs.

“Other challenges include poor access to market, poor record keeping, lack of corporate governance practices and absence or lack of proper business plans.

“Once these issues have been addressed, entrepreneurs will have access to finance and incidents of business failure will reduce and sustainable growth and development can be achieved.”

The co-Founder, Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award, Mr Joshua Uwabor said that encouraging and rewarding entrepreneurial instinct was the economic success of any nation.

Uwabor said that the award ceremony was aimed at celebrating and promoting the achievements of entrepreneurs in the country.

“We owe it as a sense of responsibility to always celebrate and promote their (entrepreneurs) achievements.

“They are men and women, who against the tide of recession and economic challenges continue to innovate and provide opportunities for ideas to blossom into job opportunities and economic growth for the nation.”

He added that the event was also to recognise and celebrate the  country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, business leaders, corporate organisations and heads of government agencies that “embody a spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity”.

“We had a call for nomination in May which was open till July; we had the advisory board that did  the screening and we put them into categories for voting.

“We had a voting platform for young emerging entrepreneurs on our site and for the organisations we placed them in different categories and had the public vote for them.”

Highlights of the ceremony included the presentations of different categories of awards to recipients. (NAN)

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IGR: Plateau Govt. launches tax payment codes to boost revenue
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Revenue
By Thompson Yamput
Jos, Nov. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Plateau Government on Friday launched Tax Payment Facilitating Codes known as Un-Structured Supplementary Data (USSSD) to boost its Internally Generation Revenue (IGR).

The Commissioner fot Finance, Mrs Tamwakat Weli, who launched the codes in Jos, described the innovation as “very unique“ and “revenue driven.’’

“The new code is a revolutionary innovation and the first of its kind in Nigeria, which will go a long way in setting the pace for other states in Nigeria.

“  Since the inception of the Governor Simon Lalong  led change administration, the government has continued to make concerted efforts to ensure that it boosts the Internally Generated Revenue of the State

”This is to enable it to adequately fund its people-oriented programmes and bring the much needed development to the state and its people, ’’ she explained.

Weli said with the new technology, the tax payer only needed to click a button on his phone and would be able to verify his Tax Identification Number, verify the validity of vehicles’ papers  and when next to validate them.

According to her, “this innovation is poised to ensure that tax administration in Plateau is carried out seamlessly while improving the existing friendly interface between tax payers and the tax authority’’.

“ Plateau State, under the leadership of our rescue Governor, has once again set the pace for others to follow with the launch of the USSD CODE which will ensure ease of doing business on the Plateau, ’’ Weli said.

The commissioner called on Plateau citizens, particular tax payers, to “support this administration as it sets out to achieve its five-point policy thrust and sustain the peace and development being witnessed in the state’’.

Mr Dashe Arlet, the PSIRS Acting Chairman, said that launch  of the “historical USSD CODE’’ was aimed at blocking revenue leakages and stimulating the progressive increase of the state’s IGR.

“The code will also assist in addressing the conflicts that usually arise among road users and authorities such as the Federal Road Safety Corps, VIOs and the Police.”(NAN)
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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Turkish alliance soldiers seeking asylum in other nations-NATO scribe

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Alliance

Brussels, Nov. 18, 2016 (dpa/NAN) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that Turkish soldiers in the military alliance have sought asylum in other countries amid a government crackdown following an attempted coup.

Some Turkish officers working for the alliance have requested asylum in the countries where they are working, Stoltenberg said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

However, he called it a “national decision, a national issue.”

Several Turkish soldiers from a NATO airbase in Ramstein, Germany, applied for asylum at the beginning of November, Kaiserslautern district authority chief Paul Junker said this week.

The move came four months after the failed July 15 coup in Turkey, but German authorities did not clarify the grounds for the asylum applications.

Turkey’s government declared a state of emergency following the failed military coup, and launched a crackdown on alleged supporters of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds responsible.

“Turkey has the right to prosecute those behind the failed coup, but of course it is important that this is done in accordance with the rule of law,” Stoltenberg said.

“NATO is based on some core values – democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty – and I expect all allies to live up to those values,” he said.

Stoltenberg will travel to Istanbul on Sunday, ahead of a NATO parliamentary assembly the following day.

In a new development, Stoltenberg spoke with Donald Trump by phone, thanking the U.S. president-elect for raising the issue of defence spending during his election campaign.

Stoltenberg agreed that “fairer burden-sharing” across the military alliance would be a top priority moving forward, according to a summary of the call posted on NATO’s website.

Trump “underlined NATO’s enduring importance,” the summary read, adding that he and Stoltenberg discussed how NATO is adapting to a new security environment with threats of terrorism.

During his election campaign, the Republican triggered concern among NATO allies with the suggestion that some alliance members were not spending enough on defence.

Trump has said that the U.S. might not come to the defence of some alliance members during an attack.

The Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia all once occupied by the Soviet Union have been fearful of a potential Russian invasion after Moscow annexed Ukraine’s southern Crimea region more than two years ago. (dpa/NAN)

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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Obike Ukoh