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APC governorship aspirant pledges to replicate FG’s Agric  initiative in Kwara

FIFA World Ranking: Nigeria now 48th, 4th in Africa, Belgium, France joint leaders

By Victor Okoye

Ranking

Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria moved one place from 49th position to 48th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as Belgium and France share the top spot for the first time in the table’s 25-year history.

According to the rankings posted on the FIFA official website on Thursday, the Super Eagles amassed 1415 points to finish 48th in the month of September.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles who defeated Seychelles 3-0 on Sept. 8 to put themselves back in contention for a place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) improved their position from seventh to the fourth best team in Africa.

Seychelles dropped one spot from 188th to 189th in the rankings, while Libya, whom Nigeria face in their next group game of the AFCON qualifier next month are placed 99th in the rankings.

Senegal still maintains their number one spot in Africa and 25th in the world with  1492 points.

DR Congo and Morocco are second and third in Africa, and 40th and 45th in the world with 1447 and 1425 points respectively.

Russia, 2018 semi-finalists Belgium and reigning World Champions, France are joint leaders in the rankings, the first time the top spot is being shared in the table’s 25-year history.

Brazil, Croatia and Uruguay round up the top five.

While England, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Denmark are sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10^th  respectively.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on Oct. 25. (NAN)

VO/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Katsina, Sept. 20,2018(NAN) Amaju Pinnick has been re-elected as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Burglary

By Moronke Boboye,

Lagos, Sept. 20, 2018(NAN) An  unemployed, Shina Yunusa, 21, was on Thursday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos charged with conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

The accused resides at 15, Amida Street, Amikanle, Alagbado Area, a suburb of Lagos.

The prosecutor, Asp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug. 28 at Jide Daniel Street, Alagbado, Lagos.

Ogu said the accused and one other at large burgled the residence of Mr Lekan Odufolakun while he was not at home.

“They stole his television set, valued at N150,000 , a clipper, valued at N5,000 and a laptop, valued N100,000 , all valued at N300,000.

“The accused and his other accomplice were about to leave the compound when one of the neighbours heard their steps and alerted other tenants, “he said.

Ogu said the other accomplice escaped while the accused was apprehended.

The offences contravened sections 287, 306 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr J. A Adegun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adegun adjourned the case until Oct. 4 for mention. (NAN)
MTO/MO/DUA

Edited by Omolade Michael/Dada Ahmed

NGO trains 40 female lawyers on mediation skills in Plateau

Training
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) As part of ongoing efforts to restore peace and harmonious relationship among residents of Plateau, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), APURIMAC, has commenced training of 40 female lawyers on mediation skills.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the training, which kicked off in Jos on Thursday, were members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

Mr. Godwin Okoko, the Senior Country Advisor, Peace-building and Development, APURIMAC Nigeria, said the training was to enhance skills of lawyers on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

“Majority of the members of FIDA for this training are judges and magistrates from other lower courts, we believe certain cases or civil matters can be resolved through mediation outside the courtrooms to restore relationships.

“Out of court resolutions strengthen peace building structures in the society, it strives to ensure all parties are satisfied with decisions unlike the courtrooms where there is a winner or loser judgment,“ he said.

He said that the training would expose participants to best practices on building relationships through mediation skills, adding that participants were expected to impact optimally on their colleagues.

He said APURIMAC had trained media practitioners on conflict and sensitive reporting to curtail hate speeches and fake news.

He, however, urged that in volatile environments, peace must be a collective responsibility of everyone.

In his keynote address, Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Chrisanthus Ahmadu, said that mediation is the best alternative to allow parties participate fully in disputes resolutions.

Represented by Mr Nankwat Shaseet, the Director, Citizens Rights and Law Reform, he said that mediation was cost effective and less time consuming compared to the rigorous process in the conventional courtrooms.

He tasked the participants to strengthen their skills through the training and apply it in the discharge of their duties.

Mrs Mary Izam, the Chairperson of FIDA in Plateau, said the association had mediated on many families and community disputes cases.

She expressed hope that the training would further develop their skills to be more efficient.

NAN reports that the two-day training was a partnership among APURIMAC, FIDA and NEXUS Fund. (NAN)
MAA/JTJ/AFA
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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Felix Ajide

Cultism

By Moses Omorogieva

Lagos, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) Oba Owolabi Adeniyi, the traditional ruler of Igbobi-Sabe in Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos, has blamed fathers for the increase in cultism and other related crimes, who failed  to mentor their children.

Adeniyi made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

The monarch said that it was a shame on parents, particularly fathers to see the number of young people going into cultism these days.

He said that the most alarming of it all was the involvement of artisans in cultism, stressing that before now, only in the universities could one find confraternities that were purposeful.

The royal father, however, said that cultism was not a subculture in Nigeria unlike in some other developed countries where there were many gangs.

“Little from the government, much from the parents. We need to take care of our wards. At times, broken homes cause children’s delinquency.

“This affects most of our children now, when only the mother takes care of them; the mother is doing the jobs meant for both parents.

“Where we have parents in a home with the father not playing his role; a fatherly role in a home is like God’s role, that is, the figure of God in that house.

“I am calling on all parents to join hands in taking care of the children. If our children are properly brought up, the government will not spend money meant for development on security,” he said. (NAN)

MIO/FF/YEMI

Edited by Fela Fashoro/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Gombe, Yobe govts. restate commitment to peaceful co-existence along border communities

Boundary
By Uwumarogie Peter

Gombe, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The governments of Gombe and Yobe states have restated their commitment toharmonious and peaceful co-existence along their border communities.

They expressed their commitment in a communique jointly signed by the two states at the end of a meeting of Gombe/Yobe interstate boundary officials held in Gombe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was convened by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to receive and discuss the report of additional fieldwork in the Fika/Nafada interstate boundary issue.

NAN reports that the two states share boundaries between Nafada (Gombe) and Fika (Yobe) towns.

The meeting, chaired by Dr. Mohammed Ahmad, Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), had Mr Charles Iliya and Mr Abubakar Aliyu, Deputy Governors of Gombe and Yobe states respectively in attendance.

While presenting the report, Ahmad urged the people of both states to live in peace and also told officials of respective governments to take the message to the grassroots.

He commended them for the success of their various meetings since January 2018, and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of their oneness to resolve outstanding grey areas on the boundary issue.

Iliya, who is also the Chairman, Gombe State Boundary Committee, noted that both states share common history and culture, adding that the good relationship must be sustained.

He appealed to participants to look at the issues raised dispassionately, so as to cement the existing good relationship between the states.

Also speaking, the Yobe Deputy Governor, commended the efforts of the NBC and stressed the need for the states to sensitise their border communities on the need to live in peace.

Represented by Alhaji Baba Muhammad, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs, the Deputy Governor said that Gombe and Yobe states share a cordial relationship.

“There is need to properly define the boundary of these border communities. The peaceful atmosphere witnessed today in the course of the deliberations show that we are brothers.

“The action of today will go a long way in addressing the crisis between these communities that have existed for over 100 years.”

The officials, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure the physical demarcation of the boundary on by the first quarter of 2019.

NAN reports that in attendance were Mr. Ebisintei Awudu, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, representatives of Nafada and Fika Local Government Areas and traditional rulers from both border communities. (NAN)

UP/JTJ/NKO
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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

Sack

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says it has sacked six of its officers for corruption and official misconduct.

NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs Stella Nezan, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Nezan explained that the offences committed by the officers included arranging professional sureties for suspects for a fee and providing information about the operations of NAPTIP to outsiders for a fee.

She said the affected officers endangered the lives of their colleagues by so doing.

The spokesperson said that some of the sacked officers were involved in the acceptance of bribes and aiding the escape of suspects.

According to her, others were making romantic advances to victims of trafficking as a condition for rendering service to them.

She added that one of those sacked was absent from duty without official leave from July, 2017 to May, 2018 and was also involved in financial misconduct.

The spokesperson disclosed further that one officer was given compulsory retirement for various offences that were inimical to the operations of NAPTIP.

Nezan noted that the offences were categorised under corruption, divided loyalty, sabotage and gross indiscipline, contrary to the civil service regulations.

“This development followed the recommendation of the management of the agency who have found them culpable for various offences.

“This is in line with the disciplinary actions and in-house cleaning embarked upon by the present management to enthrone discipline, dedication, loyalty as well as enhance the operations of the agency,” she stated.

Nezan said the management’s action was the peak of a series of internal disciplinary measures earlier taken in strict compliance with the provisions of the civil service rules and other extant labour laws.

She said that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had since approved the dismissal of the officers.

The spokesperson quoted the Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, as expressing sadness over the development.

She said that the sack of the officers would enhance the global trust in the agency and serve as a deterrent to others.

“Though it was a difficult decision for management, the agency had to take it as a step in the right direction.

“I am particularly sad over the situation, but the laid down procedures must be followed. The agency is very important not to only the Nigerian government, but the entire global community.

“So we cannot afford to do anything less. I believe that other officers of the agency will take dressing from this development,” she stated. (NAN)

MS/ERO/EMO
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Ejike Obeta

Rice
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Bayelsa chapter, says apart from flooding, portfolio farmers are also hampering the development of rice production in the state.

Mr Ezekiel Ogbianko, the Chairman of the association, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Yenagoa, called on both the federal and state government to come to their aid.

“We are making progress in terms of rice farming in Bayelsa, but the challenges here are very enormous; they range from flooding to portfolio farmers.

“The association is preparing for the dry season harvest, but the rain is not helping us; some of our lands at Ondowarie, Otuokpotu in southern-Ijaw Local Government Area have been submerged by flood.

“Accessing the lands are difficult; we want the three tiers of government to help us; in the season’s harvest, we are expecting 4, 000 tonnes of rice because our plan is to make the local rice available for our people.

“Well, I must commend the government’s support in terms of inputs supply, but the portfolio farmers, who siphon those inputs is still our problem.

“On manpower, we are planning to employ more people for the dry season harvest, and we expect bountiful harvest,” the association chairman said.

NAN reports that RIFAN on Sept. 6 inaugurated wet season planting of the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and the distribution of farm inputs to farmers for the season.

The chairman said that no fewer than 227 farmers benefited from the inputs, which included 1, 200 bags of fertiliser and 64 cartons of pesticides. (NAN)
OOC/FLP/GY
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Grace Yussuf

NCAA

By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given Dec. 31 deadline to all the foreign airlines that have yet to automate their remittance of its five percent Ticket Sales Charge/Cargo Sales Charge (TSC/CSC).

The General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, who confirmed the development in said on Thursday in Lagos that defaulting airlines would face severe sanctions.

Adurogboye said a letter to that effect, signed on behalf of the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Muktar Usman, by the Director of Air Transport Regulation, Grp. Capt Edem Oyo-Ita, had been dispatched to the 30 airlines concerned.

According to him, the airlines are: Lufthansa German Airlines and all African countries’ carriers operating in Nigeria under the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).

He said the ultimatum was necessitated by the refusal of the defaulters to comply with the Federal Government’s directives on Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) and abide by the provisions in the BASA between Nigeria and their respective Countries.

Adurogboye said the automation was in line with line with Part 18.12.5 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), 2015.

“It states that all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria shall forward to the authority, through an electronic platform provided by the authority, all relevant documents such as flown coupons, passenger or cargo manifest, air waybills, load sheets, clients’ service invoices and other documents necessary for accurate billing within 48 hours after each flight.

“In the same vein, Part V, Section 12(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 states that the five per cent TSC/CSC are to be collected from passengers by airlines and paid to NCAA.

“These collections, which are shared among the agencies, are meant for the maintenance of safety critical, provisions of infrastructure and for meeting their numerous obligations,” he said in a statement.

Adurogboye explained that the government introduced the ARAP for revenue collection to engender data integrity, transparency, transaction accountability and control of revenue to the authority in 2011 which was at no cost to airline operators.

He also disclosed that there had been appreciable and commendable high level of compliance by the domestic airlines which stood at 97 per cent of the current domestic air transport operations.

Adurogboye said the director-general appealed to other domestic airlines that had yet to join to take steps and come on the platform by working with First Bank of Nigeria (FBN)/Avitech for immediate and automatic processing and implementation of the project or face sanction.

He reaffirmed the NCAA’s commitment to enforcement of compliance to safety regulations at all times so as to continue to guarantee safer skies in Nigeria. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)