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Nobody in my family ever reached 70 years-Atiku

NAN-H-100

Atiku

Yola, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said on Thursday that no member of his family ever reached the ripe age of 70 years.

He spoke in Yola at an event organised to mark his 70th birthday by students of American University of Nigeria Academy and Primary schools.

“It is a milestone in my life because nobody in my family has ever lived up to 70 years,” Abubakar said.

He lauded the students for “the surprise of a birthday bash’’ and reiterated his commitment to continue to support education in the country.

The former vice president called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend the ongoing warning strike for the sake of Nigerian students.

He said that education was the backbone of development, stressing that nothing should be done to jeopardise education.(NAN)
AMA/YMU/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-F-30
Peacekeepers
Bamako, Nov. 17, 2016 (dpa/NAN) UN peacekeepers on Thursday said they found 2000 kg of explosives near the town of Kidal in Mali’s restive North, Olivier Salgado, Spokesman for the UN Mission in Mali (Minusma) said.

Salgado said the amount could have been used to make up to 100 improvised explosive devices.

He added that “the explosives were hidden in the desert, west of Kidal.”

Mali’s North had been volatile since separatist rebel groups and later al-Qaeda-associated militants took control of the region in the wake of the 2012 military coup.

The French and African military operations alongside the Malian army scattered militants and restored government control over the area.

However, rebel activities and military operations continued in some areas, despite the signing of various peace agreements. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/HA
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-108

Academy

By Monday Ijeh

Keffi (Nasarawa), Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the research and training arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday certified 37 Corruption Risk Assessors (CRA).

Prof. Sola Akinrinade, the Provost of the academy said at the certification ceremony in Keffi, that the certified assessors had undergone eight-week intensive training programme of the academy.

He said that  the risk assessors were trained to be able to identify corruption-prone areas in organisations and agencies with a view to proffering solutions to address them.

“There has been a kind of paradigm shift in the war against corruption from enforcement and prosecution to prevention.

“The essence of CRA is to try to understand and identify corruption-prone areas in agencies and organisations and help to proffer solutions to address them.

“It is the people we have trained that are certified to carry out such assessment.”

The provost said the idea was to take the war against corruption to individual agencies and organisations.

Mr Ekpo Nta, the Chairman of ICPC, commended ACAN for the training that resulted to the certification of 37  of the 42 participants that were enrolled.

Nta, represented by Dr Elvis Oglafa, the Secretary to the commission, said corruption risk assessment was a critical aspect of corruption prevention strategy of the ICPC.

According to him, the CRA is an initiative that ICPC is proud of and has been very useful in its operations.

“We are most pleased to report that since the first training in 2012/2013, CRA has been successfully conducted in the port sector, MDG-related MDAs of education, health, water and aviation sectors.

“The integrity plans of these CRAs and others that are in pipeline, when fully implemented by the MDs will bring about the reduction of corruption opportunities in the society,” he said.

The ICPC boss who commended the UNDP for funding the programme urged the assessors to take advantage of the knowledge acquired to contribute their quota in the fight against corruption.

Some of the assessors who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pledged to take the knowledge acquired from the programme to their various agencies.

Mrs Chidima Amaabo, an assessor who spoke on behalf of the anti-corruption agencies, advocated for extension of time for the programme.

She said the eight-week period was not enough to cover the entire aspects.

Meanwhile, Dr Adeyeye Adewole, said with the training, the participants were better informed of the need to prevent corruption.

Adeyeye  pledged to take back the knowledge acquired from the training to his organisation.

NAN reports that participants at the programme were drawn from anti-corruption agencies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). (NAN)

IMC/AK/NKO

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Edited by Akin Makanjuola

NAN-H-105
Demolition
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of Zaria, Kaduna State, on Thursday expressed happiness as a Primary and Secondary School “Fudiyya School” belonging to Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly called Shi’ite sect was demolished in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school called “Fudiyya Centre” is located at Babban-Dodo, Gangaren-Fadama, in Zaria.

A cross section of the residents hailed the government for embarking on the exercise in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria.

Malam Musa Musa, a resident of the area, said the demolition was not only a welcome idea but a good step in the right direction.

“We have long been waiting for this action; it came at a time we did not expect. However, we are really happy with what happened today.

“These people have been disturbing us whenever they are conducting their activities,” he said.

Another resident, Malam Baba Bala, advised Kaduna State Government not to relent in its efforts to curtail the `worrisome activities’ of Shi’ite sect which according to him, were infringing on the rights of others.

“I must confess that Zaria is now safe without El-Zakzaky.

“We are behind what this government is doing; we hope it will carry out the good work to its logical conclusion,” Bala added.

NAN reports that the demolition commenced at about 2:30 p.m. under the supervision of armed security personnel.

When contacted for comment, officials of KASUPDA declined comment, saying they have no authority to speak to the press.

Mr Samuel Aruwan the Director-General, Media to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i, said he just received the information.

He promised to call back to brief NAN on the position of government on the exercise.

But as at the time of filing this report, the D-G had not call back neither had he responded to several phone calls nor text messages sent to his mobile phone on the issue. (NAN)
KLM/ESAN/AEA
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-HE-34
Remittance

By Donald Ugwu

Abuja, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN)The National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved to stop financial abuses by agencies, which  collect revenue on behalf of the Federal Government and spend about 90 per cent of  it on their expenditure.

The resolution, taken at the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was made known to state House Correspondents by Gov. Willy Obiano of Anambra State in Abuja on Thursday.

The governor said the finance minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, revealed the continuous perpetration of the abuses by the agencies for the past decade adding that efforts were being made to stop such malpractice.

Cue in audio 1 (Obiano)

“The long term revenue abuse by the revenue generating agencies was taken at the council.

“The Finance Minister reported to the council certain activities of some revenue generating agencies that amounted to financial abuse of the revenue they generate.

“They include paying salaries above RAMFAC, which is Revenue Mobilisation Financial Accounts Committee specifications.

“Converting official cars to personal ownership, monetizing medical allowances arbitrarily, unapproved overseas travels, lavish training allowances, excessive personal loan approvals, including unapproved mortgages.

“The Ministry of Finances and RAMFAC are working together to rein in these abuses as these revenue agencies raise as much as N1.5 trillion and spend almost 90 per cent of it on its recurrent expenditure.’’

Cue out audio 1

According to Obiano, the minister informed NEC that the sharp practices had gone on for a decade.

He, however, said the minister added that such financial abuses where the agencies hide the revenues that ought to go to the federation account would now be exposed and terminated.

He said the minister also reported to NEC that as at November 2016 the Excess Crude Account stood at $2.4 billion.

He further said Adeosun also reported that $1.1 billion was disbursed in October to 35 states while N6.3 billion had been disbursed to each of the 35 states of the federation.

On ecological fund, he said N2 billion was reported to have been paid to the states by the last administration, but some states complained they did not receive equal share of the fund while others did not get anything at all.

Consequently, NEC said that the reason for the unjust payment would be investigated and reported to the President.

Also contributing, the Bauchi Gov. Mohammed Abubakar told correspondents that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),  Mr Godwin Emefiele, gave a report on financing opportunities critical to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

According to him, Emefiele underscored the importance of MSMEs in the economy and cited countries whose economies are driven by them.

Abubakar said the CBN chief convinced the council to provide the much needed financing to the development of MSMEs in their various states to revitalise the economy of the country.

Cue in audio 2 (Abubakar)

“When that is done, the MSMEs have the capacity of improving the micro economic stability of the nation and be able to boost the capacity of the MSMEs in conserving much needed foreign exchange for Nigeria.

“They will encourage exports and then the expansion of agriculture,manufacturing and other service sub sectors in Nigeria.’’

Cue out audio 2

Abubakar added that a similar report was received from the Federal  Ministry of Trade and Investment through the Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN) on the MSMEs and their role in the country’s economy.

He said the ministry informed NEC that the nation had 37,067,416 MSMES, adding that Lagos, Kano and Oyo states  had the highest number  in that order while  Nasarawa state  is the lowest.

“The need to encourage the setting up of these MSMEs by all the states of the federation was underscored,’’ he added. (NAN)
DCU/OSA/YEE

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
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Obiano’s audio no financial abuses by agencies 1

Abubakar’s audio on MSMEs 2.MP3

Congo’s President appoints opposition member as prime minister

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Appointment

Beni (Congo), Nov. 17, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Thursday appointed opposition legislator Sammy Badibanga as prime minister as part of a deal to form a national unity government to prepare the 2018 elections, the presidency said.

Badibanga replaced Augustin Matata Ponyo.

Kabila was due to step down in December.

However, the ruling coalition and some opposition parties agreed to postpone the November elections until April 2018, citing delays in registering voters.

Badibanga belongs to a dissident wing of the party of former prime minister Etienne Tshisekedi, who rejects the formation of the unity government.

Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress and other large opposition parties regard the postponement of the elections as a manoeuvre for Kabila to extend his rule beyond the constitutional two-term limit.

The postponement sparked protests in which dozens were killed. (dpa/NAN)

OYE/MST

Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-ELS-5
Income
By Justina David Auta
Abuja, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) A cross section of married men in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday said their wives’ higher income had nothing to do with their marital relationship.

The men told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Abuja that the issues of income earning and marriage were two different things on different platforms.

Mr Danjuma Wheynom, a civil servant, said there was nothing wrong if a wife earned more income than husband, “because most of the money will eventually be used for the home and children.

“Even though my wife earns more than me from her poultry business, which is more than my monthly salary, it does not in any way affect our relationship; our love and respect for one another still remains.”

Wheynom added that in spite of the wife’s income, he still foot the bills of the house without neglecting any for her.

He said that “the mistake most men make when their wives earn more money than them is that they abandon the responsibilities of the house to the woman. And some shamelessly even beg her for money, using the excuse that she earns more.”

He, therefore, stressed the need for men to take up their responsibilities in the home
and also show affection and respect to their wives so as to make the women to realise that men
appreciate their efforts in order to avoid problems in the home.

Similarly, Mr Adegoke Sunday, a worker in a private organisation, said his wife’s catering services business fetched the family more money than his own monthly income.

Sunday said even though he gave the wife the capital to acquire more culinary skills for the business, as well as the resources to purchase the equipment to start, it had not affected their marital relationship now that she earned more than him.

He said “my wife owns and operates the business and it fetches us so much money.

“It has helped us to build our own house, sponsor two of our children to school abroad, as well as provided so much for us that my salary cannot afford.

“Despite all these, our marital life is still blissful; we have so much respect for one another and I do not take it for granted.”

Sunday, therefore, stressed the need for men to support their wives’ business ideas, as the profits would be beneficial to the home and not the wife alone.

He added that “I even help my wife to collect some of the foodstuff from her customers when she has a contract or even to help her deliver it at the venue of the occasion.

“This, however, has not changed the fact that I am still the man; I am the head of the house and the husband.”

However, Mr Ignatius Nwobi, a petty trader in Kpaduma village, Asokoro extention, Abuja, said he
would not marry a woman who earned more income than him “because she will not respect me and will dominate the home.

“Some women are naturally domineering. I can’t imagine marrying someone that earns more money than me because she will want to make all the decisions in the house and might even disrespect me.”

Nwobi said some women might even flaunt it among their friends and relatives that they earned more money than the husband.

Also, Haruna Sani, a small-scale business man, said “a woman that earns more money than her husband can bring suspicion of extramarital affairs and other marital problems to the home.

“The fact is that there will always be this nagging suspicion that one’s wife is having an affair outside if she earns more money than the husband.

“In my opinion, it is the responsibility of the man to provide for the home, as stated in the our
holy books, but if it is the other way round, the man will always feel cheated or betrayed.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Grace Albarka , a religious leader, said earning more income than one’s spouse
should not in any way change the nature of the relationship between couples.

According to her, the issue of income earning should not be an issue in the home.

She added that “even though finance is a very important aspect in the home, it shouldn’t be the focus.

“The focus of every home should be on how to build a God-fearing family and the focus should be
on the word of God, love, respect, understanding and tolerance.” (NAN)
JAD/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-AE-10

Technologies

By Kudirat Ogunyemi

Ashyin Kasa (Niger), Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government says it will deploy modern agricultural technologies to improve  the quality and quantity of food  being produced in  the country.

Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this at the Farmers Field Day organised by Dizengoff in collaboration with Phinada Integrated Farms on Thursday in Ashyin Kasa, Niger State.

Lokpobiri said this was why the government remains committed to the  policy on increasing private sector investment in agriculture.

He said that the collaboration of Phinada Integrated Farm with Dizengoff on the available technologies, machinery and all-year-round agricultural production was a clear demonstration of the thrust of that policy .

“ Federal Government is determined more than ever before to support farmers with modern equipment such as irrigation pumps, threshers, rice reapers, agro-chemicals, post-harvest equipment and tractors, among others.”

The minister said that the ministry operates a private sector-driven agricultural mechanisation programme which assists service providers to extend mechanisation operation like ploughing and harrowing at minimal cost.

“ The programme guarantees the service providers to pay 20 per cent of the cost of the equipment to Bank of Agriculture and the equipment will be released to them and they pay the balance of 80  per cent within four years.

“ Our goal is to provide support and solutions to address issues and constraints faced by farmers and I am optimistic that we will achieve it.”

He commended Sen. Philip Aduda, the Minority Whip and Founder of Phinada Integrated Farms for his massive investment in agriculture.

The minister urged farmers to take advantage of the ‘Farmers Field Day’ to access one or more technologies that would enhance their farming systems and improve the quality and quantity of their yield.

Mr Antti Ritvonen, Dizengoff Country Manager, said that the company was ready to assist Phinada Integrated Farms with modern technologies in all-year-round production of vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, pepper.

“We share the Federal Government vision on Green Alternative to ensure sustainable, availability and affordability foods for all Nigerians.

“ Our Green house is the first of its kind in northern Nigeria and we have different sizes and different kits like farmers greenhouse, fertilisers and agro-chemicals, Nursery set and drip irrigation system.

“Others are jacto sprayer, health and safety and quality seeds, among others  for sustainable farming to achieve improved livelihoods and to combat food insecurity in many communities,’’ he said. (NAN)

ROK/DO/NKO

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Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-DS-82

Crime

By Aisha Ahmed

Kano,  Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Bashir Albasu, the District Head of Albasu and a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), has stressed the need for community participation in crime prevention to  enhance security in Kano State.

Albasu made this disclosure in a meeting of Eminent People’s Forum held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Kano on Thursday.

He said that the police needed public support to enable them fish out criminals indulging  in kidnapping, cattle rustling, rape and drug abuse, which had been ravaging the state.

Albasu lauded the setting up of the forum by the  Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to complement the existing strategies, aimed at reducing crime rate in the various communities.

The district head noted that security of lives and property remained a collective responsibility and people should join hands with the government at all levels to maintain law and order.

He urged the communities to be vigilant at all times and report suspicious movement of men of the underworld to the relevant authorities.

Contributing, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress in Kano,  Mr Kabiru Ado, advised the police against the danger of road blocks on the highways by some communities,.

According to him, the police should take urgent steps to dismantle the road blocks.

Responding, the Commissioner of Police in the state Mr Rabiu Yusuf, said such road blocks were put in place without the  permission of the police authority.

Yusuf  promised to look into the matter, adding that the police would work with the State and Local Governments to resolve the issue.

NAN reports that the commissioner inaugurated the forum recently to support the police in the effort to fight crime in the state.

The committee’s membership is drawn from traders, the police, traditional rulers and academics. (NAN)

AAA /OSA/YEMI

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-HE-35

Shares

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The free fall of shares continued on Thursday on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the fourth consecutive day with investors losing N18 billion due to persistent profit taking.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation lost N18 billion or 0.20 per cent to close at N8.812 trillion against N8.830 trillion recorded at the close of trading on Wednesday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index which opened at 25,653.14 shed 53.33 points or 0.21 per cent to close at 25,599.79.

NAN reports that Total recorded the highest price loss, leading the losers’ pack with N13.97 to close at N276.05 per share.

It was trailed by Forte Oil with a loss of N4.35 to close at N82.67 and CAP declined by N1.68 to close at N33.75 per share.

Glaxosmithkline lost 71k to close at N13.54, while Cadbury depreciated by 52k to close at N10.05 per share.

Conversely, NASCON topped the gainers’ table, with a gain of 37k to close at N7.88 per share.

Ecobank Transnational followed with a gain of 29k to close at N10 and Nigerian Breweries increased by 16k to close at N141.19 per share.

Access Bank appreciated by 10k to close at N5.50, while Oando rose by 8k to close at N3.78 per share.

NAN also reports that the volume of shares traded closed higher with an exchange of 161.59 million shares valued at N1.19 billion transacted by investors in 2,086 deals.

This was against a turnover of 145.74 million shares worth N1.35 billion exchanged in 2,421 deals on Wednesday.

Guaranty Trust Bank was the most traded stock, exchanging 29.18 million shares worth N627.33 million.

Staco Insurance came second having accounted for 25.68 million shares valued at N12.84 million and Transcorp sold 17.68 million shares worth N12.45 million.

Diamond Bank accounted for 13.26 million shares valued at N11.81 million, while Wema Bank traded 10.23 million worth N5.83 million. (NAN)
JNC/YAZ