Blog

NAN-H-85
Trends
by Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Nov. 17, 2016(NAN) Prof. Wole Soyinka’s widely reported threat to tear his Green card if Donald Trump wins U.S. Presidential elections, trended on Google search this week with mixed reactions from internet trolls.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, the Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

“Google search in the just concluded week from Nov. 9 to Nov. 16, was filled with intrigues from internet users.

“People went online to learn more about Donald Trump, the newly-elected president of U.S., and Wole Soyinka’s response to the news of his winning the presidential election was also a burning issue.

“Also searched is TB Joshua’s rather ‘uncertain’ prophecy, and some other exciting stories,” he said.

Kola-Ogunlade said that the internet trolls decided to haunt Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Soyinka by bringing up his pledge to tear his green card if Donald Trump emerges as America’s president.

“Soyinka, who made the statement at Oxford University, was caught in crossfire by critics and agonists, who asked him to put his words into action.

“The Laureate responded to his accusers in a long article, schooling them on figures of speech and language use.

“This week on Google, Donald Trump shocked the whole world to emerge as the 45^th president-elect of the U.S., to ‘trump’ Sen. Hillary Clinton,’’ he said.

The Google manager said that the moment the results of the polls was announced, folks went online to search for updates on Donald’s latest stance on issues he made before the elections, his age and even his net worth.

He said that the controversial Pastor, TB Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), also became a ‘dramatis personae’ in the American elections when he predicted that ‘a woman’ would win.

“Tables turned on him when Donald Trump emerged as winner.

“Joshua came out to suggest his prophecy was misinterpreted, by referencing the final results where Clinton won ‘the vote of the majority of Americans,” Kola-Ogunlade said.

He said that the death of world-famous Canadian singer, Leonard Cohen, who died in his sleep following a fall in the middle of the night, at his home in Los Angeles, also got attention online.

“The 82-year-old Cohen was known for songs like “Hallelujah, Bird on the Wire, and Suzanne.

“His 14th album, `You Want It Darker’, was released last month,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

Other issues that got the attention of internet users are the announcement of the one-week warning strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The former National Security Adviser, NSA, retired Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, who did not attend his father’s burial was also a topic of discussion.

Other searches which topped Google search include Jumia’s Black Friday promotional deals to buyers for the 12 days began last week, the Nigeria vs Algeria World Cup Qualifiers with Nigeria winning 3 – 1.

Also featured online was the crash of the Canadian Immigration website as American search how to move to Canada with Donald Trump’s victory and the historic first meeting of Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.

NAN reports that Google Trends was launched in May, 2006, to allow people to see popular issues in terms of searches, trending on Google over a period of time. (NAN)
CAN/DO/GY
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Edited by David Onilede/Controlled by Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-87

Robbery

By Alex Anayo Enebeli

Enugu, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Police Command in Enugu on Thursday arraigned four suspected gangsters who allegedly terrorise motorists at the International Market along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway before Justice Ngozi Orji of the Enugu High Court.

The accused persons were said to have been arrested in August 2016 at the Enugu International market at the 9th Mile Corner on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway after a cross fire with the Police.

Testifying before the court, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Cpl. Chidozie Onuoha, said that the police got a tip-off that some bandits were operating on the road at 9th Mile corner and the command swooped into action.

Onuoha said that on getting to the scene of the incident, the robbers were shooting sporadically and the Police engaged them in a gun duel in which one of them was shot dead while others sustained injuries.

The police officer alleged that the accused shot a passenger before they were arrested and taken to 9th Mile police station for investigation.

“I was assigned to investigate the incident and I recorded the evidences from the victims and the robbers and discovered it was a case of armed robbery.

The corporal said that the suspects confessed to committing the crime.

Orji adjourned the matter till Nov. 22, for continuation of hearing. (NAN)
AAE/MNA/NKO

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(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

NAN-H-86
Amendment
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Nov. Abuja, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Socio-Economic Right Project (SERAP) has urged on Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo  to withdraw the N300 million mansion retirement benefits law for ex-Gov. Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu.

Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the Executive Director of SERAP, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Mumuni noted that the state House of Assembly had passed an amendment to a law which now stipulates the state builds a house worth  N200 million for the governor and another worth N100 million for his deputy as part of their retirement package.

It also provides that the buildings could be sited in any location of their choice.

Mumuni said that the money should be used to clear the backlog of pension arrears spanning between seven and 45 months.

“At a time, the state government can’t even pay its pensioners and salaries of workers, the amendment by the state House of Assembly is immoral, unfair, unconstitutional and unreasonable.

“The amendment is also a rip-off on a massive scale.  Gov. Obaseki must reject this grotesque law, if he wants to fulfill his election promises and lift state pensioners out of poverty.

“This so-called proposed legislation means pensioners and workers will have to fund the massive and unjust pensions for Oshiomhole, his deputy and others that will come after them.’’

Mumuni said that many retirees whose pensions had not been paid, had been evicted from their apartments due to their inability to pay rents.

He added that SERAP was aware that the state government was not the only state passing such horrible pension laws to provide outrageous retirement benefits to former governors and deputy governors.

“SERAP is finalising a comprehensive legal strategy to challenge these unjust laws and to name and shame those who continue to benefit from such laws.

“Nigerians should not be made to subsidise these bloated pensions and clearly undeserved bonus.

“Approving the amendment by the House of Assembly will amount to a fundamental breach of the governor’s constitutional oath declaration to serve the interest of justice, common good, transparency and accountability.

“SERAP is appalled by this apparently unfair and discriminatory law. There is absolutely no justification for such law at a time the pensions systems across the country are in poor shape.” (NAN)

VOE/YAZ
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Edited by Yusuf Zango

Hardship: Church urges FG to install favourable economic policies

NAN-H-72
Hardship
By Awayi Kuje
Akwanga (Nasarawa ), Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) on Thursday urged  the Federal Government to establish more favourable economic policies capable of uplifting the living standards of Nigerians.

Dr Jerry Madibo, the ERCC President made the appeal during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Church’s centenary celebration at the ERCC secretariat, Akwanga, Nasarawa.

He said the Church was deeply concerned about the crippling state of the economy and the deepening of poverty in the society.

According to him Government needed to change its economic policies so as to fight poverty and improve on the standard of living of the poor.

Madibo, who recalled a brief history of the Church, commended Arthur Judd from South Africa for Missionary work that led to the establishment of the Church in Nigeria in 1916.

He added that the establishment of the Church had not only saved people, who were traditional idol and ancestral worshipers but  boosted the socio-economic development of the country.

“Apart from the primary mission of evangelising the people, the missionaries also considered education and healthcare services as cardinal objectives. They established many tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools.

“The Church is not left out in the promotion of peace, sensitisation of our members on good governance but also encouraged government to initiate good policies that have direct impact on the lives of Nigerians.

“The leaders of ERCC have been following development at the various levels. We wish to state that the Church is deeply concerned about the crippling state of the economy and the deepening of poverty in the society.

“That is why, the church is appealing to governments at all levels to listen to the outcries across the land and change its economic policies.

“This will to improve the standard of living of the masses for the overall development of the country,” he said.

According to him we still wish to appeal to Nasarawa State Government, where the Church headquarters is domiciled to come to terms with the low morale among civil servants in the state, following the downward review of their salaries.

Madibo, then, commended FG under President Muhammadu Buhari for the fight against corruption, which he noted “has been a canker worm of sorts eating away the country”. (NAN)
AKW/TON
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Edited by Tony Nezianya

NAN-H-78
Workers
Lagos, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Dung Sha of the University of Jos has urged organised labour to push for a  constitutional review that will allow workers to join or own political parties.

Sha, a professor of Political Economy and Development Studies, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

Cue in audio
“I think too, what we need to talk about as labour is to work towards the review of the constitution, which prevents workers from joining political parties since probably they are public officials.

“In other countries their own constitutions allow them to be members of political parties, but not to allow that to hamper the operations of government institutions where they are working.

“Two options are available: the first option is to reclaim the Labour Party that has been on ground and make sure that it is managed.

“This has to be done in a manner that will not be rancorous, would not create crisis within the party.

“The other option is to form a different party.

“So basically, if they register, they should be able to establish maximum control of the party and make sure that people who are committed, ideologically clear should be able to lead such a party and fund it as well.’’

Cue out audio

He advised labour to avoid past mistakes of registering a party and abandoning it for people who were not part of the process. (NAN)
GA/ERO/LAB/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-71
Communities
Mercy Obojeghren
Edegrode (Delta), Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Delta government has urged host communities in the state to cooperate and support contractors handling infrastructural projects in their areas.

The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, stated this on Thursday at Edegrode-Eleme in the Sapele Local Government Area, while inspecting ongoing projects in the area.

Augoye noted that one of the challenges facing the execution of infrastructural project in the state and country at large was the uncooperative attitude of the communities to the contractors handling government projects.

He, therefore, called on communities in the state to ensure that they supported and cooperated with contractors handling government projects in their areas, warning that “any community found to be hostile, resistant and unable to support or cooperate with contractors handling government projects would lose such projects.

“One would have expected that the communities will gladly support any developmental projects coming to their areas, but in a situation where indigenes of such communities are now being hostile to contractors, it is indeed very unfair.

“Such communities will have no other option than to lose such projects and the projects will be relocated to other areas where it would be embraced,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the contractor handling the 5.4kilometre Edegrode –Eleme road project said that the commencement of the project had been a major challenge to his company in the last few weeks.

The commissioner, who also visited the 2.4km Kpokpogri road project in Okpe local government area condemned the pace of work at the site, as well as the quality of job being executed by the contractor.

He, however, warned the contractor handling the project to improve on the quality of work, adding that, “the drainage is very poor and if not corrected, the site will be closed down.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioner also inspected the rehabilitation of the 300 metres Adeola/New Ogorode road, the dualisation of the access road to Jesse town in Ethiope-West local government area.

The commissioner also inspected the expansion and dualisation of the failed sections of the Oghara junction to Otefe road in Ethiope West Local Government Area. (NAN)
MOA/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

NAN-H-77
Road
Gusau, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has started repairs on federal roads in Zamfara, the Federal Controller of Works in the state, Mr John Enetomhe, said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Thursday that the federal roads needed
repairs as most of the were in bad shape.

He said that contractors who would handle the job were already on site and have started work.

He added that “the Gusau-Tsafe Road, down to Funtua is presently under repair; though workers stopped at a point due to financial misunderstandings, but they have resumed and continued with the work.

“The Birnin Gwari-Dansadau-Dangulbi-Anka to Daki Takwas and Gummi down to Sokoto State border is also under reconstruction.”

The controller advised road users to drive slowly and be cautious when they approached the road
and exercise patience and obey road signs to avoid accident.

Before the start of work, most of the roads had become death traps, causing accident almost on daily basis. (NAN)
MOB/ABA/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Plateau: NSCDC sets up task force to eliminate unregistered private guards outfits

NAN-H-75

NSCDC

Jos, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Plateau Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it has set up a joint task force to eliminate unregistered and unlicensed private guard companies in the state.

The Commandant, Mr Solomon Olasupo, who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos on Thursday, said that the NSCDC was working in collaboration with other security agencies to achieve the goal.

He said that the quest to rid the state of such unregistered outfits became necessary because criminals were hiding under the guise of being private security operatives to perpetrate all manners of attrocities.

“We have found that most of the crimes in Plateau are usually carried out by insiders claiming to be working for private companies as security operatives,” he said.

He cautioned members of the public against hiring private security guards without first confirming whether their outfits were legitimate.

“ With insurgents running away from many hideouts, people must be wary of private guards,” he said.

He expressed surprise that even the registered guards companies had often employed people they knew very little about.

“Some outfits do not even ask for referees. They just engage youths not minding their backgrounds.

“We have often found that most of the personnel are even more dangerous than the criminals they were hired to ward off,’ he said.

The commandant advised members of the public to visit NSCDC formations to ascertain the status of private security guards companies so as to avoid eventual regrets.

The commandant also frowned at reports alleging non-payment of guards’ salaries, and advised culprits to desist from that as it had “heavy consequences”.

“The non- payment of salaries leads to poor performance on beats and the multiplier effect is that such guards could be tempted to go into crime.

“This will tarnish the image of the outfit and hurt the larger society,” he said.

Mr. Edineng Usoro, Chairman, Plateau chapter of the Association of Private Guards Companies, in his  remark, said that the association was working toward producing a directory containing names of licensed and duly registered companies. (NAN)

UBO/UDO/ETS

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(Edited by Udochukwu Ifionu and Ephraims Sheyin)

Kaduna Media Corporation loses 2 workers in auto crash, 8 injured
NAN-H-56
Crash
Kafanchan (Kaduna) Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Two  members of staff of Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), have died in a car crash at Malagum village in Kaura Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that eight other staff of the corporation sustained injuries.

NAN learnt that the 10 radio workers were returning from a staff audit in Kaduna on Wednesday evening when their vehicle summersaulted.

Mr Wisdom Adamu, survivor and driver of the Sharon car, told NAN on Thursday that the incident occurred when a motorcyclist “from no where, surfaced in front of the vehicle.”

Adamu said in an attempt to avoid hitting the motorcyclist, he lost control of the vehicle which somersaulted several times.

Mr Gideon Bitrus, the KSMC Station Manager, Kafanchan, who confirmed the incident, said Douglas Stephen, an announcer and Godwin Sunday, a security guard, lost their lives.

Bitrus said that the eight injured members of staff were receiving treatment at the Kafanchan General Hospital. (NAN)

MGK/CEO/MZA
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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-HE- 19

Statistics

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Malam Basheer Ibraheem , Statistician- General, Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics has called on Nigerians to embrace the use of data for planning and developmental purposes.

Ibraheem made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja at a road show, organised by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA).

The road show which started from the NBS, Central Business District Area ended at the NTA headquarters, Area II was part of the activities to mark the 2016 African Statistics Day.

Ibraheem said that statistics were the only viable tool for economic growth and development.

“If you don’t have data, you will not know the trend of activities that is taking place so statistics should be embraced both at the government and public level.

“The present administration has come through change; we should embrace statistics and support statisticians so that data provided by them can be used for effective planning and developmental goals.

“The only way to make a great change in Nigeria is to use statistics; if we use it, there will be a lot of transparency and accountability in the system,’’ he said.

The statistician general, however, told NAN that the office had achieved a lot in the collection and dissemination of data in 2016.

He said that the office had conducted General Household Survey, Annual School Census and Energy Survey.

“ We have also conducted Gross Domestic Product Survey for the first time in the history of Kaduna.

“I am happy to let you know that Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has been using statistics to do most of his planning and developmental projects,’’ Ibraheem said.

NAN reports that a public lecture on the theme of the celebration will hold on Friday at the NBS headquarters.

The theme of the celebration is “Strengthening Economic Statistics for Regional Integration, Structural Transformation and Sustainable Development’’.

NAN also reports that the African Statistics Day Celebration is an offshoot of the meeting of Ministers responsible for planning in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia held in 1990.

The meeting set aside Nov.18, of every year as a special day for statistics and promoting awareness about the important role it plays in the development of the society. (NAN)

CIA/MO

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Edited by Morayo Omolade