Blog

NAN-H-134
Players
By Victor Okoye
England, Nov. 16, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester United could be without seven key players for this weekend’s English Premier League crunch clash with Arsenal, with the entire first-choice back-line set to be absent for the Red Devils.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Manchester United’s highly-anticipated home game against Arsenal kicks off at 12. 30 p.m. on Saturday.

Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are sure to miss the tie with injuries, while Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw are major doubts for the fixture.

Following the injury crisis, Jose Mourinho has called for a review of the team’s medical facilities, with his team languishing in sixth spot after 11 games.

A loss against Arsenal for Mourinho’s men, his first against Arsene Wenger in the league, would be a massive blow to their chances of coming back in the title race.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be absent following a suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea City.

Marouane Fellaini is recovering from a calf injury while Wayne Rooney missed England’s games in the international break following a setback on the injury.

The striker is a doubt for the weekend clash and will be assessed on Friday before a decision is taken on his fitness.

Meanwhile, Antonio Valencia is back in training for the Red Devils, but may be short for the game against Arsenal, while Shaw has reported pain in the leg that he broke last season.

Phil Jones is set to return to the first eleven and is likely to be partnered by Daley Blind at the back, who has previously been used at left-back in the absence of Shaw.

A loss for Mourinho would open up a nine-point difference with the Gunners, who are currently two points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the table.

United have already lost 4-0 to Chelsea and 2-1 to Manchester City this season and will be desperate to avoid another defeat against a top four rival this time around. (Reuters/NAN)
VO/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-DS-18
Fraudsters
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected internet fraudsters.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu.

Ajisebutu said that the arrest of the suspects was made possible following a tip off  by members of the public,

He said that the suspects were picked up in their hide out at Soka area of Ibadan at about 6:30am on Wednesday by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

“The suspects, who had been elusive for some time now, were eventually arrested after several days of intelligence gathering and painstaking investigation carried out by the police.

“ During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being internet fraudsters and that they had defrauded many innocent victims they referred to as ‘clients’ of their hard earned money in naira and foreign currencies.

“They also disclosed that they often used charms to facilitate their illicit business.

“ This they did by hypnotising victims and ‘commanding’ them to part with their dollars and valuable properties,’’ the police spokesman said.

Ajisebutu said that the suspects further disclosed that those who had fallen victims included foreign nationals and Nigerians alike.

“Exhibits recovered from them included four assorted laptops and assorted criminal charms.

“The Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, has directed that discreet investigation be carried out about their other nefarious activities at the end of which they would be arraigned in court,’’ he said.

He advised youths to shun crime and engage in legitimate businesses, saying the police were determined to prosecute unrepentant criminals in the state. (NAN)
SYS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-133
Freedom
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) A cleric, Rev. Biodun Ogunbekun, who was kidnapped on his farm at Kufi on the Olorunda-Aba road in Ibadan on Thursday, has  regained freedom after five days in the kidnappers’ den.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunbekun, a cleric with the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Akobo-Ojurin Diocese of Agodi, Ibadan, was kidnapped  by five unknown gunmen.

But the Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Cathedral, Ibadan, Rt. Rev. Amos Ajiboye, on Wednesday told newsmen that Ogunbekun was released on Tuesday.

He, however, did not give details of how he was released or how the kidnappers contacted the church and the priest’s family.

“We are grateful to God and all those that made it possible. We shall be making further statements in due time.

“He is resting after what he had gone through in the hands of his abductors,” he said.

NAN reports that it was not clear if a ransom was paid to secure the release of Ogunbekun.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, however, said the kidnappers demanded for N10million from the family and the church before he would be released. (NAN)
SYS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-132
Recession
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) A former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the current recession to revamp the country’s economy.

Akinyemi made the call at the 2016 convocation lecture he delivered at the University of Ibadan on Wednesday.

The lecture was entitled: “Nigeria’s Exceptionalism: Nigeria’s Quest For Word Leadership.’’

The don lamented the continued doling out of bailout funds to states by the Federal Government without measures to instil fiscal discipline.

“I want to say that before any more bailout funds are disbursed, state should sign on to some conditionalities.

“ The conditions should include that cabinet members and special assistant and advisers must not exceed a limited number.

“There should be no white elephant projects such as airports and resuscitation of abandoned projects , ” he said.

He also said that lack of assertiveness in Nigeria’s foreign policy had contributed to the perception of non-performance of government.

“An adjunct of this non-assertiveness has been that countries that had solicited and received Nigerian aid had turned around to vote against Nigeria and generally adopt hostile attitude toward her,’’ he said. (NAN)
MAM/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-131

Investigation

Minna, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on Gov. Sani Bello to investigate the Suleja Local Government council Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Kassim, who was suspended or alleged gross misconduct.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspended Chairman and his vice, Alhaji Shuaibu Maje, had been suspended by the Suleja Legislative Council‎ for 3 months over alleged misappropriation and high handedness.

The resolution followed a letter from the Suleja legislative council read on the floor of the House on Wednesday by the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa‎.

The letter also prayed the House to prevail on the governor to appoint the leader of the legislative council as acting‎ chairman.

The House thereafter unanimously ordered the governor to set up a committee to investigate the allegations leveled against the chairman and his vice.

In a related development, the House ordered the Commissioner for Lands and Housing‎ to appear before it over alleged indiscriminate and fraudulent allocation of plots of land in Suleja.

This decision followed a motion moved by Alhaji Shuaibu Iya (PDP-Suleja) on the floor of the house.

Marafa asked the clerk to communicate the executive on the resolutions passed by the House. (NAN)

AMEN‎/IS

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-ELS-4

Fertility

By Justina David Auta

Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) A gynecologist, Dr Ado Zakari, on Wednesday, warned against indiscriminate use of pregnancy prevention drugs by young women as he emphasized its effects on fertility.

Zakari, who is also the Director, Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of  Health and Human Services gave the warning in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the effects  of such drugs, also known as emergency contraceptive, could delay conception or damage a woman’s uterus if used wrongly.

The expert also warned against unprescribed use of the drug called misoprostol without medical supervision, which he added could also damage the uterus, cause excessive bleeding and death in some cases.

Misoprostol is a medication used to start labour, cause an abortion, prevent and treat stomach ulcer and treat postpartum bleeding due to poor contraction of the uterus.

“ Some women indiscriminately use such drugs to either induce labour by themselves or abort pregnancy,

“It is very dangerous, especially if the pregnancy is beyond 2-3 months.

”The patient might end up in the hands of quack, who might injure the uterus and cause excessive bleeding, which can injure the uterus or cause death,’’ he emphasized.

Zakari, therefore cautioned the public to seek medical assistance from reputable health centres for any kind of ailment.

Meanwhile, some of the women who take such drugs alleged that they prefer to take it as a measure toward preventing pregnancy as it was easily accessible, cheap and had no visible side effect on them.

Mrs Joy Anthony, a mother of two said she had been taking postinor 2 for a while and had never had or observe any visible side effects.

Anthony added that the drug had been very efficient and reliable whenever she had unprotected sex with her husband during her ovulation.

“ I was actually introduced to it by a friend .

”I have never noticed any side effects from taking it, rather it works very well for me and prevents me from getting pregnant when I am not ready.”

Similarly, Binta Ishaku, an undergraduate, said even though she had never used the drugs, she learnt that It was used to prevent pregnancy after an unprotected sex, if taken within 24 hours.

Ishaku added that the drugs were cheap and easily accessible.  (NAN)

JAD/UDO/HA

Edited by Udochukwu Ifionu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-ELS-6
Peninsula
By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Nov.16, 2016 (NAN) The South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Noh Kyu-duk, has called on Nigeria to support its move to achieve the unification of Korea.
Kyun-duk made the call on Wednesday in Abuja in his address at the ‘Roundtable Discussion on current situation of the Korean Peninsula and effort for peace and unification.”
He said “we need the cooperation of Nigeria to help achieve unification of Korea; we want you to have interest in this issue so that you can support us when the time comes.

“For the time being, it is good for Nigeria and Nigerians to have knowledge on what is going on.
“If the Nigerian media could package reports on the issues in the Korean peninsula, it would also go a long way to help.
“Nigeria is a country which carries a lot of political and economic weight; I thought that if I bring this issue of Korean Peninsula, it would be discussed in a meaningful way.
“The issue in the Korean Peninsula is one that is affecting international peace and security in our time.”

The ambassador said Korea was colonised by Japan and after liberation from colonial rule then came the division in 1945 where the south adopted democracy and free market economy and the North adopted communism.
He emphasised that the two countries were brothers and sisters but that the closed nature of the North had impeded its growth and friendship with the world except few countries.
The envoy added that the two Koreas have same culture but the political nature of the North deterred economic and political development of the isolated Region.
Meanwhile, Amb. Ayoko Adelakun, the Under Secretary, Regions and International Organisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria had maintained a friendly relationship with the two Koreas.
Adelakun said “Nigeria is not supportive of what North Korea is doing in relation to detonation and nuclear test because we believe in nuclear free zone.
“In the whole of Africa, you cannot test nuclear weapon, and that is the kind of zone we want in the whole world.
“In 1960s, there was wide spread of catarrh and cough; it was later discovered that the cause was a nuclear test that was carried out in Sahara desert by France.
“Nuclear technology can be used for treatment of cancer, multiplication of seedlings in agriculture, electricity; we support nuclear material for peaceful uses and not destruction,’’ Adelakun added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable was organized by the Korean Cultural Centre and attended by students and stakeholders in education, religious and international affairs. (NAN)

CMY/FAT/HA
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Edited by Fatima Sule/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Sports, a valuable tool for national integration, peaceful co-existence – Ex-lawmaker

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Peace

Keffi (Nasarawa State), Nov.16, 2015 (NAN) Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, a former House of Representatives member, has described sports as a valuable tool for national integration and peaceful co-existence.

Wadada, also a former PDP senatorial candidate for Nasarawa West senatorial district in Nasarawa State, said this on Wednesday in Keffi.

He fielded questions from newsmen during the 2016 maiden Keffi Polo Ranch tournament holding in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

To this end, the ex-lawmaker said that he has built a multi-million Naira Polo ranch with international facilities in order to boost sporting and socio-economic activities in the state.

According to him, apart from physical well-being, sports can play an important role for a safer, more prosperous and more peaceful society through its educational values and worldwide network, hence the need for the tournament.

Wadada, a two term former member in the House of Representatives, said he initiated the project towards bringing development and civilisation closer to the people of the state at large as well as to create employment opportunities to the people.

“The importance of sports like polo to the development of any society cannot be over-emphasised, because beyond physical well-being, sport is a valuable tool for national and international integration.

“Polo is a game of kings and it is also the king of all games, and as we are all aware that sports can help in bridging the cultural, ethnic, religious and political divides.

“Sport can also promote tolerance, peace, create job, reinforce social integration and advocates healthy life style, among others.
“As you can see, the 2016 maiden Keffi Polo Ranch had brought together Polo players, umpires, spectators from within and outside the country due to the importance of the game to the socio-economic development of the world,” he said.

Wadada disclosed that whatever money accruable at the end of every tournament, certain percentage would be channelled to support the education of less privileged members of the society through the Wadada Education Foundation.

He added that education is the best legacy parents and governments should leave for their children and citizens as no nation could achieve meaningful progress without sound education.

The former legislator promised to continue to initiate people oriented projects in order to fight hunger, poverty, unemployment and reduce youth restiveness in the state and the country at large.

He thanked the state traditional rulers, Polo experts and dignitaries within and outside the country for attending the tournament and called for a robust cordial relationship toward the overall development of the country.

Also speaking, Dr Hassan Lawal, a former minister of Labour and Productivity, commended Wadada for the initiative.

“The establishment of Polo ranch in Keffi by Hon. Wadada is a very good development not only for Keffi but for Nasarawa state and Nigeria at large.

“We are very happy and proud of Hon. Wadada for establishing the polo ranch in Keffi,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was graced by many dignitaries including the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai I, who led members of the state traditional council. (NAN)

AKW/ESAN/MST

Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NYSC trains over 5,000 corps members in entrepreneurship skills

NAN-HG-11
Entrepreneurship
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Brig.-Gen. Sulaiman Zakari, the Director-General, NYSC, says more than 5,000 corps members who received training in various skills have become employers.

Zakari told Editors and Reporters of various media organisations on Wednesday in Abuja that the beneficiaries underwent the Skills Acquisition and  Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training offered by the scheme to enable them own businesses.

He said that over the last four years, no fewer than 600,000 corps members have been trained by the scheme in various skills.

He explained that the aim of the SAED programme was to equip corps members with specific vocational skills based on their interests while developing their business capacities also.

Kazaure said the programme enabled the scheme to contribute towards the eradication of graduate youth unemployment.

He listed some of the areas corps members received training to include agro-allied, food preservation and processing, culture and tourism, cosmetology, information and communication technology.

Others are environment, beautification, construction, education, power and energy, film and photography and automobile technology.

“The Bank of Industry (BoI) through the BoI-NYSC Graduate Empowerment Fund is providing corps entrepreneurs with training and soft loans to establish their own businesses.

“Also the NYSC/CBN Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP) is empowering corps entrepreneurs with business loans.

“Since I came on board, we have extended the frontiers of SAED by signing an MoU with the Access Bank Plc for the construction of a huge Skill Training Center in Gombe which is expected to serve corps members in the North-East.

“We are currently in discussion with Hall 7 Developers, the Chinese Embassy and a Chinese businessman for similar establishments in other parts of Nigeria,” Kazaure said.

The Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, had earlier said the media parley was designed to unveil the activities of the scheme and solidify existing cordial relationship between the scheme and media establishments. (NAN)
KRY/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-125

ICC

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has urged members of the international community to “place collective shoulder behind the International Criminal Court (ICC)”.

Zeid made the appeal in a statement posted on the UN Human Right twitter handle ‏@UNHumanRights, accessed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

He made the appeal in the wake of a spate of withdrawals by many nations, especially from Africa.

Three African countries of South Africa, Gambia, and Burundi had already indicated their intent to withdraw from ICC.

Zeid declared:“I am saddened by this state of affairs. The African countries have been the backbone of this Court, and their leadership, especially in the early days, was exemplary.

“I am pleased many African countries, including Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Sierra Leone have signalled they will not leave.

“Today’s challenges are not the first stern test faced by the Court, and they will not be the last. A new trend of isolationist and unprincipled leadership is building up across the world.

“Renewed attacks on the court may well be in the offing. It will take all the nerve and resources of the truly committed states parties to resist such challenges.

“Now is not the time to abandon the post. This is the time for resolve and strength.”

Zeid spoke  as Russian declared on Wednesday  that it was formally withdrawing its signature from the founding statute of the ICC, saying the tribunal has failed to live up to the hopes of the international community.

According to Zeid, victims of core crimes will struggle to understand why they are abandoned by these states together with those which never acceded  and why they are made victim again. (NAN)

IAA/DO: Edited by David Onilede/Morayo Omolade

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