Blog

Gov. Ortom distributes ambulances, books to LGCs

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Donation

Makurdi, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has distributed six ambulances and 340,000 notebooks to six local government councils in the state.

Ortom flagged off the exercise at the Benue People’s House on Wednesday in Makurdi.

He said the items were part of the 2015 MDGs local government participation scheme in the health sector.

He said that government, through the same arrangement, was building six standard primary healthcare centres in the Agatu, Tarka, Ushongo, Ohimine, Gboko and Oju local government areas.

The local governments were also beneficiaries of the ambulances.

Ortom said there was an essential drugs revolving scheme for the six hospitals, adding that all equipment and drugs for the hospitals have been procured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each of the primary healthcare centres has a capacity of 12 beds, modern laboratory and other facilities of a standard primary healthcare centre.

The governor also said that 18 other primary healthcare centres were at various stages of completion.

He said that 18 solar boreholes and several motorised boreholes were under construction as well as skills acquisitions centres.

Ortom explained that the projects were funded with part of the N5.3 billion facility government accessed upon assumption of office to pay counterpart funding to donor agencies.

The governor stated that the payment of counterpart funds enabled the state to access N2.4 billion for conditional grant projects of the MDG/SDG in the social services and economic sectors across the state.

Besides, he said that Benue Rural Water and Sanitation Agency through the arrangement was building standard toilets in Oju to end open defecation in the state. (NAN)

AEB/ORO/MST

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Senate to partner solicitors on health summit

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Summit
By Kemi Oladipo
Lagos, Nov.16, 2016 (NAN) The Senate Committee on Health, in collaboration with First Counsel Solicitors (Medical Law Consultants), will convene a Medical Law Summit, an official has said.

The Chief Organiser of the summit, Mr Laolu Osanyin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the forum was designed for Chief Medical Directors of public and private hospitals in the country.

He said the proposed summit is scheduled for Dec. 9 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

KURPB  to sanction Glo telecommunications over nonpayment of tenement rate
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Tenements
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, Nov. 16,2016(NAN) The Katsina State Urban and Regional Planning Board (KURPB), has threatened to seal 150 sites belonging to Glo telecommunications in the state for allegedly default in the payment of tenement rates to the government.

Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, the KURPB’s Secretary, issued the threat on Wednesday after a visit to one of such sites operating in Katsina metropolis.

“At any moment, the board will use its powers to seal the 150 Glo sites where the company erected its masks across the state over nonpayment of the rates,” he said.

The secretary, however, did not disclose the amount involved.

Usman noted that such taxes were part of the state government’s sources of internally generated revenue which would not be neglected.

“We were not out to embarrass anybody; our concern is to apply the relevant laws to make sure that revenue accrual to the state are genuinely collected,” he said.

He, therefore, advised other organisations with outstanding payments to the government to settle them in good time to avoid sanction.

Usman said the revenue drive would also assist to improve the living conditions of the people through the provision of amenities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that tenement rates are taxes paid by landlords or occupiers of buildings or pieces of lands to government as part of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

When contacted, some officials of the company declined comments. (NAN)

ZI/ECN/IA

Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Idris Abdulrahman

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Relationship

Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN)Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil says Turkey will continue to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Nigeria being its largest trading partner in Sub Saharan Africa.

Cakil made this known on Wednesday in Abuja when he paid a visit to the Special Assistance to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

“My aim of coming here is to improve the Turkish-Nigeria relations in all its ramifications. Nigeria is a very strategic partner of Turkey in sub Saharan Africa.

“We consider Turkish-Nigeria relationship very strategic and important, we have been importing substantial amount of crude oil from Nigeria, Nigeria is number one Turkey’s trading partners since 2014 in Sub Saharan Africa.

“Nigeria and Turkish have very cordial and good relations, the number of Turkish companies investing in Nigeria is increasing steadily every year, also Nigerian companies have very strong interest in Turkish market.

“The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria has been there since 1962, so Nigeria, by all standards enjoys very cordial relations with Turkey.”

He said that most Nigerians Diaspora in Turkey was good and law abiding, adding that there were so many Nigerian footballers, Basketball, volley ball players in Turkey.

While answering question from newsmen on the students who were detained in Turkey, the Ambassador said over 3,000 Nigerian students were in turkey and only six were interrogated and released.

“First, two Nigerians PHD students were arrested, taking to court and the court released them. Another four were arrested by the Turkish Police but were subsequently released by the relevant authority.

“There are no 50 Nigerian students detained anywhere in Turkey; only six were arrested and had since been released,” he said.

He said the President of the National Association of Nigerian Student, NANS, had visited Ankara, where he interacted with Nigerian students and the issue had since been laid to rest.

He said that Nigerian students in Turkey had excellent academic as some of them won scholarships.

“There are approximately 3,000 students studying in Turkey, though I don’t know the number of Nigerians living in Turkey but there are a lot of Nigerians doing well in business in Turkey.

”There are some of them who study in Turkey and are now engineers working there,” he said.

Welcoming the ambassador, Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigeria looked forwards to stronger relationship between Turkey and Nigeria and urged more Turkish investors to show interest in Nigeria.

“President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to work with countries around the world, strengthen relationship with them and wherever we have Nigerian in the Diaspora, we encourage them to be law abiding.

“We will also ensure that the welfare of Nigerian students and professionals anywhere are taken care of but we would not encourage criminality.

“If anyone is caught in any act of crime he would have to pay severely for the penalty of the crime.

“So, we want to encourage Nigerians to be good ambassadors wherever they are or found themselves,” she said. (NAN)

IAA/JEO/MO

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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Morayo Omolade

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Pension

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Osun Government has said it has paid its pensioners up to August 2016 as part of its efforts to ensure their welfare.

Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the media aide to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, stated this in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okanlawon’s statement was in a reaction to a protest by the pensioners on Wednesday over unpaid pension arrears.

The State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) staged a peaceful protest against non-payment of their pension arrears by the state government.

They also accused the state government of excluding them from the N34 billion bailout funds given to the state by the Federal Government.

Okanlawon, however, said the protest was ill-conceived as pensioners in the state had been paid till August.

The media aide said it was not true that the state government diverted the bailout funds given to the state by the federal government for the payment of workers’ salary arrears.

“Our attention has been drawn to a protest by a group of pensioners at the state capital, Osogbo, today.

“This is ill-conceived and the reason is that as their protest was ongoing, some of them were getting bank alerts for August while some had received their pay since yesterday.

“It does not sound good at all that the protest by this group is taking place the very day the pensioners are getting their pay.

“Given the commitment already demonstrated by the state government, we know this action by this group is not supported by the majority of pensioners in the state”.

Okanlawon also said that Local government and Primary Schools pensioners have been paid up to August as well as pensioners who retired from the civil service.

“The arrangement is that pensioners earning below N20, 000 are paid in full, while those earning above N20, 000 are paid 50 per cent.

“While we sympathize with our workers and pensioners alike for not paying up to October, it is pertinent to state that this is not peculiar to Osun.

“And indeed, Osun has made efforts that should be commended by all especially in the face of national cash crunch.

“There is no basis for accusing Aregbesola of diversion of any fund because simply put there is just nothing like that.

“And it must never be forgotten that it is this same Aregbesola administration that increased government’s commitment on pension from about N150million monthly to over N650million monthly.

“A government with no commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners is not likely to have done this”. (NAN).

VE/DO/YAZ
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Edited by David Onilede/Yusuf Zango

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strike
Dutse, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Federal University Dutse (FUD) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has declared Friday as work free day in solidarity with the union’s warning strike.

The chapter’s Vice Chairman, Dr Danmaigoro Olarewaju, made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse.

Olarewaju noted that the union’s chapter was new in the ASUU struggle and it only had the observer status until after five years duration.

He said that members of the union in FUD were fully in support of the national body in its agitations.

It will be recalled that ASUU had earlier declared a-one-week warning strike beginning from Wednesday to press home its demands. (NAN)
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Edited by Lydia Beshel

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

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Basketball

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

Lagos Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Charles Ibeziakor, the Head Coach and owner, Raptors Academy of Lagos, on Wednesday said that he was confident of his team’s qualification from Division One to the elite Dstv Premier League Men’s Basketball.

The competition, which is set to dunk off in Abuja on Thursday Nov. 17 will have no fewer than 16 clubs from the Savannah Conference and Atlantic Conference competing for honours.

According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the best two teams, each from the Savannah and Atlantic are to progress to the DStv League.

However, with three Lagos based clubs banned last season from taking part in basketball, it is expected that three replacements will be promoted from the Atlantic division to join the elite teams.

Ibeziakor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his team was prepared and will qualify for the elite division next season.

“We understand the challenge and we know our capacity to beat all other contenders to the title to earn a qualification.

“We understand other teams are coming with their best players and also aspiring to reach the elite division in the 2017 calendar.

“We have worked tirelessly in our preparations and since we got back from the Division Two competition played in Kano where we came third in the past but  we are looking forward to the event,” Ibeziakor said.(NAN)

BAO/DS/YAZ

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Victory
By Dorcas Jonah

Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Secretary-General of the Nigerian Football Federation, (NFF) Mohammed Sanusi, says the Falconets’ 3-1 victory over Canada at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will motivate the team to do better.

Sanusi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the victory was well deserved.

According to him, the team, having lost 6-0 to Japan and then coming from behind to win Canada 3-1, has shown that it can still go places.

“The victory should motivate the team and they should remain focused and play as a team.

“Their performance today speaks volumes that they can do it, and I charge them to put in their best in the competition,’’ he said.

Sanusi said that the NFF would ensure that the team’s fans would be in their next match to give them the needed support.

NAN reports that Falconets lost to Japan 6-0 in their first match in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

NAN reports that the Falconets salvaged their pride with a 3-1 defeat of their Canadian counterparts in their second Group B game in the competition.

The team came from one goal down to record the 3-1 victory in Port Moresby.

NAN reports that the team will face Spain, which is at the top of the table in Group B, while Canada will meet Japan on Nov. 20.(NAN)
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

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Commendation

By Henry Oladele

Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commended the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), for their contributions to the reduction of bomb explosions in the North-East.

Buratai made the commendation at the inauguration of a 41 room-and-parlour apartment named “Gen Buratai Sappers Lodge” in Bonny Cantonment in Lagos on Wednesday.

Buratai, represented by Maj.-Gen. Chris Jemitola, the Commander, Corps of Signal.

said field reports indicated that NAE had helped to reduce the incidence of IEDs planted by Boko Haram terrorists going off in the North East theatre of operation.

He also said that it was unfortunate that the recent explosions led to the death of civilians, officers and soldiers alike.

The COAS observed that in the last few months, relative peace had been recorded in the region, noting that the recent explosions were fewer and far between.

“It is unfortunate that they happened and we are addressing them; nonetheless, army engineers have contributed in various aspects.

“They have helped the Nigerian Army to live, move and fight; they are also helping the civilian populace in various dimensions.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the inauguration took place simultaneously with the handing and taking over by the Commander, Corps of Engineers.

The outgoing commander, Maj.-Gen. Chris Obi, said he was motivated to embark on the construction of the apartment because of the daunting challenges of accommodation for officers of the corps.

Obi noted that the security challenges in the country had resulted in the increasing demand for NAE personnel particularly in the area of IED management.

He said: “Officers of the NAE have done extremely well in tackling the insurgents.

“There is, therefore, need to train our personnel on the use and handling of modern IED and Explosive Ordinance Devices equipment.

“Luckily, the COAS recently procured some of such equipment such as the BOZENA 5, the AMTRAC 400 series and some handheld IED detecting gadgets.”

Obi, who took over as NAE corps commander on Aug. 21, 2015, noted with enthusiasm that the apartment would motivate officers of the corps.

NAN also reports that the signing of the handing and taking over notes was the climax of the event at the cantonment which was witnessed by officers of the corps.

The incoming commander, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeleke, said he would key into the successes of his predecessor to move the corps to the next level.

Before his appointment as commander, NAE, Adeleke was the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Army Headquarters, Abuja. (NAN)
HOB/HAS/IEA
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Idahosa Asowata

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Market

By Kabir Muhammad

Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) FCT Minister Muhammad Bello said on Wednesday in Abuja that the Abuja Regional Market, Dei Dei, would be operational by December 2016.

Bello said this when he undertook an inspection tour of the ongoing work at the over 6,100-shop market situated in Tudun Fulani along Gwagwa-Suleja Old Road.

Bello, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, said the administration was determined to address the menace of street hawking in the Federal Capital City.

The minister gave assurance that the Regional Market would be equipped with quality facilities, to encourage high-level patronage from traders and shoppers alike.

According to him, roadside traders will be evacuated and relocated into the market as there is enough space to accommodate them.

“The market is sitting on about 86 hectares of land with over 6,100 shops to cater for the needs of Abuja traders.

“The structures inside the market had been abandoned for a very long time to illegal occupants who used the facility as hideout for criminal activities.

“This situation must be reversed; already, the illegal occupants have been evicted.”

He commended roadside traders who were complying with orders and relocating to the temporary space provided inside the market, pending re-validation of their papers.

“When commissioned, the market has the potential to reduce pressure on existing markets within the Federal Capital City.

“It will be a hub where major commodity brokers can warehouse their goods and distribute them to other nooks and crannies of the FCT.”

On the issue of petty traders, he said that a section of the market had been earmarked  to cater for them while the neighbourhood and formal sections would cater for other different interests.

He advised shopowners to ensure speedy rehabilitation of their shops for the full take-off of the market.

“It is totally unacceptable for people to be hawking in unapproved places.

“The shops in the market are being developed by the beneficiaries while the government is already taking care of infrastructure.

“This includes provision of facilities like parks, gift shops, toilets, storm water drainage, electricity, Police Post, banks and clinic,” the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Regional Market initially started as International Livestock Market in 1993.

NAN also reports that the FCT Administration granted a temporary allocation of plots to traders to build their shops in line with an approved prototype design. (NAN)
KM/HAS/NKO
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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