Blog

NAN-DS-11
Sentence
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Izzi (Ebonyi), Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has vowed to sign the death warrants of persons convicted of kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other crimes in the state.

Umahi made the pronouncement when he visited the 20-kilometre rice field disputed by the Onweonweya and Mkpumekweoku communities in Izzi Local Government Area.

Umahi remarked that in keeping with the government’s prison decongestion programme, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and related cases must pass through the entire judicial process.

“We will not pardon such convicts whether they have repented or not, as our red biro will come out to sign anything for a man convicted of these crimes.

“We can only encourage their speedy trials but if they are found guilty, we will beg God and sign for such lives if the courts say so.

“When one experiences the kidnap of a relation, the person will understand the trauma people pass through on such occasions.

“We can show mercy for other crimes but they must be based on merit,” he said.

He urged the people of Mkpumekweoku to be calm in the face of provocation, noting that the government would not entertain reprisal attacks.

“We must bring the perpetrators of this act to book and I trust the commissioner of police to ensure that this is achieved.

“We have to live in peace and take advantage of our programmes to keep busy but not to make trouble,” he said.

He thanked the commissioner of police and his officers for their prompt intervention, urging them to ensure adequate security in the affected areas.

The Caretaker Chairman of the council, Mr Richard Idike, thanked the governor for the visit, noting that it shows his passion for the people’s wellbeing.

“The dead were hacked to death and covered with grasses on the disputed land.

“The dispute has spanned more than 30 years with all efforts to settle it by stakeholders proving abortive,” he said.

Mrs Mercy Aloh, an indigene of Onweonweya community, called for sustained security presence in the area as many people were afraid to return home.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three people died as a result of the crisis with several houses burnt and properties worth millions of naira destroyed. (NAN)
RCO/MVO
(Edited by Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-HE-22

Shares

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) maintained a downward trend on Wednesday with major equities recording price loses led by Nestle.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nestle lost N14.77 to close at N800 per share.

7UP came second with a loss of N13.96 to close at N127.36 and Forte Oil shed N6.98 to close at N87.02 per share.

Flour Mills was down by 94k to close at N17.94, while Glaxosmithkline declined by 75k to close at N14.26 per share.

As a result of the huge loses posted by major blue chips, the NSE market indices dropped further by 0.79 per cent.

NAN reports that the All-Share Index shed 203.92 points or 0.79 per cent to close at 25,653.14 compared to 25,857.06 achieved on Tuesday.

Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N8.901 trillion, lost N71 billion or 0.79 per cent to close at N8.830 trillion.

On the other hand, International Breweries led the gainers’ table with a growth of 89k to close at N19.89 per share.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated followed with a gain of 19k to close at N9.71 and Union Bank of Nigeria garnered 14k to close at N4.30 per share.

Lafarge Africa appreciated by 10k to close at N44.10 and Fidson Health Care increased by 6k to close at N1.29 per share.

Zenith International Bank was investors delight in volume terms, trading 19.32 million shares worth N272.10 million.

It was trailed by Access Bank, having accounted for 16.89 million shares valued at N91.29 million and United Bank for Africa traded 12.63 million shares worth N53.81 million.

Eterna Oil sold 12.50 million shares valued at N38.28 million, while Wema Bank exchanged 10.00 million shares worth N5.90 million.

NAN also reports that investors staked N1.35 billion on 145.74 million shares exchanged in 2,421 deals.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 189.73 million shares valued at N905.10 million achieved in 2,417 deals on Tuesday. (NAN)
JNC/JEO/IA

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-H-106
Strike
Aliero (Kebbi),Nov. 16 2016 (NAN)The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU), Kebbi State University of Science and Technology chapter,has on Wednesday joined the nationwide one-week warning strike declared by the national secretariat of the union.

The Branch Chairman of the union, Dr Sa’adu Umar,  announced this in a statement he signed and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria NAN in Aliero on Wednesday.

According to Umar, the  union has joined the industrial  action in in compliance with the directive of  the national secretariat of the union.

The statement identified reasons for the industrial action as  non provision of funding for Revitalisation of Federal Universities based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the union and the Federal Government as earlier agreed in November 2013.

He said the union also embarked on the strike because of the lingering issue of inadequate subvention by visitors of state universities and failure to enroll universities into the National Universities Pension Company (NUPEMCO).

Other issues are: shortfall in salaries leading to payment of a fraction of staff salaries and deliberate nonpayment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), among others.

Umar emphasised that comprehensive teaching and learning would not take place in the universities until the expiration of the period of the strike.(NAN)
BKD/OSA/AMY

Edited by Shittu Obassa and Abdullahi Yusuf

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NAN-HE-78
Entrepreneurship
By Ifeoma Akah
Enugu, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) An Enugu based group, Business Vendors Exhibition (BVE), on Wednesday called on Nigerian youths to embark on entrepreneurial activities with emphasis on local content.

The BVE Executive Director, Miss Somadina Akubue, made this call in Enugu while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the group’s second shopping festival slated for Nov. 19.

Akubue noted that the raw materials for such ventures as bead making, detergents, clothing, catering, confectioneries, interior decorations and photography were abundantly available and cheaper in Nigeria.

“Many youths have not realised that Nigeria is blessed with abundant raw materials for the small and medium scale enterprises.

“If you go to Aba, you will get assorted quality leather for shoes and bags, fabrics for clothes and beddings and a host of other things at moderate prices,’’ she said.

The director said that she held the festival quarterly to enable young entrepreneurs showcase their products to the world, so that they could attract customers and investors.

She said that no fewer than 95 participants had indicated interest in the festival, adding that the exhibition fee for a stand stood at N5,000 a day for the two-day event.

Akubue, who is into the making of clothes, shoes and bags with local fabrics such as ankara, said that there would be free entry for visitors and investors.

The director called for the support of the State Government, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bank of Industry and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to enhance the event. (NAN)

IFO/MNA/YEMI
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NOA warns against wrong use of national flag, display of president’s portrait

NAN-H-102

Flags

Birnin Kebbi, Nov. 16,2016 (NAN) The Executive Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kebbi, Mr Joseph Yero, has warned against the  hoisting of tattered and  improper  Nigerian Flag  and display of an unofficial portrait of President Muhammadu Buhari in the state.

Yero told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday that  NOA would not relent in its efforts to ensure that national symbols were accorded their due respect.

“NOA, being the custodian of the national symbols,we cannot fold our arms and overlook the abuse of our symbols which many Nigerians have died trying to protect,” he said.

According to him,the standard flag is obtained from the offices of  NOA  in the country, adding that locally sewn flag  is unacceptable.

Yero said any organisation that  hoisted the wrong  flag of  the nation had violated the Ordinance Act of 1960.

“Any organisation with the incorrect flag is non-existent to us,” he said.

He urged such Ministries Departments and Agencies( MDAs) and corporate organisations to desist from abusing the national symbols, saying that NOA had  made  those  symbols available.

The director said the agency would embark on public  enlightenment and  raise awareness  on the need for strict adherence  to proper use of the national symbols.

Yero also called for the eradication of examination malpractice in schools in the state, describing the menace as most unfortunate.

He said examination malpractice was killing the quest for excellence, saying all hands should be on deck to promote excellence in the education sector.

“The agency will work closely with teachers,parents, managements of both public and private schools and policy makers to address this ugly situation,” he said.(NAN).

IBI/OSA/AMY

Edited by Shittu Obassa and Abdullahi Yusuf

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Abandoned projects: ministry commences assessment, plans to partner with private sector

NAN-HE- 16
Assessment
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Ministry of Budget and National Planning says it has begun the assessment of abandoned projects in the country to find ways of deriving maximum benefits from them.

The Director of Administration in the ministry, Mr Christian Ezeilo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had been directed to do same.

“If you look at what is going on, every MDA has been asked to come up with the list of all abandoned projects so that we can look at them critically.

“We need to look at them critically and see the ones that the private sector can help the government to complete and those that the government can also complete,’’ Ezeilo said.

According to him, some of the projects have lasted for years and the government will need to complete them.

Ezeilo, however, said that the ministry would also partner with the private sector to develop some infrastructure in the country.

The director said the ministry had built the capacity of staff in some key MDAs on how to package bankable infrastructure Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

He listed some of the heavy infrastructure MDAs as Works, Aviation and Transport, Water Resources.

“We want to bring Nigeria’s infrastructure to that of South Africa.

“Nigeria’s infrastructure is estimated to be only 20-25 per cent in 2013, compared to South Africa’s 87 per cent.

“This necessitated the formulation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), a 30-year plan aimed at increasing infrastructure stock to 70 per cent of Gross Domestic Product by 2043,’’ Ezeilo said.

According to him, the only way to implement the plan is to partner with the private sector.

NAN reports that the NIIMP stipulates that Nigeria will need an average of 25 billion dollars per annually for the next five years to sustain a robust economic growth.

NIIMP further projects that, to fund the infrastructure needs of the growing economy over the 30 years, the country would need to spend above three trillion dollars to close its infrastructure in core asset classes. (NAN)

CIA/LAB/IA
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-HE-4

Budget

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Some financial experts, on Wednesday, warned that if the impasse on the 2017 budget lingered on, it would affect the budget implementation and increase the current economic slowdown.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and the National Assembly on the 2017 budget was not good for economic development.

Prof. Sheriffadeen Tella of the Department of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said that the country needed to strengthen, present and approve the budget early so as to achieve the desired goals.

Tella called on the Ministry of Finance and the Budget office to work closely with the National Assembly for effective resolution of the pending issues to ensure passage of the budget latest by January 2017.

According to him, the challenges facing the country should not be compounded with the budget impasse.

He said that the nation would continue to experience budget spill over with the development.

“Whatever we want to achieve in one year, we can’t achieve it again with the impasse because there will be a spill over,’’ Tella said.

Tella appealed to the National Assembly to give the budget accelerated hearing in the interest of the economy.

Dr Uche Uwaleke, the Head of Banking And Finance Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said the country was running late on the issue of the 2017 budget.

Uwaleke stated that the development was worrisome and detrimental to economic growth.

“The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 requires the framework for the budget, that is MTEF/FSP, to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration at least four months to the end of the financial year.

“But, the 2017-2019 MTEF was not forwarded till Oct. 4 and to make matters worse, it was returned by the Senate on the ground that the document lacked details,’’ Uwaleke said.

He said that the executive should expedite action on the document and re-submit it to the Senate for immediate consideration and approval.

Uwaleke, however, urged the Senate to ensure that the 2017 appropriation bill was attended to before the end of the year once the issue was resolved.

NAN reports that government planned to spend an estimated N6.812 trillion as its budget for 2017.

The figure is about 13.3 per cent higher than N6.06 trillion budgeted for 2016.

It also pegged the oil benchmark at 42.50 dollars per barrel of crude oil with 2.2 million barrels per day and the exchange rate was pegged at N290 per dollar.

Government also allocated the sum of N2.6 trillion for recurrent expenditure; N1.8 trillion for capital expenditure; N1.6 trillion for debt servicing and N370 billion for statutory transfers. (NAN)
JNC/FF/YEMI

Edited by Fela Fashoro

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-99

UNILAG

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Lecturers of the University of Lagos on Wednesday complied with the directive of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to its members nationwide to begin a one-week warning strike.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the university campus reports that students were found milling around and idling away, as lecturers stayed away from classes.

A 400 level Civil Engineering student, who simply identified himself as Biodun, pleaded with the federal government to intervene and accede to the lecturers’ demands.

“The lecturers are fighting for us.

“Government should please listen to them because I will not like a repeat of the 2013 protracted strike.

“I knew how much the 2013 strike cost me,’’ Biodun said.

Dr Adelaja Odukoya, Chairman ASUU University of Lagos chapter, told NAN that he was impressed by the level of compliance of his colleagues in the university to the strike directive.

According to him, the union will remain resolute in ensuring that the strike is total.

He said that the union was agitating for the interest of students, their parents and development of the education sector.

Odukoya said for the nation’s universities to remain relevant and be globally competitive, they must embrace standard best practices and do what others were doing.

“ I am very happy with the total compliance of members in this branch.

“However, a few of them, who wanted to test our resolve by attempting to enter the classes for academic activities, were quickly called to order.

“We hear the National Assembly is calling for a reconsideration of our action and come over to dialogue.

“I do not think there is any seriousness in the concern they are showing now.

“We have been doing everything possible to hold dialogue on these issues raised and each time we try, it is promises or even outright silence.

“We are not happy that we are declaring the strike because we know how badly it affects us.

“But since no one seems to bother about the situation in our university system, then we have to rise up to the occasion,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that the National Executive Committee of the union had on Monday declared a national warning strike at a news conference in Abuja to press home some demands.

The union President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, had said that the strike would begin nationwide in all university branches on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

He said the union was unhappy that the Federal Government had refused to honour its 2009 agreement with its members.

Ogunyemi also cited the denial of staff entitlement in respect of earned academic allowance amounting to N128 billion, among others, as necessitating the action.(NAN)

CCN/AIB/SOA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-DS-8
Commitment
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday restated its commitment to protecting the territorial integrity of the country against any form of aggression.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAF), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said this at the Service 2016 Operations Seminar at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja.

The seminar had as theme: “Developing Effective Airpower Responses to National Security Challenges in Nigeria.’’

Abubakar noted that the country had been in the eye of the storm the due to activities of the insurgents and militant groups as well as the threat to the well-being of citizens.

The airforce chief said that the subversive of the groups were appearing to pose as challenges to the political stability of the country and the desire to become a prosperous nation.

This, he said, called for more commitment to the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity for the peaceful co-existence of all.
“Since the advent of this administration, we have critically looked at every aspects of our air operations,’’ he said.

He said the airforce had assessed its coordination with land forces, logistics support, platform reactivation efforts and welfare of personnel.
Abubakar said the airforce had identified the critical role of training and retraining, reactivation of platforms, developing capacity in force protection and enhancement of personnel morale through the provision of decent shelter for all.
He said the airforce was winning the hearts and minds of host communities where military action was taking place, describing this as essential ingredients for success.
Abubakar said further that in order to ensure optimal performance, the service had over 700 personnel of different specialties in several parts of the world in the last 18 months.
“Today we have Flying Officers as Captains, Co-pilots, Flight Engineers and IPs on the C-130.
“We have 40 pilots training in different parts of the world while 27 are training in the country,’’ he said.
According to him, the airforce had expanded the infrastructure in its training school to accommodate 2,500 recruits at a time as against the 500 recruits in the past.
Abubakar explained that the efforts were necessitated by the expanded role the airforce was playing in the counter-insurgency operations in different parts of the country.
He added that to deal with the country’s increasing internal security challenges, four new Regiment Groups under the SOC located in Gusau, Owerri, Bauchi and Ipetu Ijesa would soon take-off.

“We have also established NAF AWC in Makurdi to build the capacity in understanding air operations.

“NAF has also brought in 14 additional aircraft that were grounded for one maintenance reason or the other into flying status,’’ he said.

Abubakar said that NAF had trained 325 personnel as Special Forces personnel on skills such as anti-hijacking and counter-terrorism.

He, however, urged the participants to avail themselves of the knowledge acquired from the seminar to improve on their performances and the service generally.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, expressed delight to be part of the NAF family.

The CDS was represented by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas.

Olonisakin commended the Chief of Air Staff for his outstanding performance so far, especially in the area of security and service assistance in the fight against terrorism in the North-East.

“The peculiarity of NAF operational space in terms of its ubiquity makes it an indispensable party to any military operations.

“As such, the role of NAF toward the overall development of any nation, particularly in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity cannot be overemphasised,’’ he said.

The CDS added that adopting this theme demonstrated clearly not only the desire of NAF to be more decisive, but also confirmed the zeal with which it intended to meet its responsibility.

Olonisakin urged the participants to seize the opportunity to improve their current operational strategies. (NAN)
YI/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-DS-9

Alcohol

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Nov.16, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified alcohol impairment as one of the causes of road accidents in the country.

Mr Sunday Iyamah, Ebonyi Sector Commander of the corps, said this on Wednesday in Abakaliki during a sensitisation rally organised for motorists on the dangers of driving under alcoholic influence.

Iyama said the annual event was organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Breweries PLC to enlighten the public on the dangers of ‘drunk-driving’.

“Alcohol has some benefits when taken in moderation, but is injurious to driving no matter the level of moderation.

“It serves as a depressant or stimulant depending on the quantity or type taken and its impairment also influences the severity of injuries sustained during crashes,” he said.

The sector commander also said that alcohol increased crash risks even at a ‘low-blood’ or ‘breathe-concentration’.

“This makes victims prone to over confidence, poor judgment of distances, increased drivers’ reaction-time, decreased vision acuity, un-calculated risks, among others.

“It also has significant effect on post-crash phase as it has analgesic and anaesthetic properties that can suppress pain.

“These properties are dangerous in cases of post-crash care in the areas of diagnosis, treatment and management as victims seldom experience intense pain that leads to discovery of injuries or body-parts dislocation,” he said.

Mr Samuel Obayemi, Enugu Zonal Commanding Officer of the Corps, urged motorists to always shun alcohol when driving and desist from driving when under alcohol influence.

“The sensitisation programme would cut across states in the zone to ensure that drivers don’t drive under the influence of alcohol to save lives.

“This sensitisation programme is paramount because of the prevailing ‘Ember Months’ when there are increased vehicular movements with people striving to meet various engagements,” he said.

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi commended the FRSC for the programme and said that the state government would assist in ensuring reduction of road accidents in the state.

Umahi, represented by Mr Felix Eworo, his Special Assitant on Transport, noted that the state government would dedicate a special day for drivers in the state to drink and not drive.

“You will have your fill on that day and would not drive to help in forming the habit of not driving when you consume alcohol,” he said.

Mr Benjamin Nworie, a Commercial Bus Driver, noted that he would educate his colleagues not to drive under alcohol influence, especially during the ‘Ember Months’.

Goodwill messages were given at the occasion by representatives of Nigerian Breweries, leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Tricycle and Commercial Motorcycle Association, among others.

The event was also witnessed by ‘sister’ agencies such as the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), among others.

The theme of the rally was, ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’. (NAN)
RCO/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf