Blog

NAN-H-39
Roads
By Buhari Bolaji
Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Senior Staff Union of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to fix the bad roads leading into the Tin-Can and Apapa ports.

The President of the union, Mr Benson Adegbeyeni, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said the poor state of most port access roads in Apapa had greatly impeded easy movement of people and consignments as well as undermine economic activities at the ports.

“Most of the ports access roads are in bad state and the situation is affecting business at the ports as well as the economy.

“I mean, people cannot move in and out of the ports freely because of this problem; consignments fall off from articulated vehicles, leading to great losses in goods and lives.

“The roads are strategic to the economy as the ports are one of the cash cows of the nation. So, the government should muster enough will to fix the problem to boost activities at the ports,’’ he said.

Adegbeyeni said the bad roads had impacted negatively on the health of port users and workers, including staff of NPA who were daily trapped in the resultant gridlock.

He said the union had interacted with the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and that of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and would sustain the interaction until the problem was solved.

The unionist said the recent rehabilitation work done on some of the access roads by some private operators for some government waivers had not produced the desired results., adding that government should take over the projects. (NAN)
BHB/FF/IS

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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Ismail Abdulaziz

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NAN-H-11
Accident
Lagos, Nov.16, 2016 (NAN) Three people died in a multiple accident involved six vehicles that occurred on Kara Bridge of the Lagos /Ibadan Expressway in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the South-West Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed this in a message he sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that six vehicles comprising a car, three containers and two tankers were involved in the accident that happened around 3.08a.m.

The text also quoted the South West coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, as advising motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan outbound route to take, alternatively, the Ikorodu route to avoid the gridlock

Also, a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also saw scores of commuters trekking long distances following the accident.

A speeding trailer loaded with petrol, witnesses say, caused the accident when it rammed into others,spilled its content on the floor, exploded and caught fire which extended to the others.

The accident, which occurred on the Lagos outbound lane of the bridge, forced several drivers to park, turning the scene into a spectacle.
The correspondent who passed through the scene observed that some of the vehicles were still burning on the bridge.
NAN also saw officials of the Federal Fire Service making frantic efforts to put out the fire.
Also, officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) cordoned-off the area to prevent other losses.
NAN also observed that those trekking were people living in Ibafo, Mowe, Warewa, Prayer City area and Arepo in Ogun working or going to transact various businesses in Lagos State.
Also affected were those travelling to Lagos from other parts of Nigeria as well as those travelling outside Lagos.
The gridlock that started from the Kara Bridge, close to the popular Julius Berger Bus Stop, stretched to Asese, a few kilometers away from the Redemption Camp as at 8 a.m.
Similarly, the queue formed by the Lagos outbound vehicles had stretched from the scene to Magodo, opposite the Lagos State Secretariat complex.
Many intending passengers that had wanted to travel to Lagos were stranded at their various bus stops because majority of the commercial buses that could have conveyed them were held in the traffic.
A witness, who identified himself as Suraju Fadele, told NAN that the accident occurred at about 4 a.m.
Fadele, a butcher, said that the accident was caused by a fast moving unmarked trailer loaded with petroleum product that ran into another articulated vehicles and immediately exploded.
“I was waiting by the road side for my friend with some others to display our beef for the early morning market sales.
“Suddenly, I saw a trailer on top speed moving toward our side and passed us.
“A few metres away from us, we heard a loud explosion which made us run for dear lives, and afterwards, we saw huge billows of fire on the bridge.
“We realised that the trailer must have rammed into other articulated vehicles on the bridge because there were many of them there as at that time.
“The problem with the accident is that nobody could move near the scene because of the raging fire,’’ he said.
Another witness, who simply identified himself as Bashir, lamented the reckless and dangerous manner articulated vehicles usually drive on the road.
“What caused the accident was simply speeding. The driver of the tanker was on top speed and I wonder why such a speed.
“Before I could look ahead, he had rammed into another trailer ahead of it.
“When the trailer sped past us, we remarked that its driver was speeding and within a twinkle of an eye, we heard the loud bang followed by a raging fire.
“There was another trailer under repair on the bridge which I think was loaded with rice; the trailer must have rammed into it, Bashir said.
NAN reports that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had witnessed similar accidents in the year. On January7, 2016, some passengers lost their lives.
Also, on July21, some passengers lost their lives in an accident.
However, Julius Berger Plc, a construction company, had commenced the rehabilitation of a part of the expressway from Sagamu Interchange Bridge to the Lagos end of the defunct old toll gate around 7-Up.
Similarly, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) is handling the stretch from Sagamu Interchange Bridge to Ibadan end of the defunct toll gate.
The former President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration awarded the contracts for the rehabilitation of the road to both companies. (NAN)
KOJE/PAD/PDE
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Edited by Peter Dada, controlled by Peter Ejiofor

Man, 30, docked over alleged assault in Benin

NAN-H-32

Assault

By Monday Ajogun

Benin, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) A 30-year-old man, Agontan Emmanuel, was on Wednesday docked in Benin for allegedly assaulting one Sunday Patrick.

Emmanuel of unknown address is facing a count charge of assault at an Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Olatoye Oluwaseun, told the Court that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 6, at Bewak St., Upper Sakponba, Benin.

Oluwaseun alleged that the accused unlawfully slapped the complainant on his face and pushed him toward an oncoming vehicle.

He said that Patrick was knocked down by the moving vehicle which led to his broken right ankle.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 355 of the criminal Code.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs C.E. Oghuma, granted the accused N40,000 bail and a surety in like sum.

Oghuma said that the surety must be gainfully employed.

The court adjourned the case to Dec. 5, for hearing. (NAN)

AJOM/DEB/MST

Edited by Debo Oshundun/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-HG-9

Hospital

Uyo, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The management of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) has attributed  its inability to complete several projects started six years ago to paucity of funds.

The UUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Etete Peters, said this on Wednesday in Uyo when he received  the Acting Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (PRC), Mr Victor Muruako.

Peters identified the uncompleted projects to include the General Out-Patient Block and the Radiology/C.T Scan Building.

He said that N56 million was required to complete the General Out-Patient Block, which has 30 consulting rooms, three seminar rooms, a conference room and a central medical record library.

The CMD said that the Radiology/C.T Scan Building started in 2011, had provision for 68-slice C.T Scan, digital x-ray, fluoroscopy machine, mammography machine and echocardiography/ultrasonography suites.

He explained that the Radiology/C.T Scan building was 68 per cent completed and would require N54.7 million to complete work.

The CMD also said that the mortuary needed expansion and upgrade of facilities especially in Histopathology.

Peters complained that the delay in the completion of these projects resulted to an upward review of the contract sum due to the high cost of building materials.

“We have an average out-patient population of about 11, 500 per month. It is the only tertiary institution serving four million people in Akwa Ibom.

“We have increased the bed space from 200 that we had in 2008 to over 500 in 2016.

“The administrative block has laboratories in the ground and first floors; it hazardous to sit on top of laboratories. This is our dilemma,” Peters said.

The CMD said that he was delighted at the visit, adding that he would like to complete all ongoing projects before the expiration of his tenure next year.

Responding, Muruako, said that the team was at UUTH to verify all capital projects, their implementation and challenges.

He said that the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 empowered the commission to compel any person or government institutions to disclose information relating to public revenues and expenditure.

Muruako said that under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, the people also had the right to question how government funds had been spent on projects.

“We are to prevent corruption and cause things to move in proper perspective according to budgetary provisions.”

Muruako, who undertook inspection of the uncompleted projects at the hospital, commended the CMD for trying to expand infrastructure at the hospital.

He promised to let the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Health know about the plight of the hospital. (NAN)

BB/NKO/NKO

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NAN-H-33

Corruption

By Awayi Kuje

Akwanga (Nasarawa state), Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) on Wednesday lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade and called on Nigerians to support it.

The National President of the church, Dr Jerry Madibo, drummed up the support in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the church’s centenary celebration in Akwanga, Nasarawa state.

Madibo stated that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian system and is largely responsible for the country’s socio-economic underdevelopment.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to put all hands on deck to eliminate corruption.

The church leader, who gave a brief history of ERCC, said it was established in Nigeria in 1916 by Arthur Judd, a missionary from South Africa.

He said the establishment of the church in the country contributed immensely to making idol worshippers to embrace Christianity.

“Apart from the primary mission of evangelising, the missionaries also considered education and healthcare as cardinal objectives by establishing many tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools as well primary healthcare centres.

“The church is not bereft of the idea of promoting peace and sensitising members as well as all Nigerians to support good government policies and programmes irrespective of our background for the overall development of the country.

“It is in view of this that I want to use this medium to commend President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for its avowed fight against corruption, which has been eating deep into the fabric of our dear country.’’

He said Nigerians could only achieve development if they supported President Buhari’s  anti-corruption war.

“For Nigeria to achieve speedy development, people must do away with sentiments, corruption, injustice, and abuse of office, among others.’’

Madibo reiterated the commitment of the church to supporting key government policies that can impact the lives of Nigerians.

He also appealed to Nigerians to be law abiding while respecting constituted authorities for peace and national development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the church has lined up many activities for the 10-day celebration which marks 100 years of its existence in Nigeria. (NAN)

AKW/DOR/YEE

Edited by Nyesom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-36
Internet
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) ECOWAS says it will expand access to affordable internet connection to promote growth and development in the sub-region.

In a statement issued by the commission in Abuja on Wednesday, the sub-regional bloc said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Wide Web Foundation to work toward expanding access to fixed-line and mobile internet.

The MoU was also aimed at supporting a research agenda that will provide robust evidence for developing the policies needed to expand access in West Africa.

The signing of the agreement makes ECOWAS a member of the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), an international coalition of organisations working to reduce the cost of internet connection and increase broadband access globally.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mr Isaias Barreto da Rosa, reiterated the bloc’s commitment to sustainable development in the sub-region.

Barreto da Rosa explained that the opportunities for entrepreneurship and and growth through accessible internet connection were limitless.

“Achieving our vision for a stronger West Africa will require us putting internet access at the heart of our work.

“Working with the A4AI to develop the smart policies needed to promote competition and growth in the telecommunications sector and enable connection prices to fall is a critical step toward expanding access and allowing our citizens to tap into the vast development potential on the web.

“We are proud to be the newest member of A4AI, and look forward to working closely with all of the Alliance members to making affordable internet access a reality for all.”

A4AI is the world’s broadest technology sector coalition, with more than 80 members from across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including Google, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Launched in 2013 by the World Wide Web Foundation, A4AI is currently working in six countries to drive down the cost of broadband internet through locally driven policy and regulatory change.

The countries are: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique, Myanmar, and the Dominican Republic.

According to the statement, nearly 75 per cent of Africa’s population currently remains unconnected.

Affordability remains a significant barrier to increased access across the continent, as broadband prices throughout many of the ECOWAS countries remain expensive.

Through collaborative work on research, capacity building, and policy making, ECOWAS and A4AI will work to develop and implement the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to reduce the cost of connection for service providers and consumers.(NAN)
TOP/EAL/AMY
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi and Abdullahi Yusuf
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NAN-H-7
Arik
By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Nov.16, 2016 (NAN) Arik Air on Wednesday announced reduction of flights due to the lingering scarcity of JET A1 (aviation fuel).

The airline made the announcement in a statement by its Communications Manager, Mr Ola Adebanji, in Lagos.

Arik Air said that aviation fuel scarcity started manifesting last week when major oil marketers began to ration supply of the product to airlines.

It said: “With a daily fuel need of about 500,000 litres and an average of over 100 daily flights, Arik Air is mostly affected by this scarcity which is the fourth this year alone.

“One of the airline’s flights to Johannesburg on Tuesday had to be routed via Port Harcourt to pick up fuel.

“As a result of the worsening supply situation of aviation fuel, Arik Air has announced further reduction in flights from Nov. 16 to cope with the fresh scarcity.’’

According to the airline, the reduction will reduce unpleasant flight delays and cancellations which passengers have experienced in recent times.

It said that an oil marketer issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Saturday, alerting of non-availability of the product in Lagos.

Arik Air added that another marketer said it was running out of the product in Lagos with limited supplies in Port Harcourt and Abuja.

“This development has started taking its toll on Arik Air due to the airline’s large scale operations, with flights being delayed across the country and, in some cases, cancelled especially for airports without airfield lighting.”

It appealed for the understanding of its customers whose flights were likely to be affected by the scarcity and scaling down of operations.

It said that would notify passengers through SMS or email messages in situation where flights would be delayed or cancelled due to the scarcity.

NAN reports that the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, had at the weekend, assured stakeholders in the sector that the government was making efforts to address the scarcity.

Sirika said that the long-term target of the government was to ensure local production of aviation fuel to make the product easily available for airline operators. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-HG-8

Advocacy

Makurdi, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Health and Rights of Vulnerable Girls and Women in Nigeria (HRVGWN), a civil society organisation, has urged government and stakeholders in education to create massive awareness on the dangers of prostitution.

The state Coordinator of the NGO, Mrs Gladys Shaahu, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.

She said that the awareness would help mitigate the menace and reduce the growing number of  commercial sex workers on the streets of Nigeria.

“Those ladies who stand by the road side every night or in hotels as prostitutes or commercial sex workers are doing that for economic benefits while many others are out rightly promiscuous naturally.

“Girls need proper education on HIV/AIDS, human trafficking and prostitution, especially the ones in the rural areas. they need to avoid negative behaviours that can predispose them to indulging in such vices.

“This is because they are the most affected, as they die and suffer everyday on the streets without the society paying attention to them.”

“So, all we are trying to do is to give them a sense of belonging and if possible, reintegrate them into the society.”

The coordinator added that ladies who engaged in commercial sex do not consider their health, emotions, security and integrity.

Shaahu said that the organisation had evolved ways of taking them off the streets by training them on various skills and empowering them for self-reliance. (NAN)

AEB/DUA/NKO

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Edited by Dada Ahmed/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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Court remands man, 24, for defiling neighbour’s 3-year-old daughter

NAN-HG-2
Defilement
By Boboye Moronke Tinuola
Lagos, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) A 24-year-old unemployed man, Blessing Agboola, was on Wednesday remanded in Kirikiri Prisons by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, for defiling a 3-year-old girl.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, remanded Agboola in prison after he had pleaded guilty for defiling the minor.

Elias adjourned the case to Dec. 5 for sentencing.

The accused, who resides at Odutola St., Alimosho, a suburb of Lagos, was charged for defilement.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rafael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on Oct. 28 at the accused residence.

Donny said that the accused defiled a 3-year-old daughter of his neighbour in his room.

“It was the cry of the baby that alerted her mother and caught the accused in the act,” he said.

He said that the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN)

MTO/IKU/MST

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-AE-7
Loans
By Rabiu Sani Ali
Hadejia (Jigawa), Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Jigawa has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure timely disbursement of agricultural loans to farmers for the next cropping season.

The association also called for the review of the conditions of the loans to enable peasant farmers access the facility.

Alhaji Idris Mai-Unguwa, Jigawa chairman of the association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Hadejia, that timely release of funds would ensure effective utilisation of the facility.

He said the Anchor Borrower scheme of the CBN, initiated in partnership with consortium of banks, would enhance agricultural financing when diligently pursued.

Mai-Unguwa said that the call was imperative to enable farmers effectively utilise the funds and boost production.

He attributed the failure of the previous programmes to late disbursement, noting that most of the facilities given to farmers came at a wrong time, resulting in gross misuse of the money.

“The loans should be given to farmers at the commencement of the cropping or planting season, depending on the geographical locations of farmers.

“In a situation whereby you disburse money to the farmers at the end of the season; it is of no help and they may not be able to repay the loan,” he said.

Mai-Unguwa suggested that the banks should monitor farm activities to allow for appropriate disbursement of the loans.

He, however, said that the loan conditions to smallholder farmers in rural areas involved a cumbersome process.

He noted that the terms set out by the banks were stringent for peasant farmers in view of their low capital base, stressing that the banks have failed to take care of the needs of rural farmers.

“Smallholder farmers in rural communities could not meet the conditions to enable them access the facility.

“The facility favoured large-scale farmers, who represent a small fraction of the farming population. It is desirable to review the facility to enable more farmers to benefit from it,” he said.

The chairman commended the Federal and State governments over their farmer support initiatives and said such gestures will encourage agricultural activity.

NAN reports that statistics from the Jigawa Ministry of Agriculture showed that 36 groups each comprising 250 farmers had registered under the Anchor Borrower scheme in the state.

It also indicated that the government had spent N439 million on the implementation of the programme, and distributed fertilisers, seeds and chemicals on loans to the farmers during the past cropping season.

NAN reports that the Anchor Borrower scheme was a critical component of the agriculture transformation agenda of the Federal Government, aimed at enhancing farmer access to inputs and financing, encouraging agricultural mechanisation, processing and entrepreneurial skills. (NAN)
RSA/ECN/IS

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Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Ismail Abdulaziz