Blog

NAN-H-121
Kidnapping
By Ifeoma Aka
Enugu, Nov, 15, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State House of Assembly has amended the Criminal Code Law, cap 30 to allow for demolition of property used for kidnapping in the State.
Leader of the assembly, Mr Ikechukwu Ezugwu while presenting the Bill in Enugu on Tuesday, said it became necessary because kidnapping which had been alien was fast becoming a culture in the state.
He said the assembly suspended the Standing Order of the House to enable the bill pass through first, second and third reading immediately.
“We used to hear about kidnapping of expatriates in the Niger Delta but when expatriates ran away, they started kidnapping our people.
“The law has to be stringent so that before anybody thinks of kidnapping, he has to think twice.
“The question is that we adopt the amendment that buildings used for kidnapping be forfeited or demolished to deter people from engaging in the crime”, he said.
The assembly also passed the bill seeking to amend the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu to be upgraded to a degree awarding institution.
The member representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency, Mr Mathew Ugwueze while presenting the amendment bill said it to create job opportunities in the state.
The lawmaker said the state governor in his inaugural speech promised to make IMT a degree awarding institution.
Ugwueze said IMT was liaising with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to achieve the aim.
“If this is achieved, a good number of Enugu people will get admission into the institution”, he said.
He stressed that there was a growing demand to upgrade IMT to a degree awarding institution.
The Speaker of the assembly, Chief Edward Ubosi, thanked his colleagues for their contribution to the passing of the bill.
and adjourned sitting to Nov. 22. (NAN)
IFO /MNA/IEA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-113
Sentence
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 42-year-old farmer, Samuel Ukpe, to 18 years imprisonment for drug peddling.

Justice Muhammed did not give the farmer an option of fine.

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had arraigned Ukpe on Nov. 7 on a three-count charge.

Ukpe had pleaded guilty, while the judge adjourned the case for review of facts and sentencing.

On Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, tendered before the court, a written statement of Ukpe, a request for scientific aid form and a drug analysis form.

He also tendered, a forensic analysis result, as well as the bulk of the drugs, and urged the court to admit and mark them as exhibits to prove his case.

Idris admitted them in evidence, and consequently convicted the farmer, who pleaded for leniency and pledged to repent.

Idris held: “I have taken a look at the evidence tendered by prosecution, as well as the plea of the accused; he is found guilty as charged and is hereby convicted.

“The convict is accordingly sentenced to a term of eight years imprisonment each on counts one and two, and he is sentenced to two years imprisonment on count three.”

The judge also ordered that the drug exhibit should be destroyed by the NDLEA.

In the charge sheet, the prosecution atated that the farmer committed the offences on Aug. 26.

It said that Ukpe was arrested at the railway area of Apapa in Lagos with about 0.5g of cocaine, 1.4g of heroin as well as 9.8g of Cannabis Sativa.

According to the prosecution, the farmer sells the banned substances, and was arrested following a tipoff.

The NDLEA stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (a) and (c) of the NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)
UNS/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-119
Poll
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) Ahead of the forthcoming local government election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has assured its members of a hitch-free and acceptable primaries.

This was contained in statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by Olawale Sadare, the party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission(OYSIEC) on Monday released the time-table and regulations for the council poll scheduled to hold on Feb. 11, 2017.

NAN also reports that the election would hold in the 33 local councils and 35 newly created Local Council Development Areas(LCDAs)

The APC, however, expressed surprise at the date set aside for the sale of nomination forms and completion of party primaries.

“As stakeholders, we had expected OYSIEC to have invited all the registered political parties to a meeting.

“The meeting should have been where the content of the so-called time-table will be considered for possible scrutiny with a view to ensuring that no party was short-changed, but this did not happen.

“For the APC, which is obviously the party to beat in any election in Oyo State, we have been put in a very difficult situation.

“We don’t know how we would be manage our teeming aspirants within just three to four days and get acceptable ones for the large number of posts being contested,” it stated.

The party, however, said it would work around the situation as OYSIEC had made up its mind.

It called on members seeking chairmanship or councillorship positions in local government areas and LCDAs to visit the party’s secretariat. (NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-HE-28

Shares

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The market indices of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday dropped further by 0.50 per cent following investors’ reaction to the October 2016 inflation figure of 18.3 per cent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation lost N44 billion or 0.50 per cent to close at N8.901 trillion from the N8.945 trillion recorded on Monday.

Also, the All-share Index, which opened at 25,986.81, shed 129.75 points or 0.50 per cent to close at 25,857.06 due to price loses by some blue chips.

Dr Uche Uwaleke, the Head of Banking And Finance Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, told NAN that the stock market would continue to plummet with the rising inflationary trend.

Uwaleke said that the rise in inflation rate would continue to dampen the confidence of domestic investors, especially now that foreign investors’ participation had been on the decline.

Lafarge Africa topped the price losers’ table with a loss of N4 to close at N44 per share.

Dangote Cement trailed with a loss of N2.50 to close at N161.50, while Conoil lost N1.79 to close at N34.11 per share.

International Breweries depreciated by 89k to close at N19, while Forte Oil declined by 32k to close at N94 per share.

Conversely, Mobil led the price gainers’ table with N5 to close at N195 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank followed with a gain 90k to close at N21.90, while NASCON garnered 35k to close at N7.35 per share.

Nigerian Breweries appreciated by 31k to close at N142.31, while Custodian and Allied insurance improved by 18k to close at N3.81 per share.

NAN reports that the volume of shares traded closed higher with 189.73 million shares valued at N905.10 million transacted in 2,417 deals.

This was in contrast the 160.91 million shares worth N1.12 billion achieved in 2,431 deals on Monday.

Standard Insurance drove the activity chart with a total of 95 million shares worth N47.50 million.

It was trailed by United Capital accounting for 11.33 million shares valued at N28.09 million, while FBN Holdings traded 11.23 million shares worth N34.36 million.

Eterna Oil exchanged 10.75 million shares valued at N32.99 million, while United Bank for Africa traded 7.26 million shares worth N31.20 million. (NAN)
JNC/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-AE-13
Climate
Morocco, Nov. 15, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hopes U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would drop plans to quit a global accord aimed at weaning the world off fossil fuels.

Ki-Moon was speaking on Tuesday at Conference of Parties (COP22), a meeting of almost 200 nations in Morocco to work out ways to implement the 2015 Paris agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions

The UN Scribe, who said action on climate change had become “unstoppable”, hoped Trump would “evaluate” his position on it.

Trump had previously said he would withdraw US from Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Ki-moon said market forces were already pushing the world economy towards cleaner energies.

He said U.S. companies, states and cities were all pushing to limit global warming.

“What was once unthinkable has become unstoppable,” he said, adding Paris Agreement, agreed by governments last year, ratified in record time and formally adopted by more than 100 nations including the U.S.

Australia has signed the Paris Agreement, and the Federal Government said it would ratify the agreement despite concerns Trump would withdraw support.

The accord, aimed to phase out net greenhouse gas emissions this century.

It was a breakthrough after more than two decades of negotiations, driven by increased scientific certainty that man-made emissions drive heat waves, floods and rising sea levels.

Ki-Moon hoped Trump, elected last Tuesday, would drop his view that man-made climate change was a hoax and his pledge to cancel the Paris Agreement.

“I am sure he will make a quick, wise decision,” he said, stressing climate change was having severe impacts from the Arctic to Antarctica.

He noted this year was on track to be the warmest year since records began in the 19th century.

“A host of countries have ratified the Paris climate agreement and Australia seems likely to do so — here’s how we got to this stage.

“Hope he will really hear and understand the severity and urgency of addressing climate change.

“As president of the U.S. I hope he understands this, listens and evaluates his campaign remarks,” he said.

He said companies, including General Mills and Kellogg, states such as California and cities such as Washington, Nashville and Las Vegas were working to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

He said Trump, was a “very successful business person” and would understand that market forces were already acting to push the world economy towards cleaner energies, away from fossil fuels.

Ki-Moon who will step down at the end of the year after a decade in charge of the UN, has made action on climate change a core issue of his time in office.(Reuters/NAN)
IAA/AFA
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Felix Ajide
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Red Cross, Total Nigeria distributes household essentials to FCT IDPs

NAN-HG-5

Donation

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and Total Nigeria Plc, has distributed solar lamps and treated mosquito nets to no fewer than 1,200 families of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in FCT.

Total Nigeria Plc flagged off the distribution of 1,000 solar lamps and 3,000 mosquito nets at the Sun Shine uncompleted Estate Apo, an IDP camp, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mrs Olubumi Mordi, General Manager, Human Resource Corporate Services, Total Nigeria Plc, said the items would be distributed by The Nigerian Red Cross Society at four IDP camps within the FCT.

She said the initiative was aimed at providing corporate social responsibility to the IDPs to help improve their livelihood and health needs.

“Total Nigerian Plc is here to demonstrate her corporate social responsibility by providing few items to address some of the pressing needs of the IDPs.

“We are here to give Awanco Total solar lamps to provide lights at no cost and treated mosquito nets for the prevention of malaria to every house hold.

“Nigeria is a country where the sun shines every day, and with no need for electricity the lamps can be charged with sunlight and it will provide light at night for several hours,’’ she said.

Mordi stated that Total E and P Nigeria Ltd also donated 500,000 dollars to various IDP camps across the country to provide food, health commodities and psycho-social support within two years.

She sympathised with the IDPs and their families, assuring them of the organisation’s support until they were fully settled back at their communities.

Mr Adeyemo Andronicus, acting Secretary General, NRCS, lauded the initiative of the organization, adding that the Red Cross Society would continue to partner with various organisations in ensuring that humanitarian needs of IDPs were met.

While calling on corporate organisations and individuals to assist in alleviating the sufferings of the people, he said the Federal Government cannot meet all the needs of the IDPs.

He said the NRCS was a neutral, independent, unbiased empire which carries out its humanitarian mandate in conflict zones and also reaches out to the IDPs.

Andronicus said the distribution of the items would be done at four IDP settlements, including Waru Camp Apo, Malysia Camp Apo, Durumi settlement Camp Area 1 and Sunshine uncompleted Estate Apo. (NAN)

TIM/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-116
Intervention
By Ugonne Uzoma
Owerri, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Imo assembly on Tuesday invited the leadership of labour unions at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to interface with it on the ongoing crisis in the hospital.

The invitation followed a motion by Mr Ikechukwu Amuka (APC-Ideato South).

Amuka called for the invitation to be extended through the chairman of the health workers union, noting that the association was not in support of the actions of other labour unions in the centre.

He noted that the contention‎ between the staff and the management of the institution had affected the state adversely, denying the residents of access to good health care.

“The activities of the labour unions in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri  has deprived the residents of their right to good health care services; even the health workers association is not in agreement with their actions,” Amuka said.

He also called on the minister for health to intervene and profer solutions that could bring about lasting peace.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the staff of the centre had called for the sack of its Chief Medical Director, Mrs Angela Uwakwem, following allegations of corruption, leading to incessant strikes by the workers. (NAN)
UOI/MVO
(Edited by Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-H-112
Commiseration
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Oyo State Government has commiserated with the families of victims of Saturday`s fatal accident at the New Garage Area of Ibadan.

The government, through a delegation led by Chief Moses Adeyemo, the state’s Deputy Governor, sympathised  with the traders on Tuesday when a delegation visited  the scene of the accident.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accident, which claimed two lives, occurred when a truck ran into unsuspecting traders following brake failure.

Adeyemo described the incident as very unfortunate and prayed God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

He reiterated  government’s regulations  against road side trading and unnecessary loitering under high tension cables to avert possible disasters.

The deputy governor explained that government’s regulations had no ulterior motive and were for the overall benefit of the citizenry.

“We kept chasing people who are trading from the road sides but they have remained adamant.

“These laws and regulations are not to hurt people but to protect lives and properties, “ he said.

Adeyemo, who enjoined residents to always obey laws, also counselled drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations.

In her response, Chief Fadeke Awe, the deputy chairperson of New Garage market, thanked the deputy governor for the visit.

She appealed to the traders in the state to comply with all safety regulations of government.

Awe stated that the market associations in the state had always supported the government’s regulations to check road side hawking. (NAN)
TAA/MOL/OJO
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(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-HE-27
Surpluses
By Tajudeen Atitebi
Lagos, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Finance has announced the constitution of a committee to recover un-remitted operating surpluses of agencies of government running into N450 billion.

A statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday said that the committee, headed by the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, would reconcile operating surpluses of 31 revenue-generating agencies of government for the period 2010-2015.

It said that the the findings of the committee so far had shown under-remittance of over N450 billion that accrued within the period.

The ministry said that staff of the Office of Accountant General of the Federation had critically reviewed the accounting statements of these agencies which included the CBN, PTDF, NAFDAC, NTA and SEC, among others.

“The committee will therefore be inviting the management of these agencies to explain why their operating surpluses have not been remitted as mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

“Some of these agencies have incurred huge expenses on overseas training and medicals, and huge expenses on behalf of supervisory ministries and/other organs of government involved in oversight or regulatory functions without appropriate approval.

“Other infractions include payment of salaries and allowances to staff and board members, governing councils, and commissions which are outside or above the amount approved by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) and the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

“The list also includes unacceptable expenses incurred on donations, sponsorships, unfavourable contract signed for revenue collection by a third party; granting of staff loans that have not been repaid as well as sale and transfer of assets to board members, among others,” it said.

According to the ministry, the overall effect of these practices is that operating surpluses of these agencies are lower than should be.

“As a result of this, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has directed the Accountant General of the Federation to issue a circular that will limit allowable expenses that can be spent as part of measures to ensure these agencies face strict monitoring.

“This development is part of the resolve of the Honourable Minister to ensure that leakages are tackled,” the statement said. (NAN)
PR/TA

Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-103
Conference
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Heads of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in both the private and public sector will meet in Abuja to brainstorm on how to move the sector forward.

Mr Gabriel Morgan, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Association of Telecommunications Professionals of Nigeria, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

Morgan said that the heads of ICT professional development conference 2016, which would hold on Nov. 17 in Abuja, has the theme: “ICT Proficiency and Corporate Management: A Panacea to Nation Building’’.

He said that the conference was designed to bring together a wide range of top and renowned heads of ICT experts to deliberate on the reengineering of the ICT industry and professional synergy an Africa.

He said that dignitaries were expected from within and outside the country to exchange expertise knowledge and to share professional insight on industry issues from leading Africa ICT experts in variety of specialised fields.

“And to explore the practical role of ICT in the 21^st Century as relates to ICT proficiency and corporate management nation building, and also to honour those African ICT veterans, professionals, practitioners, organisations, government official and stakeholders.

“Who have contributed immensely to the sector development of the Telecommunications Sector in Nigeria and cross Africa continent and endorsed by African Telecommunications Union (ATU).

He said that this year’s conference would showcase all the heads of ICT including but limited to ICT policymakers, representative from ICT and broadcasting operating companies, captains of industry, professionals, practitioners, stakeholders, ICT Researchers, Directors of ICT in Tertiary Institutions

“Heads of ICT units in all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Heads of ICT Departments in Oil and Gas Sector, Financial Institutions, Aviation Industry, Military and Paramilitary Agencies in Nigeria and beyond. (NAN)
COA/GY
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Edited/Controlled by Grace Yussuf