Blog

NAN-HE-3
Investors

By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Nov. 13, 2016(NAN) Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has invited investors from China to participate in the Polaris-Pacesetter Free Trade Zone of the State Government.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday said Ajimobi struck the deal while in China.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the Oyo State Government and China Polaris Group had on Nov. 1 collaborated to establish a $2billion Polaris Pacesetter Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

The governor had turned the sod of the $2billion FTZ on a 1,000 hectare on the Ibadan axis of Lagos-Ibadan express way.

Arulogun said the governor had at the Great Hall of China addressed no fewer than 1,000 Chinese investors on the need to participate in the Polaris-Pacesetter Free Trade Zone Development Limited.

He stated that the governor was on a mission to improve the quality of lives of its people by bringing development to the state.

He said the governor had assured the would-be investors of safety and protection of their valuable assets.

“The FTZ was a significant departure from previous experiments in Nigeria as it was being anchored on the China-Africa Industrial Capacity assistance and cooperation model.

“The project has its bilateral as well as functional sister relationship with the Guye-Tangshan Free Trade Zone in China to form a ‘sister’ Free Trade Zone platform.

“This would further lead to the deepening of the bilateral relationship between China and Nigeria’’, he said.
According to him, the state is genuinely and sufficiently interested in the Chinese industrialisation model which the governor hopes could be replicated.

Arulogun said the governor had assured his host that a local and national market awaited the investing partners.

“There are huge potentials for manufacturers and service providers in this barrier free business environment.

“The state’s economy is an emerging one. This presents no limits for the investing public as the economy can be expanded and stretched without limitations.

“The future of the market and economy will therefore be controlled by the activities of today providing enormous opportunities to our investing partners.’’

Arulogun said the investors were assured of up to 100 per cent foreign ownership of businesses in a Zone where foreign capital investment could be repatriated at any time, with capital appreciation thereon.

He said the investors were further briefed on how profits and dividends could be allowed to be remitted offshore in the proposed market that would serve as platform for strong international competition. (NAN)

TAA/OMO/IEA

Edited by Martins Odeh/Idahosa Asowata

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NAN-H-39

Teachings

By Aminu Garko/ Rita Iliya

Minna, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Christians to be guided daily by the instructions and teachings of Christ and the Holy Bible.

Osinbajo, who is also a Pastor, made the call while at the 8th Annual Festival of Minna Choral Society on Sunday in Minna.

The Vice President, who took his text from the book of Romans, Chapter 8 verse 37, re-echoed the portion of the Bible that says “we are more than conqueror through Christ that loves us.’’

He reminded the people of St. Paul’s teachings about the various problems that must be confronted by man, saying that people must brace to world’s challenges.

“ St. Paul was referring to people who are elected and people who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

“He said that for I am persuaded that neither in death, nor in life, that Christ will not let us go.

“We are conqueror, not because we have any strength of our own, but because Christ has promised that if we can hold onto him, he will not let us down”, the VP said

Osinbajo noted that Christ loves us so much that he gave us his grace in this life and the life to come.

He said Nigerians must realise the abundant grace Christ had given to us, adding that the world’s problems were temporal.

‎Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger urged Nigerians to demonstrate honesty and sincerity in their daily activities.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to remind you to take advantage of occasions like this to reflect on the need to imbibe the true teachings of Christ.

“Are we indeed practicing things prescribed in the holy books. Are we our brothers’ keeper, do we see ourselves to have come from one father.

“The time has come for us to take the things of God more seriously.

“It is my prayers that‎ we will make our communities, our state and the country at large free from crisis.’’

He urged the choristers to‎ continue to use their God-given talent in advancing the Kingdom of God.

He asked youths to shun acts capable of ‎undermining the existence of the country, adding the youths were one of the priority areas of his administration.

“As a government, we are determined to give every youth the chance to succeed as they are one of our major priorities.

“We will not fail you but you must desist from acts capable of undermining our corporate existence”, he said

He pledged the support of the Niger state government to the Minna Choral Society, adding that the group had shown diligence in its activities over the years. (NAN)
AAG/RIS/OMO/IEA
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Edited by Martins Odeh/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-AE-2
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has predicted sunny and hazy weather over central states of the country with night temperatures of 29 to 36 degrees Celsius on Monday.
NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday.
The agency predicted that the southern states will experience cloudy to partly cloudy morning with night time temperatures of 32 to 35 degrees Celsius.
It also predicted possibility of isolated thunderstorms in few places over the coastal areas like Port Harcourt, Calabar and Eket in the evening and night.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience dust haze with visibility of about three to five kilometers over Nguru, Kastina, Yola and Yelwa .
“The region will have night time temperatures of 34 to 37 degrees Celsius.
“Northern part of the country will experience hazy condition while cloudy to partly cloudy conditions are expected over the inland and isolated thunderstorms in very few places around the coastal cities’’. (NAN)
OYS/OSA/IEA

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-37
Strength
By Lydia Ngwakwe and Yemi Adeleye
Lagos, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Chief Martin Onovo, the 2015 Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) on Sunday said that the party had begun to strengthen its structures for greater efficiency in the 2019 general elections.

Onovo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the aim was to give Nigerians desired leadership.

“What we are doing now is going to the grassroots to re-invigorate our structures and also ensure a concrete structure outside the country.

“This started in July, 2016 when we had our national convention in Akure.

“We are instigating state congresses to re-energise the party: when we succeed with that, the state leadership will do the same thing at the local government level.

“The local government will do the same thing at the Ward level. This is the time for internal self-auditing and planning.

“This is geared toward re-assessing, re-invigorating our organisation for effectiveness in 2019,’’ he said.

He said that an NCP administration would ensure a secure and economically vibrant country.

On why NCP was unable to secure a seat at state and national levels, Onovo alleged that elections in Nigeria had never been free and fair.

He said that the retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari administration would do better if it could do away with sycophants.

He said:”You must realise that there are sycophants in politics who are ever ready to interfere.

“You need to bring the right people who share your patriotic passion to work with you.”

Onovo said that corruption was against thecdevelopment of any society, adding that corrupt persons should be arrested, prosecuted and sentenced, if found guilty.

He urged the Federal Government to fix refineries as a strategy to rebuild the country and reduce corruption. (NAN)

LED/AYO/IKU/IGO
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(Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-34

Rehabilitation

By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Nov.13, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government is to rehabilitate Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway, Abuja, with about one billion naira.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a reliable source from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), disclosed this to aviation correspondents in Lagos on Sunday.

NAN gathered that the runway had been in bad state due to overuse and had been a source of concern to Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers.

The source said the Minister of State, Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, had set up a committee to oversee the work.

“Government is making urgent effort to start the rehabilitation of the runway at the Abuja airport and government has provided funds for the work, which could start anytime from now.  

“The committee is expected to schedule the maintenance dates, which are expected to run from days to weeks.

“It is expected to also decide whether the runway would be closed daily or some hours of the day so that work could start on the facility”, the source added.

According to the source, Sirika had designated Kaduna airport as alternative to Abuja so that flights would be diverted to Kaduna while work is ongoing at the nation’s second busiest airport.

The source further disclosed that the project had been advertised and Gilmore, Julius Berger and PW had bided for the project.

The source said:”After the committee’s final presentation to the Minister, he will be expected to discuss with the National Security Adviser to agree on the date work would start on the runway.

“The Abuja airport will be certified by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.The process for certification will end by March 2017.

“The airport has been chosen as the pilot for the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s No Country Left Behind campaign.”

The Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, also confirmed the rehabilitation plan for the Abuja airport.

She noted that all efforts were being made to ensure the runway was restored to international standard. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/IEA
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Edited by Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-32

Road‎
Minna, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has appealed to government to rehabilitate the Bida-Kateyeregi road to avert accidents on the route at Yuletide. ‎

The Branch Chairman ‎of the union,  Malam Dangwari Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Sunday that the road was in  shambles.

“We used to travel on that road to Bida in 50 minutes but now ‎it takes two and half hours of stressful drive to Bida.

“Since the beginning of this year, we have recorded four accidents on the road and with casualties.
‎
“We often lose our tyres because of the pot holes on the road. Just a month ago, a SURE-P 18-seater Bus was involved in an accident and five persons died on the road and many were injured”, he said.

Hassan said they had solicited government’s support ‎on rehabilitation of the road but up till now no meaningful thing has been done.

He said Christmas was fast drawing close, adding that government should rehabilitate the road before the yuletide. (NAN)

MNO‎/OSA/IEA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Idahosa Asowata

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NAN-H-30

Kindness

Benin, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Bishop of  the Anglican ‎Communion, Benin Diocese, Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, has called on Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo to extend a hand of fellowship to other candidates he defeated in the Sept. 28 governorship election.

Imasuen made the call during Thanksgiving Service at St. Peter’s Church in honour of the governor and his deputy, Mr Philip Shuaibu, in Benin on Sunday

Obaseki and Shuaibu took oath of office at at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday.

The Anglican bishop urged the governor not to abandon his defeated opponents  but to see how they could contribute meaningful ideas‎ in the interest of the masses.

He urged the governor to dedicate his administration to God and the service of the citizens, through human capital development and job creation.

He also admonished Obaseki to place his trust in God rather than depend solely on his political advisers

‎The governor described the church as a barometer of the larger society.

Obaseki said governance was a shared responsibility that could set the social compass on the right path, noting that ‎he would do what was right before God.

“I am very cognisant of the fact that the Church is an accurate barometer of our social situation. So, it would be a tragedy if I ignore the church in my administration.

“I assure you that I will do ‎all that which I believe is right before God. But pray for us.’’

He promised to personally donate five million naira annually for the training of priests in the Anglican Communion.

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Dr Felix Omobude prayed for Obaseki.

Obaseki succeeded Mr Adams Oshiomhole, whose two terms of four years each, ended on Saturday. (NAN)
ESI/DS/IEA
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Edited by Dauda Shehu/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-HE-2

Allocation

Yola, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Stakeholders have urged Adamawa Government to increase budgetary allocation to ministries and agencies involved in promotion of non-oil sectors, particularly agriculture and solid mineral resources.

The call is contain in a communique issued Sunday at the end of 4th Adamawa Community Dialogue, organized in Yola by a non-governmental organisation, Adamawa Community Advancement Initiative (ACAI) .

The communiqué, signed by chairman of the Communique Committee, Mallam Babayola Toungo and Convener of ACAI, Mr Bashiru Ahmad, also urged the authorities to expedite action on the harnessing of the abundant human and material resources of the state.

It also called for the involvement of the private sector in policy formulation and implementation in the development of the non-oil sector.

It also urged government to initiate well-organized and coordinated investments of  minerals identified in the state through public-private partnership.

It said such measure would help in revitalizing moribund industries in the state such as the Mubi Burnt Bricks Factory as well as pave way for the establishment of new firms which raw materials could be easily found among the various minerals resources scattered across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 4th Adamawa Community Dialogue with the theme ” Adamawa without Oil Money: Meeting the Challenges of Sustainable Development through Agriculture and Solid Mineral Resources Development”, attracted stakeholders from the organized private sector, academicians and government officials. (NAN)
YMU/ ASH/ASH

NAN-H-28
Loan
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), has advised the Federal Government against obtaining the proposed 30 billion foreign loan in a haste.
President of the council, Rev. Benebor Fubara, gave the advice at the 29th General Assembly of CCN  in Abuja on Sunday.
Fubara also advised the government to ensure that its economic policies  will not further  worsen the poverty in the country.

“I advise the government not to be in a hurry but take time and ensure that we don’t have structural adjustments to increase poverty.’’
The cleric also appealed to the government to take the opinions of the Church into consideration in formulating policies.

Fubara called on religious leaders to offer advice that will enable government to do things in line with the people’s yearnings and aspirations.
“The government of our country needs to hear the voice of the church loud and clear.
“The church needs to be a community that the government looks up to for the best of ethics and for the spiritual prayers that keep us going.
“I hope that through God’s grace and the team working with me and the rich legacy of those before me will push our voices forward to have a voice in the country’’.
The cleric also urged the government to build special schools in 774 to help those with special needs in the country.
“I will like to see that the government is encouraged to ensure that there is at least one school for people who are living with disability in every LGA.
“It does not make sense that we claim to be Christians or claim to be a comity of religious people and we are not taking the plight of those in need seriously’’, Fubara said. (NAN)
OYS/OSA/IEA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Idahosa Asowata

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NAN-H-9
Maritime
By Uche Eletuo
Lagos, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Mr Sesan Onileimo, the President of African Maritime Journalists Association (AMJA), on Sunday urged African leaders to close rank on maritime security to boost the continent’s economy.

Onileimo, who was recently inaugurated as the leader of the regional association, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that there was need for the leaders to work together to check the excesses of sea pirates and secure the waterways.

The pioneer president of the association said it was not by chance that 38 out of the 54 African countries were coastal states.

“This is a calculated plan by nature to make the region a blue economy that can trigger economic advancement in other sectors.

“There is vast endowment in aquatic and non-aquatic resources, including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes and underground waters.

“The rising insecurity in the rich Gulf of Guinea is scaring and can spur investor’s boycott of the region.

“Intra sub-regional trade is doing well to drive the cost of moving goods from one country to another in the North Africa.

“It will better if such trend is broaden in other African States,’’ Onileimo said.

He said that the spirit behind the recent African Union’s Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa hosted by the government of Togo was apt.

He said that a secured waterway could give life to a myriad of productive sectors, such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, ship building, energy, bio-prospecting and underwater mining, among others.

“If leaders can harmonise their shipping and trade-related policies to further reduce barriers to trade and free movement of goods and persons, the blue economy will sustain Africa,’’ he said. (NAN)
EUC/IKU/GOK
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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Olagoke Olatoye