Blog

NAN-H-44

Weather

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Nov. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Sunday.

NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office on Saturday in Abuja.

It said that the central region would have day time temperatures ranging from 29 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius and night time temperatures of between 11degrees Celsius and to 24 degrees Celsius.

The agency also predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy to partly cloudy morning with day and night time temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius.

It stated that there were prospects of localized thunderstorms over most parts of the cities like Calabar, Port Harcourt and Eket in the afternoon and evening hours.

According to NiMet, northern states will experience dust haze conditions with chances of reduced horizontal visibilities of about three to five kilometres.

“The region will have day time temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees and night time temperatures of 13 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius.

“Dust haze is expected over the Northern cities reducing horizontal visibilities with increased dryness over the country.

“However, partly cloudy-to-cloudy weather is anticipated over some parts of the south with isolated thunderstorms in few cities in the next 24 hours,’’ the agency declared. (NAN)

OYS/DO/OPI

Edited by David Onilede and Olisa Ifeajika
 

NAN-H-43

Mining

Yola, 12, 2016 (NAN) The mining of solid minerals including Diamond, Gold,  Bitumen and Barite in Adamawa by a Swiss firm is to commence in December.

The state Commissioner of Solid Mineral Resources, Ms Shanti Shashi, made this known Saturday in Yola at the 4 th Adamawa Community Dialogue organized by an NGO, the Adamawa Community Advancement Initiative (ACAI).

Shashi said the Swiss firm, BTP Swiss Sovereign Asset,  and the Adamawa Mining Company would be involved in the mining of seven minerals comprising diamond, gold, zinc, bitumen, barite, uranium and platinum in the state under a three-year agreement.

Shashi said that the state government, which was committed to taping its solid mineral resources, had already acquired  12 mineral exploration licenses from the Federal Government.

While noting the numerous potentials of Adamawa in area of solid mineral resources, Shashi said the state was far ahead of other states in its level of preparation to exploit the resources.

“Adamawa is the most organized state as far as solid minerals is concern. We have gone far in talks with Dangote Group on Guyuk Cement factory,” Shashi said.

She lauded ACAI for organizing stakeholders dialogue with the theme “Adamawa Without Oil Money: Meeting The Challenges of Sustainable Development Through Agriculture and Solid Minerals Resources Development” , which she described as timely and assured the state government commitment to key in.

In his paper, “Economic Diversification through Solid Mineral Resources Development:  The Adamawa State Prospects”, Prof. Saidu Baba, lamented the long years neglect of agriculture and solid minerals which used to be the mainstay of the nations economy.

“Why we are in recession is because the money we realized from oil sector was not utilized to develop other sectors like solid minerals and agriculture”, Baba said.

While noting that Adamawa has the mineral potentials to generate revenue, Baba said that SWOT analysis has proven that Adamawa has limestone, coal, gypsum, baryte, clays and granites potentials.

“It is therefore recommended that the state government should consider well-organized and coordinated investments in these minerals, advisably through joint venture programmes as is done in the oil and gas sector.”

In his remarks, the Convener of ACAI, Mallam Bashir Ahmad, said the annual dialogue  was meant to serve as a platform for Adamawa citizens to come together and discuss challenges of good governance and sustainable development in the state, with a view to coming up with common terms as to surmounting them.

While noting the current recession and the dwindling monthly allocation from Federation Account, Ahmed said Adamawa, with a population of over three million, needed to diversify if it must meet its obligation to the electorate.

“We must create immediate alternative sources of revenues to fund our developmental programmes since monthly allocation, which comes mainly from oil money, can hardly even pay the monthly salaries,” Ahmad said. (NAN)
YMU/YAZ

Edited Yusuf Zango

Katsina seeks South Korea assistance in establishment of cottage industries
NAN-H-42
Industries
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, Nov.12,2016(NAN) The Katsina State government has called on South Korea to assist the state in the establishment  of cottage industries to create jobs for rural dwellers in the state.

Gov. Aminu Masari,made the call when the South Korea’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk, paid him a courtesy visit on Saturday in Katsina.

Masari, urged the South Korean government to develop simple machines and equipment that could easily be used by rural dwellers in the state.

“What we are seeking for are simple machines, equipment and tools that can be used by our rural dwellers to make pencils, exercise books, erasers and simple products they can sell to improve their lives,” he said.

He said the technology would assist to improve the living conditions of the rural dwellers, reduce poverty and generate revenue for the government.

The governor also called on  South Korea to assist the state in the area of capacity building for its workers.

Masari assured the ambassador that Nigeria is a big market which should be explored by the business community in his country.

Earlier speaking, the envoy said South Korea wanted to explore cooperation with Katsina state in the areas of agriculture, solar power technology and capacity building for its civil servants.

The Ambassador, who toured the state for two days, said he was convinced that the state had potentials for technological and economic development.

He said that his country would assist to improve socio-economic activities in the state.(NAN)
ZI/DS/YAZ

Edited by Dauda Shehu/Yusuf Zango

NAN-H-41

Centres

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Nov. 12, 2016 (NAN) Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja, said the commission would in 2017, establishment pilgrims centres in Abuja and five others cities in the country.

Uja, who made this known on Saturday in Abuja at NCPC’s maiden security training and orientation for pilgrimage officers and security team, said the setting up of the centres would commence in March.

The theme of the training is “Keeping Nigerians Safe, Home and Abroad”.

He said that the essence of the centres was to ensure adequate screening of intending pilgrims, create opportunities for them to enhance spiritual intensity and have adequate information about pilgrimage.

Uja decried the current process of screening where intending pilgrims were screened at the airport, at the point of departure, saying that the process was largely responsible for incidents of ill-health and absconding pilgrims.

He said that the 30 minutes orientation and screening inside the airport did not allow for proper screening and scrutiny of pilgrims, explaining that screening was for health and security reasons.

According to him, from 2017, pilgrims will no longer be screened at the airports, because the commission will set up selected locations where pilgrims will be camped and screened ahead of travelling.

“In 2017, we are going to set up a pilgrimage heritage centre here in Abuja and the goal will be to camp all pilgrims in that centre for at least three days before they travel out on pilgrimage.

“That will be the time for preparations, screening, orientation and the major prayer and instructions that will be offered to all pilgrims.

“Every pilgrim will be expected as a matter of course to participate in that exercise and anyone who does not will be disqualified at that point.

“Over the years, we do a-30 minute orientation inside the airport and it is also at the airport that we begin to distribute other things, which is clumsy and inappropriate,” he said.

Uja disclosed that the process for the acquisition of land for the centre in Abuja would be completed in March, 2017 and that work would commence there immediatley.

He said that Bank of Agriculture and the private sector would be involved in the project, adding that farming would be part of it.

He called on the private sector to support pilgrimage and the commission to enable it deliver the benefit of pilgrimage to the country. (NAN)

OYS/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-40

Safety

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Nov. 12, 2016 (NAB) Rev. Tor Uja, Executive Secretary, Nigérian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), says the commission is committed to the safety of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2016 pilgrimage.

Uja stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the NCPC’s maiden security training and orientation for pilgrimage officers and security team with focus on “Keeping Nigerians Safe, Home and Abroad”.

He said that the Security Committee for the 2016 pilgrimage was set up to actualise the commission’s desire to achieve a hitch-free pilgrimage to the holy land.

Uja said that safety and security of all pilgrims, at home and abroad, was a critical goal of NCPC, adding that the commission had formed a synergy with all relevant security agencies to achieve effectiveness.

According to him, safety is a critical goal and we will have this training in order to achieve effectiveness in our operations and a network of partnership among the different security arms.

“We will ensure that all pilgrims, officials and operatives who are going to accompany us during the preparations and execution of pilgrimage, would be kept safe from every kind of imaginable problems.

“One of our commitments is not only to pilgrims but those of you who are going to man the pilgrims that you also deserve to be safe in this country and anywhere else.

“The security committee has also undertaken to visit all the airports we will be using and as we travel, they are also going to visit hotels, sites and praying mountains, and even examine the place to ensure that everybody is safe.

“We have taken every step to ensure that in this year’s pilgrimage, we will come back with every single Nigerian who travels with us,” he said.

The NCPC boss said the commission would work to check the cases of absconding pilgrims in all ramifications, stressing that screening and rescreening of candidates had been done.

He assured that adequate measures had been taken to ensure that every Nigerian was protected against either external violence or internal issues of health.

Maj-Gen Emmanuel Nienge, Chairman, NCPC Security Committee for 2016 Pilgrimage, said that security of pilgrims would be effectively handled to ensure hitch-free exercise.

Nienge said that many people took the issue of security for granted even when it was obvious that there were many security challenges at home and abroad.

He said that it was the task of the committee to ensure that every pilgrim was secured right from Nigeria to the holy land.

“That is why we are holding this seminar to sensitise those who will be helping us in this task,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Emmanuel Adugwo, National Intelligence Agency Pilgrimage Committee, said that security matter was all encompassing and a concern of everybody.

Adugwo advised pilgrims to be mindful of what they do or say in foreign land, adding that every country had its laws and peculiar security situations. (NAN)

OYS/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-25
Nollywood
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Nov. 12, 2016 (NAN) A Nollywood movie distributor, Alex Nweke, on Saturday said that proper structuring of the movie industry would enable it to create more jobs.

Nweke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Nollywood, through its distribution network, had provided jobs for many foreigners in their home countries, and could do same locally.

According to Nweke, the movie industry is not only profound in entertainment but has become a money spinning venture.

“Our stagnancy in Nollywood is not predicated on the amount of money we generate but the inability to channel these funds appropriately.

“Sometimes I ask: When we will have one umbrella body to run the affairs of practitioners, investors and other industry affiliates through a basic system.

“If we achieve that, then, we can drive the sector in search of more funds by extending our reach, and by so doing,  providing opportunities to rewrite the unemployment trend in Nigeria,” he said.

Nweke claimed that major stakeholders were building their brands alone and not ensuring a befitting structure for other brands to thrive.

“If the industry is properly managed, a million more jobs will be generated, but who wants to sit down to do the right thing?

“No doubt, government has a role to play but the success the industry has seen so far, shows that there are people who can make it happen but they are not doing it,” he said.(NAN)

VOI/KM/IGO
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(Edited By Kabir Muhammad/Ijeoma Popoola)

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Police
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 12, 2016 (NAN) Mr Sanusi Lemu, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, on Saturday urged Nigerians to embrace community policing in order to provide sustainable collective security.

Lemu made the call when he visited the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, in his palace in Zaria.

The commissioner described community policing as a veritable tool for building a decent, reliable and disciplined society.

He appealed to community, traditional and religious leaders to support the police by providing useful information.

Lemu said the essence of the visit was to seek royal blessing, support and cooperation from the traditional institution..

He said that with the support of the traditional institution, the command would be able to discharge its duties diligently and successfully.

Responding, the emir lauded the efforts of security personnel in the state for ensuring security of lives and property in the state.

The traditional ruler pledged the readiness of the emirate and the traditional institution in the state to give the police all the necessary support and cooperation to succeed.

He lauded the idea of community policing, saying it would ensure lasting peace in the society. (NAN)
KLM/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-36

Road

By Awayi Kuje

Kokona (Nasarawa State) Nov.12, 2016(NAN) Mr Mohammed Udege-Okpoku, Member representing (Udege/ Loko) in Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has appealed to the Nasarawa State Government to rehabilitate Agwada/Udege road to reduce commuters’ hardship.

Udege-Okpoku, Chairman, House Committee on Works and Housing, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Agwada, Kokona Local Government in the state.

The lawmaker said the rehabilitation of the road became necessary to enhance socio-economic activities of the people.

“Our committee has been supervising  Gov.Tanko Al-makura projects in the state and discover that the projects are aimed at improving the living standard of the people,’’ he said.

He said that the projects had gone a long way to fight poverty, youth restiveness and unemployment among others.

Udege-Okpoku commended Al-Makura for the construction of Bokoko Bridge. (NAN)

AKW/ UDO/MO

(Edited by Udochukwu Ifionu/Morayo Omolade

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Prudence
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Nov. 12, 2016 (NAN) A cleric, Malam Muhammad Nafi’u, has urged leaders to promote prudence as a way of improving the livelihood of their followers and the development of the country.

Nafiu, who is the Chief Imam of Nupe Road Central Mosque in Kaduna, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that this will bring about the needed change in the  country.

He said that extravagance was not only a sin against God but was also detrimental to the people.

“Prudence encourages accountability and transparency while extravagance promotes corruption.

“ Any institution that takes prudence seriously will see progress, but extravagance will kill the institutions because it breeds corruption,” he said.

Nafi’u stressed that prudence was the only way Nigeria would get out of the current economic recession.

He urged Nigerians to adjust to the new reality and continue to pray for divine intervention to tackle the current challenges. (NAN)
TJ/IS/OJO
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(Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz/Mufutau Ojo)

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IDPs
Girei (Adamawa), Nov. 12, 2016 (NAN) A joint committee of the Nigeria  Customs Services and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday distributed relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in Modire-Viniklang district,  Girel Local Government Area of Adamawa.

Presenting the materials to the beneficiaries on behalf of the committee, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, the NEMA Camp Operation Manager in charge of Adamawa and Taraba, said the gesture was to assist the IDPs living in those states.

He said the distribution of the relief materials was not the first, adding that more assistance would soon reach the area.

Speaking earlier, Alhaji Haruna Furo, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, said the materials were from NEMA and Nigerian Customs services.

Furo, who is Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, in Adamawa, urged the beneficiaries to use the items for their daily needs and not to sell them.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Maryam Isah, thanked the committee for the gesture and promised that the items would be used judiciously.

Among the items donated were rice, maize, cloth and vegetable oil. (NAN)
AMA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)