Blog

NAN-ELS-7
Marriage
Lagos, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Desperation and the fear of getting old before settling for a blissful married life has forced many entertainers to settle with wrong partners resulting in failed marriages, a film-maker has said.

Nigeria’s ace film-maker, Fidelis Duker, made the assertion on Thursday in Lagos when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on “Why Entertainers Marriages Fail’’.

“Many celebrities jump into marriage due to desperation and pressure, leading to their settling with wrong partners for fear of getting older,’’ Duker, who has been married for 17 years said.

“This is common among the later generation. Women settle into marriages with the wrong men for fear that they are not getting any younger.

“And because their friends are all married and hence, do not want to be left out in the marriage gossips or from family pressure.

“On the other hand, men marry the wrong girl because they are the type of women their mothers want for them or they are good in bed, or they can cook.

“They spend so much time and money preparing for `BellaNaija’, worthy wedding ceremonies and actually fail to prepare ahead for the marriage itself.

How could it possibly work when the two individuals are actually incompatible when it comes to the things that truly matter for a marriage to thrive,’’ he said.

Duke also said that marriage was not about the money spent on the ceremony or the number of people that attended the event or how well the media reported the ceremony.

“We keep hearing of marriages that were done `hush-hush’, why would you marry a man or a woman who has a mysterious past?

“If your friend or colleagues know that the person you are about to wed has a partner already, why should you still go on with such a wedding?

“But because of desperation, most marriages end up having problems both in the music and movie industries.

“It is because they are all desperate to get married, that is why there are so many marriage failures,’’ he said.

He continued: “I tell people that it is not everybody that will be rich and it is not everyone that will get married.

“People must understand that because Ms A had her marriage in Dubai does not mean that you also have to have yours there,’’ he said.

On whether money could be a key factor to good marriage, the producer said that it was in the past that the Igbos believed money was everything before marriage.

He noted, however, that at the time he got married, he was already at the peak of his career.

Duke said that as a young man, he was making as much as N3 million from a film, but he kept the money under the table in his office while still living with his parents.

The producer advised lovers to have the mindset of helping each other’s weakness before deciding to go into marriage.

He said that marriages crash these days due to trivial issues which could have been avoided. (NAN)
BAG/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-50

Rape

By Muhammad Baba Busu

Lafia, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Lafia, Dr Isah Mustapha-Agwai 1, has appealed to parents to pay attention to their daughters’ movement, media exposure and dressing to avoid rape and other social vices.

Mustapha, who made the appeal during a meeting with stakeholders in his palace in Lafia on Thursday, decried the high rate of rape cases in the emirate council.

NAN reports that the meeting which had in attendance, district, village and ward heads as well as religious leaders was aimed at finding lasting solutions to rape cases and other social vices in the area.

According to the traditional ruler, “the meeting is timely, because we will use this gathering to discuss and proffer solutions to put an end to alleged raped complaints and other abuses we are receiving.

“It is our responsibility as parents to check the types of dress they wear, films they watch and peer group they move with and advise them on how to live a moral life and become good mothers tomorrow,” Mustapha said.

The monarch urged the parents to adhere strictly to these directives, adding that the emirate council would not allow erring parents to go scot-free.

He also advised girls to live a life of moral integrity to enable them to secure better lives in the future. 

“If you are able to live a moral life and be upright, you will be able to secure better future for yourselves and good life in the future,’’ Mustapha said.

He also cautioned religious leaders against presiding over any wedding without presentation of HIV/AIDs test result by the couple.

Mustapha explained that this would go a long way to curtail the spread of the virus.

Also speaking, the Madaki Lafia, Alhaji Ishayaka Dauda, revealed that statistic have shown that areas most vunerable to the rape included Bukan-Sidi, Kilima, Kidin Amba, Angwan Tiv, and Angwan Yazawa.

Dauda called on parents to live up to expectation by effectively monitoring their children.

On his part, the Lafia Interim Management Committee Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman-Wambai, who condemned in totality the cases of rape in the area, said no civilized society would allow such thing to exist.

He pledged to collaborate with the emirate council and relevant stakeholders to curb the spread of the menace in the Local Government Area. (NAN)

BAB/ORO/IS

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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Ismail Abdulaziz

NSCDC arrests 2 suspected  drug  vendors in Jigawa

NAN-DS-4

Vendors

Dutse, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said on Thursday that  it had arrested two suspected drug vendors.

The Commandant of the Corps, Malam Muhammad Durumin-Iya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that his men arrested  the suspects at the Central Motor Park, in Kanti quarters, Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the suspects (names withheld), were arrested with 25 sachets of Rochi tablets and nine bottles of Benelin cough syrup.

He said the suspects who confessed to committing the offence, had been handed over to the office of the National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.

Durum in-Iya advised the public to stop patronising local drug vendors, saying drugs bought from such vendors were not good for use.

According to him, such drugs are not kept under the prescribed temperature, thereby rendering them harmful for human consumption.

“Each drug carries information concerning the temperature under which it is supposed to be kept.

“But these local and illegal vendors expose their drugs to the sun all the time, and for this, these drugs expire and become dangerous to consume,” he said. (NAN)

MNB/OSA/AMY

Edited by Shittu Obassa and Abdullahi Yusuf

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NAN-H-49

Fire

Dutse, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) 2015 (NAN) The Jigawa Fire Service on Thursday said it had recorded 35 fire outbreaks in the last three weeks.

The Director of Fire Service, Malam Muhammad Garba, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Dutse.

Garba said the outbreaks were recorded in various parts of the state, adding that  no life was lost in any of the incidents.

He explained that animal feeds, foods and other valuables were destroyed by  the fire.

“We recorded no fewer than 35 fire outbreaks in various parts of the state in the last three weeks the Harmattan set in,

“Fortunately, no life was lost in any of the incidents.”

The director, therefore, warned people in the state against careless use of fire during the harmattan.

According to him, the advice becomes necessary in order to avoid fire disasters during the dry season, as most of the houses particularly in rural communities are thatched and could easily catch fire.

Garba stressed the need for continuous sensitisation and enlightenment of the public on the dangers of harmattan winds.

“People must be careful while using fire, particularly now that the Harmattan season has already set in.

“Fire, particularly during the Harmattan, can escalate and consume valuables, including houses and even human lives, if care is not taken.’’

According to him, housewives must also ensure that they quench the fire they used to cook to avoid any fire outbreak.

He further pointed out that people must also be careful while using candles and lanterns in their homes, as they were capable of igniting fire.

“I want to also use this opportunity to advise people to also be careful when using candles and kerosene lanterns, as they have the capacity to ignite fires.

“More importantly, those using heaters to warm their rooms in the night must quench it before going to bed.

“Also, people should endeavour to switch off electrical appliances before leaving their houses to avoid fire that can happen as a result of power surge’’. (NAN)

MNB/OSA/IEA
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NAN-H-17
Banker
By Boboye Moronke Tinuola
Lagos , Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) For allegedly stealing N810,000 from her employer, a 33-year-old banker, Ebere Okeke, was on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, who resides at A19, Kajola St., Governor Road, Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a count charge.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Donjor Perezi, told the court that Okeke committed the offence from August, 2015 to February, 2016, at SMC Co-operative Bank, Ikeja.

“The accused works as credit officer and her assignment is to give customers loans and collect them back on weekly basis.

“It was during an investigation that the bank got to know that the accused had collected N810,000 back from a customer she gave a loan but did not remit it,’’ he said.

He said that the offence contravenes Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. A Layinka, granted her N 200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Layinka adjourned the case till Dec. 5 for mention. (NAN)

MTO/DEB/IGO
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun/Ijeoma Popoola)

Avoid anti democratic tendencies to ensure free, acceptable polls, lawyer advises INEC

NAN-H-36

Trump

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Nov.10, 2016( NAN) A Minna based lawyer, Mr Taidi Jonathan, on Thursday said the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] should avoid all anti democratic tendencies, to be able to conduct free, fair and acceptable polls in the country.

Jonathan, a former Chairman of Minna branch of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA), gave the advice while reacting to the victory of Mr Donald Trump in the concluded U.S election.

Jonathan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was time for INEC to avoid inconclusive elections, and muster the political will to “end anti-democratic vices.”

The lawyer said the commission should stop deploying non-functional card readers during elections, to avoid giving opportunity to those bent on sabotaging the electoral process.

He described the U.S election as a reflection of the will of the people, addding that “no matter how the rest of the world felt, it allowed the electoral system to work.”

The legal practitioner advised Trump to carry every nation along, in order to achieve world peace, promote economic growth and realise the greatness he desired for America.

“Trump should come out with more formidable ways to end senseless killings in some parts of the world, especially in Libya, Syria, Boko Haram, militant activities,” he said.(NAN)

AAG/DUA/MZA

Edited by Dada Ahmed/Maharazu Ahmed
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NAN-ELS-6
Manufacturing
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Austin Ekezie, Chief Executive Officer, “VillageBoi Apparel’’, on Thursday urged the authorities to revive the domestic manufacturing industries to boost the local production of fabrics.

Ekezie told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that by so doing it would normalise the excessive rise of the cost of local clothing.

According to him, clothing is a vital part of human existence and can be used as a lucrative business model to generate revenue for government.

“We have deviated from oil no doubt, so what exactly are we doing with the other sectors that can revive the economy?

“Foreign governments over time have taken advantage of the fashion industry as a huge tax source to fend for other sectors.

“This is because purchase of wears is almost inevitable not minding class, though varying in quality,’’ he said.

The entrepreneur told NAN that those engaged in the business had had to adopt various innovative measures to enable them to stay afloat.

“The fashion industry is almost wasting, having professional tailors send their wears out for branding which makes it more expensive.

“It cost a lot to do all of that but we have to send out because we don’t have such machines here,’’ he said.

Ekezie urged government officials to live by example by patronising made in Nigeria goods to encourage local businesses.

“Our domestic clothing can only be boosted if our leaders can divert the monies they use to shop abroad into our own brands.

“With those resources, we will have quality finishing and utilise only the finest natural stock and customised fabrics that suit the taste of our clients. (NAN)
VOI/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-15

Housekeeper

By Boboye Moronke Tinuola

Lagos, Nov. 10, 2016(NAN) A 22 -year -old housekeeper, Peter Bassey, appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for allegedly stealing his employer’s car keys and the vehicle’s original documents.

The accused, who lives at House J44A, V. G. C Estate, Lekki, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge bothering on stealing and threatening violence.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Donjor Perezi told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 29 at Festac Town, Lagos.

Perezi said that the accused went away with Mrs Ifeoma Okali’s car keys and her original lawyer’s professional licence. Okali is his employer.

“Other documents stolen are the original papers of the car. He also threatened to destroy these documents if she did not pay N150, 000 into his account,” said Perezi.

The offences contravene Sections 56(1) and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. A Layinka granted the accused a bail of N200, 000 and adjourned the case to Dec. 8 for mention. (NAN)

MTO/DUA/BOS
Edited by Dada Ahmed/dele bodunde
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Seaman discharge book is ready – NIMASA

NAN-H-16
Book
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says that the SEAMAN Discharge book for seafarers is ready.
A statement said that NIMASA boss disclosed this while addressing Nigerian students under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) in the Maritime University Constanta, Romania.
The statement was issued on Thursday in Abuja and signed by Hajia Lami Tumaka, the Head of Corporate Communications of NIMASA.
Peterside said that no Nigerian seafarer or cadet would be denied opportunity of going on board vessels on account of non-possession of the document.
He, however, said their training cycle would be incomplete without sea time berth and on board training, hence the priority attention being given to the production of the Discharge book.
NIMASA boss advised the students to take their studies seriously, stressing that the country was investing in their training with the hope to fill the dearth of maritime professionals in Nigeria.
He said that the training would also help them to become employable and earn foreign exchange for Nigeria.
According to him, NIMASA will do all that is required to ensure they get the best training that will give them competitive edge in the global maritime industry.
Mr Mohamed Bago, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, advised the students to make the necessary sacrifice today to secure their future and that of their families. (NAN)
OYS/TO/TA
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Tajudeen Atitebi

China state media warns Trump against isolationism, calls for status quo

NAN-F-10

Trump

Beijing, Nov. 10, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Chinese state media has warned the U.S. president-elect against isolationism and interventionism, calling on the U.S. to actively work with China to maintain the international status quo.

President-elect Donald Trump threatened to tear up trade deals and pursue a more unilateral foreign policy under his “America First” principle during a tempestuous election campaign.

However, China and other foreign governments are uncertain how much of Trump’s rhetoric will be translated into policy.

This was because the new president has sometimes made contradictory statements and provided few details of how he would deal with the world.

Trump often targeted China in the campaign, blaming Beijing for U.S. job losses and vowing to impose 45 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports.

The Republican also promised to call China a currency manipulator on his first day in office.

“U.S. isolationist policies had “accelerated the country’s economic crisis” during the Great Depression,’’ commentary by China’s official Xinhua warned.

It added that “election talk is just election talk”.

The commentary also cautioned against any tilt toward intervention. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AMY
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf