Blog

NAN-DS-7
Safety
By Angela Atabo
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016(NAN) The Federal Fire Service on Wednesday in Abuja urged Nigerians to imbibe safety habits, especially in the markets to avoid fire outbreaks, particularly during the harmattan season.

Mr Quintus Azogu, the Assistant Controller-General and Head, Policy Regulatory and Inspectorate Department of the organisation, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to Azogu, the caution is necessary due to increased fire outbreaks because of combustibles or free burning materials which normally go up in flames at the slightest opportunity during the Ember Months.

“So, if we have been recording one or two fire outbreaks in a day, during this period we will have between five and six as the average per day.

“This makes it imperative for people to be aware that this period is not just like any period where they may be careless with fire safety,” he said.

He said that the organisation would soon hold a National Fire Week to enlighten people on fire safety, especially in the markets where the incidence was prevalent.

“This is because markets, from the fire safety point of view, have to be designed with recourse to safety requirement which are seldom done,’’ he said.

Azogu said that there was need to involve fire service men in the construction of buildings, especially markets, to ensure that the necessary safety measures were taken.

This, he said, included spacing, use of appropriate materials and ensuring that all the fire safety features in the markets were not degraded in the course of using them.

He said that almost all preliminary investigations carried out by the service after all fire incidences pointed to the fact that the fire safety features were compromised or not even present.

“In the main source of it, if you degrade the fire safety features, you are bound to have a situation like we are having in the markets these days, especially in ember months,’’ the official said.

He advised people to be careful not to load combustibles within a small place and also avoid wrong electrical installations without recourse to safety and standards.(NAN)
ATAB/DUA/AMY
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Edited by Dada Ahmed and Abdullahi Yusuf
 

NAN-H-66

Reactions

Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Some Nigerian politicians on Wednesday in Abuja expressed mixed feelings on the victory of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as the newly-elected U.S. president.

The politicians, who bore their minds while chatting with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, believed that it was a welcome development while others have different view.

Sen Tunde Kelani, former Presidential Candidate for Accord Alliance described it as a welcome development that would bring a new phase to the political environment in the U.S. and the world.

“It is a welcome development, every country has the liberty to choose what it wants. Americans have chosen their leader and they have decided what they wanted.

“I believe that America is entering a new phase that will bring a lot of changes in line with what is happening in the global arena,’’ he said.

Kilani warned that the development is another lesson for upcoming leaders in Nigeria, stressing that they have to sit up and work harder to develop the country and also fulfil their electoral promises.

He said that there was the need for Nigeria to buckle up and make the economy vibrant to stand the test of time rather than depending on other nations for assistance.

He, however, expressed doubt if Trump would carry out all threats made during the campaign stressing that campaign was different from governance.

“ He is going to be guided and regulated by the constitution.

“You can see from his speech that he said he was going to be the president of everybody. The speech is loaded, and his policy may not affect Nigeria or Africa negatively as we thought,’’ he said.

Dr Tanko Yunusa, Chairman National Conscience Party, in his submission said that Trump’s victory was a big lesson for Nigerian leaders.

“For the Nigerian leaders I think there is a big lesson for them to learn.

“Those who think that they could not be defeated when in power should have a second thought, if you cannot fulfil your promises to the electorate you can be voted out at anytime,” he said.

Yunusa, said that Trump’s victory would be an advantage to Nigeria because it would help the nation to develop and reduce overdependence on other countries.

While saying he believe Trump’s policies would help Nigeria as a nation he called on the Nigeria’s leaders to make the nation more promising by developing all key sectors to ensure economic prosperity.

He added that there was the need to develop the nation’s resource for the benefit of its teeming population.

Yunusa, said that anyone that does not have anything doing in U.S. should not bother to go and if there is need to go such a person should have all his documents complete

Rep Ehiozuwa  Agbonayinma said that Trump’s victory spelt a doom for the world entirely.

Agbonayinma, who represents Egor/Ikpoba-okha  Federal Constituency, Edo, said  Trump’s victory would “bring anarchy division and problems without progress’’.

“I have not seen any positive thing coming from Donald Trump’s mouth other than castigating and abusing people, dehumanising and molesting women and having no respect for women or men

“ A man that said he was going to ship all Africans out of America, a vote for him is a vote for destruction and I stand by what I said.’’

He, however, urged the newly-elected president to reconcile with all those  he has offended to unite U.S. and have a smooth government.

Prof Gani Yoroms a professor of international relation at the BirminghamUniversity, said the result was very critical for U.S. because it was going to affect international politics and trade.

Yoroms described the development as unfortunate for the U.S. because the victory would make Russia to dominate the U.S. and give it opportunity to emerge as a bigger power in the international system.

“I don’t think the victory of Trump can make America to have any serious impact in the world

“In the international politics I believed that U.S. will be pocked because Donald Trump in government will be much more interested in business.

“If Putin organises business activities for him he would be interested in the money.

“He won’t understand the political implication of what Putin is putting across to him so it will be very critical for the U.S.,” he said (NAN)

IAA/FHO/YAZ

Edited by Hawa Lawal/Yusuf Zango

NAN-HE-19
Railway
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Wednesday appealed for more patronage of train services in the country to ensure revitalisation of the transport industry.
The Railway District Manager (RDM), North, Mr Aderemi Isma’il-Adebiyi, made the call in Zaria, Kaduna State, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the plea became imperative due to the commitment of the Federal Government to revive the sector.

“The mission and vision of government will never be achieved without the support and cooperation of Nigerians who are the end users of the facility.

“It will be a fruitless effort of government if Nigerians refuse to patronise the facility.

“In this period that the air transport in Nigeria is shaky, many flights are being cancelled on daily basis due to weather and technical constraints.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians to re-double their patronage for railway services in view of its safety, moderate fare and convenience,” he said.

The RDM listed some services provided by the NRC as passenger, containers, dry cargo and freights wagon services.

Isma’il-Adebiyi said the corporation was determined to meet the transportation needs of individuals, groups, corporate, governmental and non-governmental organisations in Nigeria.

The RDM said NRC routes comprised Kano-Lagos, Port Harcourt-Kano, Kano-Offa, Zaria-Kauran Namoda and Kano-Nguru as well as intra-city town services in Kaduna and Lagos.

Isma’il-Adebiyi said all the services were for the overall comfort and benefit of Nigerians.

He commended the Federal Government for its support to the corporation and advised Nigerians to take advantage of the railway services to meet their transportation needs. (NAN)
KLM/MNA/IA
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Idris Abdulrahman)

Gunmen kill one, injure several in Katsina State
NAN-DS-6
Gunmen
Kusada (Katsina State), Nov. 9, 2016(NAN) Gunmen have killed at least one person and injured several others in Kasada Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Eye witnesses told newsmen that the armed bandits numbering about 12 invaded the town on motorcycles at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

The witnesses who craved for anonymity, said the hoodlums searched many houses in Makera, Marina, Yara-gabas, Yara-arewa and Kofar-fada areas of the city.

They said the bandits blocked roads linking to those areas and shot sporadically to pave way for their operation.

According to them, the armed men killed the Deputy Imam of Kasada, Malam Badamasi Abdullahi, injured several others and carted away undisclosed sums of money from the residents.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Salisu Agaisa, confirmed the incident.

Agaisa said that the police had arrested one person in connection with the incident, and had intensified investigations to arrest the rest of the culprits.

He urged the public to assist the police by exposing hideouts and activities of criminals in the state.(NAN)
ZI/AMY/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

FRSC urges motorists to avoid overload, speeding to check road crashes

NAN-H-14
Road
By Muftau Ogunyemi
Akure, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists and road users on the Owo-Akure-Ilesha-Ife road to avoid overload and speeding to reduce the rate of road fatality.

Mr Olu-Mike Olagunju, Assistant Corps Marshall, Administration and Strategy, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Akure during the a 7-day FRSC Special Intervention Patrol.

Olagunju said the Owo-Akure-Ilesha road had witnessed a series of unprecedented road traffic and accidents in recent times, a development he noted claimed many lives.

According to him, a study conducted on the road shows that the accidents may be as a result of bad roads, overload and speeding.

“We need to let the people know that overload is not acceptable because it has a lot of consequences.

“Issues of overload on the Owo-Akure-Ilesha-Ife road will need to be tackled; if tackled, fatality being experienced on the road will be minimised,” he said.

He said that 33 motorists were apprehended, six of who committed overload and another six, speeding and other offences on the first day of patrol.

The assistant corps marshal reminded stakeholders on road management that safety on the road was a collective responsibility.

“We want to remind us that safety is a shared responsibility and should not be left to government agencies alone.

“Not less than 90 per cent of Nigerians use road as their means of transportation, so, safety on the road should be the business of all,” he said.

Olajungu decried the joint of vehicles for conveying goods and passengers, saying that there should be distinctive policy for conveying of goods and commuting.

He, however, urged prospective commuters to examine the state of vehicles they wish to board, as “gone are the days when it was only drivers that are concerned about obedience to traffic regulations.

“Commuters too should know their rights, regarding road regulations and healthy state of the vehicles’’.

Olagunji vowed that the FRSC would not spare any erring personnel of the corps, found violating  rules traffic and regulations, stressing that any personnel of the corps caught conniving with road users would be dealt with according to the law.

The assistant cops marshal expressed the continued cooperation of the corps with other uniform agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure that road accidents were reduced to the barest minimum. (NAN)
OMA/DUA/TON
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Edited by Dada Ahmed/Tony Nezianya

NAN-HE-8

Food
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Some food vendors at the ongoing 30^th Lagos International trade fair have registered their displeasure over the allocation of unhygienic spaces to them by the Lagos Chamber for Commence and Industry (LCCI).

The vendors complained about the spaces in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Lagos.

Miss Nancy Emenalom, the Chief Executive Officer of Carpus Kitchen, said the portion allotted to her company by the LCCI was dirty and not conducive for customers to eat in.

Emenalom also decried the lack of adequate water supply at the fair.

“We were given the worst and the dirtiest part of the complex and we have to continually use air fresheners to stem the odour emanating from the dilapidated facility.

She advised the management of LCCI to address the issues now being raised by the food vendors in future planning.

Another vendor, Mrs Dorothy Aburo, the Proprietor of Anointed Igbo Foods, expressed her disappointment with poor planning by the LCCI.

Aburo, who said she paid N120, 000 to the agency for the erection of her tent at the fair, however, said the services they paid for were not adequately provided.

She lamented the dirty environment and the failure of LCCI to meet their terms of agreement.

“Besides the dirty environment we are compelled to sell our food in, we have been denied some amenities we were promised prior to the commencement of the fair.

“We were promised adequate water and power supply but LCCI did not keep its promise; for me, it has been the worse trade fair I have participated in, and we are also contending with low patronage,’’ she said.

Mrs Caroline Jegede, the Managing Director, Carol Kitchen, lamented poor patronage at the fair.

According to her, some customers even negotiate the price of food, which has never happened in the past.

“ We put the flat rate for a plate of food at N350 but some people still come to plead to be served for N100 or N150, due to the recession in the country.

“Most times, I have to spray air freshener to stem the odour from the gutters, and I have observed that all food vendors do it,’’ Jegede added. (NAN)
PTB/LAB/PIO
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Idonije Obakhedo

NAN-H-15
Counter-terrorism
By Adekunle Williams/Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Murtala Muhammed Airport Police Command has lauded Tuesday’s counter-terrorism simulation conducted by security agencies at the departure hall of the international wing of the airport.

The command Spokesman, DSP Joseph Alabi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the officers involved displayed professionalism during the 45-minute exercise.

NAN reports that the agencies involved in the exercise include the police, Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Others are the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Aviation Security (FAAN AVSEC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, police anti–bomb squad and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Alabi said that the exercise was to assure Nigerians that security agencies were capable of handling any terrorist attack at the airport.

He said: “The exercise was fantastic. The role played by the air force and police anti-bomb squad is very commendable.

“The anti-bomb squad brought a robotic device here which can on its own to detect any bomb hidden within the terminal.”

Alabi assured travellers and other airport users that the airport was safe and secure due to ongoing collaboration among security agencies.

 He noted that some people were frightened by the simulation.

“There was an announcement on radio about the exercise. Even at the airport here, there were series of announcement that the exercise was going to take place, and that people should not be scared.

“So, it is probably because they did not hear the information that made them to be scared,” the spokesman said.

NAN reports that in the simulation, a terrorist group took over the departure hall of the airport at noon, shooting sporadically and holding some people hostage.

A NAF helicopter with registration number 565 dropped men from the Special Forces on the roof of the terminal.

The officers were able to rescue the hostages and overpower the terrorists after a gun duel that lasted for some minutes.

The arrested terrorists, who wore masks, were later led into a waiting military van and taken to an undisclosed location. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/AOS/IGO
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-61
Sentence
By Tomisin Erogbogbo
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) A Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a 53-year-old driver, Ismaila Saliu, to 12 months imprisonment in Ikoyi prison for stealing N521,000.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kikelomo Ayeye, convicted Saliu on a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft without an option of fine.

“With all the evidence before the court, it is obvious that you committed the offences, you are hereby sentenced to 12months imprisonment,’’ she said.

The prosecutor, Insp Nurudeen Thomas, told the court that between June 2013 and Nov. 2013 at 7, Dada St., Mushin, Lagos, the convict conspired to steal N521,000, property of Muftau Bolaji-Are.

He said that the convict, who was entrusted with two tipper vehicles, converted the proceeds to his personal use claiming that he used the money to buy five tyres and diesel.

“Saliu said that he took the tippers for repairs and bought tyres and diesel with the money he made.

“The mechanic, who repairs the tipper, however, said that he did not bring the vehicles for repairs,’’ he said.

Thomas said that the offences contravened Sections 409 and 278(9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The convict had earlier pleaded not guilty. (NAN)
TME/LAB/OJO
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(Edited by Lydia Beshel/Mufutau Ojo)

Come back to PDP, Gulak pleads with Gov. Bindow

NAN-H-37

PDP

Yola, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Mr Ahmed Gulak, on Wednesday appealed to Adamawa Governor, Muhammadu Bindow to return to the PDP.

Gulak, who made the overture in Yola at the inauguration of the PDP state executives, said as a former member of the party, there was there was nothing wrong if the governor returns.

He said that the party would continue to woo the governor as part of its strategies ahead of the elections in 2019.

“Gov. Bindow is one of us, I am pleading with him to return home now that PDP in the state has sorted out its challenges and set to take back the state by 2019”, Gulak said.

He assured that the party would also sort out its problems at the national level and strategise to spring surprise in 2019.

Gulak, a former presidential adviser, urged the new state executive under Alhaji Abdurrahman Bobboi, to carry everyone along in the journey to revive the lost glory of the party in the state.

In his speech, the National Vice Chairman North East, Amb. Emmanuel Njuwa, also urged the new executive to reconcile all members, to ensure a more united front ahead of 2019 election.

“Adamawa is a PDP state and we must do everything possible to get it back in 2019”, Njuwa said.

Bobboi thanked party members for their support and pledged that the new party leadership would reach out to all aggrieved members including those that defected to return.

“Very soon you will see wonders regarding the number of returnees we are going to receive by the end of December,” the chairman said.

According to him, the new executive was made up of credible and respected personalities committed to restoring the party’s lost glory in the state. (NAN)
YMU/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-13
Photographer
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a 25-year-old photographer, Gabriel Ewulo, to one year imprisonment for dealing in 1.7kg of Cannabis Sativa.

Justice Mohammed Idris convicted the photographer, who pleaded guilty to a one-count charge preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

“The accused did not waste the time of the court, and is hereby sentenced to a term of one year imprisonment to begin from the date of his arrest,” Idris held.

The judge also ordered that the drug exhibit should be destroyed if there would not be any appeal against the judgment.

The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had, following Ewulo’s plea, tendered evidence before the court to establish the prosecution’s case.

The evidence included a written statement of the accused, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form as well as a bulk of the exhibit.

The court admitted them in evidence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly before his sentence, the photographer prayed the court to show him mercy.

He said that he was a first offender.

He promised to turn a new leaf and engage in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, if shown mercy.

In the charge, the NDLEA said that Ewulo traded on 1.7kg of Cannnabis Sativa on July 28 at the Orile-Agege area of Lagos.

 
He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)
UNS/IGO
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Edited by Ijeoma popoola