Blog

ASUU seeks 15 -year Emergency Development Plan for Niger Delta

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ASUU
Calabar, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) Dr Dipo Fashina, a Trustee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), says the union has advocated for an Emergency Development Plan for Nigeria Delta, to run for 10 to 15 years.

Dipo said this on Wednesday in Calabar at a two-day seminar organised by the Institute of Public Policy and Administration, University of Calabar and the African Research Council for Sustainable Development.

Dipo delivered the keynote address on the topic: “Re-visiting the Structural Foundation of Nigerian Federalism.”

He said the plan would serve as veritable option for solving the structural imbalance in Nigeria’s federal system.

“We have recommended this option among others, as part of efforts to solving the structural defects in Nigeria’s federal structure,” he said.

Dipo, who was a former President of ASUU, was emphatic that calls for national dialogue would not yield any meaningful result unless it is driven by “real people”.

According to him, what Nigeria requires is not true federalism as canvassed by some groups but “just federalism”.

He said: “I don’t think we should look for true federalism but a just federalism; by that, we talk about a just and equitable distribution of our national wealth; a fair and just society where everybody has a stake.’’

In his speech, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance belived that there was something wrong with the Nigerian system.

“If after 56 years of Independence, we are still having issues of militancy in the Niger Delta; issues of corruption; agitations for resource control among others, then it goes to show that our federalism is imperfect.

“All these are indications that all is not well with our federalism, ‘’ he said.

According to the senator, Nigeria was doing better before and immediately after independence under the various regions.

“The West controlled the Cocoa in their domain; the North controlled Groundnut pyramid; and Palm Oil in the East, all these made the regional economies very strong, and there was a healthy competition,” he said .

Dr Diji Chukwuemeka, Chairman of African Research Council for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, said that Nigeria has the potentials to excel.

He said that the future of the country lies with the youths, who must work hard to take over as leaders of tomorrow. (NAN)
BEN/DO /MZA: Edited by David Onilede/Maharazu Ahmed
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Relationship
London, Nov. 9, 2016 (dpa/NAN) British Prime Minister Theresa May, has congratulated U.S. president-elect Donald Trump after his “hard-fought’’ campaign and vowed to work with him  as “a close partner on trade, security and defence.”

“I look forward to working with president-elect Donald Trump and building on our ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead.

“Britain and the U.S. have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” May said in a statement issued in London.

In another development, Turkish President Recep Erdogan, has described the result of the U.S. election as “the start of a new era.”

He expressed hope that the outcome of the poll would help to facilitate the advancing of “fundamental rights and liberties and democracy in the world and regional developments.”

“I wish a successful future to the U.S.,” Erdogan said in Istanbul.

On his part, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim of Turkey expressed hope that Trump’s victory would “open a new page” in relations with Washington.

He said that he would reiterate Turkey’s calls for the U.S. to extradite the preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara blames for the July coup attempt.

In Nordic countries, NATO members Norway and Denmark also congratulated the U.S. president-elect on his his victory at the polls.

Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg said that Oslo aims to continue to work for good relations with the U.S. a country he described as `key to Norway’s security and economy.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Europe needs a strong U.S.

“Now that the dust has settled, I hope that the incoming administration will continue the open and constructive cooperation that has been the hallmark of the U.S. in recent years,” he said. (dpa/NAN)

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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Archibong Asuquo

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Destruction
By Douglas Okoro
Ishiagu (Ebonyi), Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The traditional ruler of Ishiagu autonomous community of Ivo Local Government Area in Ebonyi, Chief Moses Ngele, has decried the wanton destruction of farmlands in the community by herdsmen.

Ngele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ishiagu on Wednesday that the destruction of crops, plants and other farm produce in different parts of the community by the herdsmen.

According to him, the cattle have ravaged rice, yams, cassava, among other crops and plants cultivated by the farmers on their farmlands, adding that the destruction portend great danger for the community.

“The cattle feed on crops and plants cultivated by my people in their various farmlands, the situation is the same across the 17 communities that make up Ishiagu.

“The victims are helpless and every day they go to their farms, they only go there to behold devastation done in their farms by the herdsmen.

“We are peace-loving people and that is why we do not want to confront them violently but rather we are appealing to state and Federal Government to come to our rescue.

“My fear is that all that my people cultivated have all been destroyed and farming is looming in the community,” Ngele said.

The traditional ruler also alleged rape and assault of the women in the community by suspected herdsmen.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to urgently address incessant clashes between the pastoralists and the farmers across the country.

“The incessant clashes between these two groups threaten the national security of our country and government must use all energy and resources to address them.

“Peace and security are needed to enhance economic growth, development and foster direct foreign as well as local investment.” (NAN)
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Edited by Dada Ahmed//Felix Nwadioha

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Meeting
Berlin, Nov. 9, 2016 (dpa/NAN) German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has called for
special meeting of European Union foreign ministers following Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The meeting should take place on Saturday, one day before the next regular meeting of the EU
28 foreign ministers.

Steinmeier said earlier that Trump would make the U.S.-German relationship less predictable. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Improvement

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Ayo Omidiran, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, has expressed optimism that women’s football in the country will improve as the economy recovers.

Omidiran, who was the proprietress of the defunct Omidiran Babes, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

She expressed excitement at the current fitness of Super Falcons and Falconets team during their training sessions.

The former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) further expressed optimism that the two teams will represent the country well at their forthcoming tournaments.

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Cue in audio

“Women’s football in Nigeria is not where it is supposed to be but I think that when the economy gets more buoyant it is going to get much better.

“From what I have seen, I am very excited.

“I know that the teams are good enough to represent us well at the two competitions – the FIFA Under -20 in Papua New Guinea and the African Women Championships (AWC).

“I have talked to them and they are ready to go.’’

Cue out audio

NAN reports the Falconets will represent Nigeria at the World Cup while  the Super Falcons being the  reigning, African champions will defend their title at the AWC in Cameroon from Nov.13 to Dec. 3 and Nov. 18 to Dec. 3 respectively. (NAN)

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim

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Pakistan lodges protest with India over ceasefire violations

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Protest

Islamabad, Nov. 9, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Pakistan accused India of a ceasefire violation Wednesday after at least four Pakistani civilians died amid gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC) dividing India and Pakistan.

The ministry said that a senior Indian diplomat was summoned to Pakistan’s foreign office to hear a protest against an “unprovoked ceasefire violation on Tuesday, by Indian forces on the LoC.

The dead included a 10-year-old girl and her mother; seven were also injured in the incident, which occurred in the Khuirata and Battal sectors.

“The Indian side was urged to “respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations.

“Also to instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace on the LoC.

“So far, this year, India has committed 222 ceasefire violations out of which 184 have been on the LoC and 38 on the Working Boundary, in which 26 people were killed and 107 wounded,’’ the ministry said. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

Trump’s  ideas on economy will affect Nigeria positively — Security expert
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Economy
By Maureen Okon
Abuja, Oct. 9, 2016 (NAN) The US President-elect, Donald Trump’s economy ideas will affect Nigerian professionals positively, Ibrahim Garba, a Security consultant, said on Wednesday.

Garba spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview from Abidjan.

He decried the attitude of Nigerians projecting the image of the country in a bad light.

According to him, Nigerians need to change their business orientation to reflect positive ideas in the new era.

The security expert said Trump, as a business mogul, would certainly jump at good business relationship with Nigeria in the interest of both countries.

“This would affect Nigeria because things would be more competitive; Trump is a man who knows about your money; he does not throw money around.

“For you to do any business in America you have to be serious. From a business prospective, if Nigerians know what they are bringing to the table and it’s of value, Donald Trump will approve it.”

He added that Trump won the election because he was a successful businessman and a politician.

“Every country needs a strong economy; Trump has records of growth with his years of experience in business and  that can be applied to the nation’s economy.

“With this development I hope he has more to offer than we expect from him and also an opportunity for the Americans to see a different side.”

The newly-elected president has  pledged to be president for all Americans and to build the country’s economy while  relating with nations that support his ideas. (NAN)
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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Recession: Katsina farmers smile to the banks

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Farmers
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Farmers in Katsina State on Wednesday said they were smiling to the banks in spite of recession in the country after experiencing bumper harvest after the 2016 wet season farming.
Mr Bashir Alliyu, the Secretary, Farmers and Cattle Rearers Cooperative, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Alliyu said that the cooperative of 25 members grew guinea corn, millet, groundnut, maize and beans across more than 50 hectares of land.
“This year’s rainy season farming was very good for us and I can say it is a season of bumper harvest.
“The price of our farm produce is very favourable to us farmers because guinea corn, millet and beans for instance have satisfying prices this year compared to last year.
“Last year’s prices were very low, but this year is high and we the farmers are satisfied.
“We want government to provide farming and processing machines to support us to expand our farms,’’ he said.
He, however, said that farmers had their worst experience this year as regards accessing fertilisers and called on government to make fertiliser more readily available.
A rice farmer, Hajiya Salama Kabiru, said she harvested 200 bags of rice and 130 bags of wheat after the wet season.
She said a bag of paddy rice was selling for N10, 000 as against N4, 000 last year.
According to her, if she was able to process the rice, 70kg of the milled rice would sell for N20, 000.
Kabiru, who was full of smiles, urged the Federal Government not to lift the ban on rice importation.
She said they were now getting value for their labour. (NAN)
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Tajudeen Atitebi

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Training
Dutse, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government, on Wednesday, said it had trained 994 extension workers and farmers on the cultivation of wheat for the 2016 dry season farming across the state.

The Managing Director, Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (JARDA), Alhaji Gambo Yahaya, made this disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

Yahaya explained that 674 lead farmers were selected from different farmers’ groups mainly from Fadama sites and trained to participate in the wheat farming.

He said that 312 extension workers and five facilitators participated in the training.

According to him, 36,000 farmers were expected to participate in the programme and cultivate 22,000 hectares of wheat in the 2016 dry season farming.

Yahaya, who said the exercise was part of the ANCO borrower programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), explained that the programme was on the value chains of production, processing and marketing.

He said that the aim of the training was to avail farmers and extension agents the new techniques of growing wheat in the state.

Yahaya stated that some companies engaging in flour mills, including Jifatu Stores, had expressed the willingness to collaborate with the State Government on wheat production.

The Managing Director said that the present administration decided to key into wheat production because of the economic value of the produce. (NAN)
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi
Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

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Election
Yakubu Ubah
Yola, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Yola have  expressed shock and surprise over the outcome of U.S. election that saw Donald Trump emerging as the 45th  President-elect.

A cross section of the residents,  who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that they were taken by surprise by the outcome in spite of media reports that Hillary Clinton had edged over Trump.

“I was shocked and surprise by the outcome, I never imagined that it will turnout that way, but we pray for the best,” Abubakar Ibrahim, a civil servant, said.

Umar Dankano, a journalist, said that he was also shocked by the outcome and is yet to come to terms with it.

“I was shocked and can’t find the word to describe how I feel about this outcome.

“My prayer is that the president-elect will prove his critics wrong by making good his promise after the victory when he said he would be president for all Americans,” Dankano said.

Ahmad Auwal, Emmanuel Joseph, Babayo Danjuma and Tina Marcus also expressed surprise over the outcome and said the development had showed that people should not be relying on opinion polls as  final outcome of an election.

“I got a new experienced that henceforth, one should not just take media polls whole and sinker,” Auwal said. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha