Blog

NAN-H-84
Appeal
By Ugonne Inyama
Owerri, ‎Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utilities in Imo, Mr Obinna Nshirim, has appealed to the Independent Newspaper Publishers Association (INPA) not to vilify the state government.

A statement from the Public Relations ‎Officer of the ministry, Mr William Unadike, said Nshirim made the call whil‎e receiving the executive members of the association in Owerri on Tuesday.

The statement said the commissioner rather urged the publishers to ensure their publications were constructive.

It said he also observed that some reports on the rescue mission of the administration were often misrepresented and called for a harmonious relationship between the government and the publishers.

The release reported the commissioner as observing that the association had an important role to play in fostering development in the state while urging them to help bridge the gap between the government and the masses.

“I appeal to you to help us bring the achievements of the governor to the notice of the people; a man who has given free education to his people in addition to his other achievements should be commended and not vilified anytime he makes a mistake,” the release quoted the commissioner as saying.

It said the Chairman ‎of the association, Mr Lambert Ojukwu, assured the commissioner that the association would co-operate with his office.

It said Ojukwu also added that the members would stick to their objectives of public enlightenment through the publication of fair and balanced reports. (NAN)
UOI/ORO/MVO
(Edited by Razak Owolabi/Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-H-83
Resumption
By Ugonne Uzoma ‎
Owerri, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education is set to resume academic activities after a four-month closure by its authorities.

A statement by its Registrar, Mrs Ngozi Aguta, said the school was being reopened after the 116th emergency meeting of its academic board held on Nov. 3.

The statement advised the students to visit the school’s website for the terms of readmission.

It said the students were expected to pay a restitution fee of N12,000 and swear to an undertaking to be of good behaviour before readmission.

The students were also directed to pay outstanding fees to become eligible to sit for the upcoming examinations.

The statement admonished the students to adhere to the instructions, adding that admission into hostels and classrooms will be based on proof of compliance with the directive as published on the school’s website.

The authorities of the institution on July 9 announced the indefinite suspension of academic and non-academic activities following a violent protest by its students. (NAN)
UOI/LAB/MVO
(Edited by Lydia Beshel/Mbadiwe Okwor)

NOWA inaugurates three-bedroom bungalows, staff quarters for personnel

NAN-DS-6

By Yahaya Isah

Inauguration

Abuja, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) on Tuesday inaugurated a three-bedroom bungalow, 10 bedroom blocks of staff quarters and 10 classroom blocks for its personnel at its Education Institute.

The President of the Association, Mrs Theresa Ibas, in her welcome address at the ceremony, said that the gesture was to further consolidate on the good work the association had been doing.

This, Ibas said, was targeted at making lives of naval families better.

Ibas explained that the conception of the project was borne out of the need to address the increasing accommodation and space problem the school was facing.

“We have also engaged in empowerment programme targeted at naval wives and personnel and their nuclear families.

“This gesture so far has gone a long way in alleviating the suffering of personnel, especially the wives of naval ratings in so many ways,’’ She said.

The president recalled that during her visit to the school in 2015, she noticed that there was inadequate number of student’s accommodation and classrooms.

“Today this project has come to stay, I have no doubt in my mind that all these problems they have been experiencing over the years has come to pass.

“I also believe that the inauguration of this project it will go a long way in enhancing the performance of the staff and the students of this institute,’’ Ibas said.

Ibas commended the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) for his untiring support as well as other well wishers who had contributed in one way or the other to make the project a reality.

Erlier, the Special Guest of Honour, The Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, while inaugurating the project, said he was pleased to be associated with NOWA, especially in area of humanitarian services the union had been rendering.

“It is a special privilege to be associated with you in this latest milestone of your efforts at welfare,” Olonisakin said.

Olonisakin recalled that NOWA was increasingly becoming the platform to tackle many of the social challenges confronting the families of Naval personnel, particularly in the absence of their spouses.

“NOWA have so far provided crèches in naval barracks and bases , establishment of schools and skill acquisition centres, provision of market stalls as well as providing general support officers and ratings families.

“These good projects of the association had continually impacted positively on the well being of personnel families.

“This showed the encouragement and determination of the association not to rest on its efforts but to widen gradually the scope of its services to naval personnel,’’ he said.(NAN)

YI/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-82

University

By Modupe Seriboh

Ibadan, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, on Tuesday said the institution was striving to be world-class and meet society’s needs.

Olayinka stated this at the opening of the University of Ibadan Research and Development Fair (UIRESDEV) held at the institution’s International Conference Centre in Ibadan.

The theme of the fair is “Research, Innovation and Community Service for Societal Transformation’’.

He said that the fair was established by the university’s Senate as part of efforts to promote the spirit of enquiry, research and discovery as well as to contribute to local and global development.

He said that it was important for government, academia and the private sector to synergise to solve the problems in the country.

“Humanities are very central to everything we do; so, we have to come up with policies that can proffer solutions to the various issues bordering on our environment.

“I am optimistic that this interaction will bring to the fore the opportunities inherent in synergising our efforts for positive societal transformation,’’ the vice chancellor said.

On his part, UIRESDEV Chairman, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, said that the fair was entrusted with the mandate of aligning “town and gown’’ for revolutionary national development.

“This is in accord with the vision and primary function of the university which is to provide education, conduct research, public service, disseminate and create knowledge.

“All these are geared towards meeting societal needs,’’ Adeyemo said.

Also speaking at the event, Mr Paul Gbadebo, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, challenged the university to commission a study to quantify the gap between the quality of graduates produced and industrial needs.

In his presentation entitled “The Academic Portrait, Humanistic Values and Human Resource Development in the Industry’’, Gbadebo said matching human resource outputs of academic institutions with industry needs had remained impossible in recent years.

“I urge you to review these curriculums to ensure that the gaps are closed.

“The effort should also not be one-off, rather, the study should be sustained to ensure that the volatile dynamics in the industry are proactively tackled,’’ he said.

Dr Tunji Olaopa, the Vice-Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), called for a summit that would address intellectual, administrative and institutional issues. (NAN)

MAM/COF/OPI

Edited by Oluyinka Fadare and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-81
Mawu
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) A prosecution witness, Air Commodore Sunday  Makinde, on Tuesday told an Abuja High Court that he was not satisfied with the contracts awarded by Committee for Procurement under the Ministry of Defence.

Makinde, Secretary of Procurement Plannimng Committee, Nigeria Air Force  from 2014 to 2015 made this known at the commencement of the  trial of retired AVM Alkali Mawu, on Wednesday.

Mawu is standing trial on a three-count charge of receiving gratification.

He allegedly collected a cash gift of N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque, 300,000 dollars and two vehicles, Ford Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon, valued N15 million and N12million, respectively from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Ltd.,  a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force.

Makinde, the first prosecution witness (PW1), told the court under cross examination by Counsel to the defendant, Mr Joesph  Daudu (SAN),  that he was not satisfied with the contract because it was not in the budget.

He also told the court that he had to confirm from the then Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Adeshola Amosun, who directed him to issue the two letters.

The letters were for procurement of military hardware dated Jan. 13, 2015 and May 18, for the overhaul of military helicopter.

The two letters and his statement to EFCC were tendered in evidence.

Makinde told the court that he was not the one that neither gave gratification nor was it done through him.

Also, Mr Musa Kishimi, Abuja branch manager Cocharis Motor Ltd., told the court that the Managing Director,  Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Ltd., Mr Hama Abubakar, gave them instructions.

Kishimi said Abubakar, who was a long standing customer requested the company to transfer the credit balance of his account to meet the outstanding payment of a Range Rover Evoque valued N15.2 million.

According to the witness Abubakar’s outstanding balance is N9.9 millions.

The witness said Abubakar also made two other requests for additional two cars a Jaguar SUV valued N12.5 million and Ford Expedition valued N15 millions to be delivered to Mrs Lami Mawu.

He said he had been working with the company since 2007 till date.

The Prosecuting counsel, Mr Slyvanus Tahir, brought in a third witness but was opposed by Daudu.

Daudu informed the court that the witness did not have witness statement on oath and could not testify unless he was just here to submit the documents.

He said without the statement he could not cross examine the witness.

Tahir then applied for an adjournment to enable them file and serve the statement.

The judge Justice Salisu Garba, after listening to their submissions adjourned till Nov. 28 for further hearing. (NAN)
NEO/OFN

NAN-H-17
Hospital
Potiskum (Yobe), Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of Potiskum, Yobe, on Tuesday, lauded the renovation and expansion of the 47 year old General Hospital Potiskum, to meet the challenges of the growing population.

The residents who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Potiskum said, rehabilitation of the hospital will improve healthcare delivery in the community.

NAN reports that Yobe government awarded contract for renovation and expansion of the hospital at the cost of more than N700 million.

The expansion includes construction of a special maternity ward and General outpatient ward.

Alhaji Ahmadu Munkailu, a resident of Potiskum, told  NAN that the renovation and expansion, will provide additional facilities for improved healthcare delivery to the community’s growing population.

He said, “the structures and facilities in the hospital have been over stretched due to long neglect and over usage.”

Ba’aba Mohammed, a student, said only few patients were admitted in the hospital for lack of beds.

“Patients who ought to have been admitted were treated as out patients because, there were no beds.

“The population of Potiskum, has by far out grown the capacity of the hospital, we hope this expansion project will provide more facilities” Mohammed said.

Hauwa Alkali, a house wife, expressed hope that the renovation, expansion and equipping of the hospital will reduce maternal and child mortality in the community.

“I pray this rehabilitation work will help in reducing maternal and child mortality in Potiskum and the surrounding communities.”

Earlier, Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, while inspecting work on the hospital warned the contractors to adhere to the contractual agreements or face sanction.

“Healthcare delivery is key to this administration, it is out of this commitment that this administration is renovating the 47 year old hospital” he said.

The governor said since the construction of the hospital in 1969, it had not received any major renovation.

“Government is doing a complete renovation, expansion and equipping of the hospital to bring healthcare to the doorstep of the people” he said. (NAN)

MM/EAL/IS

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Ismail Abdulaziz

Adamawa acquires 12 mining licenses, signs $5 bn exploration pact with Swiss firm

NAN-HE-19
Exploration
Yola, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Adamawa Mining Company Limited says it has acquired 12 licenses for Solid Minerals explorations in the state.
Mrs Shanti Shashi, the state Commissioner of Solid Minerals Resources, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Tuesday.
Shashi said the state government had also signed a five billion dollars agreement with a Swiss company, BTP Swiss Sovereign Asset, for the exploration of solid minerals in the state.
Shashi said that the agreement was signed in June 2016 and would last for three years.
“Adamawa Mining Company has acquired 12 solid minerals exploration licenses from Federal Government.
“ The Company has signed five billion dollars agreement with BTP Swiss Sovereign Asset to mine Gold, Diamond, Lead Zinc, Bitumen, Barites, Uranium, and Platinum.
“ The investor is a world-class renowned mining company that can generate a lot of revenue and employment for the state,” Shashi said.
Shashi said the state government also signed a contract agreement with Dangote Cement for the establishment of cement factory in Guyuk Local Government Area of the state.
According to the commissioner, the development will create more revenue and employment for the state and the country at large.
She said that another reputable foreign investor, Smart Group International, had submitted a letter of intent to the government for the establishment of cement factory in Lamurde Local Government Area.
She added that Group’s intention to establish the cement factory was due to huge deposits of gemstones discovered in the area.
“A draft Memorandum of Understanding is in place with Orca Energy Company of the United Kingdom for the recovery of alluvial, Gold, Diamond and other gemstones from Rivers Faro and Benue.
“As well as the establishment of state of art equipment and mineral testing laboratory and jewellery plant in the state,” she said.
Shashi said that the development was part of efforts to diversify the state revenue generation from oil to non oil revenue. (NAN)
AMA/GOM/WOJ
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(Edited Gregory Mmaduakolam / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-80
Training
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) says it will train 800 artisans on skills acquisition in Kaduna State with the collaboration of the World Bank.

The institution’s Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Ibrahim Sheme, said in a statement on Tuesday that the Kaduna State Government would also be involved.

He listed other partners as Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Housing Developers Institute.

According to him, the training will cover eight different trades, to be conducted in batches.

He then quoted Prof. Grace Joktan, the institution’s Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and Lifelong Learning (CESLL), as listing the scope of the training during a meeting with the partners.

“The training will be certificated after examinations and practical demonstrations by the artisans.

“This hands-on skill training is practical-oriented and will require some level of certification after
successful examination is conducted at the expiration of the programme.

“Already, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Abdalla Adamu, has approved the programme, with its secretariat to be located in the institution.

“This secretariat will be managed by an Assistant Registrar, who will develop a curriculum for the programme.

“The institution will also provide logistics required for the smooth operation of the training,’’ Joktan was quoted as saying.

The training was sequel to a request by the Kaduna State Government with a view to providing skilled male and female artisans that would assist in job creation, especially for youths.

The first batch of trainees would be drawn from four local government areas namely Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Chikun local governments, while other local government areas would follow. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/HA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-AE-6
Waste
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has announced plans to reform its waste management system by 2017, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, on Tuesday disclosed government’s decision to review its waste management system in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

According to him, the reform will come with innovative packages including investment in use of tricycles for waste disposal.

“The Government is taking a holistic view of the way waste collection and disposal is being run in the State.

“This is aimed at making waste management in the State efficient and effective.

“The reform will accommodate all the relevant stakeholders in waste collection and disposal no matter how unrecognised their contributions had been over the years.

“Households will also be made to be responsive and responsible for efficient waste collection and disposal,” he said.

Adejare told NAN that the reform would recognise barrow and truck pushers, who collect refuse from houses and make them accountable for their actions.

He said the idea was to stop the situation where they would collect refuse from homes and dumped them on road sides, isolated places or drainage channels.

Adejare said that the reform package would end the current situation where a majority of Lagos residents, tenants and landlords failed to pay waste bills.

He said that maintaining a clean environment was important as no nation prospered in a distressed and degraded environment.

He also restated the state government’s position on sustainable environment, adding that Gov. Akinwumi Ambode’s administration was also planning to invest in the use of tricycle for waste disposal.

According to him, the tricycles will, in no small measure, assist in waste collection and disposal in the state because of their ability to navigate difficult terrain.

Adejare said that once the government was able to sort out issues of waste management less garbage would be found in the state’s drainage. (NAN)
ACA/DOE/AFA
Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Felix Ajide
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NAN-HE-6
Virement
By Muhammad Nasir Bello
Sokoto, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Tuesday received a letter from Gov. Aminu Tambuwal requesting for a second warrant to vire N2.4 billion in the 2016 budget.
Tambuwal, in the letter read by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, drew the attention of the assembly to the ongoing development projects and services in the state.
The letter read: “Therefore, there is the need for the modifications in the budgetary provisions in order to ensure sustainability of the projects and services in the state.
“Further to that, all the affected votes of charge will be harmonised in the state’s budget outlay to ensure prudence in the management of the resources.
“In the light of the foregoing, I forward to the house, the 2016 second virement warrant request involving N1.130 billion for capital projects and N1.290 billion for recurrent expenditure.”
The governor indicated the virement for capital, recurrent expenditures and heads as well as subheads of all relevant agencies.
The Speaker referred the request to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further consideration.
In another development, the Assembly held a special prayer session in honour of late Dr Dikko Goshe, the Provost, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, and the 40 miners who died in Zamfara.
It also expressed concern over the recent Boko Haram attack on some Nigerian soldiers in Borno which claimed the life of Lt.- Col. Abu Ali and six others (NAN)
MNB/BRM/EMO/TA
Edited by Ejike Obeta/Tajudeen Atitebi