Blog

NAN-H-77
Landslide
Jalingo, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Landslide has cut off the 100 metre road leading to the Mambilla Hydo Power Plant at Leki Taba in Sardauna Council Area of Taraba.

Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Darius Ishaku, made the disclosure on Monday in Jalingo while briefing newsmen.

He said that the landslide had cut off the people of the area from the rest of the country.

He said that if completed, the power plant had the potential to generate over 3,700 megawatts of electricity.

Mijinyawa said that a significant portion of the road is under imminent threat of being cut off as the embankment had collapsed.

He urged the people of the area to remain calm; saying contract for the rehabilitation of the road had already been awarded by the state government to PW to avoid further damage.
The CPS said the state government had to intervene and award the contract in spite of lean resources even though the road was a federal highway.
“Waiting for the federal government may delay the project and further prolong the sufferings of the people who are cut off from the rest of the country,’’ he said. (NAN)

NB/AEA/AEA
==========
Edited by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-ELS-2
Songs
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016(NAN) Wale Adesina, a music producer, on Monday, urged music artistes to record songs with inspirational lyrics that would see their fans through the trying phase of the nation’s economy.

Adesina made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The producer said that the season called for songs that would encourage the masses to keep
faith in the nation.

He added that the content of locally-produced songs in recent times were strictly beat and hi-hook motivated and do not impact the society.

He, therefore, urged the new generation artistes to take time out to study happenings in the society
in order to write songs that would guide and inspire the masses.

He said “the current generation of artistes barely have a word to engage their fans.

“In time past, we had artistes who think deep before producing songs and lyrics full of meanings and inspiration but that is not the case anymore.

“You can never hear the likes of legendary singers — Fela Kuti or Victor Uwaifo, put out songs that do not carry meaning either to correct an impression or put people in check.

“New generation artistes do not care about the content of their songs and what effect it has on
their fans and the entire society.”

Adesina said entertainers were to use the content of their craft to entertain, encourage and educate the general public.

He advised that “the society responds more to music than laid down regulations, so it should be judiciously harnessed and used as a tool by government.

“It is high time entertainers know that they can use their talent in good light by adding value to the society instead of aiding ill manners.”

The music producer further encouraged musicians to write songs that would inspire fans and the
public on ways to deal and live through the current recession in the country.

He said “if there is anytime we need inspirational songs in the country, it is now, because that will go a long way in keeping citizens positive.” (NAN)
VOI/FF/HA
==========
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-78
Election
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara chapter of Inter-Parties Advisory Council (IPAC) has appealed to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) to conduct the local government election without further delay.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Secretary and Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulrahman Omotosho, Yinka Adepoju and Comrade Abdulmumini Onagun respectively on Monday in Ilorin.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed had on Friday dissolved the local government councils in the state following the expiration of their three years tenure.

IPAC said the failure to conduct local councils’ election was unacceptable to it.

The statement noted that IPAC was not comfortable with the delay in the conduct of local government election in the state.

It advocated for a stakeholders’ meeting on the issue so that the council elections would be conducted without further delay. (NAN)
AUO/ORO/AFA
Edited by Rasaq Owolabi/Felix Ajide
==========================

‎

NAN-H-67

Training

Minna, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 500 artisans are undergoing an entrepreneurship training organised by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) across three centres in Niger State.‎

With the nation’s economic recession, the capacity building exercise is part of efforts to empower the beneficiaries and enable them to become employers of labour.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the trainees, comprising aluminium producers, bead makers and carpenters, are products of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme of the Industrial Trust Fund.

Speaking at the training in Minna on Monday, the SMEDAN programme facilitator, Mr Fawale Olasukanmi, urged the trainees to take advantage of the programme to be able to improve their economic status.

He said the essence of the programme was to empower young people to go into economic activities and to be productive.

“We are doing this in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund who have already handled the technical aspect of equipping them with the skills,” Olasunkanmi said.

He said that 200 trainees were being trained in Minna, while the remaining were having theirs in Bida and Kontagora centres simultaneously during the five-day exercise..

The facilitator said the trainees would be made to form cooperative societies at the end, to enable them access credit facilities to set up and grow their various business ventures. (NAN)

AMEN/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-24
LAGBUS
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) LAGBUS Franchisee Forum, operators of high-capacity red buses in Lagos on Monday appealed to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to save their investment from ruin following the government’s prohibition of their services on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

The chairman of the forum, Mr Role Odukale,made the appeal at a news conference in Lagos.

Odukale, who spoke on behalf the 17 operators of LAGBUS franchisee, said that the development would not only kill their business but also bring hardship to residents of the state.

“For us, it is the people that will suffer as evident today across bus stops in Lagos. This situation will add to our woes, we will not be able to meet up with our bank obligations because we borrowed money from banks.

“What this means is that few buses will be available to serve over 20 million residents of the state. It is important to know that about 5, 000 people we engage in our services will lose their jobs. This directive should be reversed.

“The step taken by the government to restrict red buses from plying the BRT corridor will bring monopoly into the system, which can lead to exploitation. Our investment is huge, let the government save our businesses and the people.

“None of us has less than 20 buses and a depot each, no one has invested less than N300 million. More than N5 billion investment s in danger.We have about 1,200 buses in this investment.”

The chairman said that the restriction would also affect foreign investment into the country, adding LAGBUS operation was just like a social services to the people.

“We started operations since February 2007 and we maintained the same fare up till date in spite of the increase in the prices of diesel and maintenance. We also use our buses to carry people free at every festive season.

“We also pay royalty on every passenger to the state government in advance, even before picking the passengers. What we are doing is more or less a social services,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government on Monday commenced restriction of LAGBUS branded buses from plying the BRT dedicated corridor along the Ikorodu-CMS route.

The government also prohibited LAGBUS buses from picking and dropping passengers along the Western Avenue as well as on board ticketing on LAGBUS buses which led to the suspension of LAGBUS operations across routes. (NAN)
AKA/ANU/PAD
=============

NAN-H-73
Polytechnic
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu, says the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) will soon visit the institution over   the accreditation of six new courses.

Elelu, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ilorin, said the board would also re-accredit 26 other courses.

He identified some of the new courses to include Fisheries, Water Resources and Mechatronics.

The rector said that the polytechnic was chosen by NBTE as a pilot institution for some of the new courses.

Elelu explained that when the accreditation and re-accreditation process had been successfully completed, the number of courses offered in the institution would increase to 62 from the present 56.

He also disclosed that the institution would begin e-learning to enable students to study from anywhere in the world.

The rector further revealed that the school would honour some eminent Nigerians during the 23rd convocation of the school.

Elelu said that the convocation ceremony would hold on Dec. 15 at the newly constructed multi-purpose stadium complex.

He identified the personalities to include business magnate, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Eric Umeofia and Alhaji Kamaldeen Yusuf.

NAN recalls that Umeofia is the Chairman of Erisco Foods Limited while Yusuf is the Chief Executive Officer of Kam Industry Limited.

The rector said that Dangote deserved the award because he had employed a couple of students of the institution when they had their industrial attachment in one of his companies. (NAN)
OOH/FF/OJO
=========
(Edited by Olufela Fashoro/Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-DS-10

Policing

By Aminu Garko

Minna , Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Niger Police Command says it has intensified community policing to check cattle rustling and kidnapping in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Zubairu Muazu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.

Muazu said the measure would enable residents to offer intelligence reports that could assist the command in apprehending all those involved in criminal activities in the state.

“We have deployed plain security personnel in identified areas of cattle rustling to ensure their arrest and prosecution,”he said .

He also said that stakeholders had been mobilised to educate residents on the need to report suspicious characters in their midst.

The commissioner expressed confidence that the involvement of stakeholders would greatly assist the command to deal with any form of security threats in the area.

He, therefore, urged residents of the area to always give information on the movement of suspicious persons for prompt action.

He said that already Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers had been briefed on ways to strengthen community policing in their respective areas of operation.

“We have put in place various security measures that will enable residents to move on with their legitimate businesses without hindrance, ” the commissioner said.(NAN)
AAG/AMY/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-74

Hajj

By Suleiman Shehu

Ibadan, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Chairman of Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugberu, says the board has commenced the sales of registration form for 2017 Hajj to fast track the process.

 Akewugberu made this known during a news conference at Olodo Hajj Camp in Ibadan on Monday.

According to him, a weekly instalment payment of N35, 000 is allowed for intending pilgrims as part of the initiatives to ease the process.

 He said the introduction of instalment payment would also go a long way to encourage intending pilgrims to access money for the pilgrimage.

 He said the registration form was N10, 000 with an initial deposit of N1milion for hajj fare, pending the announcement of the 2017 Hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Akewugberu said further that the board had designed three packages to allow instalment payment in order to make travelling easier for the intending pilgrims.

 “Whatever package one chooses, every interested pilgrim will pay at least N35, 000 per week or N150, 000 per month.

 “Each intending pilgrim is advised to pay N1million pending the announcement of 2017 hajj fare by NAHCON.

 “The board is determined more than ever before to make sure that those who first complete their payment would be the first to be airlifted both to and from Saudi Arabia.’’

 Akewugeru further said that the packages were put in place to ensure maximum comfort for different categories of intending pilgrims during the exercise.

 He said the board was determined to consolidate on the successes recorded in the just concluded Hajj to ensure a success in 2017 Hajj.

 The board chairman assured that pilgrims from the state would be accommodated within Haram during the 2017 Hajj.

 Akewugberu, however, commended Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State for supporting the board over the years.

 According to him, Oyo is the only state in the country that accommodates its pilgrims within the vicinity of Haram in 2016.

 This, he said, made pilgrims from the state to perform the Hajj with ease. (NAN)

SYS/EEM/MO/

Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Morayo Omolade

========================

NAN-S-3

League

By Kemi Ajayi

Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Ex-international, Waidi Akanni, has commended the League Management Committee (LMC), for repositioning the Nigeria Professional Football Federation (NPFL) for better performance.

Akanni told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that one the things the regulatory body has done is put tough disciplinary measures in place, to address indiscipline among of clubs and players.

Cue in audio

“The NPL is doing well as far as I am concerned; we’ve seen a lot of changes in the aspect of punishment.

“Laws are made to deter, to make things change in everyday life.

“And I have seen that in the NPFL; that whenever teams and players err they always punish them and those are the things that will make the game change in Nigeria for better.’’

Cue out audio

Akanni, a former Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, urged LMC not to relent in its effort to make the Nigerian professional league the focal point of African football.

NAN reports that Rangers International FC of Enugu emerged as the champions of the recently concluded NPFL 2015/2106 season.

The 2016/2017 season is expected to kick-off on a yet to be disclosed date in December. (NAN)

KOA/ERO/LAB/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Okara/ Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim

=============================================

NAN-H-71

NDDC

By Desmond Ejibas

Port Harcourt, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, on Monday said the commission would develop the non-oil sector to boost revenue and attract new industries.

Ekere disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers, at the hand-over by the former acting Managing Director of the commission, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, to the new board.

He said that aside development of non-oil sector, the commission would also focus on four other key areas to drive sustainable development in the region.

“Our priorities aside the non-oil sector, is to ensure regional development and integration, ecological management and healthcare awareness, stakeholder engagement and human capital development while fostering youth engagement.

“We will also focus on intervention programmes that will deliver real measurable developmental outcomes for the region and its citizens.

“NDDC needs to look to innovative and more efficient ways of doing things while enthroning transparency, effective deployment of resources, due process and the quality implementation of projects and programmes,” he said.

Ekere said that the board, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and inaugurated on Thursday, would restructure the commission’s balance sheet, reform its governance protocols, restore its core mandate and reaffirm commitment to follow due process.

He said that the commission would leverage on the use of technology to increase accountability and efficiency.

In his remarks, Chairman of the commission’s board, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, promised that the board would ensure holistic development of the Niger Delta by turning the region’s challenges into opportunities.

He said that the nation was currently faced with enormous economic challenges to which the commission must be innovative while cutting excesses.

Ndoma-Egba said “our books must be cleaned up and our projects, processes, personnel and finances must be audited.

“We will gainfully engage youths by making policies and programmes that would teach people how to fish and not give youths fish.”

He said that welfare of workers would be addressed to boost morale and accelerate development of the region.

Earlier, Semenitari said that she successfully completed 50 per cent of the projects during her tenure.

“When I assumed office, percentage of jobs completed in the commission as at December 2015 hovered at about 25 per cent.

“But, as at Sept. 9, that figure had gone up to 41 per cent while as at today, we are in the 50 per cent range,” she said.

Semenitari said that confidence had been restored in the commission as bankers and lenders had shown willingness to fund its projects. (NAN)

DES/MEMO/OPI

Edited by Mike Mbonye and Olisa Ifeajika