Blog

Boko Haram: Kogi people mourn Lt. Col. Abu Ali

NAN-H-10
Mourning
Lokoja, Nov. 6,2016 ( NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Lt. Col. Abu Ali, an indigene of the state, who was killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno on Friday.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, on Sunday in Lokoja, the governor described the death of Ali as “ unfortunate and a monumental loss to Kogi and Nigeria ”.

He commiserated with his father , the Etsu Bassa Nge Kingdom, retired Brig.-Gen. Abu Ali, and prayed God to give him and the entire people of Bassa the fortitude to bear the loss.

Late Ali died at about 10 p.m. of Friday, when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked 119 Battalion, Nigerian Army location at Mallam Fatori area of Borno.

The governor commended Ali’s gallantry as an officer , saying that he served the nation with dedication and commitment and paid the supreme price by laying down his life for the peace of the country.

“ The late Col. Ali will be remembered for his sacrifice and commitment to the cause of the Nigerian Army to rid the country of insurgency which has been a source of concern to everyone.

“Kogi, and indeed Nigerians, will never forget your gallantry as you led a team of the Nigerian Army to recapture Baga from the control of terrorists and you died in active service, as a gallant soldier, “ the governor said.

He admonished the colleagues of the deceased in the army not be discouraged by the incident but to regard it as a duty to renew their efforts to fight against insurgency to a standstill at Mallam Fatori in Borno .

Lt.Col. Abu Ali, was until his death, the Commanding Officer of 272 Task Force Tank Battalion.

Due to the late senior officer’s exceptional bravery and gallantry, he was given an accelerated promotion from the rank of major to Lt. Col. and was decorated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, at Gamboru Ngala on Sept. 9, 2015, during an operational visit.( NAN)
KKA/AMY/AMY
————
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-11

Meeting

Tafawa Balewa (Bauchi), Nov. 6,2016 (NAN) A tribal group in Bauchi state, Zaar Development Association (ZDA), has proposed the introduction of quarterly meetings of religious and community leaders to address the problems of indiscipline among children.

ZDA is an association of Sayyawa tribes in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking in Tafawa Balewa on Saturday during the association’s annual cultural festival, National President of ZDA, Mr Bala Istifanus, said such meetings would assist in tracking social miscreants and enforcement of traditional and moral values among the young ones.

Istifanus said that parents and members of the communities needed to work together to check the decline in moral values in children.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s festival, tagged “Promoting inclusive prosperity and self-reliance towards collective development “, Istafanus said communities could advance only through collective efforts.

He said that sustainable development could be achieved through windows of education, agriculture, entrepreneurship and innovation, all geared towards wealth creation.

“People should avoid unrealistic demand from leaders but rather give useful advice that will help in ensuring sustainable development.

“The cultural norms and value need to be sustained as such I will propose quarterly meetings to enable us address the issue of wayward children in the society,’’ he said.

He commended the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who is one of their illustrious sons, for initiating development projects in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas.

Also Speaking, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Mr Martins Babale, lauded the Zaar association for initiating and sustaining their cultural festival. adding that such activities would help in preserving their culture and uniting the people.(NAN)

AE/ASH/ASH

NAN -ND-9

Threat

Uyo, Nov. 5. 2016 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has threatened to close down all filling stations in Akwa Ibom dispensing kerosene from surface tanks.

Mr Bassey Nkanga, the DPR Controller in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, made the threat in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday.

Nkanga said that the decision was necessitate by the recent kerosene explosion which led to the death of two children and one woman in Ikono Ibm area of Uyo.

He said that the department had a meeting with members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to review the ugly incident that occurred last week.

“All those selling the product from surface tanks that are not licensed will not be allowed to operate.

“We are going to work with security agencies to ensure that petroleum products are not adulterated in the state.

“IPMAN has agreed to work with DPR to ensure that only those surface tanks with DPR licenses operate because those with licenses will not source product from illegal refineries,” Nkanga said.

He added that IPMAN in the state had agreed not to sell kerosene to minors.

According to him, some children do not know exactly which product they want to buy when they get to filling stations.

He warned consumers to always put off their lamps and stoves and allow them to cool whenever they wanted to pour more kerosene into them.

NAN recalls that one Mr Nsikak Michael in Uyo lost two children last week due to an explosion that occurred while he was about poring kerosene into a lit lamp. (NAN)

IE/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-ND-8

Rice

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Benin, Nov.6, 2016 (NAN) Mr Wellington Omoragbon, Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Edo Operations, said 7,500 rice farmers in the state would benefit from 2016 Federal Government-assisted dry season farming.

Omoragbon who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, said that the season would run between November and January, 2017.

He said that the initiative was to ensure self-sufficiency in rice production in the country.

He said that Edo North Senatorial District had been selected for the dry season rice farming scheme, adding that the 7,500 farmers were selected among registered farmers in the senatorial district.

According to him, each of the farmers is expected to cultivate one hectare of rice, amounting to 7500 hectares.

Omoragbon said that farm inputs such rice seeds and fertilizers would be distributed to the farmers at 50 per cent subsidised rate.

He explained that each farmer would get three bags of fertilizer and one 25-kilogramme bag of rice seeds for planting.

“In addition, 50 kilogramme of organic manure and one litre of inorganic manure will be provided for each of the farmers,” he said.

The director said that the ministry had a plan to establish a modern fish market in the state. (NAN)

NY/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-ND-7

Commendation

By Ben Ezugwu

Calabar, Nov 6, 2016 (NAN) Mr Owali Ilem, Chairman, Palm Oil Dealers Association, Cross River chapter, has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for introducing the Anchor Borrowers scheme to boost agriculture in the country.

Ilem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday that the inclusion of oil palm producers in the CBN’s programme would provide more resources for the farmers to increase their productivity.

He urged oil palm farmers in the state to form cooperative groups to enable them to access funds from the scheme and have a value chain for their products.

He, however, stressed the need for State and Federal Government to increase their funding allocations to agriculture to ensure desired food sufficiency in the country.

Ilem disclosed that the country spent N59 billion on the importation of 1.7 million metric tons of palm oil annually, adding that this would have been avoided if proper attention was given to oil palm production locally.

“This importation is unnecessary and ironical considering the fact that in the past, palm produce was one of the country’s major exports,” he said.

He called on the Cross River Government to construct roads in the rural communities to enable farmers to have access to their farms.

“Rural farmers are groaning under poor road network and lack of access to their farms across the 18 local government areas in this state.

“So, it will be good if the state government assists us in opening up the local communities by constructing rural roads,’’ he said.

The farmers chairman decried the high cost of food items, including palm oil, currently in the state and country, describing it as self-inflicted hardship occasioned by the neglect of agriculture.

He said: “Early in the year, we were buying 25 litres of palm oil at between N2,500 and N3000; now it is sold at N14,000 per litre. It has never happened like this before.

“Everyday people keep calling me from Lagos asking whether the product is available in Cross River. The demand has never been as high.’’ (NAN)

BEN/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-ND-5

Fire

Asaba, Nov. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Commissioner for the Bureau for Special Duties in Delta, Mr Chika Ossai, said on Sunday that the state recorded 23 fire outbreaks between May and October, 2016.

Ossai told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba that the incidents occurred in six towns in the state and that property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the process.

He, however, said that no live was lost in any of the cases.

He said that 10 incidents were recorded in Asaba, two in Agbor, six in Warri, two in Ogwashi-uku, two in Ughelli and one in Kwale during the period.

“I can say that the number of occurrences was drastically reduced when compared with the figure we had this period last year.

“We are now approaching the dry season, and we have our enlightenment campaigns on televisions and radio on the need for people to take some measures to prevent fire outbreaks.

“People are advised, for instance, to always switch off their electrical appliances when leaving their homes for work or business,” he said.

Ossai said that 10 out of the 14 fire stations in the state were functional, adding that there were only four stations before the present administration assumed office.

He that fire fighting equipment had been deployed in the three senatorial districts of the state.

“In Delta North Senatorial District, the stations are located in Asaba, Ogwgashi-Uku, Issele-Uku and Kwale, while in Delta South, they are located in Warri and Oleh.

“There are also functional fires stations in Effurun, Ughelli, Sapele and Oghara, in Delta Central,’’ he said.

Ossai also said that the state government was collaborating with oil companies operating in the state in the training of fire officers. (NAN)

MOA/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-S-1
Fans

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Nov.6, 2016 (NAN) Four Chelsea fans in Abakaliki, lavished N98, 000 on compatriots while celebrating the club’s  5-0 routing of Everton in Saturday’s English Premier League (EPL) match.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chelsea  recorded its biggest win of the season with a brace from Eden Hazard and one goal each from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Pedro Rodriguez.

The win moved the ‘Blues’ to the top of EPL table pending the outcome of matches involving Arsenal and Liverpool on Sunday.

A NAN correspondent, who witnessed the spectacle at a viewing centre located along Old Enugu-Road Abakaliki, reports that the celebrations continued till early Sunday morning.

Proprietor of the centre, Ejike Agha ,who spoke to NAN, said the action of the fans  unfolded like a movie and came as a surprise to many who were at the viewing centre.

“The four Chelsea fans were taunted by tens of rival clubs fans mainly from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

“The tide turned when Chelsea started scoring and by the time Costa scored the third goal to end the first half, the taunters retreated to their shells,” he said.

Agha said the Chelsea fans took over proceedings and ordered him to distribute all the drinks inside his refrigerator and delicacies he was serving  to everyone present.

“They started making phone calls and by the time Hazard scored the fourth goal in the second half, my viewing centre could not contain the crowd that had gathered.

“The frenzy was unimaginable as their friends arrived from various places and by the time Pedro scored the fifth goal, I was ordering drinks and delicacies from restaurant owners around the area,” he said.

He said he could not imagine his luck as by the time the he prepared the bills which came to approximately N98, 000.

One of the Chelsea fans, who simply identified himself as Bruno, told NAN that he did not regret his actions and would repeat it if the occasion demanded.

“The only thing that gives me joy in the world is Chelsea and I will make any sacrifice to sustain and transfer such joy to others.

“We were mocked as failures this season especially after the 0-2 trashing by Arsenal but our indefatigable Coach, Anthonio  Conte, rose to the occasion.

“He changed our playing style to the 3-5-2 pattern which fetched him glory at Juventus and we have been on steady rise since then,” he said.

He said his greatest source of joy was that Chelsea now topped the table, even if temporarily and many fans were converted to support the club after the spending spree.

Barry Ozoma, a referee with the Ebonyi Sports Council expressed worry at the heightened  following  of European clubs by football fans in Nigeria.

“I was at the viewing centre and could not comprehend the sentiments expressed by the young and old people, even women, to these foreign clubs.

“No one discussed Sunday’s Federation Cup final between Ifeanyi Ubah FC and Nasarawa United at the centre and if a chunk of such attachment is deployed to the national cause, Nigeria will be great,” he said. (NAN)

RCO/YAZ

Edited by Yusuf Zango

NAN-ND-4

Fire

By Isaiah Ekah

Uyo, Nov. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Akwa Ibom Fire Service Department said on Sunday that it saved 10 lives and property worth N4.67 billion in the fire outbreaks in the state between July and September, 2016.

The Head of Fire Service in the state, Mr Ndareke Ukpe, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

Ukpe said that firemen attended to 29 fire calls, comprising four from petrol stations, five from market stores, 15 from residential buildings and five from government buildings.

He attributed the causes of fire outbreaks to carelessness and use of fake electrical materials in homes.

He advised landlords and contractors in the state to be mindful of electrical materials used in wiring buildings.

‘We attended to 29 calls from the people within private and government establishments in the state and saved 10 lives and property worth N4.67 billion.

“A firebreak does not just occur but is caused by carelessness and use of fake electrical installations in buildings.

“We are committed to ensuring that our department responds to fire calls within record time so that minimal loss is recorded,” he said.

Ukpe urged the residents to promptly report fire outbreaks to the service to minimize losses.

He advised people to take other safety measures such as putting off all electrical appliances before leaving home.

The fire officer warned the people to avoid bush burning, especially now that the dry season was setting in.

He appealed to Akwa Ibom Government to recruit more hands into the service and provide the department with adequate equipment to enable it to cope with its challenges. (NAN)

IE/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-ND-3

Dialogue

By John Amieyeofori

Port Harcourt, Nov. 6, 2016 ( NAN) Some residents of Port Harcourt have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his recent meeting with Niger Delta stakeholders on how to resolve the crises in the region.

The people, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Sunday, commended the government’s move towards tackling militancy in the oil-rich region.

One of them, Mr Sylvanus Akpokiri, who described the meeting as a welcomed development, expressed optimism that the dialogue would help to resolve the problems.

Akpokiri, an environmentalist, observed that there was no crisis involving humans that could not be resolved through dialogue.

He called on the people to support the present initiative to succeed and appealed to the militants to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

Mrs Freda Abeki emphasized that only dialogue could provide a lasting solution to the Niger Delta crises.

According to Abeki, part of the reasons why militancy and other crimes have increased in the region is because of communication breakdown between government and the various stakeholders.

O his part, Mr Stanley Gbeso, said that if there was sincere and continual dialogue between government and the people of the Niger Delta, there would not be a resurgence of militancy in the region.

Gbeso called for sustained dialogue between government and the people on the issues raised by the agitators.

Mrs Ann Agbele said that the session between the Federal Government and the region’s stakeholders was a step in the right direction and urged the parties to abide by all resolutions reached at the meeting.

Agbele noted that most times, failure to obey agreements reached during such dialogues by parties concerned in an issue, had remained the bane of end to crises.

She also called for continued dialogue among the stakeholders while appealing to the militants to stop destruction of oil installations in the region. (NAN)

JA/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-ND-2

Fishermen

By John Amieyeofori

Sangama (Rivers), Nov. 6, 2016 ( NAN) Residents of Sangama in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers have appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide them with fishing implements to enhance their occupation.

The people made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sangama on Sunday.

One of them, Mr Pius Obele, said that fishermen in the community needed the tools, including boats and fishing gears, to enable them to have more catches and boost their source of revenue.

Obele said that lack of fishing implements had hampered the operation of the fishermen and had led to inadequate supply of fish to the people of the area.

Another fisherman, Mr Manners Owus, said that if NDDC supplied the materials, it would encourage more people in the area to go into fishing thereby reducing unemployment in the community.

Owus urged the commission to grant the people’s request as part of efforts in the diversification of the nation’s economy.

For Mrs Ada James, supplying fishing gears to Sangama people by the commission would mean more jobs for indigenes.

James added that there was no presence of NDDC in the community, and that providing the fishing implements would be a way for the commission to register its presence in the community.

Another resident, Mr Francis Soala, lamented that NDDC had not provided any infrastructure for the people of Sangama since the commission was established.

He stressed that the commission had been executing projects in many communities in the state, but had not sited any in the Sangama.

Soala therefore appealed to the commission “to register its presence in the community for the first time by providing fishing gears for our people’’. (NAN)

JA/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika