Blog

NAN-S-3
Baseball
By Bayo Sekoni
Ibadan, Nov. 5, 2016, (NAN) Oyo Government has donated 30 acres of land for the construction of a Baseball and Softball complex for the development of the sport  in the state.

The District Secretary, Baseball and Softball Little League Nigeria, Ayodeji Owolabi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing Clinic and second edition of  the Little League series in Ibadan on Saturday.

Owolabi , who said the complex would be built at Ajoda in Egbeda Local Government, adding that the complex would comprise hostels, four pitches and other facilities.

He noted that the state government had already mandated two schools from each of the 11 local government areas in Ibadan to adopt the game.

He said that 17 teams, with players within the ages of nine and 12 years from Kwara, Lagos, Delta, Ondo and Abuja, were participating in the league, slated to hold between Nov. 3 and Nov. 5.

The secretary said that the coaching clinic, which would end on Nov. 13, had trainers from the USA and Netherlands.

He said that the league,which started in January 2016, was aimed at grooming young athletes to build careers in the sport.

Owolabi said the winner of the league would be among the eight teams to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, if it emerges winner in the playoff with any of the champions from Asia or South America.

Also, Gerard Hall, District Administrator, Little League, Washington DC, and clinician, said that Nigeria had potential in baseball and softball.

Hall told NAN that for the country to maximise its potential in the sport, the facilities must be provided to promote the sport.

“There is raw skill and talents that need to be nurtured. I have seen four Nigerian players in the competition who have potential of going professional.

“Development possible for the sport which comes from playing; If you get them early you can build the passion into them.

“All it entails is to have a programme of what they should learn within a certain period and coaches at different stages of their development can build on these; it makes coaching job a lot easier,’’ Hall said.

Commenting on the league and baseball generally in Nigeria, Hall said “there is a lot better organisation in the sport since 2012 when I first came to Nigeria”.

Similarly, Henrica Dirks from the Netherland, said that the clinic was to work with the coaches under the train-the-trainer project.

Dirk said that though the technical level of the game was still low in the country and a lot still had to be done to impart the fundamentals in participants, “but the enthusiasm and dedication displayed has been impressive”.

She said that equipment worth over 4,000 Euros consisting balls, helmet, gloves and pads had arrived the country to enhance the development of the sport. (NAN)
AOS/PD/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-9
Training
By Muhammad Bashiri
Dutse, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government in collaboration with German Corporation, Competitive African Rice Investment (Gilz-CARI), has concluded arrangements to train 574 youths on herbicide spray.

 The Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Development and Inclusion, Alhaji Hamza Muhammad, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Saturday.

Muhammad said the youths after the training would each be given protective clothes and would be engaged in spraying cluster farming initiative aimed at producing sesame, rice, groundnut and soybeans.

The special assistant said the youths would be trained on how and when to spray herbicide on particular crop and the quantity to spray as well.

“You know, spraying herbicide depends on crops type, so that the youths will be trained on how to spray it on rice, wheat, soyabeans, maize, watermelon groundnut, among others.

“They will also be trained to do so without causing harm to the crops by under or over-spraying the herbicide.

“And they will also be given protective clothes to wear whenever they will carry out such exercise in order to protect themselves from any harm from the herbicide,” he explained.

Muhammad recalled that 50 hectares each in the 287 wards of the state were given to youths to cultivate the four major crops.

He noted that the farmers were trained on modern ways of agricultural development practices through crops value change.

According to him, the state has through a loan, assisted the farmers’ right from farm preparations up to the time of harvesting.

Muhammad pointed out that the government did not give the farmers cash, but provided them with all the needed farm inputs where they would pay back after they must have harvested and sold the produces.

The beneficiaries, he added, had filled and signed an agreement form with the government containing what each and every farmer collected from the government.

He said the farmers were expected to produce four tonnes against the normal two tonnes per hectare using modern knowledge and equipment.

The special assistant also said that added that dedicated extension workers were attached to each of cluster of the groups.

Muhammad further told NAN the gesture would encourage more people including youths to engage in farming.

According to him, it will also address the issue of unemployment as well as restiveness among youths in the area by providing job opportunities for them.

He, therefore, urged the youths to take advantage of the state government’s commitment to develop agricultural activities by engaging in both dry season farming.

“The present administration under Gov. Muhammad Badaru has pledged to develop agricultural activities by making it attractive to both youths and women in the state.

“So, the youths should try as much as they can to see that they benefit from this important initiative by the state government,” he advised. (NAN)
MNB/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-8
Oyedipo
By Emmanuel Nwoye
Jos, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) Dr David Oyedepo, the Bishop of the Living Faith Church worldwide, has appealed to those criticising the school fees charged by Covenant University to desist to avoid incurring the wrath of God.

Oyedepo, in a telecast to a pre-Shiloh 2016 Convention gathering of the church monitored via satellite in Jos on Saturday, said the critics were acting in ignorance and risked incurring the wrath of God.

He said one of such critic smitten with a strange plague of chronic mouth odour over the act only received spiritual pardon following his confession and “my intervention before he was restored to dignity”.

Oyedepo said the issue of school fees paid by students of the university was a godly agenda to meet the demands of raising godly children in an environment conducive for learning.

He said such criticisms were products of ignorance as what students pay could not be compared with what obtained elsewhere that lacked facilities.

“The school fees has Gods approval and is in accordance with the quality of facilities provided by the university in meeting the educational needs of the nation,” he said.

He said the church in its pioneering role in pushing the frontiers of education with excellence had concluded plans to establish offshore universities.

The cleric said a fully automated Bible press by the church had been completed and would be launched soon.

Oyedepo, however, quoting from some verses of the Bible, which include Matthew 24:6-8, 1Peter 2:9, Joel 2:2 and Mal. 4:1, said the current economic meltdown was predicted but that committed Christians would be exempted.

He prayed for resources for parents to always meet the demands of the time and declared the theme of this year’s Shiloh holding between Dec. 6 and Dec. 10 as  “My Case is Different”.

The bishop said this year’s annual event of Shiloh would not be advertised as past events as it would be church based. (NAN)
ECN/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-DS-1

Impersonation

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu Police Command has arrested one Udoh Samuel, who was posing as a police officer in Abakpa community, near Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police recovered police uniform and fabricated gun-like metal from the suspect.

The command’s Spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, told NAN on Saturday in Enugu that the suspect was nabbed by the police through information from members of the public on Thursday.

“Udoh Samuel, from Ubiagan Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, but residing at 119 Amokwu Street Ugbohe-Abakpa in Enugu State, has been allegedly presenting himself as a serving police officer in Ugboghe-Abakpa community and its environs.

“Further information about the suspect revealed that he also poses as a tricyclist,’’ Amaraizu said.

He said the suspect confessed to the crime, adding: “he blamed the situation on satanic influence,saying that he previously used the uniform when he was still doing a security guard job’’.

Amaraizu said that the suspect, a father of two, had been helping the police in its investigation.

Reacting to the development, Enugu Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Okponkpong Imaikop, said that the command would stop at nothing at ensuring that criminal elements were flushed out of the state.

Imaikop, lauded members of the public for their timely information. (NAN)
OJI/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-7
Crisis
By Moses Kolo
Kafanchan (Kaduna), Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Interim Management Committee Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area, Dr Bege Katuka, has said that dialogue is the only panacea in resolving misunderstanding among communities.

Katuka said this when he presented relief materials to representatives of affected communities of Godogodo crisis on Saturday.

He said that reprisal and counter-reprisal only worsened situations by widening the dimension of the crisis.

The chairman, therefore, urged the affected parties to choose the path of peace as they relate with one another to promote mutual trust and understanding among them.

Katuka, who said the council was bent at ensuring that the displaced persons returned to their villages, added the Federal and state governments would assist by providing adequate security operatives to achieve the objective.

Villages represented were Ninte, Golgofa, Ungwan Ajo, Gaza Biyu, Dogon fili, Godogodo, among others.

The relief materials were donated by the National Emergency Management Agency. (NAN)
MGK/ACO/OFN
Edited by Oluleye Abiodun

NAN-H-6
Arrest
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Police Command in Kaduna State on Saturday said it had arrested suspected murderer of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in the state.

The command’s Public Relation Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, told the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview that the kingpin was arrested on Nov. 2.

Usman said the suspect, Adamu Jibrin, 22, had made useful statement to the police on the offence.

“We recovered six loaded cartridges, two knives, two cutlass, a double barrel and one Samsung phone in his room at Unguwar Yero Area in Kaduna,” Usman said.

The late NYSC member, Lawal Kontagora, was killed on Oct. 17. Two  suspects were earlier arrested on Oct. 20.

According to him, the kingpin is still under investigation, but the two other suspects have already been charged to court.

The police spokesman said the arrests were carried out by the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB).

He assured the public of their commitment to rid the state of criminals and criminality.

“We need the support of every one to achieve it,” Usman said. (NAN)
TJ/ACO/OFN
Edited by Oluleye Abiodun//Felix Nwadioha

We will emerge winner of NBBF men’s league, say coach

NAN-S-1
Basketball
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) Coach Ken Mfon of Imptessions Basketball Academy of Asaba says his team will win the Nigerian Basketball Federation National Division two men’s league.

Mfon told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday that his team had so far won all its five matches.

“We are the only team that is yet to lose a match, therefore, we are already winners of the league.

“Our remaining match is just a formality because our closest rival Raptors Academy of Lagos has lost one game already,” he said.

Mfon said he took part in the competition to expose the boys and for them to gain experience.

“The team was actually underrated because they were not given the opportunity but when it happened we spring up surprises.

“Our victory is God, hard work and the fighting spirit in the boys. We thanked God for the victory,” he added.

NAN reports that the team defeated Titan Basketball Academy of Kwara 63-29 to emerged top on the medal table.

NAN also reports that 14 teams from two groups Atlantic Conference and Savannah Conference are taking part in the league and that two best teams from division two will gain promotion to division one.

However, the semi finals and finals of the league will be played on Saturday at the Abuja National Stadium.  (NAN)
DE/ACO/OFN
Edited by Oluleye Abiodun//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-3
School
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Saturday approved special financial intervention for development of schools handed over to churches by the state government.

Wike announced this at an interactive session with religious leaders in Port Harcourt.

He said the state government took the decision after it discovered that most of the schools returned to missionary owners were in various stages of disrepair.

The governor also announced the establishment of an economic development fund for church members in the state.

“This economic development fund will assist church members with health and business challenges to get back to their feet.

“This is like a social scheme that will assist indigent church members in these trying times, and not a fund meant to build churches, but an empowerment for less privileged members.

“I have also directed the Commissioner for Education and the Special Adviser on Religious Matters to liaise with owners of missionary schools to work out modalities for the intervention scheme,” he said.

Wike charged the church leaders to present a united front as they work toward creating the right environment for upgrade of the schools.

He attributed the current peace in the state to prayers of clergymen who supported the work by security agencies.

The governor urged church leaders to pray for free and fair conduct of both national and state legislative elections.

Wike said the state Ministry of Finance had credited salaries and pensions to bank accounts of workers captured late in the biometric exercise.

Earlier, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey, lauded Wike for development of the state.

“We also commend the interactive session and for setting up a vibrant state executive council that has worked hard to develop the state,” Kattey said. (NAN)
DES/ACO/OFN
Edited by Oluleye Abiodun//Felix Nwadioha

Mixed reactions trail Southern Kaduna/Fulani herdsmen peace pact

NAN-H-1
Reactions
Kafanchan (Kaduna), Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) Mixed reactions trail the peace pack entered by traditional rulers in Southern Kaduna and Fulani herdsmen at Kachia on Tuesday.

The peace pack, midwife by the military to curb wanton killings in Southern Kaduna, was signed by traditional rulers in and Fulani herdsmen in the area.

A cross section of people, including traditional, religious and opinion leaders who spoke to with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kafanchan, expressed optimism that the development would pave way for lasting peace in the area.

The Chairman, Meyetti Allah, Jema’a Local Government, Babangida Habane, said signing of the treaty was a mark of understanding in the history of the crisis.

Habane said the agreement would promote mutual trust among the affected people and appeal to all parties to respect the terms of the agreement.

A former Chairman of Zangon Kataf Local Government, Timmy Kambai, observed that the Southern Kaduna People’s Union would have been the most appropriate party engaged in the peace building process not traditional rulers.

“Traditional rulers would have exercise the role of blessing the treaty rather than being involved in the signing,” Kambai said.

He expressed regrets that the terms of the agreement would have been fully discussed by the people of Southern Kaduna before the signing by their representatives.

Also, Samuel Audu, from Sanga Local Government Area expressed the hope that the parties involved would uphold the terms of the treaty.

Audu said that Southern Kaduna had suffered both human and material losses in the preventable crisis, adding, “we hope the peace agreement would bring an end to the ugly development”.

The Chief of Godogodo, Malam Iliya Ajiya, commended the military for living up to expectation through the initiation of the peace pack.

Ajiya urged the people, especially youths to eschew bitterness and coexist peacefully with one another for the peace park to yield desired results. (NAN)
MGK/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-DS-;1

Rescue

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Nov. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Osun Police Command has rescued the Ekiti State Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Muslim Omoleke, who was kidnapped in Iwaraja in Osun.

Omoleke was reported to have been kidnapped around Iwaraja in Osun on Thursday while traveling to the  state from Akure.

The  Osun  Police Public Relation Offocer, SP Folashade Odoro, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Friday.

Odoro said Omoleke was rescued on Friday evening  from his abductors and  had been reunited with his family.

The PPRO said  that Omoleke  was in good condition.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, led the rescue operation.

according to him, the  police will intensify efforts to apprehend the kidnappers and bring them to justice.

The PPRO did  not however give detailed information about how Omoleke was freed, but said the command would soon issue a statement on the incident. (NAN)

VE/LDA

Edited by Lawal Ado