Blog

NAN-S-7
T/Tennis
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Nosiru Bello, National Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) on Friday said that Aruna Quadri’s nomination for the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Award was commendable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Quadri, a former winner of the award was nominated for its fourth edition to hold on Dec. 8 in Doha, Qatar.

Bello told NAN that the impact Quadri made at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil had not been achieved by any African since the inception of the Games.

NAN reports that Quadri got to the quarter-finals of the male singles event at the Rio de Janeiro Games, making him the first African player to achieve the feat.

“We received the news with great joy and we are happy that Quadri is nominated for the award for the second time.

“Personally, I think he deserves the nomination because of his performance in Rio and not forgetting that he is the highest ranked African player currently,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Quadri is currently ranked 25 on the ITTF world ranking.

The coach appealed to Nigerians around the globe to vote for Quadri ahead of the award. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

Navy recovers 312 cattle, arrests 2 in Kaduna

NAN-DS-2

Cattle

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Personnel of the Nigerian Navy School of Armament and Technology Kachia, has recovered over 312 stolen cows from cattle rustlers and arrested two suspects in parts of Kaduna State.

Navy Cmdr. Timothy Dakwat, the Commandant of the school, said in Kachia while handing over the animals to officials of “Operation Yaki”, the state security outfit, that the recovery was made on Oct. 29.

“Remember that Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanisakin said we are done with the menace of Boko Haram.

“Now one of the cardinal threat to internal security is insurgency and cattle rustling.”

The commandant said the success of the operation was due to the cooperation of the state government, cattle breeders association and the general public.

“We are being empowered and encouraged to carry out our statutory responsibility to assist the police in establishing civil authority.

“All this success is a collective effort of the security operatives.”

Dakwat appealed to the public to volunteer more useful information to eliminate the menace.

He recalled that 95 cattle were earlier recovered by the navy personnel on Oct. 21 and Oct 22, during which four suspects were arrested and handed over to Operation Yaki.

Retired Col. Yakubu Soja, State Coordinator, Operation Yaki, commended the navy for the effort.

According to him, security agents in the state have so far recovered 19, 000 cows since the government began efforts to rid the state of cattle rustlers over a year ago.

He said the recovered animals were handed over to their owners after thorough scrutiny.

Soja said the outfit had set up collation centres for the recovered animals in Birnin Gwari, Zaria, Kachia and Jere.

He advised those who lost their livestock to come forward, identify and retrieve their animals.

Also speaking, Ardo Ahmadu Sulaiman, North West Chairman of Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, commended the government and the security agencies for their commitment to rid the state of cattle rustlers.

Sulaiman said the association would continue to render maximum to government to eliminate the threat posed by the rustlers.(NAN)

TJ/MZA

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-S-1
Players
By Aderonke Ojediran-Lawal
Lagos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) An ex-international, Wahidi Akanni, on Friday advised the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf to select outstanding players for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria to ensure they topped their group.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria is in Group B alongside Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria.

Akanni, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, added that the players should be psychologically prepared.

Cue in audio

“The coach should pick the best legs, not minding who played the last game or not, you should pick the best leg to represent Nigeria.

“I think we will come out with a good result as well; I think we did well against Zambia, that game has come and gone.

“I will expect that the team will do the same thing; they will prepare early to get the players psychologically ready.

“Because that’s also part of the game and then once they can do that I think Algeria will be tough when they come here.

“But having the edge will give us a good advantage over them, so we have to be ready for that game.

“And nobody will wake up and say Algeria is going to be easy, I believe that the game will be very tough but psychologically once our players are ready.

Cue out audio

NAN reports that victory by the Super Eagles in the group will make them to appear for the sixth time at the World Cup.  The 2018 World Cup holds in Russia. (NAN)
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu)

Young graduate sets up fufu processing outfit worth N75,000, engages 3 workers

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Fufu

Owerri, Nov.4, 2016 (NAN) A young university graduate, Mr Wilson Ekeledirichukwu, who set up a fufu processing plant valued at N75,000, at Ihiagwa, near Owerri, said he established the outfit in order to be self-employed and also create jobs.

Ekeledirichukwu, a graduate of animal science from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Owerri.

NAN reports that fufu is a local delicacy, made from fermented cassava and is popularly eaten by many Nigerians, especially people from the Southern and North-Central Nigeria

“As an undergraduate, I resolved that I will be among Nigerians to create jobs and not those looking for jobs that are not easily available in this country now.

‘’After my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Oyo State between 2014 and 2015, I first ventured into paint production but discovered that the project required much capital,’’ he said.

Ekeledirichukwu said  that he finally settled for the processing of fufu, adding that  the equipment for the fufu processing cost him about N75, 000.

He said that the ‘’ uniqueness of our fufu is that it has no odour,’’ adding that rather than the local method of pounding fufu, his outfit “uses turning method and gas cooker to process the product.’’

According to him, he has been supplying fufu to restaurants in his alma mater, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,(FUTO), Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri and growing number of customers.

Ekeledirichukwu put the staff strength of the outfit at three, with N15,000 each monthly salary.

He said that his intention was to established a food processing firm with capacity to engage over 100 workers.

“If I sustain the income margin I am making now, I hope to establish my dream business before long.’’

“I feel that there are vast opportunities to tap by the young and energetic Nigerians, all that is needed is for people to have entrepreneurial spirit to drive their vision.’’(NAN)

FEO/DUA/OU
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Edited by Dada Ahmed/Obike Ukoh
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Political parties laud Reps’ move to grant LGs financial autonomy
NAN-H-5
Autonomy
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Some political parties on Friday in Lagos lauded the move by the House of Representatives to grant financial autonomy to local governments in the country.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the parties noted that state and local government joint account was responsible for underdevelopment at the grassroots.
NAN reports that a bill to grant financial autonomy to local governments on Wednesday scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Nkiruka Onyejeocha (PDP-Abia), seeks to alter Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution.
Section 162 provides for the State/Local Government Joint Account into which all revenues accruing to the councils from the federation account are paid.
Mr Nkem Lemchi, Lagos State Chairman, African Democratic Congress, said that the people at the grassroots would benefit from local government autonomy, if granted.
“There are three levels of government – federal, state and local governments; the federal that has no physical constituency enjoys financial autonomy and ditto the states.
“But the local governments that have direct proximity to the people have their fund tied to the state governments’ dictates.
“This is absolutely a disservice to democratic principles, if democracy is for the people as being touted.
“It is very expedient that local governments enjoy the autonomy so as to fast-track development; there is no further excuse for such lapses,’’ said the party chieftain.
The Lagos state Chairman of KOWA Party, Chief Gboyega Adeniji, said autonomy for local governments was long overdue.
“It is long overdue as financial autonomy for local governments is the essence of restructuring our grassroots democracy.
“Government has been too far from the people; so, power must be decentralised so that dividends of democracy can get to the real tax payers,’’ the KOWA party chairman said.
The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement, Dr Akin Badmus, also said financial autonomy would strengthen local government administration.
“If the law is passed by the National Assembly, it will strengthen the administration of local governments.
“New councils created by governors will go because it will not be recognised by the constitution except the 774 approved councils,’’ Badmus said.
The National Chairman of Progressive Action Council, Chief Charles Nwodo, said financial autonomy for local governments would ease tension at the grassroots.
“It is a very good development; it will put an end to violence, draw people closer to government and create job opportunities.
“ However, I think financial autonomy was part of local government reform but I will rather prefer a total reform of local government administration,’’ Nwodo said. (NAN)
LED/OSA/WOJ
(Edited by Shittu Obassa / Wale Ojetimi)
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Physical educator urges government to support school sports
NAN-S-4
Sports
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Opeoluwa Akinmade, a physical educator, on Friday urged the Federal Government to develop physical education in schools by providing sufficient sports facilities and equipment.
Akinmade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that there was huge decline in the participation of students in sports because schools lacked basic sports facilities.
According to her, physical education is a vital part of developing students as it helps them to confront mental and physical challenges.
“The use of sport as an education tool cannot be over emphasised since it is a core factor that aids growth of children.
“In recent times government at all levels have been complacent in funding school sports and this has affected raising quality players to represent us in foreign tournaments,’’ she said.
Akinmade said that many schools now focussed solely in theoretical aspects of sports as students were confined to the four-walls of the classroom with little or no facilities to practice what was taught.
“Continuous participation of students in sports is needed to positively engage our wards.
“The question is what equipment are on ground to ensure these children practice skills they learn?
“If we have a government that keeps blind eyes to these problems, it shows how best they want the future of sport to look like in the country,’’ she said.
She called on sport agencies to keep tab on school tourney’s to identify talented children and groom them for the betterment of sports in the country. (NAN)
VOI/ENN/TA
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Tajudeen Atitebi)

NAN-F-4

Energy

Paris, Nov. 4, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Italian utility Enel is well on track to build 5,000 megawatts worth of renewable capacity in Africa despite political unrest in North Africa and the lack of electric power connections between countries, the report said.

Early 2015, Enel laid out plans to invest in African renewable and power grids, with a target of 5,000 megawatts (MW) capacity in solar and wind.

Two years later, Enel which operates 66,500 MW of capacity mainly in southern Europe has nearly 1,000 MW of solar and wind under construction in South Africa and 200-300 MW in operation.

While an Enel-led consortium is starting to build 850 MW of wind capacity in Morocco after winning a tender in early 2016.

“About 2,000 of those 5,000 megawatts are already in execution.

“We are working on the other 3,000,’’ Enel Chief Executive, Francesco Starace said ahead of the  New York Times Energy for Tomorrow conference in Paris.

Starace said Enel is now exploring a 300 MW geothermal project in Ethiopia and a 50 MW in Kenya and in June won a tender for a 34 MW solar project in Zambia.

Starace said the big challenge in the electrification of Africa is political instability in parts of North Africa, notably Egypt, Libya and Algeria, which have huge potential but lack the conditions for power investment.

He said the southern part of Africa was seeing good renewable energy investment flows.

Starace said countries in East Africa notably Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Mozambique were creating the right framework for power investment by establishing cross-border power interconnections.

He said the lack of interconnections, which effectively makes each country an island in terms of electric power, is holding back investment in West Africa.  (Reuters/NAN)

OYE/MO

Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Morayo Omolade

NAN-F-3

Corruption

Capetown, Nov. 4, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) South Africa’s Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote in parliament next week with his presidency mired in crisis, after investigators documented allegations of government corruption.

Thousands of people took to the streets to demand that he should resign from office.

The vote was called by the main opposition, following a report by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog calling for a judicial inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling in the ANC Government.

The report was finally released after the president withdrew a court bid to delay its publication in the face of mass public protests.

Police used stun grenades and water cannon to disperse protesters in Pretoria carrying “Zuma must go’’ placards.

Mmusi Maimane, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), told a news briefing in Cape Town that the no-confidence debate and vote was scheduled for Nov. 10.

“This motion should not be viewed as a partisan motion – we do not see it as a DA motion.

“I know there are ANC MPs and cabinet ministers who have had enough.

They have an opportunity to actually do something about their anger by Nov. 10,’’ he said.

Zuma has survived his two previous no-confidence votes this year, largely backed by the support of his ANC (African National Congress) which controls about two-thirds of the Assembly.

A senior party official told Reuters that ANC lawmakers were unlikely to break ranks and support the motion this time round.

However, there have been widening fissures in the ruling party this year.

There is growing discontent with the scandals that have plagued Zuma’s presidency and played a role in the ANC suffering its worst electoral losses since the end of apartheid in municipal polls in August. (Reuters/NAN)

OYE/MO

Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Morayo Omolade

NAN-F-2

Migrants

Geneva, Nov. 4, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) At least 240 migrants have drowned off the coast of Libya within the last 48 hours, the U.N.’s migration agency said.

It said this might possibly be as a result of unintended consequence of European efforts to stop people-smugglers and to train Libyan coastguards

“Five rescue ships, coordinated by the Italian coastguard, were within sight of the migrants but despite attempts to rescue them, most died.

“Two rubber dinghies, which is what they are, packed with migrants, over 300 in all have succumbed to the waves off Libya in very bad weather,’’ Leonard Doyle, the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM) said.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened by another tragedy’’.

He said many lives could be saved if European countries volunteered to take in more refugees rather than leaving them to make the risky boat trip.

“The Mediterranean is a deadly stretch of sea for refugees and migrants, yet they still see no other option but to risk their lives to cross it,’’ he said.

IOM’s Italy spokesman, Flavio di Giacomo, said migrant arrivals in Italy surged to 27,388 in October.

“More than the two previous Octobers combined, bringing this year’s total to more than 158,000.

“Migrants have told the IOM that smugglers say European training of Libyan coastguards means that rescue missions will soon be handed over to Libya.

“It means that any rescued migrants will be taken ashore in Libya rather than in Italy, that might be causing the rush, despite the bad weather,’’ he said. (Reuters/NAN)

OYE/MO

Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Morayo Omolade

Exhibitors laud organisers of Jos Trade Fair

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Fair
Jos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Exhibitors at the recently conclude Jos Trade Fair have commended its organisers over what they described as “a very wonderful and efficient organisation”.

Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Jos, attributed the success of their outings to the “skillful management of the event by the handlers”.

The two-week Fair, which ended on Thursday, was organised by Plateau Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PLACCIMA), and Anista Marketing and Events Limited, a private firm.

One of the exhibitors, Mr Kofi Marshal, from Ghana, who deals in jewelries, particularly expressed happiness over adequate security as well as uninterrupted electricity and water supply.

“Honestly, I am very impressed with the Trade Fair; I never knew that it would be as smooth as this.

“I have enjoyed good patronage and I am very impressed. My initial fear was security, but there was no single breach.

“The security at the event was very tight. The visitors were very polite and orderly while patronage was very good. I could not have asked for more,” he said.

Another exhibitor, Mr Sa’ad Usman, a dealer in fabrics, from Kano, also commended the organisers for the massive publicity that ensured good patronage, pointing out that most of the visitors to the fair were not even from Plateau.

“Many people came from Lagos, Enugu and even Kebbi; I atribute that to adequate publicity that ensured the wide reach,” he said.

Mrs. Perpetua Eze, an exhibitor from Lagos and a dealer in kitchen utensils and interiors furnishing materials, also cmmended the organisers for making it a duty to routinely visit all stands to encourage the exhibitors and listen to their concerns.

“Such visits were very reassuring and helped both organisers and exhibitors to constantly work together toward the success that we recorded.

“I was also very impressed with the security aspect; every corner of the venue was well secured and under watch which made us very relaxed,” she said. (NAN)
UBO/TO/ETS
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Edited by Tola Okinbaloye and controlled by Ephraims Sheyin