Blog

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Women
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The wife of the Oyo state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has admonished women to have confidence and not be deterred in any way as they struggled to gain prominence in the nation’s political scene.

The governor’s wife made the remarks on Monday at the distribution of food items to women in the Ibarapa-North and the Ibarapa-Central local government areas of the state, as part of the Ajimose Food Bank Initiative.

“I believe Nigerian Women are very hard working and they contribute effectively to every aspect of the society.

She urged the women not to lose focus of their responsibilities at the home front, just as they struggled to make their impact felt in Politics.

“Even in politics, we still need to take care of our husbands and children, just as well as the nation,’’ she said.

The governor’s wife, however, noted that women empowerment was a catalyst for social and economic development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 1000 women benefited from the food bank.

NAN reports that the beneficiaries went home with various food items, including Rice, Beans, Semolina and beverages. (NAN)
MAM/PIO/PIO
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Edited by Idonije Obakhedo

NAN-S-1
Eagles
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Super Eagles will be playing their 50th World Cup qualifying home match as they tackle the Fennecs of Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the previous 49 home matches, Eagles won 39, drew seven and lost three.

The first home match for Nigeria was on Sept. 10, 1960 when the team tied 2-2 with Ghana’s Black Stars in Lagos.

The team had earlier lost the first leg 4-1 to the Ghanaians in Accra and crashed out of the race to the 1962 World Cup finals in Chile.

The last was against the Sihlangu of Swaziland at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Nov. 17, 2015 in the preliminary round for Russia 2018.

Nigeria won 2-0, courtesy of goals by Moses Simon and Efe Ambrose, following a 0-0 draw, in Lobamba four days earlier.

The six other drawn matches were against Cameroon on Dec. 7, 1968 (1-1 in Lagos); against Sudan on Sept. 13, 1969 (2-2 in Ibadan).

The team also drew against Tanzania on Dec. 6, 1980 (1-1 in Lagos) and against Angola on June 18, 2005 (1-1 in Kano).

Also, Eagles drew against Tunisia on Sept. 6, 2009 (2-2 in Abuja) and against Kenya on March 23, 2013 (1-1 in Calabar).

The Super Eagles’ three losses were against Ghana on Feb. 10, 1973 (the Black Stars were leading 3-2 in Lagos when the match was abandoned; FIFA awarded it 2-0 to Ghana).

Their other loss matches were against Tunisia on Nov. 12, 1977 in Lagos (1-0 through a first half own goal by defender Godwin Odiye) and against Algeria on Oct. 10, 1981 (2-0 in Lagos).

However, the Super Eagles have never lost a World Cup qualifying home match played outside Lagos.

In fact, the only times they have failed to win a World Cup qualifying home match away from Lagos was against Sudan when they drew 2-2 in Ibadan in 1969.

And against Angola in Kano, they drew 1-1 in 2005 and against Tunisia in Abuja it was 2-2 in 2009 and against Kenya 1-1 in Calabar in 2013.

Here is a full list of all Eagles’ home matches.

ALL THE EAGLES’ HOME MATCHES

10/09/1960: Nigeria 2 Ghana 2 (Lagos)

07/12/1968: Nigeria 1 Cameroon 1 (Lagos)

10/05/1969: Nigeria 2 Ghana 1 (Ibadan)

13/09/1969: Nigeria 2 Sudan 2 (Ibadan)

08/11/1969: Nigeria 2 Morocco 0 (Ibadan)

05/08/1972: Nigeria 2 Congo 1 (Ibadan)

10/02/1973: Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 (Lagos, abandoned)

30/10/1976: Nigeria 6 Sierra Leone 2 (Lagos)

10/07/1977: Nigeria 4 Cote d’Ivoire 0 (Lagos)

08/10/1977: Nigeria 4 Egypt 0 (Lagos)

12/11/1977: Nigeria 0 Tunisia 1 (Lagos)

12/07/1980: Nigeria 2 Tunisia 0 (Lagos)

06/12/1980: Nigeria 1 Tanzania 1 (Lagos)

25/04/1981: Nigeria 1 Guinea 0 (Lagos)

10/10/1981: Nigeria 0 Algeria 2 (Lagos)

20/10/1984: Nigeria 3 Liberia 0 (Lagos)

20/04/1985: Nigeria 3 Kenya 0 (Lagos)

06/07/1985: Nigeria 1 Tunisia 0 (Lagos)

07/01/1989: Nigeria 1 Gabon 0 (Enugu)

10/06/1989: Nigeria 2 Cameroon 0 (Ibadan)

12/08/1989: Nigeria 1 Angola 0 (Lagos)

10/10/1992: Nigeria 4 South Africa 0

27/02/1993: Nigeria 2 Congo 0 (Enugu)

13/07/1993: Nigeria 4 Algeria 1 (Lagos)

25/09/1993: Nigeria 4 Cote d’Ivoire 1 (Lagos)

09/11/1996: Nigeria 2 Burkina Faso 0 (Lagos)

05/04/1997: Nigeria 2 Guinea 1 (Lagos)

07/06/1997: Nigeria 3 Kenya 0

22/04/2000: Nigeria 4 Eritrea 0 (Lagos)

17/06/2000: Nigeria 2 Sierra Leone 0 (Lagos)

27/01/2001: Nigeria 3 Sudan 0 (Port Harcourt)

05/05/2001: Nigeria 2 Liberia 0 (Port Harcourt)

29/07/2001: Nigeria 3 Ghana 0 (Port Harcourt)

05/06/2004: Nigeria 2 Rwanda 0 (Abuja)

03/07/2004: Nigeria 1 Algeria 0 (Abuja)

26/03/2005: Nigeria 2 Gabon 0 (Port Harcourt)

18/06/2005: Nigeria 1 Angola 1 (Kano)

08/10/2005: Nigeria 5 Zimbabwe 1 (Abuja)

01/06/2008: Nigeria 2 South Africa 0 (Abuja)

21/06/2008: Nigeria 2 Equatorial Guinea 0 (Abuja)

11/10/2008: Nigeria 4 Sierra Leone 1 (Abuja)

07/06/2009: Nigeria 3 Kenya 0 (Abuja)

06/09/2009: Nigeria 2 Tunisia 2 (Abuja)

11/10/2009: Nigeria 1 Mozambique 0 (Abuja)

03/06/2012: Nigeria 1 Namibia 0 (Calabar)

23/03/2013: Nigeria 1 Kenya 1 (Calabar)

07/09/2013: Nigeria 2 Malawi 0 (Calabar)

16/11/2013: Nigeria 2 Ethiopia 0

17/11/2015: Nigeria 2 Swaziland 0 (Port Harcourt). (NAN)
VO/AIB/PDE
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-2
Training
Birnin Kebbi, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The National Teachers Institute (NTI) will next week train 450 primary school teachers in Kebbi under the Sustainable Development Goals Programme.

The state Coordinator of NTI, Alhaji Salman Maiwada, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that 12 resource persons had been hired for the seven-day training.

He said that the training would be conducted simultaneously in three designated centres located in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu and Zuru Local Government Areas, adding that 150 teachers would be trained in each centre.

Maiwada said that the training would focus on four core teaching areas – effective classroom management, basic teaching methods, language communication skills, and information and communication technology.

NAN reports that officials of the National Commission for Colleges of Education were in Kebbi last week to inspect NTI distance learning study centres. (NAN)
BKD/IGO

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Lassa
Amina Ahmed
Bauchi, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency says it has mounted programmes in the media to  educate the people on Lassa fever as farm produce returns home from farmlands.

The Chairman of the agency, Mr Adamu Gamawa, disclosed this in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday

Gamawa said the action was to ensure that through the Mass media both urban and rural dwellers would be reached.

“We have since started airing sensitisation jingles and education messages on the various media organisations to reach both the people in the urban  and the rural areas.

“The period for the disease has set in and farm inputs are being brought home as well, this rats could follow the farm inputs home and become nuisance in the society.

“As such people should be caution and vigilant on how they keep their food items a so that it will not be contaminated by the rodents feces and urine,’’ he said.

The chairman urged members of the public to maintain personnel and environment hygiene in other to improve public health. (NAN)
AE/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

DISCOs oppose call to reverse privatised power sector

NAN-HE-11

Privatisation

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Association of  Nigerian Electricity Distribution Companies (ANEDC) has described the call for a reversal of the privatised power  sector by the President of  Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as reckless.

The Federal Government had on Sept. 30, 2013, following the privatization process initiated by the Goodluck Jonathan regime, divested its shares from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The company was divided into separate companies or entities called Local Electric Distribution Companies or Local Distribution Companies (LDC).

Each company is responsible for handling electricity distribution in each state or region.

In May 2016, the structure of the companies consisted 11 distribution companies (DISCOs), six generation companies (GENCOs) and one Transmission company (TCN), all being regulated by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of the ANEDC, Mr Sunday  Oduntan, however, condemned Dangote’s view in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

The business mogul had called recently called for the reversal of sales of facilities in the power sector when he featured  as a guest lecturer  at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau.

He had said the sector’s privatisation by the Federal  Government was done wrongly and suggested that it should be reversed in the national interest.

Dangote said challenges in the sector had persisted in spite of the privatisation.

He had also stated that the new owners lacked understanding of the sector.

Reacting to the suggestion, Oduntan said it was too early for Dangote to conclude that the privatisation of the sector was a failure, noting that the sector was just three years post–privitisation.

He said the decades of wrath in the sector could not have been eradicated in just three years, adding that the  entire value chain was committed to improving electricity in spite of the challenges.

Oduntan said Dangote’s call was hinged  on his earlier unsuccessful  bid in 2013 to become a major player in the privatised sector.

He also said the business man had been a major beneficiary of government’s privatisation policy over the years.

“Dangote wanted to take over this business but he failed in 2013.

“He is a good man , but it is suprising that someone like Dangote is calling for re-privatisation of the power sector; he is a product of privatisation.

“He is what he is today because of privatisation because he bought government properties.

“If the power sector receives half of the backing Dangote has gotten from government in this country, there would be light.“

On the Senate’s resolution to stop the N309 billion electricity bond to the sector, Oduntan appealed to the upper legislative chamber to re-consider its decision, given the challenge of liquidity in the sector.

He also said there was no truth in the statement that the operators were planning to increase tariff. (NAN)

KC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-HE-

BGL

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday dismissed the three cases filed against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by BGL Plc and its chief executive, Albert Okumagba and the company’s subsidiaries.

The court dismissed the cases for lacking competence, handing over a major victory to the commission.

SEC had, last year, suspended BGL Asset Management Ltd, BGL Capital Ltd and BGL Securities Ltd from all capital market activities for violation of Investments and Securities Act (ISA).

The commission also directed that the Group Managing Director, BGL Group, Albert Okumagba, should cease to be a registered sponsored individual with the commission, following the withdrawal of the registration of BGL Plc as a capital market operator.

SEC explained that all suspicious transactions observed in the course of the investigation had been referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation.

BGL Asset Management, BGL Capital and BGL Securities and all individuals involved in the management of the said companies had been referred to the SEC Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC).

The committee considered the report of a detailed investigation into the various complaints received from investors against subsidiaries of BGL Group.

The committee directed that BGL Asset Management Ltd, BGL Capital Ltd and BGL Securities Ltd be suspended from all Capital Market activities.

It also ordered “that all sponsored individuals of BGL Asset Management , BGL Capital and BGL Securities whose particulars are contained in the Commission’s record as at December 2014 be suspended from performing any capital market activity.”

Okumagba prior to the investigation was the President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) but was asked to step aside by the institute because of investors’ confidence.

During the same period, the SEC Director-General, Mounir Gwarzo said that the commission was investigating the operations of BGL Plc, a financial services company.

Gwarzo said that the commission had set up an interim management team to investigate the company’s operations.

“What we did for BGL was basically extending our investigation process. We undertook target inspection of BGL.

”When we finished the investigation, we came up with our own report and we wrote them a letter and we said we want them to clarify.

“They responded by asking us for additional time to respond and we granted them that additional time and they responded.

“We reviewed their response and we felt there is a need for us to go in and confirm or clarify certain things. That is the situation we are in now,” Gwarzo said.

He said that the findings of the interim management team would determine its next line of action.

“We set up an interim management team that has already moved in and is doing its job and I don’t want to preempt what they would come up with.

“But the moment they finish the report, SEC will look at it and take the next line of action,” Gwarzo said.

The interim management team set up for BGL by SEC was headed by Mr Oladipo Aina, with Mr Abubakar Ambursa, Mrs Hafsat Rufai, Ms Temitayo Siyanbola and Ms Tonne Ladipo-Ajayi as members.

The cases dismissed by the court were FHC/L/CS/767/2015 BGL PLC & 4 ORS VS SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,  FHC/L/CS/1050/2015 BGL PLC & 12 ORS VS SECURITIES and EXCHANGE COMMISSION & 2 ORS FHC/L/121/2016 BGL ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED & 22 ORS VS SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION & ANOR.
(NAN)
JNC/JEO/

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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka

NAN-H-103

Giwa

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Supreme Court on Monday in Abuja
struck out two motions brought by Chris Giwa and his group.

Ademola Olajire, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Olajire said the motion by Giwa sought to stay the execution of the ruling of the Court of Appeal barring Oba Maduabuchi from appearing before it on behalf of Giwa and his group.

He also sought to stay the execution of the judgment of the same court vacating the orders of the Federal High Court relisting the case and restoring the orders.

Giwa, proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, has been in court against Nigeria football federation in the past 28 months.

He had also lost at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

It would be recalled that on Monday, July 25, 2016,the Court of Appeal, Jos Judicial Division, had thrown out Giwa’s case, vacating the order of the Federal High Court of the same division that re-listed the case and restored earlier orders. (NAN)

VO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-102

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PDP
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) A factional Chairman of the PDP in Kwara, Mr Sunday Fagbemi, on Monday led some of his sympathisers to take over the party’s secretariat on Asa Dam Road in Ilorin.

Members of the party, who are loyal to the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of PDP, had stormed the secretariat early in the morning amid wild jubilation.
The jubilant PDP supporters were sighted carrying placards with various inscriptions affirming Fagbemi’s leadership.
Speaking with the newsmen at the secretariat, Fagbemi said his executive committee members remained the authentic leaders of the PDP in the state.
He said  that his committee was duly elected at the state congress of the party, noting that the appeal committee set up by the national body of the party also affirmed him as the state chairman in its report.

Fagbemi alleged that the other factional chairman, Akogun Oyedepo, was fraternising with the ruling APC in the state.

But in his reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the  Oyedepo-led executive of the PDP, Mr Rex Olawoye, insisted that Oyedepo remains the authentic state chairman of the party.

Olawoye, who said Oyedepo was in Abuja attending a national meeting of the party wondered what Fagbemi was doing in Ilorin if he was the truly elected the state chairman.

He wondered why any group would forcefully enter the secretariat of the party when the party’s constitution stipulated normal taking -over process, describing the act as a “ coup and invitation to anarchy.’’

Olawoye, however, said that the PDP was united in the state and all the differences would be resolved in due course.

He said his group would explore all legal means to retake the party secretariat in due cause. (NAN)
OOH/ORO/OJO
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(Edited by Razak Owolabi/Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-100
Transition
Benin, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Edo Government has set up 19-member Transition Committee to ensure smooth handover of administration by Gov Adams Oshiomhole to Godwin Obaseki on Nov. 12.

Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to Oshiomhole disclosed this in Benin on Monday.

Okhiria said Prof. Julius Ihonvbere is Chairman of the Committee while Messrs Henry Idahagbon, Osarodion Ogie, John Inegbedion and Aihanuwa Eregie are members.

Others are Joe Okojie, Igbinidu Inneh, Joseph Eboigbe, Taiwo Akerele, Sen. Domingo Obende, Aisosa Amadasun and Rev. Emmanuel Egharevba.

Elder Pius Omofuma, Theo Okoh, Ben Ogbebor, Mrs Magdalene Ogbebulu, Mrs Benedicta Attoh, Osaze Ojo and Ahmed Mamudu are also members.

The incoming governor Obaseki won election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Sept. 28.  (NAN)
DCO/JEO/IEA
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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Idahosa Asowata