Blog

NAN-H-87
Reovery
Lagos,Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) Dr Femi Gbajabiamila, lawmaker representing Surulere 1 constituency in the House of Representatives, has urged Nigerians to appreciate what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing to recover funds stolen under past administrations.
Gbajabiamila made the statement at the 2016 Grassroots Empowerment Programme tagged: “Changing lives through grassroot support’’ held at Abati Barracks, Lagos.

Gbajabiamila said: “as a leader of government business in the House, you have good understanding of our economic situation.
“As much as many people in the opposition do not want us to talk about the mismanagement of the past, there is a past before the present, so reference must be made to this.
“Our country’s economy was destroyed due to failure of leadership.
“Nigerians need to know the depth of the rot we inherited to appreciate what the APC government is doing to recover stolen funds and put the country on a path of recovery.
“Even though the identified stolen funds and assets cannot be spent by government until all court cases are dispensed, the APC is continuing to work hard to stimulate the economy.”
The APC Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, said that the House was working with the Executive to ensure that these saboteurs did not hijack the anti corruption war of the president.
He said that Nigerians laboured hard to put the Buhari government in place and would not settle for excuses.

He said that the administration would look into the means of funding projects in the 2016 budget such as the virement and borrowing plan of the government before the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila said that borrowing to finance infrastructural projects was not an irresponsible act, adding that Lagos State did same and the concomitant development was obvious.
He assured that the House of Representatives would respond to the President’s request in the interest of Nigerians.
He added that the House would set the process in motion for its committees to carry out appropriate oversight functions on all project executing agencies until the 2016 was fully implemented according to law.

He said: “Our interest in attracting Federal presence to our constituencies is same as Mr President’s resolve to keep his campaign promises.

“Nigerians should be assured that both arms of government will work harmoniously to bring the country out of economic recession.’’
The lawmaker described the empowerment programme as `remarkable,’ adding that it had affored some residents of Surulere the opportunity to confront the economic recession with the aid of the support equipment and proper planning.

In a good will message he delivered at the ocassion, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, APC Lagos Central Senatorial leader, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the equipment and urged them not sell the equipment.

“You have to be true to yourself and refrain from selling what you have been given.

“You should know that to become rich in life one does not need to start big, you start small to make it big in Life,” Olusi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmaker empowered the people of his constituency with 84 grinding machines, 186 sewing machines, 100 industrial machines and 25 complete set of hairdressing machine.

They also received 30 generators, 36 Deep Freezers, 10 vulcanizer machine, 10 Tricycles, 10 Motorcycles, 3 Block Making Machines.(NAN)
LED/AEA/AEA
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Edited by Archibong Asuquo

EPA to reduce migration, enhance development – EU

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Development
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The European Union (EU) has said that the coming into force of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and West Africa would enhance economic development and reduce migration.

Counsellor and Head of Trade and Economics Section of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Filippo Amato told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Amato said that coming into force of the EPA would strengthen economic development to meet the needs of the increasing population in the sub-region.

The counsellor recalled that 22,500 illegal migrants from Nigeria crossed Mediterranean Sea to Europe between January and September as against 23,000 in 2015.

He said strengthening the economy would promote development and reduce the increasing number of illegal migrants from the sub region, mostly from Nigeria to Europe.

“Our interest is to make the economy and development in West Africa stronger as soon as possible to meet the demands of the increasing population and to reduce the influx of migrants.

“If we do not help to develop economies, it will be a humanitarian catastrophe. The main purpose of the agreement is focused on sustainable development for West Africa.

“Trade is an important engine for growth and agreements allow you to have access to other markets.

“So in a global world, you need to have trade agreements to be able to improve your capacity to be present in the global market place,” he said.

He reiterated that the agreement had clauses that protected the local market; adding that it could be reviewed every five years to address concerns raised by parties involved.

Amato also said that the development projects of the EU would continue to support the process of improving the standards of goods from the sub-region to meet up with international standards.

“The whole idea is that this agreement is going to be of more advantage to West Africa because we are removing all export duties to Europe; we are not going to diminish these duties in the future.

“We are removing import duties only on capital goods and machinery needed by local industries; your local industry has more potential and it needs protection.

“There are benefits also for Europe particularly those producing sophisticated goods like machinery and certain capital goods that are imports needed by your industry,” he said.

The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government endorsed the EPA in 2014 and opened it up for signing by member states.

Currently, all the 28 EU member states and 13 ECOWAS member states have signed the agreement.

Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have ratified the agreement while Nigeria, The Gambia and Mauritania are yet to sign. (NAN)
TOP/AK/AFA
Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Felix Ajide
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Court adjourns alleged armed robbery case till Nov. 23

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Robbery

By Edith Nwapi

Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) An FCT High Court on Monday adjourned till Nov. 23 an alleged armed robbery charge against six men.

Ademola Ajala, Kelvin Terkura , Micheal Eze, Kelvin Okafor, Emmanuel Onoja and Abdullahi Aliyu, were being tried on a three-count charge of  armed robbery, criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen goods.

The defendants alleged  stole jewelleries valued nine million naira and a Toyota Camry vehicle .

The judge, Justice Jude Okeke, adjourned cross examination of prosecution witness following an application by counsel to the first defendant to proper brief on the case.

The vehicle is the official car belonging to Henry Ofong, a member of the House of Representatives.

The 1^st to the 5^th defendants were charged for armed robbery and criminal conspiracy while the 6^th defendant, Aliyu, was charged with receiving stolen property.

At the previous sitting, the matter was adjourned till  Oct. 31 because of the absence of the prosecutor, Mr John Ijaegbemi.

At the resumed sitting, Ijaegbemi was again absent while the 1^st defendant, Ajala was represented by Mrs Ogechukwu Ibenegbu from Legal Aid council.

Ibenegbu prayed the court to grant an adjournment to enable her get the records of the proceedings since she was just coming into the matter.

Mr Emmanuel Enywuma, counsel for the 2^nd to 5^th defendants, told the court that the prosecuting counsel called one of his colleagues to inform him that he was not feeling well and could not come to the court.

Mr Wilson Ivara, counsel for the 6^th defendant, did not object to the application by Ibenegbu for adjournment. (NAN)
NEO/HAS/OFN

Edited By Hajia Sani//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-83
Arik

By Adekunle Williams/Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) Arik Air on Monday celebrated its 10th anniversary with the addition of a new Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft to its fleet.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airline’s Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue, told newsmen in Lagos that the addition was part of plans of Arik to increase its fleet to 52 by 2025.

Ndulue said the new aircraft was rolled out to celebrate 10 years of providing safe and secure air travel to the Nigerian public and continuous elevation of Nigeria’s global standing in aviation.

He attributed the phenomenal growth of Arik Air to its business model which was based on modern equipment and new technology, high standards of maintenance and connectivity.

“Given the airline’s dominant position in the aviation market today, along with current and future planned capacity, in the coming years, we hope to maintain our market leadership.

“Our growth strategy involves substantially increasing our fleet from 28 aircraft today to 52 aircraft by 2025.

“On route development, we are looking at starting new routes and we will update our customers with details in the new year,” Ndulue said.

According to him, Arik Air has in the past 10 years delivered on its promise of operating the youngest fleet in West Africa with an average of seven to eight years.

“The airline has also been creating employment opportunities and partnering with top maintenance providers such as Lufthansa Technicals, Lufthansa City line and Dance Engineering under full turn-key maintenance service contracts from inception to date,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman, Arik Arik, Mr Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, thanked Nigerians and travellers worldwide for the support and patronage that had enabled the airline to successfully complete a decade in aviation. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-74

Remand

BY  Ugochi ugochukwu

Abuja, oct. 31 2016 (NAN) A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Monday remanded a 50-year-old man, Austine Okoro, in Kuje Prison for alleged cruelty to a child.

Okoro of Lugbe Zone 6 was remanded on a five-count charge of cheating, criminal intimidation, assault, cruelty to a child and impersonation, which he pleaded not guilty.

The Area Court jugde, Mr Garba Ogbede, said granting the accused bail might jeopardize the prosecutor’s investigations, and adjourned the case till Nov. 4.

The prosecutor, Aderonke Imana, had told the court that Queen Chukwu of Mpape,  Abuja, reported the matter at Lugbe Police Station on Nov. 28

Imana said that Okoro deceived the complainant and collected N5,000 from her and also threatens to kill her.

She also alleged that Okoro lied to the complainant that he works with National Task Force just to take advantage of her but in the process he beat and inflicted injuries all over her body.

She stressed that Okoro drugged the complainant son of six-year-old with Indian hemp

The prosecutor told the court “This is a violent act and the violence against persons Act of 2015 frowns at violence, this court is not for comedy is for justice.

“ These are grievous offences particularly cruelty to a child,  looking at the nominal complainant there are wounds all over her body.

Imana said the offence contravened sections 322, 397, 265, 238, and 132 of Penal Code, (NAN)

CBGUGO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-80

Training

By Lizzy Agbaji

Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Presidential Amnesty Programme has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Biotechnology Development Centre (NABDA) to train 500 ex-agitators in advanced agriculture.

Mr Owei Lakemfa, Media and Communication Consultant to the programme said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
He quoted the Programme’s Coordinator, Brig.-Gen Paul Boroh as saying that the training will commence in November as part of a three-prong programme aimed at domesticating the training of the ex-agitators.

Boroh said that the training was also aimed at contributing to food security and gainfully engaging beneficiaries to be self-sustaining.

He said the relationship between the programme and the centre should not just be formalised but sustained for youths in the Niger Delta to benefit.

“I am looking into the future where in the next two to three years; we will train tens of thousands of youths in the Niger Delta.

“We are expecting the youths to be engaged in sustainable income and also engage other youths in the region.

“ We should stop importing food, fish, toothpick, beef and water, we must provide internally for our basic needs.

“The challenge of youths in all parts of the country is to be engaged positively,  we advise states to engage in re-integration programmes to curb youth restiveness in Nigeria,’’ Boroh said.

Similarly, Dr Lucy Ogbadu, Director-General of NABDA said in the statement that the nation was diversifying its economy and agriculture was a sure way of diversification.

“ NABDA has centres located across the nation, so training in agriculture can take place in any part of the country.

“There is no part of the country today that you do not experience youth restiveness and this is because these youths are not positively engaged.

“ We will do all we can to help them stand on their own, our centre is ready to do this but we are handicapped in getting funds.”

She said that the ex-agitators would be properly trained and monitored.
Also, Mr Josiah Abu, the Coordinating Director of NABDA, said the centre would train and motivate the ex- agitators to produce the best farmers in Nigeria.

NAN reports that NABDA is to train the ex-agitators in mushroom technology, fish production, poultry, snail and grass cutter farming technology and propagation of elite plants like banana, plantain and pineapple. (NAN)

LIZ/JPE/MO
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Morayo Omolade
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NAN-H-79
Collaboration
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the Swedish Government in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The minister made the pledge when a Swedish Business Delegation visited him in Abuja on Monday.
Shittu said the ministry had developed a new National Roadmap on ICT in line with the administration’s change mantra.
He said the maiden meeting with the Team Business Delegation of Sweden would focus on ICT, prioritised investment sector as communication technology, energy, transportation, ICT infrastructure, banking and finance, among others.
Leader of the delegation, Mrs Ann Linde, Swedish Minister for Trade and European Union (EU) Affairs, said the collaboration would bring about sharing of ideas.
She also said that it would further identify policy benefits, business opportunities, technology solutions and strategic relationship, among others.
“This collaboration would go a long way because Nigeria is the largest economy and also the fastest growing ICT market in Africa’’, Linde said
The Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria Mrs Inger Ultvedt, assured the minister of his country’s full support of the collaboration. (NAN)
COA/JPE/IEA
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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Idahosa Asowata
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Farmers laud Kano Govt. for provision of seedlings, loans

NAN-AE-17
Farmers
By Aisha Ahmed
Garun Malam (Kano) Farmers in Kano have lauded Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, for his support to rice farmers with the provision of seeds and loans to boost rice production in the state.

The Chairman of the Rice and Wheat farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Salim Ahmed, gave the commendation at the launching of the 2016 harvest of rice in Garun Malam Local Government.

He said that the government had supported about 100,000 farmers with N200 million worth seeds to boost rice production.

He disclosed that Ganduje had struggled to secure the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) resolving loans for many farmers in the state.

According to him, Kano has produced about 1.2 million tonnes of rice for 2016 as against the 700,000 tonnes last year.

He added that rice production would improve to 2 million tonnes in 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had launched the 2016 rice harvest programme at Kadawa and Samawa areas of Garun Malam Local Government on Monday. (NAN)
AAA/AMM/AFA
Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Felix Ajide
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NAN-AE-18

Weather

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Tuesday morning with maximum day time temperatures of 28 to 37 degrees Celsius.

NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office on Monday in Abuja.

It said that thunderstorms would prevail over Makurdi, Lokoja, Mambila and Jalingo, while partly cloudy conditions were expected across the region in the afternoon and evening hours.

The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy conditions with localised rains over Ikom, Obudu and the coastal cities in the morning hours.

It also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over the southern region in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum day time temperatures of 31 to 33 degrees Celsius.

According to it, northern states will experience sunny and dry conditions throughout the day with maximum temperatures of 33 to 37 degrees Celsius.

“Sunny and dry conditions are anticipated over the extreme northern parts of the country.

“Partly cloudy-to-cloudy conditions are expected over the central and southern cities with prospects of isolated thunderstorms in the next 24 hours,’’ NiMet predicted. (NAN)

OYS/ORO/OPI

Edited by Razak Owolabi and Olisa Ifeajika

35 years old cook gets 2 months jail term

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Cook
Abuja, Oct. 31, 2016 (NAN) A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, on Monday, sentenced a- 35-year old cook, Yakubu Mohammed, to two months in prison for escaping from police custody.

In his judgment, Mr Garba Ogbede, said that the court had no option than to sentence the convict accordingly, since he had pleaded guilty to the charge.

Ogbede, however, gave the convict an option of N10, 000 fine.

“The punishment would have been more severe if the convict had not pleaded guilty.

“His plea saved the court the pains of prolonged prosecution,’’ he said.

The judge warned the convict to be of good behaviour and to desist from committing crimes after serving his punishment.

Mohammed, who resides in No. 66, Mississpi St. Maitama, Abuja, was charged under Section 172 of the Penal Code for escaping from police custody.

Earlier, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imana, had told the court that on August 24, Mohammed ran away from Lugbe police station to an unknown destination.

Imana said that the convict was detained in the police station for an offence of theft but criminally and intentionally escaped from police custody at about 9.30 p.m. 

She told the court that the convict was rearrested in Kano State.

The Prosecuting Counsel said that the convict admitted committing the offence during police investigation and interrogation.

The convict told the court that he intentionally escaped from police custody because he gathered that he was to be electrocuted and he thought of his wife and children.

“I was not feeling fine and I needed to take drugs, please forgive me,’’ he pleaded.

Following the convict’s plea, the prosecutor prayed the court to try him summarily. (NAN)

UGO/OIF/YEMI
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju