Blog

FG to purchase 2 additional satellites for NigComSat at $550m  – Shittu

NAN-H-57
Satellites
Kaduna, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, says the Federal Government plans to purchase two additional satellites for Nigeria Communication Satellite (NigComSat)  at the cost of $550 million.

Shittu disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with newsmen at the end of the 4th National Council on Communication Technology meeting in Kaduna.

He said that the Federal Government was already negotiating with China EXIM Bank for the purchase of the two additional satellites for storage of Data.

According to him, efforts are being made to procure two additional communication satellites to complement the existing NigComSat as a means of reaching areas that cannot easily be covered by terrestrial fibre.

“We need just about 550 million dollars to acquire two new satellites; we are already negotiating with China EXIM Bank, who had assured us that they will deliver the money.

“ We will negotiate and procure extra satellites for NigComSat,  so that there will be adequate back up for and once this done whatever data is stored in one satellite will equally be shared by the two or three satellites.

“With that, there will not be fear of any problem because there will be enough data collection centre and there will be reliability.

The minister said that once there is adequate backup, all government institutions, agencies and ministries must necessarily patronise NigComSat.

He said that a lot of the country’s money was being exported out to sustain other economy through data storage

“Once we are sure that we have three satellites then we can beat our chest that nobody would take Nigeria money outside for the purpose of storing data.

Shittu also said that government intends to secure state-of-the-art mobile equipment that will be deployed to enforce compliance and also enable the detection, location and blocking of illegal users of spectrum.

“ Effective radio spectrum monitoring would assist with intelligence gathering and support the security agencies in enhancing security and safety of citizens and the nation in general.

The minister pointed out that government has worked assiduously on setting the proper policy and strategic environment for the development of ICT in the country.

According to him, the Federal Government will expand its investments in ICT infrastructure to extend connectivity to unserved and underserved areas.

“In this regard, attention will be paid to the issue of multiple taxation of ICT infrastructure and we are working to have ICT infrastructure designated as Critical National Infrastructure.

“We are also working to make more investments in building the capacity and harnessing the talents of our youth.

“In particular, we are increasing Accelerators and Incubator programmes as a means of building and harnessing the capacity of our increasingly ICT savvy youth population. (NAN)
COA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
===============

NAN-H-55
Response
Kaduna, Oct 29, 2016 (NAN) The National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) has recommended the creation of States Computer Emergency Response Teams as measures to curb cyber crimes in the country.

This was one of the decisions adopted in a communiqué issued at the end of the 4^th Regular Meeting of the NCCT, in Kaduna on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communiqué was read by the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu .

The meeting held from Oct. 24 to Oct. 29 with the theme: ‘‘Information Communication Technology as the Focal Point of Economic Diversification.”

According to the communiqué, NCCT recommended that stakeholders, including state governments, purchase satellite bandwidth requirements from NIGCOMSAT only.

The NCCT also recommended that state governments should key in and replicate the Federal Government’s model hosted by Galaxy Back Bone for shared services as a mean of leveraging the economies of scale and reducing cost of governance.

The NCCT communiqué also:

“Encourage members from the states to adopt the implementation of the Digital Jobs initiative in their respective domains as a means of leveraging on the opportunities for alternative income presented to Nigerian youths across the county.

“Encourage Federal States and Local Governments in the country to set up Digital centres as a means of promoting ICT capacity building the country.

“Recommend digital literacy as a minimum requirement for employment and promotion in public service and for implementation to be done in phases.”

The communiqué endorsed the Nigeria ICT Road Map 2016-2019 as well as the National ICT strategic Plan 2016 to 2024 for implementation.

It further recommended the adoption and implementation of the e-Government Master plan.

It also encouraged states to establish their State Information Technology Development Agencies (SITDA) and also recommended the use of NgPKI mechanism in the ICT infrastructure.

The communiqué also recommended that the implementation of CCTV projects on security on highways should also be used for traffic management.

The council agreed that the 5^th National Council on Communication will be held in Cross River State at a later date to be decided.

NAN reports that the meeting had in attendance National Assembly Members, State commissioners and representatives of States as well as Chief Executives of Agencies and parastatals, in charge of ICT.

Others attendees included representatives of various NGOs, members of Organised Sector and other stakeholders in the ICT sector.  (NAN)
COA/DO/AFA
Edited by David Onilede/Felix Ajide
=========================

NAOWA advises women on regular breast check-up

NAN-H-52
Advice
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) on Saturday advised women to always go for regular examination of their breasts  to avoid cancer.

The President of the Association, Mrs Theresa Ibas, who was represented by its Abuja Zonal Director, Mrs Henrietha Bobai, gave the advice in her opening remarks at the 2016 Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Abuja.

According to Ibas, early detection is key to surviving every cancer cases anywhere in the world, so that it could be treated in time.

She said that regular examination of the breasts would help to prevent cases of death resulting from cancer patients globally.
“Cancer is not a license to death but about being very careful and vigilant among the women folks.
“The main thing is being extra careful and doing self-examination if our quest to survive the scourge is anything to go by,’’ Ibas said.
The president, therefore, urged the participants to take the advantage of the lessons they had learnt to others in the naval barracks across the country, who could not attend.
Ibas also urged the participants to consult medical expert once they detect lumps in the breast.
She noted that the growth of lumps in the breast of any woman was a sign or one of the symptoms of breast cancer.
Ibas explain that the awareness had become necessary in order to save the officer wives of the deadly disease, especially now that the whole world was embarking on cancer awareness campaign.
“We want to show support to the whole world as you are all aware that the month of October is world cancer awareness day.
“Especially bringing the awareness to the women in the naval barracks. Telling them that there is a great killer disease, called cancer,’’ She said.
In her remarks, Dr Daji Feyisayo, Consultant, Radiologist, National Hospital, Abuja, told the participants that the only key to survive breast cancer or any cancer of any nature was early detection.
“If detected early enough, ones chances of surviving it is very high compare to if detected late.
“Cancer is common among the elderly people, but that is not to say the younger ones cannot contact the disease,’’ Feyisayo said.
She explained that it could be traced to hereditary in certain families and even other diseases like diabetes.
She warned those women who formed the habit of enlarging or reducing the size of their breasts to desist from such act, as it was capable of triggering the disease. (NAN)
YI/FNO/AFA
Edited by Franca Ofili/Felix Ajide
========================

Author lauds President Buhari’s fight against corruption

NAN-H-51
Author
By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) Mr Benjamin Gudaku, author of the book: “Ethical Appraisal of SURE-P, Nexus between Deprivation and Insurgency in Nigeria,’’ has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.

Gudaku told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sideline of the book launch that “during previous administrations, there were times that the nation was raped by people.

“They gave birth to illegitimate children in term of abandoned projects that did not see the light of the day.

“ We consider them illegitimate because they never actually satisfied the intention for which they were there.

“There was another time that people embezzled monies, enriched themselves and constituted nuisances to the government.

“ This is because so much illegitimate monies are being taken by people to the point that they became even stronger than institutions,’’ he said.

Gudaku said corruption has taken the country many steps backward and reiterated his commendation on Buhari’s frantic effort on war against corruption.

According to him, parameters of democratic governance and ethics should be able to make this country better.

Gudaku, a staff of Nigerian Press Council, said that the body polity in Nigeria over the years characterised by unhealthy development moved him to write the book.

“One policy that came to my mind is the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P); I used it as a context in discussing the narrative on democracy and good governance.

“ When we deviate from good governance, we are likely to see other things comes up and some of these things include insurgency and all the other ills that are there.

“So I hope that people will read the book and be able to change their attitude so that we can have a country in which we are desirous to have.

“While the people should learn how to hold government accountable, the government should also not take the people for granted,’’ Gudaku said. (NAN)
CMY/FNO/AFA
Edited by Franca Ofili/Felix Ajide
=======================

NAICOM urges journalists to respect their professional ethics
NAN-H-50
Ethics
Gombe, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN ) Mr Mohammed Kari, Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has urged insurance correspondents to respect their professional ethics.
Kari gave this advice on Saturday at a retreat organised by the commission for Insurance Correspondents in Gombe
The theme of the retreat is: “The Role of Insurance in a Challenging Economy.”
Kari said that journalists have a role to play in a challenging economy like ours and while playing the role, they should ensure to do it professionally.
He called on the newly inaugurated officials of the Insurance Correspondent Association to advise their members on the need for proper code of conduct and professional ethics
According to him, reporting stories without proper investigation can be excessively embarrassing.
“I plead with you to make it as part of your agenda to appeal to your members to respect your professional ethics.
“They should also ensure to operate within the tenets of the profession at all times,” Kari said.
He said the time is challenging to the economy, saying every society also goes through challenges in life and Nigeria as an economy and insurance as industry are going through those times.
“And these challenges are so dynamic,” he said.
Kari said the industry recently witnessed a new challenge of the FRC code, which he said the effects on the industry would be looked into.
He said that the commission would soon present its intention to re-launch the Market Development Restructuring Initiative (MDRI).

He said briefing on what have been done so far and what would be done would be highlighted very soon.
The MDRI is an initiated that was conceived by the commission in 2008 and was aimed at enforcing compulsory insurance products and introduction of the Risk Based Supervision among others. (NAN)
LCN/OBA
Edited by Felix Ajide
===============

Financial inclusion: NAICOM to approve dedicated companies for takaful, micro insurance
NAN-H-48
Inclusion
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Gombe, Oct.29,2016 (NAN) As part of its effort towards ensuring financial inclusion in the country, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), says it will soon approve dedicated companies that will sell takaful and micro insurance products.
The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Mohammed Kari said this at a workshop organised by the commission for Insurance Correspondents on Saturday in Gombe.
Kari said that the products would ensure that everybody is carried along and actively participates in the financial sector in the country.
He explained that since the release of the regulations of micro insurance and takaful, companies had opted to use the window opportunities for the products
“But we have since got new applicants on direct dedicated takaful companies and we have already issued two takaful licences.
“We have just approved for one to commence on the final inspection before they commence their operations.
“They have submitted their product proposal and a meeting has been arranged for the technical advisory committee to look at them for the purpose of approving them.
“We believe that with the coming of the two, we will have to consider going forward; how long we should allow the windows to continue operating.
“In the last insurance committee meeting, the committee came up with proposals on developing micro insurance and but have still not accepted which one to take,” he said.
He said the commission had reviewed the released guideline in order to try and make micro insurance more micro for the people.
“Because the whole idea of micro insurance is to have the insured person very proximately located to the provider and you cannot have good micro insurance if the proximity is not there
“The claims processes will be as cumbersome as the conventional and that will defeat the aim, so we are considering increasing the level of licensing, which I believe we will conclude soon.
“And we may also consider conventional windows, indicated companies and so on because the market even proposed weather we should consider the Indian approach for micro insurance.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that
Indian does not issue separate licence for micro insurance, they compel every company to do a minimum of 20 per cent for micro insurance products.
The commissioner said that various proposals have been submitted regarding the approach to adopt and NAICOM would consider them and select the best that suits the Nigerian market.
Micro insurance is an insurance that is usually accessed by very low income earners in the society.
Takaful is an insurance, whose terms and conditions are in line with ‘Sharia Practice’, it is non-interest insurance.
The aim of the products is to ensure everybody is included so as to increase the contribution of insurance to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (NAN)
LCN/OBA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
===============

NAN-H-46

Airport

Guma [Benue] Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Saturday flagged off the construction of a N38 billion cargo airport at Dauda in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Ortom said the project would provide a platform for quick evacuation of farm produce from the state to markets abroad.

According to him, the effort would be beneficial to rural farmers, boost agricultural activities and cut post harvest losses.

He said that as part of the airport project, the government envisaged the springing up of industries, power plants, estates and other economic activities in the area.

“This project, when completed, will serve as a direct connection to the world’s economic powers and provide opportunity for the international community to have direct and easy access to our local produce.

“We are partnering Cargopolis Development Consortium (CDC) to build this airport because the Nigerian Air Force have refused to share their Makurdi terminal with us for the construction of a cargo wing.

“The flagging off of this project has put shame on the faces of the opposition elements in the state who have chosen to see nothing good in the APC-led administration in the state.”

The governor added that the project would turn around the entire economic fortunes of the community and the state at large.

Earlier, a representative of CDC, Mr Robert Orya, explained that the company had signed a 25 year concession agreement with the government to construct and manage the airport.

He said that the airport would be completed in 18 months, adding that under the agreement, the company would train 15 people from the state as pilots.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Emmanuel Manger, said that the airport would have a general cargo warehouse and cold store, and was designed to meet international standard.(NAN)

AEB/PD/MZA
===========

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Dogara wants classmates to make sacrifices

NAN-H-47

Dogara

By Aderogba George and Edith Nwapi

Abuja, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara has said that there is no success or achievement without sacrifice.

Dogara said this at the inaugural reunion organised by the 1992 class of law graduates from the University of Jos, in Abuja on Saturday.

He recalled how they all met at the school and said with their successes and achievements, they should make sacrifices by contributing their quota to the system that moulded them.

“We came together looking timid and never knew what each one of us would be 24 years after graduation.

“We always believe that the Lord has a purpose for each one of us. You will never know the purpose why the Lord had assembled us at the same time as class mates.

“None of us knew what he or she could become in future and look at us all now, most of us are making successes  in our different endeavours.

“ Remember nothing good comes without sacrifice we should use this occasion to reflect on what action we wish to take.

“Whatever we are today we cannot deny that we achieved them through what we got when we were in the University of Jos.

“Those achievements we have accumulated should be made available for the betterment of the society and much sacrifice is required of us,” he said.

The convener of the event, Mr Abdul Mahmud, represented by Mr. Emeka Onohwakpor, urged his fellow alumni to give thanks to the Lord.

“We should thank the Lord for our successes and achievements as a class with senior judicial officers, top public servants, top practitioners of law both in private and public Bars.

“Politicians and with our own Yakubu Dogara as the number four citizen of our great country, we can proudly point to our Faculty of Law as the premier centre of training“

“At this reunion, we have worked hard to make a success out of our individual toils and collective hardwork“ he said. (NAN)

AG/NEO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-44
Sanitation
By Joy Odigie
Benin, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Two hundred and forty-five persons were convicted by two separate Mobile Courts on Saturday in Benin for violation of the state’s Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010.
The two courts sat at Ramat Park and Sapele roads within Benin metropolis.
Mr Samson Erhaze, Senior State Counsel, Edo ministry of Justice and Mr Plus Oiwoh, Head of Legal Services, Edo Ministry of Environment, gave these statistics to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.
The counsels said while some of the offenders were convicted for violation of sanitation, others were convicted for wandering and obstructing sanitation officials from discharging their duties.
Erhaze said the court, which sat at Ramat Park, convicted 52 of the 58 persons arraigned while six of them were discharged.
“The accused were either sentenced to three days imprisonment or pay N2, 000 fines as option,” he said.
While Oiwoh said that 193 of the 210 alleged offenders arraigned were convicted by the mobile court, which sat along Sapele road in Benin.
NAN reports that the compliance to the monthly sanitation, which holds every last Saturday of the month, was low within the Benin metropolis.
It was observed that human and vehicular movements were heavy during the period of the exercise on major roads in the city.

But the Director of Edo Waste Management Board, Mr Ehon Geoffrey, described the sanitation as a huge success.
“Offenders were prosecuted at mobile courts to serve as deterrent to others.
“We went round different markets and locations to ensure that people complied with the monthly exercise.
“We also ensured that the wastes were properly disposed off from dump sites in different markets and other strategic locations in the city,” he said. (NAN)
OOJ/KOO/AFA
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Felix Ajide
============================

NAN-H-41
Protest
By Ayodeji Alabi
Akure, Oct.29, 2016 (NAN) Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the crisis arising from the clearance of Jimoh Ibrahim as Ondo state governorship candidate.

The monarch made the appeal on Saturday while addressing aggrieved Ondo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members at his Palace in Akure.

He said the non clearance of Eyitayo Jegede by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) according to court orders was generating protest.

He also urged the INEC not to take side and to correct any mistake they might have made.

“The judiciary should also intervene and make sure that all parties get justice because we don’t want any injustice in Ondo State,” he said.

Mr Clement Faboyede, PDP Chairman in the state, speaking on behalf of the protesters, called on the president to prevail on INEC to look into the issue.

“We don’t want Ondo State to be on fire because our state is peaceful.

“Some cabals in All Progressives Congress (APC) are using Jimoh Ibrahim against the candidacy of Jegede, Jimoh is not a PDP member but rather a card carrying member of Accord party,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier, the PDP members brought traffic to a standstill at the popular Oba Adesida road while market women closed their shops.

NAN also reports that the supporters carried placards with inscriptions like ‘Return Jegede to us’, Buhari should not interfere in Ondo politics’ and ‘Remember 1983.’’

NAN reports that Security operatives were also present and keeping watchful eyes on the peaceful protest as the crowd move toward the Palace of Deji of Akure. (NAN)
AYO/AMM/AFA
Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Felix Ajide
==============================