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Akwa Ibom Govt renews call for refund of N140bn spent on federal roads
NAN-HE-1
Refunds
Uyo, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Akwa Ibom Government has renewed its appeal to the Federal Government to refund the N140 billion it had spent on repair of federal roads in the state.
The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, renewed the appeal on Friday while speaking to Government House Correspondents at Ibom International Airport on arrival from official assignment in Abuja.
Emmanuel said that the refund was necessary to help the state government to add value to its infrastructure consolidation programme now that the dry season was at hand.
The governor said that he would appreciate if the Federal Government would reimburse at least 50 per cent of this amount to the state.
Emmanuel said that he was in Abuja to attend the National Economic Council meeting as well as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
He said that the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum meetings were successful as far reaching decisions that would ginger the country’s development were taken.
The governor commended the Federal Government for granting approval for the Central Bank to introduce the Anchor Borrowers Scheme to assist farmers in the country.
He said that the scheme had assisted the state in the commencement of cocoa production and other agricultural projects.
Emmanuel said that the state was poised to key into the agricultural programmes of the Federal Government to ensure wealth creation and food sufficiency in the country.
“We should thank President Muhammadu Buhari who has given approval for the Central Bank to fund the Anchor Borrowers Scheme which the states have benefitted,” Emmanuel said.
He, however, expressed regret that the power sector was in dire need of attention and called on the Federal Government to intervene and save power distribution from imminent collapse.
“There is the need to intervene especially in the area of transmission. States like ours are able to generate, but cannot transmit. It’s a problem,” Emmanuel said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akwa Ibom is currently generating 190 megawatts of electricity from its Ibom Power Plant in Ikot Abasi Local Government area. (NAN)
BB/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-AE-7
Temperature
Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that increase in temperature heralding the end of the rainy season would result in deterioration in human comfort leading to dehydration and heat stress.

The statement by NiMet on Friday in Abuja said the 2016/2017 dry season had commenced in the northern part of Nigeria, adding that the season would commence in mid-November around the middle belt.

NiMet also predicted that the southernmost parts of the country especially the coastal area would however, continue to experience rains till the third week of December.

It explained that the end of the rainy season would herald hot and dry weather conditions in the afternoons, while cold nights would set in especially in the northern part.

According to NiMet, there will be a general increase in daytime temperature across most parts of the country, which will result in deterioration in human comfort leading to dehydration and heat stress.

“The citizenry, especially rural dwellers resident in the north and central parts of the country are, therefore, advised to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and stay in cool and ventilated environment.

“Incidences of meningitis epidemics are also likely,’’ the agency said.

NiMet said that strong surface winds at the dust source regions in Niger and Chad republics would encourage the lifting and transport of dust into the country.

It added that the atmosphere would get drier as the concentration of the dust particles increases, while incidences of respiratory disorder could become prevalent.

According to NiMet, dust outbreaks will occur during the season which at times will reduce horizontal visibility significantly with the attendant disruption of flight operations across the country.

“The impact of dust particle in the south will include the occurrence of early morning and late evening mist/foggy conditions which will further reduce horizontal visibility significantly.

“Road, rail and air transportation could be affected by the impairment to horizontal visibility and road users, particularly motorists are advised to use fog lamps during periods of poor visibility.

“They are also advised to drive carefully and adhere strictly to road traffic rules at all times.

The agency cautioned that persons prone to respiratory tract infections and other health conditions that could be exacerbated by dust particles should take precautionary measures and avoid prolonged exposure to dust.

It added that skin and eye irritations were also common occurrences during the season.

The consequence of the dry atmosphere, according to NiMet, will also result in availability of dry biomass and incidences of bush fire may occur frequently.

It also cautioned that the deliberate act of ‘bush burning’ and careless dropping of cigarette stubs should be avoided as this could lead to uncontrollable bush fires.

The agency said it would continue to monitor the weather and climate conditions as they unfold and will keep the general public informed regularly. (NAN)
OYS/EAL/AMY
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi and Abdullahi Yusuf

PDP kicks over delay in conduct of LG election in Nasarawa

NAN-H-6
Election
By Sunday John

Lafia, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday called on Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASEIC) to conduct local government election without further delay.

Mr Francis Orogu, the State PDP Chairman made the call while briefing newsmen immediately after an extended State Executive meeting of the party in Lafia.

He said that the party was also against the appointment of Interim Management Committees for Local Government Areas of the state by Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, describing the action as illegal.

The chairman accused the state House of Assembly of conniving with the executive to scuttle any attempt to hold the election.

“Unfortunately the House of Assembly which is supposed to checkmate the excesses of the governor by ensuring the election is conducted in the LGAs has compromised.

“Instead, the assembly gave the governor backing to perpetrate illegality by short-changing the people of the state.

“If the machinery that is supposed to checkmate the government has decided to compromise, the highest anybody can do is to criticise and educate members of the public,” he added.

The PDP chairman urged the assembly to live above board and be by the side of the people at all times.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tenure of the 11 out of 13 elected local council chairmen in the state expired on Friday March 25, 2016.

In their place, the assembly gave approval to the governor to constitute interim management committees for the local councils.(NAN)
SDJ/YMU/MZA
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Edited by Yakubu Musa Uba/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-5

Sack

by Mustapha Sumaila

Dutse, Oct 28, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government on Friday relieved Dr Mahmud Gambo of his position as Director, School of Health Technology, Jahun.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abba Zakari in Dutse.

The statement did not give any reason for the removal, but said it was with immediate effect.

The statement directed the sacked official to immediately hand over the affairs of the school to the Vice Principal, Academic, of the institution.(NAN)
MS/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Commercial motorcyclist remanded over illicit drug deal
NAN-H-28
Arraignment
Lagos, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) A 35-years-old man, Kingsley Oluwanishola, on Friday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos over charges of illicit drug deal.

Oluwanishola, a commercial motorcyclist, is docked by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a count charged bordering on the offence.

He had no legal representative and pleaded guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Aliyu Abubakar, prayed the court to remand the accused in custody, while he sought a date for a review of facts.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Rabiu Shagari, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody.

She fixed Nov. 10 for a review of facts.

In the charge, the prosecutor had told the court that the accused was arrested on July 29, at Lado area beside Aradagun town hall in Badagry, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, 700gm of marijuana (Indian hemp) was seized from the accused who was reported to be a supplier of the narcotics to customers.

He said that the accused was accordingly arrested and charged.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NDLEA Act stipulates life imprisonment for the offence of drug trafficking. (NAN)
UNS/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-12
Roads
By AbdulFatai Beki.
Ilorin, Oct 28, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara Government on Friday said it would blacklist and refuse to pay contractors doing shoddy jobs on road projects in the state.
Alhaji Aro Yahaya, the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after inspecting some ongoing roads projects in llorin.
Yahaya said the state government would not entertain shoddy jobs from any contractor regardless of number kilometres of roads being executed.
He directed all contractors currently executing road projects in the state to do them according to the contract specifications.
“We are fully ready to blacklist and refuse payment to any road contractor who executes shoddy projects in any part of the state,” he said.
The commissioner advised residents of the state to desist from dumping refuse in the drains to prolong the life span of roads.
Some of the roads inspected by the commissioner are the Asa Dam road and New Yidi road.
Others are in Odota, Oko-erin, Saw mill, Adewole, Wara-Osin areas, among others.
The commissioner said rehabilitation had commenced on all the porthole riddled roads in the state capital.
Yahaya expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far on the Egbejila-Airport road in llorin and directed the contractor to expedite action.
NAN recalled that the state House of Assembly summoned the commissioner a fortnight ago over what it described as the slow pace of work on Egbejila-Airport road.
The commissioner told the House that work had reached advance stage on the road and promised that it would be completed in April 2017.
The N900 million Egbejila-Airport road project in llorin West Local Government area, which was started in 2014, is to serve as alternative route to llorin lnternational Airport from Ilorin.
Yahaya was accompanied on the inspection by officials of the ministry including the Special Adviser to Governor on Rural Roads and Road Maintenance, Alhaji Mohammed Saraki, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Amuda Alabi. (NAN)
BEKI/TA
Editede by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-AE-3

Sanitation

By Blessing Odega

Jos, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) In view of the ongoing 2016 Jos Trade Fair, the Plateau Government says the monthly sanitation exercise will not hold in the state on Saturday.

Mr Abdullahi Abbas, the State Commissioner of Environment and Solid Minerals Development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos that there would also not be restriction on human and vehicular movements.

Abbas, however, urged the residents of the state to maintain good personal hygiene and clean environment at all times.

He said that this would prevent the thriving of vectors and rodents that transmit diseases to humans in dirty and unkempt environment.

“Rodents like rats that transmit Lassa fever to humans, thrive in dirty environments while vectors like mosquitoes causes malaria.

“The vector, which is also responsible for transmission of cholera, thrives in dirty and bushy environment.

“So, it is important that we all strive to maintain good community and personal hygiene.

“Personal hygiene is the most effective way of tackling diseases,’’ the commissioner said.

The commissioner also cautioned people against bush burning with the onset of the dry season and the harmattan winds, to avoid the loss of lives and property that occur in the past.

“The Harmattan is here and because most grasses and scrubs are now dry, people might be tempted to set them on fire and with the winds; such fires can spread beyond control.

“Bush burning is also detrimental to the ozone layer, because it contributes to the emission of green gases which deplete the ozone layer,’’ Abbas said. (NAN)
UBO/AIB/IS/

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Ismail Abdulaziz

Medical consultants urge FG to restore peace at FMC Owerri

NAN-HG-8

Appeal

Mohammed Tijjani

Kaduna, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, on Friday urged the Federal Government to take measures to restore peace at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

Prof. Balarabe Garko, the President of the association, made the appeal in a press statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] in Kaduna.

The statement was also signed by the association’s Secretary General, Dr Abdulkadir Rafindadi, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Kunle Adesokan.

It said the crisis at the hospital was unnecessary and efforts should be made by all to restore normalcy.

The association noted that a section of the staff had been protesting the recall of the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem, after she was cleared of any wrong doing by the federal government.

According to the medical consultants, the government must “bring the full weight of the law to bear and promptly institute appropriate measures to immediately restore calm and guarantee security in the hospital.”

Is said the hospital remain the prime centre for specialist care in Imo State, and the continued disruption of its services would deprive citizens access to health care services.

“It is public knowledge that the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem, had been on leave to allow for detailed and unfettered investigation into allegations against her by members of this same union currently causing this crisis.”

The association urged the protesting union members to allow the rule of law to prevail.

“We advise the medical director to stretch the olive branch to all aggrieved staff and assure them of her cooperation and understanding.

“We also appeal to the protesting members of staff to sheathe their swords and allow peace return to the hospital in the interest of all.

“It is pertinent to remind all concerned that health emergency is no respecter of persons and can occur at any time, therefore, in the interest of all, we need to get the hospital functioning again,” it added.(NAN)

TJ/MZA

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-31
Youths
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Electoral Consciousness, has called for total reorientation of youths as part of the initiatives to enhance political stability in Nigeria.

The Executive Director of the group, Mrs Olayinka Ojomo, made the call  when she spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Friday.

According to her, stability is needed for economic growth and socio-political development.

She said the call became imperative in the face of wrong orientation amongst youths which made them mere tools in the hands of politicians.

Ojomo explained that the stability of Nigeria would be determined by the role being played by Nigerian youths.

“The youths urgently need comprehensive reorientation as regards the sanctity of our nation and its importance to the survival and continuity of the nation.

“As we grow in the journey of democratic advancement, it is practically essential to change the inimical orientation of our youths to positive one.

“The role of youths in the success of any nation can never be over-emphasised. The battered political culture of our youths is dangerous to the success of democracy in this critical time of our history.

“Our democracy is too important to be left in the hands of politicians alone, our concerted efforts remained the only way out of our challenges.’’ (NAN)
DOO/MO/OFN
Edited by Mrayo Omolade//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-10
Absence
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 for continuation of trial of an ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, over N47 million fraud.

The court fixed the date following a letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, for adjournment.

Keyamo stated in the letter that the key prosecution witness was unavailable, and prayed that a new date be given to enable the witness to attend court.

Meanwhile, some members of staff of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd., a company linked with Tompolo, stormed the court’s premises, protesting nonpayment of their salaries.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions indicating that their salaries have not been paid for months due to the prosecution of the company and the freezing of its accounts.

The EFCC had arraigned Tompolo in absentia on April 18, on a 22-count charge of fraud.

Also arraigned in absentia in connection with the alleged fraud are six brothers of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

The bothers are:  Igo, Julius, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel and Clement Akpobolokemi.

Patrick Akpobolokemi, two females – Josephine Otuaga and Rita Uruakpa – and one Kime Engozu are also joined in the suit as accused.

Tompolo and the six others were declared to be at large when the charges were read before Justice Ibrahim Buba on April 18.

Following Tompolo’s absence, Buba had issued a bench warrant for his arrest, and subsequently, an order for freezing of his assets.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the accused conspired to defraud the Federal Government between Dec. 2, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

According to the EFCC, the accused falsely represented that a parcel of land situated at Mieka Dive Training Institute Warri, had been acquired by NIMASA for the temporary campus of the Nigerian Maritime University.

The EFCC submitted that the alleged offences contravened the provisions of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and Section 1 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. (NAN)
UNS/IGO
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