Blog

NAN-S-18

Cup

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Manchester United on Wednesday beat Manchester City 1-0 in a keenly contested derby in the English Football League (EFL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Juan Mata struck to win a tight Manchester derby as United knocked out EFL Cup holders City to reach the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard pounced to drive low into the corner from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pull-back as United set up a home tie with West Ham.

Paul Pogba had hit a post moments earlier as the game came alive in the second period, following a first half in which neither of the bitter rivals managed a shot on target.

City boss Pep Guardiola made nine changes to his side, who have now not won in six games in all competitions.

Their best chance arrived early on when Kelechi Iheanacho headed over from six yards, while second-half substitutes Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero made little impact.

Victory was United’s second in five matches, and only Jose Mourinho’s fourth win in 18 meetings with Guardiola.

The match between West Ham and Chelsea played at the Olympic Stadium saw Chelsea make seven changes to the team that thrashed Manchester United 4-0 on Sunday.

The most notable inclusion was that of captain John Terry, returning from injury to the centre of a three-man defence.

Nigeria’s  Victor Moses and Mikel Obi were conspicuously missing from the squad.

NAN also reports that crowd disturbances between rival fans marred the conclusion of West Ham’s EFL Cup fourth-round victory over Chelsea at the London Stadium.

Plastic bottles and seats were thrown towards the end of the match as hundreds of fans were involved in ugly scenes.

The flash points were a blot on what had been an entertaining night on the pitch as a much-changed Chelsea side were beaten by a cohesive and intense West Ham.

A superb Cheikhou Kouyate header before the break and an 18-yard Edimilson Fernandes strike a few minutes into the second half secured West Ham’s place in the last eight and a tie against Manchester United.

Gary Cahill swept home from close range in injury time, but it was only a consolation at the end of another difficult evening off the pitch for the Hammers. (NAN)

VO/YAZ

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Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my iPhone

NAN-H-120

Schools

Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN)The Quality Assurance Department (QAD) of the Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is to revisit the over 500 illegal schools closed down in the area.

Mr Ayuba Didam, Director, QAD, confirmed this development to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that already Proprietors of some of the affected schools were at the department to comply with the department’s guidelines to enable their schools resume operation.

He, however, stated that “their coming to the department does not mean they should go ahead to commence operation.

According to him, they must be certified and cleared by the department before they will be allowed to resume operation.

He said the seven Zonal Offices in the FCT had been directed to ensure that all the schools that were closed down, remained closed.

Didam stated that henceforth, the department would be engaging the services of security operators while on visitation to schools to check possible breakdown of law and order.

“The next time the department will be going out to revisit the schools, security operatives will be involved, not like the previous visits, where only our workers were involved.

“We have written to the agencies intimating them of our planned visit and we are expecting them to be part of the exercise so that even if anyone has the intention of doing anything, security will be there,’’ he added.

According to Didam, intending proprietors are supposed to seek approval before establishing schools so as to ensure monitoring and quality control.

NAN recalled that the then Acting Secretary, Education Secretariat, Mrs. Naomi Bilkis on July 19, led staff of the secretariat to Durumi, where she ordered the closure of the illegal schools in the area.

She said that zonal officers were mandated to monitor private schools closely to ensure that all those closed down were not reopened.

She noted that in spite the challenge of increasing influx of people into the FCT, causing a rise in the demand for qualitative education, the FCT Administration was working hard to provide classrooms for all children in approved schools in the area.

She advised parents to use the holiday period to enroll children in approved private and public schools.(NAN)

KM/AK/SYC
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola and Ismaila Chafe

NAN-H-119

Distribution

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Maiduguri, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, will on Thursday, inaugurate the distribution of relief materials, including drugs, to families and malnourished children in Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri, Borno.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the relief materials are targeted at meeting the immediate needs of the families and children suffering from malnutrition occasioned by the activities of insurgents in the State.

The relief materials were part of the items donated during the inauguration of the “GET INVOLVED’’ initiative, which was a component of the wife of the president’s pet project, ‘The Future Assured’ Programme.

NAN reports that, the disturbing rate of malnutrition among children in the IDPs’ camps, necessitated the distribution of the relief materials by the wife of the president.

It will be recalled that the wife of the President in July, during the launch of “GET INVOLVED” initiative in Abuja, urged Parents to always provide their children with nutritional food items to improve their health conditions.

She also enjoined them to always administer 180mls of fortified milk to malnourished children to uplift their quality of life. (NAN).
AMU/SYC
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Edited by Ismaila Chafe

LAST NUMBERS FOR WEDNESDAY, 26, 10, 2016

HOME NUM: 120

HE: 25

F: 23

AE: 12

DS: 9

HG: 16

ELS: 4

NAN-H- 118
ICPC
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC) on Wednesday said it did not receive any letter mandating its Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta to proceed on compulsory retirement leave.

The Spokesman of the Commission, Mr Edet Ufot in a statement in Abuja said some national dailies on
Oct. 26 published that Nta had been mandated to proceed on compulsory retirement leave.

He noted that the publications claimed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) had written to the ICPC boss, mandating him to proceed on leave.

“The report purports that ICPC is in receipt of a letter from the SGF informing the Chairman to proceed on compulsory leave beginning from Oct. 26.

“It went further to impute perceived reasons for the alleged `sack’ of the chairman, quoting an
anonymous ICPC source.

`However, no such letter or letters have been received in the Commission.”

Ufot added that ICPC had called the attention of relevant authorities to the publication for appropriate action. (NAN)
IMC/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-117

Prayers

Sokoto, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Chairman of Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Committee, Malam Lawal Maidoki, has called on people to pray fervently to curb the menace of kidnapping in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Maidoki spoke in Sokoto on Wednesday while reuniting with members of his family after spending one week in kidnappers’ den in Niger State.

The cleric, who was received by hundreds of people, said, “We have been subjected to condition or situation that we are not used to.

“Although all the kidnappers are Muslim brothers, but their act is not in line with the teaching of Islam, as none of them is concerned about observing the obligatory prayers, among other acts”, he said.

He called on all Nigerians to unite in praying for the country and the kidnappers in order to repent from such deadly criminal acts.

Maidoki thanked the people of the state, the country and beyond for intense prayers for his freedom to re-unite with his family.

The state’s Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishunku, thanked the people and the State Government for their contribution toward the release.

The Chairman, Sokoto state House of Assembly’s Committee on Public Account and Anti-corruption, Alhaji Malami Galadanchi (APC-Sokoto North I), said the people were happy about the release.

“We prayed for this day to come and we have seen the result of our fervent prayers.”

NAN recalls that Maidoki and three members of his family were kidnapped on Oct. 19, 2016 and remained in captivity till Oct. 25. (NAN)

MNB/IEA
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Bello restates commitment to develop satellite towns

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Towns
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration will do everything within its power to develop the designated Satellite Towns within the territory, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has assured.

Bello gave the assurance when he received the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelepe-Adefulire, Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the development of the Satellite Towns will go a long way to improve the standard of living of those residents in such towns.

He said that his administration would work toward the completion of some ongoing projects of the defunct Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Satellite Towns, including the Multi-Million-Naira Abaji MDG Water Project to enable residents enjoy maximum benefits.

“This will enable the FCT Administration to accomplish the set goal of providing potable water to all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

Bello, who noted that though the reports available to him contrasted with what was on ground at the Abaji project site, said the administration would make funds available to complete whatever was left of the project.

“As a matter of fact, I visited Abaji and saw the tank that was constructed. From the reports available to me, most of the works have been completed.

“In terms of payments, about 90 per cent has been paid on that project.

“The initial challenges were with the framework of funding. Apparently there were challenges. Some others did not pay on time as they were supposed to pay,” he said.

He assured that the administration would partner with the SDGs to have the project completed within the available resources and any other projects that were outstanding.

“We will prioritise and see how we can move on. We need to showcase what a Federal Government agency is able to do here in Abuja so that we can use it as a benchmark.

“We can also use it as a means of putting pressure on states to comply with your requirements,” he said.

He said that in the FCT, the environment and water supply is paramount because in terms of population, the city and indeed the population is growing astronomically; so, we must have a clean environment and make sure that refuse is collected.

“You are invariably solving some of the other 17 items, especially those that have to do with basic healthcare and nutrition,” he said.

The SSA to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelepe-Adefulire stated that SDG targets were set last year, to build on the achievements recorded on the Millennium Development Goals.

Orelepe-Adefulire said that these goals this time around, include the unfinished goals of the MDG, now known as SDG with a social sector that deals with the unfinished business of the MDG.

“We have 17 goals that deal with three dimensions. One to six of the SDG deals with the unfinished business of the MDG and social development.

“Goal seven to 13 deals with development agenda, while 13 to 17 talks about climate change and environment. These goals are the targets that we must meet between now and 2030.

“The essence of the Abaji MDG water project is for the five communities to benefit and if it is not completed, I don’t see any benefit they will derive from it,” she said. (NAN)

KM/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-90

Communication

By Vivian Ihechu

Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole says strategic health communication is crucial to achieving positive social and behavioural change in the country.

Adewole, represented by Mrs Olayemi Sotomi, Director of ICT, Federal Ministry of Health, expressed the view at the 10th Anniversary of the Leadership in Strategic Health Communication Workshop, in Lagos on Wednesday.

The workshop, which also featured the graduation of some participants, was organised by the Centre for Communication programmes, Nigeria, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Centre for Communication Programmes, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

It had the theme “Repositioning the Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Toward the Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’’.

Adewole said the theme was timely and strategically positioned, especially at a time, when there was a need to be creative and resourceful in addressing issues relating to improvement of people’s health and ultimately quality of life.

He said, “The Federal Ministry of Health appreciates the role of social and behaviour change communications in addressing negative social norms and encouraging the adoption of positive attitudes.

“These are all intended to make communities more competent and to take responsibilities for their health.

“We have seen examples of successful campaigns in Nigeria and beyond, and we have had research prove that communication does work.

“At the United Nations Sustainable Development meeting on the Sept. 25, 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

“This includes a set of 17 SDGs to end poverty, fight inequality, injustice and tackle climate change by 2030’’.

According to him, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) plays a key role in the actualisation of these goals.

“This is by providing the platform to leverage on research, creativity and theory to design effective campaigns that have the power to address these health and social issues,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Benjamin Lozare, Director, Training and Capacity Building, School of Public health, USA, said the workshop was to broaden the scope of using strategic communication in health and other domains.

“Our focus should be on what needs to be done, rather than on apportioning blame for present problems.

“True communication must carry within it, the element of transformation”, he said.

In her remarks, Ms Babafunke Fagbemi, Executive Director, Centre for Communication Programmes, Nigeria, said the workshop cut across all fields. (NAN)

VIV/MO/SOA

Edited by Morayo Omolade/Oluwole Sogunle/

NAN-HE-25
Relocation
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has relocated its Inspectorate Directorate from its head office in Abuja to the Lagos Control office for better service delivery to stakeholders, according to a statement.

The statement by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Rasaaq Salami, noted that the relocation was part of the Commission ‘s ongoing restructuring exercise.

Salami stated that the relocation was also aimed at improving efficiency and bringing the Commission closer to regulated entities for effective insurance industry supervision.

He said “the Directorate is saddled with the responsibility of conducting on-site inspection of insurance entities for the Commission.

“It is imperative to note that over 90 per cent of insurance operators are in Lagos, being the hub of economic activities in the country.

“The relocation will thus ensure prompt and regular inspection of insurance firms and brokers.”

He, thereore, urged insurance industry operators to take advantage of the proximity to enjoy quicker and efficient service delivery from
the regulator.

NAICOM is a statutory agency of Federal Government established by law to regulate and supervise the Nigerian Insurance Sector.

The Commission derives its regulatory powers from the National Insurance Commission Act 1997 and the Insurance Act 2003.

The principal goal of the Commission is to ensure effective administration, supervision, regulation and control of insurance business
in Nigeria. (NAN)
LCN/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Witness reveals how ex-NIMASA DG secured 2 years rent in Banana Island

NAN-H-116
Testimony
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) A witness, Orji Chukwuma, on Wednesday, told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that former Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, paid N40 million to secure rent in Banana island

Chukwuma, the 11th witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave the testimony at the resumed trial of Akpobolokemi, a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

He is charged alongside five others on a 22-count charge bordering on N2.6 billion conversion and theft.

Others charged are Captain Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan as well as Blockz and Stonz Ltd, Kenzo Logistics Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, the witness.tendered three documents, which were; receipts for rent, a Toyota Landcruiser Jeep bullet proof, and an Asset Declaration Form.

These were admitted and marked as exhibits P63, 64, and 65.

He informed the court presided by Justice Ibrahim Buba that Akpolobokemi paid N40 million in three tranches of N12 million; N14 million and N14 million, representing two years rent in Banana island.

The witness also told the court that the former Director-general also paid cash of N38.5 million to Vision Motors, for the Toyota Landcruiser Jeep Bullet Proof.

He said Akpolobokemi paid the money in five tranches of N4 million, N4 million, N4 million, N4 million, N4 million, N4 million, N4, 650, million, and N10 million.

The witness said that this was done between Nov. 11, 2011, and June 19, 2013.

He said that the Agency’s investigation, revealed that the accused received cash sums in dollars which were revealed to be proceeds of crime, adding that same was used In acquiring the said properties.

Buba adjourned the case till Nov. 26 and Nov. 29 for continuation of trial.

In th charge, the accused were alleged to have converted to their use, N2.6 billion between Dec. 23, 2013 and May 28, 2015.

The offences contravened sections 15 (1), 15 (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012. (NAN)
UNS/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha