Blog

 NAN-H-18
Fund
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Lafia, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has released N4.3 billion counterpart fund to the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) to access the fund from 2012.
Alhaji Yakubu Ubangari, the Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), disclosed this on Wednesday at a sensitisation workshop organised for directors from the Ministry of Education and SUBEB.
Ubangari, who is also the Acting Chairman of SUBEB, said that the board would soon start awarding contract for the construction of classrooms, procurement of school furniture, instructional materials and intensive teachers’ development.
“The initiative was borne out of the determination of the present administration to transform the education sector.
“This will be done by providing modern facilities and creating conducive leaning environment for both teachers and students in all the schools across the state.
`The state government is committed to ensuring that all children in the state are properly educated.
“The governor has released this amount because of his passion to uplift the standard of education in the state,’’ he said.
He said that the current administration promised to take education to the door step of all Kogi residents to reduce the level of illiteracy in the state.
Ubangari said that the workshop, which was organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEB, was aimed at creating awareness on the need to establish Early Child Education Centers (ECEC) in all public schools in the state.
He said that the board had established 142 Early Child Education Centers across all the 13 Local Government areas and registered 15, 435 pupils. (NAN)
BAB/OIF/TA
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-78
Transparency
By Funmi Adeyemi/Uche Bibilari
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government says it is committed to its policy of exposing the rightful owners of businesses, to encourage transparency, accountability and probity in governance.

Dr Joe Abah, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abah said that the purpose of the policy was to unravel the owners of businesses registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“There are instances where ownership of companies hide behind several companies; some of them are offshore.

“Here, you don’t actually know who owns these companies.  So, the plan is to have a beneficial ownership register at the CAC, where details of owners of companies will be made transparent.

“The initiative is work in progress but President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to making the beneficial register at the CAC public.”

Abah further said  that the initiative would also make public servants to be committed on the need for open government and transparency.

“Some government officials hide quite a number of complex chains of owners of businesses to perpetrate corruption.

“In a lot of contracts awarded by the government, the real owners may even be civil servants or National Assembly members but have used different names for the registration of the companies.”

The director-general advised Nigerians to begin to look inward by making public the real owners of businesses as this would help reduce corruption in the system.

He said that doing this would make things more transparent because most company owners hid behind several companies to operate.

Abah said that the initiative would also allow for an open register at the CAC where information about owners of companies would be made transparent.

According to him, the UK has used the process to facilitate transparency in the country and urged Nigeria to take a clue from them. (NAN)
FAK/UU/DO/NKO

=============

Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

NAN-H-75
Investment
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Oct 26, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has restated that the Nigerian investment market is big and boisterous enough for prospecting investors.

Mr Victor Oluwadamilare, Special Assistant, Media, to the minister, said in a statement that Shittu expressed the view in Abuja on Wednesday when he received the management team of YAS RIH Group in his office.

The group came to present the company’s intention to partner with the Nigeria in the area of digital transformation solutions and telecommunications operations.

Shittu said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would provide a favourable environment for investment.

He said the administration had resolved to make Nigeria’s business environment safe and conducive to  investors in its determination to diversify the economy.

The minister said the country’s regulatory processes were  open, effective and transparent.

He urged the ICT firm to fully comply with all regulatory guidelines set for intending ICT operators by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Shittu urged YAS RIH Group to forward a proposal through  NCC and assured it that the government would not hesitate in approving a licence for the firm to operate in the country.

Earlier, the leader of delegation, Ayman Al Rlfai, who is the Personal Assistant to His Royal Highness, Prince Fahad Bin Magrin Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, delivered a goodwill message of Saudi Arabia’s King.

Presenting the company’s profile, the Chief ICT Officer, Mr Francois Hannouche, said the group was ready to bring expertise and experience in digital transformation solution and telecom infrastructure operations to impact positively on Nigeria’s economy.

He said that if given the opportunity to operate in Nigeria, the company would bring both direct and indirect impact on Nigeria’s GDP.

Hannouche said data was the new oil in the global market.

He lauded operators in the Nigerian telecom sector, such as MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat, for their international ratings.

Hannouche said YAS RIH Group supported digital transformation projects.

The delegation included Abdulmanaf Muhammad, Vice-Chairman of YAS RIH International, Wad Tawil, CEO, YAS RIH International, Dave Cain, Abdullahi Garba, Managing Director, Forsysthia, and Muhammad Saed. (NAN)

COA/JCE
=======

Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

Protests, internet outages in south-east Turkey after mayors’ detention

NAN-F-18

Protests

Istanbul, Oct. 26, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Protests and internet outages were reported in south-eastern Turkey on Wednesday, a day after the co-mayors of the Kurdish metropolis of Diyarbakir were taken into custody, a report said.

Demonstrations were also being held in other parts of the country after Gultan Kisanak und Firat Anli, both affiliated with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), were detained on terrorism-linked charges.

According to the report, “social media users in Diyarbakir posted videos of police using water cannon to disperse demonstrators”.

Residents also reported internet outages over mobile networks.

Information from Kurdish areas is difficult to obtain after the government closed dozens of media outlets, and residents rely on social media to convey news.

The HDP condemned the detentions as illegal, saying the government wanted to dissolve the political opposition in the country.

The Kurds in Turkey run on joint tickets so that a man and a woman fill every elected post in local offices.

The report said the terrorism charges include calling for greater autonomy for Kurdish region and allowing municipal vehicles to be used for funerals of alleged members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The EU said the detentions were “very worrying”.

It said that a political solution was the only viable option” to the problems in south-east Turkey, ongoing for decades.

The government said it would not return to talks with the PKK.

President Recep Erdogan has repeatedly denounced the HDP.

The Parliament, dominated by Erdogan’s conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP), lifted the legal immunity of nearly all HDP lawmakers this year, paving the way for prosecutions.
(dpa/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-HG-14
Funding

By Awayi Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa state), Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nasarawa State Branch, has urged the Federal Government to provide funds to address infrastructural decay in hospitals across the country.

The NMA State Chairman, Dr Christopher Edeh, who made the appeal at the 2016 Physician Week on Wednesday in Keffi, said that this would ensure quality healthcare delivery to the citizens.

The 2016 physician week, which took place in Keffi, Nasarawa State, had the theme: “Healthcare in a Frail Economy: Challenges and Way Forward’’.

Edeh said that adequate funding of hospitals by government at all levels would improve the health status of Nigerians and discourage medical tourism out of Nigeria.

“Many Nigerians have myriads of health challenges because they cannot afford or access quality healthcare.

“There are also many problems or challenges assailing the nation’s health sector like poor manpower and non-employment of trained doctors.

“Proper funding by the Federal Government will tackle the decay in the system and improve on services which the sector can render to ailing Nigerians,” he said.

Edeh urged the government to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) accessible to all Nigerian in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country.

He commended Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State for his interventions in the health sector, saying that it had improved the health and living condition of residents.

Also speaking, the Assistant National Secretary-General of the association, Dr Attah Peter, said that the association would key into all policies and projects that had direct bearing on the lives of doctors and other Nigerians.

In his remarks, Dr Giyan Joshua-Ndom, the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, assured the association of the centre’s support in their efforts at ensuring effective health care delivery in the state and the country at large.

Joshua-Ndom, who was represented by Dr Samuel Luka, the centre’s Head of Clinical Service, encouraged doctors to be hardworking in the discharge of their duties for the overall development of the country. (NAN)
AKW/COF/IS
==========
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Ismail Abdulaziz

South Africa’s Zuma admits he is “implicated” in graft report

NAN-F-10
Report
Jo’burg, Oct. 26, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has filed court papers to determine if an unreleased report into allegations of political interference by wealthy brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta is final, the report said on Wednesday.

In the affidavit that was published on the channel’s website on Wednesday said, Zuma admitted he was “an implicated person” in the report by the former Public Protector, a constitutionally mandated anti-graft watchdog.

Zuma has denied granting undue influence to the Guptas and they have denied seeking it. (Reuters/NAN)

Edited Damilola Oyewole/ Julius Enehikhuere

NAN-H-47
Kidnapping
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Some rights activists in Lagos on Wednesday gave support for a bill proposed by the Lagos State House Assembly  recommending death by hanging for convicted kidnappers.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that death penalty had curtailed crime in some countries and would reduce kidnapping in the state.

The state assembly had last week, during a public hearing, recommended the death penalty.

The public hearing was on a bill sponsored by the Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

The bill seeks to provide for prohibition of kidnapping and related matters.

It states that any person, who kidnaps, abducts, details, captures or takes another person by any means with the intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to death sentence.

The Lagos State Chairman of the Civil Liberty Organisation, Mr Ehi Omokhuale, told NAN that death penalty was working for most western nations.

“ I fully support death penalty for kidnappers because the crime, kidnapping, has become a cankerworm in our system. Death penalty will help to reduce the menace.

“Death penalty is helping to clean Malaysia’s image,’’ Omokhuale said.

The Lagos State Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr Ajayi Kola, also hailed  the lawmakers’ recommendation.

Kola told NAN that no punishment would be too heavy for kidnapping.

“When you look at the havoc, the pain and agony kidnappers put on the relatives of their victims, then, anything more than death sentence should be recommended.

“The maltreatment, humiliation etc is enough to kill whoever is kidnapped; so, I support the death sentence. Perhaps that will reduce the rate of kidnapping.

“When people know the danger in it, they will not want to venture into such an act,’’ Kola said.

However, Prince Toyin Raheem, a member Action Team Against Conscription and Kidnap (ATACK), condemned the lawmakers’ recommendation.

In a statement he issued in Lagos, Raheem said that capital punishment might not eliminate kidnapping.

He said that imprisonment and re-orientation of convicted kidnappers would be a better alternative.

“Armed robbery attracts death penalty in Nigeria, but has it reduced armed robbery? Death penalty is not the solution.

“Death sentence is no longer in vogue; many countries are already removing it from their statutory books.

“The Nigerian system that breeds criminality has to be discarded; a system where government does not spend massively on social amenities is bad.

“Lack of employment opportunities, education being a privilege and not a right, can only coerce people into crime.

“Desperation to survive leads people into kidnapping and other vices,’’ the ATACK member said.

He urged governments to provide work, affordable accommodation and abundant food for the citizens.

Raheem called on governments to provide welfare and security, adding that adequate security would make kidnapping difficult.

NAN reports that the current Lagos State Criminal Code provides for 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping. (NAN)

LED/IGO
========
(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-71
Bill
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has solicited the passage of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Establishment Bill by the House of Assembly.

This is contained in a letter written by the governor to the assembly and read by the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam, during plenary on Wednesday.

Aregbesola, in the letter, also sought for the passage of the Local Government Education Authority Bill.

The governor also urged the lawmakers to screen Mr Asaola Adebowale as Commissioner 1 in the Civil Service Commission to replace the late Robert Adebiyi.

The two bills, according to the speaker, would provide for effective regulation and management of elementary and middle schools in the state.

A motion for the first reading of the bills was subsequently moved by the Majority Leader of the house, Mr Timothy Owoeye, and seconded by the Chief Whip, Folorunsho Bamisayemi.

Salaam, however, urged members to study the bill properly to enable them to make meaningful contributions during debate. (NAN)
VE/MOL/OJO
==========
(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Mufutau Ojo)

Oladapo returns to ITTF-Africa ex-board as Oshodi gets regional position

NAN-S-5
Oladapo
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Nigeria’s Olabanji Oladapo has been re-elected as the Vice President (Administration) to an eight-man Executive Board of the ITTF-Africa led by Khaled El-Salhy of Egypt.

A statement released in Lagos on Wednesday by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), noted that the President of federation, Wahid Oshodi was also elected as the Regional Vice President — Western Region.

The election took place on the sidelines of the Bi-enniel General Assembly (BGM) held in Agadir, Morocco.

Oshodi, a Member of the Nominations Committee of ITTF-Africa, would be in charge of the region that includes, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia and Ghana.

Others are Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

He would be expected to coordinate activities of the confederation in the region with an aim at developing the sport.

El-Salhy,  who re-emerged as ITTF-Africa was elected unopposed while Henry Djombo (CDR) was elected Deputy President; Oladapo as Vice President Administration.

Others are Hajera Kajee (South Africa), Vice President Marketing; Berte Abou Bakary (Cote d’ Ivoire), Vice President Finance; Monqid Hajji (Morocco), Vice President, Media and Public Relations and Balla Lo (Senegal), Vice President Technical, all elected unopposed.

The regional Vice Presidents are Abdennour Kaci (Algeria) takes charge of Northern Region, Wahid-Oshodi  in charge of Western Region, Alfred Bagueka (Cameroon) , Central Region; Andrew Mudibo (Kenya) Eastern Region: Joe Carrim (South Africa), Southern Region.

The council members are Kamel Zaitouni (Algeria), Mahmoud Oumar (Djibouti), Jalal Hariz (Libya), Philippe Hao Thyn Voon (Mauritius), Abdelrahman El-Sallawi (Sudan) and Thomas Kiggundo (Uganda).

However, two more co-opted members were added to the ITTF-Africa Executive Council during the maiden meeting.

In his acceptance speech, El-Salhy pledged to uplift the fortunes of table tennis in the continent, while calling for more support from National associations.

“I am highly honoured to be considered for another term in office. I went to the congress with their trust and support.

“We are ambitious for the future, because we want to focus on development and marketing of the sport, so that we can continue to grow in Africa,” he said.

According to the statement, countries that staged major competitions were honoured for their effort.

Not less than 18 National associations attended the BGM, while the congress then commended Morocco for hosting a befitting ITTF-Africa Senior Championships.

In 2017, Tunisia will host the African Junior and Cadet Championships in April while Congo Brazzaville is considering hosting the ITTF African Cup and Club Championship in July. (NAN)
PR/TON
======

NAN-H-72
Repatriation
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Minna, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service said on Wednesday that 53 illegal immigrants have been repatriated to Niger Republic.

Mrs Tamuno Oyedeji, Comptroller of Immigration Service in the state disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

Adededji said the state government provided vehicles for the transportation of the illegal immigrants to the border post at Jibia in Katsina state.

“We successfully handed them over to the Niger Republic Immigration officers at the border post,’’ she said.

Adedeji said that the immigrants were repatriated because their presents constitute security threats in the state.

She said that most of the illegal immigrants possess expired documents, while others have no legal documents to back their legitimate stay in the country.

The comptroller said that the command has taken proactive security measures to ensure only immigrants with proper documents are allowed into the country through Babana border with Benin Republic. (NAN)
Edited by Debo Oshundun/ Julius Enehikhuere