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Young inventors showcase talent at 2016 NTA Children Expo

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Expo

By Happiness Obi

Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Children from different schools all over the country displayed various inventions and talents in science and arts at the on-going Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Children’s Expo in Abuja.

The theme of the 2016 edition of the Expo is “’Improved Technology as Impetus for Mechanised Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Power and the General development of Nigeria’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that schools from all states of the federation are represented by their students at the exhibition from which a winner will emerge.

Some of the participants who spoke to NAN said they were happy to be invited to the expo at which they could showcase their talents.

One of the students, Miss Edina Msurshima, a student of Vatyia College in Makurdi, who invented an Anaerobic Digester, said the digester could be used to generate light through a generator without fuel.

“’My work is on generation of electricity using Bio gas; bio gas is waste from animals and it is a mixture of gases such as mitten, carbon IV oxide and hydrogen sulphur.

“It also contains traces of gaseous elements such as ammonia, water vapour and the rest.

“The gas is generated from the action of microorganisms in an anaerobic digester; an anaerobic digester is a system that works without oxygen.”

Msurshima said that when the gas is built, carbon IV oxide and other gases hinder burning to generate the electricity.

According to her, the gas passes through a set of purifiers, the first one is sodium hydroxide and the second is iron and the silica gel.

“This helps to remove other impurities from the gas especially when it is channelled to the burner; the anaerobic digester generates light through a generator without fuel.”

On the benefit of the digester to society, she said: “’It can be used on poultry farms”.

The young inventor said that the waste becomes pathogen free and the materials can be converted to other products while the sludge can be used for manure.

“And it is also a cheaper way of generating electricity,” she said.

Messrs Joseph Orya and Ichor Joshua, representatives of Benue Innovators Academy, Makurdi, also invented a cellular irrigation system.

Joshua told NAN that a cellular irrigation system is a system that produces water through a process called Molasses using an activate carbon condenser they call ‘JJ condenser’ (Joseph and Joshua).

He said that the cellular system created by them has charcoal as the principal component.

“’The cellular system enables the farmer to supply water to his farm; that is the irrigation process. This can be done through cell phones.

“When the telephone number attached is dialled, it produces a musical sound from the cell phone in the control panel which is amplified through the amplifier circuit to activate and supply water to the farm.

“After this is done, a vegetronix censor, which is a moisture censor that measures the amount of waste in the farm, helps to stop the flow.

“The vegetronix, which is solar powered and can be used anywhere, automatically turns off the flow of water. It can also be manually operated.”

According to Joshua, the project is targeted towards agriculture and it aims to encourage dry season farming and water production.

He also said that “’it can ultimately boost the GDP through the exportation of cash crops and boost the supply of oxygen to animals”.

NAN reports that the 2016 NTA children’s Expo began on Oct. 23 and will end on Oct. 27. (NAN)
HOU/COA/HAS/MST

Edited by Hajia Sani/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Move cattle out of FCT, Minister tells herdsmen

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City
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello said on Tuesday that herdsmen must move their cattle out of the Federal Capital Territory.

Bello gave the warning when he met with members of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, in Abuja.

The minister noted that there is no way, such animals can co-habit with the residents.

Bello said that this is part of efforts to totally stop cattle grazing in Abuja metropolis and major entrance and exit highways into the city centre.

According to him, the decision is for safety reasons; cattle should not roam on the streets and highways in the city.

“This is not because the government wants to prevent cattle breeders from rearing cattle in the Territory.

“You have to understand that when Abuja Environmental Protection Board says cattle should not roam the city, it is not because they want to prevent cattle breeders from raring cattle in the FCT.

“Basically, it is just for safety. It is for safety of your cattle and above all, safety of the citizens.

“In a modern city, it’s not possible for animals and vehicles to move together on the roads because this could cause accidents, which in some cases could be fatal, and it is our duty to protect lives and property,” he said.

The minister implored the association to nominate some of their members to serve in the Ministerial Task Team on Environment to ensure that there is smooth communication between FCTA and the association.

Bello said that the FCT Administration has moved a step further to identify new grazing reserves that will cater for their requirements.

“A total of 33,485 hectares have already been earmarked for grazing reserves to cater for about 7 million herds of cattle comprising of Paikon Kore – 8,500 hectares.

“Karshi – 6,000 hectares, Kawu in Bwari – 9,000 hectares and Rubochi in Kuje has 9,985 hectares,” the Minister revealed.

Bello said that the critical issue is payment of compensation to the farmers.

He said that FCT Administration will work together with the National Assembly to resolve the issue amicably.

The minister explained that the FCT Administration may even reach out to the host communities to work out a situation where compensation does not have to be in monetary terms because of the large expanse of land involved.

“Nothing should prevent the communities that are there and the Fulanis living together because you don’t always have to move people away,” he said.

The minister thanked Miyatti Allah for its support to the FCT Administration and also to the Federal Government.

Bello urged them to continue to robustly support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Malam Yahaya Isah said the association would continue to promote peaceful co-existence.

He promised that his association will enlighten the members not to breed their cattle on the streets and highways of Abuja again.

NAN recalls that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) had arrested 589 hawkers, 25 cows, 51 sheep and nine herdsmen between May and September.

Mrs Omolola Olanipekun, Acting Director of the board told NAN in Abuja that the herdsmen and the animals were arraigned in the FCT mobile court.

Olanipekun said that the board had embarked on dialogue with the leadership of the herdsmen in the FCT to explain to them the implication of moving their animals into the city centres. (NAN)
KM/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Man, 27, in court for unlawful possession of firearm

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Firearm

By Sylvester Thompson

Abuja, Oct.25, 2016(NAN) A 27-year-old man, Kola Ibrahim, was on Tuesday arraigned in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, over alleged  unlawful possession of firearm.

Ibrahim, of Kuje, FCT, however pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

The prosecutor, Ijagbemi John, told the court that the defendant was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Oct. 11.

”When a search was conducted on him, one locally made revolver pistol and a wrap of cannabis sativa were found and recovered from him,” John said.

He also said that the NDLEA officials referred the case to the Commissioner of Police for investigation.

The prosecutor said that the offence was contrary to Section 27(b) of the Firearm Law.

The Judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with a  surety in like sum, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Kagarko adjourned hearing in the case till Nov. 30. (NAN)
SET/HAS/OU
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Obike Ukoh

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NURTW
By Sunday John
Lafia, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed for downward review of the cost of the newly-introduced speed limit device to N2OOO.

The Chairman of the union in the state, Alhaji Salihu Adamu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Tuesday that the current cost of the device was not affordable to his members.

Adamu commended the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for introducing the device but appealed that it should be made affordable to commercial vehicle owners and drivers.

He said that the branch had cautioned its members against speeding, dangerous overtaking and over-loading but that the warning seemed to be falling on deaf ears.

“The essence of the device is to curtail the excesses of drivers to reduce accidents on the highways and not to generate funds for the government.

“The cost of the device should be N2000 to make it affordable for owners of vehicles and drivers given the economic challenges confronting the country.

“Buying it at the rate of N45000 is too high and most commercial vehicle owners cannot buy it, unless the FRSC is determined to inflict hardship on our members,” he added.

He said that commercial drivers were always at the receiving end of any government policy.

“We are always at the receiving end of any policy, whenever the price of oil, drivers’ licence or spare parts go up, the transport cost remains the same,’’ Adamu added.

He thanked the Nasarawa State Government for helping the union in the state.

He also appealed to Gov. Umaru Al-Makura to fulfill his promises to the union by making available the motor park on Jos road and other areas.

He said that the provision of the motor part would go a long way to curtail accidents and decongest Lafia, the state capital. (NAN)
SDJ/KOLE/MVO
(Edited by Remi Koleoso/Mbadiwe Okwor)

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Marriage
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Dr Amaka Emordi, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, says the preference for male children is one of the factors which  promote women bigamy.

Emordi said this on Tuesday at a seminar organised by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan.

The theme of the lecture was:  “ Women Bigamists in South-East Nigeria: The Social Contradictions of the Feminist Struggles. ’’

Emordi  called for the enactment of a law to curtail the preference for male children in order to eradicate women bigamy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incidence of women bigamy involves a woman marrying   another woman to produce a child.

NAN also reports  that the  practice, which is common in the South East Zone, does not involve lesbianism while the product of the union belongs to the woman who proposed marriage.

But according to the don, every child has a destiny and should be seen as a gift from God.

She said that while women bigamy  often brings succour  to women unable to bear their own children, the contradictions inherent in the practice  outnumber  the benefits.

“ Women bigamy does not only contradict the feminist struggle but also contradicts the Nigerian Marriage Act which only permits the celebration of male and female marriages and refutes all forms gay or lesbian  marriages in Nigeria.

“Women bigamy is an obstruction of the godly order of things, especially marriage,  which was meant to be a union between a man and a woman.

“ It becomes a contradiction when women,  who in the pre-industry times  preferred to have their own husbands,  now prefer to marry their fellow women so as to have more sexual freedom,’’ Emordi said.

She said that the law must  ensure that the problem of infertility “ should not be a lonely road for infertile women but a problem that should be handled by both husband and wife.’’

Emordi  also said that there should be  adequate protection by the law and provision for the administration of justice against dehumanising treatment of  childless women,  especially in rural areas. (NAN)
SYS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Nigeria is safe for investors –Shittu

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Investors

By Constance Athekame

Abuja , Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr  Adebayo Shittu, on Tuesday in Abuja reiterated  the present administration’s resolve to make Nigeria’s business environment safe and conducive for investors.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr  Victor Oluwadamilare, Special Assistant Media to the Minister.

Oluwadamilare said that the minister said this when the Swedish Minister of Trade and EU Affairs, Ms Ann Linde, and the Swedish Business Delegation to Nigeria on Smart Cities, Innovation and ICT visited him.

Shittu said several investors had been to the country, adding that many more were on their way to the safe business environment they enjoyed.

“Nigeria is safe for investors and return on investment (ROI) is assured and our regulatory processes are open, effective and transparent,” he said.

The minister assured the delegation that the country was ready to re-strategise on how to attract more meaningful investments into the country from Sweden leveraging on the ICT sector.

He said that Nigeria would avail itself of opportunities that abound in Sweden being a knowledgable society, ranked as the most digitalised economy in the world.

”Your global competitiveness depends on the ability to create, develop and make practical use of new scientific discoveries.

“You have invested in knowledge and competence and have used ICT as a key developmental tool and in creating jobs for her citizens.

Shittu said that Nigerian government’s strategic focus on broadband development and e-Government master plan fitted squarely into the sustainable development goals for future growth plans.

“I am happy to learn you know that with the planned auction of the 2.6GHz spectrum and the release of auction time table, the road to broadband boom in the country is very close.

“ Government is heading for bigger and better tidings from the industry,” he said.

Shittu said that the visit was to share knowledge, build new long-term relationship and strengthen current relationship which could drive innovation and stimulate entrepreneurship.

He expressed confidence  in the Swedish-Nigeria Conference co-hosted by the Ministry and the Swedish Embassy.

Shittu  said that the conference  was  designed to further identify policy benefits, business opportunities, technology solutions, and shared best practices.

He also said that the conference would form a strategic relationship that drive Nigeria’s ICT and telecom industry in this period of economic meltdown to profitability and growth.

The minister assured the delegates that Nigeria would  collaborate with Sweden in the area of ICT “to achieve the SMART Government Initiative as enshrined in the ministry’s Communications Roadmap”.

He added that the country would welcome more cooperation with Sweden in the area of human and institutional capacity development.

The delegate include; Ms Inger Ultvedt, Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Anna  Sundstrom, Political Adviser to the Minister for EU Affairs and Trade, and Mr Robert Keller, Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden, Nigeria.

Other members of the Business delegation team are; Mr Ludvig Hermansson, Ms Cecilia Leideman-Back, Ms Anthonia Adenaya, Mr Robert Nyberg and Mr Mohammed Hosseiny. (NAN)

COA/JPE/AMY

Edited by Joseph Edeh and Abdullahi Yusuf

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NARTO/NURTW crisis: LGC boss dismisses bribe allegation

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Bribe

Keffi (Nasarawa State), Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Mohammed Dikko, the Chairman of Keffi Local Government Council, Nasarawa State, has dismissed a bribery allegation against him by a transport union.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Keffi chapter of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) had accused the council chairman of collecting N1 million bribe from its rival NURTW.

Mr Maiwada Sidi, the local branch Chairman of NARTO, had alleged at a news conference on Tuesday in Keffi that Dikko collected the amount to stop NARTO activities in the area.

However, reacting to the allegation, Dikko described the allegation as false.

“What is the reason for me to collect money from NURTW?

“That accusation is false and uncalled for. He (Sidi) should proof it or else I will take it up and I will seek for justice,’’ the council chairman told NAN.

At the news conference, Sidi also alleged that NURTW members in the area have been paying N100,000 every month to the council chairman so as to frustrate NARTO activities in the area.

“The crisis between us (NARTO) and NURTW in Keffi started when the members of the NURTW destroyed almost all of our parks, destroyed our cars and even beat our members and we reported and the matter is still in court.

“The Judge of the Chief Magistrates’ Court, GRA, Keffi, then remanded the arrested members of the NURTW for four days before they were granted bail on condition that they will not attack our members again.

“I want to make it clear that if Nigerian leaders are like the executive chairman of Keffi, there will be no peace because Dikko is not neutral in discharging his duties; he has taken side by supporting any negative acts done by the members of the NURTW.

“The executive chairman said that before his tenure expire, he will make sure that NARTO operation does not exist in Keffi. I can confirm this statement because he made one of his brothers to be chairman of NURTW in Keffi,” he said.

However, Sidi commended the Emir of Keffi, Dr Chindo Yamusa III, for intervening in the crisis, adding that despite his intervention, the members of NURTW took over eight out of NARTO’s nine parks in Keffi.

The chairman urged his members to continue to be law abiding and respect constituted authorities as the officials were doing their best to seek for justice in the court of law in the interest of peace and national development. (NAN)

AKW/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-79

Defilement

Jos, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) A Magistrates’ Court in Jos on Tuesday sentenced a 15-year-old-boy to three months imprisonment for defiling a five-year-old girl.

The accused and the victim are both residents of Angwan Rukuba Road in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau, where the act was committed.

The Chief Magistrate, Comfort Pam, after hearing the Prosecutor, Mr Nyamvul Leshak, gave the boy an option to pay N3,000 as fine.

“Because this is his first time of committing this dastardly offence, I hereby sentence him to three months imprisonments with an option of fine of N3, 000,’’ Pam said.

Pam warned the boy against indulging in the act again.

She also cautioned the parents of the girl not to allow such a small girl to wander without any care but that to ensure someone was around to take care of her whenever they were away.

The boy, a primary five pupil, committed the act on Oct 15 and had pleaded guilty to the offence.

He prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and promised that he would not do it again.

The prosecutor, Leshak had told the court in the chamber that the boy lured the girl from a football field to take his shoes to his house.

And that just as she reached the house and dropped the shoes, the boy surfaced and shut the door and tried to lure her into having sex with him by first tampering with her private part, the prosecutor said.

“Your Worship, the accused immediately followed the girl to the house and locked up the door against her consent where he defiled her in spite of her resistance.

`If not for a neighbour who came looking for one of the family members and heard the girl’s outcry, he would had succeeded in having carnal knowledge of the girl.

“By tampering and fumbling with the girl’s temple, he had committed an offence contrary to section 285 of the Penal Code,’’ he said.

Leshak said the boy by such act committed gross indecent act and assault. (NAN)

TYC/OFN/JCE
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Chukwudi Ekezie

Maternal, child healthcare clinic in Abaji to begin operations in Nov.

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Clinic
By Temitope Ponle
Abaji, FCT, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) A modern Maternal and Child Health Centre built with the support of Japanese Government in Abaji Community, FCT, would start operations in November.

President of the Brethren in Nigeria, (a Religious organisation),  Rev. Joel Billi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the side line of the inauguration and handover of the clinic to Abaji Community, FCT.

Billi also said that a medical committee set up by from the church had begun the process of recruiting medical personnel.

“We wrote a proposal to the Japanese Embassy requesting for sponsorship of the project to build the healthcare facility. The Japanese Government made available about 16 million naira for the project from the inception, minus staffing.

“Medical personnel would be recruited; we have plans to recruit medical doctors, but we are going to make use of visiting doctors come from time to time,” he said.

He said that by next week, recruitment will start and by the first week of November, the hospital would have taken off completely, as equipment provided would be put in place to ensure the smooth running of the hospital.

He further said that a committee comprising the church, the community and the local government would be set up to ensure proper and efficient management of the facility.

He expressed gratitude to the Japanese Government for its contributions to grassroots projects in the country.

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, who spoke earlier, reiterated that the Japanese Government had supported 152 projects with $10.4 million since 1998 in various sectors in the country.

Kusaoke was represented by the Medical Attache of the Japanese embassy, Mr Yoshiharu Furuichi.

The envoy said “promoting resilient health system” was one of Japan’s priority areas identified at the at sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

“In the project for the construction of Gbogbodo Maternal and Child Health Centre, we are handing over a medical centre, a block of toilets and bathrooms, several medical equipment and a borehole.

“I believe that these provisions will contribute to better access to medical services and hygienic water supply in Abaji,” he said.

The projects are being implemented under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.

The project is designed to provide financial grant assistance to non-profit organisations and local government that implement development projects at the grass-roots level in the country. (NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

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Defilement

By Deborah Akpede

Lagos, Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday slammed N500, 000 bail on a trader, Ahmed Ayanyemi, 43, for alleged defilement of a-six-year-old girl.

The Magistrate, Mr T.A Elias, granted the accused bail after he pleaded not guilty.

Elias, however, ordered that the accused should produce two sureties as part of the bail conditions.

He adjourned the case to Nov. 29 for mention.

Ayanyemi, who resides at Ayobo area of Lagos, is facing a-two-count charge of indecent treatment of a child and defilement.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Rapheal Donny, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 19 at his residence.

He said that the accused unlawfully had canal knowledge of his neighbour’s six-year-old daughter.

“The accused inserted his manhood into the private part of his co-tenant’s daughter,’’ he alleged.

Donny said that the accused invited the victim into his room to watch television and thereby carried out his evil act in the process.

“The accused invited the victim to his room and started romancing her and later inserted his manhood into her vagina,’’ he said.

The prosecutor told the court that the victim’s guardian thereafter noticed some blood stain on her body.

The offences contravened Sections 135 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 137 provides life imprisonment for offenders while Section 135 provides seven years jail term. (NAN)

DOA/DEB/YEMI

Edited by Debo Oshundun

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju