Blog

NAN-H-35

Security

By Sunday Sunday

Lafia, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nasarawa State Command, has shut down two private security outfits for operating illegally in the state.

Lawan Basir-Kano, the Nasarawa State Commandant of NSCDC made this disclosure in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Lafia.

The State Commandant listed the names of these companies to include, Nigid Guards Limited (NGL) and Scott-Brain Global Security Services (SGSS).

He explained that NGL was shut down for not renewing its licence while SGSS was not even registered at all by the NSCDC, as a private security outfit.

“There were also other private companies that were shut down but had been reopened when their managements provided proofs of registration and renewal,” he added.

He directed the Divisional Officers in the 13 Local Government Areas and 18 Development Areas to ensure that no illegal private security outfit is allowed to operate in the area.

“We cannot close our eyes and do nothing about situations, where illegal groups hide under private security outfits to commit all manner of crimes and extort money from unsuspecting youths,” he said.

He added that in line with the directive from the headquarters, the command had deployed personnel in relevant areas to protect critical national infrastructure and assets.

Lawan Basir-Kano, therefore, urged the public to be more vigilant and cooperate with the NSCDC and feed it with relevant information on any suspicious person, movement or activities for prompt action. (NAN)

SDJ/GOM/YEMI

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

o

NAN-H-15
Beating
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Police on Monday arraigned a 41-year-old businessman, Olawunmi Oladele, at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly fighting and beating two policewomen.

Oladele, residing at Fagba area of Lagos, is being tried for breach of peace and assault.

The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 12 at Iju in Agege, near Lagos.

He alleged that the accused and one other person now at large, unlawfully assaulted two policewomen Insp. Patricia Okhide and Sgt. Funmilayo Adeamo, fighting and beating them while they were performing their lawful duties.
Nwosu told court that the accused allegedly obstructed the complainants from arresting one Mrs Kemi Saka now at large.
“The complainants were controlling traffic when they arrested Saka for blocking the road with her car and prevented other road users to have right of way.

“They ordered Saka to follow them to the station but the accused who was only a passerby, stopped and interrupted, telling Saka not to obey their instructions.

“In the process, Saka escaped with her car and the accused was arrested but he resisted arrest and was beating and fighting the police women in order to avoid arrest.”
Nwosu said the offences contravened Sections 166 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The section 172 prescribes four-year jail term for offenders if found guilty.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr A.A. Adesanya, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Adesanya adjourned the case till Dec. 7 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/KOO/SN
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Silas Nwoha

NAN-HE-11

Manifest

Dutse, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Board of Internal Revenue has warned commercial drivers in the state to comply with the directive on the use of the newly introduced passengers manifest or face the consequences.

Alhaji Salisu Sani, Coordinator of Road Taxes in the board, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.

“Commercial drivers should immediately comply and begin to use the new passengers manifest.

 “Any driver that fails to comply will have himself to blame for whatever action we may take against him.

 “This is because the policy was introduced to ensure safety and security of passengers and goods,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the Jigawa government had on May 26 introduced the use of passengers’ manifest in all motor parks in the state.

Sani told NAN that proper documentation of passengers and vehicles would help to protect lives and properties of motorists and other road users, as well as ease transportation.

He said that the policy was introduced in order to get accurate information of passengers leaving various motor parks across the state.

 “Proper information of all passengers and vehicles will help us and other safety agencies to easily identify passengers, vehicles and their owners in case of accident,’’ Sani said.

 According to him, the effort will also curb crimes and help in other emergency situations across the state.

He explained that the manifest was also introduced to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

“These drivers not using the passenger’s manifest are not doing us good, and the board frowns at that.

“This is because their action will be affecting our revenue generation for the state,” he said.

The coordinator advised passengers to always patronise recognised motor parks and ensure they fill the manifest for their safety. (NAN)

MNB/GOM/SOA      

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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Oluwole Sogunle

Ondo 2016: Akeredolu will pay workers salary arrears in 6 months – APC
NAN-H-14
Akeredolu
By Tayo Ikujuni
Lagos, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The All Progressives Party (APC) in Ondo State says it will pay the backlog of unpaid workers’ salaries within six months if elected.
Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

Adesanya said that Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the party’s candidate in the Nov. 26 governorship election, had a meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state where he promised that he would not retrench workers.
Adesanya assured that APC government in the state would also pay all pension arrears within six months of assumption of office.

NAN reports that workers and pensioners in the state are being owed six months salaries and other entitlements.
“Considering the suffering of the people due to non-payment of salaries and pensioners’ entitlements, Akeredolu has resolved, with the party leadership, to declare a state of emergency on welfare of pensioners and workers in the state.

“You will recall that workers in the state are owed over six months salaries at a stretch for almost two years now and pensioners have not been paid their entitlements for almost two years now,’’ he said.
Adesanya decried the hardship and suffering the workers and pensioners were subjected to, saying that many workers had died in the process of waiting for their entitlements.

The APC spokesperson said that aside from regular payment of salaries and allowances, APC government would ensure periodic training and retraining of workers to enhance productivity and efficiency.
“Akeredolu always feel the pains when he sees pensioners and workers going through avoidable sufferings due to gross neglect and abandonment due to lack of vision on the part of the state government and its agencies.
“Akeredolu and leadership of the party have therefore resolved to alleviate the sufferings of workers and pensioners by ensuring prompt payment of their emoluments.
“This is to avoid the embarrassing situation of “work but no pay” situation that has enveloped our state for months.
“Even today (Monday), Akeredolu met with leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state and assured them that the welfare of workers in the state is paramount to his administration.
“Akeredolu also promised local government workers of transparency and accountability in the third tier of government and also to complete all meaningful projects of past governments in the state.

“The APC candidate, who was received by the state president of NULGE, Chief Wunmi Aniayewu, also pledged that his administration will not be vindictive and will not retrench any worker in the state civil service’’.

He said that Akeredolu’s wealth of experience as a former attorney general and commissioner for justice in the state and a former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) placed him above other contenders in the election. (NAN)
IKU/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

LG boss wife advises women to shun self medication

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Medication
Kafanchan (Kaduna) Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The wife of the Interim Chairman, Jaba Local Government Area, Mrs Catherine Kure, on Monday advised mothers to desist from self medication and always patronise health facilities.

Kure gave the advice at the flag off of polio immunisation in Daddu District of the area.

She said that self medication was counter productive as it may lead to complications and death of patients.

“It is important to get every case of illness diagnosed by relevant medical personnel before drugs are prescribed to avoid wrong application of drugs,” the wife of the chairman said.

Kure appealed to nursing mothers to adhere to exclusive breast feeding for the minimum of six months after delivery, to enhance the health status of the new born.

In his speech, Chairman of the local council, Mr Ben Kure, urged the residents to allow their children and wards under five years, to be immunized.

Earlier, the council’s Director, Primary Health Care, Mrs Esther Lat, urged mothers and care givers to allow their children to be immunised.

According to her, women are the worst affected in the event of any outbreak of diseases including polio.

Lat called on them to maintain high sanitary standard, to rid themselves of communicable diseases.

The State Technical Facilitator, Nafisat Abdulkadir, who also spoke at the event, described children as a blessing from God, and deserve to be given proper attention to secure their future. (NAN)

MGK/AOS/MZA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-HE-2

Project

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Two capital market operators on Monday urged the Federal Government to finance the country’s infrastructure projects through the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to boost the economy.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the government should finance medium and long term projects through the capital market for infrastructure development.

Mr Sola Oni, the Chief Executive Officer, SOFUNIX Investment and Communications Ltd., Lagos, said that the nation’s capital market had not been adequately utilised.

He stated that the capital market had the potential to accelerate the development of the economy.

Oni said that the major problem of the market was liquidity, adding that the government should generate the needed liquidity from the capital market for growth.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., Lagos, said that the capital market might rebound this week due to positive earnings by firms, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Omordion also called on investors to combine technical and fundamental analysis in making investment decisions to avoid unnecessary losses in the capital market.

NAN reports that the market indices last week dropped by 0.95 per cent due to profit-taking.

The market capitalisation lost N91 billion or 0.95 per cent to close at N9.478 trillion compared with N9.569 trillion posted in the previous week.

Also, the All-Share Index, which opened at 27,861.03 shed 264.21 points or 0.95 per cent to close at 27,596.82.

Cadbury topped the losers’ chart in percentage terms by 16.21 per cent or N2.54 to close at N13.13 per share.

It was trailed by Glaxosmithkline Consumer with a loss of 14.19 per cent or N2.61 to close at N15.78, while A.G Leventis dipped by 12.90 per cent or 12k to close at 81k per share.

Also, Caverton led the gainers’ table for the week in percentage terms by 13.16 per cent or 10 kobo to close at 86k per share.

NEM Insurance followed with a gain of five per cent or 4k to close at 84k, while Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals appreciated by 4.88 per cent or 4k to close at 86k per share.

In all, a turnover of 674.72 million shares worth N7.66 billion was exchanged by the investors in 12,290 deals last week.

This is against 1.16 billion shares valued N9.25 billion traded in 14,992 deals in the preceding week.

The Financial Services sector led the activity chart with 495.992 million shares, which was
valued N2.767 billion traded in 6,522 deals.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with a total of 80.89 million shares
worth N95.21 million, transacted in 536 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Construction/Real Estate sector with a turnover of 32.48 million shares which was valued N18.49 million, achieved in 70 deals. (NAN)
JNC/JI/YEMI
(Editing by Joseph Idika)

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-6

Infrastructure

By Mohammed Adam

Gulak (Adamawa), Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Chairman of  Madagali Local Government Council in Adamawa, Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed, on Monday solicited for government’s intervention over the poor state of   infrastructures in the area.

Muhammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gulak, the council’s headquarters, that the Federal Government needed to assist in rehabilitating facilities damaged by Boko Haram insurgents.

NAN recalls that the local government is one of the several areas in Adamawa  taken over by the insurgents but was later liberated by security forces.

He said that government facilities like schools, hospital and markets, among others, were no longer functioning.

“Gulak town, the headquarters of the local government, is about 15 km from Sambisa forest. the den of the insurgents.

“The destruction of schools, health facilities, markets, houses, places of  worship and community civic centre, is beyond imagination.

“The council secretariat has been completely vandalised and there is no single infrastructure left,’’ he said.

He expressed worries that bridges along federal roads that linked the area to other parts of the state and neighbouring Borno, had all been destroyed.

The council boss said that insurgency had crippled all economic activities in the area, adding that life was very difficult for the returnees. (NAN)
AMA/AIB/ASH

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Benin-Lagos highway shutdown as market women protest

NAN-H-31

Protest

Benin, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Protesters on Monday blocked the Uselu/Ugbowo section of the Benin-Lagos highway over plans by Egor Local Government Area of Edo to relocate traders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters, under the aegis of Uselu Market Women Association, were resisting the directive to move to lock-up stores built by the council.

The women, displaying placards, blocked both sides of the highway, preventing motorists from continuing with their trips.

Some of the women said the N1.2 million charged for the stalls was too expensive for them, especially given the type of businesses most of them do.

The women said their problem was compounded by the action of the local council, which commenced the removal of their make shift shops on Monday.

Mrs Celena Okon, one of the market women, described the council’s action ”as an act of wickedness”, in view of the current economic situation in the country.

“What am I selling that you will force me to pay over a million naira for a single store? I believe they should consider the worth of our businesses individually.

“Where do you expect a woman who sells only crayfish or tomatoes to get such a ridiculous amount of money to pay, when in actual fact most are in dire need of additional funds to grow their businesses,” Okon said.

Another market woman, Mrs Imade Osifo, who described the situation as pathetic, said their decision to barricade the highway was for the world to know what they were going through.

She said, “They want to force us to go into the stores and we have told them that we cannot afford the stores; that is why they are destroying our businesses.”

Mrs Osifo also alleged that the council was ”insensitive to them”, especially against the backdrop of the different fees levied to allow them do business in the market.

“When the plan to construct these lock-up stores came up, they (Council) told us that the prices will be pocket friendly, especially to some of us involved in petty trading.

“But what do we have now, N1.2 million for a store is a price that most of us cannot afford; there is no way many of us can afford that now.

“Even if the country’s economy was okay, how do you expect a woman who sells only salt and Maggi to generate such,” Osifo asked.

All efforts to get authorities of Egor local council to comment on the situation proved abortive, as the Council’s Head of Service was said to be unavailable.

When contacted on telephone, the Council’s spokesman, Mrs Prisca Ebvadiaro, said she was not in the position to comment on the matter.

“I cannot speak on this; there is a committee that has been set up and as such, I cannot speak on it,” Ebvadiaro said.

NAN reports that as at the time of filing the report, several motorists were stranded on the highway while other commuters have resorted to trekking to get to their destination.

NAN also reports that the women resisted attempts by the police to get them off the road. (NAN)
ESI/HAS/MZA
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Edited By Hajia Sani and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Ember months: Coordinator of special marshals in Edo urges motorists to comply with traffic laws
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Traffic
By Kevin Okunzuwa
Benin, Oct.24, 2016 (NAN) Mr Friday Ekhator, the Edo State Coordinator of Special Marshals of FRSC, has called on all road users to comply with highway regulations to stay alive during the ember months.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ember months are the last four months of the year.
Ekhator made the appeal in Benin on Monday while speaking with journalists on the programme of activities of his members during the ember months.
He said the call became imperative because of the increased vehicular activities on the roads during the festive periods when drivers were always in a hurry.
“It is this unnecessary haste and disregard for traffic laws that are responsible for major road crashes.
“The problem we still face is that many road users do not obey regular and special marshals when we try to stop and caution them.
“They feel that stopping for us will always result in punitive measures to them, but it is not all stoppages that culminate in bookings.
`Most times we stop them, we educate them on the proper use of the roads and the need to put their vehicles in order.
“They should learn to stop and listen to whatever the road managers have to tell them. We want them to drive and stay alive. It is for them and it will help them,” he said.
Ekhator also commended members of the voluntary arm of the corps in the state for their dedication and commitment to duty, which he said, had helped to reduce road crashes.
He said that the FRSC recently held a retreat for special marshals ahead of the busy ember months in Edo, being a transit corridor.
“The essence of the retreat is for us to meet and brainstorm on the way forward on the ember months’ challenges.

“We educated all special marshals on how to comport themselves on the roads and how to address situations they are faced with while on duty on Nigerian roads,” he said.
The state coordinator said the effectiveness of special marshals had resulted in the reduction of road crashes in the state.
He said that weekly road auditing and analysis showed that road crashes and obstructions had been on steady decline.
“Activities of my men have been encouraging.
“In spite of their tight schedule at their various places of work, they are still able to meet up with national patrol days and other state and national assignments,’’ he said. (NAN)
KOO/TA

NAN-H-5

Women

Dutse, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government on Saturday said it spent N6.92 million to train 363 women in various income-generating trades in the state.

Alhaji Muhammad Mujaddadi, the Special Assistant to Gov. Muhammad Badaru on Economic Empowerment, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.

Mujaddadi said that the training was sponsored by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

He explained that 108 women were trained in Beads-Making and were given N20,000.00 each as seed capital to set up their own businesses.

The special assistant added that another set of 108 of women were trained in Stone Work and Embroidery and were also given N25,000.00 each as seed capital.

According to him, 147 women received training in Spices-Making, and were given N15,000.00 each to establish their own businesses.

Mujaddadi said that additional 250 women had been identified for training in leather works (bags and shoes making) and poultry.

He pointed out that the gesture was to develop the capacities of women in entrepreneurship and make them self-reliant economically.

“The gesture is to enable the beneficiaries  set up their own businesses, become self-reliant and employers of labour.

“It is also to empower the women to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their families, communities and the state.

“Women will be accorded special attention considering the level of their vulnerability in the society,’’ he said. (NAN)

MNB/ASH/ASH