Blog

NAN-H-9
SON
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Mr Sunday Badewole, the Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Osun, has described importation of substandard goods into Nigeria as an integral part of corruption that should be tackled.

Badewole told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo that importation of substandard goods was “stealing with style’’.

“By importing substandard goods, it means you want to defraud the people, and when you defraud people of their money, it is part of corruption.

“It is stealing with style, and it must be reduced to the barest minimum in our society.”

Badewole decried the influx of substandard products through the nation’s porous borders.

He said that SON would not relent on the enforcement of standards and standardisation of products in the markets.

The coordinator said that the organisation would organise a public enlightenment workshop for importers and consumers on the need to avoid buying and selling fake products.

Badewole said that the organisation was already collaborating with the state government on the formation of “Standards Club’’ in both primary and secondary schools in the state.

The SON coordinator said that the club would be a forum to engage and educate youths on the ethics, values and virtues of standards in products.

Badewole said that it would assist them as adults to know the danger of importing substandard goods.

“The real change must begin with the young ones and that is why we are taking the campaign on standard and standardisation to schools.” (NAN)
VE/DUA/YMU/GOK
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Olagoke Olatoye
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NAN-H-4

School

Dutse, Oct, 24, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Takur Adau community in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa have appealed to the State University Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to construct a primary school in the area.

Making the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Dutse, they said their children had to trek long distance to attend schools in other communities

One of the residents, Hajiya Maryam Umar, said that there was  ‘’no single public primary school’’ in the area, adding that children from the community had to trek long distance to attend classes in  a town called Kazama.

She explained that the establishment of primary school in their community would increase pupils’ enrollment and enhance the level of literacy among children in the locality.

Another resident, Abubakar Sani, said that providing primary school in the area would enable their children acquire necessary knowledge and skills that would guide their lives.

“We are demanding for primary school in the area to improve the socio-economic wellbeing, security and education of our children.

“We believe that Gov. Badaru will do it for us, since he categorically said that education is number one priority of his administration.

“So, we want the governor to prove his words by establishing a primary school in Takur Adua,” he said.

Also complaining, another resident, Ahmad Muhammad said although there were private schools in the community, such schools were not affordable to majority of parents who are poor.

“So, providing public school will definitely increase the number of children that will attend schools in the area,” he said. (NAN)

MNB/DUA/ASH
Edited by Dada Ahmed
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Community in Osun lauds NESREA for its intervention
NAN-H-8
Community
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct.24, 2016(NAN) The Lapeke Community of Owode-Ede in Osun has commended the National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for its intervention in a crisis with MTN.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the community has been at the loggerheads with MTN over the environmental hazard caused by an electricity generating set at the MTN base station in the community.
Speaking with NAN on Monday, the Secretary of the Landlords Association in the community, Mr Ayinde Richard, lauded NESREA for its intervention.

Richard also commended the Federal Government for establishing an agency like NESREA to protect the lives of Nigerians from environmental hazards.

The secretary particurlarly thanked the NESREA Coordinator in the state, Mr Muhammad Maike, and his team for their professional and exemplary role in resolving the crisis.

“We are grateful to NESREA for their urgent intervention in settling the rift between our community and MTN amicably and the Osun Police command for ensuring the peace,” he said.
Some members of the community have also pledged to maintain the peace and abide by the terms of the agreement as worked out by the agency.
NAN recalled that in 2014, the generating set at the MTN base station in the area was discovered to be polluting the air and was environmentally hazardous which caused an agreement between MTN, NESREA and the community to stop the usage of the generating set.
The community, however, alleged that the generating set was brought back to the station on Thursday, October 20, which forced the residents to prevent the truck that carried the generating set and other items from getting to the station. (NAN)
DOO/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-30

Judges

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Mr Jonathan Taidi, a former Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Minna Branch, on Monday said there was no basis for condemning the Department of State Security Service (DSS) over recent arrest of judges.

Taidi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the DSS acted within the realm of the law.

He challenged those criticizing the action, to show any court order which declared the DSS action illegal.

He explained that from information available in public domain, the DSS obtained valid search warrants before conducting the search on the judges’ premises.

“Why are we condemning the DSS when they are in possession of valid search warrants,” he queried.

The former NBA chairman stressed that the affected judges have a moral burden to establish their innocence before members of the general public.

Taidi insisted that the judges must strive to defend their reputation and integrity, so as to insulate the judicial institution from ridicule.

He advocated for the strengthening of disciplinary mechanism, to enhance transparency in judicial service.

The urged judges to be transparent and ensure fair and just determination of cases, to restore confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary. (NAN)
AAG/MO/MZA

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Edited by Morayo Omolade/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-3

Animals

Bauchi, Oct 24, 2016 (NAN) A Public Health Expert in Bauchi, Dr Alkasim Ibrahim, has expressed concerned over the increase in the number of people rearing animals in their homes with little or no  concern for public health.

Ibrahim, who specialized in veterinary medicine,  stated this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.

“Zoonotic disease is a disease that can be transferred from animals to humans and is caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. These diseases are very common.

“Diseases such as Avian influenza, Brucellosis, Ringworm and Animal Influenza, among others,’’ he said.

According to him, such diseases are a threat to public health if not contained appropriately, can spread rapidly where animals and humans co-exist closely.

He said that apart from the issue of threat to personal health, some of the animals kept at home were not meant to be caged but were supposed to move freely, adding that restricting them was also a violation of  animal welfare rights.

He therefore advocated for a change in the culture of rearing domestic animals in homes, especially where the spaces were tight.

Ibrahim reminded people of  the needs to wash or sanitize their hands after coming in contact with animals.

He also called on members of the public to inculcate the habit of taking their animals to veterinary clinics as soon as they noticed unusual behaviour.(NAN)

AE/ASH/ASH

Motor park clash: Police arrest two suspects in Minna

NAN-DS-1

Fight

By Aminu Garko

Minna, Oct. 24, 2016( NAN) The Police Niger have arrested two suspects in connection with a misunderstanding between two transport unions at the Abdulsalam Abubakar Motor Park, Minna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the squabble, which Occurred on Oct.22, resulted to the death of one person.

The fight happened between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and their counterparts of the Road Transport Employers  Association of Nigeria.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Bala Elkaina, confirmed the arrest in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna.

Bala said investigation into the fracas had commenced, and that the command would ensure diligent prosecution of the culprits. (NAN)
AAG/AMY/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-28
SEMA
By Awaulu Yusuf
Birnin Kebbi,  Oct. 24 2016 (NAN) The Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said it will collaborate with the state fire service department to control and manage emergency situations.

The SEMA Executive Chairman, Alhaji sanin Dododo, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria of (NAN)in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

He said the agency and the fire fighting department would commence aggressive enlightenment on how to avert fire and other relevant disasters,, adding that this would avert unnecessary loses.

Dododo warned smokers who threw it on the streets, and stressed that such unwholesome attitudes could cause fire outbreak.

He said in view of the harmatan season that was fast approaching , the general public need to be cautioned against handling of flammable items. (NAN)
BKD/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

1. Oyo State Government commences certification of building plans.
2. The trial of Prof. Benjamin Ogunbodede, former Director of IAR&T, Ibadan, over an alleged N115 million fraud continues at Federal High Court, Ibadan.
3. The management of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, addresses newsmen ahead of the commencement of activities to mark its 2016 convocation ceremony.
4. Technical session of 4th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology begins in Kaduna.
5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs marks 2016 UN humanitarian Day.

   5. Japanese Embassy to hand over healthcare facility to Abaji Area council.

6. All Progressives Congress National Working Committee meets in Abuja.
7. Matches hold in FCT Super League with State House FC playing Beautiful Tours FC and Police Machine FC playing  NYSC FC.

The Nigerian Air Force commences its 2016 Sports Festival.

8. The Chief of Army Staff continues tour of Army formations in the South-South region.
9. ‎The President, National Association of Micro Finance Banks meets with stakeholders in the industry in Abuja.
10. An FCT High Court, Gudu, continues hearing in a land dispute between Freeman Global Link and the Minister of FCT.
11. Supreme Court to hear a murder appeal filed against the State by Terlumen Gibi. (NAN)

NAN-H-2
Retraining
Birnin Kebbi, Oct 24, 2016 (NAN) The Kebbi Government has expressed its commitment to the training and retraining of teachers to upgrade their qualities and skills in core subjects.

The Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Magawata Aliero, made this known at the commencement of a five-day workshop for 500 secondary school teachers in Birnin  Kebbi on Monday.

Aliero said the training would focused on techniques and methodology of teaching of five core subjects, English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology for greater performance.

He urged the participants to concentrate on the training and utilise the knowledge acquired positively in classrooms, while promising that government would reward exceptional performance and sanction laxity and indolence.

Aliero said that the state government would not relent in building the capacity of its teachers.

The Kebbi government had voted N3.6 billion for construction and rehabilitation of schools and N86 million for training and retraining of teachers. (NAN)
BKD/|OFN
Edited By Felix Nwadioha

NAN-S-15

Champions
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa were on Sunday crowned winners of the 2016 CAF Champions League after a 3-1 aggregate defeat of former champions Zamalek SC of Egypt in Alexandria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new champions lost 0-1 in the second leg clash, but they benefitted from a 3-0 first leg advantage earned a week earlier.

It was sufficient to earn South Africa their second club continental title, after Orlando Pirates’ win in 1995, silencing the home crowd at the El Borg Arab Stadium.

It was a lively start to the final clash that saw Zamalek doing a lot of running and piling a lot of pressure on the Mamelodi Sundowns’ defence.

Sundowns were however quite comfortable sitting back and allowing the hosts pile on the pressure, while they relied on counter-attacks.

Goalkeeper Denis Onyango however did well to calm the nerves of his side in the opening minutes of the pulsating encounter.

The Ugandan indeed established himself as one of the best on the continent as he pulled off several vital saves for Sundowns to keep scores goalless in the first 20 minutes.

But relentless pressure by Zamalek saw Onyango being replaced by Wayne Sandilands in the 28th minute after picking up an injury.

Sandilands who was playing arguably the biggest game of his career made some top saves of his own to keep scores 0-0 at the end of the first half.

The second half began like the first as Zamalek had a greater percentage of ball possession, but Sundowns’ defence held firm until about 30 minutes left on the clock.

Sundowns’ defence gave in to Zamalek’s pressure after Nigerian striker Stanley Ohawuchi hammered home a low shot from long range in the 64th minute.

Goalkeeper Sandilands should have done better, with the ball slipping in underneath his gloves.

The Egyptians continued to pile wave after wave of pressure as the game wound down.

The South Africans nevertheless calmly held on for a famous 3-1 aggregate win to be crowned African champions.(NAN)

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)