Blog

NAN-H-38
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Monday morning.

NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued on Sunday in Abuja by its Central Forecast Office also predicted partly cloudy conditions over the northern part of the region.

It said that there are prospects of isolated thunderstorms over southern Abuja, Minna, Bida, Lokoja and lafia in the afternoon and evening with maximum temperatures of 28 to 33 degrees Celsius.

The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy conditions over the entire inland and southwest coast with isolated cases of rains over the southeast coast during the morning hours.

It also predicted localised thunderstorms over the inland and the coast during afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 32 to 33 degrees Celsius.

According to the prediction, the northern states will experience sunny and hazy conditions over the extreme north in the morning and afternoon hours with maximum temperatures of 33 to 38 degrees Celsius.

“Sunny to hazy conditions are anticipated over the extreme northern parts of the country.

“Prospects of isolated thunderstorms over the high ground areas of the central states and southern cities are anticipated in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted. (NAN)
OYS/AK/AEA
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-37
Examination
By Mateen Badru
Lagos, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet, has warned officers that would be promoted to the rank of Major to desist from cheating during their promotion examination.

The GOC gave the warning on Sunday to the officers who are Captains and participating in the practical promotion examination at 192 Battalion in Owode-Yewa, Ogun.

“Your generation is a generation of technology and this has always been used for cheating.

“I will never condone any form of cheating. If you pass, pass honourably and if you fail, fail honourably.

“As an officer, you still have another chance if you fail but if you feel you can cheat during examination, I will not have any room for that so you will be shown the way out.

“I will write a report about you and recommend that you leave the system because if you are a cheat, you have no integrity and you cannot aspire to grow up to be a General,’’ he said.

Edet said frowned against any officer being bullied by the directing staff, adding that it could affect candidates psychologically which might lead to their failure.

“I do not expect that any officer seated here should be bullied by any directing staff because I am not a part of bullying.

“I expect the directing staff to guide the officers because you have been selected based on your integrity and so you should be fair to these candidates.

“I will not tolerate or want to hear any issue of an officer being witch-hunted or made a scapegoat for whatever reason,’’ he said.

Edet, however, wished the candidates the best of luck in the examination and added that it was an important stage in their career.

“I don’t want you to entertain any fear as long as you have prepared for the examination but if you have not prepared, then you have reasons to blame yourself.

“This is important not only being promoted from Captains to Majors but also to test your capacity to be able to interpret and translate your commander’s intentions and concept of operation.

“So this examination is to assess you on these basic things that is expected of you as a tactical level commander and how you can apply it to the real world that is the battlefield,’’ he said.

The GOC added that 192 battalion was chosen for the examination because of the serene environment to enable the officers concentrate and do well.

The President of the examination panel, Brig.-Gen. Peter Dauke, while addressing the officers said that their performance would determine their progress in the Nigerian Army.

“I advise you to treat the examination with all the seriousness and determination it deserves.

“Have no fear because we are not here to fail you, on the contrary, you are the ones to determine your fate by showcasing the level of preparation, confidence and composure in your respective presentations.

“All the senior officers who are here are either team leaders or directing staff to guide you to succeed in this examination,’’ he said.

Dauke added that 129 Captains were drawn from various formations to partake in the examination for promotion to the rank of Majors.

He also said that their success should not be obtained through fraudulent means. (NAN)
BOM/AAB/PDE
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(Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-10
Mourinho
By Victor Okoye
London, Oct. 23, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester United’s Coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that his team started badly which cost them an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Chelsea.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that goals from Pedro Rodriguez, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’golo Kante ensured that Mourinho was humiliated on his return to Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho, who spoke to reporters at the end of the match, said: “It started badly after a few seconds. We are close to the 1-1 and after another defensive mistake and it is 2-1.

“You come with a strategy, you cannot concede a goal in the way we did. We were coming to have an offensive approach, we wanted to create chances, and we showed that after the 1-0.

“The second and the third were counter-attack goals. If we score a goal like we almost did for the 2-1, the game would be different.

“It is one of those days when you give the advantage to opponents by doing nothing. We made incredible defensive mistakes, individual mistakes and you pay for that.

“In terms of points, we got zero points, we lose three points. We are six points from the top, three from the top four; we now need to win matches.

“We need to win our matches now, which are not easy, we need to win to close that gap, after these last three matches, we made two out of nine, we now need points,’’ he said.

Responding to the way he was greeted by the fans, Mourinho said: “It was fine; I was not expecting anything different here. The crowd behaved in a normal way’’. (Reuters/NAN)
VO/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-9

Players

By Victor Okoye

London, Oct. 23, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea Manager, Antonio Conte on Sunday, said his players deserve commendation for the way they played against Premier League rivals Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to reporters after the match Conte said: “I am pleased with the performance, we started well, moved the ball quickly, created chances to score the goal.

“I see the commitment in training and the players deserve this. We are improving, we must continue to work, only through the work we can improve.

“It is very important after the Arsenal and Liverpool defeats. It was important to understand our mission. We must look to Wednesday against West Ham and prepare for that,” he said.

On why he was urging the fans to cheer on towards the end of the game, he said: “I was listening to the supporters of Manchester United, always supporting their team and I was asking my team to do a clap for my players.

“All the players deserve this clap,” he said. (Reuters/NAN)

VO/YAZ

Iheanacho saves ManCity’s blushes; Mourinho sees blues at Stamford Bridge

NAN-S-8

Iheanacho

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) Kelechi Iheanacho on Sunday, scored a much needed equalizer for Manchester City as they returned to the summit of the English Premier League (EPL).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match played at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, had 54,000 spectators in attendance.

City lacked aggression and tempo in the opening 45 minutes, allowing an organised Southampton side to contain them and then burst forward on the break.

It was thus not surprising that the visitors took the lead in the 27th minute after John Stones’ sloppy pass allowed Nathan Redmond to round Claudio Bravo and slot in.

City improved after being booed off by some home fans at the break.

Pep Guardiola had to act – and he did that decisively in the 46th minute, introducing young striker Iheanacho in place of Kevin de Bruyne – City’s stand-out performer this season.

The master tactician’s move paid off in the 55th minute as Iheanacho swept in Leroy Sane’s square ball after the midfielder was found with a brilliant long ball from Fernandinho.

Iheanacho showed purpose and drive as he beat Saints defender Virgil van Dijk to Sane’s cross and prod in the equaliser.

NAN also reports that the goal was Iheanacho’s fourth in seven games played for Manchester City.

Guardiola’s side controlled the second half as they searched for a winner, but Saints keeper Fraser Forster produced splendid saves to deny Ilkay Gundogan and David Silva.

City’s inability to grab a second goal meant ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola had failed to win in five successive matches for only the second time in his managerial career.

However, the point was still enough to lift the Blues back above Arsenal and Liverpool to the Premier League summit.

Southampton stay eighth after extending their unbeaten league runs to a fifth game.

Southampton manager Claude Puel speaking to reporters after the match said: “I am satisfied and happy for my players. We defended well.”

“It is an interesting point; we can see a good solidarity for our team, good spirit and good organisation.

“We played with just two days recovery after the Inter Milan match, which is difficult and we finished the game tired. It is a good point,” he said.

The second match of Super Sunday saw Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United humbled 4-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

It only took 21 minutes for Rodriguez Pedro and Gary Cahill to spoil Jose Mourinho’s home coming, while second half goals from Hazard and Kante completed the rout.

Pedro found himself in a one-on-one situation with only the goal keeper Dea Gea after a pin-point cross from Nemanja Matic puts in a cross.

Pedro made no mistake as he cleverly rounded the keeper to score inside the first minute and put Chelsea in front.

Cahill smashed in the second from close range in the 21st minute after Eden Hazard swung in a corner from the right which Ander Herrera failed to clear.

Hazard turned from provider to goal scorer in the 61st minute after Nemanja Matic played a through ball behind the visitors’ defence.

Hazard kept his calm and dribbled past two defenders before placing the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

N’Golo Kante added a fourth goal for Chelsea after he ghosts past the Manchester United Defence once again to place the ball with a great finish into the bottom in the 70th minute.

Victor Moses, who played for 90 minutes, was excellent as he helped his team in the defence.

He also made incursions into the opponent’s defence and came close to adding his name on the score sheet on several occasions.

As the game wound down, Mourinho had his name ringing out from the rafters of Stamford Bridge but it was more in jest than respect to him as Antonio Conte urged the fans to cheer on.

NAN reports that this was Mourinho’s heaviest defeat as a Premier League manager and it came at a place where it really hurt.

It was also the second time in a Premier League game that he had seen his side conceded four or more goals.

The other was a 5-3 defeat at Spurs in January 2015. (NAN)

VO/AK/YAZ

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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Yusuf Zango

NAN-H-35
LAUTECH
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Osun House of Assembly, has commended Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi for the peaceful resolution of the joint   ownership crisis of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

A statement signed by Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, spokesperson of the assembly, said that the peaceful resolution of the crisis would enable the institution meet the aspirations of its founding fathers.

The statement was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo.

It said that the re-affirmation of the joint ownership of the institution by the two states had vindicated that peace, dialogue and tolerance is the only way to resolve crisis.

“We have always said that Oyo and Osun are creation of law and the constitution will not do anything that will contravene the same constitution over the joint ownership of LAUTECH.

“LAUTECH is also created by law and unless that law is jointly amended by the two states, none of the two states can arrogate to itself the sole ownership of the institution.

“Those fanning the ember of discord needed to be educated on this and desist from causing disharmony between the two states and their people over the institution.

“It was a privilege that the institution is located in Ogbomoso and that privilege must be properly explored by the hosting community for economic development,” the statement said.

It appealed to staff of the institution that had been on strike since the commencement of the ownership crisis to return to work in the interest of the students.

LAUTECH, which is jointly owned and funded by Osun and Oyo Government, was recently engulfed in ownership crisis due to non-payment of the staff salaries by the two states.

The crisis was resolved by Govs. Aregbesola and Ajimobi through signing of a resolution to reaffirm the joint ownership. (NAN)

VE/COA/AEA
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Edited by Constance Athekame/Archibong Asuquo

Kwara NULGE demands refund of N33. 6bn illegal deducted, state govt. denies tampering with LG fund

NAN-H-29
Refund
Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Oct 23, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), in Kwara, has demanded the refund of N33.6 billion the state Government deducted from the 16 Local Governments’ statutorily allocations for 84 months.

The NULGE State Secretary, Mr Afolabi Abayomi made the demand in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin.

He said the N33.6billion was unconstitutionally deducted by the government to pay salaries of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers.

Abayomi declared that payment of Junior Secondary school teachers was not the responsibility of the Local Governments.

He said the sum of N400million was illegally deducted from local governments’ monthly allocation since 2009.

The secretary also said the state government had failed to release the Federal Government’s contribution to local government pensioners since 2009.

He, therefore, asked the state government to henceforth desist from this illegal deduction and to also refund Federal Government’s pension contribution deducted.

Abayomi added that NULGE State Administrative Secretary (SAC) met on October 14 and came out with the decision to say no to these illegal deductions.

He said that the 16 local government areas were short changed in their September statutory allocations using LG Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC).

Abayomi said the short-changing culture was being used in favour of a “State Agency that draws salaries their statutory salary from the Local Government Allocations”.

“The SAC-in-Session wishes to stress here that the mode of the distribution of the August allocations shareable in September 2016 was unfair, bias, unconstitutional and thus rejected by the Union in Kwara State.

“SAC-in-session also resolved to withdraw from the participation in the monthly Joint Allocation Committee meeting because of the unholy activities coupled with deceitful tendencies and domineering roles of the state government,” he said.

Abayomi said that the state government should as a matter of urgency transfer state government’s technocrats posted to local government agencies to enable LG staff, who were trained, to manage such agencies as applicable in other states.

The secretary called on the state government to commence payment of Domestic Allowance to GL. 15, 16 and 17 officers at the Local Government level as it was paid to the State Civil Servants.

He implored Local Government workers in the state to remain calm even in the face of alleged unfair treatments meted on them by the state government.

Abayomi assured LG workers that NULGE National President. General Secretary and other National Officers would be visiting Kwara to assess the plights of LG workers.

Reacting to the allegation, Mr Muyideen Akorede the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Media and Publicity, said the state government doesn’t deduct money from LG.

“Funds are shared among Basic Education teachers, LGs, Pensioners, Traditional councils as prescribed by law.

“The Ahmed administration ensures this distribution is done in transparently manner on monthly basis. So there is no basis for a demand refund of that or any other figure.

“The government only proposed to take over Payment of JSS teachers in order to reduce the burden on LGs and enhance their capacity to pay workers in view of reduced allocation.

“It is ironic NULGE is using that as the basis for its illogical demand for refund. We all know allocations have dropped to all tiers of government due to drop in oil prices.

“It’s time NULGE woke up to that reality. The Ahmed administration does not tamper with LG funds,” the Governor ‘s aide told NAN. (NAN)
AUO/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-26
Training
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 100 physically challenged persons in Enugu and Anambra States have been trained on repair of mobile phones by an NGO, South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO).

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs Grace Nwobodo, made the disclosure on Sunday in Enugu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

She said that SSDO, based in Enugu, was founded to engender development in all sectors of the economy.

Nwobodo said that the organisation was moved by the increasing number of physically challenged on the streets who had taken to begging as a means of livelihood.

She said that the officials of the organisation decided to engage the physically challenged especially those of them who could not make use of their legs to take them off the streets.

She said that after the training, the beneficiaries were given startup kits to start their business.

She added that the beneficiaries were now in various markets across the two states fixing phones for their customers.

“Right now they have stopped begging people and relations for assistance; they now earn their own money and cater for themselves; some of them earn to N10, 000 a week repairing mobile phones.

“People think the physically challenged are useless; but when you work with them, you find out that they are among the most intelligent and creative,” she said.

Nwobodo said that SSDO had embarked on several programmes, including good governance empowerment for secondary school students in the South-East.

She said that under the programme, 200 students were trained on democratic norms and civic engagement.

“We decided to sensitise the youths on the need to be encouraged and willing to engage government on matters that affect their lives.

“We went round the South-Eastern states spreading the word among our young ones that civic engagement is necessary if citizens are to derive the benefits from democracy,” she said.

The executive director said it was necessary to create an open society where people should be free to express themselves and hold their elected officials accountable for their deeds or misdeeds.

She said: “we have had a lot of positive response from the students and they were excited that we empowered them in that direction.

“Our youths need to dialogue with their parents and teachers; they need to be encouraged to speak up about what is going wrong and make sure we have development in our communities.

“It is only when people begin to speak up and advocate for their rights that we will see real development.” (NAN)

EOA/AEA/AEA
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Edited by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-19
Peace
Benin, Oct. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Edo District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Dr Joel Okogele, on Sunday urged peace between the two conflicting factions of the Assemblies of God Church.

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okogele made this call at a special unity/rally service held at the district’s prayer ground in Oluku, near Benin.

At the service tagged, “Enough is Enough”, the district superintendent said that the three-year-old leadership crisis had affected the church membership and mandate – soul winning.

He added that the tussle had resulted in courts cases, constituting an embarrassment to the church.

Okogele appealed that the leadership structure of the church before the crisis be retained for peace to reign.

 “We will no longer take this; this crisis and in-fighting must stop now. We are saying enough is enough. This crisis has lingered for too long.

“Assemblies of God Church has become an object of ridicule before the public. In police stations, courts and among the public, people now see us and ask: Have you come again?

“We have even gone to Sharia Court where we are not supposed to go.

“In one of the court hearings, the judge said that if we could not listen to man, then we should take it to God. This is how far we have gone in this crisis.

“We are taking it to God because the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have at different times tried to intervene but the leadership of these bodies were rebuffed by those bent on taking over the leadership positions of the church through the back door.

“For us, Assemblies of God Church is one; we do not have two Assemblies of God. The one we know and belong to is the one under the leadership of Prof. Paul Emeka.

“Dr Chidi Okoroafor should go back to his position as the Deputy Superintendent,’’ he said.

NAN reports that, at the special unity/rally service, hundreds of the church members carried placards with various inscription, calling for peace. (NAN)
ESI/IGO
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Somalia’s “Shabaab’’ seizes third town this month after peacekeepers withdraws

NAN-F-15
Militant
Somalia, Oct. 23, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Islamist militant group al Shabaab on Sunday seized control of yet another town in central Somalia.

A militant spokesman and a local official said, It is the third city to fall to insurgents this month.

On Sunday, an Ethiopian contingent abandoned the town of Halgan in the Hiran region, allowing the group’s fighters to enter soon after, said Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s spokesman on military operations.

A military offensive launched in 2014 by AU forces and the Somali army pushed out of major strategic centres, but the insurgents, who once held sway over much of the Horn of Africa country, still control some settlements and rural areas.

The fall of Halgan was confirmed by Dahir Amin Jesow, a member of parliament from the region, who said residents were being subjected to reprisals at the hands of the insurgents.

“Each day, civilians are being beheaded over suspicion that they are government supporters,” he told journalists. “We do not have a government that is effective enough to protect our civilians.”

The reason for the peacekeepers’ withdrawal was not clear. However oficials in Ethiopia were not immediately available for comment.

Reporters say Somalia has been convulsed by instability, conflict and lawlessness since the early 1990s following the toppling of military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Propped up by the AU-mandated force known as AMISOM, Somalia’s military and central government have strengthened their grip on the country but a relentless campaign of violence by al Shabaab persists.

The group regularly attacks AMISOM’s troops, which are made up of about 22,000 soldiers and police from African nations supporting Somalia’s government and army.

Reporters say Al Shabaab aim to drive out the peacekeepers, topple Somalia’s Western-backed government and impose a strict version of Islam. (Reuters/ NAN)

Editing by Julius Enehikhuere