Blog

NAN-AE-3
Wood
Lokoja, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Mr Kayode Obayan, the Kogi West Chairman of Wood Loggers Association, has appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello to lift the ban placed on wood felling in the state.

Obayan, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Thursday.

The chairman said the ban was affecting the wood business, adding that the business was gradually becoming a thing of the past in the state.

He urged the government to reconsider its position on the ban placed on logging across the state, saying those in the business and Kogi residents had resorted to buying wood from neighbouring states.

Obayan said the ban had crippled wood businesses among his members, and called on the state government to help mitigate their suffering.

He noted that wood sold to his members from other states were now too expensive when compared to the price they were selling before in the state.

Obayan said that the ban would also drastically reduce the revenue generated by the state government on wood felling and urged the government to lift the ban.

According to him, the union would still continue to cooperate with the government and support all its laws as regard wood business, while he thanked members for their patience over time. (NAN)
WAL‎/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide
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NAN-HE-4
Cooperatives
Doma (Nasarawa State), Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Hajiya Rifkatu Jatau, the Desk Officer, Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN) in Nasarawa State, has urged women and youths to develop interest in establishing savings and cooperative societies.

Jatau gave the advice on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the activities of different cooperative societies in Doma Local Government Area of the state.

She said that the measure would go a long way in assisting Nigerians, especially women ad youths to have easy access to loan facilities to tackle poverty and enhance their welfare.

The desk officer said that rural women, youths and the physically challenged should form cooperative societies to save for “the rainy days’’.

According to her, RUFIN is funded by the Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“It works to strengthen microfinance institutions and establish linkages with financial institutions to create viable inclusive rural financial system.

“All of you are living witnesses to what the groups are doing as a result of the formation of their cooperative societies.

“Some are using their resources to produce soap, food items, and even giving loans to members and non members to tackle hardship.

“Members of the group have built houses, paid their children school fees, cater for family medical bills; embark on huge projects and investments which they cannot do as individuals.

“RUFIN does not give loans directly to rural people, but rather links poor rural households to microfinance banks to facilitate access to savings and credit facilities to better their welfare.

Also, Mrs Okoneshi Osegeba, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, commended RUFIN for educating and encouraging them to form cooperative societies to improve their welfare.

Osegeba said that formation of the cooperative societies would assist them to meet the needs of their families and contribute meaningfully to the national development. (NAN)
AKW/MO/GOK
Edited by Morayo Omolade/Olagoke Olatoye

NAN-H-46

Holiday

Benin, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Public and private offices, including banks and schools in Benin, were shut on Thursday as workers observed the public holiday declared by Edo government for the coronation of new  Oba of Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Edo government on Wednesday declared Thursday as public holiday for the coronation of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the new monarch of the ancient kingdom.

NAN reports that commercial and other activities in the city were also paralysed as major roads and streets were condoned off to allow for easy movement of guests and visitors.

Vehicular movement on roads and streets leading to Oba palace and Uruokpota, venue of the coronation, was also restricted.

Commuters in the city faced hardship as they trekked long distances to get to “free’’ areas to board buses and cabs to their destinations.

Officials of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), including special marshals, controlled traffic at various road junctions within the city while armed policemen were stationed at strategic positions. (NAN)

OOJ/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-47
Principal
Idris Ummul
Abuja, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) The police on Thursday arraigned, Samuel Patrick, a school principal, in a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for defrauding the school of N600,000.

Patrick the principal of Lukas International School, Jikwoyi , Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of misappropriation and cheating.

The Prosecutor, John Simon, told the court that Yunusa Joseph of Nyanya, Abuja, reported the matter at Criminal Intelligence Department (CID), Abuja on Oct. 10.

Simon said that the defendant dishonestly misappropriated N600,000 part of school fees for some students in the school between  2015 and 2016.

He said that the defendant directed some parents to pay the school fees to his personal account instead of the normal procedures of paying into the school account.

Simon added that the defendant diverted the money for his personal use.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened sections 308 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Patrick pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Senior Magistrate, Teribo Jim, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with a reasonable surety in like sum.

Jim also ordered that the surety must have fixed address within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the matter till Nov. 9 for hearing. (NAN)
UMD/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-DS-4
Drugs
Yola, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Adamawa Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the arrest of 20 suspects involved in hard drugs.

The state commander of the agency, Mr Yakubu Kibo, confirmed the arrest on Thursday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

He explained that 61.465 Kg of hard drugs were recovered from the suspects.

Kibo said that the suspects were arrested in a raid at Yola Abattoir and Central Motor parks.

He said that the command has commenced raid operations on suspected drug abuse joints in Yola.

“The Command arrested 20 suspects during its raid carried out to dislodge popularly known drug joints that include Yola Abattoir and Market, Jambutu Motor Parks, Madam Street and Falujah market.

“About 61.456 Kg of assorted hard drugs such as Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol 250mg, Diazepam, Rophnol, Cough syrup with codeine and extol-5 were confiscated,” Kibo said.

He called for government, traditional and religious leaders’ support in addressing the menace of drug abuse in the society. (NAN)
AMA/YMU/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-S-6
Tennis
Lagos, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) With two days left for the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championships, Nigerian players have failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the singles event of the competition’s second leg.

However, in the male doubles, only the unseeded Mohammed Mohammed and Joseph Ubon made it to the quarter-final stage before crashing out of the tournament at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Also unseeded Sylvester Emmanuel, Destiny Ford-Da Silver and Thomas Otu are other Nigerians who made it to the quarter-final stage before they also crashed out.

Similarly, the women’s doubles was very poor as Sarah Adegoke and Angel McLeod, both wild card entrants failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Aanu Ayegbusi and her partner, unseeded Aminat Quadri; Christy Nwankwo and Nigerian Russian-born Melissa Ifidezen also fell off in round one.

Meanwhile, number four seeded, Gianni Mina from France created an upset as he defeated Egypt’s Karim-Mohamed Maamoun, winning 6-1, 2-0 (retired) to berth in the semi-finals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the players, who came from 39 countries of the world, are fighting for ranking points and the 50, 000 dollars prize money in the men and women’s events.

The grand finale of the second leg will hold on Oct. 22, with the Gov. Ambode Akinwunmi of Lagos State present. (NAN)
FOE/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-14
Foods
Lagos, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), on Thursday said that bridging all gaps in the food supply system would bring positive change.

The National President, NIFST, Dr Chijioke Osuji, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that gaps like mechanisation when closed, would lead to greater output.

“The dramatic change in the economy has produced far-reaching impact both positive and negative on the food supply system in the country.

“What exists is the sharp rise in prices of foodstuff and not their unavailability.

“There is need to close the mechanical gap because most operations done by local farmers are done manually; whereas there are machines which can be employed to quicken their production,’’ he said.

Osuji said that the present economic situation in the country which people thought negative, had opened opportunities in other directions and if well-sustained would help tackle prices of things.

He cited an example of cassava and local rice farmers who had gone back to their farmlands to cultivate and produce.

Osuji said that, “If food scientists and technologists are well equipped with machines in carrying out their harvesting, peeling and processing of their farm yields, it would be a source of job opportunity for thousands of Nigerians.’’

He also called for capacity building, which he described as very expensive.

“In the food industry, for one to do capacity building that will be beneficial to the recipient, it has to be hands-on,’’ he said.

Osuji said that there was need to invest in innovations; introduce new products that would serve as substitutes; and widen the scale that would employ people in various fields of agriculture.

He advocated promotion of the professional contributions of food scientists and technologists toward the economic growth of the country.

“For the past two years NIFST has made robust adjustments to continue to position the association for sustained contributions toward achieving national food security.

“The association is now connected to the international community more than ever before with new partnerships with organisations such as the IFT of USA; Zenith International of USA; and a number of international research organisations.

“If expert members are leveraged upon in the various food value chains, they can foster the linkages that will take the profession and the agric sector to higher levels in the next few years.

“These linkages will expose investors to new technology, ingredients and markets in the country,’’ he said.

Osuji said that there were a lot of gaps to be filled and the tempo must at least be sustained or increasing, to ensure complete success.

“The economic situation in Nigeria demands that we constantly review and fine tune our strategies to escape the present recession.

“For this purpose, research needs to be intensified; timely dissemination of relevant scientific information is crucial as well as continuous training and retraining of stakeholders.

“This is very critical to ensure the successful steady export of food products.

“We must increase our share of the exports market in order to obtain the needed foreign exchange for our escape from recession,’’ Osuji said. (NAN)
CAN/FF/AJA
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Adeleye Ajayi)

Police arraign 11 suspects for alleged breach of peace in Kaduna

NAN-H-33

Arrest

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Kaduna State Police Command, on Thursday said it had arraigned 11 hoodlums alleged to have vandalised properties belonging to some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in Kaduna.

The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Aliyu Usman told the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] that the suspects were arraigned for breach of the peace and breaking into people’s houses.

He said that the suspects were arraigned before Daura Road Chief Magistrates’ Court, Kaduna on Oct. 19.

According to him, the suspects were arrested in possession of light weapons including cutlasses and sticks, and some accessories allegedly stolen from the houses vandalised by the hoodlums.

He said that the command would not allow any group of persons to take the law into their hands.

“We assure the good people of Kaduna state that we will trail all the other suspects and make sure they are prosecuted.”

NAN recalled that hoodlums had on Oct. 12 attacked residences of suspected members of the IMN in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna, and destroyed a school belonging to the group.(NAN)

TJ/MZA

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-HE-3
Divestment
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Some capital market operators on Thursday expressed mixed feelings to ExxonMobil divestment from the country’s downstream sector.

Some of the operators told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the divestment would encourage more individual marketers to embrace the Nigerian capital market.

But others attributed the divestment to unfavourable policies inherent in the country.

NAN reports that ExxonMobil, a U.S-based international oil company, on Oct. 19, divested its downstream operations in Nigeria.

The company sold its 60 per cent equity in Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc to Nipco Plc, an indigenous downstream oil and gas company.

Mallam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., said that acquisition of the 60 per cent in Mobil by an indigenous company was good for the market.

Kurfi said that being an indigenous company Nipco would not likely seek delisting from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

He stated that with the entrance of Nipco, more individual independent marketers would seek quotations on the exchange, thereby deepening the market.

Mr Sola Oni, the Chief Executive Officer, SOFUNIX Investment and Communications Ltd., described the divestment as a normal business decision.

Oni said that the existing staff of the company must be treated fairly.

“I am sure the NSE must be convinced about the motive for divestment, capability of the prospective buyer and value to the company before approval,’’ he said.

However, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said that the company’s divestment was due to unfriendly government policies.

Omordion said that corporate governance issue might be a challenge with the ownership of Nipco.

“ExxonMobil selling its 60 per cent holdings to a Nigerian company means that the company will be fully owned and managed by Nigerians.

“And other companies in that sector managed by Nigerians are dragging their feet due to management problems,’’ Omordion said.

He said that investors should be cautious in taking position in the stock for the time being.

Mr Boniface Okezie, National President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), said the divestment might be in line with American policy to pull out of the country’s downstream sector.

Okezie said that shareholders were not surprised with the divestment because the same thing happened in Texaco now MRS Oil some years ago.

He called on the new buyers to protect the interest of the minority shareholders and as well ensure good corporate governance. (NAN)
JNC/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-F-16
Migrants
Brusels, Oct. 20, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Encouraged by their success in halting a mass influx of refugees by closing Greek borders and cutting a controversial deal with Turkey, EU leaders are getting tough on African migrants too.
A Brussels summit on Thursday is expected to endorse pilot projects to pressure African governments, via aid budgets, to slow down the influx– an exodus of people across the Sahara and Mediterranean.
It also wants swift results from an EU campaign to deport large numbers who reach Italy.
“By the end of the year, we need to see results,” one senior EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Arrivals in Italy so far this year are nearly six per cent higher than the same period of 2015.
Italy received 154,000 migrants last year and this year’s figure will be similar or slightly higher.
Italy is sheltering 165,000 asylum seekers, almost three times as many as in 2014.
The buildup has accelerated since Italy’s northern neighbours clamped down on border controls.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has told EU allies that Rome can cope for now, but is worried about the future.
EU officials want to put in place tougher measures to identify illegal migrants and fly them back to Africa before2017 migration season, when thousands are expected to take to precarious boats from Libya.
“We need to clean this up and have migration compacts with African countries in place before next spring,” a senior EU official said. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/BOS Edited by Damilola Oyewole/dele bodunde