Blog

NAN-H-108

Schools

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) Malam Musa Abdullahi, a retired headmaster in Niger, on Wednesday appealed to wealthy individuals in the state to assist government in providing basic learning materials for the development of education sector.

Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that funding the education sector should not be left in the hands of government alone.

He said that providing furniture, books and physical structures would greatly assist in providing qualitative and sound education for future generations in the state.

Abdullahi also called for the re-training of teachers to enable them to acquire more knowledge to ensure academic excellence.

He appealed to parents to monitor the conduct of their children while at home so that they would turn out to be responsible adults. (NAN)

AAG/ORO/IA

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Idris Abdulrahman

Divestment of 60% Mobil Oil stake on technical reasons- NIPCO boss
NAN-HE-26
Divestment
Lagos, Oct 19, 2016 (NAN) Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy, Managing Director, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) on Wednesday said technical reasons were part of the Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) 60 per cent divestment to the company.

Venkatapathy disclosed this during a news conference in Lagos that the divestment was done in good faith to promote indigenous company like NIPCO.

NIPCO announced the acquisition of 60 per cent stake in the downstream operation of MON which was agreed on after the execution of a Sales and Purchase Agreement with Exxon Mobil.

Mobil only diverted 60 per cent interest in one of its companies because of  bankruptcy and the business of downstream business in Nigeria being for “small boys”.

“ExxonMobil are very much alike in Nigeria with concern in the upstream, midstream and lubricant blending.

“It was divested for technical reasons and we are still in partnership with Exxonmobil on lubricant and their brands.

“The brand will continue both in lubricants and fuel,’’  Venkatapathy said.

According to him, MON will continue to run as a separate, distinct and independent company from NIPCO Plc, adding that each with its own CEO that will repors to its Board of Director.

According to him, “in our usual way of attaching premium to staff welfare, Nipco shall respect the terms of all collective agreements with employees and the unions that represent them (PENGASSAN and NUPENG).

“All employees are assured of job safety as there is no plan for staff redundancies.”

On the value of the 60 per cent equity, Venkatapathy said that confidentiality clause in the agreement had forbidden him from making such disclosure.

He said that the funds secured for the 60 per cent stake were gotten from equities and loans.

“In addition to giving the employees much needed assurances on their job safety which we did today, our goal is to increase presence and efficiency by expanding MON’s retail footprint to a minimum of 300 by December 2017.

“We urged MON personnel to the new roadmaps for growth while simultaneous exploring opportunities to provide MON with additional products like LPG.

“NIPCO’s successful philosophy and track record of supporting and empowering its staff and management team will continue at MON.

“ Staff welfare and comfort will be paramount and receive priority as we forge ahead,’’ he added.

The managing director said that NIPCO would continue to maintain the Mobil brand on its retail outlets and continue to blend and sell its lubricants under branding licence(s) from Exxon Mobil.

He expressed the company’s  gratitude to Exxon Mobil for selecting NIPCO as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of MON.

“We will ensure full brand compliance with ExxonMobil’s global standards as well as rigorously sustain and follow ExxonMobil’s code of conduct/ethos and operational excellence,” Venkatapathy said. (NAN)

YO/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman
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Japan spends $10m on execution of grassroots projects in Nigeria

 NAN-H-107

Projects

Abuja, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Japanese Government says it has contributed 10.5 million dollars for the execution of 152 grassroots projects in Nigeria under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) since 1998.

According to a statement from its embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, another completed project that will contribute to maternal and child health in the FCT will be handed over to Abaji Area Council.

The Japanese Government provided 92,804 dollars under the GGP programme to a local NGO to assist in the construction of the Maternal and Child Health Care Centre located in Gbogbodo, Abaji.

The completed facility comprises a health centre, toilets and bathrooms, medical equipment, furniture and a borehole.

“The Embassy of Japan hopes that this assistance will contribute to improvement of medical services and water supply in Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory and will strengthen the amicable relationship between Japan and Nigeria.”

According to the statement, the GGP is designed to provide financial assistance to non-profit organisations and local governments that implement development projects at the grass-roots level in the country. (NAN)

TOP/EAL/OU
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Obike Ukoh

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Gov. Umahi suspends EBSU ASUU chairman, predecessor

NAN-H-103

By Chukwuemeka Opara

ASUU

Abakaliki, Oct.19, 2016 (NAN) Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has suspended the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU) chapter, Prof. Ndubuisi Idenyi.

The governor also suspended Idenyi’s predecessor, Prof. Emeka Nwakpor for alleged gross misconduct.

The governor made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abakaliki during a ‘phone-in- programme’ where members of the public asked questions about the ongoing strike by ASUU in the university.

According to the governor, both union leaders misinformed lecturers in the university on what transpired at the meeting they held with him on Monday over the strike they embarked upon.

“They politicalised the strike by misinforming the lecturers which is detrimental to the students.

“I, however, urge the lecturers to immediately call off the strike, as we will adopt the ‘no work no pay’ if they refused to heed to my call,” he said.

The governor also announced the termination of the appointment of the school’s Bursar, Mr Chris Ngwuta with immediate effect.

“I took the decision to terminate the appointment because he was re-appointed without following due process.

“He was reappointed for a second tenure by the school management without recourse to myself who is the university’s visitor and the state governor; contrary to the laws enacted by the State House of Assembly.

“When I asked the school management, they said he was only re-appointed and that the re-appointment is normally done through the school senate and management.

” I, however, disagreed with this assertion because re-appointment is also a form of appointment and since the visitor made the first appointment, he should also be informed and his accent sought for his re-appointment.

“The enabling law talks about appointment and only mentioned re-appointment once,’’ he said.

He directed the freezing of the accounts of the school until the lecturers resume duties and also announced the withholding of the government’s subventions to the university.

He, however, promised the lecturers that their agitation and demands will be looked into and fulfilled as government have already set up a committee to look into the matter,” he said.

The union embarked on the strike to press for the release of the 2014 professorial promotion and 2015 promotion of other cadres of academic staff.

The union is also protesting the slashing of their monthly salaries by the state government

RCO/OU/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-H-87

Facility

by Temitope Ponle

Abuja, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Japanese Government has concluded plan to handover a completed healthcare facility that will contribute to maternal and child healthcare in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Japanese Embassy in Abuja made this known in a statement to newsmen on Wednesday.

According to the statement the Maternal and Child Health Care Centre located in Gbogbodo, Abaji Area Council, will be handed over to the council.

The Japanese Government provided 92,804 dollar under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) to Church of the Brethren in Nigeria.

The completed facility comprises a health centre, toilets and bathrooms, medical equipment, furniture and a borehole.

“The Embassy of Japan hopes that this assistance will contribute to improvement of medical services and water supply in Abaji Area Council in the FCT and strengthen the amicable relationship between Japan and Nigeria.”

A total of 152 projects worth 10.5 million dollars have been implemented throughout Nigeria since 1998.

The GGP is designed to provide financial grant assistance to non-profit organisations and local governments that implement development projects at the grassroots level in the country. (NAN)

TOP/MO/OFN

Edited by Morayo Omolade//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-86
Remand

By Bosede Olufumni
Kano, Oct. 19,2016 (NAN) A Kano Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 22-year-old man, Abubakar Muhammad, in prison for alleged housebreaking.

Muhammad of Sauna Quarters, Kano, is being tried for alleged housebreaking, theft and mischief, contrary to sections 346,288 and 336 of the Penal Code.

Senior Magistrate Kabiru Abubakar ordered the remand and adjourned the case till Oct. 26, for further mention.

The prosecutor, Mr Junaidu Aminu, told the court that Nasiru Sa’idu, reported the matter to Dakata Police Division, on May 21.

Aminu said that on May 9,at about 10.30 a.m unknown person entered into Sa’idu’s room.

He said they made away with Shadda valued N8,000, seven pairs of jeans trouser valued N13,100 and four pairs of shirt worth N7,800, among others.

The prosecutor said the accused also set fire inside the room and burnt Carpet valued N5,500 and electrical materials worth N6,000, saying that all items were valued N75,900.(NAN)

BO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

EFCC Secures 14 convictions in ten months in South-East
NAN-DS-12
Convictions
By Angela Atabo
Abuja, Oct.19,2016 (NAN) The South-East Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu, on Wednesday said it had secured a total of 14 convictions in ten months in the zone.

A statement signed by Mr Wilson Uwujaren ,Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC in Abuja, said the commission had also recovered over N244,574,587.28.

Uwujaren said that the Zonal Head, Mr Johnson Babalola, disclosed that $955,465 USD; €10,000 and 3,588 Chinese RMB were also recovered by the office .

“Among assets forfeited is the sum of $130,750 which has been paid into the coffers of the Federal Government, ‘’ he said.

The EFCC spokesman also said that a total of 522 cases were currently under investigation, and that 36 of the cases had been concluded and charged to various courts in the region for prosecution .

“Among the cases currently being investigated by the zone was that of over N4 billion Advance Fee Fraud involving Chief Patrick Nwokike of “Let’s Partner With You” .

“Another case is the N9 billion involving one Joshua Morah (Chief executive officer of Borec Services. ‘’he said

He advised members of the public to be wary of the activities of fraudsters who disguised as poverty alleviators to fleece people of their hard earned money.(NAN)
ATAB/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-S-17

Dissolution

Kano, Oct. 19‎, 2016 (NAN) Kano State Government on Wednesday dissolved the management and board of Kano Pillars Football Club.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje announced the dissolution in Kano when he hosted Kano Pillars Basket Ball players at the Government House.

Ganduje explained that the dissolutiom of the Kabiru Baita led board was due to internal squabble and the team’s poor performance last season.‎

‎”I hereby dissolve the board and management of Kano Pillars FC due to internal squabble and poor performance”, Ganduje said.‎

‎The governor, however, assured that the club would soon be resuscitated and that government was determined to get a new board, a competent coach, as well as find good players, at whatever cost, to forge ahead.‎

‎He also directed the chairman of Kano State Sports Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, to come forward with recommendations for restoring the glory of the club.‎

Ganduje promised to support the team to retain its position as the best Basket ball team in West Africa, as they prepare for the sub-regional basketball championship.

Galadima assured that the players would use the power of sports to project the image of the state.

“We are now number one in basketball, number one in taekwondo and number three in handball.

“Sooner than later, we shall dominate all sports in appreciation of your remarkable interest in sports development”, he assured the governor.‎

‎NAN reports that four-time Nigeria champions, Kano Pillars finished in seventh position last season.‎

NAN also recalls Coach Babaganaru Muhammad resigned as head coach of the team after the last match‎ of the season. (NAN)

MNT/ACO/‎IEA
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Edited by Oluleye Abiodun/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-65
Device
By Augusta Uchediunor
Lagos, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday said it had installed speed limiters on 57,000 vehicles across the country to ensure safety on the highways.

Mrs Ojeme Ewhrudjakpor, the Deputy Corp Marshal (Operations), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Short Messaging System (SMS) codes would be adopted to verify installation of the device on vehicles.

NAN reports that FRSC began the partial enforcement of the installation of the device on commercial vehicles on Oct. 1 after overcoming initial challenges.

“We have a portal through which we monitor compliance, and once the device is installed on a vehicle, it will be uploaded on the portal.

“So, the response is good,’’ Ewhrudjakpor said.

According to her, the SMS coding system is to eliminate the need for FRSC officers to physically check installation of the device on vehicles.

“The SMS codes will be ready before we begin full enforcement of the speed limiters on vehicles.

“Instead of opening the vehicle’s bonnet to check if the device has been fitted, our enforcement officer will only input the car’s registration number to ascertain its installation status.

“We will make the short codes available to fleet owners to also check on our portal if the vendor has actually uploaded their vehicles’ data after installing the device,’’ she said.

Ewhrudjakpor said that the corps would give fleet owners, whose vehicles have factory-fitted speed limiters the opportunity to upload relevant information on the portal.

“But, we will check if the device meets the Nigerian standard and properly calibrated,’’ the deputy corps marshal said.

She also said that the corps would collaborate with various transport unions to increase compliance. (NAN)
ANU/AIB/GOK
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Olagoke Olatoye

NAN-H-99

Democracy

By Modupe Seriboh

Ibadan, Oct. 19, 2016, (NAN) Former Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’aba, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy would be doomed if ongoing constitutional amendment failed to accommodate internal democracies in political parties.

Na’aba stated this at the launch of a book, ‘Of Rusts and Gold (snippets of history)’, authored by a former member of the House of Representatives, Femi Kehinde, at the University of Ibadan of Wednesday.

According to Naaba, the obliteration of internal democracy within the political parties has caused so much damage to the nation’s polity.

“Let me assure you that unless all of us confront this serious infraction on our democracy, our nation will continue to suffer. It does not matter if we as individuals are rich or not.

“As long as members of our communities and societies are not allowed to become what they want to be through their God-given endowment, this country is doomed.”

He said that the time had come when Nigerians must recognise the importance of participating in the politics of the country.

“This is because if we must all accept democracy as a way of life, we must be familiar with what is going on.

“The essence of democracy is to have good leaders and good governance for the economic, social and political development of our country,’’ he said.

Na’aba also noted that there was danger in being passive towards the nation’s politics, cautioning that such attitude among Nigerians would lead to “our being ruled by ‘fools’ in the society’’.

“I will appeal to all of us to ensure that we set our eyes on whatever goes on in the political sphere of our country.

“The punishment for not taking part in our nation’s democracy is being ruled by the fools among us.

“If we watch and take interest in what is happening, it will go a long way in helping the country. Unless we do that, we will all be doomed,” he insisted.

Na’aba, who referred to Ibadan as headquarters of Yoruba politics, said that House of Representatives, under his leadership, did a lot to ensure that democracy survived in the country.
“Among those who supported that struggle were members from the Yoruba race. We must thank the Yoruba race for supporting the course of democracy” he said.

Dignitaries at the event were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Justice Laniran Akintola and Festus Adedayo, former Special Adviser to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, who reviewed the book. (NAN)

MAM/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika