Blog

Sacrifice one hour to pray for Nigeria, Bishop urges Nigerians

NAN-H-5

Prayers

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Martins Uzoukwu has called on Nigerians to sacrifice one hour of their time for special prayers to God, to end Nigeria’s economic recession.

“We need God intervention to holistically confront militancy, cattle rustling, insurgency, and kidnapping and in enhancing peace, progress and political stability,” he said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

He said that prayers for divine intervention would pave way for massive economic growth in the country.

Uzoukwu explained that Nigerians irrespective of their religious, ethnic and political differences should support their leaders with prayers to ensure good governance.

He advised the Federal and State governments to initiate viable policies to address poverty and unemployment in the country.

Uzoukwu said that providing jobs to unemployed youths would enhance peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and prevent restiveness.

The Bishop also advised elected representatives to fulfill their electioneering campaign promises, to enable Nigerians benefit from dividends of democracy. (NAN)
AAG/MO/MZA

===========

Edited by Morayo Omolade/Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-40
Yoruba
By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, says preaching peace and unity is the only way to guarantee progress among the Yoruba.

The Ooni made the remark while addressing newsmen at the grand finale of the annual Olojo Festival on Monday evening in Ile-Ife.

He pledged to continue to work for the unity of the Yoruba, adding that the only way to progress in life was to pursue love while promoting unity.

“Without peace and unity, there cannot be any development or achievement.

“United we stand, divided we fall; I urge peace and unity among the Yoruba. This will enable us to achieve greatly in life, thus taking us to the Promised Land,’’ he said.

The Ooni also advised the Yoruba to cherish their potentialities.

He acknowledged the support he had been receiving from various parts of the country, especially from the Yoruba.

The traditional ruler promised to modernise the festival in order to boost tourism and strengthen the community’s economy. (NAN)
EDA/FLP/OJO
===========
(Edited by Folorunso Poroye and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-39

Reinstatement

Dutse, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government has reinstated the suspended Caretaker Committee Chairman of Sule Tankarkar Local Government, Alhaji Nasidi Abdullahi.

This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Najib Umar, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Local Government Affairs on Tuesday in Dutse.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had on July 22 suspended Abdullahi and Malam Muhammad Abubakar, both political office holders, as a result of a misunderstanding between them.

Subsequently, the government set up a committee to look into the cause of the misunderstanding, which submitted its report on Aug. 5.

According to the statement, the chairman was reinstated based on the recommendations of the committee.

It quoted the state’s Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad, as saying that Abdullahi was, however, transferred to Kaugama local government to swap with Alhaji Haladu Bulama, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Kaugama council.

“The Commissioner called on the officers to continue to maintain peaceful coexistence in their respective local government areas,” the statement added.(NAN)
MNB/EAL/AMY

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-S-9
Condolence
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct., 18, 2016 (NAN) Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday condoled with the family of late Joseph Izu and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan.

Dikko’s condolence message is contained in a statement by Harry Iwuala, LMC’s Media Officer and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to the statement, Dikko spoke to the father of the late defender, Pa Reuben Izu and the General Manager of Shooting Star, Rasheed Balogun on Monday.

It said that LMC chairman commiserated with the family of the deceased, assuring them that the body would support them.

“Reports say the defender died while holidaying in his hometown, Okaki in Bayelsa State on Sunday from gunshot injuries.

“The gun was said to have been fired by a member of the joint security agencies.

“On reading the report on a social media platform, Dikko had placed a telephone call to Pa Izu and afterwards to Balogun, the General Manager of 3SC,’’ the statement said.

It added that having earlier confirmed the death of the player from his father, Dikko in his message to the Club Manager, expressed shock.

The statement also said that Dikko offered condolences on behalf of the LMC Board, the entire NPFL Clubs and supporters.

“This is quite a shocking development. Players have been central to the new awakening of passion for the NPFL and all of them should live to see this league achieve full blossom

“Well, death is also inevitable and will eventually come to all of us.

“On behalf of the entire NPFL family, please accept our heartfelt condolence and kindly extend our expression of sympathy to the family of the late Izu”, it quoted Dikko as saying.

It urged Balogun to keep the LMC updated with information on the plans for the burial.

The late player joined 3SC in the 2013/14 season from Bayelsa United and had just completed his third season at the Oluyole Warriors. (NAN)
VO/ENN/MZA
=============

Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Cinematographer urges experts to invent cinematic technologies

NAN-ELS-2
Cinematography
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Oct.18, 2016 (NAN) A cinematographer, Olaitan Oshodi, on Tuesday called on stakeholders to invent new cinematic technologies to prevent the extinction of the profession.

Oshodi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that innovations in digital technology were fast crippling the services of cinematographers.

According to him, the emergence of computing technology in film making is gradually surpassing the class of effects a standard camera can produce compared to a digital tool used by computers.

“Digitisation has become king in creating visual and cinematic effects for movies and music videos and this puts our job on the line if we are not proactive and invent new ideas.

“The only reason we still get called for one or more jobs in Africa is because we are yet to feel the total effect of digitisation.

“As soon as the current technology trend in the Western world get here, a lot of us will be out of job, especially in the motion picture industry,” he said.

Oshodi added that the movie industry in the country was not established on a formidable structure and might hit the rock in a few years.

“The movie business anywhere in the world is very lucrative, in that if it is not properly managed and organised, it will cause more harm than good.

“Nollywood is acclaimed to be rated second in the world but for greed we can’t create a structure that will favour and develop mini-sectors of the industry for greater good,” he said. (NAN)
VOI/ENN/MZA
==============

(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed)

NAN-H-38
LCDA
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Oct. 18, 2016(NAN) Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assented to the bill creating 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

Mr Toye Arulogun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said this while briefing newsmen in Ibadan.

He said that the bill, which was enacted by the state House of Assembly, gave legal backing to the creation of LCDAs in the state.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, he said, assented to the bill on Oct. 6. after extensive deliberations on the legislation by the state house of assembly.

He said that a committee would be set up to formulate the modalities for the smooth take off of the LCDAs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Assembly at its sitting on June 16 discussed the creation of LCDAs and subsequently sent correspondence on it to the executive for consideration.

The assembly in its correspondence requested the executive arm to create LCDAs in order to facilitate development at the grassroots.

NAN reports that the state government had on Aug. 23 announced the creation of LCDAs in response to the correspondence from the Assembly.

Arulogun said that there would be 14 LCDAs in Ibadan zone, two in Ibarapa zone, four in Oyo zone, seven in Ogbomoso zone and eight in Oke-ogun zone.

He added that with the creation of the LCDAs, development would be hastened in local communities and government would be brought closer to the people.

Arulogun reiterated that the creation of LCDAs was the government’s response to the yearnings of the people of the state for faster development at the grassroots.

He said creation of LCDAs was a strategic management vehicle for more effective and efficient public service delivery. (NAN)
TAA/OJO
=======
(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

CMD task Nigerians on malnutrition, poor hygiene

NAN-HG-3

Diseases

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Medical Director (CMD), NOMA Hospital, Sokoto, Dr Bello Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to avoid malnutrition, poor personal hygiene and playing with animals to improve their health.

Ahmed gave the task on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.

He said this would prevent them from contacting Cancrum Oris disease, popularly known as NOMA, which had remained a public health concern especially in rural areas.

Ahmed said: “The disease is an infection of mouth or genitals as the case may be which affects the oral cavity, spread and eat away the human face notably the nose, cheek and bones.

“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), without any form of treatment, about 90 per cent of children affected by the disease die.

“NOMA is also described NOMA as a dangerous lesion that affects several young children living in extreme poverty mostly in Africa and Asian communities.”

While commending the Sokoto State Government for providing free treatment for the patients, he noted that the gesture was extended to both indigenes and non-indigenes of the state.

The CMD said: “Because of the stigma attached to the condition of the disease, sometimes the Outreach Department of the Hospital travel to various places to encourage those with the condition to come for treatment.’’ (NAN)

MNB/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-4

Militants

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Oct. 18, 2016 ( NAN) The Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Martins Uzoukwu on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to continue ongoing dialogue with Niger Delta militants to end attacks on oil facilities.

Uzoukwu also cautioned the militants to stop bombing oil facilities, saying it would not solve the challenges facing the region.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna that the militants must sheath their swords and accept to dialogue with the government.

The bishop lauded the release of 21 Chibok school girls by Boko Haram and called on the federal government to ensure the release of the remaining girls.

Uzoukwu urged Nigerians to sacrifive an hour of their time daily to pray for the survival of Nigeria.

He said Nigerians must also assist security officers with relevant information to stem insurgency, kidnapping, militancy, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the country.

Uzoukwu said the government should equip security agencies with modern equipment, to enable them tackle security challenges more effectively.

“If you send a young man to the farm, you should also give him implement to work,” he said.

Uzoukwu advised Nigerians to embrace community-based approach in settling current security challenges facing the country. ( NAN)
AAG/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-S-7
Cricket
Cape Town, Oct. 18, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) South Africa Captain, Faf du Plessis, believes Australia will head into next month’s test series against his team mentally scarred, following their one-day whitewash by the Proteas.

Australia suffered their first ever 5-0 one-day bilateral series defeat against South Africa last month, and will host Du Plessis’s side for three tests starting on Nov. 3.

The encounter will include a day/night game in Adelaide.

“Beating Australia the way we did — really convincingly, not giving them a sniff — will leave a bit of a scar on them mentally.
“I appreciate its test cricket, a different format,” Du Plessis told reporters.

“They will have a different team, probably a more mature team (than their ODI squad).

“So it is important to start well in that first test and remind them that we are in the same space as the one-day team.”

Du Plessis, who will captain the team in the absence of injured AB de Villiers when they visit Australia, is wary of the threat posed by left-armer, Mitchell Starc.

The left-armer has picked up 115 wickets in 28 tests.

Starc, who was rested from Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa, sustained a freak accident in training last month.

“Starc is a huge bowler for them. We will need to make sure we get good prep in with left-arm quicks.

“He is obviously someone who can crank it up and get it close to 150km/h and then, obviously, he is very good with reverse swing,” Du Plessis added. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/IGO
========

NAN-S-8
Project
Stockholm,Oct.18,2016 (Reuters/NAN) French World Cup winner Lilian Thuram has criticised FIFA’s decision to dissolve its anti-racism task force, telling Reuters he found the decision “shocking”.
FIFA wrote to members in September to say it was disbanding the task force set up by then boss Sepp Blatter in 2013 and declared that it had “completely fulfilled its temporary mission”.

The former world and European champion and Serie A winner let fly at soccer’s world governing body.
“I am extremely shocked that such an important organisation that can reach millions of people, especially children, can say in 2016, in this global political situation, ‘the job is done’,” he told Reuters.
“It’s very, very shocking.”
After speaking to an invited audience about hearing monkey noises from the terraces as a player in Italy, the former AS Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona defender attacked the signals being sent by FIFA.
“There is a symbolism in them saying that, that ‘this is no longer important to us’. It (racism) is a recurring problem in our societies.
“We must be on our guard and start to change the way we think, especially as football is an incredibly good way to get people to think differently.
“Football and sport are the best ways to reach that result.” (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/SN
========