Blog

NAN-H-81
Pilot
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) Air Djibouti, managed by Cardiff Aviation, on Monday, said that
its pilot, Mr Ademilola Odujinrin, was on a mission to become the first African pilot in history to fly solo around the world.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Djibouti, Mr Mario Fulgoni, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja.

He stated that the pilot had on Oct. 14 embarked on the second leg of his historic journey in a Cirrus aircraft from North Weald airfield in the UK.

He noted that “having already completed a transatlantic crossing from Washington D.C. in the light single-propeller aircraft, the Nigerian aviator is now heading to Malta.

“He will then head on to Djibouti, where he will fly as a commercial pilot for the national flag carrier.

“From there, Odujinrin will continue around the rest of the world, through India and Australia, and intends to set a further aviation milestone with the fastest U.S. coast-to-coast flight in a single-prop aircraft.”

According to him, the flight is part of `Project Transcend’, a foundation aimed at inspiring young people to achieve their goals, regardless of their personal circumstances.

The airline boss then quoted Odujinrin as saying “fewer than 115 people have completed a solo circumnavigation of the globe by air, and it has been my dream since my youth to join them.

“I hope to set a world first and inspire a generation of people in Africa and beyond.”  (NAN)
IMC/DO/HA
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(Edited by David Onilede/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Maitama District, FCT, to experience water supply disruption

NAN-HG-17
Water
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The FCT Administration will carry out maintenance work on water pumping lines to Maitama District, Abuja, from Monday, Oct. 17, through Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Mr Hazat Sule, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Accordingly, the statement said the maintenance work may affect the pressure of water supply to the residential and commercial facilities in the area during the period.

“The Administration regrets the inconveniences the residents in that area may encounter due to the maintenance work; assuring that normal water supply would be restored on Wednesday, October 19^th, 2016.’’

While calling for understanding of the affected residents, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, advised them to store enough water that will last them through this period’’. (NAN)

KM/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-69

Sentence

By Ugochi Ugochukwu

Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced a 29-year-old labourer, Daniel Mwolbong, to one month imprisonment for criminal trespass.

Mwolbong of no fixed address was convicted after he pleaded guilty for trespass and begged for leniency.

The Area Court judge, Abubakar Sadiq, gave the convict an option to pay N5,000 as fine, and warned him to desist from crime after his sentence.

Prosecutor Dalhatu Zannah had told the court that Panshak Gwantong of Setraco Gwarinpa estate, Abuja, reported the matter at the Gwarinpa Police Station on Oct. 6.

Zannah said that the convict criminally entered into the complainant’s room through the window and attempted to steal his cloths.

He said that the convict made a confessional statement, and that the offence contravened sections, 348 and 95 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
UGO/ORO/OFN

Edited by Razak Owolabi//Felix Nwadioha

Expert alerts on upsurge in Apollo eye infection

NAN-HG-15
Apollo
By Yashim Katurak Rebecca
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) Dr Sewuese Bitto, Head, Department of Ophthalmology, Garki Hospital, Abuja, has alerted residents on the possible upsurge in cases of Apollo eye infection due to the gradual change from rainy to dry weather.

Bitto told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the infection was largely associated with changes in weather conditions, urging the public to maintain good eye hygiene.

Bitto, who is also a Consultant Ophthalmologist, said that maintaining good eye hygiene would help prevent infections, limit the spread and speed up the healing process for those already infected.

He urged the public to protect themselves from persons who already have red eyes and advised those already infected to seek prompt medical assistance from an eye specialist.

“Usually when the rainy season is about to change to dry we see them more and when the dry season is about to usher in the rainy season we also see these cases a lot.

“This period is usually the peak period for the endemic conjunctivitis that is the ‘Apollo’.

“When this period begins to come around we need to put in place precautionary measures to prevent any occurrence or if we have been infected to manage the condition properly.

“For those who are not infected they need to limit contact with people who have red eyes and for those who already have the condition they are encouraged to see an eye specialist immediately.

“They need to ensure they observe high levels of good ocular hygiene; you do not go about putting your hand in your eyes and shaking everybody.

“You should not use old handkerchief, you keep dabbing it in your eyes and then put back into your pocket doing this over and over again. Such act is not acceptable and should not be encouraged.

“Those already infected should rather use tissue paper or wipes where they can use and discard immediately. Such lifestyle will help reduce the spread,” Bitto said.

She also advised infected persons to always observe frequent hand and face washing and wear dark glasses to limit contact with other people.

She further advised them to change their bedding’s frequently.

Bitto said that if good hygiene was maintained coupled with the medications prescribed from the specialists, the infection could be curtained and the spread limited.

NAN reports that Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is an inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eye lid.

It makes the eye appear pink or reddish; there may also be pain, burning and itchiness. Swelling of the white part of the eye may also occur.

Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes. (NAN)

KRY/EAL/MST
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-HE-12

Facilities

Abuja, Oct 17, 2016 (NAN)  Mr Idris Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer,  Delamol International Limited , a power consultancy firm, says inadequate power facilities for generation and transmission are the major challenges bedeviling the nation’s power industry.

Mohammed said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja

He said for Nigeria to record outstanding improvement in power sector, there was need to provide adequate   facilities to generate and wheel electricity to the distribution companies.

“The greatest challenge to Nigerian’s power sector is that of generation and transmission infrastructure.

“A lot needed to be done to reposition or to rewrite the map of Nigeria power sector from no light to light, from light to stable light, to facilitate the industrial take off of Nigeria,“ Mohammed said.

He said that a significant improvement in the nation’s power supply would trigger economic prosperity for the country.

According to Mohammed, adequate power is needed to alleviate the high rate of poverty in the country.

“When that is done, we believe that the economic index of Nigeria will move to a much higher level and the seeming poverty level in Nigeria will be addressed.

“This is because there will be room for full scale employment opportunities for our talents who are in want of job.“

Mohammed said that part of the challenges being encountered by some DISCOs was their inability to understand the workings of the electricity business when they bought over the companies.

He said that some of the new owners of the company were in a hurry to take over the business without making adequate effort to understudy it.

“At the time the new owners took over, they knew nothing about the business they were buying; they are supposed to maintain a succession plan to enable them to meet the demand of the business.

“They did not bother to study the business and they went further to disengage the workers that knew how to manage the business and that led to the drop in services.”

He also said that a lot of the distribution companies operating in the nation’s power sector did not have the required capacity to take the electricity wheeled to them from the transmission company.

This, he said, was resulting in the rejection of electricity load by some DISCOS.

Mohammed said that the trend of rejecting electricity load because of inadequate facilities was a sad development to the nation’s power sector.

Mohammad, who was also  a former Managing Director of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC),  said he was able  to reduce the challenge of estimated  billings based the metering plan adopted during his tenure as CEO of the company.

“What we did was that we embarked aggressively on metering of our customers; we had our metering plan that we implemented and up to the time I Ieft office, that metering plan was sustained.

“Many of our customers were metered and because they were metered, there had been no fear or issue of estimated billing and they were able to pay their bills on time.

“That changed the fortunes of the company because it was able to hit a record of cash collection of N1.35 billion revenue. That record, till today, has not been achieved in KEDC,“ he said.

Mohammed, however, expressed belief that the nation’s power sector would develop further.

He said the expectation was based on the resolve at the Powering Africa Nigeria Conference by international investors and other stakeholders to invest in the sector. (NAN)

KC/DO/IA

Edited by David Onilede/Idris Abdulrahman

AEDC to procure, install 80,000 meters free of charge to electricity consumers — MD

NAN-HE-22

Meters

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) says it will procure and install 80,000 meters free of charge to more customers under  its mass metering project.

A statement by AEDC’s Head, Public Relations and Media, Ahmed  Shekarau, stated that the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr  Ernest Mupwaya, announced this when the management of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)  visited AEDC office.

Mupwaya said that the meters were in addition to the 57,000 installed for customers through the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI).

He said that AEDC had already signed a contract this year for the supply of the first 30,000 meters for the mass metering project, adding that the process of procuring another 50,000 was being finalised.

He said the mass metering approach was assisting the company in its operations.

“The metering approach is good because it helps us in calculating how we distribute energy.

“Overall, metering is one of the biggest investments we have made in the transformation of our business,” he said.

Mupwaya, however, decried the menace of vandalism on AEDC’s network.

He said that the company was working closely with security agents, especially the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure strong vigilance on power installations and facilities.

According  to him, the company has recorded success especially in  revenue generation and replacement of the archaic billing system with a modern and  efficient one.

Other achievements includes consolidation of the five disparate vending platforms into one uniform functional system, aggressive metering of small and large power users, as well as  massive investments in network improvement .

He said the company had also procured and installed  348  transformer as well as installed infrared cameras to detect hot spots on the lines.

Other achievements, the MD said, included the introduction of world class customer care service and a 24/7 call centre, which have helped to improve customer relations.

According to the statement, the management of BPE commended AEDC for putting in place a world class information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure which enhances efficient service delivery to  customers.(NAN)

KC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Dariye’s trial: EFCC took all documents in 2005, witness says

NAN-H-67

Dariye

By Sylvester Thompson

Abuja, Oct.17, 2016 (NAN) A Defence witness, Paul Datugum, in former Plateau governor, Joshua Dariye’s trial, has told an FCT High Court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission took all documents relating to the transaction in 2005

Dariye’ is standing trial for alleged diversion of N1.16 billion ecological fund belonging to Plateau government.

Datugum, a Deputy Director (Account), Plateau Ministry of Finance, made this known on Monday when he was cross examined by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

Dariye’s counsel, Mr Garba Pwul (SAN), had through the witness tendered ab Datugum dated Oct.13

The subpoena, marked as exhibit D19, aside coming to testify had requested for documents from the ministry on the case.

The witness told the court that he was neighbourng Ministry of Education, when the operatives stormed the office and people scampered for safety.

“I was watching from the window on the first floor and I saw operatives of the EFCC carrying away bags from the ministry loaded with documents,’’ Datugum said.

The witness also told the court that his predecessor, Mr Bala Kwlfup, who died in 2006, did not officially handover to him.

“All the documents from 1999 to 2005 were packed from the office of the Accountant-General,’’ the witness testified.

Also tendered was the witness statement which he gave the EFCC on February 2016, marked as exhibit D20.

The statement reads in part “…I am not in the position to trace any document in request of cheques listed.

“There was no handing over given to me and I am not in possession of document.

“There was no inventory taken in respect of the documents carted away by the staff of the EFCC in 2005 as my predecessor fled the premises,’’ Datugum said.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned continuation of defence till Oct, 20. (NAN)
SET/HAS/OFN

Edited By Hajia Sani//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-AE-16

Demolition

By Akeem Abas

Ibadan, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) Oyo State Government said it would pull down filling stations built without approval and illegal structures erected in Government Reserved Area (GRA).

Mr Ajiboye Omodewu, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Ibadan on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting on Monday.

Omodewu said that the government would no longer tolerate building of houses and filling stations without approved plans.

He stated that areas where the planned demolition would be carried out included Adeoyo and Ring Road in Ibadan.

Omodewu urged members of the public interested in the lands on which the structures would be demolished should visit the ministry to obtain forms for the purchase.

He also stated that government had opened its “Transformation Industrial Park” located on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to investors.

According to him, the state is open to investors who wish to do business in the state.

Also speaking, Mr Toye Arulogun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, told the newsmen that the government was determined to explore tourism potential abounding in the state to generate revenue.

Arulogun said that government was ready to collaborate with the Brazilian Government and Centre for Black African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) on the promotion of the state’s cultural heritage.

He said that the ministry would soon hold a summit on culture and tourism, and had mapped out programmes for end-of-year activities. (NAN)

TAA/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-AE-15
Food
By Oladapo Udom
Lagos, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged schools in the country to teach students the importance and rudiments of agricultural Science.

Adesina, who was represented by Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, Chairman, Executive Group, made the call on the sideline of an event to commemorate the 2016 World Food Day on Monday in Lagos.

The event: “Annual World Food Day Celebration, Food/Agric Fair and Seminar,’’ was organised by the Gourmet guide on Unilag Radio 103.1FM, Lagos.

It had its theme as: “Diversifying Nigerian Economy: Creating Wealth through Food/Agro Entrepreneurial Skills.’’

According to him, agriculture is the main source of livelihood and the backbone of economic system of a given country.

The theme for this year’s World Food Day which is marked annually on Oct.16,  is “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.”

“Every year our population grows and economic situations are also becoming stiffer.

“There is need to diversify our source of income; agriculture is a key source, it is where we started from and we need to go back to it.

“We all have to plug into the government’s move and embrace agriculture, especially now that it is our government’s chief focus.

“There is need to revive agriculture in our schools; in the primary and secondary schools, as well as the tertiary institutions.

“Our teachers should tell and teach our youths that agriculture is the bed rock of the Nigerian economy.

“From the formative years, they should be encouraged to do some form of agricultural activity such as farming, weeding, tilling, planting or poultry, or some craft such as weaving baskets, mats or producing broom sticks.

“Schools should be made to have space for gardening or farming practical.

“We should strengthen all agricultural courses, the departments should have qualified teachers who will be adequately motivated, and they should teach our children how to move the agricultural sector forward,’’ he said.

The special adviser urged youths not to depend on white-collar-jobs as their only prospective sources of income and called on banks to create favourable environment for the accessibility of loans for agriculture purposes.

According to him, there is a lot in agriculture that our youth can benefit from.

“Nigerian youths should look inwards and think of the ways to contribute to this present focus on agriculture, by joining agricultural establishments and by setting up farms and poultries.

“They can also think of other initiatives such as better harvesting ways, storage, packing and marketing styles.

“Government and banks should also make loan facilities to be accessible to our youths, such that when they finish from school, they can access such loans.

“There should also be effective system for evaluation and monitoring,’’ Adesina said.

Also, Mrs Lydia Eke, the presenter of Gourment Guide, a one-on-one food programme on UNILAG 103.1 FM, Lagos, said that the importance of food could not be over-emphasised.

According to her, food is one of the basic needs of mankind; it is needed by the human body for strength, prevent ailments, as well as to repair and build cells.

“With the availability of food, more than 90 per cent of our problems will be solved because, poverty and hunger will be reduced, under-nutrition will be reduced and people will have stronger body immunity against diseases.

“So, agriculture is essential because, not only will it give one the avenue to get the necessary food to consume, it will also create an avenue for income,’’ she said. (NAN)
OUU/VIV/AFA
Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Felix Ajide
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 Association recommends statistical soft ware training for members

NAN-HG-12
Training
Jos, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has enjoined its members to embrace the use of statistical soft ware.

Mr Solomon Chollom, the Chairman of the association, National Veterinary Research Institute Chapter, gave the charge on the sidelines of a capacity building on Monday in Jos.

He said that hands-on training on the use of current statistical soft ware is paramount for scientists as it upgrades their capacity for greater impact in research and development.

Chollom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the training would enable medical laboratory scientists avoid practicing blind research and coming out with half-baked or unusable findings.

“Scientists do not speak for their research findings; they allow the data to speak for itself scientifically which gives the research data voice and credibility.

“It is the duty of scientists to be acquainted with various statistical tools and the context of their application so as to make informed choice on application of each tool when the need arises.

“The training would enable scientists undertake research that will not just generate shelf only findings, but findings with far reaching impact to the scientific community as competent application of the statistical tools gives the scientists a prestigious stool of repute in the scientific community,” he explained.

However, he decried the gap in knowledge and application of statistical soft ware among most researchers, noting that it impedes the translation of information concealed in research data.

Chollom berated the existing trend where scientists are fixated on manual processes of statistical manipulations, stressing that it is “archaic, laborious, time wasting and error-prone”.

He therefore challenged scientists to upgrade in that direction by getting trained or acquainted with the current statistical software datas.

The chairman disclosed that the analysis of results and findings from research is one area that most research scientists refer to as the “monster of research” thereby seeking the services of statisticians to handle the aspect for them.

“This leaves the research at the mercy of the analysts such that when the research scientist is called upon to defend the analytical result he is at a loss,” he said. (NAN)
UBO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola