Blog

NAN-H-28
JAMB
By Chijioke Okoronkwo
Abuja, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the  Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has called for  a review of the act establishing the board in order to make it more efficient.

A statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by JAMB’s spokesman, Mr Fabian Benjamin, said Oloyode sought for reversal of the practice where serving vice-chancellors of universities were made chairmen of the Governing Board of the examination body.

The statement said such practice would boost synergy and harmonious relationship with a view to effectively delivering on JAMB’s mandate.

It said Oloyede made the call in a paper he presented at the recent meeting of the Association of  Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities (AVCNU) in Abuja.

“In recognition of the harmonious relationship that existed between the board and the institutions pre- 1993, it may be most appropriate to revert to the early days of JAMB,’’ the statement quoted Oloyede as saying.

The Registrar, the statement said, assured AVCNU of his determination to ensure a smooth relationship with all institutions for the good of the board.

The statement said Oloyode reiterated his earlier stance that the task of JAMB was coordination of admission and not substitution of traditional responsibilities of the senates of tertiary institutions.

“JAMB has the right to reject candidates for non-compliance with extant rules and regulations but will not be allowed to substitute or originate any name without the prior concurrence of the Senate/Academic Board of the institution.

“The Registrar expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the issues of regularisation has been handled by institutions.

“In view of the abuse that the regularisation of admission has been subjected to by institutions, a new template to be completed online has been designed by the board,” the statement said.

The process, it said, would ensure that after completing the form online, candidates would print an indemnity form which they would take to the heads of their institutions to be signed before submission to JAMB.

It quoted Oloyode as telling AVCNU that the board would discontinue the use of scratch cards for any of its services and rather use the platform of pin vending.

The statement said the new system would be accessible through the payment options of web payment, ATM issued cards, online quick teller, quick teller mobile application and bank branch card. (NAN)
CJ/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

Kuwait ruler dissolves parliament, clears way for early election

NAN-F-5
Dissolution
Kuwait City,Oct.16,2016(dpa/NAN)Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmed on Sunday dissolved parliament, clearing the way for an early election in the oil-producing Gulf country, the state news agency, reported.

The move was announced in a royal decree, which did not give a reason for the assembly’s dissolution.

No date was officially announced for the new election.

However, the Kuwaiti constitution says the vote must be held within two months.

Although Kuwait holds broadly free elections, the government is appointed by the emir, who retains effective power.

The agency reported the decree as saying that the move was linked to regional developments and security challenges and their different impacts and risks.

It stated  that it require returning to the people – the origin of authority – to choose its representatives to express its directions, ambitions and contribute to facing these challenges.

Kuwait, a regional U.S. ally, has a relatively open political system by Gulf standards and has avoided an uprising like those that have ousted leaders in several Arab states since 2011.(dpa/NAN)
IAA/AFA
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Felix Ajide
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FOMWAN, Media Trust empowers 55 widows

NAN-H-20

Empowerment

Katarko (Yobe), Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Yobe, on Sunday distributed economic empowerment materials to 55 widows who lost their husbands to insurgency in Gujba Local Government Area of the state.

Hajiya Halimatu Amshi, the Chairperson of the association, distributed sewing machines, beans, ground nuts, flour, goats and sheep, among other relief materials, to the beneficiaries in Katarko village.

She said the association, in collaboration with Media Trust, assisted the widows to engage in economic activities for self reliance.

“The widows were left with children to take care of, so the partnership between the association and Media Trust was to provide them with a dignified means of livelihood to keep them away from street begging.

`We conducted a NEEDS assessment to provide the assistance in areas of choice by the beneficiaries for sustenance and continuity in their chosen trades,” she said.

Amshi charged the beneficiaries from Buni Yadi, Katarko, Gujba, Buni Gari, Ngurbuwa, Wagir and other villages to be committed to their trades for improved life style.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 21 widows collected a bag of ground nut each for production of ground nut oil, 12 others benefitted with a sewing machine each, while another received a knitting machine.

Seven widows were provided with N20,000 cash each for petty trading, two others also received N20,000 each for food business in their villages.

NAN also reports that 12 women were provided with animals for fattening, beans for moi-moi and bean cake making and ‘dawa-dawa’ food seasoning.

Meanwhile, the association says it has constructed two hand pump boreholes in Likdir and Rijiyan Gamji villages, and rehabilitated three boreholes in Buni Yadi with support from Media Trust.

The FOMWAN chairperson said this has eased the problem of water scarcity as the displaced persons returned to the liberated communities. (NAN)

MM/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-S-5
Death
Paris, Oct. 16, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Munster rugby coach Anthony Foley has died overnight in Paris, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), said in a statement on Sunday.

Foley was in Paris with the rest of the team for Sunday’s European Champions Cup match against Racing 92. The game has been postponed at Munster’s request.

The statement did not give a reason for Foley’s death. The 42-year-old earned 62 international caps for Ireland and had been Munster coach since 2014.

“The IRFU and Munster Rugby pass on our deepest sympathies to all of Anthony’s family and friends and ask for privacy for the family at this sad time,’’ the IRFU said.

Foley, whose father Brendan also played for Ireland, made 201 appearances in the back row for Munster in a playing career that spanned 13 years.

He made his debut in 1995 against Swansea in the province’s first match in the Heineken Cup — a competition in which he would later captain his side to victory in 2006, having twice finished as runners-up (in 2000 and 2002).

He also captained Ireland three times in winning 62 caps, having made a try-scoring debut in the Five Nations defeat by England in January 1995.

He was replaced as Munster captain by Paul O’Connell for the 2007 to 2008 season, at the end of which he announced his retirement and joined their coaching staff.

Foley initially took over as Munster forwards coach in 2011 — a role he briefly undertook with Ireland during the 2012 Six Nations — before graduating to head coach in 2014 after the departure of Rob Penney.

Munster appointed South African Rassie Erasmus as the club’s Director of Rugby in July but Foley’s job title remained head coach. (dpa/NAN)
IAA/PDE
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(Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-19

History

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) on Sunday commended the Federal Government for planning to reintroduce History as a subject in the nation’s primary and junior secondary schools curricula.

Mr Denja Abdulahi, the National President of ANA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that History, as a subject, was important to the educational development of the students.

He remarked that Nigerians always shy away from their history and that history was not about palatable happenings.

“History can be unpalatable, but when we talk about the unpalatable happenings, we apply experience of what happened to teach people how to avoid the pitfalls.

“If we do not teach History, we are creating a rootless society.

“This is because from history, you get inspired about your origin; you get inspiring story about who you are and what you can emulate from people of the past.

“It is from History that you get to know what led to the civil war and our children can learn about Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, Songhai Empire and Borno Empire.

“Nigerians do not want to talk aboutthe  civil war, coups and counter coups.

“All these things happened; something led to it and if we do not tell our children about them, then how will they learn from the past,’’ Abdulahi.

He said that other countries like the US and UK talk about their civil wars and teach it in their schools.

“We are, therefore, happy the government is reintroducing History into the curriculum,’’ he said. (NAN)

OOG/AIB/BOS

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Congo delays presidential vote to 2018, opposition plans strike

NAN-F-4

Election

Nairobi, Oct.16, 2016 (Reuters/NAN)Democratic Republic of Congo’s ruling coalition and other smaller parties have agreed to delay next month’s elections to April 2018.

The move was said to have angered opposition groups who have accused the president of trying to cling onto power.

The main opposition bloc had already called a general strike for Wednesday to press President Joseph Kabila to leave at the end of his mandate in December.

Congo’s main opposition bloc was not immediately available for comment.

Last month dozens died in two days of protests in the capital Kinshasa.

The protest was against planned delays to the vote due to what authorities said were logistical problems registering millions of voters in the massive and impoverished country.

Parties agreed in talks on Saturday to give more time for voter registration and keep Kabila in office until the delayed vote, said one organization in the discussions, the Union for the Congolese Nation.

Delegates at the talks would likely ratify the decision on Monday  Oct. 17, the statement said.

UNC President Vital Kamerhe is widely expected to become prime minister as part of the power-sharing government ushered in under the talks.

Kabila, who came to power in 2001 when his father was assassinated, said he would respect the constitution.

He  is, however, yet to rule out attempting to change the country’s laws to enable him to run for a fresh term.

The presidents of neighbouring Rwanda and Congo Republic changed their constitutions last year to allow themselves contest for a third term, and Kabila’s opponents said they feared he would do the same.

Hundreds of people have also died since last year in neighbouring Burundi after its president Pierre Nkurunziza pursued and won a third term in office that his opponents said was unconstitutional.(Reuters/NAN)

IAA/YAZ

(Edited by Isaac Aregbesola…)

NAN-H-14
Support
Maiduguri, Oct. 16, 2016(NAN) The Borno Government announced on
Sunday that it had taken steps toward harmonising the operations of 42
humanitarian organisations providing support for victims of Boko Haram
in the state.

Alhaji Mali Gubio the Chairman of the state Humanitarian Response Committee, made the plan known shortly after the inaugural meeting
of the committee in Maiduguri.

Gubio, a former Borno Head of Service in the state, expressed sadness that some of the
organisations were taking advantage of the Boko Haram crisis to make money
without rendering tangible help to the victims.

“The state government is not even aware of what some of them are doing.

” So, the committee is supposed to harmonise their activities for maximum
results, ” he said.

Gubio explained that the committee was expected to bring together all the
humanitarian organisations to ensure that they worked in synergy.

“Our duty is to make sure that we bring them together to know exactly what
they are supposed to be doing and how.

” We appreciate their concern for our people but where the concerns are
dubious we are supposed to address them, ” he said.

Gubio said it was sad that some individuals and organisations were using
the Boko Haram terrorism to make money in the guise of providing
humanitarian support to the people.
“Boko Haram terrorism should not be used as an avenue to enrich some people
or organisations to the detriment of our people who are the real victims.

” The victims should be the beneficiaries of any support and not the
individuals or the organisations providing the support, ” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov.  Kashim Shettima had
repeatedly accused some humanitarian organisations of taking advantage of
the Boko Haram terrorism victims to enrich themselves without adding value to the victims’
conditions.

The State Government had last week inaugurated the committee to address the
problem of lack of coordination among organisations operating in the state.
(NAN)
ABI/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie

Pope canonizes 7 new saints, including 14-year-old martyr

NAN-F-3
Canonization
Rome, Oct. 16, 2016 (dpa/NAN)Pope Francis on Sunday canonized six men and a woman, including a child martyr from Mexico and a “gaucho priest” from Argentina – in a mass at St Peter’s Square, Rome.

They all “fought the fight of faith and love,” said Francis in a Sunday mass before tens of thousands of worshippers.

Among the new saints is Jose Sanchez del Rio, a Mexican-born boy, who at 14 was tortured and executed in 1928.

He was executed for refusing to renounce Catholicism under the anti-clerical policies of the Calles Government.

Also canonized is the Dominican priest Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, who, according to Vatican Radio, is a favourite of the current pope.

Known during his lifetime as the “gaucho priest,” Brochero crossed the mountains of Argentina on a mule, helping country people by building churches, schools, roads and water infrastructure.

Rounding out the new saints were also two Italians, two French nationals and a Spaniard.

The sole woman is the French mystic Elisabeth Catez, also known as the Elisabeth of the Trinity(dpa/NAN)
IAA/AFA
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Felix Ajide
===========================

Police confirms clash with soldiers in Abakaliki

NAN-H-17

Clash

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Ebonyi Police Command has confirmed the clash between its officers and soldiers from the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Nkwagu, near Abakaliki, on Saturday evening.

DSP George Okafor, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abakaliki.

However, Okafor said that the matter had been resolved amicably.

According to him, the clash is unfortunate and efforts have been made by the two agencies to forestall such occurrences in future.

“The matter has been peacefully resolved and we urge the public not to panic over the development but be assured of their safety at all times,” he said.

Okafor, who declined further comments on the issue, also failed to confirm whether police officers involved in the clash sustained injuries.

An eye witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told NAN that the incident occurred at No. 1, Water Works road, Abakaliki.

“Trouble started when a police patrol team on road check requested for the identity cards and vehicle particulars of army officers from the Nkwagu military cantonment.

“The soldiers rode a tinted Toyota Camry car with registration number BWR 886 AE and a black Toyota Jeep with the inscription of ‘Bride’ used to convey a newly wedded couple.

“The soldiers, who were in their uniforms except one personnel, told the police team they were returning from a wedding and felt embarrassed by their request for the documents.

“At this point, one of the police officers stopped the soldiers from passing and the latter angrily fired sporadically into the air,” he said.

According to the witness, who is a security agent, the police officers called the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) on phone and immediately they stormed the scene, one of them slapped a soldier.

“The clash subsequently ensued and the police who had the upper hand, took some of the soldiers to the command’s headquarters while confiscating their rifles.

“The soldiers who escaped from the scene, rushed to the cantonment and on their way, allegedly attacked some policemen near the cantonment and held them hostage,” the security agent told NAN.

The eye witness also noted that one of the police officers held by the soldiers was released and he quickly rushed to the command to report that some officers were being held at the cantonment.

“This development almost affected the peace moves made by both security agencies but the situation eventually normalised following intervention by top echelon of both agencies,” the source added.

The army authorities were yet to react to NAN enquiries or make public their reaction over the development. (NAN)

RCO/IS/MST

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-16
Forex
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has advised Airline operators to operates with renewed vigour having secured a special sectoral Foreign Exchange (Forex) allocation in the Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS).

Capt. Muhtar Usman, the Director-General of NCAA), gave the advise in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the forex concession was recently granted to the airlines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a result of the intervention of the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.

The statement said: “This is to further engender market confidence, ensure access to forex by the airlines and sustain the integrity of the Nigerian Inter-bank forex market.

“The CBN has resolved pursuant to the minister’s show of concern to intervene in the inter-bank forex market through forward settlement.

“For clarity, the SMIS retail is an important one-off exercise dedicated to the clearance of the backlog of matured forex obligation for airlines’’.

According to the statement, this success is another step ahead in seamless operations in the aviation industry.

“It is expected that this is a major window for those airlines that had earlier ceased their operations to recommence in earnest.

“Therefore, with this intervention comes a landmark incentive for both local and foreign operators to carry out safe, secure and lucrative operations in Nigeria.

“In addition, all scheduled and mandatory checks which are done in the Diasporas will be undertaken with this leverage at a reduced cost.

“The NCAA therefore, expects the foreign operators to carry out their operations with renewed vigour,’’ the statement said.

It added that all problems associated with repatriation were now a foregone conclusion.

It advised all airline operators to take full advantage of this laudable gesture of the Federal Government of Nigeria and adhere strictly to the provisions of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria.

NAN reports that Usman had earlier led a delegation of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to meet with the Ministers of State for Aviation, Finance and their Petroleum counterparts, including the CBN Governor.

As a result of the meeting, Sirika was able to extricate for the foreign airlines, 50 per cent clearance of their forex obligations. (NAN)
ASO/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)