Blog

NAN-H-37
Warning
By Auwalu Yusuf
Birnin Kebbi, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Kebbi chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned civil servants against dereliction of duty and other acts inimical to the service.

Alhaji Umaru Halidu, the acting Chairman of the NLC in the state, gave the warning while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

Halidu said the new leadership under his watch would not condone acts of absenteeism and lateness to office.

The NLC boss said discipline and ethical consideration should be the watchwords in the conduct of private and official engagements.

Halidu assured that his administration would strive to promote the welfare of workers, especially on issues concerning their entitlements as well as consistent payment of leave grants and promotion.

He commended the state government for ensuring regular payment of salaries and leave grants to workers.

Halidu, however, appealed to the state government to hasten the settling of the three -year backlog of leave grants owed local government workers.

He said NLC was considering the possibility of embracing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for state workers due to the lofty and beneficial objectives of the initiative.

Halidu said his office had commenced discussions with the management of NHIS for guidance on the processes and the procedures for joining the scheme.

NAN reports that Halidu was elected and confirmed by the State Executive Council of NLC as acting chairman in September following the removal of former chairman, Murtala Adamu, due to qualification related matters. (NAN)
BKD/ORO/OJO
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(Edited by Razak Owolabi and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-34
Refineries
By Oloniruha Emmanuel and Abiemwense Moru

Abuja, Oct. 13, 2106 (NAN) A member of the House Representatives, Mr Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, said rather than destroy illegal refineries in the Niger Delta,  Federal Government should license and regulate them.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the government should leverage on the skills of operators of the refineries to develop small outlets for refining crude oil for domestic use.

Agbonayinma, who represents Egor/ Ikpoba-Okha Constituency of Edo, said that his advice to government became necessary at the backdrop of failure of persons given licenses to build refineries by previous administrations, to do so.

He also said that it was because of the inability of the government to fix existing refineries and had resorted to sustained importation of petroleum proudcts.

He said that the number of illegal refineries being destroyed and the rate at which they resurfaced was evidence that the operators had some engineering skills that government should harness.

According to him, rather than destroying the so-called illegal refineries, government through the Ministry of Niger Delta, NDDC and Amnesty Programme should bring together the youths engaging in the illegal refinery and harness their technology.

“The activities of illegal refineries operators should be regulated, licenses should be issued to them and crude oil allocated to them based on their capacities.

“In the civilised countries, what to do is to bring all those youths and look for a way to harness their brains rather than to destroy the refineries.

“They are doing what government cannot do by consistently refining crude oil into petroleum products; they deserved to be assembled and encouraged to do it better, under regulation.

“ Call them and ask what quantity each of them can refine and allocate it to them; let them refine it and let Nigerians benefit from it.

“Destroying the refineries and at the end of the day, they keep coming back, building new ones will not help. The resources used in destroying the refineries should be used to encourage them,’’ Agbonayinma said.

He said that the activities of Niger Delta youths were not the major cause of the low oil production or its availability in sufficient quantity.

According to him, contrary to the claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), multinational companies which collude with some elite in the country to siphon Nigerian crude through back door are the major problem.

“The NNPC is crying here that Niger Delta militants or avengers are the problem whereas the real problems are multinationals that are the core and real avengers.

“Go to Niger Delta area and see the pollution and the degradation; the farmers can no longer farm, the fishermen can no longer fish, and the youth resorting to ingenuity of refining crude which NNPC has failed to do.

“The refineries are not working because NNPC has refused to solve the problem or fix them.

“They have a reason for not fixing them; they refused to fix them because of their own selfish gains,’’ the lawmaker said.

Agboniyanma said that it was only Nigerians that could help to put a stop to the stealing of the country’s crude oil.

“NNPC knows that once the refineries start working fully, the means of stealing will stop; so they don’t want the refineries to work.

“Let NNPC be unbundled, that does not solve the problem,’’ he said.

The lawmaker also advised Nigeria to emulate the United Arab Emirate in the use of its oil sector for national development.

“Since British left, we have not been able to get it right. So, I will say that we should do what Dubai did.

“They have oil; they invited and negotiated with US government and their firms to help them to develop the country. They told US `come, see our oil, manage it for us and develop our country’.

“Dubai was a desert 10 or 15 years ago; today that same Dubai is where Nigerians go for holidays as well as send their children to for studies, while we are killing our country,’’ he said.

Agbonayinma said that Nigeria could also negotiate with its oil for a period of four or eight years contract to develop the county.

“We go into contracts because we don’t know how to run government and so far, so good; we have run it and we have failed. Nothing works in Nigeria, and the laws are there. (NAN)
OBE/AMM/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-15
Dollars
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) A housekeeper, 21-year-old Patience Peter, who allegedly bolted with her employer’s 5,000 dolars, was on Thursday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, is being tried for a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and felony to which she pleaded innocence.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Oladele Adebayo, said the accused with others at large committed the offences on Aug. 12 at No. 8, Meret Road, Yaba.

He alleged that the house girl broke into her employer’s bedroom and stole 5,000 dollars.

The offences violated Sections 285, 305 (b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for offenders, while Section 409 provides two years,.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, admitted her to a bail of N500,000 in addition to  two sureties in like sum.

Further hearing has been fixed for Nov. 7. (NAN)
OAT/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

Human trafficking: Activist wants government to protect girl-child from abuses
NAN-H-36
Trafficking
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Executive Director of Girl-Child Rights Awareness Initiative, Mrs Tope Awe, has called on the three tiers of governments to protect the girl-child from all forms abuse.

Awe made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, when he spoke on the surge of human
trafficking in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

She said the menace of human trafficking, most especially as it affects the girl-child could be regarded as a crime against humanity, which requires global efforts to put it in check.

According to her, many callous and unscrupulous elements now found a good business in trafficking young girls abroad to be used as sex slaves and subject them to other inhuman treatment.

“It is indeed a paradox that those who needed to be protected and treated with care are now being treated with disdain and callousness all in the name of money.

“It is unfortunate that many of the young girls are now vulnerable to sex slavery and hard labour in the hands of those criminals that posed as messiah to them and promised them better life.

Our society is so polarised that instead of increasing the degree of exportation of domestic goods to boast the economy, it is the
exportation of innocent children that some individuals do as business.

“Until the government rise up against this madness and use legislation to deter the perpetrators, there is looming danger ahead for the nation, as nation’s motherhood is being destroyed.

“Every nation that worth its salt jealously protect its motherhood for the purpose of continuity and nation-building, it is one issue that needs to be taken seriously by government,’’ she said. (NAN)
DOO/TO/OFN
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-11
Drinks
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct.13, 2016 (NAN) A 31-year-old assistant truck driver,  Adegoke Adetunji, who allegedly broke into a shop  and stole drinks valued at N20,800, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Adegoke, whose address is unknown, is being tried for conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

Prosecutor Micheal Unah told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 21 at Baale Animashaun Road, Alakuko area of Lagos on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

“The accused with others still at large conspired to burgle a shop and stole drinks valued at N20,800, property of Mr Abiola Ogundijo.

“The accused stole three packs of can Malta guinness, two packs of plastic Coca-cola, a pack of can Maltina, a pack of Amstel and a pack of Hi-malt, among others, valued at N20,800,” he said.

Unah said when the security guard sighted the accused loading the stolen items into a vehicle, he raised an alarm.

“The guard raised an alarm, shouting thief, thief, and the accused’s accomplices quickly drove off with the stolen goods leaving the accused behind and was apprehended.”

The offences contravened Sections 285, 307 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 307 provides a seven-year imprisonment for offenders.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Gbajumo, adjourned the case to Oct. 24 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

NAN-S-7
Athletics
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The 2 Division of the Nigerian Army has dominated the athletics event of the ongoing Nigerian Army Sports Festival in Abuja, winning in the men and women 400m, 1500m, high and triple jumps.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kabiru Yusuf and Joseph Boniface both of 2 Division, returned 50.48secs and 51.47secs to win gold and silver in the 400m men’s category respectively.

Also Oluwole Olayiwole and Obilor Lorine from the Division won gold in the 400m and 1500m final in the women’s category with a time of 64.01secs and 5.32.52secs respectively.

Anyanwu Ogichukwu and Kabiru Yusuf of 2 Division came first in the men’s category of high jump and triple jump with a performance of 1.97 and 12.24m respectively.

NAN also report that Ibitayo Sunday of Army Headquarters (AHQ) won gold in the men’s category of 1500m with 4.28.76secs.

Abu Aliyu and Abel Anthony also of the AHQ came second and third in the men’s high jump with a performance of 1.75m and 1.60m respectively.

In the women’s Discus, Maryam Ekeada of AHQ claimed the gold with a throw of 23.53m, while Tessy Idowu and Janet Abu both of 1 Division came second and third respectively, throwing 19.92m and 19.76m.

Ogichukwu told NAN that he dedicated his victory to God and his coach.

“I am not a high jump athlete but my coach encouraged me to give it a try and thank God, I came out the best.

“I hope to make a career with my talent. I will train hard and I also appeal to the Army authorities to release me to attend competitions that will further improve my skills,’’ he said.

Yusuf thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai for resuscitating the Army Sports Festival, adding that it would help to develop sports in Nigeria. (NAN)
DE/PDE
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-AE-3
Communication
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, the Media Consultant for World Bank, has advocated for the effective use of Information and Communication Technology for successful implementation of second Additional Financing AF II in the North-East Nigeria.

Oladunjoye gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He added that the success of Fadama III AF in Nigeria was traced to effective role of information and communication.

He said that communication was the vehicle with which the aims and objectives of an organisation were transported to its internal and external publics and feedback obtained for the attainment of set goals.

“ The contribution from both local and International media generated lot of awareness creation for Fadama III AF Project all over the country and abroad.

“ The use of Mass media in the project communication strategy is a well-informed decision because they have the monopoly of the airwaves, airtime, as well as the professional competence,” he said.

NAN reports that the North-East is a major an agrarian region blessed with natural and agricultural resources such as groundnut, rice, tomato, yam, sorghum, cattle hide and beef, pepper, citrus, among others.

According to him, the World Bank rightly declares that sustained and well-designed communication about the project will be critical to its effectiveness and the transparency of all its processes.

“ The credibility of the intervention with returning farmers and the wider project community would be a great achievement of the project in the region.

“ Strong and open communications, with demonstrably effective grievance redressed mechanisms, will also help limit negative criticisms and risks for those supporting the project and its goals.

“ The communication is the project and the project is the communication because effective use of it is the key to success,” he said.

He stated the role of the World Bank toward the success of the project was to provide accurate and timely information about the progress and issues in line with its transparency and in the interest of proactive outreach.

Oladunjoye suggested formal and informal channels, local, national, and international media, print, radio and television stations, social media as channels of information and communication to be used in the project implementation.

Others, he added, should be interactive sessions, which would include online newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations, specialised journals on agriculture and development, community radio and AF II ambassadors.

He also called for the inputs by religious leaders, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs and Community-based Originations (CBOs), community leaders and traditional rulers and interactive session for the stakeholders in the implementation of the project.

He said that facility tours and field surveys and capacity building for the project staff, through local and international training, would go a long way to aid the success of the project. (NAN)
ROK/DUA/AFA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-14
Burglary
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) An Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin on Thursday remanded an accused, Ehigie Samuel, 27, in Benin Prison for burglary.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Olatoye Oluwaseun, told the court that the accused with others now at large committed the offence on Oct. 8 at about 11:36 p.m. at No. 6, Okunwague Street, off Upper Sokponba Road, Benin.

Oluwaseun alleged that the accused did break into and enter the residence of one Ekhator Osasumwen and made away items valued at N193,500.

The prosecutor said that the accused was arrested again at Ugbekun Police Station barely four hours after he was granted bail for a similar offence.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge bordering on burglary and stealing.
Oluwaseun said the offence contravened section 411 (1) (2) and 390 (9) of the criminal code.
The Magistrate, Mrs Caroline Oghuma, ruled in favour of the prosecutor who opposed the bail for the accused person and remanded him in prison.
Oghuma adjourned the case till Oct. 31 for hearing. (NAN)
AJOM/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-DS-3
Visit
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN ) The Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, has concluded his visit to the Naval Out Post (NOP ) in Lake Chad Basin on the outskirts of Baga town, in Borno.

This is contained in a statement signed by Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Ezekobe said that the CNS concluded the visit on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the zone had been the hot bed of Boko Haram insurgency before the Nigerian military took control of the area.

The director said that the CNS was informed that the insurgents had been routed out of their last strong
hold of Malam Fatori.

He also said that pockets of Boko Haram elements were on isolated islands on the Lake Chad.

“The CNS inspected the temporary, accommodation site at the College of Fresh Water Fisheries at Baga as well as facilities at the temporary site at the Fish Dam 8km North-East of the College.

“On arrival at Baga, the CNS was received by the GOC 8 Division, Brig.-Gen. Nani as well as the Commander, 7 Special Task Force, Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Saram.

“The CNS was briefed on current activities in the general area of operations by the Commander, Special Task Force, as well as the Commander, Naval Out-Post Lake Chad, Navy Capt. D.D. Dangwel.

“At the NOP site, the CNS was received by Alhaji Modu Musa, who is the Chief of Staff to Gov. Kashim Shettima of the state.

“The Chief of Staff informed the CNS that the area used to be a trading base with links to Chad where several forms of commodities were traded,” Ezokobe said.

He also said the Chief of Staff expressed optimism that a synergy with other security agencies would enable the Nigerian Navy to eliminate the remnants of the insurgents.

According to him, this would help to restore Baga to its former position as a cross border trading post.

The Commander, Naval Out-Post Lake Chad, Capt. Dangwell also informed the CNS of the wanton destruction that had taken place in the area

This, he said, resulted to the disruption of not only essential support facilities but also all forms of telecommunications in the area.

Ibas noted that the approach to the Naval Out-Post was challenged by very sandy terrain and requested the state to assist in making it motorable.

The CNS, however, assured the community that the NN would help to improve security as well as provide relief materials to the people.

Earlier, the CNS had been briefed by the Commander, “Operation Lafia Dole”, on the general security challenges in the North -East.

NAN recalls that the Nigerian Navy had since established a Naval Base in the Lake Chad Basin.

The service had also deployed special personnel to the area because of the activities of the insurgents, and to also rid the area of other criminal activities.(NAN)
YI/DO/AMY

Edited by David Onilede and Abdullahi Yusuf

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Nasarawa govt. reinstates commitment to rural development

NAN-H-29
Roads
Karshi (Nasarawa state) Oct 13, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government, said on Thursday that it was committed to the development of rural areas, to tackle poverty, unemployment and crime.

Mr Godwin Danladi-Makeri, the state Commissioner for Works and Housing, made the assertion when he inspected work on the 7.2km Tudun Wada-Karshi road.

He said the government would invest in rural areas to reduce rural-urban drift, and empower people at the grassroots.

Danladi-Makeri said the road project was part of efforts of the government to boost socio-economic activities in rural areas.

“I am here to inspect this road construction project, to see the quality of work done so far by the project contractor with the view of addressing any challenges.

“Everybody in the state has seen what the Gov. Tanko Al-Makura’s government has done since its inception, especially in the area of infrastructure development, which are aimed at boosting the people’s standard of living.

“The importance of embarking on the construction of roads and bridges cannot be over-emphasized to the development of the society.

“Apart from boosting the socio-economic development and the revenue base of the state, it will also help in reducing the plight of the people.

“That is why, the state government has decided to embark on road construction across the state in order to fight poverty, youths restiveness, unemployment, and crime, and discourage rural-urban migration,” he said.

The commissioner expressed satisfaction over the quality of work done by the contractor and appealed to him tto ensure the completion of the project on time.

He said that the state government would continue to initiate more projects to boost the welfare of the people.

The commissioner used the occasion to call on the people of the state and other Nigerians, to support the State and Federal Government.

The Emir of Karshi, Alhaji Sani Mohammed-Bako III, expressed joy over the project and pledged contiuous support to government policies and programmes.

He said that the road would boost agricultural production and enhance the livelihood of residents.

The monarch enjoined the people to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.(NAN).
AKW/AOS/MZA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed