Blog

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Grains

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Tureta (Sokoto State) Oct. 7, 2016( NAN) Alhaji Ahmed Musa a community leader in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State has advised the Federal government to purchase excess grains from farmers across the country.

He gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Tureta, Headquarters of Tureta local government area of the state on Friday.

“I want to advise the Federal Government to come up with policy that would ensure that excess crops produced by farmers are purchased  and stored in warehouses, “he said.

He said the advice was necessary in order to check the illegal activities of middlemen who purchased the commodities and resold it later at an exorbitant prices.

He said that such policies will prevent middlemen from buying the excess crops and reselling later to members of the public at high costs.

According to him, the measure would also go along way in assisting the farmers to sell their farm produce at reasonable prices.

He said that the system will also check hoarding in addition to ensuring food security in the country .

He stressed the need for government at all levels to come up with a policy that would check the activities of Middlemen especially in rural areas to prevent high cost of food stuffs.

He said that the rate at which middlemen purchase excess crops from farmers at the rural areas was very alarming and called on the governments to as a matter of urgency to address the ugly trend.

“Government should immediately take proactive measures to prevent speculative middlemen from their illegal and nefarious activities, ” he added. (NAN)
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Edited by Tukur Muntari.

NAN-F-14

Patrol

Manila, Oct. 7, 2016 (dpa/NAN) The Philippines on Friday said it had suspended its joint patrols with the U.S. in the South China Sea.

It also shunned aid for the U.S., saying it could “live without” the financial aid from the country.

Defence Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, said that the U.S. and Philippines had so far conducted two naval exercises in the disputed seas, but that there would be no more planned.

“When President Rodrigo Duterte said there will be no more patrols, we already informed our counterparts that there are no more patrols in the meantime.

“We suspended it first, they know it already,” he said.

Lorenzana reiterated that the military could “live without” financial aid from the U.S. and would instead approach lawmakers to ask for a bigger budget to fill in the shortfall.

“Our Congress is giving us money now.

“I believe they will be giving us more if we have no source of funds,” he said.

The defence chief said that there was truth to the assessment by the country’s foreign secretary that the U.S. had “failed us”, especially in efforts to boost the military’s capabilities.

“We have been allies since 1951; all we got from that time until 1992 are all hand-me-downs, no new equipment.

“The Americans failed to beef up our capabilities to be at par with what is happening in the region,” he said.

President Duterte had recently warned that he may “break up” with the U.S. as he sought to realign the country’s foreign policy and end dependence on America.

He had also said that he wanted over 100 U.S. troops deployed in the southern region of Mindanao to leave, and that he would scrap the countries’ 28 annual joint military exercises.

On Thursday, Duterte had said that the Philippines would not beg for assistance from countries that had criticised his administration’s war against illegal drugs.

In the war, at least 1, 523 people have been killed by the police operations since July 1.

“I do not expect human rights groups, I do not expect (U.S. President Barack) Obama, I do not expect the EU to understand me.

“If you think it’s high time for you to withdraw assistance, go ahead.

“We will not beg for it,” Duterte said. (dpa/NAN)

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Edited by Damilola Oyewole and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

First member of German government to visit Turkey since coup attempt

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Visitation

Berlin, Oct. 7, 2016 (dpa/NAN) German Development Minister, Gerd Mueller, is scheduled to arrive in Ankara later on Friday on the first visit by a German cabinet member since the attempted coup in Turkey in July.

The Turkish leadership around President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated at the time that they had hoped for greater solidarity from the German government.

They said the solidarity was in response to the events of July 15, when elements of the Turkish army attempted to seize power.

Mueller will be holding talks with Turkish Social Affairs Minister, Fatma Kaya, on how to focus on efforts to assist Syrian refugees in Turkey.

“Turkey is a reliable partner in implementing these measures,” Mueller told German correspondents travelling with him.

Germany is home to a large Turkish minority, with some 1.5 million German residents holding Turkish citizenship estimates of the total Turkish population range above 3 million.

Mueller had earlier in the week visited refugee projects in Jordan and Lebanon.

In another development, a survey conducted by Munich’s Technical University that was published on Friday said that upwardly mobile German women aim lower than men in career.

It said that the highly qualified German women are much less likely to want to set up their own business and gain positions on companies’ executive boards.

Whereas 19 per cent of men surveyed wished to run their own business, the figure was just 9 per cent for women, according to the survey of 2,400 respondents commissioned by the Family Business Foundation.

“Similarly, twice as many men as women aimed at a top executive position among the respondents, who all had university degrees or equivalent.

“Women were twice as likely to aim to be project managers.

“They also aimed to combine family and career,’’ Alwine Mohnen, who headed the study said.

Nevertheless, women are watching their pay packets almost as closely as men.

A similar survey in 2008 showed just 13 per cent of women putting income among the three most important aspects in choosing a career.

That figure has now risen to 38 per cent, against 46 per cent for men.

“This reflects increasing equality of status in professional life, and the need for many women to finance the household income in part or in full,” Stefan Heidbreder, Head of the foundation said. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

22 Niger soldiers killed in attack on refugee camp

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Attack

Niamey, Oct. 7, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) No fewer than 22 soldiers were killed in Niger on Thursday when unknown assailants attacked a camp for Malian refugees, the West African nation’s Prime Minister, Brigi Rafini, said.

The attack targeted a camp in the village of Tassalit in Niger’s Tahoua region, around 525 km Northeast of Niamey.

“We received information of an attack on the camp in Tassalit.

“For the moment we are told there are 22 dead, but that is not a total death toll.

“The death toll could increase,” he said.

Rafini gave no further information concerning the suspected identities of the attackers or whether any civilians had been killed or wounded.

The camp’s residents are Malians who fled to neighbouring Niger after Islamist militants, some with links to al Qaeda, seized Mali’s desert north in 2012.

A French-led military intervention drove back the insurgents a year later but violence is on the rise across the region’s arid Sahel band.

Niger’s small army is currently battling Boko Haram militants who launch raids across its Southern border from Nigeria while seeking to prevent an overflow of attacks from Mali.

There are also concerns that Islamic State fighters could be pushed onto its territory by a government offensive in Libya. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-29
Robbery
By Monday Ajogun

Benin, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) An Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court, Benin, on Friday remanded 19-year-old Anthony Ogoni in prison, over alleged armed robbery.

The prosecutor, Insp. Abu Al-hassan, told the Court that the accused, with others now at large, committed the offence on Sept. 13, at about 1.00a.m., at Saint Mathias Catholic Church, Ologbo, Benin.

Al-hassan alleged that the accused stole a Samsung A5 galaxy handset, valued at N55,000, an Infinix handset, valued at N23,000, a HP Laptop valued at N75,000, and N660, 000 cash, property of Rev. Fr. Ochonogor.

He alleged that the accused also stole one Nokia handset valued at N8,000 from another victim, Mr Peter Barde.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused was armed with a gun while committing the offence.

He said the offence contravened Section 6(b), 2(1)(a) of the Firearms and Armed Robbery (Special Provision) Act Cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The plea of the accused was, however, not taken.

The Magistrates, Mr I. Ihenyen, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

He said the duplicate copy of the case file would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

Ihenyen adjourned the case till Dec. 5 for mention. (NAN)

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Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-33
Peace
Garaku (Nasarawa state) Oct.7, 2016 (NAN) A group, Kokona Youths Concerned Forum in Nasarawa state, has called for tolerance and peaceful co-existence between farmers and Fulani herdsmen to boost food production.

The chairman of the group, Mr Neuman Solomon, made the call on Friday in Garaku during a meeting organised by the group to promote peace between farmers and herdsmen of Kokona LGA.

He said that if farmers and Fulani herdsmen co-exist peacefully, it would not only boost food production, but would also increase the revenue base of the state.

Solomon said: “the meeting was called to promote peace, tolerance and to suggest ways of forestalling crisis that will cause disharmony among communities especially between farmers and herdsmen.

“No no nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.

“The security challenges facing some parts of the country had affected our lives and socio-economic development of the country negatively.

“As the harvest of agricultural production commence, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to farmers and Fulani herdsmen to live in peace and be their brother keepers.

“Without peaceful co-existence between farmers and the herdsmen, agricultural production and the socio economic development of the country will be affected negatively.’’

The chairman said that no society could survive without agriculture, adding that agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family and nation.

He advocated dialogue in resolving dispute, saying “dialogue is the best conflict resolution mechanism.’’

“Engaging in violence can only do more harm than good to a society,’’ he added.

Farmers and herdsmen who spoke during the meeting commended the group for organising the meeting and promised to tolerate each other in order to reap the benefits of their labour. (NAN)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi and controlled by Archibong Asuquo

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Roads

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Sokoto, Oct.7, 2026( NAN) A member of the National Union of Roads Transport Workers (NURTW) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Abdulkadir, on Friday commended the Federal Government over the ongoing reconstruction of Sokoto, Yauwuri and  Kontagora roads.

Abdulkadir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that the project had so far improved socio-economic and political activities in the area.

He said that the reconstruction project had reached Yauwuri in Kebbi and was approaching Kontagora in Niger.

He said the exercise had boasted commercial activities of residents of Sokoto State, Kebbi and Niger, especially transportation of goods to various markets around the areas .

Abdulkadir, however, advised the federal government to provide more rail services across the country for the transportation of heavy goods.

He said this would ensure less pressure on the roads caused by movement of heavy duty vehicles and make the roads last longer.( NAN)
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Story edited by Ekemini Ladejobi and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-28
Donation
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 236 students have received various cash donations under the Bunmi Babalola Foundation in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, to boost their academic pursuit.

The beneficiaries drawn from secondary and tertiary institutions, were selected from the 11 wards of the council.

The breakdown of the donation showed that 81 undergraduates received the sum of N30,000 each, 34 final year SS3 students got N20,000 each, while 121 other categories of junior and senior secondary students received N7,000 each.

Mr Sunday Babalola, the financier of the foundation, in a remark during the presentation at Omu-Aran City Complex, said the donation was his own way of giving back to the society.

He described education as the bedrock of meaningful socio-economic development, adding that the challenges presently facing the sector has gone beyond government alone to shoulder.

He stressed the donation was also meant “to address hardship, poverty, unemployment and crime,” as well as enhance access to qualitative education.

The philanthropist said that the monetary benefit was increased from N2 million to N4 million and extended to cover the entire council, so as to accommodate additional 96 beneficiaries.

“The report by UNESCO few years back that over 10 million Nigerian children were out of school was sad and devastating.

“With the current economic recession where many jobs have been lost and businesses shut down, it is not in doubt that the figure would have increased highly by now.

“This is not a good tale in our education sector, as education is the life-wire and development stimulus of every individual and nation.

“This gesture is another contribution of mine to societal wellbeing and development of the citizen of my state.,” he said.

The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye, in a remark, expressed the community’s gratitude to the donor for the kind gesture.

He urged the students to reciprocate the gesture by being good ambassadors of the council and strive to achieve higher grades in their examinations.

Ibitoye also urged the students to shun cultism, hooliganism and other anti-social vices..

Chief Peter Oyinloye, President Omu-Aran Development Association, described the gesture as unprecedented in the history of the council.

Oyinloye urged other philanthropists, individuals and group to emulate the kind gesture.

The association president also expressed appreciation to the President and Founder of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo for his immense contribution toward the educational development of the community.

“It is on good record that Oyedepo not only donated N40 million toward the development of the community schools but is presently paying salaries of 12 teachers in the schools under his foundation,” he said.

Oyinloye charged parents to always ensure adequate support for their children for them to acquire qualitative education.

Mr Joseph Adeboye, who spoke on behalf of the parents, described the gesture as a morale booster in view of current economic recession.

Mr Gabriel Opatola, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Irepodun Local Government chapter also lauded the donor’s gesture.(NAN)
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Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Aisha Buhari wants women to be role models to younger generation
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Models

By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called on women in leadership positions to be role models for younger generation of women leaders to achieve full inclusion of women.

Buhari said this in Abuja at the third annual conference organised by SHE Forum Africa with the theme: Regroup, Reboot and Remove the mask.

Aisha Buhari was represented at the conference by Dr Toyin Saraki, wife of the Senate President.

She said that women, including those in leadership positions, needed to come together to map out concrete plans on how to promote gender equality.

Buhari said that women also needed to work towards promoting health, safety, education and entrepreneurship for people in the work place, market and rural communities.

“As women and mothers of the nation, the faith of the next generation of both girls and boys occupies much of my thinking.

“To achieve gender inclusion, the world must break up and pay attention to the rights and opportunities of all human beings to reach and live up to their full potentials,” Buhari added.

She urged governments at the local and international levels, private and public organisations as well as individuals to work towards the realisation of sustainable community development.

She said that such development would enhance empowerment of women, including the decision making process of women in the society.

According to Buhari, this will address the undeniable vices and social norms that make women and girls to be treated poorly than men and boys.

She also urged business owners, civil society groups and institutions to proffer solutions to inequality in order to promote creative solutions and systemic change in the society.

Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, a Gender and Development Specialist, said there was need for Nigerian women to regroup, reboot and remove the mask because Nigeria was at war.

“There is a war going on in Nigeria and the rights of women are greatly affected.

“Women are dying daily due to maternal mortality, women are being kidnapped and one out of three women experience some form of violence in her lifetime.

“Poverty, exclusion and abuse are things that have almost been normalised in our country.’’

Fayemi said Nigeria has been featured badly in the global gender economic measures and called on women to take their rightful place in the economy.

She said in the Gender Economic Measure, Nigeria features very badly on most global indicators.

“The 2015 World Bank Gender Equality rated Nigeria as 158 out of 177 countries on the gender economic measures.

“The 2004 World Economic Forum on global gender report rated Nigeria 118 out of 178 counties, Nigeria presently feature as one of the 20 worst countries in the world to be a woman,’’ she said.

She said issues on gender equality and women right had been undermined, adding that culture, tradition and religion are used as an excuse to exclude women from attaining their full potentials.

The gender activist said there was need for more feminist in the decision making process such as women with agenda for change, transformation and how to move women right issues forward.

“We have only six per cent of women in the National Assembly in Nigeria; eight states in Nigeria do not have women at the state Houses of Assembly,’’ she said.

Fayemi called on all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of gender policy framework on Violence Against Persons Act and National Gender Policy, among others. (NAN)
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Edited and controlled by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-25

Pension

Damaturu, Oct. 7, 2016 (NAN) A cross section of the Federal and State civil servants in Yobe, have called on the Federal Government to make the contributory pension scheme more workable in order to curb corruption.

A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Damaturu, revealed that both the Federal and State Governments’ civil servants were not comfortable with the present contributory pension scheme.

Mr Musa Mohammed, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Education, said the contributory pension scheme was working against the interest and welfare of retirees.

“The general arrangements and the accessibility of retirees to their savings, have been made cumbersome, thereby making the system to work against the interest of the retirees,’’ he said.

Aliyu Mustapha, a retiree, said the new pension scheme had created more fears of uncertainty of life after service than it ought to address and it could encourage corruption in the service.

“The experience of every pensioner has not been palatable; the scheme does not guarantee a good life to civil servants after retirement.

“This gives rise to workers engaging in corruption to acquire property and investments by whatever means including fraudulent practices for life after service,’’ he said.

A female federal worker, who preferred anonymity, urged the Federal Government to look into the pension scheme to make life easier for retirees.

“It is very unfortunate that people in the army, police and civil service spend their useful lives serving the nation only to live a dejected life of beggars after service.

“The review in military pension scheme, which showed appreciable improvement should be extended to the civil service to improve the lives of the retirees’’.

She said the poor pension scheme could encourage people to steal while in the service.

“This is because of the fear of the delay or non payment of their entitlements after retirement,” she said.

Similarly, civil servants in the Yobe Government service, expressed fears in the delay of payment of entitlements by the State Government.

Bukar Ali, a civil servant, said the Yobe Government had before now been trying to pay pension and gratuity of retirees but the situation had changed, perhaps due to the recession.

“I implore Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe to give special attention to the payment of entitlements of retirees in order to improve on their welfare,’’ Ali said.

Hassan Isa, another civil servant, said some civil servants in the federal and state services might not want to engage in fraudulent and corrupt practices but they did so for fear of the unknown.

The respondents said that the war against corruption could only be successful with a workable pension scheme that would guarantee the future of retirees. (NAN)

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Edited by Morayo Omolade

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju