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Adeosun’s resignation, salute to honour, integrity – APC
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Adeosun
Abuja, Sept. 16,2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the resignation of Mrs Kemi Adeosun as Minister of Finance and acceptance of same by President Muhammadu Buhari is an action of honour, strength, character and integrity.
Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC acting National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Adeosun in her resignation letter to the president admitted that her National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) exemption certificate was not genuine and might affect the credibility of the administration, if she failed to quit office.
Reacting to the development, Nabena said that like all responsive and responsible governments concerned about the truth and due process, the APC-led Federal Government undertook diligent investigation of the allegation.
“Now that the report of the investigation is out, the right thing has been done, the honourable Minister has taken the path of honour and resigned,” he said.
Nabena congratulated Adeosun for her action and wished her success in her future endeavors, and joined the president in appreciating her immense contributions to the stability of the Nigerian economy in the past three and half years.
He added that in Buhari’s administration of integrity and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, no government officer with a modicum of questionable conduct or integrity should stay in office.
He noted that in past Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)-led administrations, the country was held down by “corrupt and irresponsible public officers”.
He said such officers had often time refused to honour invitations of the National Assembly; closed down national airports against perceived political adversaries and bought luxurious bullet-proof vehicles with public funds at inflated prices.
He recalled that such public officers had also locked out National Assembly members, forcing Federal Lawmakers to climb high barricades in order to assess the legislative chamber.
“It was these acts of corruption, impunity, irresponsibility and executive rascality that made Nigerians vote in the President Buhari administration in 2015, with its change mantra to put a stop to such undemocratic practices,” Nabena said. (NAN)
EEM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

2019 elections: APC charges Nigerians to continue challenging corruption

Charge

Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) has charged Nigerians to continue to challenge corruption and its related vices, and not to allow politicians who institutionalised it to take over governance again.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC acting National Publicity Secretary gave the charge in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

“We must continue to challenge corruption and its related vices, this is in line with the change agenda the APC promised Nigerians, this is a promise we are committed to keep.

“While we alert Nigerians to the plot of some politicians to buy votes and deploy other illegal means to subvert the people’s will during coming elections, we urge relevant agencies to be proactively involved in tracking of election financing.

“The same people who criminally diverted public monies to fund their political activities as brazenly displayed during past administrations, must be prevented from doing same in coming elections,” he said.

Nabena noted that under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, the scale of recoveries from corrupt elements in the past three years by the country’s anti-graft agencies was testament that the administration’s extensive anti corruption drive was yielding results.

He added that compared to the past, the successful prosecution of many corrupt persons, the hugely successful whistle blowing policy and voluntary return of corruptly acquired funds and assets had shown that it was no longer business as usual.

The APC spokesman further said that it also showed that corruption was increasingly becoming unacceptable in the country.

“Corruption can no longer define how we do things as a country, there is a new realisation among well meaning Nigerians that if we do not kill corruption it will kill us.

“We share the submission of a former United States Vice President, Joe Biden; corruption is a cancer; a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity.

“It wastes the talent of entire generations, it scares away investments and jobs,” the APC spokesman said.

He noted that the media space had recently been awash with a campaign of calumny against Federal Government’s anti corruption efforts by the same opposition partisans and their proxies that ruined the country with their institutionalised corruption.

He added that this, was however, expected as corruption would naturally fight back.

Nabena said that sadly, ahead of 2019 elections, those that insitutionalised corrupt in the country had resurfaced to canvass votes of Nigerians for various elective positions, ostensibly to resume “their stealing”.

He stressed that Nigerians were neither gullible nor stupid, adding that they had not forgotten the yoke they bore under the corrupt Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regimes and deserve no more of it.

He recalled that under the PDP administration, public funds that could had improved the education, healthcare sectors and provided infrastructure to develop the economic and social life of Nigerians were sadly in the pockets of “thieves”.(NAN)

EEM/YMU/MNA

Edited by Yakubu Uba/Maureen Atuonwu

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Basketball

By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) Alex Nwora, the head coach of the senior national basketball team, D’Tigers, on Sunday said that his team were focused on beating all contenders at the ongoing 2019 FIBA Africa World Cup Qualifiers in Lagos.

D’Tigers had defeated all eight teams so far in the competition starting with the first window in 2017 where it topped the group F that had power houses Senegal and Central Africa Republic (CAR).

Mali, Rwanda and Cote D’Ivoire are also contenders for the two tickets available for a place in the World Cup to be hosted in China.

Nwora told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his players had the capacity to defeat any team but would not underrate any opposition that comes its way.

“We are a rock solid team and blessed with abundance of talents, but we cannot celebrate now until we play our final game.

“We can continue to improve on our quality based on the availability of our players who are so desirous to represent their fatherland.

“So, we are not satisfied until we pick the ticket and prepare ourselves for the competition ahead,’’ Nwora said.

D’tigers crushed CAR 114-69 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National stadium, Lagos to register one of the biggest scoreline so far in the second round of the qualification series holding in Lagos.

Ikenna Ireogbu, who contributed 18 points to the success of D’tigers, said that he was happy with his performance and that the team was basically focused on getting Nigeria to play in the World Cup in China.

“I am happy about the results so far but we can only work harder and give our best to the success of the team.

“Although we had little time to train, but so far we have struck an understanding and are working towards achieving good results,’’ Ireogbu said.

Similarly, Senegal had recorded seven wins out of eight matches played so far, and were also looking confident for a spot in the World Cup.

Senegal showed superiority over their arch rivals, Mali beating them 82-71 to prove their quality and maintain the stability of the team.

Senegalese star player, Youssouphe Ndoye, recorded 23 points to power the team to success; he also had six defensive rebounds and three offensive rebounds.

He told NAN that Senegal; he was confident about their chances of qualification.

“We have to keep fighting, we fear no opposition, we are here to play ball and we will qualify for the World Cup.

“We cannot be intimidated because we know we have the quality to land our team in China,’’ Ndoye said. (NAN)
BAO/GOM/PDE
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(Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Peter Ejiofor)

Demographic Dividend: UNFPA drums support for youths
By Mustapha Sumaila
Youths
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has advised governments to keep youths at the centre of priority to drive the change of harnessing Demographic Dividend (DD).
Dr Mabingue Ngom, the UNFPA Regional Director of West and Central Africa Regional Office, gave this advice at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Ngom explained that the youth of Nigeria should be at the centre of priority not only in terms of political decision but in the budgeting and concrete actions.
He said that the government and other stakeholders must create space for young people and give them voice in achieving DD in the country.
According to him, the best investment for security is to invest in young people.
The regional director emphasised that in as much as Nigerian youths were not placed in their rightful position “we will continue to have young people crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Libya and Europe’’.
“In Africa today, we have problem of migration which is the symptom of big issue of high population growth driven by child marriage and unmet needs of the young people.
“If we do not invest in our youth, there is no way we will achieve the goal we set out for ourselves in terms of harnessing the DD.
“There must be quality education and job opportunity for the youth in addressing the challenge of migration and insurgency.
“The issue of child marriage is still a problem in some parts of this country and that must be addressed by relevant stakeholders.
“We must also invest in our women, protect them and give them opportunity to have access to Family Planning,” the UNFPA official said. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Salvador

Lagos, Sept.16, 2018 (NAN) A former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr Moshood Salvador on Sunday said he did his best to reposition the opposition party for greatness while he was chairman.

Salvador, now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the claim in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports the ex-PDP chairman had on Aug.27 announced his exit from the opposition party following what he called irreconcilable differences with some elders of the party.

He, along with some other former PDP bigwigs in the state, defected formally to the APC on Saturday.

Salvador said he served his former party selflessly adding that he worked diligently towards the PDP’s target of winning the state.

He debunked insinuations in some quarters that he defected to APC after acting out Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s script to destabilise and weaken the PDP.

“All these things are lies .White lies. I was never a mole of Tinubu in PDP. Those who are saying that are just venting their frustrations because I left the PDP.

“You see, I did a lot for the party, spending my personal resources to ensure that my former party breaks the jinx of winning the state for the first time.

“I was mobilising our members moving from local government to local government, ward to ward, towards a vision to make the party strong and win the general elections.

“I was really working hard to take the party to greater heights .You can’t be working that hard if you are somebody’s mole. But my efforts were not appreciated by some people who always wanted to reap without sowing.

“They were always frustrating my efforts and peddled lies that I was involved in the killing of a chieftain of the party.

“And I thought my continued stay in the PDP was becoming frustrating and dangerous.That was why I left with my teeming supporters to join the APC”, he said.

He said the defection to APC meant that the PDP was dead in the state as he had collapsed the entire structure of his former party into APC.

Salvador thanked Tinubu , APC executive members and other party members for the ceremonious reception for him and his supporters .

He said he felt at home in the fold of the progressives, having been with Tinubu and others in the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

The former PDP chairman promised to add value to his new party to garner more votes for APC in the general elections.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described the official defection of Salvador to the APC on Saturday as a face saving action.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Taofik Gani said in a statement on Sunday that the former party chairman could not have stayed longer than he did.

He said Salvador had been technically expelled from the PDP as party members had passed a vote of no confidence in him.

“Salvador has only proactively moved to APC to avoid the imminent expulsion already concluded.

“He is not a figure that can be a threat to our victory in 2019.He did not even emerge Chairman on merit or clout but on the benevolence of some leaders he now maligns as undemocratic.

“We wish him well but we can never miss an over -ambitious politician that he is”,Gani added(NAN)
BHB/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

UNFPA urges African countries to embrace Demographic Dividend programme
By Mustapha Sumaila
Investment
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called on African countries to key in to achieving Demographic Dividend in order to meet 2030 target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UNFPA’s Regional Director of West and Central Africa Regional Office, Dr Mabingue Ngom, made the appeal when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Ngom explained that there was direct link between SDGs and harnessing the Demographic Dividend (DD).
He said that the DD, like SDGs, was working on four pillars of integrating vital sectors of education, health, job opportunity for the youth and good governance for harnessing the DD.
“Any African country which is not ready to key in will surely be left out in achieving SDGs by 2030.
“As it is in DD, you cannot say you are working only on one sector to meet up the target of 2030 SDGs as all the four vital sectors must be integrated.
“There is need to have policies that are well coordinated, policies that speak to each other in achieving this,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria has signed up to all of these and the country has strong partnership with UNFPA in harnessing DD.
He said that SDGs was all about national vision and national ownership to achieve sustainable development. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Fasehun

By Chioma Ugboma
Lagos, Sept. 16, 2019 (NAN) The Founder of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, on Sunday warned against unguarded talks ahead of the 2019 general elections, saying such might have dire consequences for Nigeria.

The cctogenarian and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Chieftain, who will turn 85 years on Sept. 21, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Fasehun said that the most important task before every Nigerian now was to ensure that the unity and peace of the country was preserved as an entity.

“At my age and looking back at the battles we fought to enshrine democracy in Nigeria through NADECO, I cannot sit and watch Nigeria disintegrate.

“Elections are not a door die affair. Leaders come and go which is why we have tenure in Nigeria. It is not a life position but the country will always remain for new leaders.

“I am most pained that some of the elder statesman are on the sidelines, and doing nothing to call their people to order.

“It is not a situation restricted to any part of the country, it cuts across. This is the time for statesmen to rise and speak with one voice against violence and incitement that may negate what we stand for as a nation,” Fasehun said.

He said that there was need for Nigerians to go beyond ethnicity and party leanings in selecting their leaders.

“2019 is not about the Presidency alone. Attention must be given to those who represent the people in the National Assembly. The governors and their state assemblies are not left out of it.

“The centre cannot work properly if we continue to vote in persons whose only intention are to embezzle.

“How do we begin to justify the inability of state governors to pay workers’ salaries. There are so many issues that have become so worrisome and at my age, I fear it may end up becoming a norm to owe salaries in Nigeria.

“The buck stops with the people. It is their decision to make. Whatever choices they make are what they will live with.

“Voting is not for God to do. It is for humans. In doing this, our conscience must be our guide. The future of our generations must remain the priority as we go to the polls,” he said.

He urged civil society groups to take up the task of educating Nigerians, especially the youth against being used during elections to spill blood or disrupt the electoral process.

“My thinking is that henceforth, the security apparatus should move to pick up anyone, groups or persons who make inciting comments ahead of the polls as a deterrent.

“We once fought a civil war, we cannot afford war in Nigeria again because at this stage of our development, war will affect every part of the nation. It will crumble the nation completely and make us all refugees, including the rich and the poor.

“When I go, I would love to go happy, knowing that things are working right and that we did not fight in vain.

“I want a Nigeria that will make us all proud and take it’s pride of place among the comity of nations in all aspects,” Fsehun said.

On who becomes the next President in Nigeria, Fasehun, said, “My preference does not matter. I am an elder statesman now. My blessing goes to all and I pray that the best man will be chosen by the people in a violence-free election.”

He restated the need for Nigeria to be restructured in accordance with agitations from the various entities making up the country.

NAN reports that Fasehun was born in 1938 and hails from Ondo City in the current Ondo State.

A medical doctor, he studied science at Blackburn College and furthered his education at Aberdeen University College of Medicine.

He also studied at the Liverpool Postgraduate School after which he had a Fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons.

In 1976, he studied acupuncture in China under a joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Development Scholarship Programme.

In 1977, he set up an Acupuncture Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Fasehun resigned in 1978 and immediately set up the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre in Lagos. The Acupuncture Centre once earned a reputation as Africa’s first for the Chinese medical practice.

The OPC he founded is a Yoruba-based organisation formed to actualise the annulled mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, a Yoruba who purportedly won the presidential election of June 12, 1993 but was barred from office.

Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December 1996 to June 1998 during the military rule of Sani Abacha, only ending 18 days after Abacha’s death.
(NAN)
CHOM/PDE
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(Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Peter Ejiofor)

Without Nigeria, no Demographic Dividend in Africa – UNFPA
By Mustapha Sumaila
Success
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says if Nigeria succeeds in harnessing Demographic Dividend (DD), Africa as a continent will succeed.
Dr Mabingue Ngom, the UNFPA’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa Regional Office, stated this while fielding questions at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Ngom said that Nigeria being the giant of Africa had an important role to play in the continent because of its unique strength in terms of population and resources.
He said that Nigeria was the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world.
“Nigeria is so important to us because we believe if Nigeria succeeds, Africa will succeed and if Africa has succeeded, there is no doubt, we will have a better world.
“Nigeria has a great and important role to play and I am happy we are enjoying strong partnership with the people of this country.
“And we can build on it to make sure whatever we do here is replicated in Western and Central African countries,” Ngom said.
On harnessing DD, the UNFPA regional director said that Nigeria was on track, but advised the country to do more.
“We need to do more, we need to go faster and there is need for us to do it together because of the significance of this issue,” the official said.
Ngom also underscored the need for the private sector to play an aggressive role to make accelerated progress in this important project of global growth.
He charged media to be major players in sensitising stakeholders in harnessing DD in the country and indeed Africa. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Boxing

Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The 4th GOtv Boxing NextGen Search ended in Abeokuta on Saturday on a good note as no fewer than 20 talented young boxers were discovered from the 150 participants.

The programme,  which began on Thursday, attracted boxers from Enugu, Abia, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos states as well as Abuja.

The selected boxers were unveiled at the closing ceremony held at Dunkin Pepper Gym, MKO Abiola International Stadium.

Adeyemi Elijah emerged the best boxer of the competition, while next to Elijah, who also displayed extraordinary qualities were Akintayo Aminu and Shogbanmu Waheed.

Speaking at the event, Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Productions, said that the programme was designed to continually oil the wheels of progress of professional boxing in Nigeria.

He said that the competition would unearth talents that could be nurtured from local to international stardom.

He added that Flykite Productions was considering setting up a training camp for long term  improvement and education of the boxers selected.

Alumona advised boxers who failed to make the cut not to take their rejection as the end of their dream of becoming professional boxers.

“Boxers selected at the programme will have their boxing licences and pre-licensing medical examination paid for by the sponsors.

“The selected boxers will make their professional debut at the next edition of GOtv Boxing Night,’’ Alumona said.

Meanwhile, the best three boxers got gifts of GOtv decoders, while others also got gifts. The organisers also announced a donation of N50,000 to the Ogun State Boxing Association.

The programme had the attendance of Dr Rafiu Ladipo, the President Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and Remi Aboderin the Secretary-General and some ex-internationals such as Joe Mensah, Obisia Nwakpa and Jerry Okorodudu. (NAN)
BAO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

FG sets to recruit 5,000 unemployed Nigerians for BRISIN implementation

Recruitment

Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government has disclosed plans to recruit 5,000 unemployed Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory under the Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN) scheme.

Dr Anthony Uwa, the Head of BRISIN implementation in Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that more Nigerians would be recruited after the pilot phase.

NAN reports that BRISIN is an integrated system for the collection, storage and distribution of information to support the management of the economy.

Uwa said the system aimed at bringing developmental and economic growth in the country through the use of data collection of people and other relevant information.

“The data received will be used to plan for the management of the nation’s resources,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the project was initiated by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, while the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration inaugurated a Technical Committee for its implementation.

According to Uwa, since BRISIN covers all aspect of the economy, the recruitment is not restricted to a particular field or discipline.

He however, said the implementation would commence with the social welfare, an aspect of the project, with special attention to disability data bank.

“We are giving attention to social welfare and building the disability data bank to attain the actual number of disabled people in the FCT.

“We are recruiting 5,000 people out of which 200 will be sent to Italy for training on various aspect of the project and they will be the trainees’ trainers.

“They will be trained mainly on the use of data on every aspect of economic management with attention to health, education, economic monitoring, fiscal and revenue control, migration and human trafficking.

“BRISIN recruitment cuts across all cadres, from school certificate to PHD holders so the recruitment is not restricted.

“The recruitment will be published on e-transact by next week, the portal will be opened for about six weeks and the public will be sensitised on how to access and fill the form through the portal.

“Also, the 5000 people we are recruiting does not mark the end of BRISIN recruitment but just a pilot phase, as we start from FCT we will train those to work in other states,’’ Uwa said.

On the funding, he said a budget had already been allocated to the project but being as it was small, a BRISIN international Foundation was established to help source fund to supplement government effort.

“The budget is small so we have to look for donors from well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations and international donors so we do not depend on government funds alone.

“With this foundation, we want to see those claiming to love Nigeria come and donate generously to the implementation.

“When this is fully implemented, it will reduce the risk of Nigerians that engage on illegal migration, so this foundation is as important as BRISIN itself.

He urged Nigerians not to consider the move as a political affair being that it was an election year, but see it as a dream come true for Nigeria to attain the height it ought to have regarding job availability.

According to him, considering the economic monitoring, a lot of people will be involved, so it will create jobs and also a multiplying effect of job creation in the nation. (NAN)
LCN/GOM/MNA
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Maureen Atuonwu