Blog

NAN-ELS-1

Hotel

By Collins Yakubu-hammer

Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) Hiton has signed a management agreement with Quality Inspection and Testing Services Limited (QUITS) to open a 350 guest-room and suite hotel at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

This is contained in a statement signed by Daniel Ford and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

“The hotel will be situated within close proximity to Ikeja as well as the passenger terminals at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which services travellers flying to hundreds of destinations around the world.

“The hotel will comprise 350 guest-rooms, of which 72 are suites, an Executive floor and multiple food and beverage outlets, including a restaurant serving international cuisine and a speciality restaurant.

“It will also have a fashionable rooftop cocktail bar, a hip night club, an elevated pool deck, with lavish gardens and a striking horizon pool overhanging the side of the property.

“This will provide breath-taking views of the surroundings and a unique leisure experience for an airport property; it will also feature a spa and fitness centre,’’ Ford said.

He explained that business travellers and event planners would benefit from a wide choice of professional facilities across the 2,600sqm event space, including a 1,350sqm ballroom and 500 sqm junior ballrooms.

Similarly, Mr Patrick Fitzgibbon, the Senior Vice President, Development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide said that Lagos was the seventh-fastest growing city in the world and the second largest in Africa.

“Strong growth is forecasted in both domestic and international travellers using Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“So, this exemplary new hotel will be well placed to meet traveller’s needs, offering an unparalleled level of design, comfort and service,’’ Fitzgibbon said.

Mr Jim Holthouser, the Executive Vice President, Global Brands, Hilton said the hotel would further solidify their presence in Nigeria and be a great asset to their Hilton Hotels and Resorts properties trading.

“We have great confidence in this growing market and are proud to be pioneering exemplary guest experiences across the continent with our range of Hilton brands.

“Hilton is set to more than double its presence in Africa in the next three to five years, to more than 80 hotels and is focused on further development prospects across the continent.

“This signing is in addition to the recent signing of Legend Hotel Lagos Airport, Curio Collection by Hilton, also with QUITS, with an additional 76 guest rooms to be added.

“Thus bringing the room count up to 130-keys; these properties represent the two most recent hotels signed at Lagos Airport.

“The Curio hotel due to open in 2017, will be the first within the airport environment giving guests and airline passengers alike unrivalled ease of access to the airport’s facilities,” Holthouser said.

In his remarks, Mr Sam Iwuajoku,the Chairman and Chief Executive Officering of QUITS, said: “the signing of the agreement to open Hilton Lagos Airport is testament to a period of exciting growth and development for Lagos’’.

“Our plans to build an exceptional hotel at the international airport will revolutionise the traveller experience and also offer a state-of-the-art choice for conferences, meetings and events.

“We look forward to a very successful collaboration with Hilton Worldwide on this outstanding development,’’ Iwuajoku said. (NAN)

CMY/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NGO wants government to stem killings in Jema’a LG

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NGO

Kafanchan (Kaduna), Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) A Kaduna-based NGO, Community Peace Partnership, on Thursday urged all levels of government to end the lingering crisis in Godogodo community of Jema’a Local Government, Kaduna State.

A press statement issued in Kafanchan by its Chairman, Alhaji Iliyasu Musa, noted that the crisis had claimed scores of lives and property since it started in Ninte village in May this year.

According to the NGO, the crisis has spread to eight communities and led to the death of 40 people.

It added that 203 houses had been destroyed and more than 5, 000 people were displaced since the attacks began.

The group, therefore, called for total enforcement of laws prohibiting sales and possession of arms in Kaduna state, as part of proactive measures to end the crisis.

It appealed to all the warring parties to sheath their swords, to pave way for dialogue and amicable resolution of all the issues that led to the crisis.

The organisation said religious and traditional leaders in the state must rise up to the responsibility of teaching their followers to value the dignity of human life. (NAN)

MGK/MZA
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Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Cybercafés in Abuja devise means of stopping Cybercrime
NAN-H-13
Cyber crime
By Happiness Obi and Abigail Williams
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) Some operators of cybercafés in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, said that they had devised means of checking cyber crime in their offices.

The operators told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that they had found ways of preventing the perpetration of the crime in their cafes.

Mr Emmanuel Igor, Operator of X-Tream Café in Wuse, said that they were aware of cyber crime and had devised their own means of curbing it in the outlet.

He said one of the ways he was warding the crime in his outlet was to inform all clients through a notice posted at the entrance that no one should send any scam mail or visit any unsolicited site.
Igor said that any client caught sending any scam mail or doing such would be handed over to security agents.

“Here in X-tream café, we posted a notice at the door telling clients not to open scam mails and that anyone caught will be handed over to the necessary authority.”

He suggested that government should step into this issue of checking cyber crime and devote more efforts to fighting it.

“I want to suggest that government should deploy security agents from time to time to check different cafes at different points to check what they do and how they operate.

“ By so doing, both operators and customers will be careful with their activities”.
Another operator, Mr Kazeem, said that he would not encourage cyber crime in his café and he was very strict about it.
“When I see customers opening some sites that they are not supposed to open, I go close to them and tell them what is allowed here in the café.

“We don’t allow YouTube here because of pornographic pictures and videos”.

He said that he was not handing erring clients to security men, but would charge them a fine.

Miss Gladys, a secretary with Prestix café, said that the office had all the systems programmed in such a way that not all sites could be visited.

“What we do here is this; there is something like a gate keeping process we operate with. We programmed our system and internet in such a way that clients cannot access any site that is illegal”

Mr Gbenga Folarin, another operator, said he was not prying on activities of his clients in his café.
“I really don’t monitor my clients; all I do is to render services to them and make my profit because that is why I am here.” (NAN)
HOU/AWA/TA

NAN-H-36

Passengers

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Thursday said that global passenger traffic increased by 4.6 per cent in August 2016, compared to August 2015.

IATA, however, said this was a reduction from the 6.4 per cent increase recorded in July 2016.

The world aviation regulatory body made the announcement in a statement issued by its         Director-General, Mr Alexandre de Juniac in Lagos.

De Juniac said August capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 5.8 per cent, while load factor slipped 0.9 percentage points to 83.8 per cent.

“Growth in passenger demand dipped to 4.6 per cent. While that is disappointing compared to the previous month’s performance, it is still healthy growth.

“And although terrorist attacks in Europe have dampened demand, the impact is ebbing,’’ it said.

According to him, all regions recorded increases, but growth is dominated by airlines in the Middle East.

De Juniac said capacity climbed by 6.5 per cent, causing load factor to slide 1.4 percentage points to 83.9 per cent.

He said that African airlines’ traffic climbed 1.8 per cent, International growth had tracked sideways since the start of the year, reflecting challenges in the major economies.

“Lower airfares are a major factor sustaining demand for air travel. And airline profitability is stronger than ever as a result of a better industry structure and efficiency gains.

“But the lingering impact of terrorist attacks in Europe earlier in the year reminds us that the aviation industry is vulnerable to many external factors beyond its control.

“The risks including the normal ups and downs of the business cycle won’t go away. The industry has improved resilience along with its profitability.

“That will be critical to responding quickly should the business environment change.’’ (NAN)

ASO/MO/EEE

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Edited by Morayo Omolade/Ese E. Ekama

Customs impounds goods worth N101.5m
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Seizures
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit, Lagos, says it intercepted prohibited items with a duty paid value of N101.5 million in September.
Area Controller, Umar Dahiru, told newsmen on Thursday in Lagos that the unit also recovered N30.1 million on false declaration, undervaluation and evasion of duty payment from vehicles and other goods.
The controller said 14 suspects that tried to beat the system from the seaports and border stations were apprehended in connection with the seizures.
“In the month of September 2016 alone, about 98 seizures were recorded, comprising vegetable oil, imported rice, frozen poultry products, fairly used vehicles and general merchandise,’’ he said.
Dahiru commended the courage, patriotism and intelligence displayed by the officers which led to seizures and urged them to intensify their border patrols.
He warned smugglers who saw ‘ember’ months as peak periods for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business, adding that the unit would counter them.
Dahiru said that the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after thorough investigation. (NAN)
AIC/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-AE-7
NEWMAP
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Enugu State has been stalled by non-payment of counterpart funds by the state government, an official has said.

The NEWMAP Communication Specialist, Mr Benedict Agbo, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday.

NEWMAP is a World Bank assisted project on erosion control involving the Federal Government and state governments.

Under the project, the bank mapped out 500 million dollars for projects in Nigeria over an eight-year period.

Agbo said that the project was stalled because the state government owed more than N500 million counterpart funds.

He said  since the inception of the project four years ago, the state government had paid only N60 million meant for the development of work designs for two gully erosion sites.

He named the sites as the Ajali Water Works and the 9^th Mile Corner gully erosion.

He said that the state had 50 gully erosion sites but that five priority sites were chosen for the project.

“The state government is supposed to pay a counterpart fund for the eight years of the project life totalling N750 million. We have yet to receive their counterpart fund.

“The backlog is N506 million. We understand that times are hard but chances are that certain projects that are more important to the life of the people should be given priority,” he said.

Agbo said that the last administration approved N150 million for NEWMAP but expressed regret that the money was not accessed at the time its tenure lapsed.

He,  however, said that the current administration had sent delegations to the priority sites in the state to assess the extent of work done.

“After the assessment it approved N506 million as the 2016 counterpart fund and the backlog of other years’ arrears with a commitment that N53 million would be remitted for the project monthly.

“We strongly believe that the state government is still making plans considering the economic challenges in the country.

“Every state government has a financial challenge. It is our hope that government will implement what has been approved,” he said.

“The non-release of funds is affecting the work so much because there are categories of activities that we do in NEWMAP that are state counterpart fund specific and those activities are suffering.

“Currently, we have 13 states that have bought into the project and are eager to pay their counterpart funds upfront.

“More states are eager to come in and the World Bank does not look at us again due to the reluctance in paying our counterpart funds.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Fidel Ayogu, has said that the state government had not accessed any form of ecological funds for the devastating erosion sites.

Ayogu, however, said that NEWMAP was currently working on some of the erosion sites in the state.

He said that the agency had discovered additional erosion sites and that the state government was committed to working on them. (NAN)

EOA/EMO/JCE
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Edited by Ejike Obeta/Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-H-37
Bomb
By Thompson Yamput
Jos, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The police in Plateau on Thursday arraigned a man in a Federal High Court sitting in Jos for illegal possession of a Military RPG Bomb.

The 37-year-old accused, Nanpon Sambo, alias Yabang, arrested on June 18, 2016 at Bani Hotel, Langtang North Local Government, by men of the Military Joint Task Force (JTF) keeping the peace in the state.

Sambo is being tried on a two-count charge of unlawful possession of firearms contrary to Section 3 and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of Fire Arms Act CAP F28 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The offence also contravened Section 3 of the Explosives Act and punishable under Section 67 of the Explosives Registration Act CAP 117 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

At the resumed hearing, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs Kuturah Saliyuk, told the court the Department of State Services (DSS) had been trailing Sambo since 2013, adding that he was arrested on  June 18, 2016.

The Counsel to the accused, Mr Lawrence Anya, applied for his bail.

“My Lord, the suspects and my client is very sick even before the day he was arrested and is still sick while in the custody.

“Moreso my Lord, the offence under which my client is being detained is a bailable one and I urged this court to consider my application and grant the suspect bail,’’ Anya argued.

But, Saliyuk opposed the application, arguing that even though the offence was bailable, the nature of the weapon, was dangerous for an individual to have in his possession.

“My Lord, I object to such bail application because the suspect by reason of his antecedence, will abscond; it took three years for the DSS, who have been on his trail to arrest him.

“For individual to possess such a military weapon without the consent of the president of this country is a very serious offence that should be treated with all seriousness.

“The suspect had with him ,the RPG Launcher, RPG Charger and RPG bomb, which are complete for use  and such a person should not be toyed with and I so applied that the application should not be granted, ’’ Saliyuk objected.

The judge, Justice Dorcas Agidi, after listening to the arguments of the two counsel, adjourned ruling on the bail application till Oct. 20. (NAN)
TYC/OFN

DG calls for digitisation of pensioners records in Nasarawa

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Digitization

By Awayi Kuje

Lafia, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Director General, Nasarawa State Pension Bureau, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, has called for the digitisation of pensioners records in the state, to end problems of missing records.

Abdullahi made the call on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

He said that the move would also help in reducing errors and delays in processing pensions.

“What the Pension Bureau needs is to digitise the pensioners records so as to avoid missing of pensioners records and information, and in order to improve their standard of living for the overall development of the state.

“We are doing our best to ensure prompt payment of pension, but the problem of prompt payment to pensioners lies with them.

“We asked them to open an account so that we can easily transfer their money, but they want us to be taking their money to them physically, right to their villages.

“If we have all of their accounts, everything will be easy for us and they will also get their pension on time,” he said.

Abdullahi said that the bureau was working hard to ensure prompt settlement of all pensioners’ entitlements.(NAN)

AKW/IS/MZA

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Educationist advocates inclusion of anti-corruption studies in Nigerian schools

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Corruption
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) An educationist, Dr Toyin Akanbi, on Thursday advocated the introduction of Civic and Anti-Corruption studies in Nigerian schools, to entrench current war against corruption.

Akanbi, a former Provost of the College of Education, Ilorin, made the call in a paper presented at a seminar on “Nigerian Youths and the war against corruption” in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) repots that the seminar was organised by a Non Governmental Organisation, Common Cause Initiatives.

Akanbi said the subject should be made compulsory at all levels of the nation’s education sector.

He said government must impose heavy taxes on luxury foreign items, to promote local industries.

“Government should impose heavy taxes on luxurious motor vehicles, residential buildings, flamboyant dresses etc,” he added.

The educationist also called for the reorganisation of the existing anti-corruption agencies and weed out bad eggs in the system.

Akanbi said that Nigerians must change their attitudes to nation building in order to tackle the hydra-headed challenges facing the nation.

He said that the school system offers the best platform of addressing the challenges.

“Corruption is endemic and noticeable in all human activity and sectors, including health, education, transport, unemployment, religion, judiciary and security.”

He identified avarice, greed and poverty as main causes of corruption in the society, adding that the problem has pervaded all segments of the society.

In his paper, a Political Science lecturer at the Federal University, Lokoja, Dr Ebenezer Lawal, advocated for the removal of immunity clause from the Nigeria Constitution.

Lawal, in the paper tilted; `Considering non-institutional options to fight corruption in Nigeria: the role of the youths’, described immunity clause as a shield for politicians and leaders to steal public money.

“The immunity clause in the constitution has been one of the factors that has made the executive to engage in corrupt practices.

“As a result this clause, public servants in Nigeria do involve themselves in series of corrupt practices with the conviction that they are exempted from being probed,” he added.

Lawal argued that removing the clause would deter public officers from engaging in corrupt practices.

The convener of the seminar, Dr Bosede Oyedepo urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the war against corruption.

“The fight against corruption is a common cause for the people of Nigeria; we are therefore operating within the environment of our common agenda,” Oyedepo said.

She said the event was organised to create consciousness among Nigerians on the ills of corruption.

“When we study the dimension of corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria; we came to a conclusion that it is an issue that has dangerously become an acceptable culture in Nigeria.

“It is dangerously becoming unfashionable not to be corrupt in the public and private life of the people of Nigeria.

“It is a moral burden that is a serious albatross on good governance in this country.

“It has international dimension to the image of this country, as the rating of Nigeria on the list of Transparency International has remained shameful for years,” she said.(NAN)
AUO/AOS/MZA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-35

Telephone

By Constance Athekame

Abuja, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Thursday said the number of mobile telephone lines in Nigeria stood at 222, 695, 990 at the end of August.

The commission said this in the August edition of its monthly “Subscriber Data’’ publication.

The report stated that in July, the number lines was 222, 440, 207, and increased by 255, 783 lines in August.

According to the data, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network services in August rose to 222,695, 990 compared to July which had 222,440,207.

The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators had 3,608,272 active users in August, indicating a decline of 3, 654 from 3,611,926 customers recorded in July.

The report also revealed that connected Fixed Wired/Wireless networks’ consumers increased to 349, 185 in August, rising by 252 consumers from the July figure of 348, 933.

It showed that Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) had 32, 925 in August as against 19, 420 in July, representing an increase of 13, 505.

For Tele-density of the country’s telecommunications industry, it indicated an increase of 109.14 per cent in August from 107.33 per cent in the preceding month.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tele-density statistics measure the percentage of a country’s population with access to telecommunication services as determined from subscribers’ data.

The Nigeria Tele-density is currently calculated on 140 million population by NCC, using the 2006 Census figures. (NAN)

COA/DE/OPI

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika