Blog

Commission boss assures intensified efforts in rehabilitating, empowering IDPs

NAN-H-78

Rehabilitation

By Lizzy Agbaji

Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the new Federal High Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced persons (NCFRMI), says efforts at rehabilitating and empowering IDPs will be intensified across the country.

Farouq made this known on assuming duty at the commission on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said that her work in the commission would be anchored on “Operation Bring Home’’ project, which aims at ensuring the safe return of IDPs and returnees to their communities as well as rehabilitating and empowering them.

According to her, the operation will be all inclusive, addressing the plight of victims of insurgency, flood, attacks by herdsmen and all other forms of disasters.

She further said that the commission would achieve this by strengthening its collaboration and partnership with international organisations, states, and local governments.

“ Operation Bring Home (OBH) is my cardinal objective; though I would not neglect the core mandate of this noble commission which includes bringing succour to victims of displacement.

“Now that President Muhammad Buhari has regained lost grounds and degraded the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, it is time to rebuild affected communities and rehabilitate victims.

“OBH would not only focus on the insurgency-affected states in the North-East but would include Benue, Ekiti, Enugu and Zamfara, among others.

“We know that IDPs are not only subjected to undue hunger and homelessness but also dehumanised.

“We must put our hands on deck to provide them food, shelter and hope for a better life.’’

She said that to kick-start the programme, the commission would carry out a comprehensive survey to identify and profile real IDPS, to enable it to evolve a comprehensive action plan.

The Federal High Commissioner emphasised that her administration would go beyond giving relief materials  to train IDPs and returnees in various vocations and provide them with starter packs to empower them to be independent.

Farouq solicited maximum support from members of staff  for effective service delivery.

She also called appealed to international organisations, NGOs and kind-hearted Nigerians to support the commission. (NAN)

LIZ/COO/NKO

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(Edited by Cecilia Odey/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

NAN-H-76

Attention

By Moses Kolo

Kafanchan (Kaduna), Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Teachers deserve more attention as they are the bedrock of human and national development”, a teacher, Mrs Ada Oga, has said.

Oga, a teacher at Headstart Academy, Kafanchan, Kaduna State, stated this during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as part of activities marking this year’s Teachers Day.

She added, however, that it was encouraging that teachers were being recognised throughout the world for their efforts.

Oga stressed that although there was no elaborate activity to mark the Day, teachers had resolved to practice the profession in line with global best practice.

Mr Aron Joshua, a teacher at the LEA School in Kasit, told NAN that teachers were proud of their profession but needed special remuneration to boost their morale.

“An average teacher would go out of his way to impart knowledge when paid worthwhile salary and allowances”, he said.

Joshua said the Teacher’s Day celebration was a renewed call for teachers to redouble efforts in the discharge of their duties.

Mrs Gladys George of Government Secondary School, Takau, urged government at all levels to improve the salaries of teachers and equip colleges of education to produce required standard teachers.

“Most of our colleges of education are in a sorry state yet much is still requiired from them”, she said. (NAN)

MGK/AIB/IEA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Controlled by Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-31
Policing

By Yemi Adeleye and Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Oct.5, 2016 (NAN) A lawmaker representing Alimosho Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly ,Mr Bisi Yusuf has called on his constituents to collaborate with government in its efforts at effectively policing communities in the area.
The lawmaker made the call at a constituency stakeholders meeting on community policing on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, with the theme “Community /Neighbourhood Policing Starts With You“ held simultaneously in all the state`s 40 constituencies to raise awareness on grassroots security.
He said the efforts of the state government and security agencies at providing adequate security in the area would amount to nought without the support of residents.
“When we talk about security, we are not talking about government, security agencies alone; we are talking about you and me, we are talking about everybody.
“Security is everybody`s business because crimes are planned and committed in communities and criminals live among us.
“So, the government, security agencies and residents have a responsibility here. While the government and security agencies are doing their own, the residents too must play their own part.
“It is when we support the efforts of these authorities that our communities can be free of criminals and we can all be safe,“ he said.
Yusuf urged residents to always report suspicious movements and activities in their neighbourhoods to the appropriate authorities for prompt action.
The lawmaker said the continuous provision of patrol vans and other security equipment by government was part of efforts to sharpen the response of security agencies to crime.
He said the government was making efforts at strengthening security at border communities of Ijon, Kande, Ishefun and Ayobo to check rising cases of cross-border crimes.
Yusuf explained that the simultaneous stakeholders` meeting across constituencies was at the instance of the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and that it was proof of the importance the House placed on security.
He said the meeting was organised annually to get feedback on security from the various constituencies for better intervention.
Earlier, Mr Adebayo Alaye, Chairman, Community Development Asscociation, Agbado –Oke Odo, commended the state government for the provision of equipment to enhance the capacities of the police.
He said the association would continue to sensitise residents on the need to work with the police to provide security in the area.
Also, Mr Abraham Onifade, Chairman, Motorcycles Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS), said motorcyclists were very strategic to community policing in view of the nature of their business.

He urged government and residents not to ignore motorcyclists in their efforts to effectively police communities as “we know everywhere and everybody“.
Mr Wale Abdul-Rasheed, President, National Youth Council, Alimosho, urged the government to provide more equipment to the police to enable them to function more effectively.
He said there was the need to engage more youths on community policing because they were at a vantage position to expose crimes in their various communities.
“We are youths, we have more time. Most crimes are perpetrated by youths and we are in a better position to expose criminals because they live among us,“ he said.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ipaja Police Station, CSP O. Busari, urged residents to see policemen as their friends and partners.

He appealed to them to always volunteer information that could be useful to apprehending criminals and nipping crimes in the bud.

NAN reports that stakeholders at Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 also said it had become imperative to involve communities in the policing of their environment to reduce the crime rate.

The Baale of Sogunle, Alhaji Rafiu Ajisegiri, said, “The community leaders have been left out of implementation of security policies for long in the state.

“Issues of security should not be taken for granted in the state. So, with this step of involving neighbourhood in policing, security threats will drastically reduce.”

Ajisegiri said that residents were the best police for an area because they lived there and knew the terrain.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Elders Council in Oshodi-Isolo, Chief Samuel Showunmi, described community policing as the way forward to enhance security.

“This (community policing) has become paramount in today’s security realities. It should be taken seriously by not only the state government, but also by the residents.

“A strategic security platform should be established by government to address insecurity in each constituency,” Sowunmi said.

In his remark, Mr Olusola Sokunle, the lawmaker, representing the constituency, said that the state Assembly had enacted a law in that respect.

“The two recent laws which were made by the Assembly ‘Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps Law 2016’ and ‘Lagos State Property Protection Law 2016’ are direct response to address the security challenges in the state.

“They were legislations that have come to demonstrate the responsiveness and sensitivity of the Assembly as an assemblage of people that are passionate about the security of the people they represent.

“Community policing should be resuscitated to help make our environment more secured,” the lawmaker said. (NAN)

AYO/BHB/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-HG-7

Immunization

Yusufari (Yobe), Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Deputy Governor, Abubakar Aliyu, on Wednesday took Polio immunization campaign to remote Tulutulua community on the Nigeria/Niger border.

Aliyu who is also the chairman, state committee on polio immunization programme, said government intensified campaign in the border communities to check possible case of migration of the virus.

“Following the report of new cases in Borno state, we have intensified campaign in the border areas.

“Tulutulua is the most difficult, hard to reach, desert area in the state, I personally visited the community to mobilize parents to ensure their children are immunized,” he said.

The Deputy governor urged Yusufari and Yunusari local government councils and traditional rulers to mobilize every community for immunization of their children.

Aliyu said factors such as difficult terrain and porous borders provided room for polio virus to migrate.

“This explains why we have to come here to mobilize the people to ensure that no child is left out.

“We must collectively strive and work towards making Nigeria a polio free nation, this is a goal that we must achieve,” he said.

The Deputy Governor advised parents in Kalghi, Yusufari and Tulutulua to always make their children available for routine immunization and the Immunization Plus days.

Alhaji Umar Suleiman, the Emir of Bade, gave assurance of cooperation of the traditional institutions across the state to mobilize children for immunization.

“We will support Yobe state government to sustain our polio free status and intensify campaign in all the localities including the border communities,” Suleiman said. (NAN)

MM/ORO/MTM/
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/controlled by Tukur Muntari.

NAN-HE-13
Projects
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Dr Bello Gusau, the new Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) says his administration will give priority to executing projects and programmes that have high value impact on the society.

Gusau made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja when Ahmed Galadima, the out-gone acting Executive Secretary of the organisation handed over to him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari recently appointed Gusau the substantive Executive Secretary of PTDF.

Gusau pointed out that with the current economic challenges in the country, it was important to executive projects and programmes that have long term and permanent bearing on the mandate of the organisation.

“But you are all aware of the difficult situation that our country is facing so it becomes imperative that we prioritise.“

He recalled that over the years, PTDF had recorded and attained giant strides in the discharge of its mandate.

He expressed pleasure with the comprehensive nature of the reports detailing the activities of his predecessor and promised to ensure implementation of key recommendations in the report.

He also promised to run an open door policy while assuring that all issues pertaining to the mandate of PTDF would be given attention.

“I want to assure all of you that my doors will be open to any of you on any matter that has any bearing on the discharge of the mandate of this organization,“ he said.

Gusau thanked the out-gone acting executive secretary for the warm reception accorded him when he assumed duty.

He solicited the loyalty and cooperation members of staff to consolidate the success recorded.

Earlier, the former acting Executive Secretary, Mr Ahmed Galadima, attributed the successes he recorded in his seven months in office to the forthrightness and professional friendship extended to him by members of staff.

He said that the re-engineering of the fund for utmost performance was made possible by the collective unity of purpose and hard work of senior management and other members of staff.

He said that despite the prevailing economic challenges, his administration was able to evolve better strategic partnership with stakeholders in Nigeria and abroad to meet the mandate of the organisation.

Galadima said the unrelenting and unwavering determination of members of staff to re-position the fund towards sustainable development of human capital, manifested in the effective utilisation of scare resources through cost saving measures. (NAN)

KC/AEA/AEA
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Edited and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Kwara agency generates N12.5bn revenue in 9 months

NAN-HE-5

Revenue

By Ajayi Toba

Ilorin, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Mr Muritala Awodun, the Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), said on Wednesday in Ilorin that the service generated N12.5 billion between January and September 2016.

Awodun who spoke at a press briefing said that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was higher than the revenue realised during the same period in 2015.

He put the 2015 figure at N7.2billion, adding that the increase was due to blockage of leakages.

Awodun said that N500 million would be paid in monthly into the newly launched Infrastructural Fund (IF-K).

“Come 2017, by this time we are aiming to go beyond N12.5 billion IGR as efforts are put in place to attain greater height.

“KWIRS is able to achieve this success because it is putting the right technology and infrastructure in place.

“In spite the present economic recession, we are able to introduce community impact programme, whereby we reach out to the public in a positive way to achieve our results,” he said. (NAN)

LEX/JI/OU

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(Editing by Joseph Idika/Obike Ukoh)

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NAN-S-8
Tournament
By Victor Asije
Lagos, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN)MoneyGram Guangzhou Open African League (G.O.A.L) has called on footballers from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Congo, Kenya and Uganda to register for its forthcoming maiden tournament in Guangzhou, China.

MoneyGramm International’s Media Person, Ms Maria Bankiet-Kamińska in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos said the tournament was scheduled to commence from Oct. 22 to Nov. 5.

It said the tournament would enable participating teams to showcase their football skills.

The statement also said that teams’ participation would make them win the Grand Prize of 2,000 dollars as best team and 1,000 dollars for the runners-up.

According to the statement, the tournament will run for three consecutive Saturdays and culminate in the grand finale on Nov. 5.

“MoneyGram Guangzhou Open African League (G.O.A.L.) is 5-A-Side football tournament that will take place for the first time on Oct. 22, 2016.

“This initiative brings a professional football tournament to Guangzhou, which is home to a large African community with significant populations from Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Kenya and Uganda.

“Registration for MoneyGram G.O.A.L will last until Oct. 18, 2016. A maximum of 32 teams can enter for the tournament. Each team can have 8-10 players representing any African country.

“So far, we have teams from Nigeria, Congo, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana. We still have over 2 weeks left of registration till it closes,’’ it said.

The statement said that the tournament was launched as the organisation’s way of giving something back to communities.

It added that the competition was also being organised to further promote the important role that football would continue to play in peoples’ everyday lives.

MoneyGram is a global provider of innovative money transfer and payment services and is recognised worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. (NAN)
AVU/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

CORBON to embark on periodic checks on building sites

NAN-H-70
Inspection
By Emmanuella Anokam

Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) says it will conduct regular periodic inspection of building sites to curb the check the menace of building collapse in the country.

Dr Peter Kuroshi, CORBON Registrar, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja, on Wednesday in Abuja that the measure was aimed at establishing and sustaining standard in building production processes.

“The council will be visiting project sites for regular and periodic checks, inspecting the contractors as well as the builder involved.

or engaged for them to produce the right thing.

“Every  professional, participant, contractor, manufacturers and suppliers involved in building delivery is supposed to be regulated strictly.

“Unless we are able to establish standards and sustain this standards in respect to resources that are used and personnel that are involved in building production processes, we will continue to have challenges.

According to him, regulation should not be the responsibility of just one agency as there are several agencies of government established to ensure that standardisation is maintained.

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), he said, was supposed to ensure that only standard resources, human and material resources were utilised for the building production processes.

Kuroshi called for collaboration for professional regulation and stringent monitoring including the regulation of the activities of contractors which h noted, was almost non-existent.

He said that CORBON was taking up responsibility of ensuring that the contractors involved in building production management processes were regulated.

He decried the way and manner actual execution of construction processes was being managed in the country.

The expert said it was in the course of investigation that the council discovered that no registered builder was involved in the construction of the Federal housing Authority building project that collapsed.

“We did our own investigations and discovered that no registered builder was involved in that project.

“But it is not only builders that deliver a building project.

“In the course of execution, periodic visit is required to supervise aspects that other professionals such as architects and engineers make inputsbecause the builder uses all their inputs to build.

“The builder will translate architectural information, interpret and generate instructions to be passed on to trade artisans and craftsmen in the project site,’’ Kuroshi noted.

He said that the council had so much to do but was limited by inadequate funding.

“We are not receiving adequate funding. What we are receiving is not even enough to pay for our office rent not to talk of procuring vehicles for monitoring and evaluation exercises.

“But as soon as we are able to afford some vehicles and pay some money to personnel who will be visiting the building project sites, enforcement and regulation that are our mandate will be sustained.

The expert said that the moment the council identified quacks in the profession, CORBON would hand them over for prosecution.

He further said that the council would also penalise any registered builder involved in malpractices.

CORBON is a government regulatory agency, established in 1989 to regulate and control building technology, profession and practices under the supervision of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. (NAN)

ELLA/YMU/NKO
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NAN-S-4
Swimming
Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Saheed Obadina, the national Aquatic Coach, said on Wednesday that the National Aquatic Federation would select an eight man team for Africa Swimming Senior Championship (ASSC) in South Africa (SA).

Obadina told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the swimmers who would participate in the championships were currently undergoing training in their various states.

According to him, four male and four female swimmers in the elite category will represent the country in Blue Mountain, South Africa.

“We are looking forward to having four males and four females in the elite category to make the final selection.

“The federation has yet to release their names, since they are still monitoring their training in camp, but it is still possible that we may drop some people.

“We will replace them as training goes on which as you know, we have more than that in camp before the final eight selection,’’ he said.

He added that the swimmers would win medals for the country.

“The ones we have on ground definitely Nigeria will win some medals at the championships.

“ Definitely, the swimmers that will represent Nigeria at the Africa Swimming Championships are training, getting prepared in their various states with their coaches.

“But soon, the federation will call them together in Lagos, where we will put final touches to their training before we travel for the championships,’’ he said.

NAN report that the African Swimming Senior Championships is scheduled for Oct. 16 to Oct. 23. (NAN)
ETIM/PDE
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-HE-5
Bank
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Heritage Bank has expressed its readiness to collaborate with customers to grow businesses that would aid job creation and economic development.

The bank made the pledge in a statement issued in Lagos to celebrate Customers’ Service/Appreciation Week.
The bank said it was poised to collaborate with its customers to grow their businesses to conglomerates to be listed on the nation’s bourse.

Ms Adaeze Udensi, the bank’s Executive Director, South Bank, was quoted by the statement as saying that the bank would continue to partner customers in their business expansion and development.

“Our desire is for Nigerian businesses to be listed on the stock exchange and eventually become global brands and household names.

“We believe that businesses like yours are the backbone of the economy because you create jobs and play a huge role in moving our country out of this present recession.

“I encourage you to rise up to this challenge facing every Nigerian entrepreneur and make our economy vibrant again,” Udensi said.

She said that the bank, in order to partner and create wealth for individual customers, organised the business fair to showcase and celebrate business activities of its various customers to commemorate the Customers’ Service Week.

“The Heritage Bank business fair is where new deals are brokered and partnerships initiated and a place to connect,” she said.

Mr Ola Olabinjo, the bank’s Executive Director, Abuja & North Bank, was also quoted as saying that the business week of the bank was a sure foundation of taking Nigeria’s economy out of recession.

Olabinjo said that small businesses were the foundation of every economy and assured them that the bank would grant them the necessary support to do this.

“It is not the size of the balance sheet of the bank that grows an economy, but the patriotism of the bank and the small businesses and we are determined to go the long walk with you,” Olabinjo said.
The statement said that the event, which was open to all retail segments of Heritage Bank’s clients, would be taken beyond Lagos to other cities across the country.

“It is all about giving back to our customers, finding ways to support them as well as appreciating them for their patronage.

“We are open to feedback as we get the feedback and clamour to do more; we can always adjust,” she said. (NAN)
JNC/TA
Edited/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi