Blog

Onyeama’s audio on cricket equipmentAudio Attached

NAN-S-16

Cricket

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Emeka Onyeama has said that locally manufactured cricket kits will soon be available for distribution to schools.

Onyeama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the federation is working closely with some international companies operating in the country to produce the kits.

He said the partnership would go a long way in aiding the development of the game in the country.

• Cue in audio

“It is one of the initiatives that we have done – getting local companies involved and giving them a task to start producing the equipment in Nigeria.

“That will also help in making sure the equipment is readily available for the growth of the game.

“Actually, we have produced a lot of samples, which we are testing right now.

“Hopefully very soon we will be able to start giving out those things to Junior Secondary Schools.’’

• Cue out audio (NAN)

IHA/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

=====================

NAN- ELS-7

Movie

By Ebere Agozie

New York, Oct.5, 2015 (Reuters/NAN) Actress Emily Blunt who played Rachel Watson, in “The Girl on the Train’’ says the movie highlights women’s struggles.

The movie is a story of loneliness, alcoholism, voyeurism and female empowerment.

It is about an alcoholic who has lost her job and her marriage and who spies from the train on her cheating ex-husband and his new wife Anna.

Rachel turned an amateur detective when another woman with disturbing secrets, goes missing and turns up dead.

According to her, I feel like this film represents women’s right to be bad, flawed, wrong, and messed up and I think women around the world are going to applaud that.

“Yes, the women were pitted against each other in the beginning, but yet they ultimately united, and they were real.

“All three women are subject to jealousy, controlling behavior and gas lighting, the term for psychological abuse that makes a victim doubt his or her sanity.’’

Some previews have had women in the audience cheering at the end as the female characters wreak their revenge.

The movie opens during domestic violence awareness month in the United States and the National Network to End Domestic Violence has produced discussion questions that highlight themes of abuse in the book.

Director of the film Tate Taylor said he would be glad if the film empowered women.

“I didn’t intend on an intellectual level for it to be a revenge film, but it has struck a nerve.’’

Taylor, who also directed the female-centric movie “The Help’’, attributes his empathy with women to his upbringing.

“I was raised by a single mom and she was pretty much my primary caregiver, so I had a lot of female energy and I saw a lot of struggle.

“A lot of determination and a lot of success and I equate women with being survivors because of my mom,’’ he said.

Taylor and Blunt said the movie was deliberately darker than the book.

“We agreed that we were really going to reveal the underbelly of domestic life in all its darkness said Blunt.

“It’s incredibly brutal to watch at times and unsettling, and I am thrilled that even for lovers of the book, it still shocks.’’ (REUTERS/NAN)

EEE

===

Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-H-28

Eatery

By Elusogbon Dorcas

Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) A 29-year-old, Timothy Akawu, who allegedly broke into an eatery and stole N108, 500, was on Wednesday docked at an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court  in Osun.

The accused, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on charges of break-in and theft.

The accused had on Sept. 23 at about 2.00 a.m. broken into Captain Cook Eatery and stole N108, 500, Prosecutor  Sunday Osanyintuyi told the court.

He said the offences violated Sections 383, 390 (9), 411 and 412 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Olalekan Babatunde, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal term, promised that he will not jump bail.

Magistrate Dorcas Ajiboye admitted him to a bail of N200, 000 with two sureties in like amount.

“The accused must swear to an affidavit of means, reside within the court’s jurisdiction as well as produce evidence of three years tax  payment to the government.

She adjourned the case to Nov. 2 for hearing. (NAN)
EDA/DA
======

Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

NAN-S-3
Beach Soccer
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Construction has commenced at the site that will host the maiden Kwara Beach Soccer competition, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Coordinator of the competition, Abdulrasheed Saraki, told NAN at the site inside the state stadium complex on Wednesday that the workers would hasten the work to ensure its timely completion.

He confirmed that the competition has been scheduled to kick off from Oct. 22.

Saraki added that there would be exhibition games from Oct. 12 to Oct. 14, between Referees, Selected Coaches, Selected Managers and the tournament’s selected team captains, led by Super Sand Eagles Skipper, Isiaka Olawale.

He said that 40 teams had been registered for the competition, noting that they had been placed in five groups of eight teams each.

Saraki said that two teams would qualify from each group for the second round which that would feature the knockout round of matches.

The competition’s coordinator assured Nigerians of a successful tournament. (NAN)
OOH/PDE
=======
(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

Tukpese community Tasks FCT for water, basic amenities

NAN-AE-
Water
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Tukpese Community in Abaji Area Council in the  FCT, on Wednesday, called on relevant authorities in the territory to provide water and other basic amenities for the benefit of  inhabitants.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that inadequate water supply and basic amenities made life difficult and unbearable for them in the community.

According to them, it is important for the FCT Administration and philanthropists, to provide a source of potable water to reduce the number of children dying from water-borne diseases in the village.

Some of the residents who spoke to NAN said women and girls usually spend long hours searching for water in distant streams and rivers, saying that this is not making them have time to source for livelihood.

The Village Head, Alhaji Tanko Iliya, told NAN that the only school in the community had leaking roofs which were not conducive for learning.

He said there were no recreation centres and other relaxation spots in the community which was close to the nations’ capital, saying this trend needed to be reversed.

“We don’t have water at all, we go to far places to get water from the streams and rivers, the water is dirty, but that is the only source of water we have here.

““Since it is the only source of water in the community, the people are usually, left with the option of using the water the way it is.

“We want the Federal Government and the FCT Administration to come to our rescue; so that our children will stop falling ill from preventable disease and water borne diseases.”

Iliya said children from the community usually fall sick from cholera and diarrhoea, saying this had led to most of them not being punctual at schools.

A resident of the less than 1,000  inhabitants, Dorcas Yunusa, told NAN that she had to trek long distances before getting water for domestic use, saying this had caused untold hardship to most women.

Yunusa said women in the community gave birth at home and through the use of traditional birth attendants, saying the only health centre had no infrastructure for delivery to take place.

According to her, a large number of them have died while giving birth, saying in most cases, the children died due to lack of emergency response to arrest pregnancy complications.

Another resident, Asabe Adama-Nahilo, called on relevant authorities to provide access roads to the community, saying there were difficulty in conveying farm products to the markets.

“We need road in this community, cars find it difficult to get into this place, they have to park at a distant place and use motorcycles.

“It is very difficult to take our goods into the market, some of us have fell on different occasions,while climbing motorcycles into town.” (NAN)

(Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/ Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-H-65

Impersonation

Ifetedo (Osun), Sept. 5, 2016 (NAN) A 30-year-old man, Mr Jamiu Ibrahim, charged with impersonation, was on Wednesday arraigned at an Osun Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ifetedo.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Monday Ojiezele, told the court that the accused posed as a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer and obtained N448, 100 under false pretence from one Emmanuel Abolarin and Joshua Adeyemi.

He said that the accused collected the money in the guise that he secure immigration job for Abolarin and Adeyemi, but converted it to his own use.

Ojiezele said that Ibrahim committed the offence at about 6 p.m. at Odemuyiwa Village Junction, Garage Olode in Ifetedo, Ife South Local Government Area of Osun.

According to him, the offence is contrary to section 382, and punishable under sections 180 (2), 390 and 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun, 2002.

The defence counsel, Mr Sunday Olagbaju, applied for the bail for the accused in a “most liberal term’’ and pledged that his client would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mrs Dorcas Ajiboye, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ajiboye ordered that the sureties should swear to an affidavit of means, be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, be a blood relation to the accused and would have their addresses verified by a police officer.

She also ordered that the accused and the sureties should produce two recent passport photographs of themselves.

Ajiboye adjourned the case till Oct. 26 for hearing. (NAN)
EDA/CEO/OPI

Edited and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

Council inaugurates 8-man Primary Healthcare Development Committee

By Yinusa Ishola

NAN-H-63
Inauguration
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Irepodun Local Government Council of Kwara on Wednesday inaugurated an 8-member Primary Healthcare Development Committee, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring prompt healthcare delivery services across the communities.

Dr Abimbola Folorunso, Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, inaugurated the committee at the council headquarters in Omu-Aran.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law establishing the agency was enacted by the administration of former governor Bukola Saraki in 2010.

Mr Smauel Buoye and Mrs Felicia Ogundeyi are to serve as Chairman and Secretary respectively.

Folorunso said the establishment of the agency was part of the policy thrust of the government aimed at bringing healthcare services closer to the people.

Folorunso said the government through the agency has been working tirelessly and had put in place adequate infrastructure and personnel needed to achieve effective healthcare delivery.

She urged the committee members to remain committed and dedicated to their responsibilities so as to improve on the state low score performance in the area of primary healthcare.

“I want you to avail yourself of a copy of the agency’s constitution and note especially Section 131-133 which has to do with functions and workload of the committee.

“This is to assist you map out effective strategies, as pioneers, to be able to tackle challenges hindering effective delivery of primary healthcare services,” she said.

Alhaji Luqman Owolewa, the council chairman, who spoke, expressed his administration’s resolve to impact positively on the healthcare of the people.

Mrs Mary Afolayan, the council’s Head of Health Department and member of the committee who responded, promised that they would discharge their duties with humility and dedication. (NAN)
ISHO/OU

=======

Edited by Obike Ukoh

===================

World Teachers’ Day: Kwara people advocate better welfare for teachers

NAN-H-62

Teachers

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Ilorin, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Ilorin on Wednesday called for better welfare for teachers as the World Teachers Day is celebrated.

Some of them who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said teachers formed the bedrock of any society and should be well catered for.

According to one of the respondents, Mr Lucky Adesanya, teachers are being taken for granted .

”Teachers are the set of people we should be rallying round, but our belief that their reward is in heaven has made us to leave them lacking.

”Their welfare should be paramount to both government and individuals, if we really want to appreciate the role they play in the society,” Adesanya said.

Mrs Adijat Adeosun said that their salary structure should be the best but it was the other way round.

”The salary of teachers should be the best going by their importance in our society; but it is a pity that they are among the worst paid.

”They are not well regarded especially in this state, so there is nothing to celebrate about teachers,” Adeosun said.

Another respondent, Mr Blessing Yusuf, argued that teachers should be given better treatment than they were currently getting.

“The regulatory bodies should ensure that only qualified teachers are employed.

”Although teachers should be well taken care of, but I am sorry to say this, some teachers are not worthy to be called one.

”Some of them lack the qualification to even pass knowledge to other people, so how can they impart knowledge?

”So, it is important for their regulatory body to ensure that they are sound enough, so that they don’t do our children more harm than good, because you can’t give what you don’t have,” Yusuf said. (NAN)

BAY/HS/NKO

===========

Edited by Halima Sheji/Nkechi Okoronkwo

NAN-H-24

Protest

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Trade unions in the aviation sector on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos over the proposed concession of the four major airports in the country.

The protest was organised by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had indicated its interest to concession the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports to increase their capacity and efficiency.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Don’t Sell Our Future’’, “Don’t Concession Our Airports’’ and “FAAN Should Not Be Killed”, urging the government to reconsider its decision.

Numbering over 1,000, the protesters were guarded by airport security officials and the police to prevent breakdown of law and order, and to ensure free flow of traffic for motorists.

The unions, in a leaflet distributed at the protest, said airports concession was a threat to national security.

They argued that the concession would kill the 17 local airports which were tantamount to “economic terrorism”.

The unions also urged the government to review all FAAN’s existing concession agreements, especially that of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited and Avitech.

Recently, the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt.Hadi Sirika, met with the unions to assure them that the concession of the airports would not lead to job losses.

Sirika said the government’s resolve to concession the airports was aimed at ensuring the establishment and sustenance of world-class standards in infrastructure development and service delivery.

He assured the unions that concession was not tantamount to privatisation or outright sale.

According to him, the facilities being concessioned remain the properties of Nigeria and FAAN. (NAN)

ASO/MO/SOA

=============

Edited by Morayo Omolade/Oluwole Sogunle

Court adjourns ex-governor Goje’s case till Nov. 22
NAN-H-61
Goje
By Thompson Yamput
Jos, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) A Gombe Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Wednesday adjourned the five-year-old case against former governor Danjuma Goje till Nov. 22.

The judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri, adjourned the case to enable the prosecution tender the financial regulations and due process documents which the witness talked about.

Quadri set out four days – Nov. 22 to Nov 25 –  as requested by prosecution for continuation of hearing of the case.

Goje is standing trial along four others on a five-count bordering on financial dealings, including the contract on food supply to the government house during his tenure as well as loan facilities taken from both Access and Union banks.

At the resumed hearing the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu, led the eight prosecution witness, Dr Sani Gyauro, in evidence.

Shittu had applied for an adjournment to enable him tender the financial regulations and due processes documents mentioned by the Gyauro.

“My Lord, in view of the relevancy of the financial regulations and due process documents regarding the subject matter of food procurement, I wish to apply to the court to adjourn this case and give us four to five days.

“I wish to tender the relevant documents about the manner contracts for the procurement of food for the government during former Goje time was flaunted, ’’ he said.

Shittu said he had 16 witnesses but the problem was logistics to bring them, adding that “if I can have the four or five days, I will take all of them and then close my case”.

Mr Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), the Defence Counsel, did not object to the application, but said four days would be okay and not five days.

“As regards to logistics, we are also victims; I am not objecting to the application for an adjournment but we hope that we shall be serve with all the documents to be tendered on time so as not to put us in a tight corner, which might affect our proceedings, ’’ Akintola pleaded. (NAN)
TYC/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha