Blog

Dedevbo’s audioAudio Attached

NAN-S-17

Fitness

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Peter Dedevbo, the Coach of Nigeria’s U-20 female football team has praised the fitness level of the players invited to camp ahead of the U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

Dedevbo praised their fitness level in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja after the team’s morning training session.

The coach also said that a few of the invited foreign-based players had yet to arrive the camp since it opened on Sept. 27, 2016.

Cue in audio

“I invited each player based on whether or not the player plays every week in her club.

“If you do not play every week, I don’t invite you because in the World Cup it’s about playing and not sitting on the bench.

“The fitness level of the players is good because they are just coming from their clubs where they have played their league and FA Cup matches.’’

Cue out audio

Dedevbo, who won a silver medal with the team at the 2014 edition of the tournament, said Nigeria would not underrate the other teams in its group.

He said the qualifying rounds of the tournament had made every team a potentially good side.

Nigeria, which is drawn in Group B against Spain, Canada and Japan, lost by a lone goal to Germany in the final match of the 2014 edition in Canada.

The championship is scheduled to hold from Nov. 13 to Dec. 3, 2016.  (NAN)

IHA/OSA/YEE

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim

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Africa could be significant LNG importer by 2025 –Total

NAN-F-19

Gas
Cape Town, Oct. 4, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) A Senior Official at Total oil and gas company said on Tuesday that Africa could become a significant global market for imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by 2025.

The official said that Egypt is likely to be the main driver, as more countries eye gas-to-power projects.

“With hundreds of millions of people living without electricity in the continent, African countries are increasingly turning to gas to take advantage of lower global LNG prices amid a supply glut.

“It could be collectively a 20 to 30 million tonnes per year market by 2025,” Tom Earl, Vice President of gas and power development at the French oil major, said.

He said that Egypt could be importing between 15 million-20 million tonnes annually within a decade.

He said that actual volumes would depend on the development of its huge Zohr gas field, which had an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of gas.

He said that West Africa was seen importing 5 million tonnes a year, Southern Africa 4 million and Morocco 2 million tonnes by 2025.

Egypt aims to import between 110 and 120 cargos of liquefied natural gas in 2017, the state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding company (EGAS) said in June.

“Africa really is going to take a central role, the projects may be typically of smaller scale, but nevertheless they will collectively be very important.

“Total was focusing on gas-to-power projects around the world and wanted to develop downstream markets to increase the uptake of gas, which is seen as a cleaner alternative to harmful coal-fired plants.

“Total is willing to invest further downstream and that’s important for us because it is developing future demand, future markets,” Earl said.  (Reuters/NAN)

Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Julius Enehikhuere
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 Freight forwarder decries loss of revenue to Cotonou port

NAN-HE-19

 Revenue

 By Uchenna Eletuo

Lagos, Oct. 4, 2015 (NAN) A freight forwarder and the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) spokesman Dr Kayode Farinto, on Tuesday said Nigeria was losing revenue to neighbouring Cotonou port.

Kayode, said that the unfavourable business climate in Nigeria had compelled some of the shippers to route their cargoes through the Cotonou port where they could make profit.

The ANLCA spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that most of the 41 banned items by Nigeria found their way into the Nigeria market via the Cotonou border.

“If the country is serious on banning those items, efforts should be made to ensure that smuggling of such items is not condoled.

 “Some of my colleagues have relocated their offices to Cotonou and the Seme border town to assist their clients in bringing their goods into Nigeria.

 “It takes a simple economic calculation to know that the revenue that would have accrued to Nigeria through import duties from such goods from the border is being eroded,’’ Kayode said.

 According to him, the country will be making nonsense of the banned policy if the prohibited items continue to make way into the Nigeria market with reckless abandon.

 He urged the security agents at the country’s entry points to live up to their official responsibilities and salvage the nation’s dwindling fortune.

 He added that “if we must get it right as a people, attitude of the officers at the border posts must be sacrosanct”. (NAN)

EUC/GOM/IA

(Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Idris Abdulrahman)

NAN-H-68
Trespass
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Three families in Amechi-Uwani Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area have sued the Enugu State Government for alleged forceful entry and destruction of property.

In a suit filed before Justice Ngozi Emehelu of the state high court on Tuesday, the plaintiffs, through their counsel, Chief Ogochukwu Ogolo (SAN), are seeking a compensation of N3 billion from the defendants.

The defendants are Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, FIT Consult Ltd. and Chief Loreta Aniagolu.

The plaintiffs are the Umuewoukwu, Umueneugwu and Umunnajiagaegbe families and the plots of land are located at the New Independence Layout on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

When the matter was called up for hearing, the state government was not represented in the court.

Ogolo told the court that it had been difficult to serve Aniagolu and then moved a motion for substituted service on her, which was granted by the court.

The matter was adjourned till Nov. 22 for hearing.

A representative of the plaintiffs, Chief Cyril Nganwuchu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the state government without any form of dialogue allegedly took over their property on the pretext of building an estate.

“These are plots of land that we developed between 1986 and 1988 in the old Anambra State.

“We have the gazette and certificate of occupancy and previous administrations respected that.

“The current administration just came, bulldozed into the land, destroying all economic trees, beacons, fences and buildings that were already at various levels of completion,” he said.

Nganwuchu said that the three phases of land belonging to the families were their legal and ancestral inheritance and appealed to the state government to hands off the plots. (NAN)
EOA/MNA/MVO
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Mbadiwe Okwor)

Onu’s audio on research 1Onu’s audio on patent 2Audio Attached

NAN-H-59
Research

By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology says it has mandated research institutes under its supervision to commercialise their findings for wealth and job creation.
Its Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday after the second meeting of the National Research and Innovation Council since its inauguration at the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

• Cue in audio 1 (Onu on research)

“We have mandated all the research institutes under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to pursue commercialisation of research findings vigorously.
“Because we know that if research findings are not commercialised, they will not be of direct benefit to our people.
“And we want to make sure that we make very important contributions in the area of job creation, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
“And You can only do so if research findings are commercialised and we’ll make progress.’’

• Cue out audio 1

Onu recalled the progress the ministry had made on its partnership with Nasco Foods, an indigenous company, regarding its high density nutrient biscuits.
According to him, the ministry is presently discussing with other companies that will soon commercialise a number of its research findings.
He added that the institutes had already been directed to obtain patents for the research findings to secure the intellectual property.

• Cue in audio 2 (Onu on patent)

“We have mandated our research institutes to get a patent to protect any research finding that has been taken to a level of commercialisation.
“Because no investor can come in and invest unless there is security.

“It is that patent, which protects the intellectual property that will give security to investors.’’

• Cue out audio 2

On the nation’s collaboration with India on science and technology, the minister said: “India is a nuclear power; India is a space power; India has a lot of capabilities in so many areas of technology.
“Cooperating with India – that is Nigeria and India working together in the area of science and technology – can be very helpful.
“Today, food security is of tremendous importance to our nation; India has done so well in being able to feed its citizens.
“So cooperation between Nigeria and India in the area of technology will be very useful, both in food security and other areas.’’
Onu noted that since the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy was initiated in 1986, the main organ to drive it never held its first meeting until during the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari.
He said that the organ, the National Research and Innovation Council, met for the first time on Jan. 7, 2016.
“So, this is the second meeting; the chairmanship of the meeting is the vice president; and we looked at how we can advance science and technology in the country,’’ he added.(NAN)
DCU/YEE

Edited/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-S-8
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Course
Lagos, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 25 taekwondo technical officials on Tuesday in Lagos participated in a seminar on modern competition requirements.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day seminar, held at the National Stadium, Lagos, was organised by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF).
NTF President George Ashiru told NAN that the seminar brought the coaches and referees together as a family and taught them modern techniques of interpreting rules at competitions.
“Some rules have been released by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and since we are affiliated to the body we must bring our technical officials to these current competition requirements.
“By the end of this programme, we expect the participants to be able to upgrade their coaching and officiating level in line with rules obtainable without any hitch,’’ he said.
David Kingsley, a participant from the Nigeria Customs Service, expressed delight that the programme would help adjust training for athletes to suit competition requirements.
Kingsley said: “We are better informed on what our athletes are expected to do to attract points or penalty, and it is a plus on our training schedules,’’
Thursdaline Peters, a Lagos-based instructor, said the seminar came at the appropriate time when the National Sports Festival was around the corner.
Peters said that she was impressed with the standard of the seminar.
“The NTF have done well by bringing an international standard seminar to our door step,’’ she said. (NAN)
MIL/WOJ
(Edited and controlled by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-26

Farming

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Kogi State Government on Tuesday said arrangements were being concluded for the establishment of six farm settlements across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Local Government Affairs, Mr Abubakar Ohere, spoke of the plan in Lokoja.

He was addressing the administrators of the state’s 21 local government councils on the New Agenda blueprint of the state government

Ohere said that farmers in the settlements would be encouraged to embark on mechanised farming and be provided with extension services to ensure food sufficiency in the state.

The adviser said that the proposed farm settlements were being initiated in response to the government’s desire to use agriculture to create jobs and wealth for the youth.

According to him, farmers that will be engaged under the scheme will also be trained on how to handle simple farming tools.

He said that the farming tools would be fabricated locally to save money while the tools would be sold to farmers at subsidised rates.

Ohere said that 252 sheabutter farmers selected across the 21 local government councils in the state would be going for a capacity building train the trainers workshop in Minna , Niger State.

According to him, the training is to take place in the next few weeks as part of efforts by government to make the product a foreign exchange earner.

The Special Adviser disclosed that all the local government councils inherited a loan of N4 billion from the previous administrations.

He, however, said the state government was taking steps to ensure that this did not impede service delivery to the people at the grassroots.

Ohere charged the council administrators to ensure effective implementation of the New Direction blueprint through quality leadership style and good governance.

He also warned them against allowing sentiments and tribalism to creep into governance at their respective councils.

The Chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Taufiq Isa, also spoke at the event.

He promised that the administrators would implement the quick win areas in the New Direction Agenda for the benefit of the people. (NAN)
KKA/COO/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-57

Dasuki
By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Oct.4, 2016  (NAN) ECOWAS Court of Justice has declared the detention of former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, illegal and asked the Federal Government to pay him N15 million damages.

Justice Friday Nwoke, who delivered the unanimous judgment by the three-member jury, said the court had granted Dasuki leave to enforce his fundamental human rights as contained in the relevant treaties,  which Nigeria signed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Dasuki had filed a case before the court challenging his arrest and detention since December 2015 by the Nigerian government.

Dasuki prayed the ECOWAS court to issue an order compelling the Federal Government or its agents to immediately release him.

He also asked the court to order the government to release to him all his properties unlawfully confiscated during the invasion of his houses.

Dasuki also prayed that the government and its agents be restrained from further harassing, threatening, intimidating or infringing or interfering with his fundamental rights as guaranteed under relevant national and international laws on human rights.

Dasuki, apart from asking to be released to face charges in court, also demanded damages of N500 million from the government for its ‘’egregious violations’’ of his rights as guaranteed under the law.

Nwoke in an 87 minutes judgement in Abuja on Tuesday declared  that the search on Dasuki’s house without a search warrant was unlawful.

The court also ruled that the former NSA’s continued detention without trial was unlawful since he had met the bail condition granted by the three courts before which he was arraigned.

It stated that such detention constituted violation of articles 9 and 12 of International Covenant of Civil and Political Right as well as  articles 3, 5, 9, and 13 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The court stated that such also violated articles 5, 6, and 12 of African Charter on Human rights.

The court also held that the invasion and forceful seizure of Dasuki’s property in Kaduna and Sokoto without due process of law violated article 14 of African Chatter on Human and Peoples Rights

The  court, therefore, ordered  the Federal Government to release the applicant’s unlawfully seized properties and pay him N15 million as damages for  his rights.

The court, however, declined to issue an injunction against the defendant, stressing that such would amount to interference in its right to prosecute and punish offences committed within its territorial jurisdiction.

It stated, however, that such action must be done in accordance with due process recognised by international rights.

The court also said that the applicant, like any other ECOWAS citizen, had the right to own and enjoy property without interference.

NAN recalls that the Federal Government brought three different suits against Dasuki revolving around 2.1 billion dollars meant for military procurement.

Two of the suits were filed in the FCT High Court and the other in the Federal High Court.

In all the suits, Dasuki was granted bail one of which was on Dec. 21, 2015, when Justice Peter Affen of the FCT High Court granted him  and two others, Bashiru Yuguda and Attahiru Bafarawa, bail.

His attempt on Dec. 29, 2015 to travel abroad for medical check-up was foiled when he was re-arrested by the government. (NAN)
IAA/OMO/JCE
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Edited by Martins Odeh/Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-S-9
Sports
Ilorin, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara Ministry of Sports and Youth Development says it has concluded plans to resuscitate Inter-House Sports competition among secondary schools in the state.

The Commissioner, Bolakale Ayo, made the assertion in Ilorin at a Press Conference heralding the Kwara All Secondary Schools Tennis Championships on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition was put together by Optiweb Communications Ltd., in conjunction with Kwara Tennis Association.

‎Ayo restated the state government’s commitment to embark on aggressive grassroots sports development to discover talents from the cradle.

He appealed to the youth to brace up to overcome their current challenges.

The commissioner commended the sponsor for the initiative, adding that the government would continue to provide the enabling environment for sports and youth development.

The Chairman of Kwara Tennis Association, Tope Daramola, in his address of welcome, said the programme was aimed at discovering future top class tennis players.

He said the ‎objective of the championships, which would feature boys and girls singles and doubles, was to catch them young from the secondary school level.

Also, the ‎Director of Sports, Coach Tunde Kazeem, charged the various associations to look for sponsors as government alone could not shoulder sports development.

The Marketing Manager, Optiweb Communications, Eguono Ochuko, said the company believed in the development of younger Nigerians.

He said the company was investing in the competition to contribute its quota to sports development in Nigeria.

Ochuko said the company was resolute on taking the championships to the zonal and national levels in due course.

NAN reports that the competition will begin from Oct. 12 to Oct. 15, at the courts of the state’s stadium complex. (NAN)
OOH/CEO/PDE
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-HE-18

Business

By Idris Olukoya

Lagos, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Dr Pascal Lorot, founder of France-based Insitut Choisuel, a socio-economic organisation, said Nigeria was one of the promising business hubs in the world.

Lorot told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that in spite of prevailing recession, Lagos State and Nigeria remained viable business arenas for investment opportunities.

He said that Nigeria was capable of wading through the recession because of the current drive by the government to diversify the economy through well-thought out policies.

Lorot said that the opportunities in the country would certainly lead to the rise of entrepreneurs who could make a huge impact in the world economy.

He said that the organisation had picked Lagos to host a meeting from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, of 100 selected Africans likely to play major roles in the continent’s economic development.

“The Choisuel 100 Africa is an annual study carried out by the Institut Choisuel. It identifies and ranks the young African leaders of 40 years and below 40 years.

“These young leaders will play a major role in the development of Africa in the near future,’’ he said.

According to Lorot, Lagos was chosen as the host city for this year’s meeting because of its huge economic potential.

“The selection of Lagos for this year’s meeting brings noting to doubt as it has played a role in setting a benchmark for other states in Nigeria,’’ he said. (NAN)

SIO/ERO/OPI

Edited by Emmanuel Okara and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika