Blog

NAN-S-16
Election
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, Almamy Kabele Camara and the President of Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, have been elected into the FIFA Council.

The duo were elected at Thursday’s Extraordinary CAF General Assembly at the Marriott Hotel Cairo, Egypt, ahead of two other candidates — Ahmad (Madagascar) and Augustin Senghor (Senegal) who also showed interest.

A statement issued in Abuja by Ademola Olajire, the NFF Assistant Director, Communications, said Guinean Camara polled 37 votes and Nyantakyi got 31, while Ahmad scored 30 and Senghor took the rear with only nine votes.

Camara and Nyantakyi will serve in the position until March 17, 2017 when they will face re-election at the CAF Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  (NAN)
EMAF/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

FG expresses commitment to repatriate looted funds to boost economy

NAN-H-69
Repatriation
Nwana Sylvia/Micheal Cynthia
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja, said its committed to the repatriation of looted funds stashed in foreign banks to boost Nigerian’s economy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, stated this during a post-UN General Assembly media briefing.

Onyeama explained that the federal government had earlier identified some countries where Nigeria’s funds were stashed away and was working closely with them.

“A lot of countries where Nigeria’s stolen money were lodged made restitution and are trying to repatriate the money.

“This makes it much easier when there is political buy-in by leaders of countries where the money are kept than going through the rigors of legal processes,” he said.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari held meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and President Xi Jinping of China,  on the issue the repatriation among others.

The minister explained that the world leaders pledged their commitments and cooperation to ensuring speedy repatriation of the funds to Nigeria.

The minister quoted President Muhammadu Buhari as saying he was committed to ensuring prompt and unconditional recovery of the country’s looted funds.

“Fighting corruption remains of prime importance to our administration and our efforts in fighting corruption are yielding positive results including the recovery of stolen money and assets recoveries,” he said.

The minister also said that the anti-corruption conference to be hosted by the U.S. and UK in Washington next year, will focus on stolen public assets.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UK and Switzerland are some of the countries that such funds had been returned and efforts are still on  the recovery of looted funds. (NAN)
(Edited by Tiamiyu Prudence Arobani/ Julius Enehikhuere)

Rotary targets 6,000 people for HIV/AID Screening
NAN-HG-12
Screening
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Rotary Club in Plateau says it is working toward testing and counselling 6,000 people on  HIV and AIDS in the state.

Mr Arthur Ophiohonren, the Coordinator of the club in the state said this at a three-day family health awareness programme in Jos on Thursday.

Ophiohonren said that other tests include hepatitis, diabetes, polio immunisation and malaria, among others.

He said that the programme would help citizens in the communities to know their health status and be encouraged to  live healthy lifestyles.

He said that through the programme, 3,000 people were screened and tested in 2015, adding that it was expected to reach about 6, 000 people in various communities in Jos North and South Local Government Areas.

“Rotary club in partnership with local government health personnel are stationed in selected health centres in Jos North and South to help create awareness to the communities,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Kamshak Kuden, commended the club for augmenting government’s efforts in healthcare delivery.

“The productivity of the people and the implementation of developmental projects will only be achieved if the society is healthy,’’ he said.

Mrs Theresa Azi, the Management Committee Chairman of Jos North Local Government urged members of the community to avail themselves of the various tests brought to at their doorsteps.

She said that local governments would partner with the Rotary club and continue to support them with health personnel to discharge their duties diligently. (NAN)
MAA/HS/GY
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Edited by Halima Sheji/Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-70

Device

By Taiye Edeni

Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) says it cannot kick against government’s enforcement of the use of speed limiting devices by commercial drivers.

Its National President Alhaji Najeem Yasin, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

NAN reports that the Federal Government has fixed Oct.1 as the deadline for the commencement of enforcement of the speed limiting device in the country by the FRSC.

Yasin, however, stated that the major challenge drivers expect with the policy is the cost of the device since importers of the device are insisting they cannot sell below the proposed price of N30, 000.

“We cannot kick against the government policy; we have been educating our members on how to comply with it.

“It is a government policy and as law-abiding citizens, we cannot say we will kick against whatever the government has decreed.

“The price is too much and that is what we have been complaining about; but the importers said that is how they imported them.

“Everybody knows what the economic situation in the country is like and that is why we are complaining that the price is high,’’ he said.

Commenting on the state of roads in the country, the NURTW national president stated that if the drivers complain that the roads are bad, it means they know the condition of the roads better than other motorists. (NAN)

TY/DO/YEE

Edited by David Onilede/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim

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Obasanjo calls for urgent reform of NNPC

NAN-HE-18

Reform

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, Sept 29, 2016(NAN) Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the urgent reform of the business operations model of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division,  Garba Deen Muhammad said Obasanjo made the call when the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru visited him in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo said the urgent reform was needed to lift the economy out of recession and create wealth for Nigerians.

“What I do understand is reforms. I believe organisations like the NNPC should be reformed.

“I don’t understand this talk of selling of national assets. Selling of national assets is wrong.

“But reform is what I think should be done so that we can run the business of NNPC the way it should be run,” he said in the statement.

He was further quoted as saying: “If there is any organisation that can help us quickly get out of recession, it is NNPC.

“If you work hard, you can get around the situation. I want to encourage you and hope that the little difference we have started seeing will continue,” he said.

The NNPC GMD commended the vision of Obasanjo in the oil and gas Industry.

He said that the management team of the corporation was committed to transforming  the NNPC for better performance, growth and profitability.

“We appreciate your call for diversification into agriculture business and other energy sources.

“We are currently rejuvenating our renewable energy business; we will continue to work hard towards realising your lofty dreams of seeing NNPC grow into a transformed national oil company without interference,” he said. (NAN)

KC/JPE/IA

(Edited by Joseph Edeh/Idris Abdulrahman)

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NAN-DS-4

Campaign

By Emmanuel Acha

Enugu, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Police Command in Enugu State has re-launched its campaign against cultism and other vices, the spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, has said in a statement.

Amaraizu said in the statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Enugu that the campaign, which featured youth rallies and road march,  was launched in communities at 9^th Mile, with a call on youths to embrace good virtues.

The police spokesman said it had become necessary to beef up security in communities, schools and colleges in the state to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

He said that the campaign tagged Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), was one of the best approaches to get the best attitude from youths.

Amaraizu said that the campaign was targeted secondary school students in the area.

He advised youths to be law-abiding and to distance themselves from any act that would expose them to cultism and other vices, in order to become champions.

The Command used the opportunity to give out distress call emergency numbers as well as social media platforms to members of the public.

Amaraizu appealed to members of the public to report promptly any threat to peace and security in their environment for appropriate action. (NAN)

EOA/MNA/NKO

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(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

Court jails carpenter 7 months, 10 strokes of cane for criminal trespass
NAN-H-68
Carpenter
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) A Gudu Upper Area Court , Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a carpenter, David Hassan, to 7 weeks imprisonment for criminal trespass.

The Upper Area court judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, sentenced Hassan, 20, of Durumi village, Abuja, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and attempt to commit offence.

Kagarko, however, ordered that the convict be flogged 10 strokes of cane and an option to pay N7, 000 as fines.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr John Ijagbemi, had informed the court that Adejomo Gbenga of Realm Glory Church, Area 1, Abuja, reported the matter at Durumi Police Station on Aug. 6

Ijagbemi told the court that on the same date the convict criminal trespassed into Realm Glory church Area 1, Abuja Church in other to commit an offence of theft.

He said that further investigation revealed that the convict sometime in the month of June 2016 broke into Living Faith School, Durumi, and stole some property.

Ijagbemi said that the convict stole two desk top computer, one television, bags of detergents and one of the desk top computer were recovered from him.

He added that police criminal records revealed that the convict was a habitual criminal.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 342 and 95 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
UGO/OFN

UNGA: $391m humanitarian aid garnered for Lake Chad region

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Aid
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari’s high-level meetings at the just concluded UN General Assembly have garnered additional 391 million U.S. dollars in humanitarian aid for the Lake Chad region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

Speaking with the media on Thursday, in Abuja, at the post-UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Foreign Minister  Geoffrey Onyeama said that some countries, notably the UK and U.S. made the pledge at UNGA in New York.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Buhari had said at in New York  that the revival of Lake Chad would cost more than 14 billion dollars and urged developed countries to make strong financial commitment to it.

Onyeama, quoting the president said that the assistance would save communities depending on Lake Chad for survival from extinction.

“No single country and surely not the four most affected countries, can muster the tremendous financial resources required to turn around the very dire situation of the Lake Chad Region.

“The millions of people whose daily livelihood have been placed in jeopardy are depending on us to find succour for them

“I am happy to note at the sessions, some countries notably the UK and U.S., pledged additional support to the tune of U.S. $391 million humanitarian aid for the Lake Chad Region,”the minister said.

He expressed concern that five million people living in the Lake Chad Basin countries had been displaced by the depletion of the lake due to climate change.

He said that ‘the president also met with some Nigerians in the Diaspora at the New York, where he extended invitation to them to join efforts to develop the country.

The minister said that the President also met with group of CEOs at the U.S.-African Business Forum and focused on how they could collaborate with Nigeria to diversify the economy.

He explained that the forum also afforded Buhari the opportunity to speak on the ongoing Nigeria’s Economic Reforms for Growth, where he tried to attract American investors to Nigeria.

He said that president Buhari at the meeting reiterated calls for the reform of the UN Security Council to reflect equitable and fair representation and greater transparency, legitimacy and inclusiveness in its decision. (NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

Carpenter bag 7 weeks imprisonment, 10 lashes for breaking into Abuja church

NAN-H-33
Cane
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) A Gudu Upper Area Court , Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 20-year-old carpenter, David Hassan, to seven weeks imprisonment and 10 strokes of cane for breaking into a church to steal.

The Area Court judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, gave the  verdict after the accused  pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and attempt to steal.

“The convict should be given 10 strokes of the cane,” he said, but gave him an option of N7, 000 fine.

He said that the punishment would have been severe if the convict had not pleaded guilty, noting that he had saved the time of the court.

Earlier, Prosecutor John Ijagbemi to the court that the complainant,  Mr Adejomo Gbenga of Realm Glory Church, Area 1, Abuja, reported the incident at Durumi Police Station on Aug. 6.

“The accused trespassed into Realm Glory Church, Area 1, to commit an offence of stealing.

“On further investigation, it was revealed that the Hassan had sometime in June 2016 broke into Living Faith School, Durumi, and stole some property including two desk top computers, one colour television set and bags of detergents.

“One of the desk top computers was recovered from the accused.”

The offences contravened Sections 95 and 342 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation.  (NAN)

UGO/DEB/DA
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(Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Debo Oshundun)

Police Zone 2 Command moves to crack down on errant officers
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Monitoring
By Oluwaseun Fadugba
Lagos, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) Mr Abdul-Majid Ali, Assistant-Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 2, has set up special monitoring teams to check the activities of officers against unlawful activities.
Spokesman of the command, Muyiwa Adejobi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the teams were set up to ensure police compliance with statutory regulations.
Adejobi, a superintendent of police, said the monitoring teams were established in accordance with the agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to reform the police force.
He said that the move followed a strategic meeting between the police high command and heads of police formations in Lagos and Ogun States.
“The meeting came up with the setting up of different monitoring teams to check the operations of officers in the zone.
“The monitoring teams will put officers on their toes and ensure they do the right thing at all times.
“They will undertake routine checks and visits without notice to area commands or divisional posts, including officers on operations,’’ he said.
Muyiwa noted that the development would deter officers from engaging in unlawful duties.
“We have about seven men in our custody that were arrested for impersonation.
“Some are out of service but they still parade themselves as officers; these are some of the things the monitoring teams will handle,’’ said the police spokesman.
He advised policemen to desist from any form of illegality by operating within the ambit of the law. (NAN)
NOD/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)