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Plateau: Prioritize education for stable peace, democracy – Don tells FG

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Education

By Thompson Yamput

Pankshin (Plateau) Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN)  Dr Yinka Torkaa, Chief Lecturer in Federal College of Education (FCE) Pankshin, Plateau, has urged the Federal Government to give priority to education for stable peace and democracy in Nigeria.

The don gave the advice on Wednesday during the college’s 35^th Academic Board Inaugural Lecture.

It was titled; “The State, Human Rights, Civil Society and Democratisation in Nigeria: Implications for Educational Development in Nigeria,’’.

“Knowledge is believed to be the source of power in every given society, which must endeavour to achieve some levels of education if it desires to acquire political power and also take a successful step towards the developmental process of its citizenry, ’’ he posited.

Torkaa, who lectures in the Department of General Studies, blamed some of the insecurity, crimes and violence in the society on lack of education.

“Education in our contemporary society should be seen as a necessity; a right and not a privilege as some societies see it today.’’

He said education had considerable impact on politics in today’s contemporary society, as political socialisation has  given room for individuals to acquire attitude and feeling toward the political system.

The lecturer took a critical look on the Nigeria’s polity, saying that it was better today due to the level of education of the citizenry.

According to him, education fosters fulfillment and encourages individuals to develop his mental, physical, emotional and spiritual talents to the full toward the growth and development of the nation.

He said that where education was lacking, there existed agitations, protests and instability, thereby hampering development and progress in the society.

Torkaa said that prioritising education could also greatly assist the government in overcoming poverty and the economic recession bedeviling the nation. (NAN)

TYC/IA

(Edited by Idris Abdulrahman)

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Appointments
By Zubairu Idris
Dutsin-ma(Katsina State), Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Federal University Dutsin-ma (FUDMA), Katsina State says it has terminated the appointments of 158 ‘temporary staff whose tenure expired’.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Haruna Abdu-Kaita, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Dutsin-ma.

According to him, 121 of the affected persons were senior staff, while the remaining 37 were junior staff from both the academic and non academic sections.

‘’Our attention has been drawn that some people were circulating false rumor that we terminated appointments of 269 staff.

‘’The actual number is 158, and were the people given temporary appointment that expired without being regularized, this one is not like the provisional appointment.

‘’Such type of appointments in our own laws expires after one year unless they are renewed or issued with tenure appointments.

‘’And we did not terminate their appointments base on religious or tribal sentiments, but we want the right thing be done,’’ he said.

The VC further revealed that Katsina State where the university was domiciled, has the largest number of 48 persons, Benue 18, Kogi, 12, Osun, 10 and Kaduna, nine.

‘’Somebody failed to do the right thing in the past, very few were regularized, so, when I assume office nine months ago, I discovered that their appointments had already expired, that is why we took the decision,’’ he said.

He said that the affected persons could re-apply for another appointment when the institution placed an advertisement on that.

The VC said that most of the affected persons were employed in 2013 by the previous administration.

He said the university now has 906 staff.

”It is not the matter of running short of manpower but following the right thing first,” he said.

He also said that the institution had set up a committee on complaints of irregular promotion of some staff in the institution by the previous administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FUDMA was one of the nine universities established in 2011 by the Federal Government.(NAN)
ZI/MTM/
Edited and controlled by Tukur Muntari.

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Award

By Kate Obande/Abujah Racheal

Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Army, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service and others have received award of excellence for their efforts in promoting safety in schools.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award was conferred on the agencies by the Nigeria Safe School Association (NISSA) during the “Safe School Summit’’ in Abuja.

Maj.-Gen. Mathias Efeovbohkan (retired), Chief Executive Officer, Consultancy Unit, Nigeria Defence Academy, who presented the award to the recipients, said the gesture was to appreciate their service.

He explained that their sacrifice and efforts in ensuring peace in the North-East was note worthy and that NISSA wanted to blow their trumpets.

He acknowledged the Federal Fire Service for its timely intervention during fire outbreaks in schools.

“Many schools in the North-East have re-opened, thanks to the military as students and pupils can now go to school and come back without fear of attack.

“We want to thank you for your proactive response, relentless efforts and sacrifices in guaranteeing peace in the country.

“The award is to recognise your outstanding contribution in the promotion of peace and safety in the country and to encourage you to keep it up.’’

NAN reports that other recipients are the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba, and Babcock University, Ilishan in Ogun for ensuring peace in education.

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai,  who was represented by Col. Ali Nguru, thanked the association for the recognition of the efforts of the military.

 Buratai assured Nigerians that the military was determined to ensure peace in the country.

“The security plan a decade ago emphasises on natural hazard and occasional man-made accidents.

 “But today, this has been replaced with the reality that has taken over our way of life occasioned by terrorism, insurgency, cultism and so on.

 “ This, therefore, calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders including school management, to redouble their strategy in addressing the situation in schools.’’

 He encouraged participants and the citizens to remain steadfast in their endeavour to keep Nigeria safe. (NAN)

AIR/KTE/MO/NKO

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(Edited by Morayo Omolade/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

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Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Thursday.

The NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Wednesday in Abuja, predicted prospects of morning rains in and around Niger, parts of Abuja and Ibi.

It added that afternoon and evening thunderstorms were likely over Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Taraba and Mambilla Plateau with maximum temperatures of 27 to 32 degrees Celsius.

The agency also predicted that the southern states would experience morning rains around Enugu, Ebonyi and Cross River states with maximum temperatures of 29 to 32 degrees Celsius.

It also predicted mix of thunderstorms and rains over the coastal and inland cities of Akure, Oshogbo, Shaki, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Benin, Warri, Asaba, Owerri, Umuahia, Awka and Calabar in the evening period.

NiMet predicted partly cloudy to sunny conditions over northern states with dryness in the air around Maiduguri, Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru and Katsina with maximum temperatures of 31to 36 degrees Celsius.

According to the prediction, incursion of dry North eastern winds into the country should reduce the level of rainfall activities across the country within the next 24 hours. (NAN)
OYS/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Protest
by Tukur Muntari
Kano, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Police on Wednesday allegedly shot and injured one of the workers of Viva Poly Bag Company, Gunduwawa, Gezawa Local Government Area, Kano State.

Eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that the incident happened around 8:00 a.m., when staff of the company staged a peaceful protest.

It was gathered that the protesters were demanding for the establishment of a union, which the management of the company was not in support of.

However, trouble started when one of the policemen deployed to the area to maintain law and order allegedly opened fire on the protesters.

One of the protesters was said to have been injured which prompted the aggrieved workers to beat the policeman.

It was also learnt that both the injured worker and the policeman were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.

He said for the past three days the police were trying to maintain law and order at the company following disagreement between the workers and management of the company over the issue.

He, however, denied reports that the police shot one of the protesters during the fracas.

“The police used only ‘blank ammunition or robber bullet’ and tear gas to disperse the protesting workers, who turned violent,” he said.

He said the situation had been under control, while security was beefed up in the area.

Majiya said one of the policemen was also injured during the incident but had since been treated and discharged, while the injured worker was receiving treatment at the hospital. (NAN).
MTM/IM
(Edited by Ibrahim Mammaga)

NBRRI attributes Gwarinpa building collapsed to water-logged land, overloading

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Collapse
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has attributed the recent building collapse in Gwarinpa, Abuja, to water logged land and “overloading from superstructure.’’

Mr Peter Mashem, Public Relations Officer of NBRRI, said this when he was speaking on the preliminary report produced by the institute with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that a building under construction located at Jummai Kwanashie Crescent, behind Road 44 Citec Villas, Gwarinpa, Abuja, collapsed at about 1.00 a.m. on Aug. 29.

Mashem said that physical and reconnaissance survey was conducted and the observations were assumed based on the soil condition.

He said that report also attributed foundation failure from differential settlement as a result of overloading from the superstructure as one of the contributing factor to the collapse.

Mashem said that during investigation the team discovered that there were a lot of excavations around the footing of the ongoing structure that collapsed.

According to him, this could possibly affect the stress in the soil mass due to footing pressure.

He said that the Geotechnical Team visited the site immediately but was limited in carrying out all its functions due to the rescue operation going on as at the time of visits.

Mashem explained that access to the collapsed building was hindered by the security operatives.

According to him, the collapsed site which is located at plot 432 reserved as green area on a natural drained area.

“The site was converted to hotel, shopping mall and park for commercial purposes instead of green area,’’ he said.

He said the report listed the observations in the construction defaults as follows; nature of disintegration of concrete from the reinforcement members suggested a weak concrete mix.

According to the report, it appears the ultimate capacity of compression zone of the concrete is reached leading to flexural failure.

“Inadequate column sizes and inconsistency in the sizes of the columns; one size of coarse aggregate 20mm was used in the concrete mix throughout the construction; floor beams are also under reinforced.

“Structural members were not properly anchored together. This restricted the transfer of movement from the top floor down to the columns and into the foundation.

“As a result, movement is imminent and can lead to crack and pull out the reinforcement, which will make the members separate from one another,” he said quoting the report. (NAN)
COA/MO/AFA
Edited by Morayo Omolade/Felix Ajide
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Audio Attached

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Crude
By Josephine Obute /Idris Olukoya
Lagos, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) An agro-tourism expert, Mr Linus Dibia, says a well-managed agricultural sector can generate as much revenue as crude oil for Nigeria.

Dibia, who is the director of a Lagos-based private agricultural enterprise, stated this in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

He said that the agric sector could be used to develop the nation’s economy as it was done in  other climes.

Cue in audio

“The agriculture sector is enough to knock off oil business if well-guided and well-managed by the government, and the government will make their own revenue out of it.

“Both the banks and the organisations need to go into marketing to remove the stress from the farmers after they have put in their energy to produce.

“For instance, people are importing rice from Turkey, importing rice from India, importing rice from Saudi Arabia. Is it supposed to be so?

“Those countries were not even exporters before, but they have also gone into research to find out the problem and another way to strengthen their economy.

“They also had oil but they were not even depending on that oil; they set up agencies to go out to other countries and source market.

“We have countries such as Japan that cannot produce in their soil, but they have technology and they use their technology in exchange for the food they can use to sustain their country.

“And they depend on these African countries and Asian countries for this support.

“So Nigeria should be able to contribute its own quota.’’

Cue out audio

Dibia appealed to the commercial banks to invest in food production in order to boost agro-tourism in the country. (NAN)

JNEO/SIO/ERO/OSA/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Shittu Obassa/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim
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Edo poll: NGO makes case for people with disability

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Disability

By Ehis Igbaugba

Iruekpen (Edo), Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) An Observer group, Center for Citizens with Disability, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to provide avenue that would enable people with disability to vote with ease during elections.

Mr Davies Osaghale, the Edo Coordinator of the center, an Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Edo governorship election.

Speaking in Iruekpen in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, Oseghale said the appeal became necessary as several persons living with disability had been disenfranchised because of uneasy access to the polling booths.

He said that INEC and the Federal Government, as well as states governments should consider the interest of this class of people when planning for elections.

“What we have experienced in previous elections is that people with disability were often disenfranchised as they found it difficult to access the polling booths due to the ground level or staircases.

``If people living with disability are able to have easy access to perform their civic obligation, it will give them a sense of responsibility as Nigerians.

“We want to see how they are assisted or have easy access to the polling booths.

“We are all one people and no one should be disenfranchised on account of his physical condition,” he said. (NAN)
ESI/KOO/AMY
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Abdullahi Yusuf

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Sportsmanship

By Deborah Ogedemgbe

Igarra (Edo), Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) An Octogenarian, Chief Joseph Braimoh,  in Uneme Nekhua near Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area,  advised candidates in Wednesday’s governorship election in Edo to embrace sportsmanship in the contest.

Braimoh, 80, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after voting in the community located in Ward 9 in the local government area.

He said that in any contest, the winner should be magnanimous enough to accommodate the losers in his team, using their good ideas to complement his development plans.

He said that if politicians adopted his advice, it would promote peaceful coexistence among the people, and engender political stability and economic growth in the country.

Braimoh, a retired school principal, said that he decided to exercise his franchise because he wanted to be part of the process of development “through leadership by example”.

Also, the member representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Akpatason, commended Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) peaceful conduct of the poll.

Akpatason said that he was glad that the peaceful process would produce the next governor of the people’s choice.

He pointed out that the large turnout of voters was a clear testimony that the people had become more politically-consciousness of their right. (NAN)

DCO/KOO/OPI

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

Non-passage of enabling petroleum law has cost Nigeria $200 bn – NEITI
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Law
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says Nigeria has recorded losses to the tune of 200 billion dollars for failing to pass an enabling law for the petroleum industry.

The NEITI Director of Communications, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said some of the losses were projected investments due to regulatory uncertainty.

Orji said that clear unambiguous rules, predictable policy-making, and efficient regulations had been lacking in Nigeria’s petroleum sector since the process of enacting a law for the sector commenced.

He said that NEITI’s 2013 audit of the oil and gas sector showed that 10.4 billion dollars and 378.7 billion naira (i.e. N3.2 trillion at the current exchange rate) were lost.

The losses, the NEITI official said, were attributable to under-remittance, underpayments, inefficiencies, theft or absence of clear fiscal regime in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Orji noted that the losses had also been huge in economic terms on Nigeria’s foreign reserves and value of the Naira due to imports of over 26.4 billion dollars worth of refined petroleum products.

He said the petroleum products should otherwise have been done in the country.

The NEITI official said Nigeria’s oil and gas sector had continued deteriorating due to insufficient laws governing the industry.

He said that Nigeria’s experience was in contrast to Ghana’s experience since it passed its own law.

Orji urged Nigeria to learn from the passing of the petroleum law in Ghana’s oil and gas sector. (NAN)
KC/COF/IA
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Edited by Fadare Oluyinka/Idris Abdulrahman