Blog

Recruitment

By Kazeem Akande

Lagos, Sept. 14, 2018 (MAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission  (FRSC) has scheduled its screening and physical fitness assessment on recruitment for Sept. 24 to 29.

Mr Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC Public Education Officer, said in a statement on Friday that the screening would be conducted in all the state capitals.

Kazeem advised applicants to check their email used for submission of the applications on Sept. 19 for information on the exercise.

“The email information will contain the venue, date, time of screening and required items to be taken along for the exercise,” he said.

According to him, shortlisted applicants are to come with the summary data page earlier received and email notification slip which shall admit them to the screening venue.

The FRSC image maker said that any candidate without the printout of the summary data page and notification slip for the phase of the exercise would not be admitted into the venue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the FRSC recruitment started on May 28, with the uploading of the application forms on FRSC recruitment portal. (NAN)

AKA/IA

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TCN energises Damaturu 330kv Substation, Gombe-Damaturu 330k Transmission line — Official

Transmission
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Sept 14, 2018(NAN)The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has energised the Damaturu 330kv transmission substation and Gombe-Damaturu330kV single circuit transmission line which was completed in 2013, but was not energised.

Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, who made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said the energised Damaturu substation comprised a 150MVA power transformer and associated 75MVR reactors.

Mbah said the energising was done by TCN in-house engineers by 4.15 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mbah said:“The Damaturu 330kV substation project contract was awarded in 2006; TCN engineers took over the contract about three months back, completed and energised it on Sept. 13.“

She, however, said that TCN’s engineers were now concentrating on completing the 60MVA transmission line in the area in two weeks, to enable Damaturu and its environs to get supply from the substation.

Mbah also said that two towers on the Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission lines that were vandalised in 2015 were currently being stringed by a contractor.

“It is expected that the work will be completed in the next one week and Maiduguri 330/132/33kV substation which has been completed will be energised.

“This will significantly improve the power supply of Maiduguri and environs.

“ It will also improve the flexibility of supply to Biu and Dambua all in Borno state.“

According to her, several projects are currently ongoing in TCN’s network nationwide.

She said that the company would continue to pursue and implement the incremental power policy of the Federal Government.

Mbah said that TCN was consistently investing in its transmission capacity network expansion initiatives, through its Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme.(NAN)
KC/GOM/NKO
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Nkechi Okoronkwo

Flood ravages 700 houses, farmlands in Rivers communities – NEMA Coordinator

By Precious Akutamadu
Port Harcourt, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 700 houses including large farmlands have been affected by flash floods following heavy rains in parts of Rivers, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to Mr Martins Ejike, the Rivers Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the flood began since August 2018.

He said that areas affected by flood in the State included Rumukpokwu, Elekohia and Rumueme communities and Mile 4.

Ejike said flash flood ravaged Mile 1, Obiegbo by Pipe line axis, Ahoada farm lands and some villages as well as Aba road by Intel axis.

He said that although no life was lost in the flood, economic activities and farming were affected at ABS Road Axis and Ahoada farmlands.

The coordinator said the State government had constructed drainage on major roadsides for free flow of water while sensitisation effort by NEMA were still ongoing.

According to him, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has not been inaugurated by the Rivers government.

He said that what was needed to cushion the effect of the flooding was stockpiling of necessary relief materials.

Ejike advised people living in affected areas to relocate to higher ground for temporary shelters in case of the bigger flood. (NAN)
PA/DOE/AFA
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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Felix Ajide

Death

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Sept.14, 2018 (NAN) Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has condoled with his predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi over the death of his son, Onyekachi.

Umahi in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Uzor, expressed great shock over Onyekachi’s death, describing it as devastating.

The governor further described the death of Onyekachi who was in his early forties as: “tragic, devastating and heart-breaking” and urged his predecessor and family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

“Death has been accepted as a necessary end, but Onyekachi’s death on Friday at the prime of his life is most painful and a great loss to his family and Ebonyi.

“We pray God to console his family and grant his soul eternal rest.

“It is most painful to accept this reality of life’s nothingness and further accept the glaring reality that Onyekachi is dead.

“To Chief Elechi, he was a son but to us, he was a teacher, a young man who rose to the top of his career and remained dedicated to his duties.

“I convey my deepest condolences to you and your entire family on behalf of the patriotic citizens of Ebonyi,” the statement read.

The governor, in the statement, urged the deceased’s children to emulate the good virtues of their father and immortalise him by upholding same.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the immediate cause of death was not disclosed by the family.

The deceased operated some business outlets in Abakaliki and was a lecturer at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki before his demise. (NAN)
RCO/OOA/OU
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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Obike Ukoh
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Ex Osun Speaker defects to APC

Defection

By Victor Adeoti

Ede(Osun), Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) Ahead of Sept. 22 governorship election, Mr Adejare Bello, a one time Speaker of the State House of Assembly, on Friday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bello, a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had on Monday resigned his membership of the party.

NAN also reports that Bello serverd as speaker of the state aasembly between 2003 and 2011 on the platform of the PDP.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Soji Adagunodo, the PDP state Chairman, the former speaker said that he resigned his membership because the party has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers.

Bello, however, was received into APC by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, at its mega rally in Ede on Friday.

The decampee denied the allegation that he received N100 million to defect to APC.

Bello appealed to people of of the state to massively vote for the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, adding that the APC candidate has better plans for the state.

In his remarks, Gov. Aregbesola commended the former speaker for joining the party, and described the bold action as  “right step in the right direction ‘

The governor appealed to the people of the state to vote for the party for continuity.

Aregbesola assured the people that the party would not dissapoint them if voted again into power.(NAN)

VE/AZA/AFA
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Edited by Polycarp Auta/Felix Ajide

Nigeria’s inflation increases in August-NBS

Inflation

By Lucy Nwachukwu

Abuja, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) The National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) says the Consumer Price index (CPI), which measured inflation for August increased to 11.23 per cent (year-on-year) from 11.14 per cent recorded in July.

The NBS disclosed this in its”CPI and Inflation Report” for August released on Friday in Abuja.

According to the Bureau, the figure is 0.09 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in July.

The Bureau said the figure represented the first year-on-year rise in inflation following 18 consecutive disinflation in headline inflation.

The report showed that increases were recorded in all the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the headline index.

On a month-on-month basis, NBS said the Headline Index increased by 1.05per cent in August down by 0.08per cent points from the rate recorded in July(1.13per cent).

It said the percentage change in the average composite CPI for 12 months period ended August over the average of CPI for the previous 12 months period.

It, however, measured the CPI at 13.55 per cent in the period under review, showing 0.4per cent point from 13.95per cent recorded in July.(NAN)
LCN/GOM/AFA

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Edited by Grtegory Mmaduakolam/Felix Ajide

NYG: Team Kwara Wins Gold in Girls Volleyball

Volleyball

By Olayinka Owolewa

Ilorin, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) Team Kwara ended girls volleyball on a high as they defeated stubborn Team Kaduna 3-2 in a well contested, tension-soaked final at the volleyball court of the University of Ilorin on Friday.

The Kaduna girls rose from a 2-0 down to equal the tally 2-2 before the hosts regained their strength and motivation to win the game at the dying minute of the final match.

On their way to final, the Harmony girls were humiliated by Team Enugu in the first game but defeated Team Rivers 3-1 which qualified them for the semis.

A well-motivated Team Kwara defeated their Osun counterparts in the semi finals to set up a face off against Kaduna who fell to the Harmony Boys.(NAN)

OOH/AFA

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Edited by Felix Ajide

Freestyle

By Mariam Akande/Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) Valentine Ozigbo, Chairman of Feet ‘N’ Tricks on Friday urged participants in the maiden Africa Freestyle Football Championships in Lagos to leverage on the opportunities that abound in the game.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition was organised by Feet ‘N’ Tricks in collaboration with the World Freestyle Football Association.

Ozigbo said that participating in such championships availed participants the opportunity not only to compete among themselves, but also to extend their network and build friendships that transcended the ccompetition.

“’I implore participants in the maiden Africa championships to take advantage of the competition to widen their network in freestyle football.

“’I urge all the participants to do their best and compete in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play,” he said.

The chairman added that Feet ‘N’ Tricks would continue to provide the needed platform for talented Africans to showcase their skills to the world and ultimately exploit the global appeal of freestyle football.

NAN reports that 70 freestylers, including 14 participants from other Africa countries are featured in the event holding at Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The criteria for judging participants are difficulty, originality, trick execution, all round skills and control, while the judges are Tobias Busaet from Norway, Gautier Fayolle from France and Szymon Skalski from Poland.

NAN also reports that prizes worth 50,000 dollars and a car will be won by participants. (NAN)
KOA/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Auditor-General applauds NIMC on accountability, due process

Accountability
By Uche Bibilari/Jacinta Nwachukwu
Abuja, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine, has applauded the management of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its mannerism in carrying out its functions and adherence to the principles of due process and accountability.

He made this assertion when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General/CEO NIMC, Mr. Aliyu Aziz on Friday in Abuja.

Ayine affirmed that the visit was in recognition of the strategic importance of NIMC to the planning and execution of key programmes in the country.

He said there was need to understand the activities of the commission, so as to audit effectively and bridge the communication gap between both organisations.

He commended the harmonisation process headed by NIMC, as it would effectively reduce the cost incurred from duplication of functions by many data collecting agencies.

The Auditor-General assured NIMC of his office support to ensure the successful delivery of NIMC’s mandate, also clearing popular misconceptions about auditing.

“Audit is not to attack or to witch-hunt an organisation, but to help the auditee to function better.

“When we conduct our audit, we make recommendations toward improvement and also add value to our work,” he said.

In his response, Aziz expressed gratitude to the Auditor-General for recognising the importance of NIMC to national development, and its willingness to support the National Identity Management System (NIMS) project.

He assured him that the commission would work with his office on the best possible ways to ensure the fulfillment of its mandate.

Aziz also confirmed that with the enforcement of the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) all transactions would entail the attachment of NIN.

He explained that it would create an avenue for easy tracking and the reduction of fraudulent activities in the country. (NAN)
UU/JIN/KOLE/AFA
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Felix Ajide

Handball

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has described the national male junior team’s victory in the just-concluded CAHB Africa Junior Youth Championship as a defining moment for Nigeria’s handball.

The HFN President, Samuel Ocheho, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the team’s victory was an evidence of the overhaul and programmes injected into the game by the new board.

NAN reports that the national male junior team defeated Angola 33-26 in the final of the CAHB-organised championships held in Marrakech, Morocco from Sept. 7 to Sept. 14.

“Handball has been in the doldrums for a while which affected our performances in continental and international competitions before we came on board and things began to turnaround.

“We injected programmes in all categories as part of our agenda which is instrumental to the defeat of Angola by Nigeria yesterday in Marrakech, it’s indeed a defining moment for Nigeria handball.

“The handball family and Nigeria at large are happy with the boys, they have done marvellously well, we are proud of them and glad to identity with the victorious outing,’’ he said.

He said the team’s overall performance in Morocco and Kigali championships have raised questions from the continent’s nations as they wondered where Nigeria had been for a while.

“Last month, our U-18 trashed its Guinean counterpart 45-31 points and U-20 defeated DR Congo 27-26 in the final and emerged champions of the continental championship; Nigeria’s handball is back for real.

“African handball playing nations are asking where were these players and Nigeria been all these while due to performances, so for me, it’s a testament to success since we came on board.

“Myself and the entire board members are excited about this result because we have been working together to give the players the needed support to get along,’’ he added.

The HFN boss expressed the board’s determination to continuously do the needful, churn out talents with its developmental programmes and create an enabling environment to enhance their skills.

Ocheho said he was optimistic that the team’s victory would go a long way to give Nigeria its rightful place in the handball community even beyond the continent.

NAN reports that Nigeria with Egypt and Tunisia have qualified to represent Africa in the 2019 International Handball Federation (IHF) World Junior Championships billed for Spain. (NAN)
MIL/FF/PDE
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Peter Ejiofor)