Blog

NAN-HE-24
MoU
By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016(NAN) The Federal Government and India on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen trade and investments and exchanged letters of intent on bilateral relations.

The event, which took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a bilateral meeting, was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his Indian counterpart, Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

Osinbajo in a remark called for urgent establishment of a joint technical commission to facilitate the partnership between Nigeria and India.

He recalled that ties between Nigeria and India over the years had been very stable and called for strengthening of the relationships in regional and international affairs.

According to him, Nigeria looks up to India in various ways as it has shown leadership in technology, agriculture and information technology.

He described the meeting with the Indian delegation as very useful and expressed the hope that both countries would derive mutual benefits from the MoU.

Earlier, Ansari had said he was impressed by Nigeria’s vision for bilateral relationship, feeling for India and its expectations for the partnership.

According to the Indian VP, the friendship and faith of both countries is a source of great pride and strength for the partnership.

He said that “listening to you has strengthened my conviction that our partnership is natural because our destinies are so inter-linked and our aspirations and challenges are similar.

“I am confident that our deliberation today will make our partnership more effective.”

Ansari added that India and Nigeria were strategic partners.

He said it was important that both countries continued to engage in new ideas and concrete proposals to elevate them to the next high level.

Ansari, who would be visiting the commercial city of Lagos during his tour, said he looked forward to the visit, where he would have the opportunity to address the students of University of Lagos.

The visiting vice president expressed appreciation to the Federal Government “for the excellent preparations made for the visit of the Indian delegation.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that discussions at the bilateral meeting focused on economic relations, peace and security, consular matters, as well as regional and international issues.

The MoU was signed by Nigeria’s Minster of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, and her Indian counterpart, Mr Gangaram Meghwal.

The letter of intent was exchanged between the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria. (NAN)
DCU/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Kano Sports Commission to use NYG as testing ground for sports development, says Chairman

NAN-H-99
Testing
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Chairman, Kano State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Galadima has said that the commission would use the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG) as a testing ground for sports development in the state.

Galadima told newsmen on Tuesday in Ilorin that the NYG was the first major event to be attended since the commission’s establishment seven months ago.

“Nine of us were appointed into the board of the commission seven months ago with the mandate to transform sports in the state and it has been a big challenge .

“We are coming at the wrong time in the sense that money is not readily available to run our programmes and sports is an area that paucity of funds always have negative effect on its development.

“But be that as it may, we are committed to bringing about the desired change, but the NYG is the first major outing of the commission though we have participated in some National championships.

“After these Games,  the outcome will give us an insight into the areas we need to pay attention to in terms of development in the next couple of years .

“We hope and pray that in the next two to three years will start seeing results,’’ Galadima said.

He added that the state featured 32 athletes competing in 10 out of the 13 events being competed for based on their strengths. (NAN)
BAY/FAT/MTM/
(Edited by Fatima Sule
) controlled by Tukur Muntari.
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NAN-HE-21
Deregulation
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) on Tuesday said that the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry had not witnessed full deregulation.

The Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Obafemi Olawore, said this on the sideline of re-commissioning of storage tanks at Mosinmi depot in Ogun by the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru.

He said that the development posed a serious challenge to marketers.

Olawore called on the Federal Government to fully deregulate the downstream sector to create room for more investments, expected to push down the current price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

According to him, government has not fully deregulated the downstream sector but only succeeded in adjusting the pump price upward.

“The truth is that NNPC is currently importing more than anybody because it has easier access to foreign exchange than anybody.

“Our intention is to have the sector fully deregulated.

“ The downstream sector has not been fully deregulated. They only increased the price, which is not deregulation.

“You do not deregulate with fixed prices. You allow the prices to float even though we are seeing some measure of floating of the prices with some people selling below N145.

“You can test and confirm if the quantity and quality delivered are satisfactory,’’ the executive secretary said.

Olawore said that market forces comprising access to forex; fluctuation in crude oil prices; and rising importation cost should be allowed to determine the cost of petrol as obtained in a truly deregulated sector.

He said that this would engender competition among marketers.

“Foreign exchange is a challenge; there is no doubt about that, but people will import.

“It is their business and they would not want their business to collapse, ’’ he said.

The MOMAN chief commended the government for partially deregulating the downstream segment of the oil industry.

Olawore said that marketers would prefer a fully deregulated sector.

He said that the current petrol price regime was a sign that the sector might be fully deregulated in the near future.

“What has happened is price adjustment, which they called appropriate pricing. What we have now is a step toward deregulation.

“ Deregulation is actually the end point; we are in the process and we will get there.

“When we get to deregulation, you will have the refining process included. As it is now, we are looking at only the petrol import side,’’ he said.

Olawore said that Mosinmi depot would play a large role in fuel distribution; not only in the South West but also in the whole country.

He said that this would help increase the movement of fuel more faster than ever.

Olawore said Mosinmi is regarded as the pipeline headquarters in Nigeria.

According to him, this is where all trains and pipelines are conducted in early 90s. (NAN)
YO/AJA
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(Controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-S-21
Games
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Akwa Ibom’s Effiong Uforoemem (female) and Peter Aremu of Team Ogun have both won gold in 44Kg and 56Kg category respectively in Judo event at the National Youth Games in Ilorin.

Uforoemem defeated Rahab Kilyogas who got the silver medal, while Angela Bala of Kaduna and Dorothy Kasimu of Nasarawa won the bronze medals.

In the male 56Kg category, Aremu beat Uche Nwane of Team Delta to silver as Bauchi’s Musa Adamu and Musa Bello of Yobe picked the bronze medals.

In other contest, Mohammed Yakubu of Nasarawa wrestled off the gold medal from Gombe’s Isah Jibrin as Yakubu Joel of Delta and Rivers’ Divine Anola secured bronze medal in the 46Kg male category.

Meanwhile, Delta’s Udeze Ogechi in the 52Kg female category won gold medal, beating Ogun State’s Anuoluwapo Shobunkola as Ebonyi’s Okeke Nwadiogu and Esther Obile of Nasarawa got the bronze medals.

In all, Delta emerged overall winner after bagging one gold, one silver and one bronze medal ahead of Ogun which secured one gold and one silver, followed by Nasarawa State with one gold and two bronze medals.

Akwa Ibom got one gold medal as Adamawa and Gombe State claimed one silver each, while Bauchi, Rivers, Ebonyi, Yobe and Kaduna won one bronze medal apiece in the event. (NAN)
OOH/DE/HA
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(Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Media critical in EFCC anti-graft war — Iredia

Media

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Mr Tonnie Iredia, a former Director-General, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA),  has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) needs media cooperation to succeed in its anti-graft war.

Iredia said this on Tuesday in Abuja in a lecture entitled “Broadcasting and the Fight Against Corruption.”

He  was one of the resource persons at a workshop organised for journalists covering the commission.

The former NTA boss, who described the EFCC as Nigeria’s foremost actor in the country`s fight against corruption, said it was dangerous for the commission to work without the media.

“If you involve the media always from the beginning to the end, you will not only have correspondents, but friends in the media who may become your advisers at the end.’’

He, therefore, charged the commission to regularly brief the media and make literature on its activities available to journalists always.

This, he said, was critical to keeping the public informed of the commission’s activities.

According to Iredia, continuous public enlightenment will go a long way to prevent corruption and keep the public better informed and away from indulging in corrupt practices.

The former NTA boss urged journalists covering the commission to keep themselves abreast of its activities and to always observe the ethics of the profession.

He, however, identified media ownership control as a major challenge in developing nations, as it hindered practitioners from doing their jobs effectively.

“Media practice in Nigeria is handicapped by ownership control.”

Iredia also identified lack of manpower development programmes, obsolete facilities and poor salaries when to the earnings of core civil servants as challenges to journalism practice.

He stressed that in spite of the challenges, journalists in the country should strive for perfection by building their capacity and being courageous to embark on investigative reporting.

He said that it was unfortunate that the Freedom of Information Act was not working as expected in the country, adding that it was the responsibility of its operators to make it work.

Iredia tasked the EFCC to pick lessons from every criticism while demonstrating independence at all times, in order to gain public confidence.

Earlier, the EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the workshop was designed to build the capacity of journalists covering the commission.

Most journalists at the workshop accused the EFCC spokesman of being economical with information and not cooperating with the media.

According to them, the EFCC spokesman hardly picks calls or responds to text messages aimed at extracting information from him to balance their reports.

This situation, they said, left journalists frustrated, leading to speculative reporting most times. (NAN)

EEM/AK/NKO

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(Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

NAN-H-93
Communication
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Mr Kunle Akogun, the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, has identified the lack of communication and good writing skills as
factors affecting some Public Relations (PR) practitioners in effective bridge-building.

Akogun made the observation in a paper he presented at the maiden edition of the Corporate Affairs In-House Training at the institution on Tuesday in Ilorin.

In the paper titled “Public Relations Practice in Nigerian Universities: the Unilorin Experience,’’ the deputy director said the lack of these requisite skills naturally resulted in image problems for the organisations concerned.

He said that the training was aimed at keeping officers and other staff abreast of latest developments in the field of Public Relations management around the world.

He explained that while the seminar was being planned to hold bi-monthly, “the mother of all trainings will be held very soon.’’

He lauded the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, for providing conducive environment for effective image-making.

He said “Prof. Ambali’s purposeful leadership is evident in the provision of adequate security on campus, improved staff and students’ welfare, encouragement of excellence in teaching, research and community development, among others.

“This is largely responsible for the absence of tension on our campus, thereby making our job as public relations practitioners a lot easy.’’

On his part, the vice-chancellor commended the Corporate Affairs Unit for its professionalism in managing the image of the university.

Represented by the Dean, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Prof. Jimoh Sadiku, Ambali highlighted the role of the Unit in the emergence of the university as a household name.

He said “there is no doubt that the Unit has been fantastic in its performance over the years.

“Its impact in the university’s strategic decisions, reputation and achievements is undeniably great.

“Its strategies of maintaining adequate flow of information with the public have been
effective.’’  (NAN)
AUO/FLP/HA
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-79
Election
Benin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists  (NAWOJ), Edo chapter, has urged women and youths of voting age to exercise their franchise during Wednesday’s Edo Governorship election.

The Edo Chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs Flora Bossey, who made the plea in Benin on Tuesday, said that voters’ apathy had in the past hindered democratic growth.

She urged all citizens of the state to make the election a successful one.

Bossey called on security agents to carry out their duties professionally to ensure peaceful and creditable election in the state.

“We are appealing to security personnel to protect all citizens, especially those on essential duties.

“We are also urging them to protect women who are not equipped to protect themselves’,’’ she said.

The NAWOJ chief also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for considering the welfare of physically-challenged persons for the election. (NAN)
OOJ/KOO/AJA
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(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

Building Collapse: FCTA to establish material testing lab

NAN-H-90

Laboratory
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN)The FCT Administration will soon establish a material testing laboratory to ensure that all ongoing construction works meet the requisite integrity, FCT Minister Muhammad Bello has said.

Bello said this when he received Prof. Suleiman Karwai, the Managing Director, Ahmadu Bello University Consultancy Services,  who paid him a courtesy a visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

Bello said that the laboratory was imperative to enable the administration to regularly and independently monitor all ongoing projects.

According to him, building collapse can be avoided with strong institutional supervision of both public and private projects.

He said that the FCTA recent incident of the collapse of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) building in Gwarinpa II District of Abuja, would be used to correct so many things in the territory.

“I am sure you know that that building in Gwarinpa was not supervised by any of our agencies.

“It was basically handled by the FHA under very lose corporate governance issues because I saw their preliminary report and as you all know, that builder was directed to stop work in March this year.

“Unfortunately, he continued and because of the weakness in the system, nobody stopped him.”

He said that the incident was an indictment on the entire system.

According to him, the FCT Development Control Department will soon embark on post-development audit of completed houses in Abuja, to ascertain that what was earlier approved, was not changed afterward.

Bello said that the FCT Administration would also embark on the registration of all material testing laboratories in the territory  and also step up surveillance of their facilities for effective control.

Earlier, Karwai said that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the university and the FCTA.

He promised to continue to partner with the FCTA in the areas of training, expertise exchange in civil engineering and other infrastructural development knowhow.  (NAN)

KM/NKO/NKO

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(Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo)

NAN-HE-23

Shares

Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Equity transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday reversed to negative trend after appreciating for two consecutive days with market indicators depreciating by 0.05 per cent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation depreciated by N5 billion or 0.05 per cent to close at N9.703 trillion against N9.708 trillion achieved on Monday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index recorded depreciation, dropping by 14.27 points or 0.05 per cent to close at 28,248.86 compared to 28,263.13 achieved on Monday.

Presco topped the losers’ chart, dropping by N4 to close at N41 per share.

ConOil trailed with a loss of N3 to close at N36 per share.

7UP shed N2.05 to close at N142.5, while Ashaka Cement dipped by N1.93 to close at N18.02 and Forte Oil went down by 85k to close at N160.15 per share.

Conversely, Guinness recorded the highest price gain to lead the gainers’ table, growing by N4.64 to close at N97.64 per share.

Nestle came second with a gain of N1 to close at N826, while Flour Mill appreciated by 96k to close at N2 per share.

Uac-Prop increased by 34k to close at N3.7 and Zenith up by 15k to close at N15.6 per share.

In spite of the decrease in equities, the volume of shares traded closed higher as a total of 294.91 million shares valued at N1.41 billion were transacted in 3,142 deals.

NAN reports that this was in contrast with the 249.77 million shares worth N1.96 billion traded in 3,170 deals on Monday.

Livestock drove the turnover volume, having accounted for 104.59 million shares valued at N89.95 million.

It was followed by FCMB with a total of 43.92 million worth N46.82 million and UBA sold 20.15 million shares valued at N84.51 million.

Dunlop traded 19.94 million shares worth N9.97 million and GTBank transacted 18.66 million shares valued at N466.45 million. (NAN)

LUC/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-H-75
Judges
By Sandra Umeh and Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, on Tuesday, called for appointment of more judges in the state to enhance speedy disposal of cases.

Atilade made the call at a forum for the Bar and Bench held at the Foyer of the High Court of Lagos, Igbosere, as part of activities marking the commencement of a new legal year by the Lagos Judiciary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports this year’s legal year commenced on Sept. 26, with a Church service at the Cathedral Church of Christ (Anglican Communion) Marina, Lagos.

Delivering her opening remark at the forum, Atilade underscored the need for speedy disposal of cases, adding that the citizens of the state were litigious in nature.

“I wish to take this opportunity to renew the call for the appointment of more Judges in Lagos, due to the litigious nature of citizens.

“We have enjoyed the leadership support and cooperation of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and that of the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly.

“We set out many goals for the Judiciary in the past years and Lagos State has remained focused in its drive for excellence,’’ she said.

Atilade also highlighted some of the justice delivery goals of the State Judiciary, adding that more would be done to ensure an effective justice system.

“Some of our achievements include: an improvement in service delivery and attaining efficient justice delivery; creation of a probate registry session, a modern and centralised registry and a fast track system.

“Also, we have been able to work with the executive toward achieving full judiciary autonomy,’’ she said.

Atilade also said that the Lagos Multi-dfoor Court House, as well as the judiciary information system was part of the remarkable achievements of the Lagos judiciary. (NAN)
UNS/OCC/FF/AJA
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro and controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)