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NAN-HE-18

Assets

Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Araba of Osogbo land, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, has advised the Federal Government to be wary of the call for it to sell the country’s assets.

Elebuibon stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

He was reacting to the recent call by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the Federal Government to partially sell the nation’s assets and invest the proceeds into the ailing economy.

He said that selling the nation’s assets would not be in the overall interest of future generations.

·         Cue in audio

“We need to take a critical look at this aspect of selling (the national) assets.

“As an individual, you would not like your children to sell your property even after your death.

“And if it became important to do so, I think care needs to be taken; it is not an easy task to sell your property.

“What do you want to leave at the end for (the) generations unborn?”

·         Cue out audio (NAN) 

LED/OSA/YEE

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-72
Tourism
By Idris Olukoya and Nwadinobi Cynthia
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) have called on the Federal Government to create a separate Ministry of Tourism to enhance its activities within the hospitality value chain.
The association’s president, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, made the call on Tuesday at an event marking this year’s “World Tourism Day’’ in Ikeja, Lagos.
The theme of the event was tagged “Tourism for all, focus on accessibility for people’’.
Onung said the country deserved to have a Ministry of Tourism in view of the sector’s potential contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
“This year’s event is celebrated with mixed feelings.
“With joy on one hand for the resilience of Nigerians and stakeholders who have had to forge ahead in spite of a very difficult operating terrain,” said the NATOP president.
He said that successive governments had continued to trivialise the sector that was capable of contributing immensely to the nation’s GDP.
“We need attend trade expos regularly to market Nigeria tourism.
“We had our problems but there is room for improvement,“ he said.
Onung commended NATOP’s tour and marketing partnership with 2016 Calabar Carnival scheduled to hold in December.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari pruned down the number of ministries in line with the recommendations the Steve Oronsaye panel. (NAN)
SIO/ERO/WOJ
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and controlled by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-72
Materials
By George Edomwonyi
Auchi (Edo State), Sept 27, 2016 (NAN) Ahead of the Wednesday gubernatorial election in Edo, sensitive and non-sensitive material for the poll arrived in INEC office in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Electoral Officer (EO) in the area was seen sorting the voting materials, while political party representatives in the area were on ground to monitor the process.

The ad hoc staff, including members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), were present to check for their postings for the exercise.

Also, hundreds of the law enforcement agents were present at the Edo North Police Area Command, waiting for their deployment.

NAN reports that members of Nigerian Security and Defense Corps (NSDC) were also waiting for their deployment.

The NSDC Commander in the area, Mr Peter Onah, said 700 officers and men of the corps had been deployed to the six council areas of the zone to ensure peaceful election.

He assured the people of the senatorial district of adequate security during and after the election. (NAN)
GE/EMO/HA
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(Edited by Ejike Obeta/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-68
Clearance
Katsina, Sept. 27, 2016(NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced Biometric Clearance System for corps members in all local government areas of Nigeria to check impersonation and other forms of fraud in the scheme.

The Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, said this on Tuesday in Katsina at the opening of a workshop on Biometric Clearance for corps members serving in the North-West zone, using ICT.

He said “I am delighted to inform you that all necessary logistics are ready and will be distributed to the local government areas in the country
for the biometric clearance after the workshop.”

The director-general said the initiative was aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency in corps members’ activities, by preventing proxy registration, impersonation and other forms of fraud in the scheme.

Kazaure, who was represented by Mr Athony Ani, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, said that the step was in line with Federal Government’s fight against corruption.

Mrs Christy Uba, the Director, ICT, said the programme would be conducted in partnership with SIDMACH Nigeria Ltd.

She said that the system would assist in ensuring adequate monitoring of corps members at their places of primary assignment, using their finger prints and personal data.

She added that “with the launch of the biometric clearance, all forms of vices that undermine the operations of the scheme will henceforth be
over.

“Mobilisation processes, deployment, monitoring, production of ID cards and printing of NYSC certificates will now be done through
the biometric system.”

The Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, said that the scheme would provide manpower to government which would enable it to meet the yearnings of the people.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Youth Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Khalil, commended the scheme’s management
for introducing the new clearance system.

He assured that the state government would continue to support the scheme to achieve its set objectives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NYSC, established by decree No. 24 of
May 22, 1973, is a mandatory one year service to the nation on every graduate who is less than 30 years.

The graduates, who would be posted out of his or her state of origin to serve, would first be assembled for three weeks orientation in a camp, where they would undergo training, including those similar with the army, as well as get familiar with their host states.

The NYSC members would then be posted to either government or private organisations
in order for them to put into practical what they had learnt in school.  (NAN)
ZI/FLP/HA
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-S-13
Badminton
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Badminton Clubs in Nigeria (ABCIN) says it will hold an All Nigeria Badminton Clubs Championship in Katsina next month.

The association’s Technical Director, Mohammed Bako, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the event was slated for Oct. 4 to Oct. 8.

He said that Golden Stars Badminton Club of Katisna would host the 50 clubs expected to participate in the championships.

Bako said that so far, 25 clubs have registered for the championships, adding that more were still been expected.

“Our expectation is that 50 clubs will participate in the championships but so far, 25 have registered,’’ he said.

Bako said that the competition would offer players the opportunity to showcase their talents and boost their career.

He said the association came into existence due to lack of activities for players to showcase their talent.

“What is happening is that the veterans in Nigeria are the ones enjoying badmintons because they organise tournaments for themselves while the active are busy sleeping.

“The federation has not held any event in the past one year and this is a big set back to our players,’’ the technical director said.

Bako said that the veterans formed the association to bring together all the badminton clubs in Nigeria and ensure adequate competitions to keep the players in good shape.

“The non-participation of the Nigeria badminton national teams in both local and international competitions has continued to bring the countries ranking down.

Bako said that the championships would revive the game and compliment the efforts of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria in promoting the sport. (NAN)
DE/PDE
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

N1.64bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of Nyame till Sept. 28

NAN-H-70
Nyame
by Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Sept.27, 2016 (NAN) An Abuja High Court on Tuesday adjourned the trial of former governor of Taraba, Rev. Jolly Nyame ,till  Sept. 28

Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the matter to enable the defence react to the further additional proof of evidence filed by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) Counsel to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Banjoko told both counsel that she was not going to give room for any further adjournments, adding that the trial shall hence forth continue on a daily basis.

Counsel to the Defence Hassan Fajimite told the court that the prosecution served them with the document on Monday, Sept. 26, and that he needed time to study it and respond accordingly..

“It is because they defaulted in serving us in time, we are cannot take this case today. We are entitled to study the document and try to analyse it with our witness,” Fajimite said.

Jacobs who could not field the 11th witness, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the witness he came to court was a substitute witness, adding that the main witness had retired and could not be traced.

“You know this case is 10 years old and Taraba government  said they could not trace him, so we had to come to court today with a substitute witness,’’ Jacobs said

Fajimite, had told NAN that the prosecution `defaulted’ when they served them with the Further Additional Prove of Evidence just on Monday.

Nyame is facing trial on a 41-count charge of criminal misappropriation of N1.64 billion state fund during his tenure as governor. (NAN)
SET/OFN

NAN-H-67

NGOs

By Kevin Okunzuwa
Benin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGOS) in Edo has expressed readiness to monitor Wednesday’s governorship election in the state.

The organisation’s Director of Administration, Mr Destiny Enabulele, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin.
Enabulele said that many members of the group had been accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the poll in the 18 local government areas of the state.

He could, however, not disclose the exact number of local observers accredited by INEC for the exercise.

But Mrs Priscillia Sule, INEC’s Assistant Director of Voter Education and Publicity in Edo, told NAN that 44 observer groups had been accredited to monitor the poll.

She said that the accredited observers comprised 37 local and seven foreign groups.

“We have trained our members on the `dos and don’ts’ as an election observer groups and have also instilled in them the need to ensure a seamless monitoring of the election,’’ he said.

Enabulele, who of t INEC for the hitch-free accreditation process, said “we are also working in synergy with national NGOs toward ensuring a free, fair and credible election on Wednesday.

“We have also been engaged in a lot of sensitization and enlightenment on the need for a violence-free election in Edo.

“Already, we have quite a number of our members adopted to function in the Situation Room and we are happy that the people are ready for the election after the initial postponement.’’ (NAN)

KOO/OPI/OPI

Edited and Controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-43
Lubricant
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kwara, has warned against the practice of blending lubricants in the state.

The DPR Comptroller in the state, Mr Philip Salvation, gave this warning on Tuesday while reading the riot act to oil marketers in Ilorin.

The DPR in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had last week sealed three factories for engaging in illegal blending of lubricants in the state.

The affected factories were Segma Oil Limited Ogbondoroko in Asa Local Government Area, Manner Business Ventures and Wobles Venture in Offa Garage area of llorin.

Salvation said the DPR had the responsibility of regulating the downstream sector of oil and gas, in which lubricant retailers were included for involving in petroleum products.

“The procedures for licensing lubricants retailers in Nigeria is in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum (Amendment) Decree No. 37. of 1977 Section 4(1).

“The law stipulates that no person shall import, sell and distribute any petroleum products in Nigeria without a license granted by the Director of Petroleum Resources’’.

According to him, all applications for licences to retail lubricants shall be in the prescribed application form and forwarded to the Director of DPR or any of its offices nationwide.

Salvation said the requirement for retailing lubricants kiosk was that the kiosk must occupy a concreted land area not exceeding 30.48 metres.

“It has to be a well ventilated area not in a cellar enclosure and must be at least 15 metres away from any possible source of naked flame.

“The kiosk colour shall be grey 60 per cent with the sponsors trade name and logo conspicuously displayed.

“A minimum of two fire extinguishers shall be provided and sand buckets shall also be provided’’.

The DPR official said a sales register must be maintained for records of retail transactions, adding that a sales receipt must be issued for every transaction.

“The maximum storage capacity at anytime shall not be more than 1000 litres of lubricants and there must be an arrangement for the collection of used containers and waste’’.

Speaking on the sealed factories, Salvation said the factories’ products had been taken to undisclosed laboratory for test, after which, he said sanctions would be awarded appropriately.

He, however, urged marketers to be law-abiding, as DPR would be monitoring bad elements, who engaged in sharp practices in the oil sector across the country.  (NAN)
AUO/ADA/YEMI

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Emir wants FRSC to license motorcyclists
NAN-H-59
License
Dutse, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Dutse, in Jigawa, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad, has called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to license all motorcyclists in the state.
Nuhu made the call when he received the new FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Angus Ibezim, in his palace in Dutse on Tuesday.
The Emir noted that most motorcyclists were not qualified to ride, particularly commercial ones.
“Very few motorcyclists are qualified to ride on the roads; so I support the arrest of unlicensed cyclists, particularly commercial motorcyclists.
“Most of them don’t know how to drive, they have to be certified. This can be done through their unions, they must be licensed,” the Emir said.
He said the move would ensure that only qualified and certified persons ride motorcycles and other vehicles and reduce the rate of accidents in the state.
He alleged that most of the drivers in the emirate are drug addicts.
“What is bothering us in this emirate is use of hard drugs by commercial drivers.
“They over speed while taking passengers to Kano and other places: Definitely they must be using some drugs to do so without getting tired,” he said.
Earlier, Ibezim said he was at the palace to seek the Emir’s support and cooperation in the discharge of his duty.
“As a new Sector Commander, I am here to seek your support and cooperation for the FRSC and in reducing the rate of road crashes in Dutse and the entire state.
“I assure you that the corps will leave no stones unturned in addressing drug misuse among drivers,” Ibezim said. (NAN)
MNB/CEO/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

Edo poll: Benin residents observe last-minute shopping

NAN-H-65

Shopping

Benin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Benin have embarked on last-minute shopping ahead of Wednesday’s governorship election in the state.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited Ediekel Market, New Benin Market and Ikpoba-Hill Market, said there was large turnout of customers who thronged the markets to make purchases because of the restriction of  movement on the election day.

One of the residents, Mrs Omosefe Odigie, said: “ I am shopping because of the election period, as markets would not open tomorrow”.

Mr Charles Ogbeide, said he was shopping “because I do not want to take chances as the markets would remain shut during the election period”.

On his part, Mr Sylvester Odia, said he came out to recharge his cell phone to enable him to make calls to be informed about happenings during the polls.

NAN reports that the State Government had declared Tuesday and Wednesday public holidays to enable civil servants to travel to where they registered and participate in the election.

The State Secretariat located Sapele Road and the Federal Secretariat on Ikpoba-Hill were all empty as the civil servants observed the holiday.

However, banks, filing stations, motor parks and other corporate offices opened for business as their workers were exempted from the public holiday. (NAN)

AJOM/IMEL/EMO/AMY

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Abdullahi Yusuf