Blog

Expert urges FG to create more landing points for fibre connectivity

NAN-H-66
Fibre
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Sept 27, 2016 (NAN) An ICT expert, Mr Nurudeen Faozy, the Director, Sleekchip Technologies has called on the Federal Government to create more landing points for fibre connectivity to aid smaller ICT firms’ growth.

Faczy made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that optical fibres are used to transmit light between two ends of the fibres and for wide fibre optic communications, they permit transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths than wire cables.

He said that having so many landing for fibre connectivity across the country would create a more robust fibre cabling infrastructure for smaller firms.

“In the area of fibre connectivity, government needs to create many landing points for fibre coming into the country from the ocean.

“Presently, we have Lagos alone as the landing point for fibres coming from the ocean.

“So we need to have a lot of fibre landing points in the South West Region and in the North too to aid internet connectivity.

He said that Federal Government should also ensure that states where fibre landing points pass through should not demand taxes from companies laying these cables.

“If fibre is being passed from a particular location, state government where the fibre is being passed usually demands  its own tax, when it gets to the local government they also make their charges.

“And even some land owners where the fibre passes also  place their own charges,’’ he said. (NAN)
COA/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Lagos CJ frees 20 inmates at Ikoyi Prisons

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Inmates
By Sandra Umeh and Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) In exercise of her constitutional powers, the Lagos State Chief Judge,  Justice Oluwafumilayo Atilade, on Tuesday released 20 inmates of Ikoyi Prisons awaiting trial.

Atilade, who made the pronouncement at a mini-court session conducted at the prisons, told the inmates:“Go and sin no more”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of activities marking the 2016/2017 legal year.

She said:“Having been informed by the prison officials of the offences for which you have been in prison for a period longer than three months, I pronounce, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act, 2007 as well as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, you are all hereby released from custody this 27th day of September, 2016.

“This is without prejudice to any charge that may be preferred against you at a later date; I, therefore, enjoin you to turn a new leaf and go and sin no more.”

Noting that every individual deserves a second chance to be able to lead normal lives as productive members of the society, Atilade added:”It is better for 10 guilty persons to go scot free than for one innocent person to suffer being punished unjustly.”

Atilade recalled that since she took over, a total of 2,065 inmates had been released from custody.

She said her prison visit was  backed up by the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation.

“I have taken it as one of the key pillars in my administration to regularly conduct this visit with a view to granting amnesty to eligible and deserving inmates.

“It is a notorious fact that the number of awaiting trial inmates far exceeds those of convicted inmates, and for this reason, my administration has established a Prison Decongestion Committee to  set up criteria for the release of inmates.”

She said the inmates were among the 104 of those whose criminal cases have been ongoing from nine months up to four years.

The Lagos CJ also noted that a number of factors had contributed to the large number of  inmates awaiting trial in the various prisons.

The factors included, police investigation, time lag between the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the actual filing of cases in court.

Atilade added that occasional delays such as transportation of inmates to court and lack of legal representation were among factors responsible for the large number of awaiting-trial inmates.

She reiterated her administrations’ commitment to ensuring that justice prevailed in the state. (NAN)
UNS/OCC/JPE/DA
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Joseph Edeh

NAN-H-57

Airlines

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it will soon convene a meeting with foreign airline operators over their alleged rejection of naira payment for flight tickets.

Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, made the disclosure in Lagos on Tuesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Adurogboye confirmed that the NCAA had received complaints from some passengers, adding that they had the right to make payments in naira.

He, however, noted that the industry was facing some challenges, particularly the scarcity of foreign exchange and inability of foreign airlines to repatriate their funds.

“The truth is that the airlines are beginning to reject the naira because of the special circumstances that they have found themselves.

“In the BASA agreement, when you sell your tickets, you should be able to repatriate your money; but presently, the airlines are finding it hard to take their money home.

“So this problem has arisen now and we are looking at how to find a workable solution to it.

“We will be meeting with the airlines soon because this situation is exceptional and we cannot just wield the big stick against them,” Adurogboye said.

He said the Federal Government was also taking measures to ameliorate the subsisting foreign exchange issues, adding that the inability of the airlines to repatriate their money was not deliberate.

Some airlines are allegedly accepting payments made only with credit cards or dollars.

The practice however, contravenes the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) prerequisite guiding cost of products or services in Nigeria which directs that pricing of any product shall continue to be in Naira only.

It is also contrary to the provisions of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and other countries as contained in Article 8 (4). (NAN)

ASO/MNA/SOA
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu and Oluwole Sogunle)

NAN-H-62

Journalists

Benin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Less than 24 hours to Wednesday’s gubernatorial election in Edo, many journalists who had arrived the state for coverage of the exercise were yet to be accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many of the journalists besieged the commission’s headquarters in the state at Ikpoba Hill as early as 7 a.m. on Tuesday and had remained unattended to by officials the officials.

After several hours of waiting and struggling to see the possibility of going through with the accreditation, most of them were referred to the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for identification before they would be accredited.

Mrs Prisillia Sule, the commission’s Assistant Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, explained that it was necessary for the NUJ to identify the journalists to ensure that the right persons were accredited.

According to Sule, only the state council of the NUJ can identify the authentic journalist before we can accredit them.

She, however, expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct the election, adding that all the sensitive materials for the poll had arrived at the 18 local government areas of the state.

The Chairman of NUJ in the state, Mr Roland Osakue, confirmed the development and assured that all eligible journalists would be accredited.

He said that already, no fewer than 400 newsmen in the state for the election had been accredited to cover the exercise, explaining that the journalists went through the union for the process. (NAN)

AJOM/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and Controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

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Check up
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, on Tuesday urged residents of the state to pay attention to their health to ensure their well-being.
She spoke in Ibadan during a walk organised by the Access to Basic (medical) Care Foundation to create awareness on cancer.

The walk was part of activities to commemorate the third year anniversary of the foundation, which was founded by the governor’s wife.

Participants walked from the ABC Clinic in Ibadan South-East Local Government, through Aleshinloye, to the Recreation club in the Adamasigba area of the state.

The governor’s wife urged people not to live in denial or feign ignorance of cancer’s existence as it was a reality.
” The best way to avert the consistent and continued pattern of cancer claiming lives is early detection through check up such as the mammogram, sonogram and pap smear,’’ she said.
Ajimobi said although everyone would die, some deaths could be averted by paying closer attention to one’s health.
“Early detection increases the chances of survival and preserves many more lives,’’ she said.
A medical doctor with the foundation, Tobi Lawrence, also reiterated that early detection was vital in tackling cancer.
He explained that cancer is a canker that affects both men and women and could be manifest in the brain, breast, prostate, cervix or skin, among others.
Lawrence urged the people not to take any unhealthy feeling as insignificant, but to make sure they get adequate diagnosis and care.
According to him, many people trivialise the condition and generalise all medical conditions to be malaria and apply self medication.
“To attain optimum health, check up must be done at regular intervals based on an individual’s age,” he said.
The Chief Operating Officer of the foundation, Mrs Dolapo Oyedipe, called on the public to exploit the opportunity of the free medical checkup provided by the group.

She said that it had attended to no fewer than 35,000 people at no cost.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week- long anniversary programme, continues till Friday. (NAN)
MAM/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-41

Warning

Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nasarawa State chapter, has warned its members against reckless driving and wrongful overtaking to save human lives.

Alhaji Salihu Adamu, the state NURTW chairman, gave this warning on Tuesday at the inauguration ceremony of branch 4 officials of the Keffi chapter of the union in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

Adamu also advised passengers to always call the attention of drivers while speeding, driving recklessly and overtaking wrongfully for their safety.

“Discharge your duties with the fear of God, without fear or favour and you must be just, fair and transparent while carrying out the union activities in order to justify the members confidence in you.

“Members of our union and motorists generally should always observe traffic rules and regulations and avoid reckless driving, speeding and wrongful overtaking to avoid unnecessary accidents.

“You must also shun corruption and other sharp practices capable of tarnishing your image, the image of the state and that of the country at large.

“Also, support the Federal Road Safety Commission and other security agencies to ensure free accident society and save human lives for the overall development of the country,” he said.

Adamu called on government authorities to put the nation’s highways in good shape, adding that the bad state of roads in the country, had contributed to several cases of accidents in the country.

He tasked the new officials to work in accordance with the union’s constitution and operate an open door policy so as to take the union to greater heights.

The chairman reinstated the commitment of the union to continue to sensitise its members in order to support traffic rules and regulations as well as support government policies on transportation.

Responding on behalf of others, Mr Mohammed Adamu, the chairman of the branch, promised that the new executives would discharge their duties without fear or favour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the men of the Nigeria Police, FRSC, NURTW among others, attended the inauguration. (NAN)

AKW/YEMI

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-48
Maintenance
By Bukola Adewumi and Fummi Adeyemi
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The FCT Water Board has advised residents of parts of the territory to store water as the board would shut down water supply to carry out repairs on some facility within the territory.

Mallam Hdu Bello, Director FCT Water Board, who made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the maintenance work would last for two days.

He said that the board decided to carry out maintenance work following report it received of damage of some pipes within the territory.

He listed the affected areas to include Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Airport road and residents within the National Open University.

Bello said that the board would shut down water supply to residents of these areas to facilitate the repair.

“On Monday, we got a report about some challenges we are having with some of our lines,“he said.

According to him, the report indicated that one of the board’s main line is leaking.

He said that personnel of the board had gone to the area to ascertain the level of damage.

“Usually, what we do is that when we have such a challenge, we have to go and assess the damage and there is a need for us to shut out water supply for repairs.’’

“We are calling on residents of these areas to store up water that will last them for some days,’’ he said.

The director said the information was coming at the right time so that consumers would not be taken by surprise and urged them to store enough water to last them for the duration of the disconnection.

On the recent discoloration of water in Kado area of FCT, the director said this usually happens when there was prolonged stoppage of water.

“Anytime there is a shut down due to repair and you now release the water, some of the corroded pipe inside the first water that comes out will clean the pipe.

“It continues for about ten minutes before it clears off. So that is why there is usually water discoloration,“he said.

Bello added that the problem was a localised one as it was peculiar to a particular area.

“The water we are sending is from Usman dam, we have no special treatment for water in any area because treatment of water is usually done at a central point.

“When the problem of discoloration occurs, the residents should complain to water board for proper investigation and to fix it.

“ Some of these areas might have busted pipe carrying mud inside the water,’’ he said and appealed to residents to pay up their bills promptly for better service delivery. (NAN)

BOL/FAK/JPE/AEA
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Edited by Joseph Edeh and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Kwoi residents returning after earth tremor

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Relief
Kafanchan (Kaduna), Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Kwoi in Kaduna State who fled are returning as normalcy seems to have returned following recurrence of earth tremors in the area.

Mr Ben Kure, the Interim Chairman of Jaba Local Government Area, where Kwoi is located made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kafanchan, Kaduna.

He said that there had not been any recurrence of tremors since last Tuesday, adding that residents who had earlier fled their homes were gradually returning.

The Chairman said that although quite a significant number of residents fled for fear of the unknown, normalcy was being restored in Kwoi and its environs.

“As we speak, farmers who found it difficult to go to their farms are now going and business premises are opening, while our pupils have resumed in their various schools,” he said.

Kure said that although the devastating effect of the tremor still left the people in shock, while others have their property damaged, “the community is coming alive again’’.

“The community is praying that the ugly incident will not repeat itself,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, some residents of Kwoi have decried government’s neglect to the plight of the community.

They expressed dismay that no attention had been given to those who suffered loss due to the earth tremor incidents that rocked the area.

Rev. Emmanuel Bako, a clergy said that the community was not pleased with government’s attitude in response to the recent calamity that befell the area.

“The government is not being responsive enough to cushion the suffering of the masses.

“One should expect that by now those whose houses were affected during the tremor would have received some kind of palliatives,” he said.

Bako said that the government needed to do more than paying lips service if it would win the confidence of the people in the state.

Mr Sunday Istiphanus, a civil servant, another Kwoi resident said that the hope of the residents was heightened with the presence of NEMA but were disappointed as no gesture followed the visit.

“NEMA with other experts only came to take pictures and spread the news like journalists without any action to backup their visit,” he said.

NAN reports barely two weeks after earth tremor occurred in Sadandagi in Kaduna, another occurred on Sept. 11 in Kwoi and over 300 houses were affected.  (NAN)
MGK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf
 

NAN-ELS-2
Spenders
By Babajide Awoyinfa
Lagos, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The manager of Rumours Nightclub, Tobi Ashiru, has complained about the slow pace of business and the near absence of big spenders at the leisure facility.

Ashiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the lull had made most club owners to explore more creative approaches to boost their businesses.

“One of the biggest challenges for nightclub owners is not just attracting crowd, but getting the biggest spenders through the door.

“The difficulty comes though, not only from getting customers in the door, but maintaining profitable margins at the same time.

“There is an old saying in the club business, which I’m sure, applies to most businesses, turnover is vanity, margins are sanity,’’ he said.

The manager told NAN that payment of salaries and other expenses are being affected by the slow pace of business.

“We have to worry about the health of the businesses, and managing all of our employees, while also trying to find new ways to attract the best crowds and the biggest spenders.

“With so much going on, it can be very easy for things to fall out of place or to get overlooked.

“Re-invention and thinking outside the box in order to drive up falling sales is certainly the best and possibly the only way to survive in the hospitality business at the moment,’’ he said.

He told NAN that the prevailing situation had made it mandatory for nightclub owners to continuously adopt bold and creative measures to build profit margins.

“I believe that having repeat guests or regulars; can help build one’s profit margin because there is no incremental advertising or marketing expense to bring them in.

“Additionally, providing valuable word-of-mouth advertising, asking customers to sign up for online newsletter to notify clients about special upcoming events at the club.

“Sending them discount coupons with each edition of the newsletter and tracking how many of these are redeemed can help profit margin.

“You can have one of the hottest venues in your city by consistently providing an exceptional guest experience,’’ Ashiru said. (NAN)
BAG/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-40

Package

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Dayo Alao, the Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, has called for a better salary package for journalists in the country.

Alao, who made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Osogbo, said it was painful that journalists were being treated poorly by their employers.

The former Chairman of Daily Times, said journalists should not be treated as second class citizens but as professionals.

He urged the national body of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to take a strong position against media organisations owing their workers salaries.

He said that it was unfair for employers in the media to deny reporters their entitlements.

“There are some media organisations that tell their reporters that their Identity Card is their meal ticket.

“This is very insulting and unprofessional. Journalists, who always risk their life in getting stories should be treated with dignity by regularly paying their salaries and other allowances,” he said.

The VC also urged NUJ to fight against quackery in the profession.

He noted that the number of newspapers in the country was reducing on a daily basis and that technology had taken over the role of traditional journalism.

“The new social media is taking over the role of information dissemination due to its fastness but newspaper will continue to maintain its permanent reverence.

“Everyday, newspaper will continue to be threatened by the new media, and that is why modernity should also feature in the print media.

“The more we have the new media, the more jobs that will be fading away”.

Alao lauded the media for its role in information dissemination. (NAN)

VE/TO/YEMI
Edited by Tola okinbaloye

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju