Blog

NAN-H-29
Teachers
Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Permanent Secretary, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has called on governments at all levels to  motivate teachers for better performance through provision of instructional materials.

Kolawole, who made the call on Tuesday in Osogbo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that provision of instructional materials would ensure delivery of qualitative education.

“Any government that is serious about qualitative education must make provision for instructional materials and other incentives for teachers,” he said.

He explained that instructional materials were designed to serve as tools to enhance teaching and learning.

Kolawole reiterated the determination of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola to stamp out illiteracy from Osun state, through the provision of teaching aids and other incentives to motivate teachers.

He said: “Curriculum control and qualitative education is the cardinal principle of the government in Osun.

“The incumbent government in the state, under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is committed to the proviosion of qualitative education in Osun.

“We are convinced that education in our state will reclaim its rightful place in the scheme of things.

“Very soon, elementary schools in Osun will become monumental reference points for other states in Nigeria, “Kolawole said. (NAN)

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Edited and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Police arrest 3 housewives over alleged attempted murder in Kano

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Arrest

By Tukur Muntari Masanawa

Kano, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Police Command has arrested three housewives in connection with the alleged attempted murder of a girl.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.

He said that the girl was thrown into an old well in Gayawa village, Ungoggo Local Government Area of the state.

NAN learnt that the girl had spent two days inside the well, where she was allegedly thrown into by her step mother, a week ago.

The girl was subsequently rescued alive by men of the state Fire Service.

Majiya said that the suspects were apprehended in the village on Sunday following complain by the father of the girl.

“We have arrested three women in connection with the case and they are now in our custody assisting us in our investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mr Rabiu Yusuf has directed the transfer of the case to the state Criminal Investigation Department, for proper investigation.”

Majiya added that the commissioner had ordered for thorough investigation to ascertain the suspects individual involvement in the case.

The command’s spokesman said that anyone found involved after full investigation, would be charged to court.(NAN)
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Edited by Yakubu Musa Uba and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

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Suicide bomber kills 9 in Baghdad – police

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Bomb

Baghdad, Sept. 27, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a predominately Shi’ite Muslim district of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least nine people and wounding 30, police and medical sources said.

The blast targeted a commercial street in the eastern Baghdad al-Jadida area of the Iraqi capital, sources said, adding that the death toll could increase.

Islamic State has intensified bomb attacks in government-held areas of Iraq this year as it loses territory to U.S. backed Iraqi Government forces and Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias.

The ultra-hardline Sunni group claimed a truck bombing in July that killed at least 324 people in the Karrada shopping area of Baghdad.

The bombing was described as the deadliest single attack in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The group continues to control vast areas in northern and western Iraq, including the city of Mosul, captured in 2014 (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Felix Ajide
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rustling

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Sabon-Birni (Sokoto) Sept.27,2016( NAN) Sabon-Birni Local Government Council in Sokoto State has urged residents of border communities to volunteer information to security personnel deployed to check the activities of cattle rustlers.

The council chairman, Alhaji Idris Gobir, made the call Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sabon-Birni,the headquarters of the Local government.

Gobir said that such information like the routes being used by the rustlers would enable security operatives to check the menace.

He said that the local government administration would continue to support security agencies deployed in the area to facilitate their operations.

The chairman explained that the council had already mobilised the support of royal fathers in sensitising their subjects on security conciousness and the need to support and cooperate with security agencies by providing them with relevant security information.
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Controlled by Tukur Muntari.

Stop cursing leaders, Cleric admonishes Nigerians

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Prayer

By Ajayi Toba

Ilorin, Sept.27, 2016 (NAN) Pastor Samuel Ojo of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Great Commission District Headquarters, Osere, Ilorin, Kwara has urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders rather than raining curses on them.

Ojo, who made the call an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Tuesday, said that leaders needed the people’s support to succeed in delivering good governance.

He stressed that insults would not solve the problem bedevilling the country.

“Our leaders need people’s support through prayers and not curse, Nigerians are fond of raising curses on their leaders rather than praying for them.

“We need to say positive things and declare positive prayers for our Jerusalem (Nigeria), instead of speaking negative things against our dear nation,” he said.

He said that if everyone in the country would cultivate the habit of praying for the nation and its leaders regularly, God would salvage the nation.

According to the pastor, prayer is the only weapon that can solve the challenges the country is facing. (NAN)

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Edited by Dada Ahmed and Maharazu Ahmed
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Music
By Toba Ajayi
Ilorin, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Joshua Bolarinwa, a medical doctor at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), says listening to music is good for health.

Bolarinwa made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Tuesday.

He said listening to music would help to reduce stress and also boost physical health by relaxing the muscles in the body.

“Listening to music is a good antidote to reducing stress as stress is responsible for over 60 percent of the diseases common to most patients,” he added.

According to Bolarinwa, listening to music is one the best ways to exercise the brain as people who listen   more to music have better memory than those who don’t.

“Listening to music eases stress and refreshes the brain and makes one feel relaxed.

“ When you listen to your favourite music, you will feel at ease and satisfied,” he said.

Bolarinwa advised people to listen to music as it could also reduce pains in the body.

The medical practitioner said music was a good therapy for patients with severe pains.

He urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of listening to music every day, explaining that patients with high blood pressure could get it lowered by listening to relaxation music.

“Relaxation music will take worry away from you and  make  you healthy again,” said the expert. (NAN)
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(Edited by Abiodun Esan and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-27
Election
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, member, Osun House of Assembly, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure transparency and credibility in the conduct of Sept. 28 Edo governorship election.

The legislator told the News Agency (NAN) in Osogbo on Tuesday, that credibility of the election would serve as litmus test for the 2019 general elections.

Oyintiloye, who is the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, urged INEC to ensure level playing ground for all the political parties contesting the poll.

He urged INEC to conduct the election in such a way that the outcome would be acceptable to all.

He appealed to politicians not to see the election as “do-or-die affair,’’ saying that their conduct and utterances before, during and after the poll should be guided by democratic principles.

He said: “I want the leadership of INEC to ensure that Edo governorship election is free, fair and credible.

“The commission should be neural so that the outcome of the election is acceptable to all.

“All the political gladiators in the election should allow peace to reign during and after the election.”

Oyintiloye called on the electorate to go out enmass and cast their votes for their preferred candidate and urged them not to engage in any action that would put them into trouble.

The lawmaker urged security operatives to ensure peaceful atmosphere during and after the election, adding that their presence was important to the successful outcome of the poll. (NAN)

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Edited and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Birds, locusts swarm threaten harvests in Yobe — Commissioner

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Harvests

By Mohammed Mamman

Damaturu, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) Increasing population of Queala birds in Nguru, Ngeji and Ngalda wetlands is threatening bumper harvests in five local government areas of Yobe, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mustapha Gajirima, has said.

Gajirima told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Damaturu that the birds were threatening rice and millet plantations in Nguru, Jakusko, Bade, Karasuwa and Fika Local Government Areas.

According to him, the state government lacks the capacity to undertake aerial spray to destroy the birds.

“Yobe state is appealing to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for early aerial spray before the swarm strike on the farmlands.

“The quelea birds are very destructive, they move in large numbers and invade farms, eating up the farms completely in few minutes.

“There are indications of good yields of rice and millet this season but the swarm constitute serious threat to the expected harvest.

“We therefore appeal to the federal government to act fast to save the farms,” he said.

On locusts, Gajirima said the state government had sprayed farmlands in Damaturu, Yunusari, Bursari, Yusufari, Giedam and Machina local government areas.

“The state Ministry of Agriculture and Environment acted promptly by embarking on motorized and manual spray of farms in the affected local government areas.”

The commissioner said the early response had saved many farmlands in the affected areas.

“We are happy with the good results and promising harvests.”

The commissioner disclosed that the government had placed border communities in the state on red alert, to monitor and report movement of pests in their localities.

“There are reports of expected influx of pests into Nigeria through Niger Republic, we have placed our people on standby to monitor and report pest movements in their areas for quick response,” Gajirima said. (NAN)

MM/MZA

Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

Budgetary process: Expert advises NASS on proper interrogation

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Budget

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Sept. 26, 2016 (NAN) A financial expert, Mr Eze Onyekpere has advised the National Assembly to do proper interrogation on revenue profile of the country before passing any budget to enhance its implementation.

Onyekpere gave the advice while setting the tone for the Gallery Colloquium on “A Conversation on Reforming the Budgetary Process in Nigeria,’’  in Abuja.

Onyekpere, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, said the Federal Government should not be concerned with figures alone while preparing budget but should merge the budget with revenue.

“`We get concerned about how much we want to spend, how much we want to put in the budget without checking the revenue profile.

“This will lead to a situation where we put more in the budget than the money available to implement the budget

“Prioritisation is key and on the revenue profile, we need to do more of interrogative job as members of National Assembly,’’ he said.

The expert said that this situation came to play in the 2016 budget where the National Assembly passed a budget of N6.06 trillion.

“The budget was passed and everybody was clapping. Where is the revenue to fund the budget?

“Where is the revenue profile of 2016 budget? Was it properly interrogated? If the interrogation was properly done, we would not be thinking about selling national assets to fund the budget.

“We are already in September getting to October and we talking about selling National assets to fund the budget.

“If we sell the assets to implement 2016 budget, which one do we sell to implement 2017 budget?”

Onyekpere, however, emphasised the need for the executive and the National Assembly to work together to implement feasible budget.

He said that even if it was constituency project, one needed to take it to the Ministry, Department or Agency in charge at the point of collating.

“If you take it there at that time and they have to see if it is in tune with the priority of that sector at that time.

“That is spirit of collaboration, early consultation and that is what should precede any budget process.

“So, you need to ask deeper and critical questions on how executive is working and collaborate with them. ,’’ the expert said.

He described the relationship between the National Assembly and the executive as one, saying that they were both working for same purpose and interest.

“I always liken the relationship between National Assembly and the executive as that of husband and wife.

“There is no way if you don’t bring yourself to meet as husband as wife, you cannot have a baby.

“The wife cannot have a baby alone so no one is more important than other,’’ Onyekpere said.

Earlier, Oke Epia, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of OrderPaper.ng said that budgetary process should involve the citizens.

Epia said the annual budget of the county was far too important to be left solely in the hands of a few privileged members of the political class.

“The budgetary process must be made to be all inclusive,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gallery is an annual colloquium convened by OrderPaper.ng to mark its anniversary in September every year.

It is conceived as a signature programme of the multi-media company and a platform that brings various stakeholders of democratic project together to brainstorm and proffer solutions on legislative and democratic issues (NAN)

CIA/IA

(Edited by Idris Abdulrahman)

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Para-soccer
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Paralympic Committee (NPC) has appealed to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to give full recognition to para-soccer as the sport seeks international acceptance.

The President of NPC, Monday Emoghawve, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The NPC boss regretted that the inability of the sports ministry to make para-soccer a compulsory sport in Nigeria was affecting its acceptability by the International Paralympics Committee (IPC).

“Para-Soccer is still developing in Nigeria but we have been making efforts to ensure it is accepted worldwide and included in the Paralympic Games.

“As it is today, para-soccer has been our baby; few months ago, I contacted the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) with headquarters in Germany.

“They told me that before para-soccer can be accepted worldwide that we should be able to take the sport to the five continents of the world.

“The organisation in charge of disability sport in Germany directed us to send representatives to go round the world for para-soccer advocacy before they could create a body for the sport in Germany,’’ he added.

Emoghawve told NAN that the leadership of para-soccer in the country had been able to take the sport to four African countries.

The NPC president said he would be happy to see para-soccer in the Paralympic Games just as the IPC has approved para-badminton for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Emoghawve lamented that para-soccer, a game invented by a Nigerian was still being regarded as a non-compulsory sport and urged the minister to make it compulsory at the National Sports Festival (NSF).

“The media should help us to ensure the Ministry of Sports do not remove para-soccer from the National Sports Festival (NSF).

“We have been appealing to the government not to remove a locally developed sport from a Nigerian-organised competition like the sports festival.

“Para-soccer should be the number one sport when it comes to the NSF,’’ Emoghawve said.

He noted that para-soccer needed sponsors for it to meet the IPC standard and possibly be listed among the Paralympics sports.

He said: “We need to promote para-soccer because from my own observation, we still need to modernise it.

“The whiteman will not want to play with hands on slippers and also sit on bearing with legs and toes unprotected.

“So, if the game is being practiced properly at the NSF, everybody will contribute idea that could help to develop the sport before we can package it and sell it abroad,’’ he said.
(NAN)
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)