Blog

NSCDC in Nasarawa receives 405 cases in 8 months -Commandant

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Cases
By Awayi Kuje
Lafia,Sept. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa State on Monday said it received 405 cases from January till date.

Alhaji Lawan Bashir-Kano, the state NSCDC Commandant, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia that the reports led to the arrest of some criminal elements in the state.

He said that the reports aided the efforts of its operatives in combating crime in the state.

“Our mandate is to ensure the peaceful coexistence among the people of the diverse ethnic, religious and political groups is been sustained so as to achieve speedy development in the country.

“That is why the command is up and doing in tackling crime of various kinds in the state, so that every citizen whether in the rural or urban area can go about their normal activities without fear of intimidation or attacks.

“I want to disclose to you that from January 2016 to date, the command has received a total number of 405 cases which includes both criminal cases such as vandalism, rape, theft among others and civil cases.

“Out of these 405 cases, we referred 198 for investigation and the rest are not for investigation rather than for mediation between the complainants and the respondent so as to bring peace among themselves,” he said.

He said the command received 41 cases in January and February, 32 cases in March, 54 in April, 49 in May, 58 in June, 61 in July, 70 in August and 40 in September.

Bashir-Kano said that the command synergised with the police and other sister security agencies to ensure a crime-free society.

The commandant said that the NSCDC transferred 71 cases to police for prosecution, and appealed to the public to always give vital information to the command to curtail criminal activities in the state.

He appreciated the people and the media for their continued support to the corps and called for its sustenance. (NAN)
AKW/ECN/OFN
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye//Felix Nwadioha

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Relegation
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) It was jubilation time for supporters of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Sunday after the club defeated visiting Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi to escape relegation.

The victory meant the club will escape the drop from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when the 2015/2016 season ends on Oct. 2.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a header from Samuel Olabisi in the 54th minute of the Match Day 37 game gave them the victory.
NAN reports also that the tension-soaked match was the last home match for 3SC in the 2015/2016 NPFL season and was crucial to their final position on the league table.
3SC were before the match 15th on the table with 44 points, while Wikki Tourists were third with 54 points.

The Ibadan-based club will visit Owerri for their last match of the season against hosts Heartland FC.

3SC’s Coach Gbenga Ogunbote told NAN that he was highly grateful to God for the escape, saying many people had believed that the club would be relegated.

“God has been faithful to me all the time. It is good to have confidence in God and your team. I have a very cordial relationship with players.
“I am the type who always wants my players to believe me and in what I believe,’’ he said.
Speaking on the possibility of his leaving the club for another clubs, Ogunbote said the season was not yet over and he was still contracted to 3SC.
The coach however said the first hurdle for him and the club had been crossed, and the next hurdle was to fortify the team to win laurels.
Similarly, Seun Akinyemi, the 3SC captain, told NAN that he was really happy for the victory and the team’s escape from relegation.
He said that many people did not believe that the team could escape relegation by the end of the 2015/2016 NPFL season.
“I am very happy that the club escaped relegation. We will now work very hard to lift the club back to its glorious old days,’’ Akinyemi said.
Yomi Oke, the Oyo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, said the good old days have now come for 3SC.

“Government will give its best to returning the club to its victorious days,’’ he said.

Oke said the state government would soon unveil its blueprint on sports development, which he said was aimed at discovering talents from the grassroots.
He commended the 3SC fans, sponsors and other stakeholders for their unflinching support for the club, assuring them of better days ahead.
NAN also reports that the state government in conjunction with Hams Universal Consulting (HUC) had at the match venue held a programme tagged “Giving Back Sports Series’’.

It was organised as a way of expressing gratitude to 3SC’s teeming supporters.
The programme featured entertainers, among whom were Tundey GTS, BK GMB, Sheun Natural, Fabulous Pizzy, Sade Blaq, 13th Disciples and Peteru.(NAN)
(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

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Medal
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) Daniel Mfon of Akwa Ibom and Rukayat Jimoh of Kano state on Sunday in Ilorin won a medal each for their respective state at the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG).

Their success meant their respective states won the first medals at the competition which was officially declared open on Saturday at the University of Ilorin Sports Complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an injured and determined Jimoh edged out Blessing Peter of Delta in the women’s 46kg category of the taekwondo event.

Jimoh had earlier defeated Jennifer Amadi of Imo in a keenly-contested semi-final.

Amadi and Mesoma Nwakwo of Ebonyi took home the bronze medals in the event.

Mfon on his part won in the men’s 55kg category of taekwondo after defeating Bright Enock of Ogun.

Suopriye Hart of Rivers and Osinachi Onyejiekwe of Imo won the bronze medals in the event.

Speaking on the competition, the Secretary-General of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Sunny Obot, told NAN that new talents had been discovered during the event.

He added that plans were already in place to make them future champions.

Ogunmuyiwa Gbolahan, one of the technical officials at the Games, said the event was not all about winning but fishing out prospective sports champions in various states.(NAN)

(Edited by Cecilia Odey and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

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Elections
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) Members of the Nigeria Judo Coaches Association (NIJUCA) on Sunday in Ilorin elected new executives to pilot the association’s affairs for the next four years.

Abdulkarim Ibrahim from Kano State emerged as the new president after defeating Ekuka Ewa 33 votes to 12, while Ogidan Olatunji from Ogun emerged as the Secretary-General unopposed.

The post of Financial Secretary was won by Amos Iliya who defeated his opponent 33 votes against 10.

Other posts were won unopposed, with Angulu Sulyman emerging as Vice-President and Osato Williams as Assistant Secretary-General.

Aremu Obekpa emerged as Treasurer, Mangfwang Samson as Public Relations Officer and Alawaye Abdulhamid as Provost.

Speaking after the elections, Olatunji promised that the right of coaches in the country would not be trampled upon again as a new dawn has now come.

He added that the new executive committee would focus on developmental programmes and refresher courses for the association’s members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election panel was chaired by Godpower Geoffrey, with Hassan Umar and Nora Elezieanya as the other members.(NAN)

(Edited by Cecilia Odey and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

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Hope
By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, Sept. 25, 2016(NAN)The commemoration of the 56^th Independence Anniversary began on Sunday with an interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Vice President Yemi osinbajo, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, urged Nigerians to be patient as the country would regain prosperity.

Vice President Osinbajo in his remarks assured that “God is building a new Nigeria, where there will be peace from the North East to the Niger Delta region.’’

“The promise to God to our nation is that he is building a new Nigeria, a Nigeria where there will be peace from the North East to the Niger Delta, a Nigeria where our economy will experience abundance and prosperity.

“Where there will be job for the jobless, a Nigeria led by honest and committed leadership, a Nigeria where Christians, Muslims and men of different faith, men and women from every state and ethnic group will live and work together in peace and harmony.

“His promise is that we are on our way out of the wilderness, through this land flowing with milk and honey,’’ he said.

According to him, in understanding our role, we must remember how the children of God, the Israelites, after God has taken them out of Egypt, to the Promised Land began to grumble when they experienced the first problems.

He said that due to the grumbling, the wilderness journey that should have taken a short time went on for 40 years.

He said that Nigerians with the special anointing of God should declare to the nation that the nation would prosper and that it would be well with it.

He advised Nigerians to reflect the personality of the Father as the great encourager, adding that the Bible in more than 300 times encouraged Christians to “fear not’’.

He urged Nigerians to live out the words of the scripture to be strong and not be discouraged and not be afraid or dismayed because the lord “is with the citizens wherever they go’’.

Osinbajo said that as the Israelites experienced a miracle in crossing the River Jordan, Nigerian would also experience a great miracle.

“Our message to you as Christians today is be strong and of good courage, do not be dismayed; God is faithful.

“He has promised and he will fulfil his promise; every Nigerian will benefit from the new Nigeria,’’ he said.

Osinbajo prayed for the prosperity of every Nigerian, adding that they would begin to see God’s favour immediately.

He said that God saw the nation when he decided to put the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, a leadership that would take the nation across the `red sea’.

“This leadership will take us to the new Nigeria,’’ he declared.

The CAN President, Ayokumle said the way out of the economic crisis was for the country to incline to divine revelation on leadership as the wisdom of man would not take the country anywhere.

He urged humility for those in leadership, their ability to listen to counsel that would solve problems, and for them to celebrate achievements of past leaders to secure more blessings from God.

Ayokunle urged every employer to promote good wages for the employees and for leaders to promote politics of love as placing God first in all things.

He said that Nigeria was destined to be great but past leaders created the present hardship by failing to save for the rainy day.

Former Vice President Ekwueme expressed thanks to God for keeping the country together in spite of all the troubles.

He mentioned India, Russia, Sudan and Rhodesia as colonies that had split several times but said Nigeria had remained a united Nigeria ever since.

He said that Nigeria remained a flagship in the continent’s development.

“We have not attained those objectives yet but we keep our fingers crossed and pray that with God’s intervention we will make progress and grow from strength to strength to build a country where there is freedom and equity for all,’’ he said.(NAN)
DCU/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

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Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Monday.

The NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Sunday in Abuja, predicted localised thunderstorms over Abuja, Lafia, Minna, Bida, Bauchi, Gombe, Ibi, Jalingo, Yola and Mambila axis.

It said that there would be chances of localised thunderstorms over the region in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius.

The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudiness morning over inland of the southwest with chances of localised rain showers over Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Awka, Obudu and Ogoja.

It also predicted that there were prospects of thunderstorms over most places of the region in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 30 to 31 degree Celsius.

NiMet also predicted that northern states would experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with prospects of localised thunderstorms over Sokoto and Yelwa axis in the morning.

It added that sunny conditions were expected over Nguru and Northern Borno with chances of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours and maximum temperatures of 31 to 36 degrees Celsius.

According to the prediction, cloudiness is anticipated with prospects of isolated thunderstorm activities across the country in the next 24 hours. (NAN)
OYS/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Ambassador-designates get posting by December —Minister
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Envoy
By Ekemini Yemi-Ladejobi
New York, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, on Sunday gave assurances that the Ambassador-Designates would be posted out by the end of 2016.
Onyeama spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, on the sideline of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York.
The Minister admitted that there are concerns about high representations in Nigerian Missions and Embassies across the world.
“Ideally, we should have it done by the end of the year; that’s ideally.
“But we know, we do not live in an ideal world;  we will do our very best, but believe you me, it is a major concern for the Ministry and for me personally.
“Its not something that we are happy about, though it’s taken time, there are reasons for that but we are trying to get it done quickly, ” he said.
Onyeama explained that 47 carrier diplomats have already been screened by the committees on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly and waiting for approval from the larger senate.
“However, the senate had been on vacation  but now that they will soon resume, we are hopeful that they will validate what the committee has done and we hope they do that quickly and we would start deploying those Ambassadors to various countries.
“We might, however, have to wait a little while for the political appointees to come on board because they will also have to go through the Senate screening.
NAN reports that Onyeama also commended the staff of the Nigerian Permanent Mission for their hard work towards ensuring that Nigerian’s participation at the UNGA was successful. (NAN)
EAL/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Recession: FG to use State, LG Reform Project to boost economy.

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Recession

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning says it will use the outcome of the just concluded State and Local Governance Reform Project (SLOGOR) to boost the economy.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Fatima Mede stated this in a statement issued by the SLOGOR Project Communication Officer, Ebenezer Ajewole on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the statement, Mede gave the assurance at the SLOGOR Retreat held in Calabar on Sunday.

SLOGOR Project is a European Union Funded Project being managed by the World Bank in the Six States of Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe.

It is aimed at improving transparency, accountability, quality of public finance and human resource management systems, with a view to strengthening governance in the participating states.

Mede stated that the government would use the outcome of the project to designed policy that would help the country out of the economic recession.

“The government attaches high importance to the successful implementation of the SLOGOR, particularly the outcome of the just concluded SLOGOR retreat.

“It will be useful in the design of policy options to usher the economyout of recession,’’ she said.

Mede was represented by the Director of Administration in the Ministry, Mr. Chris Ezeilo at the retreat.

She noted that SLOGOR represented an opportunity to identify feasible options to finance development plans at sub-national level.

She added that the project also fostered good governance by mainstreaming inclusive growth and development in the implementation of the Project.

The statement, however,  quoted Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ben Ayade, as saying that SLOGOR had contributed to the innovative revenue generation strategies in the state.

Ayade was represented by Frank Eta, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation in the state.

The governor said that the project had contributed to donor coordination frameworks being implemented by the state government for sustainable development in the state.

He, however, commended the EU and World Bank for supporting the project. (NAN)

CIA/GOM/AFA

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Felix Ajide

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Nigeria advocates for establishment of UN youth agency
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Youth
By Ekemini Yemi-Ladejobi
New York, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has advocated for the establishment of a youth agency by the United Nations to enable it cater for their “bulging” needs across the globe.
Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs made the call at a news conference on the sidelines of the bilateral meetings at the 71st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sunday in New York.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari advocated this during his bilateral meeting of Heads of State and Governments with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
“Mr President was the only leader among the heads of state and governments that made the specific point that Nigeria will be pushing for the establishment of a UN agency dedicated exclusively to the youth.
“He also made a point on the importance of giving attention to the youth; a lot of countries including Nigeria, have a large population being below the age of 35 and we really have to address what they call the “youth bulge’’ in the area of education and job opportunities.
Onyeama recalled that under the tenure of the UN secretary general, a UN agency was created for the women and gender issues.
He said that Buhari expressed the belief that one was also required for the youth.
On the issue of stolen funds from Nigeria, Onyeama said that  Buhari met with President Barack Obama, the Swiss President and Minister of Justice.
“Mr President and his Swiss counterpart looked at the modalities of restitution of some of the stolen funds totalling over 300 million Swiss Franc from Nigeria into that country.
“We are also already looking at how we are going to use some of these funds, particularly the one with the Swiss government for the benefit of the country.
“With the American government, we also discussed going forward and what we need to do and how they can help us trace looted fund and repatriation of those funds.
”It was interesting to note that President Barack Obama advised us to be careful with whom we employ to help us identify those stolen funds because there have been cases where some private legal practitioners and lawyers have been used to help us.
“His advice was that we should actually deal directly with the U. S government and I think this was a very important advice.
“I think that also is very good for us so, we cut off middle men and it also showed U.S. commitment in helping us in this context,’’ Onyeama said.
NAN reports that Buhari, who has since returned to the country after five days of activities at the UNGA, declared that he had a very successful outing. (NAN)
EAL/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

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Security
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Sokoto Sept. 25, 2016( NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sokoto State Command, has urged its personnel to be transparent in their duties and avoid acts capable of compromising the integrity of the organisation.

Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, Commandant of the Corps made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Sokoto on Sunday .

“We will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, corruption, abuse of human rights in the discharge of our primary duties,” he said.

Aliyu said that discipline and hard work remained vital tools the personnel needed to excel in the discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

He said that the command had deployed plain security personnel to gather intelligence reports that could aid the command deal with any security threats.

Aliyu said that the command was at full alert to confront any unforeseen circumstances that might jeopardise sustenance of peace in the state.

The commandant solicited the support of members of the public to supply useful information to the command that could lead to the arrest of criminals in the state. (NAN)
AAG/DUA/AFA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Felix Ajide
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