Blog

NAN-H-3
Plan
By Emmanuella Anokam
Abuja, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called for timely review of the 1976 Abuja Master Plan to change the functionality of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Acting National President of NITP, Mr Lucas Achi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said its review would address the demands and challenges of urbanisation in FCT.

Achi stated that the overall expectation was that the master plan would have to be reviewed to take cognizance of new requirements and changes in the FCT.

He recalled that in 1976 when the plan was prepared, little did the government expect or forecast that there would be Boko Horam insurgency and other forms and present crisis of cattle tracks.

“We didn’t expect that the country will face a lot of communal clashes because it has affected the population of FCT due the migration of people from crisis areas.

“People tend to move into the FCT and settle there once they started having serious problems in their localities. Some will just cross the border and form their own little villages.

“They don’t care about roads or infrastructure, all they want is some form of shelter and protection away from the crisis they were facing.

“So these things were not anticipated in the Abuja master plan. Therefore, it calls for a review,’’ he said.

The expert equally noted that the government never expected that the volume of traffic and population in the FCT would hit its present level.

According to him, when the plan is completed, the government is expecting that the population should be under 3.6 million people but as at last year it is 6.5 million people.

He stated that the government also never expected that the changes in the plan would include removing some of the essential sites and accommodating the military within the city.

“Once there is a threat of some sort, they start getting barriers and restricting people from the areas.

Speaking on timely review of the plan, he decried the rascality of some previous leaders that only encouraged more impunity by changing land uses.

“For instance, Katampe District that should have been developed by now was stopped from developing because a former minister added layout which was not part of the scheme,’’ he alleged.

On urban renewal, he said it has huge financial involvement and social economic effect, adding that sometimes it could be done in phases.

“People who you want to change their livelihood, by the time you improve the land values they may not be able to afford it again.

“For any environment to be good both the public and government must respect certain rules and the society must have some level of discipline to adhere to.

“Government must appreciate the desires of people and plan ahead, it should also pre-empt the action of the people,’’ he said.(NAN)
ELLA/KAY
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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

NAN-ND-6
Tremor
By Nathan Nwakamma
Yenagoa, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) The communities affected by the July and August earth tremors in Rivers and Bayelsa have appealed to the Federal Government to investigate the incidents.

The people made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday.

NAN recalls that earth tremor was reported to have occurred around oilfields operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa and Rivers between July and August.

King Abel Shadow, the traditional ruler of Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers, said the two vibrations beneath the ground caused panic among his subjects.

Shadow said that the occurrence of the two incidents in quick succession was worrisome, adding that the intervention of government was required, with a view to tackling the problem.

He said that the community was so much in panic, especially when the incident recurred in August as the people gathered outside their houses in despair.

“The incident sent shockwaves down the spine of everyone in Mbiama.

“I was having a meeting in my palace when the earth started vibrating.  We initially thought the vibration was caused by a machine at a nearby construction site.

“To our greatest surprise, we discovered that no machine was working anywhere around,’’ the monarch said.

The traditional ruler said that he suspected the incidents might not be unconnected with seismic activities in the oilfields.

Shadow who expressed doubt on the safety procedures at the oilfields in the Niger Delta, called on government to audit the safety records of the companies in to preserve human lives and the environment.

Ms Iboh Umor, a resident of Mbiama, recalled that she was in a hair-salon when the tremor occurred; adding that she initially thought the vibration was as result of seismic activities by oil firms in the area.

She said also that the incident caused panic among in the town as people rushed out of their houses to in confusion.

Mr Victor Idiedo, a resident of the affected Igbogene community in Bayelsa, also called on government to investigate the incidents.

Idiedo noted that the occurrence of the earth tremor within the space of one month was disturbing and federal and state governments should make efforts to know why it has happened.

According to him, there have been prior predictions of possible earthquake in Bayelsa and other states in the Niger Delta, expressing worries that the August incident occurred around 4 p.m., exactly one month after the first one.

Mrs Asueize Arugu, an indigene of Okarki, said the people heard a loud sound which they thought was caused by dynamites used by oil firms operating in the area.

When contacted, Mr Precious Okolobo, the Media Relations Manager of SPDC, declined comments on the development.(NAN)
NN/EMO/KAY
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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

NAN-H-2
Commendation
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a member of Osun House of Assembly, has commended the plan by the Federal Government to release N350 billion into the economy to boost developments.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Sunday, he said the injection of the money would serve as a stop gap measure to save the economy through infrastructural development.

The lawmaker said the economic recession the country was going through was a “rude opportunity’’ for government to rework the economy for self-sustenance through diversification.

Oyintiloye who is the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, noted that the enormous tourism potential in the country was capable of augmenting government earning if properly harnessed.

He stated that sector such as tourism should be leveraged on to harness its potential for economic rebound and long-term stability.

According to Oyintiloye, airlines and hospitality industries must march the best and even surpass other African countries for the nation to make it into the abundant economic opportunity in sector.

“All natural endowments, land marks, historical places and places of attractions, which are key selling points of the sector, must not be allowed to stand alone.

“They must be seen as composite in driving the sector for employment generation and foreign exchange earnings,’’ he said.

The lawmaker, who noted that though the nation had to make tough policy choices in coming out of the recession, said that the present pain was avoidable and preventable, if leaders in time past had done the needful.

Oyintiloye, however, urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, adding that the economy will bounce back in no time.

Concerned by the steady decline of Nigeria’s economy and its disturbing impact on Nigerians, the Federal Government announced plan to inject N350 billion into the economy to stimulate economic activities.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has also recently analysed that with the release of N350 billion, it would mean that the Federal Government had disbursed N750 billion for capital projects this year having released N400 billion earlier.(NAN)
VE/KAY
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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

NAN-H-1
Economy
By Imelda Elogie
Benin, Sept. 25, 2016 (NAN) All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo Godwin Obaseki says the present economic recession in the country is a lesson for Nigerians to think fast and secure a brighter future.

He spoke in Benin on Sunday at a forum where some members of students union in tertiary institutions across the state said they wanted to endorse him as their candidate for the state governorship election slated for Sept. 28.

“To me, I will say the present economy crisis is a good omen for us. We need to think and act fast.

“Spending more than17 billion dollars on food importation yearly should not be for country such as Nigeria because we have the resources.

“We have the land and human resources that can produce same food we import, only if we can evolve policies that will make it for the youth to be effectively deployed to production,’’ observed.

He said the youth constituted the larger productive segment, insisting that policies that would engage the youth productively was necessary to fight crime and improve the economy.

Obaseki said he wanted to be the governor of the state to make the state better and improve the standard of living of the people.

“I am not in the race to acquire more wealth, because am already blessed. I want to be successful by translating what I have attained to those who need it.

“We are in a race against time, population is growing rapidly, but infrastructure is not growing in a corresponding way.

“There is need for us, as a state and people, to plan ahead before we are caught in the web. I want to be part of this plan, which account for the reason why am seeking to be governor of this state,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the postponement of the election on Sept. 9 to Sept. 28, citing security issues.

But the spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Dayo Adeyeye has described the postponement of the polls as a coup.

Political analysts, however, observe that the contest is keen between Obaseki and PDP’s governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.(NAN)
ESI/KAY
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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Late Kabba monarch laid to rest

NAN–H–47
Burial
Kabba ( Kogi), Sept. 24, 2016 ( NAN) Late traditional ruler of Kabba town, Kogi, Oba Michael Olabayo, was on Saturday laid to rest in a ceremony attended by Gov. Yahaya Bello and other eminent personalities.

The state burial climaxed a three-day of activities put together by the government and the people to honour the monarch, who died at the age of 71 years.

Dignitaries at the occasion included the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Ahmed Umar, former Gov. Ibrahim Idris, Maj.-Gen David Jemibewon rtd, former Minister of Industry, Chief Kola Jamodu and Sen. Dino Melaye.

Others included Sen. Smart Adeyemi, a former Federal Attorney–General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, among others attended.

Bello in a funeral oration noted the late monarch as a peace loving man whose virtues he urged the people of Kabba to uphold by continuing to live in peace.

According to him, the demise of the late monarch will test the unity of the people in coming months.

He also urged them not to see his demise as the end of the progress and development of the town.

The governor urged the people to take over from where the monarch stopped by taking the town to the next level in its development.

Bello extolled the virtues of the late traditional ruler for living a life of service to God and humanity.

The governor then urged them not to mourn but to celebrate him and his achievements.

Bello further urged the people to continue to give their support to the Federal and state governments, promising that in turn he would provide the town with infrastructural facilities to uplift the people’s standards of living.

Conducting the burial service, the Catholic Bishop of Lokoja, Martin Olorunmolu extolled the life of the monarch as worthy of emulation by all.

He enjoined Christians to always remember God in whatever position they find themselves as they would be recalled to account for their deeds and misdeeds.

Olorunmolu also advised the people to make the selection of the new Obaro crisis-free to maintain his legacy of peaceful co-existence.

The late monarch from the Ilajo ruling house ascended the throne on Oct. 17, 1985 and was till his death the Chairman of Okun Traditional Council. (NAN)
KKA/ECN/AFA
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Felix Ajide
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Edo: Govt. declares public holidays for governorship election
NAN-H-46
Holiday
By Deborah Ogedemgbe
Benin, Sept 24, 2016 (NAN) The Edo State Government on Saturday declared Sept.27 and Sept.28 as public holidays to enable electorate participate in the Sept 28 governorship election.

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole announced the reprieve at a grand reception organised by the organised labour  union for him.

He said the holidays would enable workers travel to their places of registration and participate in the voting exercise on Wednesday.

On the support given to him by labour,  the governor expressed delight in the constructive criticisms offered by the union in the last eight years, adding that they helped in shaping his policies.

“In spite of their contestation sometimes, both parties have always found a meeting point to bridge their differences,’’ he said.

He urged members of the union to extend same support to the APC Governorship Candidate by voting enmasse for him on Sept 28.

According to him, the APC governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki has undergone tutelage in governance under the outgoing administration and therefore fit to rule.

He said there was the need to reciprocate the union gesture, adding that to do this, the union should ensure that Obaseki was returned as governor.

He also said the State Civil Service had been upgraded, adding that the migration to pension services was now smooth.

“ Retirees can now begin to access their pensions immediately they retired and there is no need for tranches again,’’ he said.

The governor, however, advised the APC governorship candidate not to abandon the workers if elected. (NAN)
DCO/OMO/AFA
Edited by Martins Odeh/Felix Ajide
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NiMet predicts cloudy, rainy weather conditions for Saturday
NAN-AE-8
Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Sunday.
The NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Saturday in Abuja, said that most cities in the region would experience early morning thunderstorms.
It added that there would be localised thunderstorm with maximum temperatures of  25 to 31 degrees Celsius in the afternoon and evening period.
The Agency predicted that the southern states would experience rains over  Lagos, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Akure, Ibadan, Enugu, Awka, Onitsha, Asaba, Eket, Calabar, Warri and Portharcourt in  the  morning.
It also predicted that thunderstorms and rains would prevail over inland and coastal  cities  respectively   in the afternoon and evening hours maximum  temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees Celsius.
NiMet also predicted that northern states would experience cloudy conditions over most parts in the morning, with thunderstorms over Sokoto, Yelwa, Gusau, Katsina, Zaria  and Kaduna.
It added that thunderstorms would prevail over Maiduguri,  Potiskum  and   Damaturu with cloudy conditions over other places in the  afternoon and evening hours and maximum  temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius.
According to the prediction, there are prospect of rainfall activities over the country due to more influx of moist winds in the next 24 hours. (NAN)
OYS/JPE/AFA
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Felix Ajide
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Kwara Govt. calls for return of old school sporting programmes

NAN-S-11
sport
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has called for the return of old school sporting programmes to prepare Nigerian athletes for laurel winning spirit.

Ahmed made the call on Saturday when he received the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung at government house, Ilorin.
He said grassroots sports development remained the key to Nigeria successes in international sporting competitions.
According to him, failure to prepare the youths from the cradle have impacted negatively on outcome of Nigeria athletes in various outings.
Ahmed promised to return inter-secondary schools competitions in the state as well as renovate the indoor Sports Hall with a view to returning the state to its past status in sports.
The governor, who described the National Youths Games as a platform to develop and prepare youth to become future medal winners, promising that the his administration would sustain the support to sports development in the state.
Earlier, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung called for massive investment in sport by the state governments to engage youths and solve noticeable security challenges in the country.
Dalung explained that his ministry revisited the National Youths Games in order to showcase and exploit talents for future sporting events.
He commended the Kwara Government and the University of Ilorin for providing financial support and other logistics for the hosting of the games in Ilorin.
The minister, however, urged the University of Ilorin to open departments and faculty in sports related courses to further development sports in Nigeria. (NAN)
OOH/ADA/AFA
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Felix
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NAN-S-7

Adherence
By Stella Kabruk
Ilorin, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youths  and Sports, Chinyeaka Ohaa, on Saturday urged athletes and officials to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the National Youth Games.

Ohaa who gave the advice at the opening ceremony of the Games in Ilorin said this was necessary to achieve the desired national aspiration in sports.

He said this was necessary because the NYG was borne out of the desire of the ministry to identify talents.

“This Games is a sporting event which balances sports, culture and education. It is meant to build a robust grassroots talent pool for the country, and to enhance and elevate sports globally and regionally,’’ the Permanent Secretary said.

He added that the Games was also designed to encourage and strengthen national unity, especially amongst youths who are the hopes for a better country.

“Therefore, I want to urge all athletes and officials to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the Games in order to achieve our desired national aspiration in sports.’’
Ohaa said the objectives of the Games were to establish a standard programme for athletes’ succession from one generation to the other.

“The Games is to educate and engage young athletes to play an active role in their community development.

“We want to encourage the mass participation of youth in sporting activities for the promotion of physical and health fitness.

“We want to reinvigorate national unity with the collaboration of the youths.’’
He acknowledged the contributions of the University of Ilorin, hosts of the Games, towards a successful organisation of the Games.(NAN)
(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-S-9
Performance
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Saturday in Ilorin said he was disappointed with those who said Nigeria performed abysmally at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games.

Dalung, while declaring open the second edition of the National Youth Games (NYG), said comments describing Team Nigeria’s performance at Rio 2016 Olympics as abysmal worried him.

He said he was in this state because Nigeria’s outing in Rio was better than that of the London 2012 Olympics where the country failed to win a single medal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls also that Team Nigeria to the Paralympics in Rio about three weeks after the Olympics won eight gold two silver and two bronze medals.

In 2012 at London about three weeks after the Olympics, Team Nigeria to the Paralympics won six gold, five silver two bronze medals.

Dalung, in his argument, pointed out that Nigeria set a unique record at the Rio Olympics with Aruna Quadri being the first African to reach the quarter-finals in male table tennis.

“Chierika Ukogu was also the first black athlete to reach the semi-finals of the rowing event,’’ he said.

Returning to the NYG, the Minister said the Games have assumed a global status.

Dalung said the country must move with the trend of events in line with international best practices to develop sports from the grassroots.

“Sports in Nigeria has grown and have contributed immensely to national unity. It has equally brought about a stronger binding spirit as well as the detribalisation of Nigeria,’’ he said.

The Minister recalled that after the Games’ maiden edition held in Abuja in 2013, there was the emergence of talented athletes.

“These athletes represented Nigeria at the 2014 African Youth Games held in Botswana and the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, and they won laurels.’’

Dalung said he was hopeful that the second edition would follow in the same notable path of history by producing podium athletes in different sports.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his magnanimity of granting approval for the hosting of the Games.

The minister urged athletes to see their role in the Games as a stepping stone to greater heights bearing in mind that there is joy in participation and winning.

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Bolakale Ayo, commended the minister for sustaining the Games.

He said it has become a platform for discovering talents, and urged the participating athletes not to relent in achieving success in their areas of sports.

The governor also advised the young athletes to not only focus on sports but extend such passion to their education.

Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, had said “sports is the only thing in life which has a universal language and is easy to speak’’.

He also said it is an arena of unity for nation-building, pointing out that it has become one of the fastest growing industries in the today.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 2,645 athletes from 22 states will compete in 14 events at the Games scheduled to end on Friday.(NAN)

(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)