Blog

NAN-H-29
Ministry
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) In preparation for the World Tourism Day celebration on Sept. 27, the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has urged the Federal Government to restore a stand-alone ministry of tourism.

The President of the association, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that such a ministry would enable full scale attention to be given to matters of tourism and contribute to the Federal Government’s diversification drive.

“All successful countries in Africa have ministries of tourism and that is why they are doing very well. Nigeria should copy countries like Kenya, South Africa, Gambia, Zimbabwe and Ghana.

“The absence of a full-fledged ministry of tourism has left the industry adrift; the absence of such a ministry has left stakeholders speculating on matters of tourism.

“Usually, the `World Tourism Day’ is celebrated by the ministry in collaboration with other agencies every year,’’ he said.

Onung said that the lack of a stand-alone ministry had resulted in the “2016 World Tourism Day’’ not being well communicated to stakeholders for appropriate action and participation.

He emphasised that NATOP was lending its support to the call for a national carrier, saying it would be a veritable instrument for economic growth and enhance tourism development.

The NATOP president stressed that tourism was more than just selling tickets and building hotels and as such, a ministry that recognised the whole gamut of the tourism value chain was needed.

“Nations need to create pull factors, which are to be facilitated by infrastructural capabilities and developed to offer experiences to visitors.

“It is important to note that tourism dollars are shared between transport, accommodation, transfers and tourism assets, among others, but coordinated by tour operators to create the needed experience,’’ he said.

On national parks, the NATOP boss called on the government to link the various national parks in the country to the tourism sector.

He said that national parks in South Africa earned more money per acre than agriculture.

“There is no reason why this shouldn’t be done in Nigeria; in other countries in Africa, tourism works closely with the national parks.

“This is why we are in support of the re-establishment of the Presidential Council on Tourism to be chaired by the president.

“This is where different stakeholders like immigration, transport, aviation, housing and environment and relevant state governments come together to discuss the way forward.

“They will also create policies that enhance both in-bound and out-bound tourism,’’ he said.

Onung said that the Federal Government should restore the tourism ministry and begin to market the “destination Nigeria,” adding that it was one of the most viable on the African continent. (NAN)
CMY/COF/MVO
(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-ELS-1

Tourism

By Collins Yakubu-hammer

Abuja, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN)  The 2016 world Tourism Day Conference will address innovative strategies in the development of accessible tourism infrastructure, products and services, the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has said.

Accessibility to products and services will add value to destinations and enhance their competitiveness on the global tourism market, the UNWTO media officer, Ms Rut Sobrino, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

“A number of best practices will be featured with the aim of emphasising the value of investing in accessibility.

“The official celebrations would include a ‘Tourism and the Media’ session on Sept. 26 at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and a full-day conference the following day.

“During the event, experts on accessibility and tourism will exchange views and best practices and also address the need to work in cooperation to advance in the ‘Tourism for All’ agenda.

“The need to increase awareness and capacity building targeting both decision makers and tourism professionals are some of the topics to be address during the conference,’’ Sobrina said.

She underscored the necessity for accessibility in tourism and to accommodate everyone, including the physically challenged anywhere they might travel to.

NAN reports that the 2016 `World Tourism Day’ official celebration will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sept. 27 in collaboration with Cable News Network.

The year’s theme for the celebration is “Tourism for All, Promoting Universal Accessibility.’’

Meanwhile in Nigeria, the Oyo State Government has decided to adopt a different approach to the celebration of the event.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun said  Gov.  Abiola Ajimobi  had reviewed  past celebrations  and directed that the  year’s event  be used to  promote  an indigenous trade of the state.

Arulogun said the event would hold in Iseyin Local Government Area and that it would be branded in a carnival-like manner to enable the people of the area to benefit from its economic effect.  

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said recently that UNWTO had agreed to work with Nigeria  government to boost its tourism sector.

Mohammed, who met with UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai at the UNWTO Commission for Africa meeting in Abidjan,  said the organisation had agreed to design a two-year Plan of Action for tourism in Nigeria.  (NAN)

CMY/JCE
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(Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie)

Jigawa Govt disburses N44m worth of economic empowerment tools, loans to 353 youths

NAN-H-20
Empowerment
Dutse, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government said it had distributed economic empowerment tools worth 44, 444 million to 353 to youths in Northwest Senatorial District of the state.
Alhaji Muhammad Mujaddadi, the Special Assistant (SA) to the state government on Economic Empowerment, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Friday.
Mujaddadi said that the gesture was to enable the beneficiaries set up their own businesses and become employers of labour.
He said the gesture was also to reduce the level of unemployment and restiveness among youths in the area.
“As you are aware, the concept of youth economic empowerment is among the top policy thrust of this administration.
“Let me make it clear to you that the present administration has feelings of youth development in its heart.
“That is why there is no appropriate time to implement such kind of programme of youth empowerment better than now.
“It has been a widely shared view and opinion that larger percentage of our urban and rural youths are seriously under abject poverty and a lot of other associated problems.
“Therefore a series of laudable programmes have been initiated by the present administration on youth development sectors in order to alleviate the attendant economic hardship being faced by the youths who are the leaders and the future generation,” he said.
The special adviser said that some of the beneficiaries venturing into agriculture were given work bulls, carriage cart, plough ridgerd, and animals partnering tools.
According to him, those going into food vending were given mini gas cookers and juice mixer and money to rent shop.
Mujaddadi said that others were given grinding machines, sewing machines, shoes making machines and those venturing in hair cut were given power generating sets and other needed tools.
“Those interested in fishing were given canoes and other fishing gears, some welder machines, some block producers were given block making machines, while others were given computers and accessories to open business centres.
Others were given furniture tools, car wash tools and some going into phone charging were also given tools, including power generating sets,” he added.
He said that the loans were repayable within two years.
“You will agree with me that this is a bold step towards empowering youths which will lead to their economic growth and development.
“Therefore, this administration will leave no stone unturned in this direction to uplift the standard of youths to compete with their counterparts nationally and internationally,” the adviser said.
Mujaddadi advised urge youths to utilise the tools and funds judiciously so that the government’s dreams of economic empowerment in respect of youths would become a reality.
He the state government would continue to come up with policies and programmes that would uplift youths and other vulnerable groups in the state. (NAN)
MNB/TA
Controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-19
Year
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Chairman, Lagos branch, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Alex Muoka,  has called for continued renovation of courtrooms across the country to mark the beginning of a new legal year.

Muoka made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the 2016/2017 legal year celebration is billed to commence in Lagos from Sept. 26 to Sept. 30.

The celebration is to be flagged off with legal year services to be held simultaneously at the Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos as well as the Central Mosques in Lagos.

Muoka commended the Lagos judiciary for the efforts so far in ensuring speedy disposal of cases, adding that there was still room for improvement.

He stressed the need for continuation in the renovation of courtrooms across the country to enhance and speed up the judicial process.

“Let me begin by saying that in this new legal year, we would like to see the continued renovation and construction of courtrooms as well as technological advancement in the electronic filing process.

“At the national level, we urge the judiciary to be up and doing in its duties of ensuring speedy disposal of cases,’’ he said.

According to Muoka, the new legal year should also be characterised by diligence on the part of lawyers who appear in court, since they are ministers in the temple of justice.

The chairman stressed the need for a working relationship between the bar and bench, adding that it would help promote the judicial process.

Muoka also called on members of the bar to concert efforts in helping to promote the legal profession.
He urged lawyers to shun the filing of applications geared at clogging the wheels of smooth administration of justice.

NAN reports that the legal year celebration would come to a close with a legal dinner to be held at the Nigerian Law School Lagos. (NAN)
UNS/FF/AJA
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro and controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

3 suspected electricity infrastructure vandals nabbed in Akwa Ibom

NAN-H-14

Vandals

Eket (Akwa Ibom), Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Three people are now in Police net in Eket, Akwa Ibom, for allegedly vandalising substations in the area, according to a dependable source.

They were apprehended by the community vigilance group at Ikot Uso at the substations.

Mr John Onyi, an official of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), Eket Business Unit, confirmed the theft and arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

He said the company lost 37 transformers in July and 15 transformers in August following a renewed wave of theft of power infrastructure.

“As we speak we lost four transformers in Eket in August; we want to thank Ikot Uso Community for arresting the vandals and handing them over to the police,’’ he said.

Onyi said the community vigilance group caught them while they were vandalising the armored cables at substations in Eket and its environs.

“They vandalised five substations at All-Weather road,  Asang, Atabong, Hospital road, and Oron.”

He said the company had lost huge revenue because of the vandalism and energy theft.

Onyi urged the various communities to step up surveillance on PHEDC installations, saying “If we allow the vandals to destroy the power  installations, the people will be thrown into darkness.”

Eket Business Unit of PHEDC covers 13 local government areas.(NAN)

SDB/DA
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(Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola)

NAN-AE-4
Flood
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SERERA) said three persons lost their lives as a result of flood in the state in 2016.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Alhaji Aliyu Bashir, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.
NAN reports that the figure contradicts the earlier one given by the Northwest zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which put the number of deaths at 18.
He said out of the three people, two died in Bebeji local government area of the state, while the remaining one lost his life in Kiru local government area.
Bashir said no fewer than 3, 500 houses were destroyed by flood between July and August, while food and cash crops worth millions of Naira were washed away by the flood during the period.
He said the nine local government areas were ravaged by flood this year including: Bebeji, Dawakin Kudu, Kiru, Shanono, Bagwai, Garun-Malam, Kano Municipal, Bichi and Takai.
According to him, officials of the agency had since visited all the affected areas with a view to assessing the damage caused by the disaster.

He explained that the agency would compile a comprehensive report on the disaster for onward submission to the state government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for necessary assistance to the victims.

The executive secretary disclosed that the state government had recently released N2.9 million for the disbursement to victims of flood disaster in Warawa local government area of the state.
Bashir said the government had to immediately assist the flood victims in Warawa because of the magnitude of the disaster.(NAN)
MTM/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-HE-1
Theft
By Yunus Yusuf

Lagos, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Management of Eko Electricity Distribution (EKEDC) Plc on Friday warned consumers engaging in meter by-pass to stop the practice to avoid prosecution or payment of fines.

The General Manager, Media Communications of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said in a statement in Lagos that the company collaborating with security agencies to check energy theft.

“Anyone caught engaging in the illegal act of meter by-pass or illegal connection will pay a minimum fine of N50, 000 or be ready to face prosecution in the law court,’’ he said.

Idemudia described energy theft as an act of economic sabotage punishable under the laws of the land.

“Perpetrators should be ready to face the consequence of their criminal act,’’ he said.

The general manager said an Energy Theft Detection Unit had been set up in all the eight business districts of the company to fish out those engaged in meter by-pass, illegal connection or re-connection.
According to Idemudia, members of the Energy Theft Detection Units will be going round with security agents for inspection.
He said the company was working with the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in tackling the problem of energy theft.

The spokesman enjoined all loyal customers and other law abiding citizens to expose perpetrators of energy theft by reporting to the nearest EKEDC office.

Idemudia said that such reports would be treated with utmost confidentiality. (NAN)
YO/FLP/SOA
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Oluwole Sogunle)

NANFeatures/Vol.10/No.226/2016 (Sept. 23)

NAFEST 2016: Boosting Nigerian economy via innovations

By Jacinta Nwachukwu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

“Exploring the goldmine inherent in Nigeria’s creative industries’’ is the theme of the next edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) expected to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9.

The festival is held annually and rotated among all states in Nigeria for the purpose of promoting the country’s arts and culture as a viable platform for generating revenue.

NAFEST was established in 1970 after the end of Nigeria’s civil war to foster national unity, coordinate, preserve, promote and present the very best of the country’s arts and culture, among others mandates.

Analysts opine that the festival, organised annually by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has grown into a worthy celebration of Nigeria’s unity in diversity.

According to them, year’s theme could not have come at a better time as the country is trying to diversify the economy.

They also note that during the festival, Nigeria’s cultural heritage is reflected through various competitive and non-competitive events.

The events include music and dance, traditional wrestling, moonlight games for children, dramas, exhibitions of books, herbs, food, and arts and crafts, among others.

Participants at NAFEST are traditionally drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, other government agencies, academia, cultural non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders in the sector.

Explaining the expectations from the next edition of the programme, Mrs Dayo Keshi, the Director-General of NCAC, said NAFEST had been repositioned to boost Nigeria’s economy.

According to her, the festival has its programmes “dedicated to the development and promotion of the best of the living arts and cultures of Nigeria, using it as resources for national integration and unity as well as to serve as catalyst for sustainable growth and development of the nation.

“It is one of the major cultural festivals that serve as great platforms for mobilising stakeholders in the arts and culture industry at which they interact, showcase talents and project the values of our heritage as well as develop the spirit of national identity and peaceful co-existence.

“The National Council for Arts and Culture is positioned more than ever before to deploy its diverse and rich arts and culture resources to be a spring board and an instrument for promoting national unity, national integration and an avenue for economic empowerment.

Keshi said the festival had become one of the most competitive events in Nigeria, affirming that the event was the oldest national festival with representatives from the 36 states and the FCT.

“It provides a formidable platform in the bottom-up approach to wealth creation as most of the participants are drawn from the grassroots of each local government in the states.

“It is a key in showcasing the economic strength of festivals as it provides a large inflow of participants, tourists filling up hotels, increased transport, thereby making it a veritable tool in the diversification of our economy,’’ she said.

She insisted that “the festival is capable of generating revenue for the ministry as well as boosting economic activities in the country.

“A sachet water vendor who normally makes N1, 000 daily can earn N10, 000 daily during the national festival.’’

She also said that the event would feature competitions for children in indigenous poetry and drawing and painting, cultural drama and indigenous furnished apartment competition, among others.

“Children are a key component of NAFEST, giving them a keen sense of creativity as they participate in the competitive presentation of their paintings and dances,’’ she said.

The director-general, therefore, charged all the stakeholders in the culture sector to find ways of improving on the presentation and marketing of existing festivals while inventing new ones.

In his opinion, the Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Mr Moses Ekpo, solicited massive cultural revival through strategic acculturation.

He further stressed the need for brainstorming and strategising on how to re-position Nigeria’s culture to attract global patronage as a major foreign exchange earner for the country.

He observed that Nigeria could become a global power in culture as well as a major exporter of culture with the right mix of resources and tourism integration.

Stakeholders in the culture industry have, nonetheless, called for proactive methods of moving the festival forward.

They note that it is necessary to introduce innovations and creativity in designing, packaging and interpretation of the syllabus contents.

According to them, Nigeria has a comparative advantage in the cultural global market and Nigerians should take its advantage and explore it.

By and large, as the festival is holding soon, observers have advised stakeholders in the culture industry to explore the option of partnering with corporate and private investors to organise a successful, economically viable and glamorous NAFEST 2016.(NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Niger LG chairman threatens to stop salaries of truant workers
‎
NAN-H-13
Threat
By Amen Gajira
Mashegu (Niger), Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Saidu Kaboji, the Chairman, Mashegu Local Government in Niger, on Friday warned that his administration would not tolerate truancy or lateness to work by employees.

Kaboji gave the warning while talking to newsmen at the local government headquarters in Mashegu.

The local council boss said that if a staff missed work for a day without any cogent reason, a day’s pay would be deducted from his salary accordingly.

“It is not going to be business as usual as the local government staff owe the people of Mashegu the duty to work for the salaries they are paid.

“A situation where people come to work when they feel like and close at any time is totally unacceptable and will no longer be condoned.

“If you absent yourself from work for a day, your salary for one day will be removed as appropriate.

“I have directed the sub-unit heads to start giving schedule of duty to each staff on a daily basis as part of efforts to checkmate this problem,’’ he said.

The council chairman also said further that arrangements had been concluded to build a junior staff quarters to address staff accommodation challenges‎.

He said some of his achievements included electrification of Manigi and Makira communities‎ at the cost of N73 million as well as construction of an adult education center in Kaboji at N3.5 million.

“The electrification of those communities and beyond is 75 per cent completed and the N73 million also covers purchase of a 500KV transformer for them.

“Very soon, the job will be 100 per cent completed because the people have suffered for too long,’’ Kaboji said.

According to him, other giant strides of his administration include construction of a block of two classrooms each across the 10 wards in the local government area.

The council chairman said that more than 20 motorcycles were also provided to members of vigilance groups to enhance their performance.

Kaboji said that scholarships would be given to 122 students from Mashegu to study in higher institutions, adding that a committee‎ had been set up to work out the modalities.

He said that Mashegu and indeed the entire state were on the path of development and progress despite the current economic recession. (NAN)
AMEN/COF/TA
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi)

Sokoto Govt. to monitor workers performance for effectiveness — HOS

NAN-H-5

Training

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) The Sokoto State Government will put up a vibrant mechanism to monitor the performance of its workers to enhance service delivery, the state Head of Service, Dr Buhari Kware, has said.

Kware said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Sokoto, that the government would also deal with civil servants found wanting in the discharge of their duties.

“In this direction, an effective and vibrant monitoring unit would soon be established, to monitor ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

“Very soon, we will commence unscheduled visits to ministries and parastatals to see things for ourselves.

“All committed and diligent workers will be rewarded while those found wanting would be punished according to civil service rules,” he vowed.

Kware said that the administration would raise the standard of workers through training and enhancement of their welfare.

In this respect, the head of service assured that the government would continue to sponsor the civil servants for training programmes within and outside Nigeria.

“The government would always be dedicated to the welfare of civil servants with good and reputable character.

“We will make sure that only such civil servants are benefiting the offers, both on training and promotion, among other necessities,” he said.

Kware announced that the state government would re-engage retired medical personnel and teachers, to enhance the quality of its workforce.

“The government is seriously committed to re-engaging retired medical personnel and those teachers who are not tired, this is with a view to tapping their professionalism and wealth of experience.” (NAN)

MNB/BRM/MZA

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

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