Blog

MTN says facing investor pressure over lower returns
NAN-F-5
Investors
Capetown, Sept. 21, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) South African mobile operator MTN Group said on Wednesday that investors were concerned with lower returns and revenue growth in spite of a boom in data traffic.

Africa’s biggest telecoms firm, which set aside 851 million dollars for capital expenditure in 2016, said in a presentation to parliament.

It said that further significant investment was required to deal with higher data traffic as a result of spectrum constraints in the mature market. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/GY
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/ Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-45
Peace
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 21, 2016(NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women Association for Nigeria (FOMWAN) is advocating youth empowerment as criteria for
total peace in the country.

Mrs Mairo Sani, the leader of FOMWAN in Plateau, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.

She said government has a key role to play in increasing employment opportunities in both the private and public sector, as most youths have lost their jobs because of the present economic recession while some have been lurking around without jobs over the years.

She added that “there is hardship in the country because of the closure of many organisations which were primary in employing a large chunk of
youths, but now they can be more easily co-opted into evil things.

“Government has a key role to play in creating enabling employment to address this massive unemployment if it wants total peace in the country and success in implementing its developmental projects.”

The FOMWAN leader also said that unemployed youths were mostly frustrated to taking hard drugs as a get-away for their current predicament,
thus causing more harm to themselves and menace to the society.

Sani said that the International Peace Day, which has “Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace” as its theme for this year,
could only be feasible if poverty, hunger and social inequality were addressed in the society.

NAN reports that the International Peace Day is celebrated annually by the UN to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all
nations and people.

The 2016 theme hinges on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to achieving peace as development and peace are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. (NAN)
MAA/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-31
Adjournment
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The trial of former Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, before a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday suffered a set back following the absence of the trial judge.

Abdulsalam is charged alongside six others over alleged stealing and conversion of N6.8 billion belonging to the agency.

The other accused are: Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, and two Limited Liability companies, Randville Investment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

They are been prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].

The case which was fixed for continuation of trial, could not proceed on Wednesday, due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, who is said to be attending a conference.

A new trial date of Nov. 8, Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, was however issued to the parties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the EFCC had on April 7, arraigned the former NAMA boss, three directors of the agency and wife of one of the directors, before the court.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The charge was subsequently amended to include three more accused persons, and all the accused persons were re-arraigned on April 12.

They again, pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were admitted to bail in the sum of N20 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that on Aug. 19, 2013, the accused conspired to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2.8 billion to Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

It was alleged that the delivery was under the pretence that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

It was also alleged that between Jan. 2 and Dec. 17, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N191 million belonging to NAMA to themselves.

They were said to have also converted N728 million between 2013 and 2015, as well as other sums.

The alleged offence is said to have contravened the provisions of section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Act. (NAN)
UNS/MZA
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Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

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NAN-H-16

Stealing

Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) A suspected burglar, Tope Oladapo, 20, was on Wednesday ordered to be remanded in prison over alleged stealing.

An Osun Magistrates’ Court in Ile-Ife ordered the accused to been remanded in prison, pending perfection his bail conditions.

The Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Ijiyode, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Oladapo was arraigned on a two-count charge of illegal entering and stealing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that Oladapo broke into shop 75, Oduduwa College Road, Ile-Ife with intent to commit felony.

Osanyintuyi said the accused also stole N40, 000 belonging to one Dorcas Umukoro, whose shop Oladapo allegedly burgled.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 7 for hearing. (NAN)

EDA/DEB/SN

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(Edited by Debo Oshundun, controlled by Silas Nwoha)

Association asks Nasarawa Govt. for 10,000 hectares to grow cassava
NAN-AE-4
Cassava
Lafia, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Cassava Growers Association has appealed to Nasarawa Government to provide it with 10,000 hectares of land to plant cassava.

Mr Austine Maduka, its National Public Relations Officer, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen when the association officials visited the state chapter of the association in Lafia.

He said that if the state government provided the land, it would not only boost cassava production, but would fight unemployment and poverty in the country.

“We are all aware of government’s ongoing project for African youths in agriculture and the project is designed to encourage youths to engage in agricultural activities to boost food production.
“Actually, what we are doing across the country is to advocate the growing of cassava and we can only achieve this through advocacy.

“It is in view of this that we are appealing to the state government to provide the association with 10,000 hectares of land to boost its production,” he said.

Maduka advised youths and all Nigerians to go back to the farm and embrace cassava farming.

“For the country to achieve food sufficiency, youths and other Nigerians must go back to farm to improve on the standard of living of the people”.

He also advised Nigerians, especially the youths, to shun idleness, embrace farming, acquire skills and other meaningful ventures to become self reliant.

Maduka reiterated the association’s commitment to continue to educate farmers and other Nigerians on modern methods of growing cassava for economic development.

Alhaji Mohammed Ari, the Acting Chairman of the association in Nasarawa, also urged Nigerians to embrace cassava farming considering its importance to societal development. (NAN)
BAB/TO/TA
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye, controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-11

NAMA

By Sandra Umeh

Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The trial of former Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, facing N6.8 billion fraud at a Federal High Court,  Lagos, on Wednesday suffered another setback following the judge’s absence.

Abdulsalam is charged alongside six others for allegedly stealing and converting the agency’s N6.8 billion to personal use.

Others are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, and  two companies — Randville Investment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

The case, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was fixed for continuation of trial on Wednesday but the absence of Justice Babs Kuewumi, who is attending a conference in Abuja stalled it.

The court fixed  Nov. 8, Nov. 9, and Nov. 10 as new dates for the trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 7 arraigned the NAMA boss, three directors of the agency and the wife of one of the directors.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charge was subsequently amended to include three more accused persons, while all were re-arraigned on April 12.

They again pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were admitted to a bail of N20 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

On Aug. 19, 2013, the EFCC had alleged that the accused conspired to induce NAMA to pay N2.8 billion to three companies — Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

It was alleged that the payment was under the pretext of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

It was also alleged that between Jan. 2 and Dec. 17, 2013, the defendants appropriated N191 million belonging to NAMA as well as converting N728 million and other sums between 2013 and 2015 to personal use.

The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1 (3) and 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. (NAN)
UNS/AIB/DA
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde & controled by Dele Akinsola)

Ex-Works Commissioner seeks concessioning of roads to check decay
NAN-H-43
Roads
By Usman Aliyu
Offa (Kwara), Sept 21, 2016 (NAN) A Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr Kola Shittu, has recommended concessioning of roads as panacea to deplorable state of roads in Nigeria.

Shittu made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara.

The former Commissioner for Works said that the best way to achieve road infrastructure in the country remained through Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

He asserted that government alone could not tackle road decay without the active involvement of the private sector.

Under this arrangement, Shittu explained that the company handling the project would deliver and as well as take charge of the maintenance.

“There is no doubt that one of the best way to achieve our road infrastructure is by concession; private-public partnership.

“When you do concession for our roads, it will be delivered and maintained by the company that is handling it,”  he said.

Shittu, a former federal lawmaker, also advocated a review of specification presently used for road construction in the country.

“The specification of our roads these days must have to be revisited; this is entirely the assignment of the Federal Ministry for Works.

“For instance, a road from Ilorin-Omu Aran-Egbe-Lokoja is bad now. Even when it is rehabilitated with the present specification, I doubt whether that three years will pass without going bad.

“So, a total redesigning of the specification of our roads is very important, that will lessen the maintenance in the future,” he said.

According to him, government needs to tackle this issue of road and design a road map to achieve road infrastructure. (NAN)
AUO/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

Emir urges Kebbi Govt. to commence mineral exploration

NAN-HE-11

Exploration

Birnin Kebbi, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Sami, on Wednesday urged the Kebbi Government to commence exploration of available mineral deposits in the state.

The Emir made the call in Birnin Kebbi, when he visited the state Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu.

The monarch noted that the four local government areas in Zuru Emirate were particularly blessed with huge deposits of gold, diamond, kaoline and gypsum.

He stressed that commencing mineral exploration would create employment and promote economic activities.

Sami also urged the state government to hasten the repairs of electricity installations and water installations in Zuru Local Government Area.

According to him, the area has been experiencing epileptic water and power supply due to obsolete electricity facilities.

He said that the situation has made life difficult for people in the area and hindered economic activities.

Gov. Bagudu, thanked the Emir for the visit and assured him of the administration’s commitment to develop critical infrastructure in the state.

The governor assured that the emirate would be included in all the government development plans.

He directed the State Ministry for Water Resources to assess and address the water problem in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four local government areas under the emirate are Zuru, Fakai, Danko/Wasagu and Sakaba.(NAN).

BKD/EEM/MZA

Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

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NAN-H-10

Hemp

Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept 21, 2016 (NAN) An Osun Magistrates’ Court in Ile-Ife on Wednesday remanded five accused persons in prison custody for allegedly being in possession of Indian hemp.

They are Dare Sijuade, 27; Abiodun Arogundade, 22; Elijah Balogun, 24; Emmanuel Benjamin, 30 and Wale Awoseemo, 20.

The Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Ijiyode did not take the plea of the accused, and did not hear their bail application.

He ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison to enable them show remorse.

He adjourned the case till Oct. 10, for hearing.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Abdullahi told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on Sept 18, 2016 around 9 a.m. at Oke-Ijan, Ajamopo area, Ile-Ife.

Abdullahi said that the accused conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: housebreaking, stealing and resisting arrest.

He further stated that the accused persons conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace with their behaviour which caused panic among the people in their neighborhood. (NAN)
EDA/ESAN/BOS
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(Edited by Abiodun Esan, controlled by Dele Bodunde)

NAN-H-7
Peace
Damaturu, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Centre for Democracy and Development, an NGO, said it had embarked on massive enlightenment campaign for dialogue and community policing for stable peace in the North- East.

Mr Steven Ayeda, the Sensitisation Officer of the Centre, made this known on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen in Damaturu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ayeda’s statement coincides with the UN International Day of Peace.

He said “the campaign is aimed at entrenching proactive and peaceful approach to check extremism and violence in communities for peaceful coexistence.

“The Centre, in collaboration with other organisations, is working on deradicalisation, counter terrorism and migration project in
Northern Nigeria.

“The project has initiated measures of building trust among security organisations and the public to enhance collaboration and participation in the maintenance of peace and security.”

He added that the Centre had engaged communities in public interactive sessions to strengthen their capacities on early and peaceful approach to potentially violent-related issues. (NAN)
MM/DUA/HA
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(Edited by Dada Ahmed/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)