Blog

NAN-H-15
Arraignment
By Ayodeji Alabi
Akure, Sept.16, 2016 (NAN) The Police on Friday arraigned a 24-year-old man, Tunji Aderoju, at an Akure Magistrates’ Court over alleged conspiracy and armed robbery.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Martins Olowofeso told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 5, 2016 at about 11 p.m at Akure High School area, Akure, Ondo State.
Olowofeso alleged that the accused conspired with others at large to rob one Arowolo Oluwasegun of some valuables, including his engagement and wedding rings worth N35, 000 and 145,000, respectively.
He told the court that the suspects were armed with guns and dangerous weapons at the time of the incident.

He listed the stolen items as seven wristwatches valued at N170, 000, Huawei P8 handset valued at N138, 000, BlackBerry Z10 valued at N70, 000, small Nokia handset, N15,000; Rayban sunglasses, N15,000 and headphones, N30,000.
Others are LG DVD player valued at N6,000, two PS3 game pads, N10,000; one golden necklace, N40,000; other jewelries, N50,000 and N8,000, cash.
Olowofeso said that the offences contravened Sections 6(b), and 1(1) (2) (a&b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provision) Act Cap RIi Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
No plea was taken from the accused.

The prosecutor requested for an adjournment in the case to enable him to duplicate the case file to be sent to the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
He, however, urged the court to remand the accused in prison pending the receipt of the advice.
The Magistrate, Mrs Victoria Bob-Manuel, granted the prosecutor’s application and ordered that a duplicate case file should be sent to the DPP.
Bob-Manuel also ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case till Oct. 17. (NAN)
AYO/KOO/OPI
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-ELS-5

Zoo

By Collins Yakubu-hammer

Abuja, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has said that the concession of Abuja Children’s Zoo and Jabi Lake will  create employment and generate revenue for the government.

Chief Tomi Akingbogun, the Pesident of FTAN made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the Abuja Children’s Zoo and the Jabi Lake Resort are tourist sites situated in Asokoro and Jabi districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We that constitute the private sector have submitted our proposal to the Minister of Information and Culture to be given concession to manage the Abuja Children’s Zoo and Jabi Lake.

“We are also aware that he has forwarded it to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; we believe that necessary action to facilitate the concession will soon start.

“If the private sector is given the Jabi Lake to manage; it will open up areas for recreational activities; shopping activities and others will open up, because they will attract other investments.

“This will culminate to the creation of employment for Nigerians as people will establish different forms of tourism related business at the Lake and Zoo; and employ other people to work.

“We can create water sport and other things like bicycle riding, jogging trail for recreational activities for people; and as operators pay taxes, government will generate more revenue,’’ Akingbogun said.

The FTAN president emphasised that the country had the population to boost its economy and tourism activities.

According to him, hotels in the FCT are not doing well because there are no activities to make people stay back in Abuja during festive periods and weekends.

“So we need to create activities; for example, if the water sports are open; it will attract people to come to Abuja and stay in hotels; hotels will have more activities to generate more revenue.

“When hotels generate more revenue, they would be able to pay taxes to the government.

“Same thing will be applicable to the Abuja Children’s Zoo; dynamic initiative and better ways of doing things will be introduced to enhance revenue generation,’’ he said.

Akingbogun also noted that Internally Generated Revenue could be better enhanced if activities like conferences; annual general meetings of corporate organisations and others were hosted within the country.

He stressed the importance of the private sector to manage the Zoo and Lake, due to the plummeted nature of crude oil price and dwindling revenue of the government.

“We will pay government for these facilities, stimulate business activities and make money; the government will in turn still generate more money inform of taxes.

“Therefore, it is going to be a win-win for the government and also a win-win for the private sector,’’ Akingbogun maintained. (NAN)

CMY/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-AE-7
IDPs
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), an NGO, has decried what it called “poor living conditions’’ of women and children in Internally Displaced (IDPs) Camps in the FCT.

NSRP’s Women and Girls Manager, Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that majority of them lack access to potable water supply and toilet.

Nwadinobi urged all stakeholders to step up actions at improving the lives of those category of people she described “vulnerable groups.’’

She stressed the need to properly address their needs to avoid continuous humanitarian crises and called on the Federal Government to partner stakeholders in meeting needs of women and girls in IDPs camp.

She said the group had partner Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre in July carrying out assessment of living in IDP camps in the FCT and in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

She observed that violent extremism in those states had resulted in majority of the people being displaced and living in deplorable conditions.

Nwadinobi said more needed to be done to enable women and children displaced live better lives.

“In the IDP camps, they face deplorable conditions such as inadequate provisions of basic needs and risk of communicable diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera.

“Some of them suffer from psycho-social trauma, but unfortunately, the IDPs are helpless, fearful, and lack the voice and the skill to ensure their needs are met,’’ she said.

She said the team had visited Chibok, Bama, Konduga and Gwoza communities and realised that post-insurgency reconstruction needs were lacking.

She called for improvement for access to water and toilets for the women and girls.

“The toilet facilities are very poor and inadequate, for this reason, many IDPs use the surrounding bushes as toilets.

“There is the need for the number of toilets to be increased, women and men need separate toilets so that there is privacy and wellbeing of all IDPs in the camps,’’ she said.

NSRP is aimed at reducing violent conflict by providing support for better management of conflict and reduction of poverty in the country.

It is funded by UK Department for International Development and implemented by the British Council. (NAN)
TAK/JEY/AFA
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Felix Ajide
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NAN-DS-2

Arrest

Dutse, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said it had arrested two suspects over alleged armed robbery and cattle rustling.

The Commandant of the corps in the state, Mr Muhammad Durumin-Iya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse that the suspects were arrested in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.

Durumin-Iya said that the suspects hailed from Tukuda village, and that officials of the command arrested them in Kiyako village on Thursday.

He explained that the one of the suspects was arrested with a stolen cow, whose value was estimated at between N130, 000 and N150, 000.

He disclosed that an informant arrested the suspect while he was trying to transport the cow to Azare in neighbouring Bauchi state.

According to the commandant, the other suspect was arrested for aiding and abetting the suspected cattle rustler.

He added that the command had been trailing the suspect since July, 2016 after an alleged robbery in Birnin Kudu.

He said that the suspect, with a yet-to-be-identified person, allegedly demanded the sum of N2 million from the victim.

The commandant added that the suspects allegedly threatened to kill the victim if he tried to alert security agencies.

According to him, the suspects returned to the victim after 12 days where they allegedly collected N500, 000.

“So, when they returned to victim, they found that he was able to raise only N500, 000 and they collected it.

“But, as they were trying to leave, they noticed that the victim recognised one of them; so, they made an unsuccessful attempt to kill him.

Durumin-Iya said that the victim was rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, where he was receiving treatment.

He said that the suspects had since made useful confessions  and would soon be charged to court. (NAN)

MNB/OSA/OPI

(Edited by Shittu Obassa and Olisa Ifeajika)

Association advocates establishment of more bureaus in states

NAN-HE- 11

Bureaus

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) Dr Godey Ebuh, Vice President, Nigerian Statistical Association, has advocated the establishment of more Bureau of Statistics in states without them for better coordination of statistical system in the country.

Ebuh, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, added that state governments should support statistical activities.

According to him, governments should always support the statistical production and procedures in their states in respective of their merge resources.

“ If only the centre (Federal Government) is funding statistics and the state is not funding, the country cannot achieve sustainable development.

“And if the states are funding statistical activities and the local governments are doing so, things will get better and the entire country will be good for it.

“So, they should not leave it for the Federal Government alone, even the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) should also fund statistical activities in their various offices,’’ Ebuh said.

He, however, advised policy makers to allow statistics to speak, adding that Nigerians should use and have faith in the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

He advised Nigerians to embrace “Change begins with me’’ re-orientation campaign of the Federal Government and learn to do the right thing as a way to support the government.

“A building built on faulty foundation cannot get it right, change begins with me.

“ Nigeria needs to change the way they do things; if we get it right, our country will be the envy of the entire world.

“Le us do the right thing, get accurate data and let the data speak and if the data speak, government should give interpretation to the data and follow it up.

“Once there is data and the government is not following it up, by the time the consequence begins, it becomes a challenge,’’ Ebuh said.

NAN reports that 23 of the 36 states have established Bureaus of Statistics in line with the statistical law at the National level.

NAN also recalled that the National Statistical law stated that each state must have a bureau of statistics for effective coordination of statistical system. (NAN)

CIA/GOM/IA

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-ELS-1

Relationship

By Justina David Auta

Abuja, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) Some Nigerians on Friday in Abuja said that romantic relationships which began through social media platforms have more advantages than disadvantages.

However, others disagree, saying that cases of fraud, insecurity, kidnap, rape and other criminal activities were prevalent in most social media relationships.

Social media are computer-mediated technologies that allow individuals and different organisations view, create and share information, ideas, and other forms of expression via virtual communities and network.

Such virtual communities and network platform are Facebook, Twitter, 2go, YouTube, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and WeChat among others.

The major objective of the platforms is to connect people and make or retain friends across the world.

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that not all relationships or venture that emanated from social media platform, were negative.

According to them, some lead to long lasting friendship, love, marriages and business venture.

Mr Emmanuel Obi, a civil servant said that the social media platform provides opportunity for interaction, meeting new and old friends, as well as keeping tab of one’s partner.

“It is not all relationships that started in any of the social media that ends up bad.

“There are some that even leads to long lasting friendship, marriages, business venture and love.

“Facebook has enabled me contact and keep in touch with my secondary school mates after over 25 years of graduation,’’ he said.

Similarly, Nafisa Abu, a make-up artist said she met her spouse on social media in 2013, in spite warnings from family, friends and recounted stories about victims of social media romance.

“I actually met my husband on facebook in 2013. I didn’t know that the friendship would blossom into love and marriage eventually.

“In spite of repeated warnings from people, we still defied all odds and took the risk of starting a romantic relationship. I have no regret because we are both happy together.’’

Esther Kabruk, a journalist said the social media platform had made her work easier and provided opportunity to build working relationships with colleagues from different media organisations in and outside the country.

According to her, the platform is cheap and more reliable.

“Even though there have been a lot of negative stories about social media relationship, there are some that are actually beneficial and has no risk involved in it.

“The medium has been used to document memories, learn and explore things, advertise oneself and form friendship with people within and outside your circle.’’

Malam Isa Yakubu, a politician said the social media had been used to gain political support for an aspirant, influence the public, as well as create awareness on national issues that affects the people.

“It can positively affect and influence social standing, gain political support for any aspirant, as well as create awareness on issues that affect the people,’’ he said.

However, Olabisi Sunday, an ICT expert warned that the negative effects of engaging in any social media relationship were more than the positive effects.

“Some people innocently go into a relationship with people they meet on social media without having any reservation about disclosing sensitive information about themselves.

“ Some of them fall victims of fraud, huge amount of money were dubiously taken from them without any legitimate backing or information to trace the culprits,’’ he said.

Sunday, however, added that even though the social media is a platform to exchange business opportunities, there was the need to be cautious before divulging vital information and engaging in monetary transaction.

Mrs Patience David, a teacher, said even though the platform provides an opportunity for people to interact, there was the need for people, especially teenagers to be educated on the need for privacy and not to engage in romantic relationships.

“Parents need to monitor their children’s phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets that children use to innocently start romantic relationship with other people.

“At times, they ignorantly disclose information about themselves or family on some of these platforms, which exposes them to abuse, rape, kidnap, bullying, theft and other criminal activities.’’

David also added that some people use the platform to falsify information about themselves to look more appealing or attractive to victims.

“Some people use the platform to lie, pretend and portray an image about themselves such as their marital status, work or career that was not true.

“This is just to lure innocent victims to start a relationship with them,’’ she said. (NAN)

JAD/EEE

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Edited Ese E. Ekama

NAN-HG-2
Nets
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Maha Adaeze, a Consultant with Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3), says the Oyo State Ministry of Health is to distribute 4.5 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN).

Adaeze, who said this on Friday at a “ Roll Back Malaria Sensitisation Workshop’’ held in Ibadan, added that the objective of the campaign was to distribute one free net to every two persons in the country.

She said that the state government would distribute the nets during a campaign scheduled to hold between Sept. 27 and Oct. 5.

“In the micro planning conducted eight months ago, the target is that 4.5 million LLIN Nets must be distributed in the replacement campaign commencing this month,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the  programme is being implemented by State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

She said that the campaign would be carried out in all the 33 local government areas, with distribution points located in all the wards.

The consultant, who recalled that a mass campaign was carried out between 2012 and 2013 where 2. 8 million nets were distributed, added that three years were enough for the nets to be weak.

“I want to say that the slogan for the distribution is that “No Net Card, Not Net,” Also, only women will be allowed to the collection centres to avoid rowdiness,” she said.

Adaeze said the impact of the malaria scourge on the social and economic sectors in Nigeria amounted to one per cent reduction in Nigeria’s GDP and lower productivity.

She called for preventive measures through Vector Management strategy.

It would be recalled that that the Roll Back Malaria campaign was an initiative of the United States Government.

Other partners in the project include the Federal Ministry of Health, states Ministry of Health as well as local governments and the media.(NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-DS-1

Donation

Damaturu, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Government has donated building materials to victims of Boko Haram insurgency to facilitate reconstruction and resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gujba Local Government Area.

The Deputy Govenor of the state, Abubakar Aliyu, presented 9,850 bundles of Zinc, 700 bags of cement and 300 bags of nails to the IDPs to enable them to reconstruct their houses in the liberated communities.

Aliyu, who is also the Chairman, state Committee on Resettlement, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of IDPs, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the materials to rebuild their houses and business premises.

The deputy governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Lamin, said the materials were donated by the Yobe Government and the Presidential Initiative on North-East (PINE).

He warned the Gujba Local Government Committee and community leaders against diversion of the materials.

“You should ensure fair distribution of the materials to people who were registered as victims who lost their property to the insurgency.

“Government will deal with any persons or groups that divert the materials, they should be distributed to the targeted persons and used for the intended purposes,” he warned.

Aliyu assured that government would also extend the donation to other areas affected by insurgency.

Alhaji Bulama Bukar, Chairman, Gujba local government resettlement committee, assured of equitable distribution of the materials.

“The local government resettlement committee wants to assure that the materials will be fairly shared to the registered persons.

“We appreciate the continuous assistance of food, non-food items and building materials rendered by the federal and state governments as well as other agencies to displaced persons in Gujba local government area,” Bulama said. (NAN)

MM/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-8
Training
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) trained 55 journalists on ethics and professionalism when practicing or reporting, the Foundation’s Coordinator, Mrs Sekyen Dadik, said on Friday.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the training started in January 2016.

Dadik told NAN that 25 of the journalists were trained in zoonotic diseases reporting, 11 were educated on online journalism, 10 got trained in
investigative reporting, while nine were trained in fundamentals of journalism and news writing.

She said one of the missions of the AMDF was to ensure that journalists got adequate training in as many facets of life as possible.

“That is why we are out to provide professional support to journalists and media.

“And to boost the capacity of upcoming journalists, some of whom without journalism background but happened to be in the profession,
we have to give them the fundamentals of journalism and news writing.”

She noted that what was being expected from the participant of the training was to see professionalism in their reporting.

“Lets see them reporting from well informed position based on ethical standard,” Dadik said. (NAN)
TJ/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-HE-12

Generation

Lagos, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that the country’s power generation has increased from 3,810 megawatts recorded on Sept. 8, 2016 to 4,285.90 megawatts on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the power generation record was reported in the website of “Nigerian Electricity System Operator’’ on Friday.

TCN said that 4,285.90 megawatts was the total output by power generation companies, and had been transferred to the 11 distribution companies across the country.

Electricity generation in the country has been stable in the last two months, rising from about 2, 983 megawatts to over 4, 000 megawatts.

Although power has improved, many parts of the country have remained with supply owing to problems with the distribution companies, including provision of pre-payment meters.

Acting Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Anthony Akah, had recently disclosed that no fewer than four million electricity consumers in the country were awaiting supply of the meters.
Akah said that although the commission had improved on metering system, unavailability of meter manufacturing companies was hindering the maximum provision of the product to Nigerians.
He said that the commission would sanction any distribution company which failed to comply with directives relating to the distribution of meters. (NAN)

YO/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika