Blog

NAN-H-77

Fund

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has said that his administration did not receive ecological fund from Federal Government in last five years.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Media aide to the governor in Osogbo on Thursday.

Aregbesola, said the demand by the state chapter of PDP that government should justify how it spent ecological funds in the wake of the flood that affected some parts of the state was uncalled for.

“Osun did not receive any ecological fund from the PDP Federal Government from Nov. 27, 2010 to May 29, 2015.

“We have expended our legitimate revenues from all sources to annually dredge our waterways up till 2015 when revenue decline hindered our efforts.

“Despite the dirty politics played by the PDP government at the centre, Osun remained one of the few states that had never experienced any flooding since 2011not untill the unfortunate incident of Tuesday, Sept. 13.

“We are concerned with the agony of our citizens and shall do all in our power to limit the pains and prevent a reoccurrence.

“We are committed to eliminating all hindrances to free flow of water in the canals, drainages and waterways in the state”.

Aregbesola, while calling on the people of the state to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse, urged them to always patronise registered waste collectors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that flood wrecked havoc in some part of the state on Tuesday, Sept. 13, during which property worth million of naira were destroyed.(NAN)

VE/OFN

(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-H-81
Peace
By Usman Aliyu
Kaiama (Kwara), Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Kaiama in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara, Alhaji Muazu Omar, has urged Muslims to live in peace with one another.

The Emir made the call on Thursday at his palace while addressing Muslims during the “Kazia” day.

Omar also solicited the support and cooperation of farmers in his domain to prioritise the planting of food crops like grains instead of soya beans.

He said the cultivation of grains such as guinea corn, maize and millet would minimize starvation, drought and food insecurity.

The Emir further said that with the present economic recession, farmers must be encouraged to inculcate the habit of food crop cultivation.

Responding, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Alhaji Al-Hassan Bagudu, felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid el-kabir celebration.

He enjoined everyone to show more commitment and diligence in whatever positive work he or she was doing.

Bagudu acknowledged that government at all levels were aware of the present economic hardship but with little more patience, things would be better.

He thanked the Emir and all security agencies for the relative peace maintained within the local government.

Highlights of the occasion was the wearing of turban on some village heads and title holders, as well as voluntary confessions of some repentant criminals among the Fulani tribal group in Kaiama. (NAN)
AUO/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NiMet predicts cloudy weather for Friday

NAN-AE-11

Weather

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather over the central states of the country.

It said that on Friday morning, there were chances of localised thunderstorms over Southern Kaduna, Lafia and Jos.
The predictions are contained in the Weather Outlook issued by NiMet’s Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Thursday in Abuja.

The agency said that there would be prospects of localised thunderstorms over Abuja, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Jos and Bida in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

It predicted increased cloudiness over the coastal and inland cities of the South-East with chances of localized rain showers over the inland of the South-West in the morning.

It also predicted possibilities of localized rain showers over Calabar, Port- Harcourt and Lagos in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.

NiMet predicted that northern states would experience cloudy conditions over Sokoto, Gusau, Kano, Katsina and Yelwa in the morning.

It added that there would be chances of localised thunderstorms over Kano, Nguru and Maiduguri in the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius to 33 degrees Celsius. (NAN)
OYS/OPI/OPI
Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-DS-12

Practices

Lagos, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, Mr Abdul-Majid Ali, says the current leadership of the Force will punish police officers indulging in unethical practices.

Ali said this when he received Mr Deji Elumoye,the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday.

“I will start visiting the divisions, Area Commands and talk to DPOs to make sure that police officers that engage in unprofessional practices are punished.

“We will make sure that the people see a different type of police in Lagos and Ogun States.

“The kind of police that will be friends to the public and polite, not aggressive.

“The Kind of police that will abide by the principles of democratic policing,” he said.

The AIG assured the council that  the police would not relent in protecting life and property while  urging  the media to always point out the errors of the police for correction.

In his remarks, Elumoye called the attention of the AIG to the alleged excesses of some policemen in different parts of Lagos and Ogun States.

He,however, applauded the AIG’s achievements in tackling crime as former Commissioner of Police in Ogun State and other commands where he had served.

“We appreciate your efforts as the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State and we hope that you will bring your wealth of experience to bear in  Lagos State.

“The challenge may be enormous but with your vast knowledge in crime control and prevention, you will be able to weather the storm,” the chairman said. (NAN)

(Edited by Shittu Obassa and controlled by Abdullahi Yusuf)

BOM/OSA/AMY

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NAN-DS-11
Arrest
Yola, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Air Commodore Haruna Umar, the Commander, 37 Base Services Group of the Nigerian Air Force in Yola, on Thursday, said an ex service man in military uniform has been arrested in possession of two missing rifles belonging to the air force.

Umar, who presented the suspect, Dubi Elisha, along with five other accomplices in Yola, said that the six were arrested by a joint patrol of air force and personnel of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

He said “one Mr Dubi Elisha, a business man at Numan was recently arrested by men of the Nigerian Air Force in a joint operation with personnel of DSS.

“He was found to be in possession of a missing FN Rifle belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, among other weapons.

“Mr Dubi was identified to be an ex-service man who was discharged from the Nigerian Army.”

Umar said that the two missing rifles belonging to the air force found in possession of the suspects were stolen from its personnel by one James Dauda who was among the suspects arrested.

“After series of interrogations, James Dauda confessed stealing the rifles.

“According to Dauda’s confession, he sold the FN Rifles to Dubi Elisha, which eventually led to the latter’s arrest.

“Dauda’s voluntary confessional statement also disclosed the involvement of other accomplices.

“These individuals have all been arrested. They are Saul Chamak, Yaro Philemon, Martins Bwara and Tatula Moses.”

Umar said other  incriminating items recovered from the suspects included “browning pistol, a double-barrel gun, 30 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, 30 shot-gun cartridges, three arrows, desert camouflage military uniform and one 7.62 mm live ammunition.”

While reiterating the commitment of the air force to deal with criminals in the state, the commander lauded the collaboration of other security agencies to NAF in the state. (NAN)
YMU/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Court remands 2 suspected militants for illegal possession of Firearms

NAN-H-74
Prison

By Deborah Ogedemgbe
Benin, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) An Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court sitting in Benin on Thursday remanded two suspected militants, Tirim Ade and Pere Ejune, in prison for alleged illegal possession of firearms

Ade, 32 and Ejune, 45, are facing a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and conspiracy.

The Magistrate, Mrs C.E Oghuma, in her ruling, said the in making the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Oghuma remanded the accused at the Oko prison in Ogba, near Benin, and urged the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice .

No plea was taken and the court adjourned the case till Oct 21.

The prosecution had told the court that the accused persons were arrested on Sept. 8.

The prosecution said the offence contravened sections 3(1) and 6 (b) of the Robbery and Firearms Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004. (NAN)

DCO/KOO

(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-HG-8
Immunisation
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Katsina State Government says it will conduct four rounds of polio immunisation known as Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) before the end of the year as part of measures to prevent spread of the disease in the state.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday in Katsina during a meeting of  the Taskforce Committee on Immunisation and Polio Eradication in the state.

He said “we are all aware of the setback Nigeria recorded in polio eradication following the resurgence of three cases of wild polio virus in Borno.

“Polio anywhere is polio everywhere, so we must ensure quality campaign that will cover every child to protect our children.”

Yakubu said that the state government would also continue to strengthen routine immunisation at health facilities in all the 34 local government areas of the state.

He urged members of the committee to work hard to achieve the desired objective.

Yakubu said that the previous polio campaigns recorded high coverage, less missed children and major compliance.

He then urged parents to present their children to the vaccinators for the immunisation.

He announced that the first round of the campaign would start from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, while
the remaining three rounds would be conducted before the end of the year.

In addition, he added, the state government would sustain routine immunisation at various health facilities in the 34 local government areas to effectively fight the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that wild polio virus was last reported in the state in November 2014. (NAN)
ZI/JPE/HA
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-73
Theft

By Imelda Osayande

Benin, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Two men, Kingsley Ebose; 25 and Happy Okotie, 19., were on Thursday sentence to six years imprisonment each by an Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin for stealing.

The Magistrate, Mrs RacheaI Ogbevoen, found the convicts fguilty of the two count charge of breaking and entering and stealing.

Egbevoen, however, did not give the convicts an option of fine.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Patrick Agbonifo, told the court that te convicts committed the offences on Aug. 25, at New Benin in Benin.

Agbonifo said they broke into, Tessy Okpebiye, the complainant’s store, at night and stole one Nokia battery, two Samsung galaxy Cellphones, one laptop and N17,000 cash all totaling N235.000.

He said the offence contravened sections 516, and 411 of the Criminal Code . (NAN)
IMEL/KOO/OFN

(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa//Felix Nwadioha) (more…)

Group urges FG to start work on Warri EPZ project
NAN-HE-23
Zone
By Ideki Igafe
Warri (Delta), Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group (WIPMG) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to begin work on the Export Processing Zone ( EPZ) in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.
The WIPMG Chairman, Mr Patrick Bigha, made the call on Thursday while addressing newsmen in Warri.
Bigha said the call was imperative for job creation for unemployed youths in the country.
According to him, the multi-billion dollars EPZ project, which has two components of Gas City at Ogidigben and Deep Seaport at Gbaramatu, is a private-driven project capable of reducing unemployment.
Bigha said that the project was inaugurated on March 26, 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to him, Jonathan has promised at the ground-breaking of the project that it will engage 150,000 at the construction stage and 500,000 work force after construction.
“No doubt, this is a project that will reduce unemployment to its barest minimum in this part of the country.
“This is the time for the EPZ project to commence as it will help to reduce the effects of the current economic hardship Nigerians are going through.
“The beauty of the project is that it is private-sector driven; government will not spend money in the project, but will only provide the enabling environment for the private investors.
“The two ethnics, Itsekiris and Ijaws involved in the project have promised to allow peace to reign before the inauguration of the current administration,” he said.
The chairman also expressed the hope that work on the project would also address the insurgency in the Niger Delta region. (NAN)
EDI/DOE/IA
Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Idris Abdulrahman
 

NAN-HE-21
Shares
By Okoro U. Lilian
Lagos, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Equity transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday closed on a bullish note with some blue chips sustaining price rally

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Total Oil led the gainers’ table with N8.92 to close at N250 per share.

Seplat came second on the gainers’ chart with N5 to close at N325, while Unilever rose by N2.87 to close at N45.15 per share.

ConOil grew by N2.68 to close at N28.89, while Dangote Cement appreciated by N1.49 to close at N176 per share.

The NSE All-Share also appreciated by 83.27 points or 0.30 per cent to close higher at 27,725.40 against the 27,642.13 achieved on Wednesday.

Also, market capitalisation, which opened at N9.49 trillion, rose by N28 billion or 0.53 per cent to close at N9.52 trillion.

On the other hand, GTBank led the losers’ table, dropping 5k to close at N26.5, while Neimeth and UAC-Prop both came second with 1k each to close at N1.08 and N3.4 per share respectively.

Champion decreased by 0.08k to close at N2.47, while UBA declined by 0.07k to close at N4.21 per share.

Similarly, the volume traded shares increased as a total of 200.29 million shares valued at N1.59 billion were exchanged in 3,257 deals.

NAN reports that this was against a turnover of 182.29 million shares worth N1.79 billion achieved in 2,776 deals on Wednesday.

The Financial services sector remained the investors’ delight as FCMB emerged the most traded stock, accounting for 49.38 million shares valued N49.38 million.

It was trailed by Access Bank, which sold 23.49 million shares worth N130.69 million, while NEM Insurance accounted for 17.12 million shares valued N13.69 million.

Fidelity Bank traded 12.56 million shares worth N11.09 million, while investors in Transcorp staked N13.04 million on 11.93 million shares. (NAN)
LUC/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)