Blog

NAN-H-63
SUBEB
By Dianabasi Effiong
Calabar, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Cross River State Basic Education Board (SUBEB) says it will spend N7.5 billion for projects under the 2012-2015 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Matching Grant.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr Stephen Odey, made this known in Calabar at a news conference on activities of SUBEB.

He said SUBEB had invited reputable contractors with good record of performance and experience to tender for the jobs.

According to him, more than 200 projects, including the construction of new school blocks will begin as soon as procurement process is completed.

He said “the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has approved N3.8 billion to enable us to access the Matching Grant which was lying unused with UBEC.

“There was an excess fund that was left with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2012 to 2015, which we could not access but this administration has been able to access it.

“Schools are being built across the state. The Special Education Fund from 2013 to 2015 has been accessed with infrastructure erected in our special education centres across the state.

“We have advertised the entire job for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.  We shall use contractors without any record of job abandonment and those who are competent. We will be very prudent and transparent in our operations.’’

He said that SUBEB also had reasonable amount in its account domiciled in a commercial bank.

“In our statement of account with Heritage Bank, we have no less than N7.5 billion. Nobody will access that money because it is tied to projects,’’ he said.

Odey said that SUBEB’s action plan for 2013, 2014, and 2015 currently under review had been signed by the Executive Secretary of UBEC himself and Director, Legal Services of UBEC.

The Chairman explained that the action plan was fully defended and attested to by the UBEC Technical Team.

According to Odey, nobody will misappropriate the projects’ fund which are jointly monitored by UBEC and SUBEB.

“I have also written to EFCC, ICPC and the Attorney General, inviting them to monitor these processes.

He said that Gov. Ayade of Cross River had recently approved the employment of 1,000 teachers across the state to replace retired and late teachers.

He added that “from October last year to now, we have recorded 520 dead and retired teachers.’’

He noted that the present administration was packaging programmes for both SUBEB staff and teachers to drive basic education.

The executive chairman said modalities for check and balances had been put in place for the running of the board.

He said the board had bought plastic chairs and desks to replace aging wooden desks in schools across the state. (NAN)
DOE/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-DS-7
Vandals

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Abuja, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu, said he had ordered a renewed onslaught on pipeline vandals and illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.

Muhammadu disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a media briefing on the activities on the corps.

He said following the order, 50 pipeline vandals and 15 illegal refineries operators were arrested on Wednesday night in Rivers.

The NSCDC boss, who decried the spate of vandalism in the region, said that the renewed onslaught was meant to check economic sabotage on critical infrastructure in the region and the country.

“There is renewed onslaught on the vandals, even yesterday my commandant in Rivers state called me that she led a team that destroyed 15 illegal refineries and about 50 vandals were arrested and they will soon be charged to court,’’ he said.

Muhammadu said that the establishment of a 24-hour Command and Control Centre in Abuja had aided the corps in monitoring pipelines in Niger Delta with over 450 illegal refineries destroyed in the last one year.

He said that the corps had also begun special training and deployment of some of its personnel to mining sites, railways, dams, farms and cattle ranches to ensure adequate security.

“We have received letters from the ministers of mines and steel, agriculture and water resources for the protection of some of these facilities.

“I can assure that training and deployment of personnel to some of these critical areas has begun,’’ he said.

He said that the corps was working round the clock to ensure better welfare for its personnel, but charged them to be professional in carrying out their duties. (NAN)

MUYI/JEY/AMY
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho and controlled by Abdullahi Yusuf
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NAN-H-56

Beggars

By Kabir Muhammad

Abuja, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said the territory’s administration would create a database for all arrested beggars and destitute.

Bello said that the beggars and destitute would be taken to the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre, Kuchiko, in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

He made this known when he made an unscheduled visit to the centre Thursday.

Bello said that the database would avail the FCT administration adequate information on those arrested as well as afford the government the opportunity to make adequate arrangements for their repatriation.

He directed the Social Development Secretariat of the FCT to ensure that all those arrested were captured in the database for easy reference.

He ordered the management of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on Environment to register the beggars and destitute before taking them to the rehabilitation centre.

The minister also directed the centre to commence the process of repatriating the apprehended persons in line with the extant rules to their various states of origin.

He also inspected the new borehole sunk at the centre by the FCT authorities and directed overhead tanks should be provided and installed for immediate use by the inmates.

He told the secretariat officials to ensure that the water provided at the centre was well reticulated, adding that the officers should also fix all the street lighting points to illuminate the entire environment at night.

The Principal of the centre, Mr Bala Tsoho, told the minister that 145 new beggars and destitute had just been taken in.

He said that the welfare of the inmates, especially in terms of regular feeding, had improved (NAN)

KM/DO/OPI

(Edited by David Onilede and Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-H-54

FRSC

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has confirmed the death of four persons in a motor accident which occurred in Ebonyi on Monday.

The commission’s Sector Commander in the state, Mr Charles Aborchi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Thursday that the accident occurred at Iyere, Afikpo South Local Government Area.

Aborchi said that the ill-fated vehicle had nine occupants, eight males and one female while the four that died were three males and one female.

“The five remaining occupants were injured with one of them in critical condition; they are receiving treatment at the Ekoli-Edda General Hospital in the area.

“The accident which occurred on a one-lane road involved a white mini-bus with registration number EDA 245 XA,” he said.

The sector commander noted that the accident occurred in an inclement weather condition as it was raining and the spot was sloppy.

“The affected vehicle somersaulted and the accident could be blamed on poor visibility and slippery road condition due to unfavorable weather,” he said.

He noted that the commission would intensify efforts to check incidences of road accidents in the state, especially in the ‘ember’ months.

“We strongly advise motorists and commuters to shun night travel due to poor visibility and other inherent conditions.

“They should also obey traffic regulations to stay alive for festive celebrations while curbing unwarranted carnage that cause deaths and injuries,” he said. (NAN)

RCO/MVO

(Edited by Mbadiwe Okwor)

42-year-old man to spent 12 months in jail for stealing
NAN-H-53
Sentence
By Dorcas Elusobon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept 15, 2016 (NAN) An Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Thursday sentenced a 42 year-old man, Ebun Akinnawonu, to 12 months imprisonment for stealing.

Magistrate Iyabo Salami, in her judgment,  did not give the convict an option of fine, and expressed concerns that these generational youths were lazy and preferred stealing rather than struggle to earn an honest future.

She said that the youths live extravagant lifestyle, driving the best of cars on the interest of committing different atrocities such as stealing, kidnapping, rituals and other antisocial vices.

The magistrate said the sentence would serve as deterrent to other youths who drag their future in mud

Prosecutor Sunday Osanyintuyi told the court that the accused of Ore in Ondo committed the offence on Aug. 28, around 4  p.m. at 48, Olu-Ere Str., Ile-Ife, Osun.

Osanyintuyi said that the convict broke into a shop belonging to Abullazeez Yakubu with intent to commit felony and stole N48,500 from his save.

He added that the convict on Sept. 6, around 1:32 p.m. at Fajuyi Road, also broke into a shop belonging to Nwanfo Sunday, with intent to commit felony and stealing and was caught in the act.

The prosecutor said the offence  contravened section 383 and punishable under sections 390 (9), 412 and 508 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun, 2002. (NAN)
EDA/LAB/OFN
(Edited by Lydia Beshel//Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-DS-6
Arrest
Kano, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested two suspected armed robbers who terrorised some residents during the ongoing Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in Kano metropolis.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the arrest in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

Majiya said the suspects, Abdulraham Mohammed and Aminu Abdullahi, were apprehended along Abdullahi Bayero Road in Kano metropolis after an attack on some victims.

“The two suspected armed robbers were arrested after they attacked their victims and items recovered from them include two knives and cell phones,’’ he said.

He said one of their victims who sustained serious injuries had been taken to hospital for treatment.

He said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Rabi’u Yusuf, had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper Investigation.

Majiya said as soon as investigation was completed, the suspects would be charged to court.

The Police Spokesman urged residents to continue to be vigilant and report any suspected persons to security agents for prompt action.

NAN recalls that on Wednesday some miscreants around Magwan area, Audu Bako way, attacked some children and dispossessed them of their belongings.(NAN).
MTM/OMO/AMY

Edited by Martins Odeh and controlled by Abdullahi Yusuf

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NAN-H-48
Development
By Aliyu Usman
Agbeyangi (Kwara), Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Aliyu Baba, the Bale of Agbeyangi in the Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara, has urged government at all levels to prioritise rural development in the country.

Baba made this call on Thursday in Agbeyangi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the move would check rural-urban migration and reduce population density in the urban areas among other advantages.

Baba said that rural communities were neglected in the provision of basic amenities, a development, he said accounted for the population congestion in the urban areas.

“Rural communities in Nigeria lack basic amenities but if these communities are opened to massive development, the rate of rural-urban migration will drastically reduce,” he said.

The community head also urged government to urgently rehabilitate Panada-Agbeyangi-Yaru road to alleviate the suffering of passengers plying the road.

He said that if the road was constructed, it would boost the economic fortune of the people in the area.

According to him, the worrisome state of the road has cut off rural farmers from moving their farm produce from the rural area to urban markets.

He added that the development had affected the level of income being generated by farmers. (NAN)
AUO/CEO/DUA/YEMI
Edited by Dada Ahmed

Edited by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-AE-8
Flood
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday in Osogbo attributed the recent flooding in the state to the negative impact of the people’s activities on the environment.

Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Media Aide to the Governor, said in a statement that the governor expressed the view during a tour of communities affected by flood recently.

The communities are Okeonitea, Rasco, Fiwasaye and Gbomi.

Okanlawon quoted the governor as saying that “huge accumulation of wastes remained a major invitation to flooding in the state’’ as it  blocked the waterways.

He said the governor appealed to the people of the state to be hygienic and to cooperate with the state government in maintaining good liveable environment.

“Our people must henceforth obey government sanitation control and the collection of waste that we put in place.

“If we religiously follow it, we will never experience this devastating flooding, everyone is urged to dispose his or her waste responsibly,” the governor added.

He, however, expressed sympathy with those affected by the recent flooding, Okanlawon said.

The governor said the flood took the state by surprise judging by the heavy investments of his administration on flood prevention since 2011, Okanlawon added..

He added that considering its efforts at ensuring clear waterways in the past, the state government never expected the flooding.

“Since 2011, the government has been embarking on massive dredging of waterways in all parts of the state in order to prevent such disaster.

“As a matter of fact, we are still very much indebted to those who normally work with us to ensure the cleaning of our waterways.

“Our government deeply regrets the flooding that has affected our people,” Okanlawon  quoted the governor as saying. (NAN)

VE/EEM/JCE

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(Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-DS-5
Arrest
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Twenty nine suspected cult members were arrested in zone 11, Mr Dan Bature, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, has said.

Bature made the disclosure on Thursday in Osogbo while addressing newsmen on the security situation in the state.

The AIG said that the police had also arrested the suspects in the murder of a member of the state House of Assembly.

He said that since his assumption of office, the police command in Osun, Ondo and Oyo states (which comprise the zone) had been making frantic efforts to curtail criminality in the three states.

He expressed satisfaction that the Vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, visited the zone on three occasions without any security breach.

Bature listed another achievement of the police in the zone to include the smooth conduct of the House of Assembly election in Oyo State.

He said that `robust synergy’ between the police and the public would lead effective policing.

He said that the only bank robbery attempted since his assumption of office in Ibadan was foiled and weapons recovered.

“We are working assiduously to instill the confidence of the force in the public, through community policing.

“We are also working hard to increase the scope of our intelligence gathering by establishing Eminent Person Forum,”he said. (NAN)
DOO/DO/AEA
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Edited by David Onilede and controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Court reduces accused 7 years jail term to 30 days

NAN-H-47
Imprisonment
By Dorcas Elosogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept 15, 2016 (NAN) An Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Thursday reduced the prison term of a 21-year-old man, Abiodun Olalekan, from seven years to 30 days

Olalekan had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of stealing student’s mobile phone and begged for leniency.

The Magistrate, Mrs Risikat Olayemi, said that the offence which attracted seven years imprisonment was reduced because of the severe beating and injury inflicted on the convict the populace

Olayemi gave the convict an option to pay N5, 000 as fine in each of the two count charges.

She expressed concerns why the accused must waste his time stealing rather than engaging in better things that would give him brighter future.

Prosecutor Ona Glory had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 7, around 6:30 p.m., at No. 149, Oroki Str., Modakeke-Ife.

Glory said that the accused entered into the room of Nwabueze Onyinyechi, a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,  when he was brushing outside and stole ITEL 1503 handset, valued N15,000.

She said the offence contravened section 383 (1) and punishable under sections 390 (9) and 412 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

The convict, who pleaded guilty, confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency. (NAN)
EDA/OFN
(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)