Blog

NAN-H-40
Petrol
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) Black market dealers in petrol in Kano state, have been sent out of business following the availability of the product in the state.

Investigation conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano and other major towns in the state, revealed that most filling stations had the product in stock.

Following this development, several filling stations had reduced the official pump price of petrol from N145 per litre to between N143 and N140 per litre.

Motorists and other commercial vehicle operators, who usually patronise the black marketers, had since stopped as they preferred to buy the product at filling stations.

A four litre gallon of petrol cost between N560 and N570 at filling stations while the same quantity cost between N750 and N800 at the black market.

Hassan Sani, who sell petrol in the black market and operates along the popular Audu Bako Way, told NAN that he would soon switch to another business.

He said that before new price regime, he used to sell three 25 litres jerry cans of petrol every day.

“But with the availability of the product now, I can hardly sell one jerry can.

“Most of my customers have stopped patronising me as the product is available at filling stations and more so it is cheaper to buy at filling stations,” he said.

Abdul another black market operator, who operates near Pyramid Radio along Audu Bako Way, said he had abandoned the sale of petrol and taken to vulcanizing to survive and cater for him family. (NAN)
MTM/AEA/AEA
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Edited and controlled by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-16
Road
By Mohmmed Mamman
Potiskum (Yobe), Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe has reconstructed shoulders on the Potiskum-Kano Federal Highway to curb accidents on the road.

The chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, who conducted newsmen round the road on Thursday, said “the repairs became imperative because of the increasing accidents on the very busy road.

“Although this is a federal highway, we have to work it to save the lives of our people and other road users.’’

Mohammed also said that the council was exploring available sources of revenue, which were hitherto neglected, to generate funds.

“Township roads, drainages and healthcare constitute the basic challenge to the communities in the local government area.

“The council has constructed drainages within the central market and the livestock market to enhance trading in the markets.

“The council has purchased three mass transit vehicles and official cars for principal officers of the council for revenue drive and to enhance productivity,’’ he said.

Mohammed said the council had provided drugs, consumables and a generator for the Potiskum maternity clinic. (NAN)
MM/JEY/BOS (Edited by Johnson Eyiangho, Controlled by Dele Bodunde)
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NAN-H-41
Teachers

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike
Enugu, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State Government said on Thursday that teachers’ salaries would henceforth take priority above all other government financial obligations in the state.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Prof. Uche Eze, told a news conference in Enugu on Thursday that teachers’ salaries would take a pride of place above the salaries and emoluments of political appointees and other government functionaries.

“We know that times are hard both for the people and the government; but Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has already made payment of teachers’ salaries as priority in his scale of preference.

“While some other states in the country find it hard to pay salaries, even teachers’ salaries, Gov. Ugwuanyi has made it a priority that salaries, especially teachers’ salaries, are paid first.

“Today, the state government is not owing any teacher a kobo,’’ he said.

Eze noted that the provision of desks and chairs had been incorporated into the state government’s planned renovation of schools.

“Gov. Ugwuanyi has vowed to permanently erase the issue of pupils seating on the floor in any school in the state.

“We have ordered for tables and chairs for teachers to create a conducive working environment and give both the children and their teachers a sense of belonging,’’ he said.

The commissioner said that the improvement in the sector would soon start manifesting through better performance in internal and external examinations.

He said that the state government was currently recruiting 2000 teachers to enhance learning in the primary schools.

Eze said the recruitment was being carried out simultaneously in the 17 local government areas through the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board. (NAN)
OJI/KOO/MVO
(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-H-14

Poison

Lagos, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) For allegedly pouring a poisonous substance in a neighbour’s pot of soup, a trader, Gordon Daniel, on Thursday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, 39, is facing trial on a charge of attempted murder.

When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Hafsat Ajibode said that the offence was committed on Aug. 17 at about 10.00 a.m. at No. 7, Baale Ayetoro St., Ajegunle, Lagos.

Ajibode told the court that the accused had attempted to kill his neighbor by pouring the substance into her pot of soup.

She said the offence contravened Section 228 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs K.A. Ariyo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ariyo ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and must show proof of tax payment to the State Government.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 11 for receipt of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The suspected poisonous substance, “Snipper”, is a gammalin 20-based liquid insecticide that is common in Nigeria for ridding homes of all insects and small rodents. (NAN)

OAT/EMO/BOS (Written by Teniola Ibitola, Edited by….Controlled by Dele Bodunde)

Police arraign unemployed for stabbing shop owner on his stomach

NAN-H-
Knife
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Sept.15, 2016 (NAN) A 20-year-old applicant, Timileyin Owonikoko, appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for allegedly stabbing a shop owner with a dagger knife on his stomach.

Owonikoko, a resident of Fagba, Iju Area, Lagos, is being tried for breach of peace and assault.

The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug.26 at Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos.

He said that the accused unlawfully entered the shop of Ibrahim Idris with intent to steal and in the process stabbed him with a dagger knife on his stomach.

“The accused entered the complainant’s shop while he was sleeping and he put his hand in his two trouser’s pocket to steal his money.

“The complainant suddenly woke up and wanted to shout but the accused stop him by pointing knife at him, threatening to stab him if he refused to comply.

“The complainant ignored his threat and shouted for help, the accused made good his threat and stabbed him.

“The accused jumped out of the complainant’s shop, took to his heels but some good Samaritans gave him a hot chase and he was apprehended,” he said.

The offences, Nwosu said, contravened sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which on conviction attracts three-year imprisonment.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr A.A Adesanya, adjourned the case till Sept. 21 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/YMU/OFN
(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-AE-4
Rejection
By Muhammad Adam
Yola, Sept. 15, 2016 ( NAN) Gov. Muhammadu Jibrillah of Adamawa on Thursday expressed concern over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) rejection of about 100,000 farmers participation in the “Anchor Borrowers Programme’’ due to inappropriate registration.

Jibrillah expressed his view while launching the distribution of farm inputs to farmers participating in the anchor borrowers’ initiative in Yola and described the rejection as “disturbing.’’

“I am worried and disturbed on how about 100,000 farmers captured in the national anchor borrowers initiative in the state were rejected by CBN due to lack of Bank Verification Number.

“There is need for the state ministry of agriculture and farmers associations to closely work together and sensitise the farmers to avoid this – rejection in future,’’ Jibrillah said.

He said that the only 28,000 farmers that were successfully approved were not enough for the state, adding that more effort should be made to register more farmers.

The governor noted that money meant for Adamawa under the initiative was lying at the CBN, but assured that effort would be made to enable the farmers get it.

Speaking earlier, Mr Waziri Ahmadu, the state Commissioner for Agriculture said that out of 120,000 registered farmers only about 28,000 were approved and registered for the initiative

Ahmadu said that the ministry would strategise to ensure that those that were rejected were captured again.

In his remark, Mr Venantius jiddere, the Adamawa State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) thanked Federal Government for the initiative.

Jiddere promised the support and cooperation of members of the association to the state government for successful implementation of the programme. (NAN)
AMA/JEY/AFA
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Felix Ajide
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NCC establishes industry working group on multiple taxation

NAN-H-35
Taxation
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) on Thursday said the commission had established an Industry Working Group (IWG) on multiple taxation and regulations.

This information is contained in the 2^nd Quarter 2016 Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement report posted on the commission’s website.

The report said: “As part of the strategy to address the issues of multiple taxations and regulations in the Nigerian telecommunications industry, the commission had facilitated the establishment of the IWG on multiple taxations and regulations.

“The Commission hosted a successful IWG meeting, which was chaired by the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.

“A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the proposed Alternative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry presented by Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service (EMTS).

“There has been a general concern in the industry that the current EIA process affects the fast deployment of telecommunications infrastructure required for good quality of service in the country,“ it said.

NCC said that at the end of the meeting, it was agreed that all other operators should review the proposal and forward their comments to the commission.

It said that the commission had also set up a regulatory intervention team that would at very short notice, intervene and engage other government agencies.

The team is set up with a view to resolving urgent cases and threats to critical telecoms infrastructure across the country.

It said that the commission had continued to monitor the porting process with a view to ensuring strict adherence to the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Regulation 2014, in addition to the business rules.

MNP is a service that allows a cell phone or Smartphone customer to change telecom carrier and keep the same phone number.

The commission said that the monitoring was in pursuant to the commission’s goal of sustaining the integrity of the Mobile Number Portability Scheme in the country.

“To this end, a system audit of operators’ MNP Platform and Short Message Service Center (SMSC) was carried out during the period.

“In Quarter 2, 2016, this exercise focused attention on reviewing all rejected port requests by the donor within the period to ensure that these rejections were made for valid reasons consistent with the MNP Business Rules,’’ it said. (NAN)
COA/JPE/GY
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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Grace Yussuf

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NAN-H-4

Remand

By Deborah Akpede

Lagos, Sept.15, 2016 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday remanded at the Kirikiri Prisons, Apapa, an unemployed man, Jubril Aja, who confessed to stealing water tap heads valued at N10,000.

The Magistrate, Mr A.A. Adesanya, remanded Aja, 28, after he admitted stealing the water tap heads from a Mosque.

Adesanya adjourned the case till Sept. 21 for facts and sentencing.

Aja, a resident of Agege area of Lagos, was arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu told the court that that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 11 at Sunday Farm Estate, Dopemu, Agege, Lagos.

Nwosu said that the accused stole water tap heads valued N10,000 property of Allahu Walidu Central Mosque.

“The accused came into the mosque with the pretext to pray.

“He sat at the water side pretending to do ablution and removed two installed tap heads, packaged them inside his bag and took to his heels.

“When a worshiper got to the tap to wash before entering the mosque for prayer, he discovered that the tap heads had been removed again and he raised alarm.

“The accused was given a hot chase and apprehended. When he was searched, those stolen items were recovered,” he said.

Nwosu said that the accused confessed that he used to steal the tap heads from the mosque, and whenever they were replaced, he would come again.

“The accused made a confession that he was responsible for the theft of all the missing tap heads, and that he has a customer he used to sell them to at a cheaper price.”

The offence, Nwosu said contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 285 provides that if convicted of the offence, the accused is liable to three years imprisonment. (NAN)

DOA/ORO/MZA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-H-34
Vacation
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) The usual hustle and bustle around the Federal High Court, Abuja, is gradually resuming as the court resumes from the 2016 annual vacation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court premises, which had been relatively quiet since the commencement of the vacation on July 11, is gradually coming back to life.

NAN correspondent, who visited the premises on Thursday, reports that activities at the court were however yet to pick to their full capacity.

The Chief Registrar of the court, Mr Emmanuel Gakko told NAN that activities to mark the 2016/2017 legal year would commence on Sept. 19.

According to him, the activities will commence with devotional worship at the National Ecumenical Centre and the National Mosque.

He added that a special legal year court session would be held later on the same day at the Federal High Court Premises.

Gakko said that the Federal High Court 32nd Annual Judges Conference would begin on Sept. 20.

NAN reports that even though the court vacation ended on Sept. 12, full activities at the court are expected to resume after the judges conference which would last for one week. (NAN)
WS/AEA/AEA
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Edited and controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Overseas training programmes: Expert advocates monitoring, evaluation mechanism

NAN-HE-12
Training
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Sept. 15, 2016 (NAN) A development and training expert, Dr Kayode Ogungbuyi on Thursday advocated effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism to improve overseas training programmes by Nigerians.

Ogungbuyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that most participants that went overseas for training programmes came back to the country without any tangible results.

He said that some participants particularly, from the public sector came back with nothing tangible since there were no means to monitor and evaluate the programmes.

“There is no means to monitor and evaluate those programmes thus no implementation of the knowledge learnt when trainees return to their workplace, so there will not be added value.

“Foreign trainings are required in some instances as the new knowledge, skills and aptitude being offered is not available here.

“We need to develop appropriate training institutions locally and personnel to implement the course designed to fill the skill gap.’’

Ogunguyi however said that continuous learning and development were necessary for all trainers and trainees to improve the quality of local training, “or else we will be stuck with out-dated ideas’’.

“We need to develop necessary skills to prepare required curriculum, re-orientate ourselves on the benefits of self and continuous development, and be willing to share and not hoard knowledge,’’ he said.

Ogungbuyi said that the Federal Government needed political will to reduce the huge financial losses to foreign trainings.

The expert also advised the Federal Government to train budget officers to address the challenge of alleged budget padding.

“Budget padding is not new or limited to Nigeria. It is called ‘Pork belly in American politics; training of budget officers may help if they are sincere in implementing what they learnt.

“Misapplication of budgeted sums is also a common scenario as was the example of the probing of defence spending.

“We need to re-orientate ourselves as a people to address these shortcomings,’’ he said. (NAN)
CIA/COA/GY
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Edited by Constance Athekame
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