Blog

NDLEA nabs man with methamphetamine valued at N31m at MMIA

NAN-H-11
NDLEA
By Henry Oladele
Lagos, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a man with parcels of methamphetamine (an addictive stimulant) valued at N31 million at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said the suspect was arrested  during outward screening of passengers on a South African Airline flight to Johannesburg.

“The parcels of drug tested positive as methamphetamine and weighed 3.435 kg with a street value of N31 million.

“The drug was detected during a routine check on a passenger on South African Airline flight to South Africa.

“Two bags belonging to a man (names withheld) a 45-year-old, were found to contain parcels of methamphetamine.

“Inside the bags were food items, ingredients and clothes, but underneath were a thin parcel of narcotics carefully concealed.

“He was immediately arrested; investigation is ongoing,’’ the agency said.

NDLEA said the suspect, who resides in South Africa, claimed that the bags were given to him by a friend.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA Chairman, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, has warned members of the public to beware of new tricks employed by drug trafficking cartels.

“Drug traffickers recruit mules by enticing them with money.

“They are very clever in concealing drugs, the agency now detects drugs in bags, electronics, foodstuff and clothes among others.

“We strongly advise that all passengers should endeavour to pack their bags themselves and avoid taking bags for others.

“Ignorance is no excuse in drug trafficking. The suspect will be charged with  unlawful exportation of narcotics,’’ Abdallah said. (NAN)

HOB/DEB/DA
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun and controlled by Dele Akinsola)

NAN-H-30

Children

Lafia, Sept.14, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Governor’s wife, Mrs Salamatu Al-Makura, has urged parents, especially women, to ensure proper upbringing of their children in a godly way for a better society.

Al-Makura made the call on Wednesday while addressing the wives of chairmen of the state local government Interim Management Committees (IMC) who paid her Eid-el- Kabir visit in Lafia.

She said that the call become imperative considering the critical position parents, especially women, occupied in the family and the society at large.

She said there was the need for them to train and ensure proper upbringing of their children in a devine way.

The governor’s wife added that the society would be better if parents and guardians ensured and trained their children in an acceptable way, adding that God was always happy with parents who trained their children in a good way.

“ I want to thank you for the visit and assure you of the state government’s commitment to continue to initiate more programmes and policies in order to better the standard of living of the people, especially the women.

“I urge all of you to continue to live in peace with your neighbours as no society could achieve meaningful progress without peace because peace is priceless and non-negotiable.

“Also, I want to use this medium to call on parents, especially the women, to ensure proper upbringing of their children in a godly way for a better society.

“The society will not be better if parents do not train and take adequate responsibility of their children.

“That is the problem facing the society and we need to pray to God at all the time for the progress of our families and children,” She said.

Al-Makura urged parents to live an exemplary life by shunning all negative acts in the society.

She said that a lot of children grew up with the good or bad attitudes of their parents, hence the need for the parents to live a life worthy of emulation.

She also urged parents to give adequate priority to the education o their children and wards, adding that education was the best legacy parents should leave for their children.

Al-Makura further called on women to always support their husbands, to better the standard of living of their families and for the overall development of the country.

The governor’s wife also enjoined the women to be law-abiding, respect constituted authority, live in peace and tolerate one another, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation.(NAN)

BAB/EAL/IA

Story Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-HG-2
Polio
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) The emir of Kanam in Plateau, Alhaji Mohammed Muazu II, has advocated community ownership of polio immunisation to ensure effective eradication of the disease from the country.

The emir made the call on Wednesday in Jos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The traditional ruler, who made reference to the re-surgence of polio in Goza, Jere and Mongono LGAs of Borno, expressed concern over the wrong notion held by some people about immunisation.

“We have received various comments that some people perceive polio immunisation as money spinner.

“They have the notion that large funds are voted for the exercise annually and there is no compulsion to participate in it since another opportunity will come every year,’’ he said.

Muazu stressed the need to enlighten the public to correct the wrong notion that funds meant for immunisation were for personal use and not for the exercise.

He said that since mothers were more receptive to immunising their children, traditional rulers’ council in the north plans to use them gain access to and immunise their children.

“ We have noted that the mothers can be used as avenues to change the impression of their husbands against polio vaccination, especially in Muslim community.

“We intend to use donation of food items and presentation of household items to attract mothers to bring out their children for immunisation.

“We may have to add subtle coercion if persuasion and cajoling did not yield the desirable results.

“ The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps will be engaged for the exercise and palace guards,  as symbols of traditional institution, will  be stationed at strategic locations during the exercsise,’’ he said. (NAN)
MA/DUA/AEA
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Edited by Dada Ahmed and Controlled by
Archibong Asuquo

Flooding: Residents decry govt’s poor environmental policy
NAN-AE-4
Flooding
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Sept.14, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of Testing Ground and Gbonmi Areas of Osogbo have attributed the flooding of their communities to the state government’s poor environmental policy.

The residents found in deep flood after Tuesday’s downpour, blamed their plight on the state government failure to redirect the flood channels.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the flood damaged their property and also claimed some lives.

Mrs Toriola Ogun, one of the affected residents in Osogbo, blamed the government for what she said was its poor environmental policy and consequent outright neglect of the communities.

According to her, the vulnerability of the communities to flooding is well known to the Ministry of Environment which has decided to look the other way.

She said the environmental policy of the government was not sustainable and proactive enough to galvanise the state to take mitigating action against flooding.

Mrs Felicia Alarape, a resident of Gbonmi, whose shop was affected, said the government needed to respond to alleviate the plight of the affected persons.

She decried the damage to property in the affected communities, describing it as terrible.

Mr James Alao, a community leader at Testing Ground, however, commended Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, for efforts in handling the issues of flooding in the affected communities before the economic crunch.

Alao said that the initial efforts of the governor had been hampered in recent times by the economic crunch.

“The Ministry of Environment has been dredging canals and waterways in the communities for over five years to prevent flooding until recently when the accruing allocations into the state came down drastically.

“The last time our community experienced this type of flooding was in 2010, before this present government came to power.

“Aregbesola took a proactive measure against the menace through periodic dredging of canals and waterways around here which invariably put a stop to constant flooding in our community.

“I believe the acute shortfall in the allocations to the state has made the government to step down the policy for a while,’’ he said.

Mr Sogo Aina, an environmental activist, blamed the state government over diversion of ecological funds to the state arising in the uncontrollable flooding of communities.

Aina alleged that misappropriation of ecological fund meant to prevent the environment from natural disasters was solely responsible for the resurgence of flooding which regrettably claimed lives.

He, therefore, called on the government to do something fast to avert such deterioration in affected communities. (NAN)
DOO/ECN/OFN
(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-ELS-3

Professionalism

By Collins Yakubu-hammer

Abuja, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) Mr Aliyu Badaki, the national President, Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN) says that the association’s effort in enhancing professionalism in the sector is beginning to yield results.

Badaki made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

“We have facilitated the regularisation of hospitality, tourism and other related courses in institutions of higher learning in the country.

“We usually partner with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism to train workers in the sector.

“These have yielded results as the people trained now possess the ability to render quality services to clients in the industry.

“When you visit top hotels in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcour and others, you will notice the good quality of services rendered by those we trained,’’ Dadaki said.

The HATMAN president explained that the manpower training by the association was done for workers in the different zones of the country.

He also said that the association had a biannual journal of international standard to educate practitioners and stakeholders in the sectors to enhance professionalism.

“We also create opportunity for students during our annual conference to enhance their knowledge on hospitality and tourism.’’ (NAN)

CMY/EEE

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(Edited by Ese E. Ekama)

Eid-el-Kabir: Passengers throng Osogbo parks after celebrations

NAN-H-29

Passengers

By Ajibola Olaniyi

Osogbo, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) Scores of passengers travelling back to their bases on Wednesday besieged different motor parks in Osogbo, after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the passengers, mostly civil servants, are in the state to celebrate with their loved ones.

At the popular Idi-seke Park, a passenger, Mrs Olanike Yusuf, said she was at Ikirun, an ancient town near Osogbo, to celebrate with her in-laws.

Yusuf said that she needed to catch up with business deals in Lagos, hence the need to leave early.

She, however, described her experience during the celebration as pleasant with the high level of security put in place and the general serenity of the township.

Another passenger at Ota-efun Park, Alhaji Saka Ilumoka, said he came to Osogbo to celebrate with his family and that he was returning to Abuja to get back to work.

He said this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival was not too “fun-filled”due to the harsh economic situation.

He urged the government at all levels to do something fast and turn around the economy.

Similarly, a Benin-bound passenger at the Olaiya Park, Miss Kadijat Usman, called on the government to work harder to stabilise the economy.

She said the Eid-el-Kabir celebration had exposed the state of the economy the more.

“We have come to celebrate and now we are going back to our destination.

“Although it had been a nice experience going by the re-union with the loved ones, the condition of our economy was further exposed by the celebration.

“The Federal Government must do something about the economy, it cannot continue like this,” Usman said.

NAN recalled that the Federal Government had declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival. (NAN)

DOO/DO/IA

Edited by David Onilede/Idris Abdulrahman

Lawmaker urges farmers/herdsmen to be brother keepers
NAN-H-29
Harvest

By Awayi Kuje
Nasarawa (Nasarawa state), Sept.14, 2016 (NAN) A Nasarawa lawmaker, Alhaji Mohammed Udege-Okpoku, has urged farmers and Faulani herdsmen to continue to live in peace and harmony to boost food production in the state.

Udege-Okpoku, representing Udege/Loko constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, made the call when he spoke with newsmen on Wednesday.

He said that the appeal became necessary because of the importance of peace to the socioeconomic development of any society.

According to him, there is the need for them to show understanding with one another and to be their brother keepers in order to enjoy the fruit of their labour.

“First and foremost, I want to congratulate all Muslim Ummah and Nigerians for the successful celebration of Eid-el-Kabir and let all of us use this period to pray for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy.

“Let us also continue to preach peace, unity, be our brother keepers and tolerate one another irrespective of our affiliation because no nation can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.’’

The lawmaker said that the security challenges facing some parts of the country had affected the lives and socioeconomic development of the country negatively.

“As the harvest of agricultural production commence, I want to use this medium to appeal to the farmers and Fulani herdsmen in this area to live in peace with one another.

“Without peaceful coexistence between the farmers and the herdsmen, agricultural production and the socioeconomic development of the country will be affected negatively.’’

Udege-Okpoku called on the people of the area and Nigerians to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities and not to engage in acts capable of tarnishing their image and that of the country.

He also tasked them to be security conscious and to report the suspicious movement of any persons or groups to the appropriate authority for necessary action.

The lawmaker assured the people of his constituency of his continue commitment to imitate people-oriented programmes to better their standard of living.

He further called on the people of his constituency and Nigeria to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov.Umar Al-Makura to enable them succeed in the task ahead. (NAN)
AKW/OFN
(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

PDP BOT Chairman replies Sen. Sodangi over defection comments

NAN-H-3

Impunity

by Awayi Kuje

Nasarawa (Nasarawa state) Sept.14, 2016 (NAN) The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees (BOT), Sen.Walid Jibrin, on Wednesday said the party would loose nothing over the defection of Sen.Abubakar Sodangi to the APC.

Jibrin told newsmen in Nasarawa, his country home in Nasarawa State, that the accusation of impunity against the PDP by Sodangi was laughable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sodangi, served as senator for Nasarawa west between 1999 to 2011 under the PDP.

He defected from the party to the All Progressive Congress [APC] due to what he called the inability of the PDP to purge itself of impunity and imposition of candidates.

The BOT chairman, however, dismissed the claim, insisting that the party, especially in the state, would not be affected by the defection.

“I don’t want to mention Sodangi’s name because I have no business mentioning his name as we suffered to mobilise and vote for him as senator three consecutive times from 1999 to 2011 under our great party, PDP.

“Even if somebody is blind, reasons given by him for his defection is laughable.

“After you benefited so much and served for 12 years in the senate under PDP, you are coming today saying impunity made you to leave PDP, who are the people that caused the impunity.

“If Sodangi said we are not doing things correctly for the past 12 years, why didnt he correct us then, and who will now agree with him that he is not part of the impunity.”

According to him, several efforts were made to discuss issues affecting the party with Sodangi, but that the senator “ran away.”

Jibrin assured that the PDP would provide level playing field to all its members aspiring for any electove position under its platform.[NAN]

AKW/MZA

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[Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed]

Taipei, Sept. 14, 2016 (Xinhua/NAN)  Typhoon Meranti made landfall Wednesday, leaving 117,666 households in Taiwan without any power as strong winds and heavy downpour battered the island, according to Taiwan Power Company on Wednesday.

According to the power company, 114,485 households were still cut off from the power grid as of 9:58 a.m. Wednesday. Among them, more than 91,000 households were in Pingtung County in the south of the island.

Meanwhile, flights were also canceled and road transportation disrupted on Wednesday, in addition to closure of schools, according to local authorities.

Taiwan’s meteorological agency Wednesday, issued a land and sea warning for the typhoon, which would affect 13 counties and cities in southern and eastern parts of the Island, including Kaohsiung, Taitung and Hualien.  (Xinhua/ NAN)

Edited by Julius Enehikhuere
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NAN-H-9
Navy
By Desmond Ejibas
Onne (Rivers), Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy has commenced upgrading its training schools across the country to meet international standard and address security challenges.
Commodore Peter Onaji, the outgoing Commandant, Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS), Onne, Rivers, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly before the handing-over parade on Wednesday.
He said that the NNBTS, the Nigerian Naval College and others were currently being upgraded to meet with the current change in dynamics and asymmetric nature of threats confronting the nation.
“The Nigerian Navy under the command of Vice-Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas is passionate about training and retraining of new recruits to acquire special military skills for internal security operations.
“In pursuant of this, the navy is upgrading its facilities while old structures meant for accommodation are undergoing rehabilitation.
“Also, construction of new accommodation blocks for trainees are ongoing.
“When these upgrades are completed, the NNBTS will compete and compare favourably with navies in other countries , such as, the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy in training of new recruits,” he said.
Onaji said that under his command, 1,205 new recruits were trained within 16 months on seamanship, boat handling, weapon handling and obstacle handling.
He said during the period, 56 senior ratings bagged Diploma in Leadership and Management Course in affiliation with the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
According to him, navy collaboration with UNIPORT is designed to expose senior ratings to theoretical knowledge that will improve their professionalism and proficiency in naval operations.
Onaji said that no trainee or personnel lost their lives during various trainings under his command. (NAN)
DES/MNA/PAD
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu, controlled by Peter Dada
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