Blog

NAN-H-23
Air-force

Yola, Sept. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has told Air Force personnel involved in  the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast that President Muhammadu Buhari is very happy and appreciates their efforts.

Abubakar made the statement on Tuesday during an Eid El Kabir celebration lunch with Air Force troops at Yola Air Force Base.

The CAS was represented by Chief of Policy and Plans, NAF headquarters, AVM James Abubakar.

Abubakar said Buhari was full of appreciation for the troops and urged them to sustain the efforts toward bringing peace to the Northeast and Nigeria.

“The good work you are doing is appreciated by the commander-in-chief; he is sending his greetings to you at this festive time.

“He commends your efforts and urges you to sustain your commitment for peace in the Northeast and Nigeria as a whole.

“We also want to use this opportunity to thank the commander-in-chief for his support to the Nigerian Air Force,’’ Abubakar said.

He said that NAF was also happy with the troops’ performance and would continue to ensure their welfare and those of their families.

Earlier in an address of welcome, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, AVM Muhammed Mohammadu, thanked the CAS for his commitment to their welfare and for always identifying with them to boost their morale.

“We want to pledge our support and loyalty to Nigerian Air Force and the nation,” Muhammadu said. (NAN)
YMU/ESAN/JCE

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(Edited by Abiodun Esan/Chukwudi Ekezie)

I ‘ll not contest 2019 governorship seat, says Sen.Sodangi

NAN-H-15

Governorship

By Awayi Kuje

Nasarawa (Nasarawa state) Sept. 13, 2016 (NAN) A former senator, Sen. Abubakar Sodangi, has reiterated that he did not decamp from PDP to All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest for the governorship seat in 2019.

Sodangi represented Nasarawa West at the National Assembly between 1999 and 2011 under the platform of PDP.

He made this known on Tuesday when he spoke with newsmen in his country home, Nasarawa, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

Sodangi debunked rumours making round in some quarter in the state that he defected to the APC to contest for the governorship seat in 2019 as not only false but unfounded.

He added that he was not contesting for governorship seat in 2019.

“First and foremost, I want to use this medium to heartily facilitate with President Muhammadu Buhari, Gov.Tanko Al-Makura and all other Muslim faithful on the successful celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.

“I want to call on the Muslim ummah and other Nigerians to see sallah celebration as a way of transforming their faith with God and their brothers and to live in peace, unity, tolerate one another for the progress and development of our nation.

“I want to use this medium to make it clear to the people of the state and the entire world that I did not leave the PDP to APC to vie for the state governorship seat in 2019.

“What made me to dumped the PDP for APC in the state is impunity, impostition of candidates, lack of internal democracy, lack of good party leadership among others.

“And if anybody that said I defected to APC because of governorship seat, it is not true.

“I defected to APC to add value and my experiences to the party through giving them positive advices and ideas that would bring much more progress and development to party, the state and the country at large,” he said.

He said he would continue to assist his people, while urging the wealthy individuals and other Nigerians to assist the less privileged to better their standard of living.

Sodangi urged Nigerians to support the APC-led government to enable them succeed in the task ahead of them.

He urged Nigerians, especially the youths to be law abiding, respect constituted authority and to engage in meaningful ventures in order to be self-reliant and contribute their quota to national development.

The former senator urged the people of the state and other Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliation for the overall development of the country. (NAN)

AKW/OFN

(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-H-8
Commendation
Maiduguri, Sept. 13, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Tuesday commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for its humanitarian services in the state.

Shettima made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

“The UNFPA is one organisation that is very much committed to the welfare of our young ones and of our mothers.

“We are very much conscious and aware of their commitment and passion towards ameliorating the challenges facing us,’’ he said.

Shettima pointed out that the fund had been active in supporting the healthcare services in the state.

“UNFPA is very much active in most of our primary healthcare centres, supporting them with lots of maternal healthcare kits,’’ he said.

Shettima said that the state government would partner with the UNFPA to further enhance the healthcare service delivery in the state.

“UNFPA and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are among the best performing UN organisations that are working for our people,’’ he said.

Shettima, however, advised UN and aids organisations to extend their humanitarian assistance to Internally Displaced Persons living with host communities across the state.(NAN)
ABI/KAY
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NAN-S-1
Sports
Osogbo, Sept.13, 2016 (NAN) Sport analysts and enthusiasts have attributed the abysmal performance of Nigeria in sport activities, especially in football, to maladministration.

The Assistant-General Manager of Osun Sports Council, Mr Diran Adio, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that sport administration has been “hugely politicised’’ resulting in lack of commitment on the part of athletes and players.

According to him, the process of selection of players that will represent the country in any tournament should be merit-driven.

He solicited holistic reforms in the sector to make it viable and result-oriented.

In the same vein, a senior lecturer in the Department of Physical Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Owolabi Lasigun, told NAN by telephone that there was need to take sentiment and political interest from sports administration to enhance performance.

He explained that ethnicity and political affiliation were responsible for poor performance of the country in major tournament.

However, a coach in Osogbo, Mr Mojeed Afolabi, suggested the resuscitation of grassroots sports to make talent discovery at the grassroots effective.

According to him, the ineffective sport clubs in schools and inter-schools sport activities, have denied Nigeria of talented sports men and women.(NAN)
DOO/KAY
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(Edited by Kayode Olaitan)

Osun ALGON Chairman advocates social reorientation for youths

NAN-H-5

Youths

By Ajibola Olaniyi

Osogbo, Sep. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, Mr Soji Ajayi, has canvassed for social reorientation for the youths.

Ajayi,who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Osogbo, stressed the need to make youths more responsible and productive.

He said that the level of social consciousness of the youths were low considering the enormous responsibility of nation-building before them hence, the need for social reorientation.

The ALGON chairman added that many of the youths were not ready to take up responsibility and rather prefer easy route to success and wealth.

According to him, hard work and perseverance make one a very successful person without adverse consequence.

Ajayi,however, called for patience on the part of the citizens in the face of present economic crunch, saying the situation required spirit of collectivism to succeed.

He also commended, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, on his “political savvy and prudence in the management of people and resources”.

He maintained that the construction of 5km of road in each of the 30 local governments in the state among other achievements was unprecedented.(NAN)

DOO/OFN

(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

Gov. Bindow, cabinet members celebrate sallah with IDPs

NAN-H-68

Celebration

Yola, Sept. 12, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa State along with members of his Cabinet, on Monday celebrated Eid el-Kabir with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Malkohi Camp.

Bindow said at the occasion that he would continue to support the cause of humanity, especially the disadvantaged people.

He assured the IDPs of his administration’s resolve to facilitate their prompt integration.

“We will continue to support you and give you a sense of belonging.

“My administration will continue to identify with the disadvantaged in the society.

“And today demonstrates our commitment to identify with you by celebrating this year’s Eid el-Kabir with you in this camp.’’

The governor urged the people of the state,, irrespective of their political affiliation, to support his administration to achieve its agenda of transforming the state.

“This administration’s developmental stride can only be meaningful if the story of the displaced persons is re-written.’’

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Malam Ahmed Sajoh, said that the government would not renege on its responsibility to provide security and social welfare to the people.

Sajoh said that the administration would continue to execute people friendly programmes and projects.

He urged the IDPs to be security conscious and maintain vigilance within their immediate environment.

Responding on behalf of the IDPs, Mr Dominic Samuel, expressed their gratitude to the state government for its sustained concern about their welfare.

Samuel said that the meeting provided the opportunity for the IDPs to relay some of their challenges to the governor.

He said that the IDPs community would continue to pray for the success of the administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the occasion was when the governor served the people with assorted foods.

The feast was accompanied with various cultural dances. (NAN)

MK/AMA/YMU/

(Edited by Martins Odeh/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

Hajj sponsorship: Muslim faithful commend Ebonyi Govt.

NAN-H-66

Commendation

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Sept. 12, 2016 (NAN) Muslims in Ebonyi on Monday commended the government for its continued sponsorship of its members for Hajj.

The Muslim faithful gave the commendation in a Sallah message signed by their leader, Dr Muhammad Ajah, and read by Malam Ibrahim Obiahu during a courtesy visit to Gov. David Umahi in Abakaliki.

Ajah noted in the message that Ebonyi is the only state in the South-East Zone that has sustained such religious goodwill.

“We are happy over your assurance of continued sponsorship though we regret the reduction of seats for the holy pilgrimage.

“The number of seats used to be 50, but now reduced to 20 and we are afraid it could drop further.

“Although we are aware that this sharp reduction was caused by the current economic downturn in the country, we want the slot increased if the situation also improves.

He also requested that Muslim faithful in the state be considered for political offices as no Muslim had benefited since the creation of the state in 1996.

On the Eid el-Kabir festival, Ajah said that it was in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to God’s instruction to sacrifice his son.

“The Patriarch and his family is the foundation of both the Christian and Islamic faiths, hence this celebration of the feast of sacrifice is significant to both faiths.

“This cohesive and adhesive bond that binds us deserves to be positively exploited and regularly greased to foster unity and brotherhood ties between Christian and Muslims.

“Allah prohibits the wanton destruction of lives and properties in whatever guise in Islam and Christianity and  anyone who is involved in such crime is considered ungodly by both faiths.’’

Meanwhile, Ajah appealed to the state government accord the state chapter of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) the same recognition given to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state.

“We equally urge the administration to demonstrate practical commitment to an all inclusive government that represents the diversity of the state.”

The governor, represented by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, congratulated Muslims on the occasion and urged them to pray for the state and the country.

“You should pray for enhanced peace, security and unity of Ebonyi and Nigeria because this is a season of love and sacrifice.”

 Umahi said that the administration was determined to create an environment for equality, justice and peace.

He said the administration was also committed to supporting Muslim faithful in the state in spite of the numerous economic challenges confronting it.

The governor, however, urged group to canvass and pray for the restoration of lost values which placed premium on human life, love, and peaceful co-existence.

“This period requires much patience, fortitude, endurance, and patriotism for the country; you should replicate the lesson beyond this period by forgiving those who may have offended you,” the governor said. (NAN)

RCO/OMO/NKO

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(Edited by Martins Odeh/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

NAN-H-66

Postponement

Benin, Sept. 12, 2016 (NAN) The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the governorship election in Edo rescheduled to Sept. 28, Mr Osaro Onaiwu, has called for further shift of the exercise to Oct. 1.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday announced the postponement of the election fixed for Saturday to Sept. 28, following insecurity alert by security agencies.

Onaiwu told newsmen in Benin on Monday that further shift in the date of poll was necessary as Sept. 28 was the day students sitting for the ongoing General Certificate of Education (GCE) across the country would write Physics.

He said that Oct.1 was the “earliest possible date” for the election.

Onaiwu said that the shift would afford eligible voters among the students to participate in the election.

According to him, education is number one pillar in APGA’s manifesto, and the authorities must be wary of threats from some of the students that they would sue INEC if they were‎ prevented from voting in the election.

On the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the election was postponed because it was obvious that the party would win, the APGA candidate said that such claim was a mere presumption.

He slammed the PDP for insisting that the election should have been allowed to go on.

“Are we going to wait for what happened in Rivers? PDP is crying because they know what we don’t know.

“Since security agencies said the election was not possible and INEC has shifted it, everybody should abide,” he said. (NAN)
ESI/OMO/OPI

(Edited by Martins Odeh and Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-F-10

Earthquake

Kigali, Rwanda (PANA/NAN) Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, has condoled Tanzania over a deadly earthquake in the East African country, which led to a huge loss of lives and property.

This is contained in a message posted on Mushikiwabo’s twitter account, which stated that she was offering her deep condolences to “brothers and sisters” in Tanzania for lives lost due to earthquake.

“May the injured recover promptly,” Mushikiwabo added while extending sympathies to those injured and families of the victims.

Latest official reports indicate that a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook the Lake Victoria region of East Africa on Sunday.

The earthquake killed at least 16 people while some 253 others were wounded, especially in Kagera region which borders Rwanda and Uganda.

The disaster was felt as far away as western Kenya and parts of Uganda. Tremors were also felt in Kigali, Rwanda. (PANA/NAN)

ELLA/OPI

(Edited by Ella Anokam and Olisa Ifeajika)

NMRC, AUHF to finance affordable houses at N1.5m
NAN-H-64
Housing

By Ella Anokam
Abuja, Sept. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), has expressed its readiness to refinance affordable houses at the rate of N1.5 million

NMRC is co-host of the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) 2016 conference.

Prof. Charles Inyangete, NMRC Managing Director, made this known at a press conference jointly organised by AUHF and NMRC to unveil the union’s forthcoming conference.in Abuja on Monday.

AUHF is an association of 56 Mortgage Banks, Building Societies, Microfinance Institutions, Housing Corporations and organisations, involved in mobilisation of funds for shelter and housing in Africa

Inyangete said that the NMRC was ready to refinance houses at N1.5 million if permitted by technology to drive the process of delivering affordable housing through practical solution in Nigeria.

“We are ready to refinance houses as cheap as N1.5 million, we are not looking at the money market but hope that technology will allow us to actually build houses at that price.

“It will first of all drive down the affordability because the prices of houses in Nigeria are particularly very high,’’ Inyangete noted.

He decried the extent of inequality created by the crisis of affordable housing on the African continent, adding that a practical solution for sustainable housing should be encouraged.

The 2016 AUHF 32nd annual conference is scheduled to hold in Abuja from Sept. 14 to Sept.16.

He said that the three day conference have been designed to reflect a balance between the need to craft policies that could drive sustainable affordable housing finance on the African continent.

He said that the conference would bring together practitioners and investors on the African continent and beyond to share, learn from the network with the best in the world on housing finance.

Inyangete noted that the conference would proffer practical solutions to providing access to affordable housing finance set in the context of the “Housing and Africa’s Growth Agenda’’

“The outcome of the conference in the form of “Abuja Declaration’’ will feed into the work of AU’s Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Unit of the Africa Delegation to Habitat III meeting, in Equador in October 2016.

“The conference will also explore how to grow Africa’s mortgage markets to provide sustainable access to affordable housing finance as well as public-private partnership for affordable housing delivery’’.

According to him, the conference will examine the capacity of housing micro-finance with housing micro-finance academy hosted by Lafarge Holcim and French Development Agency.

Mr Oscar Mgaya, Chairman, AUHF noted that problems associated with housing cost, low income earners, mortgages, interest rates, among others would also be addressed.

According to Oscar, a country’s monetary and fiscal policy play major role in determining the interest rate.

Oscar, who is also the Managing Director of Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company, said that the union was looking at how to solve the interest rate problem which he termed as a continental problem.

He stressed the need to provide some subsidy as a mechanism for builders to build affordable houses.

The purpose of the conference, according to him, is to bring together housing practitioners and leading leading policy makers from the private and public sector to discuss issues of housing finance facing the sector.

He said the problem was not unique for individual country, rather was a continental problem and needed to be dealt with by collaboration of different countries.

No fewer than 170 confirmed participants, representing about 23 African countries, state governors, foreign technical experts, will be attending the conference.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, is expected deliver the keynote address which will unveil the road map to develop the housing sector. (NAN)
ELLA/FNO/OFN
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Edited by Franca Ofili