Blog

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Offices

By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN), Kano State Chapter, has established offices in 24 Council Areas of the state to facilitate registration of farmers for the CBN anchor borrower programme.
The Chairman of the association in the state, Alhaji Faruk Rabiu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.
He said the association found it necessary to open the offices in the local government areas following the poor response of farmers toward the programme.
According to him, establishing the offices will reduce the hardship being encountered by many farmers who have to travel to the state capital from remote areas for the registration.
“Due to the current economic recession, many farmers have complained of lack of money to transport themselves, hence the decision to establish the offices,” he said.
He said that the number of farmers, who have so far registered, was far below the target number expected to register for the programme.
“Our target is 75, 000 farmers but unfortunately since the registration commenced on Monday, Aug.15, only 7, 500 farmers have so far registered,” he said.

He called on farmers, particularly local ones, to come and register for the programme in view of the importance the Federal Government attached to the programme.
“Most of the farmers are yet to understand the programme because they are not used to taking agric loans.
“Secondly, the conditions farmers must meet before getting the loan is also another challenge as majority of the local farmers have no business with bank let alone open an account,” he said.
He said that the association had distributed 200 application forms to each of the 44 local government areas of the state as part of effort to encourage farmers to take part in the programme. (NAN)
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Commission urges port users to key into service portal to check corruption
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Corruption
By Uchenna. Eletuo
Lagos, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Commission (ICPC) has urged port users to key into the newly launched Port Support Service Portal(PSSP) to check corruption.

The commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Rasidat Okoduwa who spoke on the sidelines of inauguration of the portal in Lagos on Friday, urged freight forwarders to use the platform to curb incessant sharp practices in the port.

She said that the platform was not just another government policy or instrument that would not work.

“This is a carefully planned platform aid at curbing the supposedly rampant corruption in the maritime industry.

“The portal which has the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) of all the agencies and port operators has self appraisal mechanism.

“Complaints of undue delays by one operator or agency that give rise to giving and taking of bribe before job is done can be tracked with the system,’’ Okoduwa said.
According to her, the system will show any organisation that is not keeping to the SOP and will be sanctioned accordingly.

She said that with the ICPC as part of the monitoring and implementation committee, the public and port users should be rest assured that sharp practices prevalent in ports would be checked.

She added that port users should avail themselves of the compliant box in the portal and make their grievances known to ICPC, saying that such would be treated immediately.

NAN reports that the Federal Ministry of Transportation has commenced the formal inauguration of an ICT portal for port users to facilitate trade in the ports (NAN)
EUC/GY
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41 graduates receive training on entrepreneurship skills In Kano –official
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Training
Kano, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) Forty one graduates in Kano state have so far benefitted from the Federal Government’s funded programme, Graduates Internship Scheme (GIS) training on entrepreneurship and employment scheme.
The GIS Project Director, Mr Dennis Chukwudi disclosed this at the launch of the training programme in Kano on Friday.
He said since the inception of the programme no fewer than 41,161 graduates had benefitted from the scheme across the country.
Chukwu, who was represented by the Head of Finance and Accounts, GIS, Mr Anthony Kalu, said out of the figure, 35,000 beneficiaries had exited the scheme with thousands of them securing jobs, credit facilities and grants.
According to him, the scheme had developed special programme for non-oil sector in view of its prospects for capacity building and job creation.
He said GIS had also entered into special partnership with governmental and non-governmental organisations for graduates to be trained on ICT, Agriculture, Construction and Community health among others fields. (NAN)

Edited by Felix Ajide

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NAN-ELS-5

Internet

By Justina David Auta

Abuja, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) Some education experts and parents on Friday in Abuja attributed the poor reading culture among children and youths to overreliance on the internet.

The experts also blamed obsolete reading materials in the libraries, poor attitude to learning and teaching, lack of parental guidance and negative peer influence for the poor reading culture among the youth.

Mrs Patience David, an English teacher said although the internet had contributed immensely towards education, too much reliance on it had discouraged students from carrying out research.

“Even though the internet has improved access to reading materials, it is sad that some students rely only on it for their research materials by copying and pasting other peoples work without making any efforts to do their own personal research,’’ she said.

David stressed the need for the government to increase education funds, which she said would improve the sector, as well as increase infrastructural development in the country.

“If more funds are channeled towards education sector, a lot of challenges such as inadequate education materials, infrastructural development, well equipped library and teacher’s training would be addressed.’’

Mr Sunday Adejoh, a teacher said inadequate parental and teacher’s guidance had affected the reading culture among students, especially those in their formative years.

“ There is a need for parents to encourage and guide their children to inculcate the habits of reading instead of doing their homework as some parents do.

“ They shouldn’t leave it for the teachers alone to impact educational knowledge on their children or ward. They should also monitor, assist and also participate in the teaching as well.

“Also, teachers should have passion for their jobs and not use the fact that they are underpaid by either the government or private sector to impact only little on their pupils,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Malam Isa Mohammed, a civil servant and father of four attributed the poor reading culture to negative peer influence and the social media.

“A lot of students don’t read or study their books. The few that read only study for exams, but spend most of their time on the social media to interact with their friends.

“And this interaction most times are negative, thereby influencing them to behave in a manner that would affect their focus, education and upbringing,’’ he cried.

Mohammed harped on the need for adults and the government to strategise on ways to improve the attitude of students towards education.

Mrs Folasahade Micheal, a parent encouraged all stakeholders to contribute their quota towards reviving reading culture, which she said would not only be beneficial to the individual or family, but the entire nation at large.

“We shouldn’t just leave everything for the government. We all need to put our efforts together towards reviving the culture because other challenges such as the internet, media and other negative vices has affected the quest for education in our country.

“With quality education in our country, Nigeria would be the envy of other nations, I bet you,’’ she said.

NAN reports that UNESCO has set aside Sept. 8 of every year to mark the International Literacy Day.

The aim is to bring to the front burner efforts and progress being made to increase literacy rate around the world, as well as address current challenges and strategise on solutions to boost literacy

The theme of this year was “Reading the Past, Writing the Future”. (NAN)

JAD/EEE

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NAN-H-23
Concession
By Taiye Edeni
Abuja, Sept. 9, 2016(NAN) The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika on Friday inaugurated two committees to provide general direction and steer the course of Public Private Partnership (PPP) project concessions in the Aviation Sector.

The minister in a statement issued by James Odaudu, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, inaugurated the committees on behave of the Federal Government in Abuja.

He said that the committees known as Project Steering Committee and Project Delivery Committee would kick start the concession process for the nation’s major airports.

According to him, the Federal Government’s resolve to concession the airports are for national interest in ensuring the establishment and sustenance of world class standards in both infrastructural development and service delivery.

Sirika said that the misconception about the concession was not to privatise the airports, noting that the property being concession still remained that of the Federal Government.

“The misgivings some people have expressed concerning the exercise was borne out of misconception that concession is synonymous with privatisation.

“The institutions being concessioned remain the property of the Federal Government which will generate more jobs at the end of the day.’’

According to him, members of the concession process should ensure that all their activities are in compliance with the guidelines of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

He said that the Project Delivery Committee should approve action plans, budgets, financial requests and serve as the final decision-making body on PPP, concession matters on air transport generally.

Sirika, however, charged members of the committees to be diligent and patriotic in the implementation of the decisions, as their success or failure would determine the fate of the whole process.

Mr Sabiu Zakari, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, responding on behalf of the two committees, pledged their commitment to the assignment, considering the importance attached to it by the Federal Government. (NAN)
TY/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

NAN-H-24
Bail
By Moronke Tinuola
Lagos, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court has admitted a 50-year-old prophet, Emmanuel Adeyemi, to bail in the sum of N500, 000 for allegedly chaining his step-son  and burying four corpses in his residence.

The Chief Magistrate,  Mrs Taiwo Akanni, who slammed the bail on Friday, ordered the accused to produce two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till Oct. 10 for mention.

Adeyemi who lives at No 16,Aderinola Olamiju Close, Unity Estate, Ojodu, a suburb of Lagos, was arraigned  for deprivation of liberty and unlawful burial in his residence.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rafael Donny, told the court that the offences were committed at the accused residence between July and August, 2016 and unspecified dates.

Donny said that the accused was arrested following information  that the accused chained a 16-year-old step -son in his residence.

The victim had been chained down for a month.

“On investigation, it was also discovered that the accused buried four different corpses in his residence without the permission of the Local Government,’’ he said.

The offences contravened sections 162(1) and 270 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. (NAN)
MTO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

LASG maps out plans for sustainable waste water management in Lagos

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Waste
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Sept. 9, 2016  (NAN) The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, has said that the state has mapped out plans to address challenges of waste water management.

Adejare made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.

According to him, the plan includes a five-year strategic infrastructure plan as well as sustainable sewage and sanitation strategy.

“The strategy is to ensure sustainable management of waste water in the state.

“’It has an infrastructural component of 10 new waste water treatment plants and the revamping of three existing ones in the five-year implementation period.

“It has also an aggressive infrastructural investment in waste water treatment facilities and development of waste water master plan.

“Environmental sustainability of waste water infrastructure and ensuring project sustainability and effective financial management will also be part of the strategy,’’ he said.

Adejare said that the institutional framework for the sustainable sewage and sanitation strategy would include enabling environment for public-private partnership.

He assured that it would be a holistic programme to waste water treatment and strengthening of appropriate local and international networks in capacity building for the sector.

The commissioner said that the five-year strategic plan would be developed in such a way that its goals and targets would be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.

He promised that the plan would improve the health standard of Lagos residents by ensuring that tenements and premises pass wastewater into the septic tank system. (NAN)
ACA/TA
Controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

Sensitisation
By Mamman Mohammed
Damaturu, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) The police in Yobe on Friday embarked on a campaign to sensitise the people of the state on early detection of suspicious objects and persons in their respective communities to improve security.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abdulmaliki Sumonu, during the campaign, urged the people to be conscious of persons and objects and assist the police with timely information.

Represented by Mr Smaila Solomon, the Spokesman of the police in the state, Sumonu said the campaign was to awaken the public in participating and policing the state.

According to the commissioner, features of suspects (terrorists) include nervousness, bulky clothing that is inappropriate for the weather and rigid mind.

“We are all stakeholders in securing the communities, we should not hide information; we should be very vigilant and conscious of our environment and to volunteer timely information to thwart crime in the society,’’ sumonu said.

He also urged the people to report abandoned bags, cars or trucks to security operatives for thorough investigation.

“I urge all of you to be extra vigilant always and, especially during the forthcoming Sallah festival,’’ he said, adding that arrangements had been made to secure lives and property during the period.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation took place at markets, motor parks and worship centres. (NAN)
MM/JEY/HA
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Edited by Johnson EyiaghoHadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Eid el-Kabir: NSCDC deploy 5,000 personnel in Kaduna

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Deployment

By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command, said on Friday that it would deploy 5,000 personnel to strategic public places in the state during the Eid el-Kabir.

The Acting State Commandant of the corps, Mr Ilelaboye Oyejide, said in a press statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] in Kaduna that the personnel had been briefed to promptly respond to any security threat.

According to the statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Mr Orndiir Terzungwe, the armed and unarmed operatives would provide water- tight security across the state during the Sallah holiday.

“We urge residents of the state and member of the public to ensure high degree of alertness before, during and after this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

“As we are aware, statutorily, safety and security of lives and property is the responsibility of security agencies, NSCDC inclusive.

“But I call on everyone to consider it as a collective duty by reporting suspected life threatening acts, gatherings and persons to security agencies for appropriate attention.

“I implore Muslim faithful who will troop out on Eid day to be vigilant at Eid prayer grounds.

“We caution members of the public who may visit recreational facilities about enemies of humanity who may wish to thwart the prevailing peace efforts to cause harm.”

The commandant called sustained cooperation from the general public to track down criminal elements in the society. (NAN)

TJ/MZA/NKO

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[Edited By Maharazu Ahmed/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

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Deployment
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday said it deployed 1,583 personnel to boost security at prayer grounds, public places and streets in Yobe for the Eid el-Kabir celebration.

The Corps Commandant in Yobe, Dr Mohammed Fari, disclosed this in Damaturu in interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said adequate surviellance and other security measures have been put in place to ensure security of lives and property during the Sallah festivities.

The commandant called on the public to be vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements and objects in their communities to security agencies.

He added that “we are working in collaboration with other sister security agencies and the army to ensure a hitch-free Sallah across the state.”

Fari urged people who relocated to liberated communities to celebrate the festival freely as security operatives were in full control of the environment.

He said “Community participation has become an integral part of the fight against crime; it is a collective responsibility on security forces, the civil communities and the entire society to defeat insecurity in our societies.

“Everyone has a role to play from surveillance to providing useful information for us to achieve enduring peace and security.”

He noted that the command recently toured the  17 local government areas of the state to sensitise the communities on their roles toward
entrenching lasting and stable peace in the state. (NAN)
MM/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)