Blog

2019 : Ebonyi APC to pick candidates through  consensus

Consensus

By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi says it will pick candidates for the 2019 general elections through consensus, as the approach “best suits the state’s peculiarities.’’

This was the resolution reached after an emergency State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting, held on Wednesday night in Abakaliki, with APC leaders, including past members of the national and state assemblies in attendance.

Chairman of APC in Ebonyi, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, who addressed stakeholders, said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had given the state chapters the latitude to choose among consensus, indirect or direct primaries to conduct their primaries.

“We are here today following a directive from our national secretariat, which has mandated all state chapters of the party to meet and adopt the mode of party primaries suitable for them in line with their own preponderance peculiarities.

“We are going to report back to the national secretariat on whatever system or method we decide to adopt in this very crucial meeting,” he  said.

Nwachukwu explained that the security challenges in the state and alleged sponsored attacks on party faithful by rival political thugs would not allow the party to go for direct primaries.

He added that the party would not be able to grapple with the challenges posed by direct primaries, even though it gives equal opportunity to all registered and card carrying party members to participate in selecting flag bearers.

Members at the meeting, in a unanimous decision, voted in favour of consensus method as first option for the selection of party’s flag bearers for all elective positions in the 2019 general elections.

They also voted to adopt indirect primaries where consensus arrangement failed to produce consensus candidate. (NAN)

ODO/KTO/OU

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Obike Ukoh

==============================

Operation

By Doris Esa

Abuja,Sept.6,2018(NAN) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) has commenced ” OPERATION THUNDER STRIKE 2″ against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, and has recorded successful strikes against the insurgents.

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

” The Operation, which commenced on Sept.3, is an independent Air Interdiction Operation targeting selected Boko Haram terrorists’ locations within the fringes of Lake Chad and Sambisa forest in Borno.

” This is with a view to further degrading the remnants of the insurgents, curtailing their freedom of action and denying them bases from which they could launch attacks against our ground troops’ locations.

” On Day Two of the Operation, Sept.4, air strikes by NAF aircraft resulted in the destruction of Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts and neutralisation of scores of insurgents at three locations namely; Tumbun Rego, Sabon Tumbun and Tumbun Allura, all on the fringes of the Lake Chad.

” Tumbun Rego, which is located at about 140Km Northeast of Maiduguri, has been identified as a major logistics/communications base and staging area for the insurgents.

” Accordingly, the ATF detailed F-7Ni and Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the identified Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics/communications hubs,” Daramola said.

He said that the identified hubs were subsequently destroyed by the strikes, adding that a number of solar panels were spotted and destroyed during the attack.

He explained that the attack on Sabon Tumbun was undertaken based on Human Intelligence reports, which were later confirmed following several days of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, indicating that the settlement was a Boko Haram terrorists’ tactical operations base.

The NAF spokesman said that the settlement also had some equipment and vehicles cleverly concealed under thick foliage.

” Accordingly, the settlement was attacked in successive waves of strikes by Alpha Jet, F-7Ni and Mi-35M Helicopter Gunships, leading to the destruction of Boko Haram terrorists facilities, equipment and structures in the settlement as well as the neutralisation of several insurgents.

He said that Tumbun Allura, another major operations base of the insurgents on the fringes of the Lake Chad, was attacked by Alpha Jet and F-7Ni aircraft.

” Overhead the area of interest, several of the terrorists were observed and the objective attacked leading to the complete destruction of one of the specific target buildings under a tree.

” Many of the fleeing insurgents were also mopped up by subsequent follow-on attacks.

” Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, was still in Maiduguri, where he had gone to motivate the frontline personnel while also obtaining first-hand information on the progress of the operation,” Daramola said.(NAN)

ORD/MO/AMY

Edited by Omolade Michael and Abdullahi Yusuf

Commendation
Daura (Katsina State), Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar, has commended the management of Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for prompt response to emergency situations in some communities in the state .

Farouk made the commendation in Daura on Thursday when he received officials of the agency led by its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Haruna Rigoji, who were in the area to assess the recent flood ravaged communities.

The monarch described activities of the agency in the last three years, especially in addressing emergency situations and settlement of displaced persons, as commendable considering the succour it had provided to victims of emergencies.

He described the recent flood in parts of Daura and Baure local government areas as disastrous and called on the people to be cautious of erecting structures on water ways as well as ensure regular sanitation of their environment.

Farouk also lauded the prompt intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for delivering adequate relief materials to the victims of flood in Jibia and Chiranci local government areas.

He advised victims of emergencies to continue to cooperate with the state and federal relief agencies with a view to benefitting from their assistance.

Earlier in his remarks, Rigoji, said that the agency would soon commence distribution of relief materials to victims of flood in Daura and Baure local government areas.

He said a comprehensive list of 560 victims in the affected local government areas had been compiled according to the number of households and buildings that were affected and the degree of the damaged suffered.
“We have 315 victims in Daura and 260 in Baure and we will soon attend to them,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Daura and Baure local government areas in Katsina state were recently affected by flood in which four people lost their lives. (NAN)
BKD/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

Lagos Water Corporation records 330MGD deficit – Official

Water

By Chidinma Agu

Lagos, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Mr Muminu Badmus, on Thursday, said the State recorded 330 Million Gallon Daily (MGD) water deficit between January and August.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Badmus said water demand in the state had risen to about 570 MGD due to the increase in the population of the state.

”Out of this volume of water need of Lagosians, the Corporation can only boast of 220 MGD.

”To bridge this water gap, the Corporation is looking at shifting to Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide the needed water infrastructure in the State.

”The global attention now is on this PPP arrangement since government cannot cover its provision of potable water responsibility to the people with little resources at its disposal,” he said.

Badmu said the PPP arrangement would ensure the injection of both public and private funds and expertise to drive the provision of potable water to exceed the recorded 220 MGD.

He said residents of the state would have cause to rejoice soon with the ongoing process meant to provide an enduring solution to their water need.

Badmus said to achieve this, the Corporation needed the full support of the residents, stressing, “Once the water infrastructure is on ground, the distribution of water to households would no more be a problem.’’

The Managing Director said the PPP targeted new waterworks stations, laying of reticulation pipes in areas yet to be connected to the public mains.

He said the upgrading of facilities in areas already connected to public mains was ongoing, and that the Corporation had also connected some areas previously cut off from its supply.

Badmus urged residents to feel free to approach its regional offices for assistance with their water needs and new connections.

He also appealed to residents to ensure prompt payment of their water bills to facilitate effective service delivery as well as report any burst pipes to the Corporation for immediate repairs. (NAN)

ACA/AOS/SA

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Salif Atojoko

===========================

GSM
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria’s largest GSM operators: Glo, 9Mobile, Airtel & MTN Nigeria are to expand financial inclusion to 90 million Nigerians by 2020.

Mr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) made this known in Lagos on Thursday.

According to him, the operators came together recently to clearly articulate their commitment to deepening financial inclusion and providing Nigerians with access to a range of affordable financial services.

He said that the operators equally called for a level-playing field for mobile network operators to be allowed to participate fully in the Mobile Money industry.

Adebayo listed the commitment of the industry to include materially-improved financial inclusion rates and to deliver access to financial services to 90 million customers over the next 30 months.

He said that by the sixth month, the Telco’s planned to bring access to financial services to 15 million customers, serviced by 100,000 agents.

Adebayo said that by the 12th month, the operators would bring access to financial services to 35 million Nigerians serviced by 250,000 agents.

According to him, by the 24th month, we will bring access to financial services to 70 million Nigerians, serviced by 600,000 agents.

He added that by the 30th month deadline, the mobile network operators would be committed to bringing access to financial services to 90 million customers, also serviced by 600,000 agents.

Adebayo said that following the issuance of Nigeria’s first mobile money licences in 2009, the journey toward financial inclusion had been slow, as current financial exclusion level stood at over 40 per cent.

“There is a significant gap to be covered in order to meet Nigeria’s target of 20 per cent financial exclusion by 2020.

“In Nigeria, Telco’s are excluded from accessing mobile money licences directly under current guidelines, while in most sub-saharan African markets where mobile money is successful, Telco’s are given a level-playing field,’’ he said in a statement.

Adebayo said: “According to Mckinsey, as a direct result of increasing financial inclusion rates, Nigeria could realise as much as a 12.4 per cent boost in Gross Domestic Product.’’

He said that this would lead to creation of three million new jobs; $2 billion reduction in government leakages and $57 billion new credits for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises over a four-year period.

“The Telco’s proposed intervention will not only give customers access to a variety of affordable financial products and services, but also deliver 1 million direct jobs in addition to other benefits identified by the McKinsey Report.’’

Adebayo noted that opening up the Digital Financial Services sector could be the basis for transformative change in the structure and sustainability of growth in the Nigerian economy.

“We acknowledge the concrete commitments the industry has made toward delivering access to financial services today as well as the commitment to financial literacy which while vital, cannot happen in isolation of the Telco’s.

“The telecommunications industry recognises that with an issue as critical as financial inclusion, it is important to focus on sustainable solutions and this requires inclusivity and collaboration of varied solutions providers in order to achieve real results.

“The telecommunications industry has the capabilities, technology, infrastructure, distribution network and subscriber base that can quickly be leveraged to provide these solutions.

“According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry has a reach of 86 per cent of the country, with 162.3 million customers (the single largest customer base of any industry in Nigeria).

“The industry players have combined presence in 773 local government areas across the country; further emphasising their ability to reach especially hard-to -reach areas of the country in a bid to deepen access to financial services,’’ he said.

Adebayo said that there were 1 million agents already in place selling airtime across the country, creating a strong distribution network that could quickly be converted to established mobile money agent networks.

Mrs Yinka David-West, the Academic Director and Senior Fellow at Lagos Business School, who facilitated the meeting, said the country needed to work to increase the number of financially included persons.

David-West said that there was the need to also increase the quality of inclusion and access given.

She said that the work was essential in order to positively impact the economy and the quality of lives of Nigerians in any meaningful way.

David-West suggested access to a full suite of quality financial services, provided at affordable prices, in a convenient manner. (NAN)
CAN/AJA
========
Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Nominations

By Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State said on Thursday that its decision to elect its candidates for the 2019 general elections through direct primaries had not changed.

The Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Abiodun Salami, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He was reacting to the resolutions of Wednesday’s meetings in some states, where some chapters of the party opted to use direct primary, while others agreed on indirect primary.

NAN reports that chapters in Ondo State, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) adopted the indirect primary at the end their meetings.

Kano state chapter, however, adopted the direct primary system, while Ogun and Kebbi chapters opted for selection by consensus.

NAN reports that the national leadership of the party had earlier adopted the direct system for use in its upcoming presidential primary.

Salami said the Lagos State chapter had agreed on the direct primary at its recent stakeholders’  meeting, adding that the resolution had not been rescinded.

“We recently had our stakeholders’  meeting which had in attendance our leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other party leaders and members, and we agreed on direct primary.

“We have also had subsequent meetings and we have upheld the use of the system. So ,our position has not changed.

“We are committed to internal democracy and we believe the direct primary would ensure transparency in the selection of our candidates,” he said.

Salami, however, urged all members to register to get their party membership cards, saying the possession of the card  would make them eligible to participate in the primary elections.

He said the chapter was stepping up its preparations for the primary elections, giving assurance  that the exercise would not fail.(NAN)

BHB/OSA/SOA

============

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Oluwole Sogunle

Anti-graft war: Okei-Odumakin seeks support for EFCC

Support
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Movement Against Corruption (MAC), a coalition of civil society groups, on Thursday called on Nigerians to give the necessary support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fight against corruption.

The Steering Committee Chairman of the movement, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Okei-Odumakin said the anti-corruption war would be more effective if citizens gave the EFCC the needed cooperation in its assignment.

She urged Nigerians to always volunteer information to expose perpetrators of corruption, as it would enable the commission to act on such people.

“Nigerians should support the EFCC by volunteering information and exposing perpetrators, especially in our public institutions.

“Also, citizens can support the anti-graft war by educating themselves against corrupt practices through the various faith-based organisations.

“Family and peer groups can also impact positively on the moral regeneration of the society, thereby drastically reducing the menace of corruption,’’ she said.

Okei-Odumakin said the anti-corruption war should be citizen-driven to yield the desired results.

She urged the EFCC and other security agencies to see the need to constantly engage stakeholders and enlist the support of all Nigerians to strengthen the war.

“The advocacy against corruption should be citizen-driven, by so doing; perpetrators will begin to see it as a war not only between them and the EFCC.

“They will see that it is also between them and Nigerians who are often the real owners of the commonwealth that is being stolen,’’ she said.

Okei-Odumakin said MAC was birthed out of the need for civil societies to come together to fight corruption collectively.

He said the movement would continue to partner the EFCC on advocacy and citizens’ education on the dangers of corruption to development.

The movement chairman said she did not share the sentiments in some quarters that the anti-corruption war as being fought by the EFCC was selective or politically-motivated.

While noting that people had the right to their own views, she said majority of those being fingered for corruption actually had questions to answer.

Okei-Odumakin said the EFCC had acquitted itself remarkably in its assignment so far, but much needed to be done to win the anti-corruption war.

“While we may respect the right of such persons to their opinions, it is important to say that the fight has been holistic, even though we, as a country, haven’t been able to get to our desired end in eradicating corruption.

“It is also not enough to say that majority of these cases of corruption, especially those being prosecuted by the EFCC, are politically-motivated.

“It is public knowledge that several of these people genuinely have one corruption-related issue or the other associated with the EFCC,’’ Okei-Odumakin said. (NAN)
BHB/COF/SOA
=============
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Oluwole Sogunle

Festival
By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept.  6, 2018 (NAN) Ahead of the Olojo Festival, the  Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on the Yoruba to uphold their  cultural heritage.

Ogunwusi made the call in his palace in Ile-Ife while addressing newsmen as part of programmes to herald the festival.

“We are not idol worshippers, but we are using the celebration of the festival to acknowledge  and give due honour to all our deities that have contributed immensely to human existence.

” Olojo festival symbolises celebrating the first day of creation and the beginning of existence in Ile-Ife, being the cradle of the human race.

“The word “Olojo” implies reference to Olodumare, the creator and the owner of the day,  and that is why Olojo festival is being celebrated in Ife kingdom, the cradle of  the Yoruba,’’ the monarch said.

He said  Christians  and Muslims celebrate  Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed in due times, adding that this was also applicable to traditional worshippers.

Ogunwusi  also solicited the support of Nigerians in celebrating the festival.

“All forces of nature such as rain, sun and water among others will interact for the betterment of the day and humanity.

” We all believe  and worship one God in diverse ways, Olojo festival is a day that God specially answers prayer not for Ife indigenes alone, but for all and sundry,’’ he stated.

Ogunwusi also commended the corporate sponsors of the festival.

Earlier, the Secretary of the Olojo Festival Advisory Committee, Olugbenga Omiwole, had lauded the Ooni for uplifting the pillars of Yoruba tradition and cultural heritage.

Omiwole said Ogunwusi had  performed beyond expectation in filling the loopholes of tradition and culture among the Yoruba.

“The work of creation of Olodumare in the creation of the world was ordered through the existential reality of time which consists of morning, afternoon and night.

” It is through this order that the work of creation progressed to establish  the world we live in today.

” It is common knowledge that science and religion corroborated the  fact of the story of the  Bible and Qur’an respectively on the creation of universe.

” Ile-Ife is the land of expansion and the spot where creation began.

“This led to celebrating the first day of creation annually and the essence of  the celebration is to commemorate the beginning of creation,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the festival would begin with the Gbajure Cultural Carnival on Sept. 18 while the grand finale would hold on Sept. 30 with the Ooni wearing the Are crown.

The closing ceremony would hold on  Oct. 1 with traditional trade and exhibitions. (NAN)
EDA/OJO
========
(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NDDC condoles with Rivers Govt. over Attorney-General’s death

Condolence
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has condoled with Rivers Government over the death of its Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Emmanuel Aguma.

Aguma died in a London hospital on Aug. 10 after battling undisclosed illness for weeks.

Ndoma-Egba spoke when he led NDDC’s Board and Management on a condolence visit to Gov. Nyesom Wike, a statement by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, said in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The NDDC chairman described the late attorney-general as a true professional who contributed immensely to the development of the Niger Delta.

“The late attorney-general was not just a friend but he was a brother and a professional to the core who had very deep insight.

“The passing on of Aguma is not just a loss to Rivers state; it is a loss to the Niger Delta region because, he (Aguma), was an outstanding legal professional from the region.

Ndoma-Egba told Wike that NDDC management and staff are citizens of the state due to the fact that commission’s is headquarters is in Port Harcourt.

“As a commission, we have come to formally register our condolences to you (Wike), the immediate family of Aguma and to the people of Rivers State.

“We pray that having done his (Aguma) bit on this side of existence, he will find eternal rest in the bosom of his maker.”

Ndoma-Egba said the absence of the late commissioner for justice did not go unnoticed during a meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that held in Port Harcourt a few weeks ago.

He said the absence of the deceased legal luminary was uncharacteristic of his person being a passionate and very active member of the association.

Responding, Wike noted that Aguma’s death was a big loss to the people of the region, describing him as a committed, loyal and intelligent lawyer.

“We thank God for the quality of life that Aguma lived while on earth. We thank NDDC for the condolence visit and urge the commission to participate in his funeral.

“The government and people of Rivers State will honour the late attorney-general by giving him a State Burial as his contributions were greater than his age,” wike said.

The statement said that other board members at the meeting included the NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere and the Executive Director Projects, Dr Samuel Adjobe, among others. (NAN)
DES/NKO
=======
Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

====

08036694557

Atiku to partner Gov. Dickson on Cancer Foundation

Cancer
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has bemoaned the prevalent cases of cancer in the country and pledged to partner Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on the establishment of a cancer centre in the state.

Abubakar made the pledge in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday Yenagoa shortly after his condolence visit to Dickson’s family in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area.

Abubakar, who is one of the presidential aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described Dickson’s initiative as commendable.

He stressed that the foundation, when fully launched, would measure help cancer patients since early detection is critical to its treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the cancer foundation was established in honour of Dickson’s mother, Mrs Goldcoast who died on Aug. 8 aged 72.

“The cancer centre is an extremely commendable initiative. I assure the governor that I will also join him in this cancer centre development because at the same time that he lost his mother, I also lost my sister-in-law to cancer. So, you can see that cancer has become very common in Nigeria.

“You know the best way to treat cancer is to see how we can prevent it by detecting it in time. And I want to be part of that initiative,” Abubakar said.

Responding, Dickson said that the cancer advocacy was initiated by to honour his mother.

“Since the passing of my mother, Mrs Goldcoast Dickson, my family has become campaigners against cancer.

“One of the decisions that we have taken as a family is to talk to well-meaning people like you and others to see how we can mobilise support for the establishment of a cancer centre in her name.

“We don’t want it to be government-driven but any government can make donations to it.

“It will be affiliated to tertiary institutions and will be maintained by the Henry Seriake Foundation,” the governor said. (NAN)
OOC/NKO
========

Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo