Blog

Sensitisation
By Lilian Okoro
Lagos, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA)  has embarked on public sensitisation to inform residents that all buildings in the state must have valid building approval plan.

Mr Olalekan Shodehinde, the General Manager, LASBCA, made this known at a sensitisation through the Lagos metropolis of Yaba, Tejuosho and Oyingbo area of the state.

Shodehinde said that almost all the structures within the area which were initially for residential purposes had been converted to commercial purposes without requisite approval plan or due regularisation with the agency.

According to him, a total of 145 converted buildings were identified and served with the planning permit and post construction notices.

He said that a 14-day ultimatum had been given to the owners of the affected buildings to visit LABSCA district offices to do their   regularisation.

“Virtually all buildings within this axis are initially for residential purposes, but have now been converted to commercial purposes without approval of the agency.

“Many of structures do not have approval plan even at the inception of the buildings before their conversion, which implies they are illegal buildings from the beginning.

“Regularising the buildings on or before the 14 days grace will attract no penalty. But at expiration of the duration, LABSCA will come to completely seal the buildings,” Shodehinde said.

He, therefore, urged every owner/developer within the area, whose property was not covered by a planning permit, to regularise the property with the agency.

According to him, the regularisation and validation of buildings are necessary to avoid disruption of trading activities by the agency due to lack of building plan approval.

He added that the exercise was being carried out to curb the incidence of building collapse in the state, saying that government would not fold its arms and allow loss of lives and destruction of property.

Contributing, Mr Funmi Osifuye, the General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA), expressed optimism that most occupants of the served structures would comply with the notices.

Osifuye said that many of the tenants received the notice letter with excitement, promising to deliver the information to the landlords of the buildings.

“The sensitisation and Post Construction Audit of all existing structures in the state will continue until full compliance is achieved.

“The essence is to match-up with necessary infrastructure development to achieve a sustainable and well-planned environment,” he said. (NAN)
LUC/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Interests

By Ariwodola Idowu

Ado Ekiti, Sept. 05, 2018, (NAN) No fewer than 259 aspirants have so far declared their interests in Senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats, in the forthcoming 2019 general elections in Ekiti.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prospective candidates would contest for the three senatorial seats, six House of Representatives’ seats and 26 seats in  the State House of Assembly come 2019.

NAN observes that no fewer than 40 persons are currently seeking the nod of their various political parties for the national and state assembly seats from the five most visible parties in the state.

The number of aspirants is expected to increase as the build-up to the 2019 polls continues to gather momentum.

The prominent parties in the state are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), MEGA Party, Accord Party (AP) and the Peoples Party of Nigeria, (PPN).

Many of the aspirants under the platforms of the parties had already flooded Ado Ekiti and other major towns of Ikole-Ekiti; Ikere-Ekiti; Ijero-Ekiti; Emure-Ekiti; and Ifaki-Ekiti, with their campaign billboards, handbills and posters.

The aspirants include: Senators Fatimat Raji-Rasaki, Biodun Olujimi, Ayo Arise and Olubunmi Adetumbi.

Also, the former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), Mr. Obafemi Adewale and a former member of the House of Representatives,  Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele had indicated their interests.

Others are the former chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Mr Tai Oguntayo; a former Chief of Staff in the state, Chief Yemi Adaramodu; and the former Special Adviser on Documentation in the state, Hakeem Jamiu.

The list also include: Dr Segun Osinkolu, Mr. Demola Oladaiye and Mr  Abayomi Lostay, among others.

Opeyemi Bamidele who was a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, told NAN that he was in the senatorial race.

He said that this was because the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District considered him worthy of the office.

Also, Sen. Ayo Arise said he was the best for the job of representing the people of Ekiti North Senatorial District, considering his previous experience in the senate, business background and track record.

Also, Tai Oguntayo, the former NUJ chairman, who is at present the chairman of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), said that he planned to bring his vast experience in unionism and public service into the legislative chamber in the state assembly.

Oguntayo was also a former Secretary to Ekiti West Local Government.

The chairman of PPN in the state, Chief Dare Adekolu, confirmed to NAN that many of his patyu members were, indeed, interested in one elective post or the other.

According to him, the party has no problems with the number of aspirants, saying it shows how democratic a party can be in accommodating all shades of opinions and aspirations.

Adekolu said the INEC had directed that the political parties must conduct their primaries between September and October.

He said the outcome of such primaries would determine who would become the flag bearers of the various parties during the 2019 general elections.

NAN reports that the parties in the state had kept the names of their presidential aspirants close to their chests.

However, the state governorship election was concluded on July 14 with the emergence of Dr John Kayode Fayemi as the governor-elect.(NAN)

ARIS/KTO/PAD

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/ Peter Dada

Medicine
Lokoja, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has been urged to protect nobility of the medical profession by purging out quacks within its rank.

Dr Haruna Saka-Audu, Kogi State Commissioner for Health, made the assertion on Wednesday in Lokoja.

Saka-Audu made the declaration at the 2018 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the MDCAN, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja chapter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of 2018 meeting and conference is: “Building a Strong Culture of Professionalism among Medical Professionals.’’

He said that the infiltration of quacks into medical profession had become a threat to public health.

Saka-Audu said that there was no way the association could exonerate itself from the many problems now bedeviling the health sector.

According to him, the association is in a better position than government to tackle the menace, urging its leadership across the country to rise up to the challenge.

He praised the consultants for their various contributions to the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of the state.

The commissioner said that the state was ready to take the collaboration with them to a higher level.

He said government had initiated discussion with board and management of the Federal Medical Centre on the need to upgrade it to a teaching hospital for the benefit of people.

Saka-Audu said that the government would continue to look forward to advice and suggestions on how to improve the healthcare delivery to the people, especially rural dwellers.

Speaking as the guest lecturer, Dr Christopher Uyinmwen, identified trust as the key and most critical factor in the practice of medicine.

Uyinmwen, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, urged consultants to always bring their expertise to bear in their practice and also uphold standards.

He urged his colleagues to always display a sense of responsibility, reliability and show respect for and another and patients in the course of discharging their duties.

Uyinmwen advised them to be mindful of their conducts outside their professional circle and improve upon their knowledge and technical skills.

He advised the doctors against turning themselves to `demigods’, asking them to always show compassion to those suffering pains and hardship.

Uyinmwen called for right investment in the health sector for doctors to achieve professionalism, saying that adequate equipment and manpower, infrastructure, training and retraining must be made available to enhance practice.

In his remarks, Dr Ayodeji Ogunmola, the Chairman of MDCAN, FMC Lokoja chapter, said that the association would not hesitate to flush out bad eggs within its ranks once they were discovered.

Ogunmola said that the lecture was part of efforts being made to improve the relationship between doctors and patients, adding that it was also meant to update the knowledge of doctors. (NAN)
KKA/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Active mobile lines decrease to 161.4m in July – NCC
Lines
By Constance Imasuen
Abuja, Sept 05, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said active mobile telephone lines in Nigeria decreased to 161.4 million in July.
It said in its monthly subscriber’s operator data posted on its website on Wednesday that the active mobile lines at the end of July decreased to 161.42 million from the 162.30 million in June.
NCC said with 161.42 million lines recorded in July and 162.30 million in June, the lines decreased by 881,586.
Also the Mobile Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for active mobile lines in July was 125,444 as against 217,566 in June, a decrease of 92,122.
The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines in July was 140,582 compared to June, which had 140,627 lines, indicating a decrease of 45 lines.
According to NCC, the number of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) was 101,131 in July compared with 97,941 recorded in June, recording an increase of 3,190.
It also revealed that Teledensity reduced by 0.69 in July to 115.57 as against 116.26 in June.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country.
NCC also said the number of connected lines in July stood at 238.21 million as against 239.33 million in June, a decrease of 1.12 million.
The CDMA for connected lines for July was 246,126 as against 3.58 million in June, a decrease of 3.33 million, the subscribers’ data revealed.
The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in July was 350,998 compared to June that had 350,644, an increase of 354 lines.
It also showed that the number of VOIP for connected lines in July was 667,763 as against 642,734 in June rising by 25,029 lines. (NAN)
ARA/COA/SA

CHOM/SA
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Salif Atojoko
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No hiding place for defecting politicians – EFCC

EFCC

By Wale Ojetimi

Lagos, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, says politicians defecting from one party to another would not be shielded from prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

Speaking during a parley with editors in Lagos on Wednesday, Magu said there is no hiding place for such politicians in the fight against corruption by EFCC.

“The fact that a politician jumps from one party to another will not stop EFCC investigation; we don’t stop investigation until it is concluded.

“It is only the courts that have the powers to decide on whether to exonerate or convict any indicted politician,” said the EFCC chairman.

Responding to alleged interference by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Magu said that he had never received any instruction to stop any investigation.

“I am not the type you’ll ask to stop any investigation”, Magu said.

The EFCC chairman said it had become fashionable for anyone being investigated for corruption by the Commission to scream political persecution.

“With the general elections fast approaching, the resistance has assumed even frightening dimension with political motives imputed to most of our activities,” he said.

According to Magu, the media owes Nigeria a duty not to allow the corrupt to deploy their ill-gotten riches to corner the machinery of government.

The EFCC chief, therefore, urged the media not to lend their platforms to helping the cause of the corrupt that were shedding crocodile tears.

“We must all do what is right for our country, which is ensuring that those who steal our common patrimony are brought to justice,” Magu said.

According to him, the EFCC has so far revealed only about 10 per cent of the monumental corruption perpetrated in the past and urged all security agencies to prioritize anti-graft fight.

“You have not seen anything yet, we have not even touched 10 per cent of corruption perpetrated in the past,” he said.

The EFCC boss said banks needed to strengthen internal control and urged the Central Bank to re-appraise regulatory and ethical conduct of banks in order to win the fight against corruption.

According to him, EFCC has signed memorandums of understanding with the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius in its efforts to recover looted assets.

He expressed concern at the state of seized assets which were rotting away at various locations across the country.

On assets recovery, Magu said EFCC had recovered a total of N106.5 billion, $1.63 million, 629,000 British Pounds and 25,575 Euros this year.

He expressed the hope that EFCC would surpass the record of 189 convictions achieved in 2017, going by over 158 convictions secured between January and August this year. (NAN)

WOJ

Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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Jigawa: Sugarcane farmers want subsidy on farm inputs

Sugarcane
By Nabilu Balarabe
Kirikasamma (Jigawa), Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) Some sugarcane farmers at Madaci town in Jigawa on Wednesday appealed to governments at all levels to subsidise farm inputs used in cultivating  sugarcane.

The farmers made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Madaci, Kirikasamma Local Government Area of the state.

They said subsiding fertilizer, pesticides, improved seeds and irrigation equipment, among others, would boost sugarcane production and increase income of farmers.

“We are appealing to governments for subsidy on fertiliser, pesticides and improved seeds, among others; if we can get these at affordable prices, I assure you our production will be increased.

“Last year, because of the scarcity  of fertiliser, we harvested only between between 55 and 60 bunches of sugarcane each; we  can double that figure if there is subsidy.

“Another problem is that we are far away from the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin, which is the major source of irrigation water in this area,” said Abdullahi Aliyu, one of the farmers.

Another farmer, Inuwa Adamu, observed that governments at all levels had always shown bias towards rice farming, thereby neglecting other critical cash crops such as sugarcane.

“We observe with concern that governments are investing heavily in rice farming to the detriment of other crops;  so we are urging them to also give sugarcane farming the desired attention because it is a money- spinner.

“It is on the news that Nigeria imports over one million metric tones of sugar annually; we can invest more on local production so that we can improve our economy,” he said.

Also speaking on the issue, another sugarcane farmer, Habibu Adamu, said the entire eight local government councils in Hadejia zone of Jigawa had huge potentialities for sugarcane farming.

‘With the necessary support, the bulk of the sugar demand in the country can be produced here,” they said.

Bello Mohammed, another farmer, concurred with Adamu and urged the authorities concerned to encourage the harnessing of resources available in the state.

However, the Council’s Secretary of Kirkasama Council,, Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf, said sugarcane farmers in the area were also being assisted.

“Just three months ago, some officials of Jigawa Agricultural Development Agency (JADA) visited and interacted with sugarcane farmers on how best to support them.

“But the farmers are largely to be blamed for their predicament because of their failure to form cooperatives to benefit from various intervention programmes, even as we have been educating them on the need to do so.

“Governments at all levels, including development partners, no longer deal with farmers individually, but as cooperatives or groups.

“This is because recovering loans and facilities are easier from cooperatives than from individuals.

“Nonetheless, we will continue to sensitise them. Hopefully, they will understand,” he said. (NAN)
NB/MOL/ASH
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi
======================

Robbers

By Moses Omorogieva and Mateen Badru

Lagos, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) The police in Lagos on Wednesday said they had intercepted a five-man robbery gang, including two dismissed military men and recovered goods worth N13.2million from the gang.

The suspects who specialise in intercepting and diverting lorries laden with goods were arrested on Tuesday at 8 p.m. while driving a truck with registration number LSR 266 XW.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal, confirmed the arrest to newsmen, when he paraded the suspects and others at the headquarters of the state police command.

“On the aforementioned date and at about 8p.m., a gang of five-man highway robbers hijacked a Sterling truck with registration No. LSR-266-XW along the Lekki=Epe Expressway.

“The truck was laden with groundnut oil valued at N13.2 million.

“They stopped the Kano State-bound truck close to Ijebu- Ode and pushed the driver and his conductor out of the vehicle.

“However, as the duo were trekking toward Epe, they came across a policeman and narrated their ordeal to him.

“The policeman immediately contacted some of the police stations along the route taken by the robbers.

“At about 10:30 p.m., some policemen on stop-and- search saw the truck coming and intercepted it. In the process, two suspects were arrested.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that a fake soldier, a dismissed soldier and a dismissed Air Force personnel were part of the gang that hijacked the truck.

“The truck and the goods inside it were intact when the vehicle was recovered by the police, while the suspects were also identified by the victims.

Edgal said that the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation by the police.(NAN)

BOM /MIO /PAD

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Edited by Peter Dada

Achievements
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), on Wednesday warned against discrediting the achievements recorded by public establishments under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Mr Solomon Adodo, President of the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and 17 other civil society groups, gave the warning in a statement in Abuja.

The group urged Buhari ”not to be swayed by rumour peddlers who had taken to blackmail, in a desperate move to earn an indecent living while subtly derailing the wheels of governance and development.”

They particularly expressed worry over what they called ”the tirade of misinformation being bandied against the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

”Such acts are tantamount to derailing the development of the society and ultimately targeted at discrediting the achievements recorded by public establishments under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration

”This is contrary to the claim in some quarters that the commission had only executed pseudo projects. Every state in the region has had its fair share of NDDC infrastructural projects dotted to the credit of NDDC,“ the group said.

The group explained that it became necessary to raise the alarm after carrying out due diligence on unsubstantiated petitions written against the management of NDDC and decried ”malicious campaign” against the agency.

They lauded the Managing Director of the NDDC, Mr Nsima Ekere, for restructuring the commission for effective intervention.

This, they said, had resulted to massive execution of projects for the benefit of the region and Nigeria in general.

According to the group, Mr Ekere has taken up the responsibility to drive the Federal Government change agenda to enhance speedy development and restore peace in the Delta region.

”After carrying out due diligence on the activities of the commission under Mr Nsima Ekere, following series of petition we received, our findings showed that NDDC has indeed done well,“ they  said.

According to them, the commission’s feat was in consonance with its mandate and the resources available to it.

”The impact has been felt most by the people, in terms of road construction and intervention in primary and secondary school classroom renovation, provision of educational materials, street lighting, agricultural development among other things.

“The impact also resulted in increased jobs creation and productivity in the region.“

The group further called on the elite in the region to align with the vision of the agency in ensuring a better Niger Delta that guaranteesd quality of life for all.

Among other 17 CSOs that signed the statement are: Guardians of Democracy and Development; Independent Public Service Watch and Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative. (NAN)
TOA/AMM/DUA
Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Dada Ahmed

My father would have done more for democracy — Fawehinmi’s son

Fawehinmi

By Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Sept. 5, 2018 (NAN) Mr Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to do all possible to preserve the nation’s maturing democracy and defend the rule of law.

Mohammed gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He was speaking with NAN on the family’s plan to commemorate the death of their patriarch, nine years after his demise.

NAN reports that Gani Fawehinmi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who stood against injustice in his days, died on Sept. 5, 2009 at 71.

Gani, who also delved into politics, was in and out of prison for standing against injustice, especially during the military era, and offered free legal services in many cases to defend the poor and oppressed.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, as part of the June 12 celebration this year, conferred a post-humus Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger(GCON) award on the late Fawehinmi.

The son of the late fiery lawyer told NAN that democracy guaranteed freedoms and good governance, and urged Nigerians to shun acts that could truncate it.

He said his father was a firm believer in democracy as the best form of government, hence his many struggles to strengthen democratic structures.

According to him, the late Fawehinmi also did a lot to defend the rights of Nigerians, especially the less privileged.

Mohammed said that but for death, his late father would have done much more to strengthen democracy.

“We should all do our bits to defend democracy and rule of law. It is the responsibility of everyone.

“My father was a believer of democracy who championed many democratic causes, including confronting the military.

“He would have done more to promote democracy and rule of law if not for death.

“We should all learn from his life and times and do our best to strengthen democratic structures,” he said.

Mohammed urged leaders to put the people first and render diligent service to the people.

He said many of the nation’s challenges would be addressed if leaders delivered impactful governance.

Mohammed condemned the practice of vote buying in elections, saying it showed desperation on the part of politicians.

He urged the electorate not to conspire with politicians to undermine democracy, but to vote according to their conscience.

On the commemoration of the death of their patriarch, Mohammed said the family marked it low-key in Ondo, their hometown.

He, however, said there were plans to organise a symposium and other programmes to honour the late lawyer.

“Today marks another death anniversary of my father; what we have done in Ondo today is simply to hold prayers for him.

“We did not hold any programme in Lagos because people are busy and all of that, but we are working on a symposium and a musical concert to honour him.

“The concert holds on September 13, but we are yet to fix a date for the symposium. But we shall definitely organise it to remember our great father,” he said.(NAN)
BHB/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

1,176 Kaduna pilgrims return home — Official

Pilgrims
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Sept 5. 2018 (NAN) Mr Yunusa Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, says 1,176 pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia after a successful 2018 hajj exercise.

Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna that the pilgrims were airlifted back in three batches of 560, 312 and 304 pilgrims respectively, via Medview airlines.

Acoording to him, they all arrived between between Sept. 2 and Sept. 4.

NAN reports that a total of 3,238 pilgrims from the state participated in the 2018 hajj exercise adding that the remaining pilgrims were being expected anytime soon.

“So far, 1,176 out of the 3,238 pilgrims from Kaduna State have returned home safely. We are expecting remaining pilgrims any moment from now.”Abdullahi said.(NAN)
TJ/AZA/NKO
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Edited by Polycarp Auta/Nkechi Okoronkwo