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  • Council urges NWC to address crisis rocking PDP Katsina State chapter

    Council urges NWC to address crisis rocking PDP Katsina State chapter

    PDP
    By Emmanuel Oloniruha
    Abuja, June 26, 2024(NAN) The Katsina State Peoples Democratic Party Advisory Council has called for the intervention of the party National Working Committee (NWC) in addressing crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

    Mr Ibrahim Tafashiya, member, Katsina State PDP Caretaker Committee, made the appeal at a news conference on the affairs of the party in the state, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Tafashiya also urged the party leaders to intervene in alleged denial of party members’ access to purchase nomination forms for the upcoming PDP congress in the state.

    He said that a delegation of  some aspirants from Katsina, Dutsinma, Malumfashi, Funtua, Mashi, Kankia and Katsina LGAs were at the state party secretariat to purchase form, but no party official to attend to them.

    This according to Tafashiya made the aspirants accuse the committee of plan to hijack the forms to favor one single individual and to evade selling same to other aspirants.

    “We have collated about 7,101 members willing to purchase the forms, so as to participate in the upcoming congresses but have been deprived access to purchase the forms.

    “We are here at the national headquarters only to be informed that the forms are with the caretaker committee chairman about three weeks ago.

    “We are therefore appealing for the intervention of the NWC to resolve the matter for the progress, development and success of the PDP,’’ he said.

    He said while there were in Abuja at PDP national secretariat to purchase the forms but could not meet anybody hence the need to call for appropriate proper action on the matter.

    Tafashiya also alleged that there was a disconnect between some members of the caretaker committee and the Chairman, Alhaji Musa Karim.

    He said that the state chapter of the party was in jeopardy as a result of the maladministration of its affairs by the caretaker committee leadership.

    He said since the release of timetable and guidelines for the 2024 ward, local government and state congresses certain proactive procedural measures should have been put in place for the exercise to be successful but nothing has been done.

    “Since the period preceding the 2023 general election there has been division among the ranks of leadership and followership of the party in Katsina State.

    “More especially almost all the 2023 Campaign Management Council that work tirelessly during campaign exercise were at the receiving end of such maltreatment,’’ he said.

    He said that the caretaker committee chairman did nothing to reconcile the divisions within the PDP in Katsina State.

    He said that the first activity preceding congress to elect party officials was always membership drive and update of membership register before the sales of forms.

    This according to him was not done “even as at this time.

    “Specifically, these issues relate to the 361 wards, 34 Local Governments and 39 State Exco aspirants for Katsina State,’’ he said.

    Tafashiya therefore urged the NWC of the PDP to take immediate drastic measure in resolving the crises/complaints.

    He also urged the party national leaders to ensure that due process was adhered to in the sale of the forms.

    “Also in the general conduct of the upcoming congresses and general running of the affairs of the party for unity, peace, progress and success of the party.

    “While thanking the NWC in discharging their duties diligently in order for the PDP to proposer. All we are asking for is a level playing ground,’’ he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    OBE/EAL
    =======

    Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Forum lauds Gov. Sani, CDS for tackling insecurity in Kaduna

  • C’River Govt. denies abandoning road projects

    Projects

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

    Calabar, June 26, 2024(NAN) The Cross River Commissioner for Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, has denied allegations that the Gov. Bassey Otu-led government has abandoned some ongoing road projects in the state.

    Ekpang made the denial while speaking to newsmen on the state of ongoing road projects in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government is being accused of not being proactive in the implementation of two key road projects it used to mark its first year in office.

    A NAN survey around some project sites showed that the contractors handling the Parliamentary Extension and the Zone 6/NNPC-Tank Farm Road projects at Esuk Utan, were no longer at work.

    No equipment owned by the contractor, FaithPlant Construction Limited, was found within the project site.

    NAN reports that a section of the Parliamentary Extension Road, constructed under the administration of the former governor, Liyel Imoke, had become highly deteriorated.

    Simirlarly, the Tank Farm Road, constructed during the military era, had also become a nightmare for truck drivers and other road users.

    NAN further reports that upon resumption of office, Otu commissioned work to commence on the reconstruction of the two roads.

    Meanwhile, the commissioner said that the contractors only left the project sites because of the heavy rainfall.

    “Our projects are still very much on course, it is not true that we have abandoned these projects, they are very important to us, and we will complete them.

    “The only challenge here is the weather and you don’t expect the contractors to leave their equipment on site during the rains.

    “Let me also say that the peculiarity of the Parliamentary Extension Road does not permit continuation of work during the rains. The area is swampy,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    ESI/AZU

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    Edited by Azubuike Okeh

     

     

  • Storms, heavy rain wreak havoc in parts of Switzerland

    Storms, heavy rain wreak havoc in parts of Switzerland

    Rain

    Geneva, June 26, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Thunderstorms and heavy rain have caused flooding in Switzerland near Basel, in Geneva, and in the canton of Vaud on Lake Geneva, authorities reported.

    On Tuesday evening, police in the canton south of Basel received several hundred reports of flooded basements, power outages and other water damage.

    By Wednesday, the situation had calmed down.

    In the western canton of Vaud, the fire department was called out more than 200 times.

    In the town of Moges, the river reached flood levels that statistically are not expected even once in a hundred years, according to the police.

    No injuries were reported.

    In Geneva, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain led to a two-hour suspension of flight operations.

    A cooling room for servers in the Skyguide air traffic control building was affected by flooding.

    To prevent overheating of the control systems, the airspace was closed shortly after 10 p.m..

    Around 50 arrivals and departures were cancelled.

    Overnight camp beds and food were provided for around 100 passengers. On Wednesday, departures were cancelled for planes that had not been able to land on Tuesday evening.

    However, no major damage occurred and operations were back to normal, said a Geneva airport spokesman.

    Last week, a landslide after heavy rainfall swept away three houses in the eastern canton of Graubünden and destroyed part of the A13 motorway, an important route through the Alps.

    Of the four missing people, one woman was rescued and a man found dead. The other two individuals remain missing. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    COO/AMM
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    Edited by Cecilia Odey and Abiemwense Moru

     

  • No NYSC member in areas with security challenges — Sokoto Coordinator 

    No NYSC member in areas with security challenges — Sokoto Coordinator

    NYSC
    By Habibu HarisuSokoto, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Sokoto State, Alhaji Usman Yakubu-Yaro, says no corps member is serving in areas with security challenges in the state.

    Yakubu-Yaro disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto.

    He said even though the scheme ensured constant partnership with security agencies and community groups in safeguarding members, “we will not post NYSC members to the eastern part of the state where there are security challenges.

    “Wherever we deem not secure, we will not send corps members and we will continue to maintain that.

    “The security of corps members will be guaranteed. For any flashpoint where insecurity is pronounced, we don’t send members there.”

    According to him, the scheme is expecting 2,000 prospective corps members posted to Zamfara and Sokoto states from Wednesday for a joint orientation exercise under the 2024 Batch B Stream 1 in Sokoto.

    He said several measures were ensured before the deployment of the corps members that comprised pre-orientation camp workshop, contacts with security agencies and others to ensure the success of the orientation.

    Yakubu-Yaro advised the prospective corps members to utilise the opportunities provided by the scheme’s skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development training programmes.

    He urged them to participate in camp and post-camp training to enable them to be self-reliant after the service year, as white-collar jobs are not easy to get these days.

    He expressed optimism that when the NYSC Trust Fund Bill is assented to by the president, it would go a long way in ameliorating the plight of members interested in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development.

    The coordinator explained that the scheme enjoyed cordial support from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Sokoto State Government for their unflinching support.

    He urged the state government to do more in the rehabilitation and improvement of facilities in the orientation camp. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    HMH/HA
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    Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

  • Naval Chief inaugurates Ratings’ quarters in Abuja

    Naval chief inaugurates Ratings’ quarters in Abuja

    Accommodation

    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, on Wednesday, inaugurated a 36 apartments for Senior Ratings of the Nigerian Navy as part of efforts to boost the welfare of personnel.

    Performing the ceremony in Abuja, Ogalla said the quarters comprised six blocks of buildings housing 12 units of three-bedroom apartments and 18 units of two-bedroom aprtments.

    He said that construction of the building quarters was in line with his commitment to enhance the welfare of personnel of the navy.

    Speaking with newsmen, the Commander of Naval Unit, Abuja, Commodore Tanko Lengaya, said that the welfare of personnel in the area of accommodation had been a pressing issue before the assumption of office of the current CNS.

    Lengaya said the new quarters located in Kubwa was one of the many being provided  nationwide for personnel to ensure that the naval ratings get befitting shelters.

    “This will go a long way to reducing the challenges of accommodation for the ratings and this will be permanent accommodation for the senior rates,” he said.

    The commander said that the presence of the navy personnel in the Kubwa area would assist in terms of coordinating security in the area.

    He congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to take good care of the accommodation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    OYS/NNO/AOS

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    Edited by Nick Nicholas/Bayo Sekoni

  • Ethiopian coffee gains foothold in China with rising popularity

    Ethiopian coffee gains foothold in China with rising popularity

    Coffee

    Addis Ababa, June 26, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Ethiopian coffee has been gaining a foothold in the Chinese market, with its sales volume showing a 27 per cent average increase in recent years, an Ethiopian official said.

    Adugna Debela, director general of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), said a few years ago, Ethiopia had been exporting 8,000 to 10,000 metric tonnes of coffee annually to China.

    He added that it ranked 33rd among importers of Ethiopian coffee.

    “However, China has been importing up to 20,000 metric tonnes of Ethiopian coffee annually for the last two years, becoming the eighth-largest importer of Ethiopian coffee.”

    In the past three years or so, the amount of coffee Ethiopia exports to China has been growing at an average rate of 27 per cent annually, said Debela.

    Debela attributed the surge to a significant increase in Chinese coffee buyers who import coffee directly from Ethiopia.

    He also credited the close collaboration between the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa and the ECTA in terms of searching for new markets, connecting Chinese coffee roasting companies, organising exhibitions, and launching e-commerce and online sales.

    Debela said the China International Import Expo and cross-border e-commerce platforms, which serve as effective gateways for overseas brands to enter China, have presented numerous opportunities for Ethiopian coffee beans to gain popularity in the Chinese market.

    He said Ethiopia has exported 252,000 metric tonnes of coffee to the world market, earning 1.28 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of the 2023/2024 Ethiopian fiscal year that ends on July 7, 2024.

    He said there would be a huge, growing demand for Ethiopian coffee in China as more and more people in China, especially youngsters, enjoy drinking Ethiopian coffee.

    Debela said he hoped that China would become one of the top five Ethiopian coffee importers shortly as the ECTA continues exploiting untapped market opportunities there.

    Ethiopia’s coffee, originating from the region where Arabica coffee was first discovered, is praised for its distinctive flavors ranging from fruity and winy to chocolaty.  (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    UMD/AMM

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    Edited by Ummul Idris and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

  • Ex-BPE director calls for living pension for retirees

     

    Retirees

    By Emmanuel Afonne

    Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A former director with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Malam Ibrahim Babagana, has called for an upward review of pension of Nigerian retirees.

    Mr Babagana made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday following organised labour’s demand for a living/minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    He said that such upward review would enable the retirees to face the present economic challenges in the country.

    NAN reports that organised labour is demanding N250,000, while the government negotiating team proposed N62,000.

    Babagana said there was need to accommodate the retirees in the organised labour demand for increase in the workers’ salary considering the level of hardship.

    “The reality on ground is that things are no longer the same;  I retired in 2019 and the stipend I was getting then is the same stipend I am still getting in 2024.

    “The level of inflation has deepened over the years and the purchasing power of the average Nigerian has changed over the years.

    “In real terms, there is a need to improve the stipends retirees are getting because they have worked for the country before they retired.’’

    According to him, there should also be a retirement fund for retirees to access, to enable them to establish Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    “This solution should not be left for the government alone; it is a stakeholder thing; it will help but how do you start the process?

    “As a public servant, the environment itself has psychologically prepared someone, that in the next couple of years he or she will exit; it has to also be clear that a retiree cannot completely rely on the government.

    “During my time, they started preparing us for retirement a year before time but I am postulating that we should prepare people for retirement five years before they exit.

    “This will ensure that the person does not become too close to his or her seat but we should not create a scenario where he is psychologically thinking of exiting and going out, then, he will not give his best.

    “When you prepare the ground for retirement, it should be done in collaboration with the private sector; it is a combination of public and private sector.’’

    Babagana urged the government to show compassion on workers and retirees as the present earnings were no longer sustainable in the present day Nigeria.

    “I observed that when my father retired from service, he already built a house through the loan scheme.

    “So, he didn’t have a problem with accommodation; the state took care of the education of his children and he didn’t have challenges with hospital bills because the state took care of that.

    “Now, the story is quite different because most of the retirees have to create things by themselves and if you are not opportune, you will be at the receiving end and that is why most retirees die prematurely.

    “Imagine a retiree chasing his or her entitlement at the age of 70 because in some organisations, these retirement funds have been misplaced or mismanaged,” Babagana said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    EMAF/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

  • Man, 33, docked for alleged breach of peace

    Man, 33, docked for alleged breach of peace

    Peace

    By Adepote Arowojobe

    Ikorodu (Lagos State), June 26, 2024 (NAN) A 33-year-old man, Johnson Chinedu, attached to Highnewtint Limited was on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, for alleged breach of peace.

    Chinedu is charged with two-count charge bothering on fraud to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecution, ASP Christian Okonofua, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in 2023 in Lagos area of Ikorodu.

    Okonofua said that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, by failure to refund the sum of N510, 000 and N450, 000 used to repair a Sienna bus.

    The prosecutor said that the Sienna he sold to Mr Isibor Taiwo, was handed over back to him due to the bad condition of the vehicle after repair.

    According to him, the offence contravened the provisions of sections 168 and 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Onalaja, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Onalaja adjourned the case until July 11, for mention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    ADEX/DEB/JPE

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

    Edited by Joseph Edeh

  • Proprietor docked for allegedly embezzling money meant for NECO

    Proprietor docked for allegedly embezzling money meant for NECO

     

    Arraignment
    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

    Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A 67-year-old man, Segun Oyedepo, Owner of Fedeco International College, Ibadan, was on Wednesday docked in a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan for allegedly embezzling money meant for the National Examinations Council (NECO) for students.

    Oyedepo is charged with theft and obtaining money under false pretence.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence between September 2023 and June 2024, at the aforementioned school.

    Amusan alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained  N1.7 million which was meant for about 13 students’ NECO registration.

    He alleged that the defendant obtained the money from one Hammed Olayode and 12 others to register the students but failed to do so.

    Amusan said the offence contravens the provisions of Sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

    The Court’s President, Mrs Sukurat Yusuf, admitted the  defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

    Yusuf held that one of the sureties must be a relation of the defendant and have evidence of two years tax clearance.

    She adjourned the case until July 19 for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    CC/ACA/SH

    ==========

    Edited by Chidinma Agu/Sadiya Hamza