Blog

Committee

By Constance Imasuen

Abuja, Aug 30, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, says the establishment of a well articulated National Addressing System (NAS) is strategic for national planning and development.

National Addressing System (NAS) is the Key to e-Commerce, e-Finance, e-Navigation and modern postal services and essential tool for national infrastructure as well as the socio-economic development of a country.

 Shittu said in Abuja on Thursday while inaugurating the NAS Committee that the establishment of a well-articulated NAS, long overdue, was predicated on the importance and role it played in National development.

 The role of NAS, he said, was beyond the primary aim of mail delivery.

“Therefore, a standardised addressing infrastructure and database is indispensable in locating residents of this country.  

“A homogenous and unambiguous addressing resource is an essential tool for effective and efficient service delivery,’’ he said.

The minister, however, said that stakeholders, especially states and local government areas were responsible for the implementation of their constitutional roles.

He said they were to be guided on the globally accepted ways of performing those roles to facilitate development of addressing infrastructure that supported Geographical Positioning System (GPS) and applications.

 Shittu recalled that Vice-President Yemi Osinbanjo inaugurated the NAS Council on Sept. 21, 2017.

 According to him, the inauguration came  while the Nigerian National Addressing Standard and Guide line document was endorsed for implementation by the NAS Council on Oct. 19, 2017.

The minister urged the committee members to understand their assigned roles and contribute their quota toward the implementation of a dependable system for Nigeria.

He said this would provide the required ease of access to various locations and people, adding that their contributions would no doubt contribute immensely to national growth and development.

“Stakeholders and all Nigerians are therefore invited to support NAS committee members in the discharge of their duties and adopt standards and guidelines for the implementation of the system.’’

Mr Bisi Adegbuyi, Post-Master-General of the Federation, said the importance of NAS could not be overemphasised, describing it as the bedrock and access to government services.

Adegbuyi said the primary responsibility of any government was to provide services to its people“and more meaningful, if you don’t have address, you won’t have access to government services.

 Mrs Nkechi Ejele, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, said the committee, made up of various stakeholders, had the Minister of Communications as Chairman.

According to her, the committee is charged with the responsibility of coordinating all activities of NAS programme.

Ejele said NAS policy recognised the critical role of stakeholders in developing a reliable addressing infrastructure and identified them in the governance structure of the national addressing system with NAS council as the apex. (NAN)

COA/AAB/MO/DUA

Edited By Omolade Michael/Dada Ahmed

Flood: NEMA raises alarm, urges evacuation of people from river banks

Flood

Lokoja, Aug. 30, 2018 ( NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says the water level in River Niger is almost at 9- centimeter which will ultimately lead to flooding in Lokoja and other eight local government areas in Kogi.

Mr Bitrus Samuel, Head, NEMA Operations in Abuja and Kogi who raised the alarm on Thursday in Lokoja, said that the flood might come anytime from now, urging those living on river banks to evacuate.

Samuel said that the impending flood was due to intensity and duration of high rainfalls currently being witnessed in different parts of the country.

He, however, said that the agency and other stakeholders were yet to determine the exact time and day the flood would hit Lokoja which he described as a receptacle of floods from other rivers.

“ Flood usually comes in the night when people are fast asleep ,” Samuel said, asking people living on flood plains to leave.

According to him, the ground has become saturated that its percolation and absorption levels have reduced considerably.

Aside Rivers Niger and Benue, he said that other rivers across the country had started overflowing their banks due to distortion in pattern of rainfall and charged Nigerians to prepare for more floods this year.

Samuel later met with other stakeholders to discuss their level of preparedness for the impending flood, evacuation plans and rescue strategies being put in place by them and the state government.

He charged them to immediately commence education and enlightenment of residents on the impending flood which he said had greatest damage potential of all disasters.

The NEMA official advised the state government and other stakeholders to immediately identify high grounds, establish camps and pre -position drugs, foods and non-food items in readiness for the flood.

Samuel also called on them to discourage violation of town planning laws, check dumping of refuse in rivers and poor drainage system and control location of settlements along river banks to mitigate effects of flooding.

At the meeting, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Simon Achuba, said that the government had responded promptly and adequately to disasters, adding  that the impending flood would not be an exception.

Achuba, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Idris Omade, directed immediate activation of their emergency management committees, asking them to organize similar stakeholders meetings.

The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) , Mr Alhassan Ayegba, said that the organisation was fully at alert and that it was expanding its frontier of response to emergency.

Ayegba also stated that officials of the agency and other relevant ministries, departments, and other stakeholders had been deployed to communities that could likely be affected to educate and sensitive residents to the impending floods.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders from fire service, Nigeria Medical Association, Red Cross, security agencies, paramilitary agencies , religious groups , relevant ministries and agencies attended the one-day meeting. (NAN)
KKA /IA
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HIV/AIDS: Stop promoting negative role model for children – Consultant
By Awayi Kuje
Model
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Tamani Yusuf, a Kaduna-based media consultant, has tasked journalists to stop promoting negative model for Adolescent and Young Persons (AYPs) in their reportage.
Yusuf, a former Managing Director, Kaduna State Media Corporation, gave the task on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, while speaking on “Role of the Media As Advocates Towards Addressing AYP To Make the Right Choices On HIV/PMTC Issues’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day meeting is co-organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Kaduna State Field Office, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for newsmen.
Yusuf Said that AYPs are influenced greatly by what they see on television stations, newspapers, social media and what they hear on radio, among others, enhance the need for the media to avoid reporting negative model.
According to her, AYPs are influenced by musicians, actors and celebrities, among others.
“We should present positive role models and we should avoid promoting negative role models.
“We need to know that as media executives, producers, reporters and journalists, we have a moral responsibility towards sensitising and mobilising all stakeholders on issues that concern the health and wellbeing of AYPs in our various communities, most especially on HIV/PMTCT issues.
“We need to commence strong advocacy programmes for AYP, to inform, educate and enhance involvement of the community on all on-going programmes for women, children on HIV prevention as well PMTCT.
“We need to realise that what we are doing now is important to our generation, and generations yet unborn,’’ she said.
The media consultant also called on journalists to promote issues that would encourage the AYPs to make correct choices in their interest and for the overall development of the country.
“The choices they make today can affect whether we will have an HIV-free society in the future, or whether the country will continue with the burden of HIV in women and children,’’ she added.
Yusuf also tasked parents on the need to inculcate strong religious, social and cultural values, adding that parents need to be good role models for AYPs.
Earlier, Mr Rabiu Musa, the Communication Officer of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, also called on journalists to respect the rights to privacy of every individual in the interest of peace and development.
“As I said the aimed of the meeting is to provide knowledge and orientation to you (participants) on PMTCT, AYP and HIV/AIDS situation in order to tackle the menace in the country.
“You are to respect the privacy of every individual while reporting, anything you are going to write, you should always have facts and adhere strictly to your professional ethics,” he said. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Farmers

By Olayinka Owolewa

Ilorin, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) Mr Ajibola Tajudeen, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kwara branch, said on Thursday that 1,000 of its members had benefited from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers Programme.

Tajudeen, who made this known while addressing newsmen in Ilorin, said that it was untrue that only politicians benefited from the scheme facilitated jointly by the CBN and the state government.

He said that the selection of beneficiaries was transparent and cut across the 16 local government areas in the state.

He said that many local farmers in different parts of Kwara who were not members of AFAN, had also benefited from the scheme.

The chairman said the beneficiaries engaged in the production of rice, maize, soya beans and cassava.

Tajudeen said that all the farmers received loans under the programme in form of farm inputs, depending on the size of their farms.

He, however, said that the inability of some farmers to pay the five per cent equity, part of the requirements for engaging in the programme, had hindered them from participating.

The chairman noted that AFAN members in Kwara had received various support from the State Government over the years, urging it to keep supporting them.

He also urged the state government to expand the scope of the scheme, to enable more farmers in the state to benefit.

The scheme was initiated by the Federal Government through the CBN as an agricultural intervention to help farmers boost production.

The Kwara government secured a N1 billion loan from the bank under the scheme for local farmers who engaged in rice, maize, soya beans and cassava production.(NAN)

OOH/FLP/EMO

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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Ejike Obeta

NCAT graduates first MCC participants

NCAT

By Adekunle Williams

Lagos, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Flying School of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, has graduated its first Multi-Crew Cooperation Course N0. 1 (MCC.1).

The NCAT Rector, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed said on Thursday in Lagos that the graduation ceremony held in Zaria, Kaduna state, on Monday with four participants.

Mohammed explained that the course, the first of its kind, was designed to train single seat pilots in the team skills necessary for the safe operation of complex, multi-crew, jet aircraft.

“The training focuses on teaching participants the fundamentals of operating as a crew in a multi-crew airline environment.

“The course offers participants the opportunity to practice and develop the skills necessary for leadership and support roles in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),’’ the rector said in a statement.

Mohammed noted that three of the participants were sponsored by Arik Air, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to give back to the society, while one came from the college.

The Head of the college’s Flying School, Capt. Mohammed Barau, said the fresh graduates are the brand ambassadors of the college in the Civil Aviation industry.

Barau, therefore, urged them to know the technological world in real-time and help to improve the present state of the nation’s civil aviation industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the ceremony, individual students were recognised for their outstanding overall academic performances.

Multi Crew Co-operation (MCC) is an additional training in commercial pilot licensing required in order to fly within a crew, in a multi-pilot aircraft, with the crew consisting of at least two members.

It is a requirement for pilots applying for a multi-pilot type rating and can be done separately or together with this type of rating.

The course is usually under the supervision of a Flight Training Organisation (FTO) or a Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO). (NAN)
WAC/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

Oshiomhole says APC more cohesive with the defection of Saraki, others
By Emmanuel Mogbede

Cohesion
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, says the party has become stronger and more cohesive since Bukola Saraki and others defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

He said on Thursday in Abuja at the party’s 6th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, that Saraki and others who left the APC were migrant politicians who had no political address.

‘Our party is stronger, smarter, more cohesive and there is no better evidence than the fact that we have won all the major elections after they left the party.

“We have seen people who go back to their communities to decamp and we see uncommon defectors,” the APC national chairman said.

He, however, noted that while the party leadership made efforts to reconcile genuine aggrieved members, some of those who defected to opposition political parties were determined to leave.

According to Oshiomhole, such persons left the party to pursue their personal ambition which they believed they cannot realise in the APC.

“Though they were not denied the opportunity to try out that ambition, they arrived at the conclusion that the only way they can realise their ambitions was to relocate and they relocated.

“Of course, for a distant observer, he would think that this was a huge blow to our party,” he noted.

Oshiomhole said those who defected from the APC had no political address, because they kept moving from one party to another every season for the purpose of contesting elections.

He further said that such politicians were migrant politicians whose political addresses could not be identified, restating that he would never lose sleep over them.

The APC national chairman stressed that the party’s change agenda meant a move from a political order that services only the political elite at the expense of the poor.

He added that since the change would not allow business as usual, the conservatives had to leave on their own.

According to him, the party has done a lot to reconcile aggrieved members and will continue doing so to ensure peace and unity in all its chapters.

Oshiomhole attributed the party’s electoral victory in Ekiti to the support from President Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s governors.

The APC national chairman specifically thanked President Buhari for supporting the party’s executives, adding that he was indebted to all the party leaders and members.

“We are very proud to say that upon our assumption of office, we have won nearly all the elections that have taken place, particularly the ones at the states, Senatorial and House of Representatives.

“The first task before us was the election in Ekiti and under your leadership, as they say when the righteous rules, the people rejoice.

“The party won the election in Ekiti and your own former Minister who your excellency graciously relieved of his appointment to enable him go back to his state to serve his people, was elected.

“Mr President, you played a huge role in the electioneering campaign leading to that election,” Oshiomhole said. (NAN)
EEM/CHOM/MZA
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Maharazu Ahmed

Centre
By Doris Esa
Abuja,Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.- Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Thursday in Abuja inaugurated a new e-Citibiz Automation Call Centre for ease of doing business in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the e- Citibiz automation call centre is a project to ensure that Citizenship and Business Department in the ministry is automated to ease delivery of services.

It is in line with the “Presidential Order of 2017’’ to address the ease of doing business in Nigeria and to promote economic development.

The executive order is geared toward the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the country’s business environment.

Dambazau said the use of the automation call centre would reduce unnecessary contact with people and deliver services in good time.

The minister expressed happiness that the project had been completed, adding “this is one of the moment I have been waiting for since three years”.

“What that means is that with this call centre, there will be no direct contact with applicants from outside.

“So, I would not want to see anybody coming in here to inquire about anything because we have all the necessary platforms for service delivery

“It also means that we must keep the period we have identified, if we say application should not take more than one week, we must keep to it so that nobody will even find it necessary to make complaints.

“We are doing this not only in the interest of Nigerians but the world. We are also doing this in order to encourage investors,’’ the minister said.

According to him, if you are encouraging development, you are encouraging security.

The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the provision of fund for the project.

Dambazau made a test call on the facility and said the project was the ministry’s contribution toward the implementation of the presidential order.

The Director of Citizenship and Business Department of the ministry, Hajia Aisha Rufai, expressed gratitude to the minister for his commitment and thoroughness to see that the project was completed.

Rufai commended staff of the ministry for their cooperation to ensure that the project was completed.

Mr Joel Adi, the Managing Director and CEO of Anchor Data Ware Solution, gave a brief description of how the facility works, and how customers could access the centre.

Adi said the facility had five agents to attend to enquirers by customers with options in Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba languages as well as in English and pidgin.

He said that updates would be carried out by those agents, explaining that customers or applicants could register on platform with a valid e-mail address and valid telephone number.

He gave the website address as: https.//ecitibiz.Interior.gov.ng. (NAN)

ORD/JEY/AMY

Edited Johnson Eyiangho and Abdullahi Yusuf

Clinic
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) Participants at the ongoing Lagos State Handball Association (LSHA) Opeifa Summer Clinic have applauded the body for efforts to build their talents for great future.

The boys and girls expressed the gratitude in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos on the third day of the LSHA-organised programme.

NAN reports that 64 upcoming players are participating in the clinic taking place at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

They were identified at the 2018 National U-12/15 and Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball championships held in April and May respectively.

Eunice Akuma, who was shortlisted for the U-12/U-15 national championships, said that the clinic would equip her with more skills to build a career.

Akuma told NAN that basic techniques of handball were being taught by knowledgeable coaches at the programme.

“I am on the right track and I am excited that the organisers are able to fulfill their promise of a follow-up programme,” she said.

Rukayat Jimoh said that the clinic had deepened her passion for handball.

Jimoh said that the coaching had made her more familiar with the fundamentals of handball.

She told NAN that she was satisfied with efforts of LSHA to develop the sport.

“I love handball and play handball in school up to the national championships where I got the opportunity to participate in this summer coaching.

“I have learnt a lot,” she said.

Another player, Muiz Olanrewaju, described the programme as a `double blessing’ which exposed participants to academic work and rudiments of handball.

“The association is really trying for us; it has been encouraging us in so many ways.

“I feel great to be part of this summer clinic. I will gain beyond my expectations in the sport and academics, especially on Maths and English Language,” he added.

Bolaji Piate told NAN that his participation in the clinic had made his holiday worthwhile.

He added that it provided a forum to meet and interact with peers and coaches.

“This is one of my best holiday; I am happy and proud to be a handball player in Lagos; it has been inspiring,” he said.

Coach Lucas Honvo told NAN that he was impressed by the commitment of the players.

He said that the players had been teachable. (NAN)

MIL/IGO
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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

ASUU vows not to relent until Government revamps public education

Education

By Ibukun Emiola

Ibadan, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that the Union will not rest until the Federal Government revamps public education from its current bad state.

ASUU chairman at the University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole, stated this on Thursday at the Lying-in-State ceremony in Ibadan in honour of Late Professor of Exercise Physiology, Ademola Olasupo Abass.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was held at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan.

In his tribute to the deceased, Omole said it was sad that the Buhari administration has put the budget on education in reverse gear, with an unimpressive yearly reduction in the percentage allocated to the sector.

He noted that the present administration had promised to increase the budget allocation to education when it gets into power to about 20 per cent but it has yet to do so.

“Our members would have died for nothing if the union drops the struggle for quality infrastructure and better working conditions for Nigerian universities.

“I recall that while the ruling party was campaigning, its then flag bearer promised to target up to 20 per cent for this critical sector, but what have we witnessed? Budget allocation to education has taken a downward trend.

“The conditions of service and the level of infrastructure have been dismal. Our colleagues are dying and those already stressed up with our unimpressive education administration have started relocating to better places. This is pathetic.

“Nigerians should tell President Muhammadu Buhari to spare the lives of lecturers who are over-burdened by excess workload and health challenges that they have no money to treat due to poor wages,” Omole said.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Idowu Olayinka, while reading his tribute, extolled the principles of  late Prof. Abass, who he said had served the university in several capacities and contributed in no small measure to the development of the institution.

NAN reports that the event had colleagues, students, members of ASUU nationwide, friends and the family of the late professor in attendance. (NAN)
IBK/NNO/PIO
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(Edited by Nick Nicholas/Idonije Obakhedo)

NLC urges companies to conform with Nigeria labour law to avoid picketing

Labour
By Bukola Adewumi
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged various companies that were yet to comply with the Nigeria labour law to act promptly to avoid picketing and other forms of embarrassment.

Mr Peter Ozo-Eson , the General Secretary of the Union, said this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja.

He said most of the companies that were liable included those that engaged in anti-casualisation and anti-unionisation of workers.

According to him, we picket companies that violates out law from time to time in whichever sector.

“It is an ongoing campaign, so don’t be surprised sometime in the future when you see us mobilise to picket some companies.”

He recalled that after the last nationwide picketing of MTN, some companies that had not been picketed said they were ready to comply with the law, adding that it was the way the NLC expected things to play out.

“We have received messages from some companies who are ready to allow their workers unionise and also want to stop casualisation of workers.

“We are appealing to others to quietly come forward in conformity with the Nigeria labour law so as to avoid been picketed,” he said.

According to him, the AEPB and MTN that were picketed in the past have taken steps to correct a number of issues that we raised with them.

“ Many companies are now ready to correct those anomalies and that include the casualisation of workers and to allow for unionism.

He said that the NLC and the company affected had reached an agreement, adding that the management of AEPB was being closely monitored to ensure the implementation of that agreement.”

According to him, after the nationwide picketing of MTN for three days, they again approached us with the Ministry of Labour and signed an undertaking in which MTN committed itself to allowed workers to freely unionise.(NAN).
BOL/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide