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  • 2019:NYSC warns corps members against electoral offences

    Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned corps members against electoral offences as 2019 general elections approach.

    The NYSC boss gave the warning during inspection visit to the 2018 Batch ‘C’ stream II orientation course at Kusalla in Karaye Local Government Area of Kano state.

    Kazaure was represented by the Scheme Director of Community Development Services (CDS) and special projects Mr Yusuf Steve.

    According to him, the electoral act has provided serious punishment for any of its officials or ad-hoc staff caught violating it.

    He said it became necessary, therefore, for the corps members to avoid acts capable of tarnishing their image, the scheme and eschew being used negatively by politicians during the 2019 general elections.

    Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Ladan Baba, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had requested for the use of 44,000 corps members as adhoc staff during the election.

    According to him, the scheme can only provide the electoral body with over 15,000 ad-hoc staff to conduct the 2019 elections in the state.

    Baba also disclosed that the Kano NYSC has fished out the best three in each category of camp officials to be honoured.

    The coordinator said the decision to honour the best camp officials was due to their dedication, determination, honesty and commitment since the beginning of the exercise.

    Read Also: 2019: NYSC DG urges Corps members to be neutral

    “The NYSC officers and collaborating agencies have so far proved to be hard working, loyal and dedicated team players.

    Therefore, we have chosen the best among them to be honoured during our traditional award night,” he said.

    The coordinator commended the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, for introducing the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), during the orientation exercise.

    “Unemployment is one of the major challenges in the country; therefore, the introduction of the skills acquisition programme will help in reducing the challenges.

    “As a graduate, you must not wait for white collar-job, you can be the self reliant when you learn hand work, through which you can be the boss of yourself and even others”.

  •  Ways Credit Cards Can Make You Rich

    You are probably used to (or more than used to) reading articles about how credit cards are at the root of your money problems. There’s probably not a single article about debt that hasn’t waxed eloquently about how improper management of credit cards can send you into a debt spiral.

    But how many articles have you read about the various ways credit cards can make you rich? If you were honest, you could probably count the number of times on one hand.

    And if you have never known that credit cards can be money-making tools, read on to find out just how they can make you rich!

    1.     Put Your Rewards to Work

    So, you have a cashback card that rewards your every spend. That’s great. Now instead of letting the money stay idle, why don’t you put it to work?

    It doesn’t matter how much you earn. Even if it’s a few hundred dollars, thanks to the power of compounding, your money will grow!

    Let’s assume that you earn a maximum cashback of $500 each year. If you invest it in an account that gives you a return of 5% p.a., in 7 years it will amount to $703.55. And if you invest the money in other financial products such as recurring deposits or even investing it in equity, your returns will only multiply!

    2.     Link Your Card to an Investment App

    So, you want to invest, but you aren’t the savviest investor out there. No worries. Thanks to technology, you can always link your credit card to an investment application like Acorns and then sit back and watch your money grow.

    How?

    Well, let’s say that you have decided to buy a coffee that costs $3.75. Spare change apps round up your purchase and invest the spare change in portfolios. So, in this case, the amount is rounded up to $4 and the difference of $0.25 is invested.

    So, each time you use your credit card, a small portion is invested. And before you know it, that $0.25 from a cup of coffee, will amount to hundreds of dollars!

    3.     Sell Your Points

    Have you ever had points that are about to expire sitting idle in your account? Well, if you don’t want them to go to waste, you could consider selling them. What exactly does this mean?

    Well, say your family member is planning to go on a trip, you can book the tickets using your points and exchange it for cash!

    Before you do that, though, you should remember that not all credit cards allow you to transfer your points to family members. And if they do, there may be certain conditions that need to be fulfilled.

    So, before you go ahead and transfer points, do read the terms and conditions that govern your credit card carefully.

    4.     Make Money via Stoozing

    Okay, so you are probably wondering if stoozing is even a word. And it is.

    In financial terms, stoozing is the practice of making money by borrowing on credit cards which have a 0% interest rate.

    Basically, you borrow money on your credit card and then invest it in high yield accounts. As a practice, stoozing was quite common before the 2008 recession, but it is slowly gaining followers once again.

    The important things to remember with stoozing are:

    • Only borrow on a 0% interest credit card. If it isn’t a 0% interest card, then you will probably end up paying way more in terms of interest than you will earn by investing the money.
    • Make sure that you pay the full outstanding amount each month on your card or you may not be eligible for the 0% interest.
    • And right before the introductory period for the 0% interest ends, make sure you pay up the entire amount you owe on the credit card!

    Before you go down this route, though, do go through the terms and conditions governing your card with a fine tooth comb. You don’t want hidden fees and charges to take you by surprise.

    5.     Earn Money by Saving Money

    If you use a credit card well, you can save money each time you spend. Using your card to spend on categories that it rewards the most, is the best way to make sure that you are getting the best out of your card.

    If you have a card that gives you rewards points, you can accumulate the points and redeem them for travel, retail, or dining vouchers. So, you essentially get to dine at a fancy restaurant at a discounted rate because you used your credit card to make grocery purchases!

    Some cards even offer ancillary benefits such as insurance on rental cars or complimentary extended warranty on any gadget you buy. Others will even insure your travels with complimentary travel insurance! All of this means that you don’t have to spend money and buy any of these!

    So, the next time someone tells you about how you shouldn’t get a credit card, you need to just show them this list!

     

  • Naira loses marginally against dollar at investors’ window

    The Naira on Wednesday lost marginally against the dollar at the investors’ window.

    It exchanged at N363.58, weaker than N363.54 traded on Tuesday.

    Investors settled for 228.8million dollars at the close of trading at the investors’ window.

    At the official Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) window, the Naira closed at N306.65 to the dollar.

    The Naira remained stable at the parallel market closing at N360.5 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro exchanged at N480 and N418, respectively.

    Trading at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment saw the Naira close at N360 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro exchanged at N480 and N418, respectively.

    NAN reports that the efforts of the CBN’ intervention had made the exchange rate stable and also lead to the stability of goods and services in the country.

    Also remittances from Nigerians living abroad had helped in improving inflows to the country.

  • Four APC lawmakers defect to opposition parties

    Four members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday defected from the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) to four other opposition parties.

    The lawmakers made their defections known in separate letters read by Speaker Yakubu Dogara on the floor of the house.

    In the letters, the lawmakers commended the APC for providing the platform for them to serve and stated that it was time for them to move on to further their political careers somewhere else.

    Rep. Dada Awoleye, representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, defected to Accord Party while Rep. Segun William representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, defected to Labour Party.

    Read Also: Police arraign man for armed robbery in Makurdi

    Also, Rep. Hassan Lawali representing Anka/Mafara Federal Constituency, Zamfara, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Rep Adesina Adedapo, representing Ibadan North-East/South- East Federal Constituency defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was light celebration among lawmakers as the speaker announced the defections.

  • 12 Jailed for stealing goats, Assault

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court has convicted one Joshua Dada and eleven others for alleged theft, conspiracy and assault.

    Other convicts are Mathew Onipinla , Sunday Adekunle, Dayo Aluko, Adesua Ajayi, Adewale Oguntuase and Olu Owoeye.

    Others are Adeyeye Oguntuase , Adeyemi Owolabi, Ilesanmi Owoyemi, Samuel Ogunkaye all from Ilafon Ekiti.

    The convicts were tried on a six count charge for the crime committed against Raphael Kupolusi between 20th and 23rd October, 2017.

    The charges preferred against the twelve convicts are conspiracy, firing gun shots and forcible entry into Kupolusi’s farm land.

    They were also convicted for stealing three goats valued fifty thousand naira and assaulted the same Raphael Kupolusi.

    The convicts committed the offences under sections 516,86(2),81,451,390&351 of the criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    Delivering the judgment Magistrate, Mrs. Taiwo Ajibade who said the prosecutor, Inspector Caleb Leramo, had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

    She therefore convicted the twelve accused persons and sentenced each to one month imprisonment but with option of N10,000 fine.

    Magistrate Ajibade was of the opinion that the convicts will serve as deterrent to others.

  • PLSG cautions residents on bush burning

    The Plateau Government, through its Ministry of the Environment, on Monday cautioned residents in the state to desist from indiscriminate bush burning.

    Mr Abdullahi Abbas, the Commissioner for Environment, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos.

    He said that the act was detrimental to the environment as it helps in depleting the ozone layer.

    According to him, the act is highly detrimental to the environment.

    “Besides its depletion of the ozone layer, which leads to greenhouse effects, it also destroys the microorganisms, humus and scrubs on the top layer of the soil which gives flora to the soil and protects it from harsh climatic conditions,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Buhari revives abandoned projects – Fashola

    Abbas said that the act would lead to loss of property and lives, especially with the onset of the harmattan winds, as the winds would spread the fire, thus making it uncontrollable.

    He also noted that the ministry has organised various sensitisation workshops to educate the populace on the ills and dangers of indiscriminate bush burning in the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

    “In October, we went to each of the LGAs in the state to sensitise the people on the implications of indiscriminate bush burning.

    “The ministry also holds talks with the local government chairmen and the traditional rulers to further sensitise their subjects and residents on the detrimental effects of the act,” he said.

  • ‘How petrol attendant, supervisor planned robbery’

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, on Monday in Lagos, told newsmen that a petrol attendant and his supervisor, planned and robbed the filling station where they worked.

    The CP, who briefed the press at the Lagos Police Command, said the police received information on a robbery operation at a filling station at Igbo-Elerin area of Lagos and later moved in on the suspects.

    He said that on Oct. 28 at 9 p.m., the police received information that some armed men were sighted at a filling station dispossessing attendants and customers of their valuables.

    “The divisional policemen and the operatives of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) were immediately deployed to the scene but the hoodlums disappeared before their arrival.

    “Later in the night, the hoodlums were trailed to their hideout, where six of the suspects were arrested with two guns while one axe was recovered.

    “The suspects during investigation, revealed that a supervisor and one of the fuel attendants at the filling station were the masterminds of the robbery.

    “They also confessed that they usually robbed the filling stations within the area,” Edgal said.

    In a similar development, a group of armed robbers, specialising in using commercial buses to dispossess unsuspecting passengers of their valuables has been intercepted at the Surulere area of Lagos.

    According to the CP, the police has deployed operatives of FSARS to go after the fleeing Volkswagen bus, which has some passengers as hostages.

    “The vehicle was later intercepted and three of the suspects were arrested.

    “The suspects confessed to be making around N300, 000 whenever they made the operation.

    “We have been receiving reports on this crime for a while and we are sure that this arrest will serve as a deterrent to other criminals in the act,” Edgal said.

  • 2019: IPC trains journalists on election reporting

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, no fewer than 25 political journalists have been trained on professional and digital reporting by the International Press Centre (IPC).

    The two-day workshop which held in Ogun state was organised by IPC in collaboration with European Union (EU).

    According to IPC, over 500 persons expressed interest to participate in the workshop but only 25 from different media organisations across the South-west of Nigeria were selected.

    Addressing participants on Wednesday, the Director, International Press centre Mr Lanre Arogundade described journalists as the heartbeat of the public.

    He however charged reporters to learn, unlearn and relearn so as to meet the utmost demands of journalism and ensuring desired change in the profession.

    Speaking during the training, Mr. Taiwo Obe, founder of journalism clinic urged participants on the importance of social media tools in news reporting.

    Obe, in a paper presentation titled Covering Political Space using Digital Tools and Apps, emphasised the need for reporters to think and rethink.

    “Your most important tool is your thinking” He said.

    He emphasised the development of creative stories and data ideas urging journalists to make their voices heard using various social media platforms.

    Journalists and former presidential aide on public affairs Mr Bolaji Adebiyi also urged reporters on in depth understanding of the legal frame work of the electoral processes.

    Adebiyi in his presentation titled” The dos and don’ts of election reporting” highlighted inadequate knowledge of the rule as one of the challenges of election coverage in Nigeria.

    Encouraging reporters to go back and study the constitution, he said ” journalists should be abreast and have deep knowledge of provisions of legal framework of the Electoral Processes especially the 1999 Constitution,

    Electoral Act 2010 as amended, INEC guidelines and constitutions of various political parties.”

    Adebiyi noted that political reporters could cause conflicts if they lack the necessary knowledge of the legal rules.

    A social and human capacity expert, Mr Jide Ojo said that the major role of the media as the watchdog of the society is to set agenda for the politicians.

    “The Media should set Agenda for the Contestants with a view to holding them accountable when elected into office” he said.

    Ojo challenged reporters to carry out their responsibilities ahead of the 2019 general elections adding that the media has so far not lived up to expectations.

    Speaking on integrating human index development into data, Ojo urged journalists to ask the right questions from political contestants.

    According to him, campaigns should be based on socio-economic issues such as “water, unemployment, electricity, tourism, agriculture, transportation”

    Participants however expressed joy to be part of the training as they all said they learnt a lot.

  • Residents groan as flood destroy properties in Alimosho

    Residents of Aboru in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on Monday woke up to count loses caused by flood, following a heavy rain that lasted from Sunday night to early hours of Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that as a result of the flood many residents could not sleep in the night.

    NAN observed that residents stood in batches at the frontage of their houses and shops lamenting the havoc caused by the rain while some were seen carrying belongings affected by the rain outside.

    Many fences were pulled down while the entire Aboru Road in Iyana-Ipaja was filled with mud and garbage moved to the area by the flood.

    Many of the residents and shop owners who spoke with NAN linked the recurring flooding to the alleged abandoned bridge connecting Iyana-Ipaja to Aboru, saying the bridge was taking much water than it could.

    According to them, whenever it rains, not only in the area but also in other places like Abule Egba, Abattior in Agege, the water being channeled to the bridge affect residents of the area.

    An elderly landlord, Mr Solomon Egbodhoroma said that the people in the area had been suffering because of the abandoned bridge.

    He alleged that what the government constructed was a culvert and not bridge.

    Read Also: Ekiti lawmaker dies three days after gun attack

    Egbodhoroma said: “I could not sleep since 2 a.m. when the rain started because the water spilled over to the window level of my one storey building and pulled down my fence.

    “Our challenge in Aboru road here is the canal that the government refuses to do. What is here is better described as a culvert not a bridge. Every year, we suffer a lot and lose property.

    “The recurrent flood has sent away people in my ground floor as you can see. I have been restricted to the upstairs and every year, my house is always affected.

    “The channelisation of over 35 drainages to this area is a problem we face, and the government has refused to do it even after the contract was said to have been awarded as far back as 2012.’’

    The retire civil servant, who noted that he got to the area in 1979, said that home owners had made efforts to fix the problem.

    “We have equally written to the state government and house of assembly without result.

    “After series of letters, the government refused to answer us, we went there to protest and they promised to come but they did not. We are pleading with the government to come and do this bridge.

    “Where can I go from here being close to 70 years? A lot of people have left after losing property. I have suffered enough,” he said.

    Also, a Septuagenarian landlord, Harryi Iduwe urged the government to come to their aid by ensuring the construction of a standard bridge in the area that could withstand the volume of water channeled into it.

    Iduwe, whose house was also inundated with water, said the canal had been bringing untold hardship annually to residents.

    “Any time it rains, we are in trouble as water flows from the canal to all streets here. We call on the government to look at our afflictions,” he said.

    A furniture maker, Mr Gift Wejem said that the flood did not only carry away a set of furniture and wood that were kept outside the shop, but also inundated materials, machines and power plant kept in the shop.

    “The situation was not like this when I came in. The problem is flood and the increasing volume of water channeled here. The bridge we have here is not bridge.

    “So, since much water is expected to pass into it, it gets filled up and water flows back to nearby houses,” Wejem told NAN.

    Mr Suleiman Adedokun, another shop owner said: “This water is too much, it entered my shop and as you can see, I have been moving the water out since morning.

    “Government should please come and do this canal, drains and road. It is long overdue. This road and drain must be raised to end our plights.”

    NAN reports that as at about 11a.m., so many business owners, tenants and landlords are still busy evacuating water, refuse and mud the flood moved to their apartments.