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Tag: Nigeria News

  • 11 killed, 4 injured as gunmen open fire on villagers in Plateau

    11 killed, 4 injured as gunmen open fire on villagers in Plateau

    Eleven persons were killed and four others injured when gunmen opened fire on villagers returning from Rim-Dyem market in Riyom, Plateau State, Tuesday night.

    “The attack took place around 7.30 p.m.; the villagers were returning home from a local market when gunmen waylaid them, killing 11 people instantly,” Mr Terna Tyopev, Plateau Police Command spokesman said.

    He said that those injured had been taken to Christian Hospital, Vom.

    “No arrest has been made, but we are already investigating the incident; we shall not rest until the attackers are fished out,” he said.

    Tyopev appealed to the affected community to be calm and resist the temptation to take the law into their hands, adding that more security personnel had been deployed to secure the area.

    The Tuesday attack is the latest in a series of violence visited on rural communities in Plateau, in the past few weeks.

    Among communities that had come under heavy attacks are Wereh, Foron and Rim in Barkin Ladi Local Government, as well as Miango, Jebu, Taegbe and Ncha in Bassa Local Government.

    The state, which suffered massive violence for more than a decade, enjoyed uninterrupted peace for two years before the gunmen returned in September.

    NAN

  • Taking CALCULATED risks?

    Taking CALCULATED risks?

    Thinking about the concept of taking risks just brings to memory a myriad of hilarious but pitiable classic cases of people who dream big, planned little and fell very flat on their face like humpty dumpty fell from the wall.

    A typical case is the man who invested (or should I say wasted) the entire money meant for his wedding on the notorious MMM Ponzi scheme. After losing the entire money, he felt his world crashing, and decided to end it all by drinking the entire bottle of sniper insecticide.

    This is just one out of the many cases of people taking “uncalculated” risks all in the name of fueling an ambition or fulfilling a goal.

    So, how do we take calculated risks?

    First, by definition, a calculated risk is a chance of exposure to loss or failure that is estimated after its advantages and disadvantages have been carefully weighed and considered.

    There are quite a number of ways you can take calculated risk but let’s consider a few.

    1. Don’t Always Be A YESMAN

    What this mean is pretty simple, you should be prepared to turn down some really juicy opportunities. If you are a person who like to satisfy everybody, you will definitely find it terribly difficult to say NO.

    It is better and profitable to be an expert in a few things or subject matters than to have a shallow knowledge in a lot of things. Focus and attention to details is key!

    1. Always Trust Your Gut

    A lot of people confuse their natural instinct (gut) with fear; they presume that their discomfort with a thing is a clear indication not to proceed.

    Many people struggle in the place of taking risks, they assume if something feel scary or a little unsettled, it must be really risky. But this is not usually an accurate or objective way to measure risk.

    1. Balance Your Line Of Business With Innovation

    We live in an era of accelerated change. There is an urgent need for businesses to be creative and innovative. The moment you start to neglect new opportunities and avenues to innovate, your business risk becoming obsolete.

    1. Evaluate Every Opportunity With A Critical Eye

    Don’t rush into every opportunity that present itself, take a step back to examine the risk involved. Start by gathering valuable information about the opportunity. Then, you would be at liberty to consider and x-ray all your options.

    1. Control Your Fear

    Your level of fear usually has nothing to do with the actual level of risk you face. Take, for example, public speaking. It’s often cited as the No. 2 fear most people have.

    But public speaking isn’t actually too much of a risk. Sure, there are some social risks involved–people may judge your speaking ability or find your message boring, or you might commit communication hara-kiri.

    However, it is interesting to know and note that their judgment won’t kill you. And if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you better.

    1. Balance Your Emotions With Logic

    Emotionally primed and strong individuals are usually not candidates of fear, especially when it pertains to taking calculated risks. They are able to objectively analyse their outcomes – failure or success; even when they know that it could be the difference between living an ordinary life and an extraordinary one.

    It is important to assess your actual level of risk by examining the facts before you. Start by creating a list of the pros and cons and the potential risks versus benefits.

    Writing down the facts of the case and reading them over will greatly help you view the risk through the eye of logic. This is one way to balancing out your emotions.

    Also, when you’re excited about an opportunity, you are likely to overlook the obvious and latent risks. Sometimes it is advisable that you ask an expert.

    Furthermore, when you are too afraid to make a move, talk to someone with valuable experience concerning the matter. Gleaning invaluable advice from them may help you find the courage to take the leap.

    Finally, let’s get a nugget or two from 26th President of the United State of America – Theodore Roosevelt:

    Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

  • Death of 26 Nigerians in Mediterranean sea, tragic, avoidable – Abike Dabiri

    Death of 26 Nigerians in Mediterranean sea, tragic, avoidable – Abike Dabiri

    Mrs Abike Dabiri – Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora on Tuesday described the death of 26 Nigerians in Mediterranean sea as “most unfortunate and tragic’’.

    Dabiri-Erewa in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said: “promising young Nigerians embarking on such dangerous journeys, in search of greener pastures, end up faced rather with hopelessness, torture, despair and sometimes death, as in this case.

    “The deaths of these young Nigerians, mostly women and girls were avoidable and preventable.”

    “It is tragic and lamentable. It is just not worth it ultimately.

    “There has to be sustained awareness campaigns on the dangers inherent in such journeys. Migration policies are getting tougher all over,’’ she said.

    Dabiri-Erewa said that President Muhammadu Buhari has been working with the International Organisation of Migration, to bring back voluntary returnees pointing out that it was not usually greener out there, even if survived.

    While appealing to the Italian authorities to ensure thorough investigations into the deaths, the presidential aide, advised Nigerians to desist from such journeys.

    “Regrettably, such trips are usually paid for, sometimes as high as 4,500 dollars as inhumane traffickers profit from the illicit business, luring the victims who ignorantly fall for the apparently fake lure of a better life out there.

    “The boats now being used are getting smaller and more dangerous, and those on the other side are not particularly willing to save them from drowning any more.

    “No fewer than 26 Nigerians were reportedly got drowned in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday,” she said.

    She noted that the Italian prosecutors had begun an investigation into the deaths of the victims, mostly teenagers, though hundreds of other migrants survived.

    NAN

  • N8.612tr budget for 2018 will sustain steady economic recovery – Buhari

    N8.612tr budget for 2018 will sustain steady economic recovery – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja presented about N8.612 trillion as the 2018 Appropriation bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, saying the projected expenditure would drive rapid economic recovery.

    He said at the session that with a benchmark of 45 dollars per barrel at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar in 2018, the budget would consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets to aggressively steer the economy to the path of steady growth.

    “With the economic recovery made so far, it is clear that we made the right decisions.

    “And I urge you all to support the Federal Government’s policies towards economic recovery,’’ he said.

    Buhari said that the government would continue to develop infrastructure and increase investments in agriculture to attain food security and reduce importation.

    Read Also: Nigeria saves 20 Billion naira monthly on payroll system – Buhari

    He added that while the Federal Government was committed to identifying alternative means of funding new projects, there was need to continue to pursue public private partnership, to provide more infrastructure in the country.

    According to him, the Federal Government has been able to construct or rehabilitate about 776-kilometer roads in 2017.

    The president said that the construction of Abuja metroline had attained 98 per cent completion, adding that work had commenced on the Ajaouta-Itakpe rail line which was abandoned for 17 years.

    He said that the project would be delivered in September 2018, adding that the country’s power sector would witness a turn around.

    “The power sector reform is still working in progress as we have increased power generation but we still have some challenges in transmission and distribution network,” Buhari said.

    He added that the Federal Government was committed to green alternative energy.

  • Six docked for beating DPO

    Six docked for beating DPO

    Two women and four men were on Tuesday arraigned in an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly battering a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who was on his way to perform his official duty.

    The accused, who are all residing at Ikorodu, near Lagos are: Kehinde Alimot, 40; Bukola Ahmed, 32; Ifeanyi Kanu, 22; Owolabi Ibrahim, 39; Aikulola Olamiji, 54, and Jamiu Yussuf, 39.

    The accused people were arraigned before Magistrate A.B. Adelabu-Olagbegi on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful assault and causing a breach of peace.

    However, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The magistrate, thereafter, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties, according to the magistrate, must also be house owners within the magisterial district and must also show evidence of three years tax payment.

    She adjourned the case until Dec. 14 for trial.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Mary Ajiteru, had said that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 26 along Agunfoye Road, Igbogbo in Ikorodu at about 12.45 a.m.

    According to Ajiteru, the accused, including a nursing mother, battered their victim, one Supol Issah Lawal, a DPO attached to the Igbogbo Police Station.

    “On sighting the DPO, who was on his way to work, he was battered seriously while in his police uniform,” she said.

    Ajiteru said the offences contravened Sections 411, 168 (d), 174(b) of the Lagos State Criminal Code Laws, 2015.

    NAN

  • Lagos begins four-year channelisation of ferry routes

    Lagos begins four-year channelisation of ferry routes

    The Lagos State Government says it has embarked on the channelisation of 30 routes on the waterways as part of efforts to boost transportation in the state.

    The Commissioner for Water Infrastructure, Mr Ade Adesanya, made this known on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the Marina-Ebute-Ojo ferry routes in Lagos.

    Akinsanya said the channelisation would be carried out over a four-year period.

    He said that work had begun on four of the channels, explaining that the move was aimed at ensuring smooth journeys on the waterways and ultimately boost the state’s economy.

    In his remarks, Mr Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said that the government embarked on the project to further attract investment in water transportation and boost tourism potentials in the sector.

    Ayorinde expressed optimism that the move would also enable those engaged in ferry business to generate more income and in turn pay their taxes to the state.

    Mr Olajide Akinyele, one of the engineers in charge of the project, listed the routes where work was ongoing as Ojo-Marina, Baiyeku-Ajah, Ijede-Marina and Ijede to Badore.

    Read Also: Lagos targets 2m water passengers daily

  • Trial of Amosu, other ex-service chiefs resumes Dec. 5

    Trial of Amosu, other ex-service chiefs resumes Dec. 5

    The absence of  Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday forced the adjournment until Dec. 5, 6 and 7 the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu and 10 others charged with N22.8 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) had on June 29, 2016 arraigned Amosu alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga and eight companies.

    The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon HealthCare.

    The case which was earlier scheduled for continuation of trial on Tuesday, was again adjourned to the new dates following the absence of Justice Mohammed Idris.

    No reason was given for his absence.

    The accused are standing trial on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.

    The accused were alleged to have indirectly converted N3.6 billion belonging to the Nigerian Air Force to their own.

    In addition, Amosu and others were alleged to have stolen over N323 million from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between March 21, 2014 and March 12, 2015 and that the money was utilised for the purpose of purchasing for themselves a property situated at No.1, River Street, Wuse II, Abuja.

    The offences. according to the EFCC, contravene Sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    NAN

  • ‘Nigeria lost N6tr worth of goods to fire disasters in five years’

    ‘Nigeria lost N6tr worth of goods to fire disasters in five years’

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Sen. Andy Uba, says Nigeria has lost over N6 trillion worth of goods to fire disasters in the past five years.

    Uba made the disclosure at the International Fire Conference and Exhibition, organised by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Interior, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to him, nationally, direct and indirect reported and unreported losses to the economy have been put conservatively at about N6 trillion.

    “Alarming as these numbers are, they could be significantly higher if all the incidents in rural areas were recorded by an efficient operational fire statistics database.

    “There is a general consensus on the need to mitigate this trend to stopping the fire before they start,” he said.

    The lawmaker told the Federal Government to reposition fire service delivery to make it modern and efficient.

    Uba, who noted that less than two per cent of Nigeria’s population were safety literate, called for media partnership on creating awareness on the issue.

    Declaring the two-day event open, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said that outbreaks were preventable given the necessary equipment and manpower.

    The vice-president was represented by the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau.

    He said that with support from the legislature and backing from the presidency, the Federal Fire Service would be one of the best in the world within the next five years.

    “The effort by the National Assembly in the 2016 budget to procure five equipment is encouraging. This did not happen in the last 30 years or more.

    “We are doing our best to ensure that Nigeria remains safe. There is a correlation between climate change and conflict,” he said.

    The President of the Fire Disaster Prevention and Safety Awareness Association of Nigeria, Mr Badanga Lamidi, commended the senate for its effort in ensuring safety of Nigerians.

    NAN

  • Ekwueme is alive, responding to treatment – Hospital

    Ekwueme is alive, responding to treatment – Hospital

    Contrary to the rumoured death of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme in the social media, an official of Memfys Neurological Hospital, Enugu, and his younger brother have debunked the report.

    An official of the hospital who on condition of anonymity in Enugu on Tuesday said that ”Ekwueme is still in Memfys Hospital.

    “Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, is alive, stable and responding to treatment.’’

    The official further said that Ekwueme was receiving the best attention from the hospital.

    The official maintained that though the hospital would not give out information about its patients, “the rumour that he is dead is false.

    “He is recovering and doing well; people should not spread false information.

    “The family members are always here,” the official said.

    Similarly, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Oko community in Orumba North Local Government of Anambra, corroborated the hospital’s position.

    The traditional ruler, who is also the younger brother of the former Vice President, said in a telephone interview in Awka on Tuesday that people had bored the family with phone calls.

    “You people should stop disturbing me with all these calls. Ekwueme is alive and recovering, please,” he said.

    It would be recalled that barely a week ago, Ekwueme was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu.

    Due to his critical condition, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for his treatment abroad.

    Meanwhile, the family has described the rumour of his death as “wicked”.

    NAN

  • FG saves N24.7bn from TSA, IPPIS/BVN monthly – Buhari

    FG saves N24.7bn from TSA, IPPIS/BVN monthly – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says Federal Government’s leveraging on Information and Communication Technology ( ICT ) and the enforcement of Bank Verification Number ( BVN ) has saved the nation of N24.7 billion monthly.

    The president disclosed this when he declared open the 2017 eNigeria Conference, organised by National Information Technology Development Agency ( NITDA ) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    The president also revealed that the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System ( IPPIS ) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) had eliminated ghost workers and reduced waste, thereby saving the nation N20 billion monthly.

    He said that the consolidation of 20,000 accounts had saved the nation N4.7 billion.

    According to him, the TSA policy has also facilitated transparency, accountability and ease of transactions and payments between government and businesses as well as government and citizens.

    “We have done a lot to transform our government, especially in the areas of strategy, policies and digital infrastructure investments.

    “You may recall that on assumption of office, we enforced the policy on Treasury Single Account (TSA). Today, we are all witnesses to the impact it has made on our financial management.

    “We have so far consolidated over 20,000 accounts, resulting into about N4.7 billion monthly savings.

    “In addition, the policy facilitated transparency, accountability and ease of transactions and payments between government and businesses as well as government and citizens.

    “Another initiative leveraging on ICT and making huge impact on the economy is the introduction of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

    “Its implementation has helped to eliminate the menace of ghost workers, thereby reducing waste in the system by saving government over N20 billion monthly.

    President Buhari described his presence at the event as a demonstration of his commitment and strong belief in using ICT as a major driver of developmental governance and economic reform plans aimed at bringing about the true CHANGE his administration promised Nigerians.

    According to him, ICT is strategic in driving productivity and efficiency in all sectors of the economy.

    He noted that currently, almost all sectors of the nation’s economy leverage on ICT to increase efficiency, productivity and performance.

    President Buhari commended NITDA’s efforts on fostering the patronage of indigenous IT products and services through continuous engagement with indigenous OEMs, relevant stakeholders and other laudable initiatives.

    He observed that ICT played a pivotal role with agencies of government such as the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC ), Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS ) and the Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS ).

    He stated that the affected agencies had leaned on ICT in improving public service delivery in an efficient and transparent manner.

    “So far, 31 reforms have been completed by the council and these reforms are already making noticeable impact on our economic diversification efforts.

    “The Agency’s efforts at enforcing Federal Government’s directive on ensuring that all ICT projects in the country are cleared by it before implementation are highly commendable.

    “These efforts will ensure that government’s ICT procurement is transparent.

    “It is aligned with government’s IT-shared vision and policy, save costs through promotion of shared services, avoid duplication, ensure compatibility of IT systems, thereby improving efficiency across government and enforce the patronage of indigenous companies.’’

    The president expressed the hope that the conference would come up with practical, viable solutions and recommendations to further develop local content in ICT as well as how it could best regulate the deployment and use of ICT systems to foster a digital economy in Nigeria.

    The president used the opportunity of the conference to express displeasure over refusal of some heads of government’s ministries, agencies and departments to wear the Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem.

    He noted that very few of dignitaries at the conference wore the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem, which he inaugurated on Wednesday.

    He urged all heads of ministries, departments and agencies to wear the emblem with pride, to encourage the legionnaires as well as families of those who paid the supreme price for the unity of the nation.

    Buhari said the emblem launch was a worthy tradition of recognizing and appreciating the sacrifices of the veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Nigerian Civil War and Peace Support Operations around the world.

    The three-day conference has as theme: “Fostering Digital Economy through Local Content Development and Effective Regulations.”

    NAN