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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Gombe advises residents to avoid monkey pox prone areas

    Gombe advises residents to avoid monkey pox prone areas

    The Gombe State Government has advised residents to avoid places with reported cases of monkey pox.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kennedy Ishaya, gave the advice in Gombe on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the state’s level of preparedness against the disease.

    “Since monkey pox is a viral infection, I am appealing to the general public to avoid places with the reported case,” Ishaya said.

    He also urged residents in the state to report any constituted signs such as fever, headache and common cold to health facilities and avoid self-medication.

    According to him, since the outbreak of the disease in some parts of the country, the Ministry of Health had set up machinery in place.

    The commissioner said that such contingency was always provided for in the state’s annual budget and N2 million had been released to the state Emergency Response Team.

    He said that one of the measures taken was to designate a place at the state specialist hospital to serve as an isolation ward in case of any outbreak.

    He added that drugs and antiseptics had been procured for treatment of those infected in case of any reported case in the state.

    Ishaya said that the state government had also launched a sensitisation campaign through the media, religious and opinion leaders to educate the people about the disease.

    NAN

  • Police nab eight kidnap suspects in Adamawa

    Police nab eight kidnap suspects in Adamawa

    The police in Adamawa have arrested eight persons, suspected to be behind kidnapping cases in the state.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Moses Jitoboh, told newsmen on Tuesday in Yola, that the suspects were arrested on Sept. 23 , in Mubi South Local Government Area of the state.

    Jitoboh explained that their arrest was as a result of intensive security patrol by men of his command.

    “Exhibits recovered from the suspected kidnappers include one locally made pistol, two live 7.62 millimeter ammunition, 58 live cartridges and seven empty cartridges.

    “Others are one double-barreled gun, two masks, one ear protector, two military helmets and  SIM cards, among others,” Jitoboh said.

    He said the police had also arrested three suspects for criminal conspiracy, store-breaking and stealing of property belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    According to the police commissioner, the suspects were arrested for stealing 120 laptops belonging to the Adamawa INEC office on June 19, 2017.

    He gave assurance that the command would continue to collaborate with the other security agencies in the state to protect lives and property of the citizens.

    NAN

  • FG saves $2m annually from local cement production – BUA CEO

    FG saves $2m annually from local cement production – BUA CEO

    The Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, has said that the local cement manufacturers produce over 25 million tonnes cement thus saving the country two million dollars annually.

    He said this while addressing State House Correspondents after a meeting of the Presidential Industrial Advisory Council chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

    “The most important thing I think is that the cement industry in Nigeria will continue to save Nigeria a lot of foreign exchange.

    “If for example, you look at what we have produced in Nigeria today, maybe 25 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes, if we quantify that in terms of foreign exchange it is almost two billion dollars per year.

    “That is a lot of money being saved because if we do not have these cement plants definitely we have to import cement.

    “And not only do we have to spend money in terms of foreign exchange import but the price of cement definitely would have been higher than what it is today,’’ he said.

    Rabiu also spoke about the expansion of his company’s facilities in order to make more cement available for local consumption.

    According to him, we will be inaugurating our Sokoto plant next quarter, early 2018, and also our Edo second cement line will come on stream probably by second quarter of next year.

    Rabiu mentioned the reduction of price of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), and the appreciation of the local currency in the foreign exchange market as things that helped the sub-sector to grow.

    “The foreign exchange has also come down; it is stable even though as we all know the cement industry does not really require a lot of foreign exchange.

    “But the fall in foreign exchange rate has really helped in terms of the things that we import into Nigeria like spare parts, some raw materials like gypsum,’’ the industrialist said.

    He acknowledged that a lot of issues to advance the industrial sector were discussed at the monthly Presidential Advisory Council meeting.

    “As you all know this council is one that is trying to bring private sector together with the government to come up with ideas on how we can improve on a lot of things.

    “Most especially infrastructure, power, roads and so many other things; I believe this is a good thing.

    “The Council has made a lot of progress.

    “A lot of areas have been identified that the government together with the private sector are going to work to see that work can start as soon as possible.

    “In fact, I believe last week, one of the ideas that we presented was deliberated upon at the Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) meeting and approval was given.

    “We are looking forward to another meeting and I believe in the next few months a lot of things will take shape as far as this council is concerned,’’ Rabiu added.

    NAN

  • Police arrest burglar of Sen. Nwaoboshi’s residence in Asaba

    Police arrest burglar of Sen. Nwaoboshi’s residence in Asaba

    The Police in Delta said they  had arrested  one Emeka Ezeonyi who allegedly broke into the residence of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi in Asaba and carted  away cash and other valuables.

    The Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO ) in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said this in a statement on  Tuesday in Asaba.

    According to Aniamaka, the suspect  stole cell phones, laptop computers and cash from the residence of Sen.Nwaoboshi..

    He said the suspect, who hailed from Umuchu village in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, had confessed to have burgled Sen. Nwaoboshi’s residence.

    Aniamaka said the suspect had also  confessed to partaking in  many  other robberies and burglaries in Asaba, Owerri, Makurdi and Enugu.

    “The Delta Police Command, with effective collaboration of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team on Oct. 24, 2017 arrested one Emeka Ezeonyi for his involvement in series of burglaries and stealing.

    “Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to have burgled the residences of many identified prominent personalities in Asaba, Owerri, Makurdi and Enugu metropolis,” he said.

    The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, Mr  Zanna Ibrahim, had commended the officers who arrested the suspect as result of  the effective deployment of tactical intelligence.

    NAN

  • Rangers International FC to be on Nigerian Stock Exchange soon

    Rangers International FC to be on Nigerian Stock Exchange soon

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu will soon be floated on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), an official of the Administrative Commission of Inquiry on Rangers confirmed on Tuesday.

    Based on the submissions mate by the commission, the Enugu State Government will likely divest its shares and stakes in Rangers soon.

    About two months ago the state government had set up the Administrative Commission of Inquiry, which had been looking into the club’s activities.

    The seven-time league champions who won the 2015/2016 title about 32 years after the last time had a poor outing in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    A member of the commission, Norbert Okolie, told NAN on Tuesday that putting the club’s shares at the NSE was part of the major recommendations made by the commission.

    Okolie, who is also the Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN ), Enugu State, said the commission’s report was submitted to the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday.

    He said the commission, after duly considering a deluge of memoranda submitted, noted that Rangers being a big brand in the football business should enjoy and leverage on this.

    “This can only be, by lifting the burden of sponsorship from the state government.’’

    Okolie disclosed that the commission also suggested that the club’s ownership should be spread to other South-East states and other lovers of the club.

    “Thirty-five per cent of the shares will be reserved for the Enugu State Government, while 32 per cent will be for the four states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo at 8 per cent each.

    “Twenty-five per cent will be for the general public, six per cent for the Amalgamated Traders Association, one per cent for Rangers Supporters’ Club and one per cent for Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    “This is what was suggested by the commission headed by Prof. Gab Agu,’’ he said.

    Okolie also said the formation of Rangers’ female football club and basketball team were equally recommended by the commission.

    “This is for maximum benefits to be gained by the shareholders and teeming youths of the states in particular and the nation in general,’’ he said

    Ugwuanyi, while receiving the commission’s 52-page report, had promised to present the document for State Executive Committee (SEC) deliberations and quick implementation of recommendations.

    NAN

  • 2, 045 corps members to pass out Thursday in Kwara

    2, 045 corps members to pass out Thursday in Kwara

    A total of 2, 045 corps members are expected to pass out from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after the completion of the mandatory one year national service in Kwara.

    Mr Oladipo Morakinyo, the State NYSC Public Relations Officer, via a statement issued on Tuesday in Ilorin, said the ceremony would be low keyed.

    “The management of the scheme scheduled a low-key passing out ceremony for the 2016 Batch B, Stream 1, for Thursday, Nov.2,’’ Morakinyo added.

    He added that adequate arrangements have been made to issue certificate of national service to the deserving corps members at some designated locations across the state.

    Morakinyo said that three Nysc members that distinguished themselves during the service year were nominated for the NYSC State Honours Award, while another eight will receive commendation certificates.

    He added that 25 Nysc members would be sanctioned for committing various offences during the service year.

    “They were sanctioned for various offences committed during the service year; some out rightly absconded from the service, while others contravened various sections of the NYSC bye laws.”

    Morakinyo announced that three corps members lost their lives during the service year.

    NAN

  • MTN calls $4.2bn claim by Turkcell opportunistic, baseless

    MTN calls $4.2bn claim by Turkcell opportunistic, baseless

    MTN on Tuesday called a 4.2 billion-dollar claim by Turkcell in a South African court over a disputed Iranian mobile phone licence “opportunistic” and “baseless”, the company said on Tuesday after filing a defence plea.

    Turkcell first sued MTN in a U.S. court in 2012, alleging the company used bribery and wrongful influence to win a lucrative Iranian license that was originally awarded to Turkcell.

    It dropped the suit in 2013 after U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a separate case made clear that U.S. courts would not have jurisdiction in a claim involving two foreign firms in an overseas dispute.

    In 2916, it filed in South Africa, where the case has been stuck in procedural wrangling since.

    “Turkcell’s claim is opportunistic, an abuse of the process of Court, baseless and without merit,” MTN said in a statement after filing a defence plea.

    Turkcell was not immediately available to comment.

    MTN obtained the license in Iran in 2005 and maintains that Turkcell missed out because it would not comply with an Iranian rule that caps the shareholding in the license at 49 percent.

    Iran is MTN’s third largest market out of the 22 countries the company operates in.

    MTN previously appointed a retired British judge to lead an external investigation into Turkcell’s allegations. That probe dismissed the accusations as “a fabric of lies, distortions and inventions”.

    NAN

  • Police arrests man for raping 85-year-old woman

    Police arrests man for raping 85-year-old woman

    A 29-year-old man, Kehinde Ariyo, has been arrested by the Osun Police Command for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman to coma at Ilesa town in the state.

    The police commissioner in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Osogbo.

    Adeoye said the incident happened at Ogudu area in Ilesa, where the suspect forcefully had canal knowledge of the old woman after gaining access to her residence around 11pm on Oct. 27.

    He added that the woman sustained various degrees of injuries on her body, including her private organ, and eventually passed out in the process before she was resuscitated at a private hospital.

    According to Adeoye, the suspect lives in the same area where the victim resides, and had gone on errands for the old woman severally in the past.

    “The woman passed out during the rape, but came back to life after some hours, the suspect was arrested the next day.

    “This is the height of wickedness in our society. The boy injured the woman in the process, but she has been treated”, Adeoye said.

    The suspect admitted to have committed the act, claiming to have been drunk at the time of committing the heinous act.

    “Mama asked me to sleep on a couch in the passage. I was already drunk and did not know what happened afterwards,” he claimed.

    NAN

  • Anambra Poll: Group urges candidates to embrace issues-based campaign

    Anambra Poll: Group urges candidates to embrace issues-based campaign

    The Democrat, a Non-Government Organisation, (NGO), has urged political parties and their candidates in Anambra to embrace issues-based campaign and shun comments that could incite their followers during campaigns.

    The organisation’s National Leader, Mr Kehinde Ojuawo, who made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan, said it had become necessary as the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state draws closer.

    Ojuawo maintained that the political parties and their candidates should refrain from abusive utterances and hate speeches, so that the electorate can know what candidates want to do if elected.

    He  called on the people to use the period of the campaign to assess the candidates and also shun any form of financial inducement from the candidates or their agents.

    According to him, the relevant authorities should begin voter education, so as to ensure that there large turnout of the people on the election date.

    Ojuawo urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to monitor the electioneering in the state and evoke necessary sanctions on political parties and candidates that cause violence during the campaign.

    “Disqualification of the political parties and candidates that cause violence should be enforced,” he said.

    NAN

  • UNFPA urges FG to fight high fertility, maternal mortality

    UNFPA urges FG to fight high fertility, maternal mortality

    The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) on Monday advised Nigeria to fight high fertility, maternal mortality rate and migration problem to end poverty and boost prosperity in the country.

    The UNFPA Country Representative, Ms Diene Keita, gave the advice at the 5th Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS) with the theme: “Achieving Demographic Dividend: Strategic Tool for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development’’ in Abuja.

    Represented by Mr Osaretin Adonri, the Assistant Country Representative of UNFPA in Nigeria, Keita said that if Nigeria wants to tackle poverty, enhance prosperity and promote sustainable growth as envisaged in Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, it was of prime necessity to address diverse population issues.

    She said that problems including high fertility, high maternal mortality rate, migration and the special issue of youth development must be addressed.

    “The theme of this year’s lecture is in line with the African Union Road Map on harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth and the country’s road map on harnessing Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth launched in July, 2017.

    “It is relevant to the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017-2020), which in recognition of the risk factor of the high population growth rate in Nigeria prescribed the integration of population dynamics in development programmes.

    “With a large population of young people accounting for 31.7% of the population, the country should urgently generate a large number of productive jobs for the growing working-age population.

    “Also there is the need to adopt a strong social welfare system for the aged which will in the near future contribute substantially to the dependent population.

    “The country must implement appropriate policies on small families, and capital inflow to grow the manufacturing bases and consumer markets, especially to support investment and employment growth in order to take advantage of its demographic situations for sustainable development,” she said.

    However, the UN official lauded the federal government through the National Population Commission and other partners for their hard work, consistency and collaboration in ensuring the success of this year’s lecture.

    She appealed to policy makers and programme managers to make the best use of knowledge about population issues at the APLS and similar opportunities for development planning; ensuring that policies and programmes were guided by data on population issues.

    In her remarks, the Executive Director of Advocacy Nigeria, Hajiya Saudatu Sani, said that the time of planning on the management of Nigerian population was over and it was now time for implementation.

    Sani also urged government to invest in the youth, women and girl child education to achieving demographic dividend.

    The gender advocate advised the government to adopt the model used in China where there was huge investment on the youth for sustainable development.

    “Nigeria must do that now, the time of planning is over, it is time to implement and government must do that now to fight poverty,” she said.

    NAN