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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Plateau recruits 5,253 teachers to enhance quality education

    Plateau recruits 5,253 teachers to enhance quality education

    The Plateau Government on Thursday said it had recruited 5,253 ad hoc teachers as part of efforts to address shortage of teachers in the state.

    The Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ), Prof Mathew Sule, disclosed this while fielding questions in Jos.

    Sule said the state government had also trained more than 700 teachers to enhance their capacity and to provide quality education.

    The chairman said the deficit and quality of teachers in public primary and Junior Secondary schools had been a major concern to the government.

    “We visited some primary schools and discovered that many of the pupils in the senior classes cannot read or write.

    “As part of efforts to address the situation, SUBEB organised a three-day training in March on ‘Jolly phonics’ for 700 teachers across the state,” he said.

    NAN

  • Court arraigns man for stealing yams

    Court arraigns man for stealing yams

    A labourer, Monday Atawei, who allegedly stole 65 tubers of yam valued at N30,000 was on Thursday brought before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State.

    Atawei of no fixed address, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant and two others at large, on Sept. 19 around 6:30 a.m at a farmland along Okitipupa-Ode-Aye Road, conspired to steal the yams.

    Orogbemi said that the defendant was employed as labourer by the complainant, Idowu Akinsuleyin, to work on his yam farmland, but later came back, after collecting his wages, to steal the yams.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 312 and 390(9) of Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, admitted the accused to bail of N20, 000 with a surety in like sum and evidence of one year tax clearance.

    He adjourned the case until Oct.13 for further hearing.

    NAN

  • Udom redeems 50,000 dollars pledge to Super Eagles – NFF

    Udom redeems 50,000 dollars pledge to Super Eagles – NFF

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, has redeemed his pledge of 10,000 dollars per goal for the matches against Cameroon to the Super Eagles.

    The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ) made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja.

    Gov. Udom had promised the players 10,000 dollars for every goal, two days before their clash with the reigning African champions, whom the Super Eagles walloped 4-0 in Uyo on Sept.1.

    They went on to earn a 1-1 draw with the Lions in Yaounde on Sept. 4.

    “Gov. Udom has redeemed the pledge on Wednesday, while calling on the Super Eagles to go for the broke on Saturday and expect ‘a handsome reward’ from him.

    “There will be more incentives for the Eagles if the team could earn a sixth FIFA World Cup appearance by winning on Saturday,’’ NFF’s spokesman, Ademola Olajire said in a statement.

    “I know you have the quality to overcome in this important match, but I don’t want you to underrate your opponents.

    “I love the professionalism and dedication to cause that you have shown since the beginning of this qualifying campaign. Those efforts have put Nigeria at the top of the table.

    “I want to commend the NFF, your coaches and the support staff for the great job they have all done in support of your efforts to get to this position.

    “You are just one win away from achieving your goal. The Zambians are taking this game as a do-or-die affair, so we need to be totally focused and play like soldiers,’’ it quoted the governor as saying.

    The statement said Super Eagles’ Captain, Mikel John Obi, thanked the governor and pledged to him and indeed Nigerians everywhere that the team would not disappoint on Saturday.

    “We very much appreciate the role Your Excellency, the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State, the NFF and Nigerians from all walks of life have played to get us to this position in this campaign.

    “We know how much this match means and we will go out there and do the job,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Turkey orders detention of 133 workers in post-coup probe

    Turkey orders detention of 133 workers in post-coup probe

    Turkish authorities have issued detention warrants for 133 people working in the finance and labour ministries, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Thursday.

    The detention, according to Anadolu, was part of a widening crackdown  by the government following the 2016 failed coup attempt.

    The suspects were detained for allegedly using ByLock, an encrypted messaging app which the government said was used by the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara of orchestrating July abortive coup.

    Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies involvement.

    Anadolu said that 101 of the suspects were from the Finance Ministry and 32 from the Labour Ministry.

    It said that two of the suspects from each ministry were active workers.

    Since then, more than 50,000 people have been jailed pending trial over links to Gulen, while 150,000 people have been sacked or suspended from jobs in the public and private sectors.

    Rights groups and some of Turkey’s Western allies have voiced concern about the crackdown, fearing the government is using the coup as a pretext to quash dissent.

    The government says only such a purge could neutralise the threat represented by Gulen’s network, which it says deeply infiltrated institutions such as the army, schools and courts.

    In a latest development, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by media as saying that Turkey, Iran and Iraq will jointly decide on closing the flow of oil from northern Iraq.

    That was a retaliatory move after the Kurdish region voted for independence.

    Erdogan while speaking to Anadolu and other media including broadcasters NTV and CNN Turk on his return flight from a one-day trip to Iran, criticised the inclusion of the city of Kirkuk in the referendum.

    He said that Kurds had no legitimacy there.

    Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders after northern Iraq’s independence referendum last month.

    In September, Russian oil major Rosneft had clinched a gas pipeline deal in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan to help it become a major exporter of gas to Turkey and Europe.

    The pipeline will be constructed in 2019 and exports will begin in 2020.

    NAN

  • Yusuf says Super Eagles in victory mood

    Yusuf says Super Eagles in victory mood

    Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf, on Thursday said the players were in good mood and ready to conquer Zambia on Saturday in their World Cup qualifier.

    Yusuf said this in an interview that the Super Eagles were mentally and physically fit to overcome the Chipopolo of Zambia in Uyo.

    The coach said that he had absolute confidence in not just his players but their management because they were on top of the cracker between the two countries.

    “The Super Eagles are in very positive mood for the game against Zambia on Saturday,’’ Yusuf said.

    He appealed for the support of Nigerians, saying it was necessary for the team to be victorious in the match to be played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    The Super Eagles are ahead of other teams in Group B with 10 points and are followed by Zambia with seven points.

    Nigeria started the World Cup qualification campaign in what many soccer pundits predicted to be the group of death in a blistering form with a defeat 2-1 defeat of Zambia in Ndola to pick their first away win.

    Nigeria is on the brink of qualifying for the 2018 Mundial in Russia with an emphatic 4-0 win over the African champions, Cameroon in Uyo and the reverse fixture in Yaoundé which ended1-1.

    A home victory over Zambia – a side they beat away at the start of the group phase – will be enough to see Nigeria return to the finals after reaching the second round in Brazil in 2014.

    Other countries that could all book their spots at next year’s World Cup in the penultimate round of African qualifiers at the weekend are Egypt and Tunisia.

    That will leave the other two slots to be decided next month.

    NAN

  • Jigawa inaugurates health coordinating units in 27 LGAs

    Jigawa inaugurates health coordinating units in 27 LGAs

    Jigawa Ministry of Health has inaugurated Logistics Management Coordinating Units in 27 local government areas of the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abba Zakari, disclosed this in an interview in Dutse on Thursday.

    Zakari said the idea was to ensure close monitoring and utilisation of health commodities in health facilities in the 27 local government areas in appropriate manner.

    He explained that the units would ensure that the management do the right thing in a right manner in terms of drug storage, distribution, data collection, validation, analysis and to report to authority any problem for necessary action.

    The commissioner also said that the establishment of the units was in line with the directive from Federal Ministry of Health to ensure accountability and transparency in public health sector.

    He urged members of the units to be proactive and cooperate with one another toward achieving the desired results.

    He assured the members and management of heath facilities of the ministry’s support in the discharge of their duties.

    NAN

  • Oyo urges landowners to release lands for farming

    Oyo urges landowners to release lands for farming

    The Oyo State Government has called on landowners to release their idle lands to investors for cultivation so as to boost the state’s agricultural development.

    Prince Oyewole Oyewunmi, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, made the call a news conference in Ibadan on Wednesday.

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi has repeatedly claimed that the major thrust of his administration’s economic policy was the exploitation of the potential of the agriculture sector to boost the state’s economy.

    “The state government places a high premium on agriculture, which has now become a national issue nowadays as a result of the fall in the price of crude oil.

    “As a result of the intensive engagement of our communities, we have realised that agriculture is the bedrock and foundation of the state’s economy,’’ he once said.

    Oyewunmi said that the state had over 2.5 million hectares of arable land that were suitable for agriculture, adding the state also grew a variety of crops that could be cultivated in all vegetational belts within the tropics.

    He, however, said that the state had been having some difficulties in making land available for farmers, entrepreneurs and investors who were willing to invest in agriculture on a commercial basis.

    The commissioner said that the government has launched an agenda tagged “Zero Tolerance for Idle Agricultural Land’’, having discovered that there were lots of idle lands in the rural areas across the state.

    “The state government is not interested in taking over the idle lands across the state but wishes to encourage landowners in the state to willingly release such lands to investors.

    “Releasing idle lands to investors who are ready to invest in mechanised agriculture on a large-scale basis would help boost the state’s economy.

    “We are not saying that the landowners should release their lands for free, they should release the lands on agreed terms, while government will serve as the facilitator,’’ he said.

    Oyewunmi proposed that the landowners could release the lands on partnership agreements with the potential investors, adding that they could let, lease and collect royalties on the lands or opt for outright sales.

    He reiterated that increased investments in agriculture would boost the state’s economy and create employment for its citizens.

    He urged the landowners to engage in outgrower schemes, adding that they could do this via partnership agreements with farmers and off-takers.

    Oyewunmi said that the farmers would be able to produce crops that would be bought by off-takers at prevailing market prices.

    He, however, said that the proposals were some of the recommendations made in the report of a committee set up by governor to look into the issue.

    NAN

  • OCHA partner NEMA to tackle disaster

    OCHA partner NEMA to tackle disaster

    The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ), Nigeria, says it is partnering National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) on strategic planning and coordination of humanitarian agencies, to strengthen disaster response.

    Mrs Alta Bell, UN OCHA Representative, said this at the opening of a four-day workshop organised by NEMA in collaboration with UNICEF on the review and update of the National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan in Keffi, Nassarawa State.

    Bell noted that the major challenge of humanitarian agencies such as NEMA was coordinating with other agencies during disaster response, which usually delayed conflict resolution.

    She said that the workshop was aimed at bringing together all humanitarian agencies to plan toward proper coordination and early preparation for disaster-prone areas.

    “As a representative of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), I think our organisation shares a special bond with some organisations like NEMA.

    “We have a challenging role of coordinating across many different organisations and agencies.

    “Even at the international level, we are working with the governments and in the case of NEMA, they have the challenge of trying to work together, coordinate and consolidate across the whole country.

    “They are faced with the challenge to coordinate all the different levels of government and also to bring the different organisations and agencies to work together.

    “To bring everyone together is not a very easy thing; coordination is one of those challenges difficult to define.”

    According to her, coordinating means bringing people together; meeting on a regular basis, doing strategic planning and doing preparation, continuous planning such as the focus of the workshop.

    She urged participants to brainstorm and evolve plans that would help mitigate and improve response to disasters.

    Also speaking, the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Yunusa Maihaja, said that the workshop was aimed at strengthening the commitments and collaborations of stakeholders to identify and delineate roles and responsibilities, to reduce and prevent disasters.

    Maihaja said the review and update of the National Multi-Hazard Contingency plan was of critical national significance.

    According to him, an integrated proactive disaster management is being employed as a necessary strategy for the assurance of human security and promotion of sustainable development.

    He said that it also focused on reducing risk and vulnerability at household, community and at national levels.

    He said that NEMA considered its collaboration with UNICEF a priority and valuable in concerted efforts to build a culture of prevention, preparedness, response and community resilience to disasters.

    The NEMA director-general said that the workshop had further created a platform for exchange of ideas between the UN systems, international NGOs and the private and public sector emergency response stakeholders.

    He said that the recent flood disasters in some parts of the country, especially Benue, Imo and Lagos, were sad reminders of the 2012 flooding which caused a lot of displacement, food insecurity, malnutrition and epidemic.

    Maihaja said that the 2012 flooding and the ongoing humanitarian crises in the North-East were huge economic losses which destroyed national assets as well as claimed lives.

    NAN

  • FAAN inaugurates multi-storey car park at Lagos airport

    FAAN inaugurates multi-storey car park at Lagos airport

    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ), in partnership with Seymour Aviation Ltd on Wednesday inaugurated a multi-storey car park with a capacity for about 1, 300 cars at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA ), Lagos.

    The six-storey facility, built through a Public Private Partnership ( PPP ) was financed by Fidelity Bank Plc.

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, said at the occasion that the facility which would be for a 30-year tenor, would solve the problem of indiscriminate parking within and around the airport.

    He said: “I wish to state that this facility is long overdue and equally timely as it will improve passenger facilitation and reduce the menace of indiscriminate parking within and around the airport.

    “This project is one of the numerous partnerships FAAN has, and is still exploring to improve the infrastructure development at our airports. ”

    Dunoma, who was represented by Alhaji Salisu Daura, the Director of Engineering Services in the agency, said the authority had introduced some measures to ensure a seamless management of the car park by the concessionaire.

    These include restriction at the departure frontage to a drop zone only, enforcement of a no-pick -up zone at the “D” and “E” arrival of the terminal building and designation of parking lots to all escort vehicles at the old temporary car park.

    He added that a task force comprising of MMIA management staff, aviation security, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Police and tow vehicle operators, had been constituted to enforce the restrictions and tow any vehicle parked in front of the terminal building and in the airport vicinity.

    Dunoma appealed to stakeholders, passengers and other airport users to cooperate with the airport management for an effective operation.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of Seymour Aviation Ltd, Mr Francis Ikenga, described the car park as a milestone for the country as it met all international standards.

    Ikenga said it was equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities including Closed Circuit Television ( CCTV ) cameras mounted on every floor and around the premises, adequate conveniences for both male and female users on every floor and elevators.

    “To ensure uninterrupted power supply, the facility is equipped with a standby generator that can provide power for 24 hours.

    “Passengers will also enjoy protection from the effects of weather elements as they disembark from their vehicles within the facility and move into the terminal without using an umbrella,”he said.

    On his part, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the facility would be of great benefit to passengers and airport users.

    NAN

  • LG primaries: PDP in Ekiti adopts Option A4

    LG primaries: PDP in Ekiti adopts Option A4

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has said that the PDP in the state adopted Option A4 in its primaries for candidates for the Dec. 23 council poll to ensure transparency.