Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Army begins 2019 Annual Shooting Exercise

    The Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna State says it will begin its 2019 Annual Range Classification from Aug. 20 to Aug. 28 and advised residents to keep-off the range area.

    This is contained in a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Depot Nigerian Army, Maj. Sydney Nbaneme and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Saturday.

    It said: “The Depot Nigerian Army Annual Range Classification is scheduled to take place at the Depot NA range Dogarawa from Thursday, 20 August to Wednesday 28 August 2019.

    “The exercise which is directed at assessing troops’ proficiency in weapon handling will include firing of ammunitions using small arms.

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    “The authority has put in place safety measures and precautions to ensure safe and hitch-free exercise.

    “However, residents of the affected communities are advised to stay away from the range general area within the period of the exercise.”

    The statement also enjoined residents of the area not to panic seeing movement of troops and hearing the sound of small arms.

    It assured them that it was a routine exercise for the troops of the Depot Nigerian Army.

  • Tourism investment key to national economic development, says Varsity don

    A Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti, Prof. Funso Isolaowa Afolabi, says tourism has a major role to play in the development of the country’s economy.

    Prof. Afolabi stated that Nigeria could have been a prosperous nation-state, if huge investments had been deployed by federal government in tourism and hospitality businesses.

    The academic spoke on Friday at EKSU while delivering the 54th inaugural lecture of the university on the topic: ‘ Tourism Entrepreneurship: Putting Profit After Suitable Location and Sustainable Hotel Operations’.

    He warned the Federal Government against over reliance on oil earning that it may dry up some day, saying the country’s economy stands the chance of being ruined, with decline in daily crude production due to the drying off of oil wells without commensurate efforts to diversify the economy.

    He expressed fear that the future of the country is gravely endangered, with her monolithic economy resting solely on crude oil proceeds for survival.

    Prof. Afolabi appealed to the Federal Government to make a paradigm shift from monolithic economy and diversify it by investing in tourism which he said has the potential for to improve the nation’s economy.

    He said : “The Federal Government is not doing enough to diversify the economy away from oil. I don’t know what Nigeria will become when this oil dries off. We have to plan ahead and I don’t think it was right for us to have neglected other sector like tourism, this is sad.

    “Nigeria has the potentials to replacing oil with tourism so we should not fold our hands. If our oil dries, what are we going to do. This is why we are recommending that tourism should take over from oil. This we can do with strategic thinking”.

    The academic appealed to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to also give financial support to run the business, the way it has been doing in other sectors of the economy.

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    He urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) not to delay further in overhauling the curriculum taught to students in all universities, saying students as prospective wealth creators should not be half baked.

    “Entrepreneurs and employees are the lifebloods of of any tourism and hospitality operation, with them ill-prepared and ill-motivated, that aspect of the economy will stand still.

    “Most of the courses that ought to introduce students to see hospitality and Tourism as real businesses are not taught and entrepreneurial success and likely failure theories that can make learners appreciate realities more meaningfully are not in place.

    “Even in most of the Universities, entrepreneurial courses are not well taught due to underfunding. The need for operators to respect the culture, traditions and way of lives of customers must be introduced into the curriculum,” he added.

  • UN invites Peace Corps for CONFAB in America

    The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has been invited by the United Nations to attend its 68th annual Civil Society Conference in United States of America.

    A letter of invitation was said to have been received on the 24th June, 2019 from the UN.

    The 3-day gathering of Civil Society Organisations is being organized by the Department of Global Communications (formerly DPI), in cooperation with the NGO/DPI executive committee and the participation of its associated NGOs that have consultative status with the UN.

    A statement issued on Saturday and signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Corps, Patriot Millicent Umoru, said, the CONFAB is scheduled to hold between 26 and 28 August, 2019 at Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

    “This international forum also brings together senior UN system officials, prominent international Civil Society Organisations, academicians, public opinion makers and international media, to discuss issues of global concern.

    “The United Nations Civil Society Conference explores ways and means for strengthening collaborations between local communities and global institutions”, Umoru said.

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    She added that, “the focus of the 68th conference is, however, very cardinal to Peace Corps of Nigeria, as the organization, since its formation, has been in the vanguard of agitating for a sustainable and all inclusive Nigeria, through its activities in all States and Local Government Areas in Nigeria”.

    The theme for the 68th conference is ‘Building Inclusive and Sustainable Cities and Communities’, with focuses around Sustainable Development Goals II.

    National Commandant of the Corps, Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh is expected to lead the 5-man Nigeria’s delegation to join other participants from around the globe at the CONFAB.

  • Guided missile strikes kill seven militants in Afghanistan

    At least seven Taliban militants were killed in guided missile strikes in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province overnight in a latest raid against the Taliban insurgents.

    The Afghan army Corps 205 Attal made this known in a statement on Saturday.

    “The strikes were conducted by the NATO-led coalition forces in Hoshi locality, Charchino district Friday night.

    “The intelligence reports found that seven Taliban militants were killed in the raids on the militants’ hideouts,” the army said.

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    The strikes also destroyed some amount of weapons, ammunition and explosive materials, it added.

    The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since early April when Taliban launched a yearly rebel offensive against Afghan security forces.

    The Taliban militant group has not made comments on the report yet. (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Police parade inspector’s killers, 116 criminals in Kano

    Kano state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Illyasu, has confirmed the arrest of suspected gunmen, including the ring leader, who brutally killed a police Inspector at his residence in Sabuwar Gandu, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano state last Thursday.

    CP Illyasu who paraded 116 suspected criminals for various offences said intelligence report led to the arrest of the suspected killers of the police man, adding that investigation has already commenced to ascertain the real cause of the murder.

    However, a resident who does not want his name on print told Reporters in Kano that, “at about 2 a.m. Thursday, unidentified hoodlums invaded the inspectors house armed with dangerous weapons.

    “They matchetted him severally. During the onslaught, his wife raised alarm, which drew the attention of the neighbours who rushed in order to rescue him.

    “On realizing that they might be caught red-handed, they all fled and left him in his own pool of blood. His neighbours attempted taking him to the hospital, but he died in the house due to lack of vehicle to instantly convey him to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

    Illyasu added that a woman identified as Fadila Mohammed Suraju of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters has been apprehended in connection with the kidnap of eight-year-old Aisha Sani who was kidnapped, killed and thrown into a well.

    According to him, 16 kidnapping suspects were also arrested, while two kidnap victims were rescued by the police.

    He said 34 thugs (Yandaba) found to be in possession of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs, were arrested at various locations across the state in an operation during and after the Sallah festivities.

    “Five suspected fraudsters/scammers on land matters were arrested. The sum of N400,000 and four motor vehicles were recovered from them. Five suspects were arrested for counterfeiting local and foreign currencies.”

    He added that nine armed robbery suspects, as well as 51 suspects were also arrested at different criminal hideouts where large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp and other intoxicating substances were recovered from them.

    He further stated that one suspect was tracked and arrested at his hideout in Warawa Local Government Area after stabbing someone to death.

    Items recovered from the suspects include 12 locally-made guns, N1.1 million cash, 15 military camouflage and 10 boots, 24 handsets, four solar batteries, 53 knives, 10 wraps of N1000 counterfeit notes, 25 bags of dry leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp, eight vehicles, three motorcycles and a laptop, among others.

    CP Illyasu noted that, “the Puff-Adder Operation which is achieving tremendous result in Kano will be sustained throughout the state, until all non-repentant criminal elements are arrested and brought before the law.

    “We appreciate the good people of the state and law abiding members of the public for their cooperation during the just concluded serene, peaceful and successful Sallah celebrations

    Kano state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Illyasu, has confirmed that many suspects, including the ring leader, have been arrested in connection with the killing of a police Inspector at his residence in Sabuwar Gandu, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano state.

    CP Illyasu who paraded 116 suspected criminals for various offences said intelligence report led to the arrest of the suspected killers of the police man, adding that investigation has already commenced to ascertain the real cause of the murder.

    However, a resident who does not want his name on print told Reporters in Kano that, “at about 2 a.m. Thursday, unidentified hoodlums invaded the inspectors house armed with dangerous weapons.

    “They matchetted him severally. During the onslaught, his wife raised alarm, which drew the attention of the neighbours who rushed in order to rescue him.

    “On realizing that they might be caught red-handed, they all fled and left him in his own pool of blood. His neighbours attempted taking him to the hospital, but he died in the house due to lack of vehicle to instantly convey him to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

    Illyasu added that a woman identified as Fadila Mohammed Suraju of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters has been apprehended in connection with the kidnap of eight-year old Aisha Sani who was kidnapped, killed and thrown into a well.

    According to him, 16 kidnapping suspects were also arrested, while two kidnap victims were rescued by the police.

    He said 34 thugs (Yandaba) found to be in possession of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs, were arrested at various locations across the state in an operation during and after the Sallah festivities.

    “Five suspected fraudsters/scammers on land matters were arrested. The sum of N400,000 and four motor vehicles were recovered from them. Five suspects were arrested for counterfeiting local and foreign currencies.”

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    He added that nine armed robbery suspects, as well as 51 suspects were also arrested at different criminal hideouts where large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp and other intoxicating substances were recovered from them.

    He further stated that one suspect was tracked and arrested at his hideout in Warawa Local Government Area after stabbing someone to death.

    Items recovered from the suspects include 12 locally-made guns, N1.1 million cash, 15 military camouflage and 10 boots, 24 handsets, four solar batteries, 53 knives, 10 wraps of N1000 counterfeit notes, 25 bags of dry leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp, eight vehicles, three motorcycles and a laptop, among others.

    CP Illyasu noted that, “the Puff-Adder Operation which is achieving tremendous result in Kano will be sustained throughout the state, until all non-repentant criminal elements are arrested and brought before the law.

    “We appreciate the good people of the state and law abiding members of the public for their cooperation during the just concluded serene, peaceful and successful Sallah celebrations.”

  • Road crash claims one on Lagos-Ibadan highway

    The Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says one person lost his life in a road crash at Danco, near Sagamu, on the Lagos-Ibadan highway.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Clement Oladele, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ota that the accident happened at about 8.00 p.m on Friday.

    Oladele explained that a Toyota SUV with registration number GGE 30 DF, was coming from Lagos when the driver lost control due to speeding.

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    He said that the driver veered off the road, somersaulted and crashed into a parked bus.

    “The corpse of the victim has been deposited at the mortuary of Idera Hospital in Sagamu, Ogun State,’’ he said.

    The FRSC boss advised motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid avoidable road crashes and its attendant fatalities.

  • APC suspends 3 executives over petition against Gov Fintiri

    The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended three leading members for attempting to withdraw the party’s petition against Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

    They are: Alhaji Aliyu Bakari (Adamawa Central Zonal Vice-Chairman); Alhaji Saidu Naira (State Financial Secretary) and Alhaji Babangida Talase (Party Chairman for Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area).

    In a statement by APC Publicity Secretary, Hon Mohammed Abdullahi, the party said the three sabotaged its interest by approaching the governorship election tribunal to withdraw the party’s petition against the election Fintiri, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as governor.

    The APC had filed a petition Fintiri’s election following the last governorship poll which the APC is questioning at the tribunal.

    But the APC said in its statement that the three leaders sabotaged the interest of the party by attempting to withdraw the petition.

    The party said its decision to suspend the three followed an adoption of a report submitted by a committee constituted to investigate their activity.

    It specified that Saidu Naira and Babangida Talase would spend six months on suspension from the party while Aliyu Bakari’s suspension is indefinite.

    “All the suspended officials are relieved of their respective positions in the exco, and the matter has been referred to the National Secretariat of the party for further necessary action,” the party added.

  • Hungry bear eats man alive in Khabarovsk

    The accident of a brown bear killing a man in the Khabarovsk region has stirred fears among dwellers, mainly in the small villages and communities near forests.

    Although people of these regions are familiar with seeing bears while wandering in forests, collecting mushroom, or during hunting rounds, yet the recent behaviour the bear raised serious concerns.

    Local media outlets reported a man, who went out for mushroom collection, had been killed by a brown bear near the victim’s village.

    A local man, who saw the body, said this time the bear didn’t attack the man to defend itself, but to kill and eat.

    An expert of bears’ behaviors said this is one of the rare cases where a bear preys a human. He explained that these big animals do not attack humans usually, and what happened is an unfamiliar behavior. After the accident, the hungry bear was caught and killed by the forest’s guards.

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    The scene of bears grouping near garbage containers has been terrifying people recently.

    According to experts, this attitude is driven by many factors such as the lack of suitable natural environments, the weather conditions that prevented the growth of sufficient quantities of mushrooms that meet the bears’ needs, along with fires that eradicated wide forest spaces in that region.

    All these factors pushed bears to search for food in the human communities. These animals are known for their strong sense of smell that may lead them to food in houses or wastes by following odors.

    The accident that took place on August 12 was not the first this month.

    On August 8, an old woman who went out to search for mushroom in the forest was chased by a bear.

    The old lady hid in a swamp and tried to intimidate the animal with scary sounds, but it stood still.

    The old woman spent a day and a half in the swamp until she was found and rescued.

    (www.newnow.co.uk)

  • ICPC ex-chair takes over Salaries and Wages Commission

    Former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, has taken over the leadership of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
    The Chief Press Secretary of the Commission, Mr Emma Njoku made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    According to Njoku, the Chairman of the Commission, Chief Richard Egbule handed over to Nta, who is also the Commissioner for Compensation at the NSIWC, after the completion of his statutory 10 years tenure.

    Egbule, while handing over to Ekpo Nta, described his tenure as historic, being the first to complete two terms and the first Chairman as the pioneer staff of the Commission from inception in 1992.

    He called on staff of the Commission to get acquainted with the Act establishing the Commission.

    This, according to him, will enable them know the enormous contributions and importance of the Commission to the development of the Civil Service and overall welfare of Public Service.

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    Nta, in his response, commended Egbule for his achievements in streamlining the nation’s salary administration.

    Egbule started his working career as an Administrative Officer on grade level 08 in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and rose to the post of Chief Management Consultant in the same office in 1992.

    He became a pioneer staff of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in 1992 and worked to structure and builds the Commission with the best professional practice.

    In 2006, he was appointed the Secretary to the Commission and on Aug. 17, 2009, former President Umaru Yar’Adua made him the Executive Chairman of the Commission.

    He attained 10 years as the Executive Chairman on Aug. 17. (NAN)

  • Three dead, 500 displaced in Niger flood

    Three people have been reported dead in Bosso and Chanchaga local government council of Niger state in an early morning flood which was caused by a heavy rain downpour.

    The rain which began at about 4 am on Saturday morning has destroyed and submerged buildings and farms in the affected areas leaving 500 people displaced.

    The people were caught unawares by the flood as most of them claimed they were not aware the area was flooding when the rain was falling.

    The flood was said to have been caused by the overflowing of the drainage systems in the affected areas which caused the collapsing the MYPA bridge in Bosso and washed away the Mola bridge in Dusten Kura Hausa.

    One of the affected residents, Sanusi Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the Dusten Kura victims confirmed that three people were carried away by the flood saying that a lot of them have lost their valuables to the flood.

    The Ward Head Of Dusten Kura, Inuwa Bawa Tokora said the flood is a yearly occurrence and government have adopted a nonchalant attitude in addressing this yearly disaster.

    “I have witnessed four floods since I became the Ward Head but government is not doing anything to address this our problem. My suggestion for the solution to this annual flooding would be the construction of drainage system from the FUT Minna down to Minna-Bida road.”

    When the flood-affected areas were visited, some women could be seen trying to rescue what they could from their already flooded houses while those whose houses were destroyed were seen with folded hands and confusion on their faces as to what next to do.

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    In Shanu village, Hadiza Rabiu said all her personal belongings got lost in the flood adding that all the foodstuff which she brought hoping it would take her and her family till the end of the month were all washed away by the flood.

    The mother of three lamented over the fact that she and her family no longer have a home as the flood destroyed the House saying it was God and well meaning neighbours who helped her to save her children.

    Narrating the incident, she said, “We were fast asleep when I started feeling and hearing noise of water flowing into the house, my spirit was not at ease. So I stood up and tried to look out the window and I saw water everywhere and heard people shouting that water is coming.

    “Immediately, I started calling for help to save my children because the water level was already increasing in my house. We were helped by neighbours.”

    Wiping the tears that started dropping down her eyes, she continued, “The flood took everything, our house collapsed and everything we have, including my money which is N40, 000 and foodstuffs were washed away.”

    The Niger state Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso paid a sympathy visit to the victims saying government would try its best to bring succour to the affected people.

    He directed the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to take inventory of the losses and provide food and non-food relief materials to cushion the victims hardship.

    The Director General of the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Inga said there are three unconfirmed deaths as the bodies of the victims have not been found or recovered.

    He lamented that despite sensitization on the dangers of building on waterways, a lot of people still go-ahead to build on waterways which he attributed to have been the cause of the huge number of losses experienced.

    According to Inga, 75 per cent of those affected built on waterways and lived along the river banks.

    He however assured that government wi make necessary provision for their temporary accommodation.