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  • Court remands man for alleged theft

    Court remands man for alleged theft

    Police on Thursday arraigned a 32-year old man, Nnamdi Onyia, in Asaba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing a laptop valued at N216,000.

    The Prosecutor, Mrs Blessing Okafor, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 16, at no. 271, Nnebisi Road, Asaba.

    Okafor said that the stolen laptop belonged to one Mr Uzoka Abel.

    She said that the offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C 21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

    The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Okonkwo Akanume, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.

    Okonkwo held that the surety, who must be a civil servant, should show evidence of employment and should reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

    She further ruled that the surety must own a landed property as part of the bail conditions.
    The magistrate adjourned the case till Nov. 27 for definite hearing.

    NAN

    Read Also: Court docks man for stealing properties

  • Quality of goods, services will no longer be compromised – Enelamah

    Quality of goods, services will no longer be compromised – Enelamah

    Quality of goods and services will no longer be compromised in Nigeria, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, has said.

    Enelamah made the assertion at the 1st Nigeria National Quality Award ( NiNQA ) in Lagos.

    NiNQA was launched on April 20 and developed within the National Quality Project in Nigeria ( NQIP ).

    NQIP is a 12 million Euros project funded by the European Union ( EU ) and implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation ( UNIDO ) as part of the strategies to increase awareness on quality and standard in Nigeria.

    Enelamah, represented by Mrs Omololu Opeyemi, the Director, Nigeria Commodity Exchange, said the focus of government and enterprises should be on product quality and service delivery.

    He said that the award by UNIDO was apt, especially as the nation’s economy has stabilised, adding that such programme was needed for sustainability.

    The minister said that the Federal Government would continue to make giant strides toward improving the ease of doing business in the country.

    He noted that the enterprising spirit of Nigerians would be more productive without hurdles in their path.

    Enelamah said that this was the government’s strategic policy for industrial development with the cooperation and partnership with international bodies like UNIDO for effective development of industrial initiatives toward impacting the economy.

    The minister said that government recently embarked on an industrialisation programme to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to Gross Domestic Products ( GDP ) in the next five years.

    According to him, the initiative will make Nigeria a manufacturing hub for West Africa region and diversification of the economy will be driven through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan ( ERGP ).

    He said that the plan was to periodically review economic performance, opportunities, trends and challenges within the sector toward providing innovative intervention to boost investment and productivity.

    “Confidence building for creating trust is critical in enabling environment for investment and competitiveness.

    “The Nigeria National Quality Award initiative is a veritable tool in building both local and international trust in Nigeria for enhanced development,” he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Jean Bakole, the UNIDO Director in Nigeria, said trade has been identified as a driver of economic growth and good quality was essential for local, regional and international market.

    Bakole said that the award seeks to increase awareness on quality standards, contribute to consumers’ confidence in Nigerian products and promote healthy competition among manufacturers and service providers.

    According to him, quality ensures promotion of best management practices and supports private and public sector organisations to develop and implement best management practices.

    He said that criteria for the award were based on national and international standards like ISO 9000 Quality Management System and ISO 9004.

    Bakole said that quality ensures competitiveness, economic growth and improved living standards for consumers.

    He said that UNIDO was committed to assist Nigeria in its journey to quality toward boosting participation in global trade.

    Also, Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Director-General, Consumer Protection Council ( CPC ), said that UNIDO, through its activities, was erecting a building blocks that changes consumerism in the country.

    Irukera said that the award would drive corporate obligatory responsibility that calls for quality in every facet of interaction with a product or service.

    NAN

  • Agriculture: VC harps on value addition, improved electricity

    Agriculture: VC harps on value addition, improved electricity

    An agriculturist and Vice Chancellor ( VC ), Prof. Felix Salako, on Thursday  identified improved power supply, good roads, value addition to crops and improved extension services as the key to agricultural industrialisation.

    Salako, Vice Chancellor ( VC ), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, made the observation in an interview in Lagos.

    “We can boost the economy through value addition to our crops, creation of market opportunities for our produce and reduction of wastage.

    “We can replace oil with agriculture as our main source of revenue if we industrialise the sector, but for industrialisation to succeed, there must be electricity,’’ Salako said this in an interview.

    He blamed the persistent high cost of locally produced food stuffs on poor power supply and bad rural roads.

    “The reason for high cost of production which translates to high cost of commodities in the market compared to imported ones is power deficiency in the country.
    “We want to urge government to critically address the issue by tackling the problem of epileptic electricity supply,’’ he said.

    Salako also appealed to the Federal Government to provide good roads in rural areas for easy transportation of farm produce from hinterlands to cities.

    “Government must provide rural roads to facilitate easy transportation of produce from farms; that way, the cost of the commodities will be reduced in the market,’’ he said.

    The vice-chancellor also urged the government to revive  Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) to restore extension services to farmers for better production.
    “One aspect we need to address urgently is our ADPs; government needs to revitalise those centres in each state.

    “When the World Bank withdrew from sponsoring the ADPs some years back, the extension aspect of agriculture started going down.

    “We need to get back and ensure that our extension agents are active again. Only then will rural farmers know of new agriculture technologies,” he said.
    Salako said that extension service was part of the three core mandates of the university.

    He listed the other two as teaching and research.

    NAN

  • Google collects Android users’ locations even when devices are disabled

    Google collects Android users’ locations even when devices are disabled

    Google admits to collecting Android users’ locations even when devices are disabled, a Quartz investigation reported on Thursday.

    “It seems quite intrusive for Google to be collecting such information that is only relevant to carrier networks when there are no SIM card or enabled services,’’ Matthew Hickey, a security expert and researcher, told media in London.

    Since the beginning of 2017, Android phones have been collecting the addresses of nearby cellular towers and sending the data to Google’s system, according to a Google spokesperson.

    Read: Turning Android smartphone into desktop PC

    Therefore Google has access to data about individuals’ locations and movements, even when their phones are turned off or disconnected from the Internet, which violates the privacy of smartphone users.

    The spokesperson said the collected data was never used or stored and promised that by the end of November, Android phones would no longer send cellular tower location data to Google.

     

    Read Also: Five new things you can do with Google

  • UNDP constructs 300 houses for IDPs in Borno

    UNDP constructs 300 houses for IDPs in Borno

    The United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ) has begun the construction of 300 housing units for internally displaced persons in Borno, the agency said in its fact-sheet.

    The prospective beneficiaries are victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    The data made available in Maiduguri on Thursday show that the projects are in Ngwom community in Mafa Local Government Area.

    The UN agency stated that 288 of the houses were under construction, while work on the remaining 12 had not stated.

    The agency also stated that it constructed a clinic,  288 market stalls, 20 shops, as well as six classrooms, one administrative block and a store at the primary school in the community.

    It stated that the clinic would be equipped by the World Health Organisation ( WHO ).

    The agency said it had also distributed 210 bags of assorted fertilisers, 105 knapsack sprayers and 120 goats to farmers in the community.

    The agency also stated that it distributed  2,100kg of   sorghum seeds, 2, 100kg of millet seeds, 2, 362.5kg of cowpea seeds and 24 cartons of chemicals to farmers.

    It also highlighted some of its proposed projects, including a police out-post, borehole, installation of solar equipment at the clinic, distribution of agricultural inputs for fish farmers and livelihood support.

    It also proposes to provide unconditional grants to women and young girls, train youth entrepreneurs on micro and small business enterprises and train local government officials.

    “The training is to build the capacity of local government officials on provision of basic community services, maintenance of public infrastructure, planning and monitoring skill,” it stated.

    NAN

  • VC calls for improved girl-child enrollment in public schools

    VC calls for improved girl-child enrollment in public schools

    The Vice Chancellor ( VC ), Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger, Prof. Muhammad Maiturare, on Thursday called for improved girl-child enrollment in public schools in the state.

    Maiturare made the call during the presentation of exercise books and chalks in Dubwa village in Paikoro Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that school attendance by pupils and students should be further strengthened and enhanced to ensure quality learning and better external examination results.

    The vice chancellor expressed satisfaction with the level of enrollment of  indigenes of Paiko in various programmes in the university.

    “We have a sizeable number of students and teachers population in the university,’’ Maiturare said.

    The vice chancellor ( VC ) advised parents to support the various schools’ management committees inaugurated, to ensure the smooth delivery of education in public schools, through materials and financial contributions.

    The President, Paigokni Development Association, Amb. Zubairu Dada, said the association would intensify efforts on educational programmes through the institution of award for best teachers and pupils in public schools.

    He commended the state government’s efforts in education and called for more assistance in teachers recruitment and repair of facilities in public schools in the area.

    Dada said that the two classrooms at U.K. Primary School Paikoro, would be renovated in line with the educational pursuit of the people.

    NAN

  • Wike pledges support for African beauty queens

    Wike pledges support for African beauty queens

    The Rivers Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that his administration will always support the African Beauty Queen Pageant.

    The governor made the pledge when he received 54  contestants of Miss University Africa Pageant in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    He said the presence of the contestants in Rivers was a positive testimony and endorsement for the state as a peaceful and tourist haven.

    Wike urged the 54 contestants to serve as ambassadors of the state and promote it as a centre of peace, development, unity and sustained growth.

    “We must express our gratitude to you for coming to Rivers State.

    “As you return to your respective countries, we urge you to serve as ambassadors of Rivers State, tell people about the beauty and peace of Rivers State, tell them that the negative propaganda is politically motivated, ” the governor said.

    The governor reiterated the resolve of his administration to support the beauty queens in their venture, adding that he was satisfied with the blend of charity work the pageant executed.

    “Move around and enjoy the beauty of Rivers State, make sure that you anchor at Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, this is a tourism state, with a hospitable population, after now, you will desire to return to Rivers State,” he said.

    In his remarks, Taylor Nazal, the Managing Director of Visions, Innovations and Concepts, organisers of the pageant, thanked the governor for accepting to host the contestants from 54 African countries.

    The managing director said contrary to negative media reports against the state, the contestants and organisers had found Rivers a peaceful place.

    “Since we came to Rivers State, we have witnessed an atmosphere of peace, this event would put Rivers State on the global stage,” he added.

    “This is a non-Bikini event aimed at discouraging indecent dressing, that is why we have both Muslim and Christian countries participating in this beauty pageant,”  Nazal said.

    He said the contestants would engage in charity works,  including visits to hospitals, the old people’s homes and orphanages, in Port Harcourt.

    “They call you Mr Projects and we have seen several projects across the state, this is a project that is empowering women in the continent,” he said.

    In her response, Miss University Africa ( Nigeria ), Miss Opara Ibinabo, a student of University of Port Harcourt, thanked Wike for making provision to accommodate the contestants from 54 African countries to converge on Rivers.

    As a show of respect, each beauty queen presented gifts to the governor, who later took them round to see some completed projects within the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    NAN

  • I remain South-West PDP chairman, says Olafeso

    I remain South-West PDP chairman, says Olafeso

    A factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Eddy Olafeso, says he remains the authentic leader of the party in the South-West zone.

    Olafeso  on Wednesday in Akure that his group was re-affirmed as the PDP leaders in the zone during the last convention of the party in Abuja.

    Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, another factional leader of the party, had on Monday in Lagos claimed that he was the authentic chairman of the party in the South-West zone.

    Olafeso said: “It is very unfortunate and tendentious for someone to assume that carrying court papers around is enough to make him the leader of the party.

    “Even, if they have court papers to back their claims, the case is already at the Appeal Court.

    “They should wait till pronouncement of the court before jumping around that they are the leaders of the party in the zone.

    “Leadership is freely given by the people and endorsed by the party through all its processes.”

    He said that Makanjuola and his group were part of the challenges facing the party since 2011 “till when we won at the Supreme Court in July 12, 2017”.

    Olafeso noted that PDP had gone beyond unnecessary antagonism, saying that the party’s focus was to ensure victory at the polls in 2019.

    He expressed optimism that all the crises rocking the party would be resolved before its Dec. 9 National Convention.

    “Today, I can tell you categorically that South-West PDP under my watch has been able to stabilise the party in Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States.

    “We thank the leadership of the party for the opportunity given us to serve.

    “We will continue to do our best to ensure that our party will be positioned in a way that it can begin to win again,” he said.

    NAN

  • AfDB to invest $12bn in power sector in Africa in 4 years – Adesina

    AfDB to invest $12bn in power sector in Africa in 4 years – Adesina

    Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank ( AfDB ), says the bank would invest 12 billion dollars
    in the power sector in Africa in four years with the goal of leveraging on the aviation sector.

    He said this while speaking in Abuja.

    Adesina said the aviation sector was very important to the continent but that it could not operate in the dark.

    He said the sector was very important to Africa because it accounted for about 73 billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created about 7 million jobs across the continent.

    “Without electricity, you really cannot operate any effective and efficient airline industry and so this is one of the top priorities of the bank.

    “We are investing in the power sector 12 billion dollars in the next four years with the goal of leveraging between 45 to 50 million dollars in this sector because I firmly believe that Africa cannot develop in the dark.

    “So we must fast track that and when we have electricity, everything functions, even for the aviation industry and the tourism industry is actually quite linked to the avaiation industry as well.”

    He said the bank had invested over 20 billion dollars on infrastructure in Africa in the last 10 years, specifically one
    billion dollars in the aviation sector.

    Adesina said the bank’s investment in the sector covered building new airports in Ghana, Senegal, Casablanca and building of new infrastructure in Morocco.

    As for Nigeria, he said the government was developing a new aviation sector investment plan, adding that the government was interested in a number of areas.

    “First is we are looking at how to support more investment in airport infrastructure; they are also looking at how to create aircraft maintenance, repair and also overhaul facility.

    “But one of the biggest problems in Africa is we do not have any aircraft leasing facilities and that is one of the things that the government is looking at.

    We are looking at upgrading some of the navigational infrastructure.

    So as a bank, we are very strong supporters of the government.

    “Once the government comes up with its plan and what that really means in terms of the need, then we can play the role that they are asking us to play but we do not make decisions for the government.”

    AfDB is a multilateral development finance institution aimed at fighting poverty and improving the living conditions on the African continent.

    It does this by promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programmes that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region.

    NAN

  • CSKA Moscow earn first home win, end Benfica’s hope

    CSKA Moscow earn first home win, end Benfica’s hope

    CSKA Moscow earned their first home win of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign with a 2-0 victory over Benfica of Portugal on Wednesday.

    The victory strengthened their push to reach the knockout stages while shattering the Portuguese side’s chances.

    Georgi Schennikov put CSKA ahead after 13 minutes with a left-footed finish, having been assisted by Bibras Natcho’s short through ball that shredded Benfica’s backline.

    The visitors’ troubles worsened after the interval as defender Jardel then clumsily deflected a cross by CSKA’s Vitinho into the back of his own net after 56 minutes.

    CSKA’s win puts them into second place in Group A on nine points behind leaders Manchester United, who take on Basel later on Wednesday.

    Yet, the result ensured that former European champions Benfica, still without a point, are now certain to finish last.

    NAN

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