The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

Gov. Okorocha supports FG’s housing programme

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has expressed support to the ongoing Federal Government’s National Housing Programme (NHP) across the country.

Okorocha, represented by Mr Kingsley Uju, his Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, spoke on Wednesday during the inspection of the NHP site in the state by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri.

The minister was in Avu, Owerri Local Government Area, as part of a nationwide inspection tour of the sites for NHP projects.

The governor commended the Avu community for sacrificing its ancestral land to make sure development was recorded in the area.

Okorocha promised the land owners that none of them would be denied their statutory rights in the course of the development.

He appealed to the contractors to always carry the people of the area along in their activities to prevent agitations.

Okorocha noted that the state would be laying foundation of another housing project in line with the Federal Government promises of providing houses for a greater percentage of Nigerians.

He called for the cooperation of the citizens toward the realisation of the housing project.

The minister said that the Imo project site was the best out of the sites visited in the country.

Shehuri promised to address issues of payment to contractors squarely, adding that payment would be made as soon as it was due to facilitate timely project completion.

Dr Victor Nwaneri, Chairman, Avu Land Owners of Federal Housing Estate, said it was gratifying that the Federal Government approved the siting of the housing estate in the area.

Nwaneri urged the Federal Government to consider Avu indigenes first in appointments in the ongoing project.

He also appealed for the revival of the dualisation of Avu-Egbema road in the interest of many communities around it.

“All other life changing amenities should be extended to Avu community to propel the community to donate more lands to the government as the need arises.”

The Team Leader, NHP, IMO state, Mr Cosmos Ikejiofor, noted that there was a legal tussle between the ministry and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

In his progress report on implementation of the programme in the state, he said that the challenges were yet to be resolved.

He said that Interim Valuation and Payment Certificate (No. 1) has been raised for the contractors that have completed work on the ground floor concrete slab in their projects.

“These have been forwarded to the ministry’s headquarters at Abuja for further necessary action,” he said.

NAN

November 23, 2017
Oba of Benin makes historic visit to Abuja

His Royal Majesty, Omo N, ‘Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II- Oba of Benin, on Wednesday made an historic visit to Abuja after his coronation in October 2016.

The Oba who arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5:05p.m., was received by some Benin traditional chiefs, prominent Benin indigenes and friends.

Chief Odigie Oyegun, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), one of the Edo indigene at the Airport to receive the Monarch, said that the visit by the Oba was historic being his first after his coronation.

“The Oba’s visit is bringing peace, hope to the country and change in the nation.

“Everybody is here as you can see came to give him a rosy welcome. It is an historic occurrence, our new Oba, a unique Oba with a unique culture.

“We also have a unique president in the person of Muhammadu Buhari with a unique way of doing things. A lot of good things will come out of this visit,’’he said.

Similarly, Mr Johnson Agbonayinma, a member of the House of Representatives, said the Edo indigenes in Abuja are excited to welcome the Oba which he described as caring.

“There is a saying that if you do not value what you have, somebody else will help you devalue it.

“I value my traditional Institution and all I can do is to tell my Honourable colleagues, friends of Edo to let them know that we have a caring King.

“I am happy to see the crowd that came to receive the Oba; I ask God to bless them and the chiefs as well.

“This is to tell you that our Oba is one who deserves all the respect accorded to him without being sentimental.

“It is a glorious day as his mission is to also show appreciation to all those who supported him during his coronation.

“It will be an honour to understand that we have an Oba who cares about the unity of the country.

Also Mr Dickson Omoregie, the President of Benin community in Abuja described the visit as a multi-dimensional as he would move from one place to another to appreciate those that supported him during his coronation.

“That is why he is starting here in Abuja to visit his children, we are delighted to receive him.

“When your daddy comes to visit you, you are so excited; It is a joyful day for us Edo people in Abuja.’’

Also, Mr Osazuwa Imasuen described the Oba as a man of the people, a highly trained diplomat who knows the value of friendship.

“We are glad to receive the Oba as he brings us peace and goodwill,’’he said.
Traditional dancers from Benin Kingdom and Abuja thrilled the crowd who came to receive the Oba.

NAN

November 23, 2017
Staff verification saves Niger N216bn

The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Niger State Chapter, on Wednesday said that the verification exercise for civil servants had saved the state government about N216 billion.

Alhaji Idris Ndako, the state NLC Chairman, disclosed this at the presentation of the report of the verification exercise to Gov. Abubakar Bello in Minna.

The state government had on July 15 embarked on staff verification to determine the number of civil servants in its employment.

Ndako said that irregularities such as salary padding, double salary, over payment and undue allowances were discovered during the verification exercise.

He said that the culprits were made to refund such monies to the central account of the state Ministry of Finance and receipts were issued.

According to him, accounts belonging to dead persons, retirees, absconders and workers that did not come for verification remained active on the salary platform until they were suspended.

The NLC chairman said that the verification exercise succeeded in strengthening the employment records and bio data of the state workforce.

“To a large extent, the exercise has sanitised and blocked potentials for leakages in the system. These components were hitherto porous, a situation that gave room for fraudulent practices.

“With the above in place and consolidated, the system is made self-checking and any attempt of fraud will be easily identified and tracked,” he said.

Responding, Bello called for continuous working relationship between the organised labour and government to improve the welfare of civil service in the state.

He said that a study of the new system would be carried out with a view to better the standard of living of civil servants in the state.

He appealed to workers at the state and local government levels and organised labour to work for the progress and development of the state in order to bequeath a workable legacy for generations yet unborn.
.
“We should wish for the progress and development of Niger State. We will all want to see a better Niger State tomorrow and to leave a system that is workable for the future generations.

“I want to believe that no one of you here wants to leave problems for the future generations. We should be able to lay a platform so that when they come they will have better quality life.

“I pray that in the future we will see a manageable workforce of about 29, 000 at the state level and 60,000 at the local government level.

“By this, we will be able to pay our workers all their allowances and improve their standard of living so that we can get a quality civil service,” Bello said.

He commended the NLC leadership for partnering with government in the conduct of the exercise.

NAN

November 22, 2017
AU welcomes Mugabe resignation

The African Union (AU) on Wednesday welcomed the resignation of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Moussa Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission in a statement said Tuesday’s decision will go down in history as an act of statesmanship that can only bolster Mugabe’s political legacy.

Mugabe resigned on Tuesday after pressure from the military and Zimbabweans, ending his 37-year grip on power.

His resignation was greeted with wild scenes of celebration by Zimbabweans who now look forward to a new political dispensation in the country.

President Mugabe will be remembered as a fearless pan-Africanist liberation fighter, and the father of the independent Zimbabwean nation, AU’s statement said.

Mahamat noted that AU recognises that the Zimbabwean people have expressed their will that there should be a peaceful transfer of power in a manner that secures the democratic future of their country.

He said he is confident that the people, together with all their leaders, will remain steadfast in their commitment to fulfill their legitimate aspirations.

He added that the AU looks forward to Zimbabwe continuing to play a leading role in the affairs of the African continent, as a democratic and prosperous state meeting the aspirations of its people.

He said the Southern African country has AU’s full support in the period ahead.

UN called for calm and restraint in Zimbabwe following the resignation of Mugabe.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak called for calm and restraint in the southern African country after a week of political tumult.

Zimbabwe’s Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda on Tuesday announced the resignation of Mugabe, one day after the 93-year-old ignored a deadline set by his own party to step down.

“The (UN) secretary-general encourages all Zimbabweans to maintain calm and restraint,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.

Mugabe was taken into custody by the military on Nov. 15 after he fired Deputy President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

His own political party restored Mnangagwa and demanded Mugabe’s resignation.

As Mugabe initially remained defiant, his party threatened to impeach him.

NAN

November 22, 2017
Court in Bangladesh sentences six men to death over 1971 war crimes

A special court in Bangladesh on Wednesday sentenced six men, including a former lawmaker, to death for crimes committed during the country’s 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

The war crimes tribunal in Dhaka handed down the sentences against Abu-Saleh Aziz, the former member of parliament from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party, and five others for mass killings, arson attacks and looting during the nine-month armed struggle.

Prosecution lawyer, Syedul Sumon, said three counts, including the killing of 13 elected representatives and a minority Hindu man, and the looting of homes in the northern Gaibandha district, were proved beyond doubt against the accused.

The court also asked the authorities to arrest Aziz, who was a local commander of a wartime vigilante group aiding Pakistani forces against unarmed civilians, and four of his associates, who have been on the run since the trial began in June 2016.

One of the accused was on the dock when a three-member panel of judges pronounced the verdict.

Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, set up the tribunal in 2010 to prosecute those accused of atrocities committed in the 1971 war in which some three million people died and about 200,000 women were raped, according to Bangladesh government estimates.

An earlier initiative to try the accused was called off following the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and father of current Prime Minister Hasina.

The defendants allegedly collaborated with the occupying army during the conflict.

Most of those indicted are from Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, which opposed independence.

NAN

November 22, 2017
China, others complete border disarmament inspections

China has completed the last round of inspection on the obligation of border disarmament agreements with four countries, the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has said.

The PLA daily said the countries that signed the agreements with China are; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The newspaper reported on Tuesday that China and a team, representing the other four countries, inspected each other’s border defence forces in mid-August.

According to the PLA, the five countries signed agreement on Confidence-Building in the Military field along border areas in 1996.

Similarly, in 1997, they signed agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in the border areas.

The PLA reports that the agreements opened the cooperation process of the “Shanghai Five” and laid solid foundation for the establishment and development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO ).

During the past two decades, the two sides convened more than 30 meetings and organised more than 140 mutual inspections along the borders, with over 7,600 kilometers between China and the other four nations, according to the report.

Currently, the number of military personnel and amount of arms and military technology equipment are below the limits set by the agreements in applicable areas, said the report.

The two sides also stepped up exchanges by visiting each other’s border defence posts and border cities, as well as organising literary and sports contests and military training and performances, it added.

They have organised several “Peace Mission’’ joint military exercises under the SCO framework, carried out regular joint patrols, and regularly reported border situations to the other side, it added.

“Though the staff are different in their professional backgrounds, language and culture, they can trust and understand each other and cooperate closely,’’ Huang Xiaodong, head of the office for the obligation of border disarmament agreements, Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, was quoted as saying.

The report said the China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would continue to deepen implementation of the two agreements and cooperation on border defence.

November 21, 2017
UN rebukes Burundi, Philippines president over threats

The UN human rights office on Tuesday condemned attacks and threats made against its investigators by senior Burundian officials and by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

“On Nov 9, Duterte threatened to slap UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard if she investigates him for alleged extrajudicial killings,” human rights spokesman Rupert Covlille said.

In April 2016, the ICC announced it had launched a “preliminary examination” of the situation in Burundi, at the time more than 430 people had reportedly been killed.

This ongoing step, which under ICC procedures determines whether a full investigation should take place, focuses on “killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as cases of enforced disappearances that have been allegedly committed since April 2015.”

In October 2016, President Pierre Nkurunziza signed legislation calling for Burundi’s withdrawal from the ICC, notification of which was later that month sent to the UN secretary-general.

Under the Rome Statute, actual withdrawal takes place a year after such notification.

The Burundian government rejected the commission and did not allow members to visit the country.

Interviews were conducted in neighbouring countries, to where hundreds of thousands of Burundians have fled since 2015.

On Sept. 1, Burundi’s parliament announced it would set up its own commission, made up of 12 lawmakers, to look into the UN commission’s findings.

Speaking to overseas Filipino workers in Vietnam, Duterte railed, “I will slap her in front of you. Why? Because you are insulting me.

“Why? Because you yourself do not believe in the research of your own organisation.”

The Philippines leader’s new beef with the French UN official is that she supposedly brought in an expert who

supposedly said on television that drugs are harmless.

Duterte did not name this “doctor” but identified them as “itim (black).”

NAN

November 21, 2017
FG provides agro chemicals, tools for farmers in Ondo

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says it has provided 6,975 different agro-chemicals and 48,334 pieces of agricultural equipment for sale to farmers in Ondo State.

Mrs Funke Omagbemi, the state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Akure.

Omagbemi said that 4,048 different agro-chemicals and 125 pieces of equipment were made available for sales in July.

She also said that 2,927 different agrochemicals and 48,209 pieces of equipment were also presented for sale to farmers in September.

“In the first batch, the state received 24 gallons of Super Grow; 692 sachets of Ultimax Plus; 1,406 litres of Champ D; 397 packs of Aflasafe (Cereal) and 169 litres of Cypermetrin.

“Besides, 45 litres of Grammazone; 573 litres of Paraquat; 147 litres of Pendimentaline; 204 of Retrazine and 392 litres of Uproot were received,’’ she said.

Omagbemi also said that in respect of agricultural equipment, the state received 29 3HP water pumps, six 2HP water pumps; 11 double-action solo pumps; two jab planters; 74 knapsack sprayers and three multipurpose threshers.

She said that under the second batch, the state received 16 gallons of Super Grow; 461 litres of Ultimax Plus; 936 sachets of Champ D; 265 kg. of Aflasafe and 113 litres of Cypermetrin.

Also, 115 litres of Cranston Spectrum; 382 litres of Paraquat; 98 litres of Pendimentaline; 136 litres of Retrazine; 261 litres of Uproot; 74 litres of Round Up and 70 kg. of Amine Salt were received, she added.

“In terms of equipment, the state received 20 3HP water pumps, four 2HP water pumps; 11,765 cocoa polythene bags and seven double-action solo pumps.

“Others include 36,250 oil palm polythene bags; one jab planter; 160 knapsack sprayers and two multipurpose threshers,’’ she said.

Omagbemi said that the items were sold to farmers across the state in highly subsidised prices.

“We tried as much as possible to make sure that those items were sold to real farmers, and not to those who wanted to resell them,’’ she said..

The state director said that if the state government could support the Federal Government’s efforts, the cost of agricultural production in the state would go down, while food prices would consequently be reduced.

“The Federal Government is not only encouraging farmers go into production, it is also providing inputs with highly subsidised prices for them so as to enable them to make more profit,’’ she said.

She, therefore, called on farmers in the state to key into Federal Government’s agricultural schemes so as to enable them to benefit maximally from government support.

Besides, Omagbemi said that the ministry had trained 12 unemployed graduates in fish farming.

“Each of them received 500 species of juvenile fish, six bags of feeds, farm booth, farm overall, weight scale, tank and N10, 000 financial support,’’ she added.

NAN

November 21, 2017
Army raids militant camp, uncovers human skulls

The Nigerian Army says it recovered from militant camp in Omoko, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers, cache of arms and seven decomposed human skulls.

Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of 6 Division in Port Harcourt told newsmen on Tuesday that five males and two females were arrested at the camp.

Iliyasu alleged that some militants and their fleeing leader, Don Wanny, kidnapped and killed several innocent citizens in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The spokesman listed weapons recovered from the camp as two AK 47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, 18 AK 47 magazines, three FN rifle magazines, 39 7.62mm Nato ammunition and 20 9mm ammunition.

Others, he said were 7.62 mm ammunition, five Icom and Mag hand-held radios, two 25kg bags of cannabis, nine pairs of military camouflage, 10 human skulls and several bones.

According to him, the raid is part of renewed strategy by the division to restore law and order in Omoku which has been terrorised by criminals for long.

“On Monday, we received a tip-off, and thereafter, troops raided the camp and shrines of a notorious militant, cultist, kidnapper and an ardent oil thief popularly known as Don Wanny.

“After about an hour of gun fight, our troops overpowered the criminal elements due to superior fire power that sent the criminals scampering for safety,” he said.

Iliyasu said some of the alleged criminals, who sustained gunshot wounds escaped by jumping into Orashi River in the area.

“However, seven of the suspects including two ladies were arrested, while they attempted to escape in the encounter that occurred at about 2:35 a.m. on Monday.

“It is believed that the main culprit, Don Wanny was not at the location during the encounter but concerted efforts are on to track, arrest and bring him to justice,” he said.

Iliyasu thanked residents of the area for cooperating with security agencies and urged them to continue to provide timely information that would lead to arrest of criminals in the state and its environs.

NAN

November 21, 2017
IFAD distributes N8.6m rice processing equipment to farmers

The International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD ) – Value Chain Development Programme ( VCDP ) on Tuesday distributed rice processing equipment worth N8.6 million to five women farmers groups in Niger.

The State Programme Coordinator ( SPC ), Dr. Mathew Ahmed, while distributing the equipment to the farmers in Minna on Tuesday, said the measure would go a long way in creating jobs.

According to him, it will also ensure that local rice farmers produce the crop in line with international best practices.

“We are here today to distribute rice processing machines to our farmers to enable them produce rice that will compete favourably with the foreign rice.

“Many of the foreign rice we eat today in Nigeria are not better than our local rice because they are expired but our local rice is fresh.

Read also: Edo, Delta, Cross River fish farmers get equipment

“Some of the foreign rice we eat constitute health hazards, hence the need for VCDP to ensure food security,’’ he said.

The equipment distributed included five rice de-stoners, 10 rice parboilers, and 46 manual sprayers.

The coordinator said IFAD-VCDP would subsidise the cost of the equipment.

He explained that the groups selected from the five participating local government areas in the VCDP applied for the equipment.

The local governments include Bida, Wushishi, Kontagora, Shiroro and Katcha.

He said that aside training the farmers in mechanised farming in the value chain, the programme also trained them in using first-bottom approach to parboil rice.

“We are presently working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON ) to make sure that our farmers adhere to international best practices that will make their product accepted across the globe,’’ he said.

He said that there were 13,000 farmers participating in rice and cassava value chain in the state.

In her remarks, Dr Amina Bello, wife of the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello commended IFAD-VCDP, saying that it had added value to the state’s agriculture drive.

She was represented by Mrs Kaltume Rufai, the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Bello urged the beneficiaries to utilise the equipment to ensure success of the programme.

Responding on behalf of one of the beneficiary groups, Hajiya Hadiza Yunusa, Chairman, Nufawamasu Gumi Rice Producers Association, Bida said that before the coming of IFAD-VCDP the colour of their rice was not attractive and contained impurities.

Yunusa said that the VCDP had trained them on modern ways of cultivating, processing and marketing rice.

“Now we sell our rice and cassava to other West African countries, our customers even book in advance,’’ Yunusa said.

NAN

November 21, 2017