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  • Ado Odo/Ota LGA generates N78m in 8 months

    Ado Odo/Ota LGA generates N78m in 8 months

    Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area in Ogun, said on Thursday that it generated about N78 million as Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR ) between January and August.

    Mr Basiru Adeniji, the Executive Chairman of the council, disclosed this while receiving members of Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on an oversight visit to the council.

    Adeniji said that the revenue was generated from license fees, fines, rent on land among others.

    “The council raked in the sum of N5.4million from license fees, over N3million from fines, while we got N1.5 million from rent on land.

    “We also generated revenue from extra ordinary items, repayments, rent on government buildings among others,” he said.

    Adeniji lamented that the council was confronted with the problem of refuse management, saying that its finances can’t adequately take care of the problem.

    He pleaded with the committee to prevail on the State Government to assist the council by providing refuse trucks to solve the problem.

    “The issue of harmonisation of revenue collection by the State Government should be seriously looked into as the local councils are not benefiting from the venture,” he said.

    Responding, Mr Olusola Sonuga, the Committee Chairman, reassured that the assembly would continue to support the need for total autonomy for Local Governments in the state.

    Sonuga said that the autonomy would engender more development at the grassroots.

    The lawmaker advised council to concentrate on executing capital projects, saying that it was the surest way to ensure solid grassroots development.

    NAN

  • Take Algeria match very serious, Onigbinde tells Super Eagles

    Take Algeria match very serious, Onigbinde tells Super Eagles

    Akinade Onigbinde, the coach of FRSC Football Club of Abuja, on Thursday called on the Super Eagles to see Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria as an all-important match.

    Onigbinde said this in Abuja that this would help them get a good result which would then elevate the team in the FIFA ranking.

    He said the match was capable of either improving or negatively affecting the country’s position in the global football ranking.

    “The match should be taken very serious in order not to drop on the FIFA ranking.

    “Also, the way we play against Algeria will impact positively or negatively on our friendly with Argentina,” Onigbinde warned.

    The coach described the Nigeria/Algeria match as a determinant for Nigeria’s preparations for the World Cup, and urged the players to shun laxity and complacency.

    “The Eagles must go all out to crush Algeria with all it has as a formidable team.

    “I also believe that the match against Algeria is more important than the one against Argentina, because it is the warm-up against Argentina,’’ he said.

    The coach said the team should not succumb to pride or over-confidence, adding that this could result in concession of defeat.

    The Super Eagles will face Algeria in Constantine on Friday in their final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    NAN

  • 2019: Ebonyi APC drums support for Buhari

    2019: Ebonyi APC drums support for Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi chapter, says it will support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    “The Ebonyi chapter of APC would throw its full weight behind the President should he declare interest to run again,’’ Acting Chairman of the party, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, said on Thursday.

    Nwachukwu said this in Abakaliki that the party took the decision after close assessment of the achievements of the present administration especially in, job creation, economic revitalisation, agricultural revolution and war against corruption.

    According to him, it is natural for the party to back Buhari, so as to consolidate on the gains so far achieved.

    The chairman said the national leadership of the APC should prevail on the President to go for second term.

    “We have assessed the achievements of the present administration and have come to an undeniable truth that Mr President has done so much in areas of physical infrastructure, war against financial graft, job creation, economic repositioning among others.

    “It is only natural that the President is given another opportunity to consolidate on the gains so far made in enthroning genuine democracy and putting the nation’s economy on the paths of economic growth.

    “We are going to mobilize both party and non party members to support Buhari for second term.

    “We are only praying that Mr President will listen to the popular voices calling on him to throw himself in for re-election in order complete the good work that his administration has started, ” Nwachukwu said.

    He claimed that the APC was `robbed’ of electoral victory in 2015, but assured that it would have a “clean sweep at the governorship and presidential polls in the state come 2019.

    “We are set to take over the Government House in Abakaliki by 2019 and APC will have 100 per cent votes cast in both the governorship and presidential elections.

    “Ebonyi belongs to APC and I am saying that APC will take 100 per cent of votes cast for the Presidential and governorship polls and we are going to prove this fact in 2019.”

    NAN

  • Gov. Ugwuanyi visits 478 communities in 2 years

    Gov. Ugwuanyi visits 478 communities in 2 years

    Dr Eric Oluedo, the Head, Visit Every Community ( VEC ) Directorate, Office of the Governor Enugu State, say Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has visited 478 communities and some special communities within two years.

    Oluedo disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday.

    “The visit, an interactive session between the government and people of each of the communities, is meant to get community-needs assessment from the people to drive the ongoing bottom-up approach of development adopted by the state government.’’

    He said that the visits had afforded the governor the opportunities to meet with his people one-on-one and felt their pains and gains while living within their communities.

    The governor’s aide said that the visits had given the people the voice to say their most pressing needs or challenges and how they could be tackled with collaborative efforts of the people and government.

    “Visit Every Community (VEC) Initiative, has led Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to sit down one-on-one with community members to chart realistic and inclusive community development programmes for them.

    “You can see that we have hundreds of community-based developmental projects ongoing in Enugu State through the instrumentality of the VEC.

    “And now, the community members are part of the projects since they monitor and report to the VEC office on how their projects are being executed.

    “In some communities, we handed over the entire project to a formidable and trusted committee to execute, while the state government releases money in phases as each phase of the project is completed.

    “In all, we have micro-community projects or projects that will be between five million naira and N12 million as well as those that will gulp up to N20 million.

    “So, with this, basic community needs like Primary Health care centre, boreholes, electrification and construction of town halls, markets, primary schools are done to solve communities’ immediate and pressing needs,’’ he said.

    Oluedo, former Enugu State Commissioner for Rural Development, urged other state governments to adopt the bottom-up approach to fast-track development in the country.

    He said that part of the problem of development in Africa had been the up-to-down approach to development which had left no room for people in the communities to contribute and participate in developments meant for them.

    According to him, the ongoing bottom-up approach to development in Enugu State has given every community and group in the state a sense of belonging and allow holistic development to get to rural communities.

    Special community categories, include conglomerate of motherless babies homes, orphanages, old people’s home, schools for the deaf and dumb, schools for the blind and schools for children with special needs, among others.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC offers standardisation facilities to exporters of agro-allied products

    NAFDAC offers standardisation facilities to exporters of agro-allied products

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) has urged exporters to use its facilities to standardise exportable agro-allied products free-of-charge.

    The agency’s Director of Special Duties, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, made the appeal when he spoke in Enugu on Thursday.

    Jimoh said that the use of its facilities was part of the agency’s contributions to Federal Government Zero Export Reject Initiative.

    “The agency is currently implementing no fee charge for inspection, laboratory analysis and export licence when exporting products.

    “NAFDAC recently established Small Business Support Desk to guide small businesses, including agro-allied products exporters on how to achieve this with ease in line with the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

    “This is to ensure that the agro-allied products meant for export from the country gets NAFDAC certification from our internationally accredited and standardised laboratories in order for the product to gain quick international acceptance,’’ he said.

    According to him, the international accredited laboratories are in four locations, namely; Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna and Anambra.

    Jimoh noted that the agency was already synergising with other government commissions and agencies involved in export business and control to ensure that Nigerians, especially young entrepreneurs succeed in this direction.

    He said that NAFDAC had been working in partnership with Nigerian Investment Promotion Council; the Nigeria Export Promotion Agency and others to promote export in order to diversify the economy.

    “I know this is good news for businessmen and women from the South-East, who currently are leaving  import-side of business to the export-side of business.

    “It will ease standardisation and make the agro-allied products meant for export meet with international package and guideline.

    “This means more foreign exchange for our people and expansion of the current agro-allied businesses and their value chain in the country,’’ Jimoh added.

    “I know with the seriousness people of the zone attach to business, this new export-driven initiative will succeed when we get it right.

    NAN

  • Igali promises to improve wrestling in Nigeria

    Igali promises to improve wrestling in Nigeria

    The President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation ( NWF ), Daniel Igali, on Thursday promised to help in improving the wrestling sport in the country, through improved refereeing and coaching. 

    Igali who is attending the ongoing United World Wrestling ( UWW ) Referees and Coaches Education Course at Manchester in the UK said he would do this by imparting knowledge.

    The Sydney 2000 Olympics gold medalist said participants in the course were being taught wrestling specific technical knowledge such as coaching, refereeing and safety rules updates.

    “It is a professional development course which commenced on Sunday and is expected to end on Saturday. It’s been such a demanding and rewarding experience,” Igali said in Abuja.

    He added that the course would be very handy ahead of the African Championship of February 2018.

    “The various officials of the game must be aware of the little changes in the elite sport.

    The UWW Referees and Coaches Education Course is a seven-day event.

    Read Also: Lagos unveils Football Forever

  • INEC registers 104, 805 new voters in Bayelsa

    INEC registers 104, 805 new voters in Bayelsa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Thursday it had so far registered 104, 805 voters in the on-going Continuous Voters Registration ( CVR ) in Bayelsa.

    The INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr Clement Oha disclosed this in an interview  in Yenagoa.

    Oha explained that 68, 825 voters were registered in the first phase, while 35, 980 voters were registered in the second phase of the CVR which ended on Oct. 19.

    “INEC has successfully concluded the two phases of the CVR exercise.

    “It has been a huge success in spite of challenges caused by weather, especially at the second phase,’’ he said.

    The secretary said that INEC also distributed a total of 1, 452 Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ), during the first and second phase of the exercise.

    He said that a total of 818 voters were transferred from one polling unit to another, made up of 474 in the first phase and 324 in the second phase.

    Oha added that 5, 982 voters also had their PVC reprinted, comprising 4, 272 in the first phase and 1, 710 in the second phase.

    “The reprinting is for those that have lost their PVC, those that have errors in their card among others.

    “On the whole, I am impressed with the outcome; initially when we started, the turnout was very low, but INEC headquarter graciously approved more centres in the state.

    “New centres were also opened in Riverine communities.

    “The additional centres made an increase in the first phase; now, in the second phase, the number of persons that came out to register dropped considerably,’’ he said.

    Oha called on eligible voters who were yet to register to take advantage of the third phase of the exercise beginning on Nov. 9 across the eight local government areas of the state to obtain their voter card.

    NAN

  • Customs intercepts 365 bags of smuggled rice in Sokoto

    Customs intercepts 365 bags of smuggled rice in Sokoto

    Mr Nasiru Ahmad, the Controller of Nigerian Customs Service ( NCS ) in Sokoto /Kebbi/Zamfara Area Command, said the command had intercepted two trucks with 365 bags of foreign rice.

    Ahmad, represented by the command’s Spokesman, Mr Magaji Mailafiya, said on Thursday that the seizures were made last week Thursday and Friday along Illela-Sokoto road.

    Ahmad said the seized trucks belonged to Dangote Group, while the duty paid value of the 50kg bags of rice was N8.7 million.

    He said the foreign rice were among the items prohibited from entering the country through land boarders, adding that the action contravened Federal Government’s fiscal policy on rice importation

    He said that the contraband rice were arrested as a result of the vigilance of his men on border patrol.

    “The contraband has a Duty Paid Value of N8, 748,320 and the two suspected importers along with the contraband items were arrested.

    “They are in our custody and will soon be prosecuted accordingly,” Ahmad said.

    He urged Nigerians to complement government’s efforts on rice cultivation and other agriculture development programmes by establishing processing industries  geared toward viable economic development in the country.

    He enjoined individuals, traditional and community leaders as well as groups to assist government to achieve “smuggle-free” society.

    Ahmad described smuggling as “cripplers of nation economy which deterred employments, revenue and nation’s security progress”.

    NAN

  • Osun warns rural communities against open defecation

    Osun warns rural communities against open defecation

    The Osun Government has warned residents of rural communities against open defecation so as to forestall the spread of diseases in their neighbourhoods.

    Mr Segun Moyinoluwa, Director of Sanitation and Hygiene, State Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Agency ( RUWESA ), gave the warning in Osogbo on Monday at a meeting with members of the State Task Group on Sanitation.

    He said the state government had embarked on serious enlightenment campaigns to sensitise people in the rural communities to the need to promote healthy living.

    He stressed that effective sanitation of all communities was critical to efforts to improve the people’s standard of living.

    The director said that the agency was working assiduously to ensure that all the rural communities in the state were free from open defecation.

    Moyinoluwa urged the community leaders to support the government’s efforts to prevent the outbreak of diseases in the state.

    He said that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola’s administration had been striving to improve the citizens’ living standards and reposition the state for economic development.

    He appealed to the people to always include toilet facilities in their building projects so as to avoid indiscriminate defecation in public places.

    Moyinoluwa said that the task group would visit 109 communities in Ayedaade, Odo-Otin  and Ifedayo local government areas between Nov. 7 and Nov. 9  to ascertain their open defecation status.

    Mr Samuel Ayantola, RUWESA’s Head of Sanitation Unit, said, while presenting a paper on “Criteria for Community Certification’’, that the agency had been able to ensure the liberation of over 100 communities from the menace of open defecation.

    Ayantola, who highlighted the preconditions for the certification of communities as open defecation free, urged the sanitation group to check all important facilities in the communities under survey in its efforts to ascertain their open defecation status.

    He called on all stakeholders in the sanitation sector to be alive to their responsibilities, saying that the task of making the state free from open defecation was the duty of all the citizens.

    NAN

  • Court docks man over assault

    Court docks man over assault

    A 29-year-old man, Ademola Olufemi, was on Monday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court‎ over alleged assault.

    Olufemi, whose address was not given, is standing trial on a three -count charge of assault, threat to life and breach of peace.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Nov. 3 at about 12.30 p.m. at Zone C, Fiyinfolu Estate, in Ado-Ekiti.

    He alleged that the defendant did assault one Christiana Nwamaya by tearing her clothes and inflicted injuries on her left hand.

    He also alleged that the ‎ defendant threatened one Oluwadare Tope, through telephone and called him all sort of names.

    Okunade said that the defendant on Aug. 8, at Zone C, Fiyinfolu Estate, also conduct himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by chasing one Esther Uwamaya with a hammer.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Section ‎351, 86 and 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap C15 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    The prosecutor asked for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
    The accused pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer, Mrs Blessing James, urged the court to grant him bail, and promised that he would not jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye,  granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000, with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case until Dec. 15 for hearing.