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  • FG to remove dangerous speed bumps on highways

    FG to remove dangerous speed bumps on highways

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF ) says the Federal Government( FG ) is working with relevant agencies to remove dangerous speed bumps on the nation’s highways to reduce accidents.

    Mr Babagana Alkali, Director Planning Research and Statistic in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Fedartion ( OSGF ), said this at the Pre-end of the year operation meeting with transport unions organised by Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Alkali said that the Federal Government ( FG ) was working with relevant agencies to remove the speed bumps that were dangerous on the highways in compliance with the recent National Assembly resolution.

    “ Of recent, you have heard the National Assembly resolution that the speed bumps that are dangerous on the roads should be removed because they cause nuisance and road traffic accidents and crashes along the way

    “The federal government is urging that the ones that are not important should be removed and those that are important should be left behind.

    “We will work with the relevant agencies to comply with that, but the work has not started yet, but we are hoping that the agencies are going to comply soon,’’ he said.

    Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal of FRSC, thanked the stakeholders for their continuous cooperation with the corps, over the years, which helped them to record positive results.

    “ I appreciate the support of Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers ( NUPENG ) for the increase in number of drivers who have driver’s licence.

    “ I also appreciate the number of personal attendance of the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ) at the FRSC fora.

    Mr Kassim Baltaya, Chairman NARTO, commended FRSC for what it had been doing to save the lives of people and their investments.

    “NARTO will continue to partner with the FRSC because reduction of accidents makes our investment secure.

    “FRSC has done wonderfully well but our drivers need more sensitisation and continuous training with the collaboration of other relevant agencies.

    “FRSC in collaboration with Standard Organisation of Nigeria ( SON ) needs to be checking the quality of tyres because some people are importing sub-standard tyre into the country, which endangers our lives.

    “I urge the RTEAN and NURTW to do more in this area and we can partner with both State and Local Governments to achieve it.

    Mr Zabairu Tijani, representative of NUPENG, thanked the corps marshal for uniting all the stakeholders in the transport sector to work together, saying this had helped in reducing accidents and quarrels among them.

    Tijani said that NUPENG had just trained 4,500 drivers to show commitment and support to what the FRSC was doing.

    “Our challenge is bad road, government should always award the road contract to competent contractors to make journeys smooth for both drivers and passengers.

    “We need specific parking spaces for our trailers, if government should allocate parking spaces for us, we will not pack anyhow along the road.

    Stakeholders who attended the meeting were; NUPENG, NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO, SGF,  Department of  State Services (DSS), and representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to show their continuous support to FRSC.

    NAN

  • Ekiti 2018: Aspirant promises to surpass Fayose’s achievements

    Ekiti 2018: Aspirant promises to surpass Fayose’s achievements

    Mr Atoye Ariyo-Dare, a PDP Governorship Aspirant in  2018 election in Ekiti State, has promised to surpass the achievements of Gov. Ayo Fayose if voted into office.

    Ariyo-Dare made the promise on Thursday in Ikole-Ekiti through a statement signed by Mr Gbenga Obisesan, his Director of Youth Mobilisation.

    “Our humble team is offering the people of our dear state a new social contract that will bring about massive human and capital as well as research development in hi-tech farming to spark agricultural revolution as never seen in the history of Ekiti in particular and Nigeria in general.

    “We are going to apply wisdom to leadership, search out the best of Ekiti from the fringes of our states in all over Nigeria in order to create wealth for the electorate,” he said.

    Ariyo-Dare congratulated the governor on his third year anniversary in office.

    “We felicitate with the people of Ekiti and Fayose on the occasion of the third anniversary of his administration.

    “We also reckon with the achievements so far made in education and infrastructure and we wish him a successful completion of tenure,” he said.

    The current administration of Gov. Ayo Fayose was inaugurated on Oct.16, 2014.

    NAN

  • ‘Nasarawa Polytechnic generates N120 million IGR annually’

    ‘Nasarawa Polytechnic generates N120 million IGR annually’

    Mr Silas Gyar, the Rector of  Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, says the institution  generates over N120 million Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) annually.

    Gyar said this on Thursday while addressing newsmen in his office.

    He said that the money was generated from the tuition fees.

    “We have over 7,000 students, when you add the number of the students by the amount being paid every semester, you have N120 million.

    “Though the indigene students pay an average of N17, 000 every semester, while the non-indigenes pay N30, 000 which is about N120 million.

    “We only charge N2, 500 for indigenes, while non indigenes pay N15, 000.

    “So if you add the N2, 500 and N15, 000 depending on the number of indigenes and non indigenes for tuition fees every semester, you have N36 million in a session.

    “Other charges are to take care of their examinations, medical bills, games, identity card, among others,” Gyar said.

    He said that the polytechnic was spending an average of N38 million in producing booklets, stationery, refreshment and other allowances to conduct successful examinations every session.

    Gyar debunked the insinuation making the rounds that the institution generated over N400 million annually and challenged anybody with prove to bring it forward.

    “We also augment our monthly allocation with N4.6 million every month to enable us pay our staff full salaries.

    “We also maintain the existing structures and facilities, so the public can see how we are spending our IGR,” he added.

    The rector assured the staff and students of his determination to create academic friendly environment by improving facilities and welfare of staff.

    NAN

  • Iraqi prime minister rules out attack on Kurdistan

    Iraqi prime minister rules out attack on Kurdistan

    Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday said that his government would not use military power against the Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan over a recent independence vote.

    Al-Abadi’s remark came a day after Iraqi Kurdistan warned of a major attack by the central government in Baghdad on the northern territory amid escalating tensions between both sides.

    “We will not use our army against our people or wage a war against our Kurdish people,” al-Abadi said in a statement.

    He, however, pledged to preserve the country’s unity and apply the constitution.

    Baghdad had condemned Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence referendum held on Sept. 25, saying it was unconstitutional.

    The Iraqi federal government and Kurdistan had been at loggerheads over the vote in which an overwhelming majority of 92 per cent supported independence.

    Afterwards, Baghdad imposed a ban on international flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan’s airports, saying flights would resume if the central government assumed control of the territory’s airports.

    The vote alarmed neighbouring Turkey, Iran and Syria, all of which were concerned that it could encourage Kurdish minorities to split.

    The U.S and other countries also fear that the fallout from Iraqi Kurdistan’s vote could distract attention from ongoing campaigns against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

    Kurdistan’s military Peshmerga forces have played a key role in Iraq’s U.S-backed drive against the extremist militants.

    NAN

  • LASU to admit 3,500 candidates in 2017/18 session

    LASU to admit 3,500 candidates in 2017/18 session

    The Lagos State University ( LASU ) will admit 3,500 students for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The university’s Head of Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr Adekoya Martins, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday.

    Martins said that 36,500 candidates applied for admission in LASU for the academic session.

    He described as false, purported information on some social media platforms that LASU was set to admit 5,500 out of 36,500 candidates.

    “The university management wishes to state unequivocally that such information is false, baseless and unfounded.

    “Consequently, members of the university community and the general public are advised to disregard such information,” he said.

    In a bid to ensure transparency and merit-driven admission process, Lagos state university recently launched an application to automate subsequent admissions in line with a directive from the National Universities Commission ( NUC ).

    The application will cut out undue interference from individuals in the admission process.

    NAN

  • Why NIPOST must brace up

    Why NIPOST must brace up

    When the country observed the World Post day in Abuja that Mr Smart Tweador, Chief Executive of Smart Connects, a telecom company, expressed concerns about the operations of the Nigerian Postal Service ( NIPOST ).

    According to him the theme of the day — “Transform to remain an enabler of inclusiveness development and an essential component of the global economy’’ — is apt in addressing some of the challenges facing NIPOST.

    He said the coming on stream of cellular phones had tremendously affected the operations of the organisation since letter writing has reduced.

    “People make calls and send text messages instead of writing lengthy letters, so NIPOST has got to come up with innovative ways to market their products.

    “Besides that, you find out that the courier services are more efficient; aside from that transportation companies are now able to carry letters and those are fast means of getting your letters across.

    “All you need to do is to call the person on phone and say go to a certain place and collect a letter, so with all other avenues to get across a letter, you find that the fortunes of NIPOST has really been affected.

    “Therefore, the onus is now on government to compel its agencies and officials to use NIPOST to transmit official letters.

    “It should also make use of its Nipost Ems Speedpost services; and you will see that this will improve the staff performance,’’ he said.

    Tweador also said the only way to keep the organisation afloat was through patronage, advising the organisation to brace up to meet the current challenges in a competitive society.

    He observed that most government officials that paid private courier companies to carry government mails were not helping the post.

    But Mr Bisi Adegbuyi, Postmaster-General, NIPOST, insisted that the agency was leveraging on information communications technology tools to introduce innovative products in line with global trend.

    “There is so much to be gained from this transformation, you must satisfy your customers who are with the money. We are reinventing ourselves by leveraging on digitisation.

    “With all the strong political support we are getting from the Federal Government and the parliament, they have demonstrated their total commitment and their readiness to pass laws that will diversify the productive space of this country and ensure that the postal revolution is achieved.

    “As we stand to meet the United Nations Development Goals, we should not forget postal infrastructure as an enabler of inclusive development and a key platform for delivering public services.

    “So, NIPOST is introducing International Postal Service, Track and Trace System, Mobile Electronic Stamp, Address Verification System , Electronic Money Order and  other financial inclusive services.’’ Adegbuyi said.

    He said the Address Verification System was to build trust between organisations and individuals and an easy and quick way to identify and authenticate addresses.

    “It gives the security agencies unimaginable information to work with and help government plan better.

    “All these are to ensure that the post meets current demands of customers and to make the post viable with the collaboration of other government agencies such as Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) and the private sector,’’ he said.

    He claimed that NIPOST generated N8. 84 billion in 2016 out of which N4.09 billion was from the sales of adhesive postage stamps, sold under the implementation of the stamping protocol.

    “But most government agencies are not using this tool and government is losing a lot of revenue and job opportunities,’’ he observed.

    Concerned by his comments, some stakeholders, therefore, called on the Federal Government to compel its agencies and ministries to utilise NIPOST facilities.

    According to them, the post has gone to sleep and is no longer in the league of speedy, efficient and effective service delivery.

    They insist that for the post to become an agency to be reckoned with once again, government agencies and institutions must be compelled by government to use its facilities.

    Similarly, Mrs Caroline Ojo, a civil servant, called on the organisation to look beyond posting of letters and use its spread in all local governments across the nation to utilise its services to improve its revenue generation.

    “NIPOST must be proactive and creative; it must make use of its facilities in the nooks and crannies of the country to beat competition.

    “Apart from this, it can use the vehicles at its disposal to bridge the gap between villages and cities in the transportation of farm produce.

    “There are many possibilities for the organisation, also linking up with small scale businesses and get their patronage, these are areas that the other courier companies will not go to,’’ Ojo said.

    Ojo, however, called for attitudinal change and work ethics by the staff of the organisation to move it forward and called on government to review the salary of staff to make them more committed to work.

    But Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu said with the types of infrastructure and trained personnel of NIPOST, the agency could serve as a veritable organisation for development.

    According to him, with the vast offices nationwide including assets such as lands and vehicles, NIPOST is a game changer if all hands were put on deck.

    Shittu, nonetheless, solicited the National Assembly’s assistance in fast-tracking processes on a bill for an Act to repeal the Nigeria Postal Service Act to provide for the operations and development of postal services, the establishment of Nigeria Postal Commission and for related matters, 2017, presented to it.

    In response to this, Dr Chukwuemeka Ujam, Deputy Chairman, Communication, House of Representatives, said the National Assembly would grant a speedy passage of the NIPOST Reform Bill and the Stamp Duty Reform Bill.

    The world observes every October 9 as the post day but the date marks the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union, which started in 1874 in Switzerland.

    However, the World Post Day started in 1969 at the Universal Postal Union’s congress in Tokyo and it has since then become celebrations worldwide to highlight the importance of postal services.

    NAN

  • This Eagles will make us proud in Russia – Amiesimaka

    This Eagles will make us proud in Russia – Amiesimaka

    The current crop of Super Eagles players would bring glory to Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a former Green Eagle winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka, has said.

    Amiesimaka, a former attacking midfielder said on Thursday in Lagos the players had shown commitment to the task ahead.

    He said: “I think we are privilege to have youthful, relatively youthful, skilful and committed players. I think we have a crop of players now that should be able to do us proud.

    “And most of them, apart from the goalkeeper who is also brilliant and the only homed-based player, I gathered all the others are playing in professional teams outside the country.

    “And from what I have seen so far, they can hold their own and it’s important, and I’m very impressed that they are all very youthful.

    ‘’Apart from the captain who is still very good and has a lot of experience to back him up; it will be a delight to watch the team play an exciting World Cup in 2018.’’

    The Super Eagles clinched the sole ticket for the 2018 Russia World Cup from CAF Group B after defeating Chipolopolo of Zambia 1-0 at Uyo last weekend

  • Court docks man over alleged theft

    Court docks man over alleged theft

    A 26-year -old man, Mudiaga John, was on Thursday arraigned in an Asaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a power generating set.

    Prosecutor John Nwogu, told the court that Mudiaga committed the offence on May 27, after he broke into the residence of one Mrs Noah Victoria, along Ibusa Road, Asaba.

    Nwogu said that the offence was punishable under Sections 516 and 411(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty, while the Magistrate, Mrs Okonkwo Akanume, granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 and a surety in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until Oct. 19 for definite hearing.

    NAN

  • Buhari felicitates with Owa-Obokun of Ijesa land at 80

    Buhari felicitates with Owa-Obokun of Ijesa land at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja felicitated with the Owa-Obokun of Ijesa-land, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran 11, on his 80th birthday.

    Buhari, in a congratulatory message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina also saluted the majestic Ijesa Kingdom, renowned for its historic military and entrepreneurial prowess.

    He extolled the maturity and wisdom of the royal father in administering his domain, consistently ensuring peace and development.

    The president also lauded the Owa-Obokun for promoting a strong appetite for education and commerce among his people.

    Buhari said the octogenarian had over the years successfully sustained the heritage of patience, tolerance and good neighbourliness  bequeathed to him by his ancestors.

    He also commended the traditional ruler for taking his people to new heights of integration into the global trade community.

    Buhari joined the other family members and close associates of the royal father, “who joins the club of octogenarians with 35 years on his fathers’ throne in celebrating with the royal father.’’

    He prayed God Almighty to would grant the Owa-Obokun good health and long life to continue serving his people and the country.

    NAN

  • Nadal and Federer ease through in Shanghai

    Nadal and Federer ease through in Shanghai

    Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer resumed their battle for the year-end number one ranking, with imperious victories to reach the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday.

    Top seed Nadal extended his winning streak to 13 matches with a 6-2 6-1 defeat of America’s Jared Donaldson in the Qi Zhong Stadium.

    Shortly after the brilliant display by Nadal, world number two Federer, got the better of Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 7-6(4) 6-4.

    Nadal, who leads Federer by 2,370 points going into the home straight of a season in which the two old rivals have shared out the game’s biggest prizes, was unstoppable against Donaldson and needed only 54 minutes to prevail.

    “It was a very quick match in all aspects.

    “If the year-end ranking happens, it will be, I think, a very important achievement for me.

    “With so many years of difference, I think it is something very difficult, but there remains work to do,’’ Nadal, bidding to end a year on top for the fourth time in his career, said.

    He last finished the year as world number one in 2013.

    Federer shows no sign of giving up the chase, but had to battle hard against Schwartzman – letting slip a break in the first set to get dragged into a tiebreak.

    The 36-year-old Swiss always had an extra shot in his locker though and, having taken the opener, broke serve straight away in the second set to move toward victory.

    He finished the contest with his 14th ace, setting up a third round clash against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.
    “It was a good win.

    “I knew he was dangerous. I could have closed the first set out earlier, but I started the second set very well,” Federer said.

    Spaniard, Nadal, who like Federer has won the Shanghai title once, will face Italy’s Fabio Fognini next.

    Eighth seed David Goffin’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals suffered a blow when he lost 7-6(4) 6-3 to Gilles Simon, while sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov had to save match points on the way to beating Ryan Harrison 3-6 6-3 7-6(6).

    Seventh seed Pablo Carreno Busta also went out, losing 7-5 7-5 to fellow Spaniard, Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

    NAN