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  • Kebbi promises provision of skills,equipment to prisons

    Kebbi promises provision of skills,equipment to prisons

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has promised to provide skills acquisition equipment and other materials to inmates of the two prisons in the state with a view to properly rehabilitate them.

    Bagudu made the promise on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi while donating tailoring machines to the inmates of the two prison inmates in the state.

    The governor urged the inmates to consider their incarceration as an act of God meant to reform them and not to abuse their personality.

    He called on them to change their attitudes, before and after the expiration of their prison terms.

    The governor also promised that government would revisit the cases of some of the inmates for possible pardon.

    “Government will look at some of your cases and some of you on awaiting trial.

    ‘’This is with a view to paying fines and possible pardon after consultation with security agencies, courts and prison authorities,” he assured.

    In his remarks, the Controller of Prisons in the state, Alhaji Sani Potiskum, commended the governor for his continued assistance to the two prisons.

    “We also thank you for the renovation of toilets, provision of 100 mattresses, repairs of boreholes and provision of drugs and insecticides to the inmates, he said.

    NAN

  • Bale ruled out of 2018 World Cup qualifiers

    Bale ruled out of 2018 World Cup qualifiers

    Wales forward Gareth Bale has been ruled out of their crucial last two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Ireland due to a calf injury.

    Bale, who missed Real Madrid’s weekend league game against Espanyol, had arrived with the rest of the Wales squad on Sunday and attended an awards dinner in Cardiff.

    “But following dialogue with Real Madrid, Bale was sent for a scan and results confirmed that he wouldn’t be fit to feature,” the Football Association of Wales ( FAW ) said on Tuesday in a statement.

    “Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw will now join up with the rest of the squad later today.”

    Bale is the most high-profile player in the Welsh side and the country’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia are still hanging in the balance.

    Chris Coleman’s team are second in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one clear of Ireland in third.

    They take on hosts Georgia on Friday and host Ireland the following Monday in their final qualifier.

    Wales need to top the group to secure an automatic place in Russia but will go through to the playoffs if they finish second.

    Bale had been doubtful after Real manager Zinedine Zidane reported the player was suffering a small calf strain.

    The 28-year-old has scored 26 goals in 68 appearances for his country and was instrumental in their run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

    NAN

  • NSWG partners U.S. for united, peaceful Nigeria

    NSWG partners U.S. for united, peaceful Nigeria

    The Nigeria Senior Working Group ( NSWG ), a group of Nigerian senior civic leaders, have converged on the United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C., to rekindle hope for peace and stability in Nigeria.

    The group of eminent Nigerians was in the U.S. for a symposium on Nigeria tagged ‘Peace in Nigeria: How to build it, and America’s role’, organised by the U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.

    The group has as members the Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar, Gen. Martin Agwai (rtd) and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

    Others are Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Amb. Fatima Abubakar, Dr Nguyan Feese, Dr Chris Kwaja, Dr Usman Bugaje, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim and Aisha Murtala Muhammed-Oyebode.

    The group was brought together by the United States Institute of Peace in 2016 to represent public issues about Nigeria.

    They also lend their expertise in support of the efforts of the State Governors and national policymakers to address the social, religious and political forces that fuel extremist violence and instability in Nigeria.

    Amb. Hassan Hassan, Ambassador/Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, at the symposium, emphasised that Nigeria needed peace now more than any other time in its history.

    The Nigerian envoy also said  that “once there is peace in Nigeria, “it will vibrate across Africa because peace in Nigeria means peace in Africa”.

    Hassan identified the prominent cause of instability and breakdown of peace in Nigeria as religious animosity and rivalry among the adherents of the Christian and Muslim faiths.

    The Nigerian envoy tasked the group to carefully, effectively and incisively consider the issues at stake in Nigeria, extend it to Africa and the world at large.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Agwai stressed that one of the group’s task was to help the Nigerian government to resolve insecurity, especially the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    He said that their mandate was to liaise with the U.S. Government through its Think Thank and policy makers to proffer solutions.

    According to him, the group is also mandated to suggest steps Nigeria should take to build and sustain peace as Africa’s most important country.

    Agwai said  the Nigerian government was determined to achieve sustainable peace and development in the country.

    He stressed that there could not be peace without development and there could be no development without peace.

    The outcome of the discussion was to reduce instability and re-weave the social fabrics of the country.

    Amb. Johnnie Carson, the Senior Adviser of United States Institute of Peace, remarked that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari had made military gains against the Boko Haram extremist group.

    Carson emphasised that conflict resolution, peace and security would not be achievable purely through military solutions alone.

    To achieve sustainable peace in Nigeria, he advised that all levels of government, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders must get involved.

    He said every Nigerian  should join to fight to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and other security challenges through dialogue, community policing and promotion of good citizen.

    Thomas Shannon, the U.S. Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, praised the various initiatives by the government towards establishing and preserving  peace.

    Shannon said peace was required to foster a prosperous Nigeria and Africa, stressing the U.S. Government will continue to encourage the Nigerian government to take up a call as peace-loving government.

    The U.S. envoy noted that President Buhari had demonstrated that his administration was positioned to strengthen Nigeria’s dignity in the world.

    NAN

  • Resident doctors commence indefinite strike in Kaduna

    Resident doctors commence indefinite strike in Kaduna

    Residents doctors in Kaduna State have began an indefinite strike on Tuesday over “sorry state” of healthcare facilities in state government hospitals.

    Dr. Joseph Jokshan, President, Association of Resident Doctors in the state, said at a press briefing Monday night in Kaduna that the state government had not responded to any of the doctors’ demands issued 21 days ago.

    He said that the doctors were pained to begin the strike, but “unfortunately, we cannot effectively carry out these tasks in the current sorry state of our healthcare facilities.”

    Jokshan listed issues that prompted the strike to include poor funding, equipping and staffing of hospitals and non provision of living environment for medical, health workers and patients.

    He said that members of the association were also demanding for payment of House Officers salaries and arrears and immediate and full implementation of “corrected” CONMESS.

    “Immediate implementation of already approved funding for residency training of Kaduna state doctors in their chosen fields, as well as promotion of our doctors that are due.”

    He urged the general public to “join us in this struggle and push the government to do the needful.”

    “This is the struggle we intend to see through to the end, not because we are unaware of the implication of this action but because we are left with no other option,” he added.

    NAN

  • Buhari mourns AVM Mohammed

    Buhari mourns AVM Mohammed

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described late retired Air Vice Marshal Mukhtari Mohammed as “one of the finest, most principled, patriotic and loyal military officers’’ he had ever known and respected.

    President Buhari stated this in a condolence message issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday.

    The president also described late Mohammed, one-time Military Administrator of Kaduna State and Chairman of Freedom Radio Kano, as a fountain of inspiration who loved the progress of Nigeria at all times.

    “AVM Mohammed was so passionately committed to his principles and beliefs that he had to leave his military career earlier than expected on account of those principles.

    “Very few Nigerians are ready to lose their jobs or offices on account of their beliefs, but the late Mohammed was an exception to this ugly reality of Nigeria, a society where public office holders respect power more than principles,’’ he said.

    The President also recalled the significant role played by the late Air Force Officer in the realization of his people’s desire for the creation of the present Jigawa State.

    He extended his condolences to the government, the family and people of Jigawa and Kano States over the loss of this illustrious public figure.

    President Buhari prayed to Allah to forgive his gentle soul.

    Late Muhammad, who was the Wazirin Dutse in Jigawa, died on Sunday in a London hospital after a protracted illness.

    He was also the first Governor of Kaduna State, after its creation in 1977, by the defunct military administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.

    NAN

  • Anambra guber poll: AD did not submit candidates names before deadline – INEC

    Anambra guber poll: AD did not submit candidates names before deadline – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that the Alliance for Democracy ( AD ) did not submit necessary forms and details of its candidates for Anambra governorship election before the deadline for submission.

    INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi disclosed this in an interview on Monday in Abuja.

    The AD had on Wednesday, in a letter written to INEC by its factional National Chairman, Alhaji Ismail Ayodele, said that the names of its candidates were omitted from the list of contestants in the Anambra governorship poll.

     INEC had on Wednesday published list of 37 political parties and their candidates for the Nov. 18 governorship election.

    Osaze-Uzzi added that from the commission’s record the National Chairman of AD was Chief Joseph Avazi, and not Ayodele.

    “The party did not make a submission of the necessary forms and list of their candidates before the close of work on the last day for submission.

    “From our records, Ismaila Ayodele is the National Treasurer of the party, not its National chairman.

    “National Chairman is Chief Joseph Avazi,” Osaze-Uzzi said.

    The party according to the letter listed Nze Valentine Favour Onwuka and his running mate Chijioke Onyekaonwu, as the names of its candidates submitted to INEC for the election.

    The party according to Ayodele complied with Sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) in notifying INEC of its primary election held on Aug. 22 in Awka, Anambra State.

    Ayodele said that the primary was monitored by INEC while the party also collected and submitted forms F001 and F002 to the commission.

    “We are therefore surprised that the names of our Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates did not appear in your published list of candidates for the Election.

    “We urge you to use your good offices to rectify this and ensure that the names of our candidates are included in the list of those contesting the election.

    “We reaffirm our confidence in the Commission and believe that all eligible candidates for the Governorship Election are given the opportunity to participate in it.

    “This is the only way we will deepen our emerging democracy.

    “We look forward to the inclusion of our Party’s Candidates names in your list,” the statement reads.

    NAN

  • Customs Zone B gets new coordinator

    Customs Zone B gets new coordinator

    The new Coordinator, Zone B, Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Controller General Udo-Aka Akpan has assumed duty on Friday in Kaduna.

    Akpan formally took over from ACG Aminu Dahiru, who was deployed to take charge of Zone A of the customs service in Lagos.

    Akpan was in charge of Oyo and Osun command before his deployment to Kaduna.

    The ACG explained that he plan to take the command to the next level in line with the mandate given him by the Controller General of Customs, retired Col. Hamid Ali.

    He said: “Whatever is going to give us more revenue will be improved by enforcing discipline; without discipline we cannot achieve anything.

    “We will make sure that the controller general’ s mandate is fully understood by all, and all hands will be on deck to achieve the target, there will be no room for laxity.”

    NAN

  • ‘Customs generates 75% revenue in Kaduna’

    ‘Customs generates 75% revenue in Kaduna’

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Zone B, Kaduna, has generated over 75 per cent of its revenue target for 2017, outgoing coordinator of the zone, Assistant Controller of Customs, Aminu Dahiru, has said.

    Dahiru said in an interview shortly handing over to the new zonal coordinator, that the command had a revenue target of N24 billion for the year.

    He attributed the success to the commitment of customs personnel in the zone, and expressed confidence that the zone would surpass its revenue target by the end of the year.

    “As tradition demands, I am not supposed to blow my trumpet, but the truth of the matter is that we have done well in the area of revenue generation.

    “I may not be able to give the exact figure right away, but from our calculation what we have achieved so far is almost 75 per cent in the first, second and third quarters.

    “So definitely meeting the balance may not be a problem, more so, we are expecting more revenue from the Kaduna international airport when Ethiopian airline begins cargo operation.”

    On smuggling, Dahiru said the zone had fought it to a standstill, and had made several interceptions and seizures especially of illicit drugs and other contraband.

    He put the total value of the seizures made during the year at over N1.4 billion, adding that 1,500 different items including vehicles and rice were confiscated.

    The customs official commended communities in the zone for their support to customs personnel, which had facilitated effective patrols and protection of the land borders from smugglers.

    “We have taken sensitive security measures in all identified illegal routes used by smugglers and it will be a continue process,” he added.

    Dahiru commended customs personnel in the zone for their support and sacrifice and urged them to extend the same level of cooperation to his successor.

    Reports that Dahiru has been moved to Lagos to take charge of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone A.

    NAN

  • UNN to conduct 2017 post-UTME Oct. 3

    UNN to conduct 2017 post-UTME Oct. 3

    University of Nigeria, Nsukka ( UNN ), is to conduct the 2017 post-University Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) from Oct. 3 to Oct. 9, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Charles Igwe, has said.

    Igwe made the disclosure in an interview in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Friday.

    He said that measures had been put in place to ensure a successful 2017 screening examination.

    “Qualified candidates for the exam are those who scored 200 and above, made UNN  their choice university and have registered online for the exam.

    “Invigilators, supervisors  as well as other personnel that will be involved have been mobilised  and are ready for the exam,” he said.

    He said the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps would provide security for the exercise.

    “The army,  police, civil defence and SSS will help to ensure adequate security as they will patrol 24 hours in UNN and Nsukka town,’’ he said.

    Igwe said that the university would provide hostel accommodation at the cost of N3,000 for two nights for candidates who had no relatives to accommodate them  in Nsukka.

    “The two nights include night of the day of arrival for the exam and night of the day the candidate writes the exam,” he said.

    He appealed to Nsukka residents, especially the motorists, tricycle operators and motor-cyclists to assist candidates by directing them appropriately as some of them might be coming to Nsukka for the first time.

    “We should treat candidates who will come from different states across the country as our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

    “We should be fair and assist them instead of exploiting them financially  by collecting N100 where we are supposed to collect N50 as transport fare.

    “Candidates for the exam should also conduct themselves orderly before, during and after the exam as anyone caught in any form of violence or crime will be arrested by law enforcement agents.

    “UNN management, staff and students wish candidates success in the screening exam,” he said

    NAN

  • Court sentence man to death for killing father

    Court sentence man to death for killing father

    A Plateau State High Court on Friday sentenced a 20-year-old man, Ponjul Yakubu, to death by hanging, for shooting his father to death.

    Reports says that Justice A.I. Ashoms gave the sentence after he found Yakubu guilty of a one-count charge of culpable homicide, punishable with death under section 221 of the Penal Code.

    “Going by the findings of this court, you, Ponjul Yakubu, mercilessly took the life of your father, Mr Domsing Yakubu, in cold blood.

    “You have, however, shown remorse and appeared sober throughout your trial; however, this sentence is mandatory as the law states that any person convicted of murder shall be punished with death by hanging.

    “The sentence of this court upon you is that you, Ponjul Yakubu, will be hanged until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul,” he declared.

    Reports suggest that Yakubu was arraigned on July 8, 2015, to face a one-count charge of culpable homicide punishable with death, after allegedly committing the crime on May 5, 2015.

    Yakubu was specifically accused of using his father’s dane gun to kill him ( father ), while the old man was taking an afternoon nap under a tree in their home at Dorowa, in Vwang Gwong Village, Shendam Local Government, Plateau State.

    When Yakubu appeared in court, however, he pleaded not guilty to the allegation of killing his father.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Gideon Azi of the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, who investigated the matter, however, told the court that Yakubu had confessed to killing his father for refusing to buy a motorcycle for him.

    “He ( Yakubu ) confessed that he returned home on the said date and found his father sleeping on a mat under a tree, went into his ( father )’s room, took his loaded gun and shot him at close range,” Azi told the court.

    Azi submitted Yakubu’s confessional statement to the court as evidence, and quoted the accused as saying that he committed the crime alone.

    Yakubu promptly owned up to the statement that bore his thumb print.

    Azi further quoted the accused as saying that his father, after harvesting about a thousand tubers of yam and several   bags of maize and millet, promised to buy a motorcycle for him after selling them.

    The accused was further quoted as saying that his father sold the farm produce without consulting him, and also refused to buy the motorcycle as promised, an action that provoked him into killing him.

    Speaking to reporter after the judgement, Mr Singa Zhatau, the Defense Counsel, said that the judgement was right in view of the evidence presented in the court.

    “Before taking any further step to appeal, I want to state that the reasoning in this judgement is valid.

    “Justice is a three-way traffic – justice for the state, the accused and the victim.

    “I believe that this judgement would further reassure the society that justice can be obtained in the courts.

    “This confidence building will go a long way in addressing the rampant instances of jungle justice that are becoming common in the country,” he said.

    NAN