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Tag: Nigeria newspapers

  • NURTW leader calls for closure of illegal motor parks in P/Harcourt

    NURTW leader calls for closure of illegal motor parks in P/Harcourt

    Mr Stephen Orlu, the Chairman, Abali Park, a chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in Rivers, has called for the closure of illegal motor parks in Port Harcourt.

    Orlu told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the indiscriminate establishment of motor parks at different locations in the city was uncivilised.

    He urged the state Ministry of Transport to shut down all motor parks that were operating without the approval of the State Government.

    According to him, the development is compounding the already terrible traffic situation in Port Harcourt.

    “Motor parks are supposed to be strategically positioned in places where they will not affect traffic flow negatively.

    “Clearly, there are areas of the city that are not suitable for motor park operations but this is being violated to the detriment of the public,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Lekki Toll: No increase in transport fare says  NURTW

    The NURTW leader said that there were more than 40 motor parks operating illegally within the Port Harcourt metropolis.

    Orlu said that the situation had also created a situation where motor parks had turned a base for criminals.

    “This is not right, steps need to be taken to ensure that the right things are done in the interest of the state and its people,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Teenage boy in court for allegedly defiling minor

    Teenage boy in court for allegedly defiling minor

    A 17-year-old boy, Sunday Omowaye, who allegedly defiled a 9-year-old girl, was on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ court.The accused, a fashion designer who resides at 14, Baale St., Ilaje area in Ajah, suburb of Lagos, was charged with defilement.

    The Prosecutor Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offence was committed on Jan. 18 inside a church in Ilaje area of Ajah, Lagos.

    Ogu said that the accused who worshipped in that church went there, claiming that he went to the church to take measurements of some of the church members.

    “He met only the 9- year -old girl inside, ordered her to close the door and unknowingly, the girl did.

    “He then threatened to kill the girl if she shouted and subsequently defiled her, “he said.

    Ogu said that thereafter the girl ran to the security guard outside the church and told him what happened.

    “Before the accused thought of leaving the church, the security guard had apprehended him,” he added.

    The prosecutor said the offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Read Also: Magu: Lawyers differ following court ruling

    Chief Magistrate Taiwo Akanni granted the accused a bail of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until Feb. 12 for mention. Lagos, Feb. 2, 2018 A 17-year-old boy, Sunday Omowaye, who allegedly defiled a 9-year-old girl was on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ court.

    The accused, a fashion designer who resides at 14, Baale St., Ilaje area in Ajah, suburb of Lagos, was charged with defilement.

    The Prosecutor Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offence was committed on Jan. 18 inside a church in Ilaje area of Ajah, Lagos.

    Ogu said that the accused who worshipped in that church went there, claiming that he went to the church to take measurements of some of the church members.

    NAN

  • Court jails man four years for rapping minor

    Court jails man four years for rapping minor

    An Upper Area Court III sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Jos North, on Friday sentenced a 31-year-old businessman, Joseph Vongjem to four years in prison for rapping a 13-year-old girl.

    Upper Area Court judge Yahaya Mohammed, did not give the convict any option of fine.

    The accused had pleaded guilty to the offence which prosecutors said was contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

    “’ I am very sorry for what I have done to the innocent girl. I will never do it again have mercy on me, ‘’ Vongjem pleaded.

    Read Also: Court’s ruling vindicated our position on Magu – Senate

    The prosecutor, Sgt. D. A. Edward, had told the court that the case was reported on Sept. 20 2017 by one Musa Sunday, the victim’s grandfather at the Nassarawa Gwom Police Station.

    Edward told the court that the accused lured the 13-year-old girl, to his room with N500 and raped her.

    NAN

     

  • Boko Haram destroyed 1,400 schools in Borno – UNICEF

    Boko Haram destroyed 1,400 schools in Borno – UNICEF

    The UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) said 1,400 schools have been damaged or destroyed in Borno as a result of years of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    UNICEF stated this in its 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for Northeast – Adamawa, Borno and Yobe – adding, less than 400 health facilities remained functional across the state.

    “Only half of the 755 health facilities in Borno remain functional and nearly 1,400 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

    “Many of these schools are unable to reopen for safety reasons. Over one million children are currently out of school.

    “The protracted crisis has also compromised the physical safety and psychosocial well-being of 2.5 million children in north-east Nigeria, who require immediate assistance,” UNICEF said.

    The UN agency said violence and conflict-related displacement had increased dramatically in Nigeria over the past decade.

    “In the three most directly affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, 7.7 million people require humanitarian assistance.

    “This includes 4.3 million children and 1.6 million internally displaced persons, more than half of whom are children.

    “Ninety-two per cent of the internally displaced are located in the three north-eastern states.

    “An estimated 400,000 children in 14 local government areas in Borno will be severely malnourished in 2018.

    “Five local government areas in Yobe are experiencing global acute malnutrition rates of 10 to 20 per cent.

    “An estimated 1.5 million people lack access to safe water – 940,000 in Borno, 480,000 in Adamawa and 80,000 in Yobe.

    Read Also: Air Force Bombs  Boko Haram in Sambisa

    “As a result, vulnerable children are becoming acutely malnourished after repeated bouts of diarrheal disease,” the UN children’s agency said.

    In 2018, UNICEF said it would continue to deliver an integrated intervention package to affected populations, in coordination with the Government, UN agencies, and non-governmental organisations.

    To effectively scale up interventions, UNICEF said it had diversified and strengthened these partnerships with the aim of employing additional local partners in the response.

    To improve the quality of its response, UNICEF said it was increasingly taking an integrated approach, especially among the health, nutrition and WASH sectors.

    “UNICEF will work with community-based WASH committees to increase community mobilisation for hygiene promotion, including regular cleaning of latrines and maintenance of water points, as well as the dissemination of hygiene messages.

    “A key aspect of this approach will be the integration of WASH facilities into schools, child-friendly spaces and health/nutrition centres, as well as teacher training on the provision of psychosocial support in classrooms.

    `The Rapid Response Mechanism will be strengthened to deliver immediate life-saving assistance to highly vulnerable families, followed by a sectoral response,” ÙNICEF said.

    NAN

  • Only true federalism can liberate Nigeria — Ajimobi

    Only true federalism can liberate Nigeria — Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that only the practice of true federalism can liberate Nigeria from its current challenges.

    Ajimobi said this on Thursday while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the Government House, Ibadan.

    He said that the nation would have achieved a lot in terms of growth and development, if true federalism was being practiced.

    “We are not practicing true federalism in Nigeria. The last time we practiced it was during the time of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    “The issue of federalism has nothing to do with ethnicity but a fight between the wealthy and poor people.

    “The APC promised to practice true federalism but yet to do so. I believe that a continuous advocacy for true federalism will definitely yield the desired results soon.’’

    On the issue of cattle colony, the governor said his administration would only support ranching.

    “Today, many countries across the world do not engage in cattle herding any longer; they have all embraced ranching which has many advantages.

    Read Also: Oyo CJ to reassign Olubadan’s case against  Ajimobi

    “Herding is a business and everyone who engages in such should make adequate provision for his or her business to grow without involving the Federal Government.

    “If we provide land for cattle colony who will provide land for poultry and pig farmers?  In Oyo State, we won’t allow cattle to roam about.’’

    On the issue of state police, he noted central system of policing was a ruse, adding that most countries have state police.

    He decried a situation where governors were described the Chief Security Officers of their respective states but lacked control of of the security apparatus.

    Ajimobi thanked the Alaafin for being very supportive of his administration.

    Earlier, Adeyemi commended the governor for raising the bar of governance in the state, urging him to ensure the enthronement of a worthy successor.

    “We appreciate the governor for his forthrightness on the issue of standing for the right of the downtrodden, especially the people of his state.

    “Federal Government does not own land; it belongs to the state.

    “If truly we are practicing federalism, the Federal Government should not be collecting Value Added Tax on businesses in Ibadan while the state struggles to provide facilities for the same businesses.

    “Our own people are not cattle rustlers. We vehemently say now that we stand against cattle colony. We support our governor on his stand on ranching and against colony,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • Ekiti Guber: APGA tasks INEC on sensitisation of corps members

    Ekiti Guber: APGA tasks INEC on sensitisation of corps members

    The Ekiti State Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Rufus Alabi, has called on INEC to ensure National Youth Service  Corps ( NYSC ) members that would be deployed as ad hoc staff in the upcoming gubernatorial election in the state are properly sensitised.

    Alabi told our news reporter in an interview in Lagos that the corps members, if not well informed, could give in to inducement from political parties or politicians.

    He said that if proper sensitisation is done, INEC can rest assured that several things that can result in disagreements or inconclusive elections would have been taken care of.

    “For INEC to conduct a conclusive election, it must not support any political party; and must also sensitise the youth corps members very well for them to know that their being focused can bring sanity to the election

    “We expect also that INEC, in that election, will be free and fair; we don’t want it to be on any political party’s side; we want it to be an unbiased umpire in all its activities,’’ Alabi said.

    The party chairman said his party was hopeful of winning the election, if conducted in a free and fair manner.

    Read Also: Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    He said that the people were already tired of the two prominent parties and needed a true change in government and party, as the PDP and APC had tried their best, which was not good enough for the people.

    Alabi said:“We are trying our best as an opposition party to see that we capture Ekiti State, and we believe we can do that.

    “We are also aware that to win elections is a question of numbers, so we are not relenting on doing our homework which is to make the people believe in us and sensitise them to know that it is only a true government that can render dividend to the people’’.

    The chairman urged the people to come out en masse to join APGA as the only alternative party in the state.

    He urged voters to ensure that they collect their voter cards, which according to him, is their power to choose their choice leader.

    Alabi advised Ekiti residents not to sit back at home on the day of election, but to exercise their voting rights and put the right candidate in office.

    Our news reports that 18 political parties have been cleared by INEC to contest the June 21 Ekiti Guber poll.

    NAN  

  • Kaduna, UNICEF inaugurate food demonstration corner at PHC

    Kaduna, UNICEF inaugurate food demonstration corner at PHC

    To fight malnutrition, the Kaduna Emergency Nutrition Action Plan ( KADENAP ) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday inaugurated a food demonstration corner at the Primary Health Centre, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area.

    The KADENAP Chairperson, Aisha El-Rufa’i, said the demonstration corner would serve as demonstration site for recipes from locally available food to help caregivers have hands-on experience on preparation of nutritious meal for children.

    Aisha, the wife Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i, said that the overall goal was to adopt strategies to accelerate responses to improve complementary feeding for children from six to 23 months with a view to reduce malnutrition.

    According to her, the demonstration will provide a practical experience for caregivers to strengthen the knowledge they have acquired through counselling and home visits.

    “The food demonstration corner is aimed at showcasing the efforts at sustaining Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF) practices of early initiation of breast feeding, practice of exclusive breast feeding and adequate complementary feeding.

    Read Also: Obaseki approves N600m to access UNICEF-EU water

    She said that Kaduna State, in collaboration with UNICEF, had invested huge amount of resources to strengthen C-IYCF programme in the state.

    “This centre will, therefore, serve as a model for other PCHs across the 23 local government areas of the state.

    “The state government has through KADENAP procured food demonstration equipment for 27 community management of acute malnutrition’s out patients therapeutic programme in the state,’’ she said.

    Also, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, thanked Aisha for leading the fight against malnutrition in the state.

    Ezeife equally commended KADENAP for scaling up of CMAM sites from two local government areas to five, providing treatment for more than 1,000 malnourished children.

    She said that the food demonstration corner would provide practical skills on how to prepare nutritious complementary meal from local food for the healthy development of children.

    “This will serve as a model for other LGAs and I called on the state government to ensure that all health facilities in the state have a food demonstration corner.

    “Counselling is important, but practical demonstration will make better impact.

    “Unicef will continue to partner with the state government in its efforts to reduce infant and child mortality in Kaduna State,’’ she added.

    Earlier, Kajuru Local Government Administrator, Malam Aminu Zangon-Aya, said the food demonstration corner would be scaled up to five PHCs in the LGA, adding that necessary materials had been procured and installed.

    He commended the state government for making all necessary efforts to curb infant and child mortality in the state’s health sector.

    NAN

  • Zamfara criticizes Marafa over comments on security

    Zamfara criticizes Marafa over comments on security

    Zamfara Government, on Thursday criticised Sen. Kabir Marafa over recent comments on the security situation in the state, saying that the lawmaker was playing politics with the lives of the people.

    Alhaji Salisu Isah, a Special Adviser to Gov. Abdulaziz Yari, said at press briefing in Kaduna, Marafa’s accusation on state government connivance in the upsurge of insecurity in the state was absurd, hypocritical, false, and irresponsible.

    According to him, the senator, who represents Zamfara Central, made the accusation on the floor of the Senate on Jan. 18.

    He said that rather than the senator coming up with solutions to protect lives and property of residents, he had embarked on mischief to tarnish the image of the state government.

    “For Senator Marafa to accuse Gov. Yari of romancing with criminals causing insecurity in Zamfara State is not only mischievous and callous but also very misleading.

    “Apart from the Federal Government intervention, governor Yari sought help by mobilising local vigilante to confront the security challenges in the state.

    Read Also: Ndume not removed because of Magu, says Marafa

    “Gov Yari went out of his way reach a peace agreement with the leaders of these known criminal gangs all in an effort to ensure government guarantee security of lives and property in Zamfara state.’’

    According to him, only a responsible government would go to that extent to ensure security of lives and properties of its citizens.

    Isa advised Marafa to offer “constructive solutions’’ to end the security challenges in the state instead of engaging in acts that would aggravate the situation, stressing that good leaders strive to solve problems not exacerbate it.

    The special adviser said that the administration would not be distracted in its resolve to protect lives and properties, and ensure the general welfare of the citizens.

    He said the government would welcome anyone with practical ideas on a sustainable plan to address the crisis.

    The News  reports that the state has been battling to tackle recurring cases of cattle rustling, armed banditry and other forms of criminality that have left many dead and several villages destroyed.

    NAN

  • Egyptian court sentences 16 over Church raid

    Egyptian court sentences 16 over Church raid

    An Egyptian court on Wednesday gave 15 people one-year suspended jail sentences over a December attack on an unlicensed Coptic Church in a village south of Cairo, judicial sources said.

    The perpetrators were each fined 500 Egyptian pounds (28 dollars) on charges of inciting sectarian strife, harming national unity and vandalizing private property.

    They can appeal.

    The Giza misdemeanor court also fined the owner of the building, a Christian man, 360,000 Egyptian pounds (20,500 dollars) for turning his residency into a church without a license.

    Dozens of Muslims from the village of Kafr al-Waslin attacked the church after Friday prayers on Dec. 22, smashing windows and breaking everything inside.

    Read Also:EFCC can’t probe Ekiti finances  – Court

    The Archdiocese of Atfih had applied to legalise the church, which housed worshippers for 15 years after a church building law was passed in 2016.

    Christians in Egypt have long complained of discrimination in the majority-Muslim country and have increasingly come under attack in recent years.

    Egyptian authorities are also battling a stubborn Islamist insurgency, mostly concentrated in the remote Sinai Peninsula, which has claimed several attacks on Egypt’s large Christian minority.

    NAN