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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Sokoto to distribute 3, 500 pasta-making machines to women

    Sokoto to distribute 3, 500 pasta-making machines to women

    The Sokoto State Government on Monday says it will distribute 3,500 pasta-making machines to women as part of its poverty alleviation programme.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal said in a statement issued by his media aide, Imam Imam in Sokoto that the beneficiaries would be drawn from across the state.

    According to the governor, the administration has pursued the poverty alleviation programme consistently through the introduction of vocational skills for women and youths in the state.

    He said that the state had made a name for itself as centre for social welfare interventions.

    “This is aimed at transforming the lives of the less-privileged and also reducing dependency on handouts.

    Read also: Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    “The underlying theme behind government’s poverty eradication strategy is to create job opportunities and sustainable means of livelihood for the vast majority of the populace.

    “This principle has guided government’s policy since it came on board over two years ago,” the governor said.

    According to him, the government will procure thousands of units of sewing machines, grinding machines and additional 400 units of tricycles for disbursement in all the 23 local government areas.

    Tambuwal added that the government would reactivate existing cottage industries this year to train youth on various youth empowerment programmes.

    NAN

  • Schools reopen in Maiduguri for 2nd term academic session

    Schools reopen in Maiduguri for 2nd term academic session

    Borno State Ministry of Education had directed the re-opening of primary and secondary schools on January 8, after the Christmas and New Year break.

    Academic activities resumed in most schools in Maiduguri metropolis, including temporary learning centres at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    In his comment, Alhaji Bulama Abiso, the Chairman, Borno chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), tasked teachers to comply with the resumption calendar.

    Abiso said the teachers should ensure that they report to their posts and dedicate themselves to duty.

    He also called on the state government to implement the N18, 000 minimum wage and pay the annual increment and promotion arrears to teachers particularly at basic education level.

    Abiso noted that such measures were necessary to motivate teachers to put their best toward enhancing academic excellence.

    “We commend the government over the reconstruction and rehabilitation of school structures destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    “Improvement of teachers’ welfare is imperative to provide enabling teaching and learning environment,” Abiso said.

    Also, Master Abba Ahmad, a class 4 pupil at Sanda Kyaremi Primary School, expressed joy over the school resumption.

    Ahmad said they were provided with bags and instructional materials by development organizations.

    Maryam Muhammad, a 16-year old displaced person, called on the government to adopt proactive measures to enhance enrolment of displaced children in school.

    She noted that some of the displaced children were attending classes in temporary learning centres at the Bakassi IDP camp.

    “Most of us could not attend classes due to lack of space at the centre, I want to go back to school and called on the government to help me”.

    Statistics of the United Nations Children Education Fund ( UNICEF ) showed that over 2, 295 teachers were killed and 19, 000 others displaced during years of insurgency in the state.

    It also indicated that 1, 400 schools were destroyed since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009.

    The UN agency indicated further that three million children in the northeast are in need of support to keep learning.

    It revealed that the organization was working closely with the government and partners to put children in the northeast back into learning environments.

    According to the report, more than 525, 000 children had been enrolled in school in the 2017/2018 academic year, while over 37 temporary learning centres have been established, and about 92, 000 packs of learning materials distributed to help children continue their education.

    “UNICEF’s education response in the northeast remains critically underfunded, with just 54 per cent of the $31.4 million appeal received, leaving a funding gap of $14.4 million,” it added.

    NAN

  • Katsina cautions youths against misuse of social media

    Katsina cautions youths against misuse of social media

    The Katsina State Government has cautioned youths against using social media platforms to insult and abuse elders, as a result of political differences.

    Alhaji Ahmad El-Marzuq, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, gave the warning in an interview on Monday in Daura, Katsina State.

    He described as  unfortunate and saddening the manner in which youths used social media platforms to insult elders without remorse.

    Read also: Center to organise free training on social and digital marketing

    According to him, social media platforms are meant to accelerate development, now that the world has been reduced to a global village.

    Marzuq, who noted that such abuses and unguarded comments could bring about disunity and misunderstanding among people, said that all religions emphasised morality and abhorred indiscipline.

    He explained that the Nigerian legal system had adequately taken care of any action relating to insult or abuse be it in the social or conventional media, hence the need for those in such habit to desist from it for their own good.

    The commissioner, who described the judiciary in Katsina State as “highly independent”, attributed achievements in the administration of justice in the state to cordial working relationship between the three arms of government.

    He said the Gov. Aminu Masari-led administration would continue to operate within the four cardinal principles of equity, fairness, accountability and objectivity.

    Marzuq, therefore, called on the people of Katsina State to continue to support the administration’s drive in bringing development to the doorsteps of residents, irrespective of party differences.

    NAN

  • Gridlock on ports’ access roads will reduce in January

    Gridlock on ports’ access roads will reduce in January

    The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria ( STOAN ) on Monday said it expected the Apapa gridlock to reduce before the end of January as a result of decline in importation activities.

    The STOAN Chairperson, Mrs Vicky Haastrup, in a statement in Lagos said the reduction of the gridlock on access roads to Lagos ports was being expected due to an anticipated drop in importation.

    “The last quarter of every year usually marks the peak of importation activities at the port.

    “Now that the 2017 importation peak season is over, the number of trucks coming to the ports is expected to reduce, thereby, providing temporary relief to road users.”

    Haastrup said the situation, however, meant less cargo and less volume in the port, especially in the first quarter of 2018.

    The terminal operator said the off-peak period provided opportunity for the Federal and Lagos State Governments to address the root cause of the gridlock.

    “The reasons for the gridlock are along two major lines.

    “One is that there is a proliferation of petroleum tankers due to the preponderance of fuel tank farms and petroleum depots in the Apapa community.

    “This is an anomaly, which should urgently be corrected by the Federal Government. The correction is to facilitate the distribution of petroleum products through pipelines and not using trucks.’’

    Read also: Lagos-Ibadan rail will solve Apapa gridlock, says FRSC chief

    According to her, once government can get the refineries working, there will no longer be need for tank farms in Apapa, which attract these trucks.

    “The other reason for the gridlock is the dilapidated state of roads leading into and out of Apapa as well as the absence of truck parks.

    “Government can address these by taking advantage of the off-peak season to intensify road rehabilitation works and make relevant provision for truck holding bays before the next cycle of high level activities set in.

    “There is also an opportunity to begin implementation of the much-touted truck call up system to ensure that only trucks that have business to do at the ports are granted access into Apapa,’’ she said.

    Haastrup also urged the Federal Government to review its tariff policy on some imported items including vehicles, rice and fish to reduce smuggling.

    The STOAN chairperson said the nation’s seaports had been positioned to support the Federal Government’s economic diversification and export drive.

    According to her, terminal operators across the various ports have made substantial investments in development of their various areas of operations.

    “We have carried out major investments in terminal upgrades, acquisition of modern cargo handling equipment and training of port workers.

    “All these were done with the view of supporting government’s economic aspirations for the country, including the drive to diversify the nation’s economic base and promote non-oil exports,’’ Haastrup said.

    NAN

  • Yam export: Committee plans export of 480 tonnes monthly

    Yam export: Committee plans export of 480 tonnes monthly

     The Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme says it is targeting the export of about 480 tonnes of yams, equivalent to 20 containers, every month in 2018.

    Prof. Simon Irtwange, the Chairman of the committee, said in Abuja on Monday that the target would be achieved if all the challenges, which yam exporters experienced in 2017, were surmounted.

    Irtwange said the U.S. had made a request for the supply of five containers monthly, which amounted to 120 tonnes of yams.

    “If everything works out well, the U.S. authorities say they will need about five containers every month and one container contains 24 tonnes of yams.

    “We are trying to aggregate the demand from other countries; so by the time we put everything together, we should be thinking of exporting about 20 containers of yams on a monthly basis.

    “When you multiply 20 by 24, the total is 480 tonnes of yams.

    “We have a work plan and we have a lot of activities that we have already pencilled down.

    “We are working with relevant government agencies to provide the necessary support for the programme,’’ he said.

    Irtwange said the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) had made available the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal to facilitate the packaging and movement of yams meant for export.

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    He said the committee was also working with the NPA to get people who would invest in constructing yam pack houses at the terminal.

    “The NPA has already given us the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, where we can bring our yams and do all the packaging before moving them down to the ports.

    “That way, we will avoid the gridlock in Apapa because now, we are using batches to move the yams from Ikorodu to Apapa,’’ he added.

    On the challenges which yam exporters encountered in 2017, Irtwange said the committee had forwarded a report to the Federal Government on possible ways of tackling the perceptible hitches.

    “On the issue of transportation, we need cold trucks; we also need yam conditioning centres.

    “Presently, there is only one conditioning centre owned by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council in Zaki-Ibiam, Benue State, but that is not enough, we need more.

    “On the issues of packaging and production of cartons for the yams, we are also hoping to have local investors.

    “Right now, there are only two companies that can do this for us — an Indian company in Ibadan and a Chinese company in Lagos — and the problem is that in most cases, they don’t take orders for little quantities of cartons for production.

    “A container will take about 1,200 cartons and when you go to the companies for the production of 1,200 cartons, they will say it is too small.

    “We are also thinking that if there are people that can produce the cartons in small quantities, things will be okay. We want to get those who can produce small quantities of cartons for sale to yam exporters,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • NANS describes killings as ‘cruel’, condoles with victims, government

    NANS describes killings as ‘cruel’, condoles with victims, government

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ), has described the alleged herdsmen killings in Benue communities as “heartless and cruel.”

    The association’s National Public Relations Officer, Mr Bestman Okereafor, in a statement made available in Enugu on Monday, condemned the action in its totality.

    “We totally condemn the attack and its accompanying hardship on the victims and affected communities in Benue.

    Read also: IYC condemns killing, violence in NANS election

    “NANS condemns in all totality the New Year alleged herdsmen attack on residents of Benue, leaving at least 33 people dead and several others injured, thereby causing residents to flee the state to seek refuge in Nasarawa State.

    “We consider the lots of heartless and cruel activities of the alleged herdsmen as a threat to our democratic process.

    “NANS condoles with families, relatives of affected victims and Benue Government over the recent killings in some communities in the state.

    “We pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,’’ Okereafor said.

    He, however, urged security agents to promptly bring the perpetrators to book.

    NAN

  • Ford to launch diesel truck to grab fuel economy edge

    Ford to launch diesel truck to grab fuel economy edge

    Ford Motor Co(F.N) plans this spring to offer a diesel engine version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck, looking to gain a marketing edge as its main rivals ramp up more efficient pickups of their own.

    Ford executives said they expect the F-150 diesel model with a 10-speed transmission to achieve 30 miles per gallon highway fuel efficiency, a level comparable to some midsize cars.

    “We’re confident we’ll get there,” David Filipe, Ford vice president of power train engineering, said at a briefing for media ahead of the official launch announcement.

    The diesel F-150 will cost between 2,400 dollars and 4,000 dollars more than a comparable gasoline truck, depending on the specific model, Ford executives said. The diesel engine will be manufactured at a Ford plant in Britain.

    Read also: Ford F-Series sales may reach 900,000

    Ford executives said they expected that once production ramps up about five per cent of F-150 models will be ordered with the diesel engine. The model will be aimed at people who tow large recreational or work trailers.

    Sales of big pickup trucks in the United States have surged in recent years as gasoline prices have stabilised at less than three dollars a gallon in most states.

    Ford had in 2017 sold 896,764 F-series trucks, more than in any year since 2005.

    Still, Ford, General Motors Co (GM.N) and the Ram brand of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCAU.N) (FCHA.MI) fight for the right to claim that their brands offer the most fuel-efficient large pickup – even when those high-mileage models have limited availability or cost more than conventional gasoline-fueled trucks.

    Fiat Chrysler jarred its rivals in 2013 by offering a diesel engine in its light duty Ram pickup models and claiming best-in-class fuel economy.

    However,  in 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Department charged that Fiat Chrysler improperly used software to cheat government emissions tests covering 104,000 Ram 2014-2016 models.

    The automaker is negotiating to settle the complaints and received government clearance to offer a 3.0 liter diesel in its 2017 and 2018 Ram trucks. That model is rated at 27 miles per gallon in highway driving.

    Ford executives say they are confident their diesel will comply with U.S. emissions rules. Owners will need to refill a 5.4 gallon tank of fluid for the exhaust treatment system roughly every 10,000 miles, Filipe said.

    Reuters/NAN

  • FRSC rescues 90 in Lagos

    FRSC rescues 90 in Lagos

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) rescued 90 people unharmed in Lagos State during its “Operation Zero Tolerance Patrol’’ which started on December 18, 2017.

    The State Sector Commander of the corps, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, gave the figure in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.

    “So far, we experienced nine crashes during the patrol, but one was fatal where one life was lost on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    “Two other crashes were serious where two victims were injured.

    “About 90 other people were rescued unharmed at other incidents,” he said.

    Omeje told NAN that the command arrested no fewer than 165 motorists at different corridors for various traffic offences during the patrol.

    Read also: Fatality rate in Ogun drops by 38.5% in 2017- FRSC

    He said that the corps lived up to expectations in ‘Ember Months’ sensitisation and patrol performances.

    According to him, the command established four camps which operated for 24 hours at different corridors, and adopted strategies to avert accidents and curb gridlocks on critical corridors.

    “We said before the patrol started that no motorists would sleep on the road as a result of gridlocks; so far, it is a success story,” he said.

    Omeje said enlightenment programmes by the corps to educate motorists, especially commercial bus drivers at different parks, accounted for the increased level of compliance with traffic rules and regulations.

    The sector commander appealed to motorist to drive safely and observe road signs on highways to avoid accidents.

    The patrol which began last year will end on January 15.

    NAN

  • Police arraign 35-year old banker for cheating

    Police arraign 35-year old banker for cheating

    The police on Thursday arraigned one Daniel George, 35, at a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court in the Federal Capital territory  ( FCT ) for cheating.

    George, a banker and resident of Gwarimpa, Abuja, is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and cheating.

    The Prosecutor, Otu Urom, said that Sanusi Saminu residing at Ishaka Close, Gwarimpa, Abuja, reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Abubakar Bello, on December 13, 2017.

    He alleged that sometime in July, 2017, the accused and two others now at large, conspired and deceived the complainant.

    Urom alleged that they deceived the complainant to invest N1.5 million in their company under name of Global Trust Multipurpose Cooperative Limited.

    He said that the accused and the others promised to pay the complainant his money in 90 days but they failed to do so after the stipulated period.

    Read also: Police arrest 14 over Ibadan violence

    The prosecutor alleged that they converted the money into their personal use.

    According to him, the offence contravenes the Penal Code.

    When the charge was read out, the defendant pleaded not guilty”.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Musa Jobbo, granted the accused bail for N1 million with one surety in like sum.

    He said that the surety must be a civil servant residing within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case till February 5 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Egyptian singer jailed for inciting debauchery in video

    Egyptian singer jailed for inciting debauchery in video

    An Egyptian investigative judge on Thursday ordered a female singer jailed for 15 days pending further interrogations on charges of inciting debauchery in a music video, a local media reported.

    According to the news report, this is the second of such case in recent months.

    Little-known singer Laila Amer was arrested earlier this week over her online video “Look at Your Mother’’ after a lawyer accused her in a legal complaint of making sexual innuendos and outraging public morals.

    However, Amer has denied the charges.

    The title of the video is a play on an offensive colloquial Egyptian phrase.

    Read also: Egyptian security kill 11 suspected militants

    The case came three days after an Egyptian appeals court reduced by one year the prison sentence of pop singer Shyma on similar charges related to a video clip deemed too racy in the conservative country.

    In December 2017, a lower court handed down Shyma a two-year jail sentence.

    NAN