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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Troops kill 11 Boko Haram insurgents, destroy IED factory in Borno

    Troops kill 11 Boko Haram insurgents, destroy IED factory in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said its troops had killed 11 Boko Haram insurgents and destroyed a bomb making factory at Ngala Local Government Area of Borno.

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka, the Director, Army Public Rations said this in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Kukasheka said that the troops, in joint operations with the Air Force and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), on Tuesday attacked insurgents’ hideouts at Mogole, Ngaiwa, Tongule, and Warsele villages of Ngala Local Government Area of the state.

    He disclosed that the troops destroyed the insurgents’ logistics base and a workshop at Ngaiwa village and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory at Tongul.

    The director further said 85 persons were rescued from the insurgents in the villages.

    Kukasheka said that the troops also recovered a gun truck; four suicide bomb vests, various IED making materials, three Dane guns.

    Others, he said were: one Barretta pistol, 22 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 5 motorcycles, 13 bicycles and a wheelbarrow.

    “Tuesday Oct. 24 will go down as one of the best in the outing of troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in their daily clearance of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, especially in northern parts of Borno.

    “The unit in conjunction with gallant 22 Mobile Strike Team accompanied by Civilian JTF, based on credible information carried out offensive operations at suspected Boko Haram terrorists hide outs at Mogola,” he said.

    Other areas where the soldiers carried out operations he said were Ngaiwa, Tongule and Warsele villages in Ngala Local Government Area of the state.

    “The operation which was supported by the Nigerian Air Force was very successful in achieving its objectives”.

    NAN

  • Nigeria’s GDP records decline in Q3 and Q4 2016

    Nigeria’s GDP records decline in Q3 and Q4 2016

    The National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) says the Gross Domestic Product( GDP ) in real terms dellined in the third and fourth quarters of 2016.

    The NBS made  this known  in its “Nigerian Gross Domestic Product( GDP ) Report on Expenditure and Income Approach for the third and fourth quarter of 2016 released in Abuja.

    According to the report, the decline followed the negative growth trend from the first half of 2016.

    It explained  that the household consumption and government consumption expenditures led to the decrease in GDP in both the third and fourth quarter of the year under review.

    The bureau,however, stated that a strong recovery in growth in net exports, particularly in the fourth quarter helped to stem the decline.

    According to the report, the National Disposable Income recorded a strong growth in comparison to the GDP in the second half of 2016 in real terms.

    This it said was partly as a result of increases in other net transfers from the rest of the World .

    The report stated that Year on Year growth in Domestic Compensation of Employees in real terms declined.

    The bureau further said that the operating surplus declined in the third and fourth quarters but grew overall in real terms in 2016.

    NAN

  • Aisha Buhari urges Govts to give priority to education of women, girls

    Aisha Buhari urges Govts to give priority to education of women, girls

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday called on government at all levels to give priority to education and empowerment of women and children.

    Buhari made this call in Abuja at the International Sheroes Forum with the theme: “Advancing women’s roles in business leadership and governance.”

    Buhari, who was represented by the Wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Salamatu Al-Makura, said that education is the foundation for empowerment of women and children to achieve gender equality.

    “We need to come together by supporting and encouraging each other in creating positive impact by empowering women and girls.

    “I believe education is the foundation for empowerment of women and children, especially the girl child.

    “I wish to call on government at all level and Non Governmental Organisation to ensure that issues that has to do with the right of women and the less privileged empowerment is mainstreamed.

    “We have to come together as partners to confront gender inequality.

    “We need to work with government, Civil Society and private sector to address the underlying bias and social norms that permit women and girls to be treated as lesser breed than men and boys.

    “We still have a long way to go in terms of enjoying a gender equal world; we also need to be vigilant against sliding back on progress already made,” she said.

    She said that there can be a change through legislation by working on the design progressive laws and ensuring that the laws are effectively implemented in other to be truly successful in the goals of equality.

    However, Ms. Comfort Lamptey United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, said that the conference needs relevant stakeholders to get the desired equality.

    Lamptey, who was represented by Adji Ndiaye, Deputy Country Representative, said that women in Africa were grossly marginalised, stating that Nigeria has the lowest level of representation in Africa.

    She said that the main objective of UN women was to close the gap of marginalisation, saying that in 2019 election women should invest in political participation.

    Sen. Jewel Taylor, Vice Presidential Candidate, Liberia, said that women in Africa should create a national fund to assist in increasing women participation in politics.

    “We can begin to raise funding to get women in national governance because that is the button line, we have to put our money where our mouths are.”

    NAN

  • Internet users hit 93m in September – NCC

    Internet users hit 93m in September – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) announced on Tuesday that subscribers browsing the internet through its network increased to 93 million in September from 92.1 million the previous month.

    The telecommunications industry regulator made the disclosure in its monthly internet subscribers’ data on its website.

    The commission said the data showed a marginal increase of 815,764 subscribers during the period.

    It said that the data reflected internet users on both the Global System for Mobile ( GSM ) communications and the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks.

    The regulator said that 92.97 million out of the 93 million internet users in September were on GSM network while 30,309 users were on the CDMA network.

    The data showed that MTN had 32.5 million subscribers, browsing its network in the month under review as against 32.1 million in August, indicating an increase of 359,409 internet subscribers.

    According to NCC, Globacom has 26.942 million customers, surfing its network in September, revealing a decrease of 12,405 users from the 26.955 million that surfed the network in August.

    Airtel had 21.76 million internet users in September, showing an increase of 600,400 customers from the 21.16 million recorded in August.

    The data also showed that 9mobile had 11.71 million customers, who browsed in September, indicating a decrease of 131,640 users from the 11.84 million users in August.

    For CDMA operators, Visafone had 30,305 customers surfing its internet in September while Multi-Links had only four internet users.

    Both operators had a total of 30,309 users in September, the same figure recorded by the two operators in August.

    NAN

  • 11 killed, 23 injured in Kogi accident

    11 killed, 23 injured in Kogi accident

    The Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) has confirmed the death of 11 people in a ghastly motor accident on the Auchi-Okene highway in Kogi.

    The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Kogi, Mr Olusegun Martins, told reporters in Lokoja on Tuesday that the accident occurred at a sharp bend on the road in the evening of Oct. 23.

    He said that 23 other people sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident, involving a total of 34 people.

    Martins said that six of the victims died on the spot, while five others died in hospitals.

    He said that two vehicles, a trailer loaded with cows, foodstuffs and passengers and a Toyota Corolla car were involved in the incident.

    The sector commander gave the registration number of the trailer as Katsina XF 914 KTN, while the number of the Toyota car was Abuja BWR 756 BJ.

    The two vehicles were coming from Lokoja.

    He said that all the dead victims and the injured were from the trailer coming from Abuja, while the driver of the car and its other occupants escaped unhurt.

    Martins said that the accident occurred when the trailer hit the car from behind before losing control and crashing into a nearby bush.

    The sector commander blamed the accident on over-spending but assured that full investigation would be carried out in due course.

    He said that the corpses of the victims were taken to the morgue at the General Hospital, Okene, while the injured were taken to TAO Hospital and God’s Mercy Hospital in Okene as well as the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja.

    NAN

  • Pastor admits defrauding Titi Atiku of N918m

    Pastor admits defrauding Titi Atiku of N918m

    A confessional statement tendered before an Ikeja High Court on Tuesday exposed how Pastor Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs voluntarily confessed defrauding Mrs Titi Atiku, the wife of former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku of N918 million.

    Mr Dickson Graymond, a retired detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) insisted on the voluntariness of Akpan-Jacob’s alleged confessional statement while giving evidence during a trial.

    While being led in evidence by Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Graymond said: “There are so many things that he confided in me that he refused to put into writing.

    “He admitted to me that Florence Doregos was Titi Atiku but he refused to put that into writing.

    “He confided in me that he wanted to contest in the Akwa-Ibom elections and that as soon as he begs Her Excellency, the matter will be over.

    “All what he told me were not forced, I did not even force him to write all what he confided in me in his confessional statement.

    “All what he said in his statement was of his own free will.”

    During his cross-examination by Mr Amos Ibe, Akpan-Jacob’s defence counsel, the retired detective denied illegally detaining the pastor in EFCC’s custody for three weeks and denying him access to legal representation.

    “The first defendant (Akpan-Jacobs) was served with bail conditions by the EFCC but he could not provide sureties and we could not grant him bail on self-recognisance because of the gravity of the case against him.

    “He did not spend three weeks with us but six days and he was given the opportunity to produce a lawyer but he refused, saying he will write his statement on his own.

    “Dapo and Chima (EFCC operatives) did not force him to write any undertaking,” he told the court.

    Graymond also denied bringing Akpan-Jacobs to the Abuja office of the EFCC on the influence of Titi Atiku.

    Earlier during the proceedings, Ibe had objected to the tendering of statements Akpan-Jacobs had made at the EFCC offices dated Feb. 6, 12, and 13, 2009, March 4 and 5, 2009 and April 2, 2009 on the grounds that they were not given voluntarily.

    Following Ibe’s objection, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, in her ruling, ordered that a trial-within-trial should commence.

    The EFCC had slammed Akpan-Jacobs; Abdulmalik Ibrahim, a lawyer; and Dana Motors Ltd with a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.

    THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd, a company created in 2000, is owned by Titi Atiku, Akpan-Jacobs and Fred Holmes, her German business partner.

    Mrs Atiku was allegedly the majority shareholder with 49 per cent shares, while Messrs. Holmes and Akpan-Jacobs each had 25 per cent shares.

    Akpan-Jacobs, who also doubled as the company’s Managing Director and Secretary, was alleged to have gone to the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC ) to alter the shareholding in his favour and forged the company’s board resolutions.

    Under the new shareholding arrangement, he allegedly allotted 51 per cent shares to himself and 24.5 percent shares each to Mrs Atiku and Mr Holmes.

    According to the EFCC, welding a fraudulent shareholding power, Akpan-Jacobs also sold a property belonging to the company to Dana Motors Nigeria Ltd for N918 million.

    The property is located at Plot C63 A, Amuwo-Odofin Commercial Layout along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye adjourned the case until Oct. 25 for the continuation of trial-within-trial.

    NAN

  • Dr Dolor Ent. unveils new artistes

    Dr Dolor Ent. unveils new artistes

    Following its launch in December 2016, Dr Dolor Entertainment has unveiled a new set of artistes who will soon be releasing their works under the record label.

    Making the announcement recently, CEO of the outfit, Osadolor Nate Asemota revealed that the record label now houses three talented rising stars; Ryan, Teni Entertainer and Vanila.

    In his words, the CEO, who is simply known as Dr Dolor, explained that his passion for good music is fueled by with the dissatisfaction of seeing many talented young music artists struggle to realize their potential in the music industry were his motivation for taking this direction.

    “At Dr Dolor Entertainment, we are bringing something different. These artistes are some of the best of their generation and we are promising nothing but good sound. What stands us out from the others is the fact that we pay attention to detail, using only the best hands in our projects,” he said.

    Dr Dolor was born into the family of Chief Asemota-Ero in Edo State. He spent most of his early life in Edo State, attaining his primary and secondary education in Benin.

    He later attended the University of Benin where he graduated with a second class upper degree in Mathematics and Economics (Double Honours).

    He spent few years working in a Business Consulting firm, and then began his career in several telecommunications organizations. His stay in the telecoms industry spanned for about a decade during which he rose to position of Manager.

    Dr Dolor (Nate) has since left the telecommunications industry to follow his long held passion for music. He currently runs one of the fastest rising and diverse music outfits in Nigeria and Atlanta USA.
  • AD chieftain lauds President Buhari

    AD chieftain lauds President Buhari

    Mr Josiah Ogungbemi, a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), has commended President Mohammadu Buhari over the sack of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.

    Ogungbemi gave the commendation in an interview  in Ibadan on Tuesday.

    According to him, the order for immediate disengagement of Maina would strengthen the confidence Nigerians had on Buhari’s ability to fight corruption.

    He, however, urged the president to ensure that all accomplices in the Maina’s reinstatement were sanctioned.

    ”Every patriotic Nigerian will be happy about the directive for the sack of Maina because it further proves that President Buhari means the ongoing anti-corruption crusade.

    ”The reinstatement of the former pension boss who had been declared wanted by the EFCC since 2015, clearly shows that some unpatriotic Nigerians are behind the scene,’’ he said

    Ogungbemi called on EFCC to do the needful on Maina’s case for other corrupt-minded public servants to turn a new leaf.

    Buhari, on Monday, ordered the immediate disengagement of Maina from the federal service.

    The president also demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s reinstatement and posting to the Ministry of Interior.

    Maina, who was  appointed by the former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, was alleged to have connived with others to misappropriate N100 billion in 2012.

    He was subsequently arraigned in 2015 by the EFCC, after declaring him wanted.

    NAN

  • Gunmen kill two policemen, abduct expatriate in Kogi

    Gunmen kill two policemen, abduct expatriate in Kogi

    The police in Kogi on Tuesday confirmed the killing of two police officers and the abduction of an expatriate by unknown gunmen at a construction site in the state.

    Spokesman of the state police command, ASP William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that Insp. Ezekiel Negedu and Sgt. Gini John were killed while on guard duty on Obajana – Oshokoshoko – Kabba road.

    Aya said that John died on the spot while Negedu died on arrival in hospital.

    According to the police spokesman, about 15 gunmen emerged from a nearby bush and attacked the construction site of A .G. Dangote Company currently handling the rehabilitation of the 45-kilometre Obajana – Kabba Road.

    He said that the abducted expatriate, Mr Jose Machada, a Portuguese civil engineer, along with other expatriates and Nigerians, were inspecting the project when the gunmen struck.

    According to him, the deceased policemen put up a gallant fight and resisted attempt by the invading gunmen to wreak further havoc.

    The police spokesman, however, expressed regret that Negedu and John died in active service to the nation.

    Aya said that the state police Commissioner, Mr Ali Janga, had a raised a team headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police and comprising men of Special anti-robbery squad, mobile police force, Counter Terrorism Unit and others to comb the bush and rescue the victim.

    He said that Janga had also visited the scene where he met with top officials and workers of the construction company on the incident.

    Aya said that the police commissioner assured the workers of adequate security and promised to rescue the abducted expatriate.

    NAN

  • Six division, Nigerian Army holds sanitation in Port Harcourt

    Six division, Nigerian Army holds sanitation in Port Harcourt

    The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday conducted a sanitation exercise at Mile 3 Park, as part of Operation Crocodile Smile II in the Niger Delta.

    The  Army is conducting educational, medical and sanitation outreaches in areas where ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile II’ operation is going on.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, said that the clean-up  was a humanitarian exercise of the Army within its Areas of Responsibility ( AOR ).

    Iliyasu said the Army had always been involved in humanitarian activities as its contribution to the society as well as to build confidence among the populace.

    Mr Glory Nnokam, Deputy Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ), Npkolu-Oroworukwo Motor Park, Mile 3, Port Harcourt, commended the Army’s gesture.

    “We are very surprised that they are here to clean the park for us, this is quite commendable.

    “You can see that people are not running because sanitation is good, and we are happy,” he said.

    Nnokam said that it was wrong for people to perceive the Nigerian Army as a wicked institution, adding that if the Army personnel were inhuman, they would not clean up the park.

    Chief Godwin Emenike, First Trustee, NURTW, Mile 3 Park, said that he was happy with what officers and men of the 6 Division had done.

    “You can see me, I’m sweating because when they came and said they were for sanitation, I started mobilising wheel barrows, shovels and brooms for them to work with.

    “They are really cleaning the place very well, I am very happy and wish they will do this again in the future,” Emenike said.

    He said that only criminals would run away when they saw the Army.

    “When they came, I went to them and asked why were they in the park and they said they wanted to clean our environment.

    “You can see the women helping them too, the Army is here for good,” he said.

    NAN