The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • SMEDAN to select 108 schools for entrepreneurship programme – D-G

    SMEDAN to select 108 schools for entrepreneurship programme – D-G

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency ( SMEDAN ) on Monday said 50 students from 108 schools across Nigeria would be selected for the National School Entrepreneurship Programme ( N-SEP ).

    The SMEDAN Director-General, Alhaji Dikko Radda, disclosed this in Katsina at the opening ceremony of the training of both primary and secondary school teachers on the programme.

    Radda, represented by Mr Suleiman Tanimu, a SMEDAN Deputy Director, said the programme was being organised by the agency in collaboration with Students for Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship ( SAGE ), U.S.

    He said that the schools targeted for the pilot phase of the programme with the theme: “Mind Shift Entrepreneurship’’ are from Katsina, Bauchi, Kwara, Ondo, Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States.

    “Eighteen schools will be selected from each state, nine primary and nine secondary schools.

    “Among these nine schools, seven will be public schools, while the remaining two will be private.

    “Fifty students are expected to benefit from the programme from each school,’’ the SMEDAN director-general said.

    He said that the programme was aimed at providing access to functional entrepreneurship among students to eliminate unemployment among youths in the country.

    “We want to involve students at lower levels so that after graduation, they will not only become self-reliant but employers of labour.

    “Primary school pupils and secondary schools students are our targets, we want to catch them young,’’ Radda said.

    The director-general disclosed that the students would be taught how to set up businesses of their own after which they would come up with an idea to develop a business of their choice.

    He said that there would be a national competition, where the best students would be selected to represent the country at an international competition.

    The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Halimatu Idris said that the state government had spent a lot of money on skills acquisition programmes to make youths self-reliant.

    The commissioner, who was represented by Alhaji Tanimu Zubairu, urged participants to pay attention on the programmme and prepare to teach others what they learned.

    NAN

  • Edo Assembly directs EIRS boss to furnish house with financial details

    Edo Assembly directs EIRS boss to furnish house with financial details

    The Edo House of Assembly on Monday directed the Chairman, Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr Igbinidu Ineh, to provide it with financial details of the service, within two weeks.

    The Speaker, Adjoto Kabiru, gave the directive when Ineh presented the 2017 budget performance of the service to the House.

    Kabiru said the brief presented by the chairman was not detailed enough.

    “The Internal Revenue Service is purely a financial based agency, so you have to go back and prepare a more suitable brief and present to the House within two weeks,’’ he said.

    The House also received brief from the Commissioner for Justice, Yinka Omorogbe, who informed it that plans were underway to constitute a citizen rights centre in the state.

    Omorogbe said that the centre, if constituted, would serve as an alternative dispute resolution.

    Meanwhile, Kabiru has constituted two ad-hoc committees.

    The first committee, led by Chris Okaeben, (APC Oredo West) was mandated to visit industries ahead of the presentation and passage of 2018 budget.

    The second committee, led by Mr Roland Osoro, (APC Orihionmwon South) was mandated to carry out assessment of all ongoing projects in the state.

    The House committee Chairman on Health, Justin Okonoboh, (APC Igueben), was also directed to meet with all the heads of primary health care centres in the local government areas to review their state of existence.

    NAN

  • Officials pledge tight security during Kenya repeat polls

    Officials pledge tight security during Kenya repeat polls

    Officials said security apparatus in Kenya will be on high alert during the repeat presidential elections scheduled for Thursday in order to avert skirmishes that could disrupt the exercise.

    Acting Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Fred Matiang’i made the pledge while speaking in Nairobi during a meeting with regional administrators to review security preparedness ahead of the repeat polls.

    Matiang’i said: “solid measures are already in place to ensure the voting exercise is conducted in a peaceful environment.

    “The government reassures the public that it will execute its mandate of providing security throughout the country to ensure the fresh presidential election takes place in an atmosphere devoid of fear, intimidation and violence.”

    He said security apparatus have intensified vigilance to prevent chaos before, during and after the repeat polls that have triggered anxiety in some parts of the country.

    At the same time, Matiang’i warned that stern action will be taken on any individual or political groups intending to disrupt the repeat polls.

    He said that security personnel will guard election officials who will preside over the voting exercise to ensure they are not harmed.

    “The government will also ensure that Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission  officials have adequate security to conduct the fresh presidential election without interference from any quarters,” Matiang’i said .

    The repeat polls that have been boycotted by the main opposition National Super Alliance have elicited a mixture of anxiety and fear in the country.

    While the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta insisted that elections must be held on schedule, his opposition rival Raila Odinga has told his supporters to keep off the polling booths.

    The two political heavyweights have taken hardline positions as the country gears up for repeat presidential polls as ordered by the Supreme Court, which invalidated the ones, held on Aug. 8 citing irregularities.

    Security officials said monitoring of areas identified as volatile has intensified to prevent eruption of chaos during the repeat polls.

    Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet revealed that besides mapping hot spots, the national government has also deployed adequate security officers to maintain law and order during Thursday’s repeat presidential elections.

    NAN

  • Court charges man with attempted murder

    Court charges man with attempted murder

    A 32-year-old man, who allegedly attempted to kill a woman with broken bottle, was on Monday brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused, David Abel, is facing a three-count charge bordering on attempted murder and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

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

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Babatope Julius, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 8, at noon at No. 3, Ago-Owu St., Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos.

    Julius said the accused tortured a woman, Mrs Funke Giwa, with broken bottles over a false allegation that she killed one Rasaq Bello.

    “Abel had tortured Giwa because she was accused of killing one Rasaq Bello which eventually proved to be false. His act also caused fear in the neighbourhood, leading to the alert of the police,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 44(4), 230(b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Olajuwon, granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for Nov. 13.

    NAN

  • Kebbi to construct four stadia

    Kebbi to construct four stadia

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has promised to construct four modern stadia in the four emirate councils of the state to boost sports development and unity among youths.

    The four stadia will be constructed in the Gwandu, Argungu, Zuru and Yauri emirate councils.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Muazu, said on Monday in Birnin Kebbi that the promise was made at the Argungu emirate ward football competition.

    “The provision of the stadia is part of efforts to improve on the state’s participation in zonal, national and international competitions as well as enhance peaceful coexistence,’’ Muazu said in a statement.

    It added that the governor urged groups and organisations to sponsor competitions to encourage the government to implement policies that would improve sports development.

    NAN

     

  • Kwara Election: Cleric warns youths against violence, hooliganism

    Kwara Election: Cleric warns youths against violence, hooliganism

    Pastor Segun Olawale of Divine Favour Chapel, Ilorin, has warned youths against violence and hooliganism in the Nov. 18 Local government election in Kwara state.

    Olawale, who gave the warning in Ilorin on Monday while speaking said that youths must say no to violence as election draws near.

    He said youths must not allow themselves to be use as thugs to scatter polling units during election.

    The cleric also advised them to shun violence and be disciplined

    “Youths must be seen as symbol of peace. They should go out to use their thumb to elect their favourite representatives instead of being lure into violence by politicians.

    “Youths must not turn themselves to violence tool. Politicians don’t worth sacrificing life for.  Pursue your dream and shun violence, “he said.

    The cleric, however, advised politicians to accept whatever may be the outcome of the election.

    “Politics should not be a do or die affair as thought by many politicians. We must learn to accept defeat and work together for the growth of the society, “the pastor said.

     According to the state electoral timetable, the election would hold on November 18.

    NAN

  • Nigeria cultivates only 40% of its arable land – Sen. Adamu

    Nigeria cultivates only 40% of its arable land – Sen. Adamu

    Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, says that only 40 per cent of Nigeria’s arable land is under cultivation.

    Adamu, who said this in an interview on Monday in Abuja, called for increased investments in agriculture, as the situation had elicited serious concern.

    He said that one good thing that the recent economic recession had done to Nigeria was that people from all walks of life were now going into agriculture.

    On some reports that foreigners had taken over farming in the country, the senator said that the Nigerian economy was a free and open economy.

    “We need large-scale farming to increase our agricultural output if we are talking about food security.

    “Yes, we have been fed by peasant farmers, smallholder farmers in this country for quite a long time,’’ he said.

    Adamu noted that one of the reasons why the country had not been able to attain food security was because smallholder farmers had certain limitations, including how to use the little funds at their disposal in a pragmatic way.

    “The smallholder farmer also has limits regarding the land he owns, how much money he requires to invest on it and the equipment he needs to some extent,” he said.

    Adamu said that as a country, Nigeria had decided to transit from smallholder farming to medium or large scale farming activities.

    He said that most farmers had some waiting period for them to mature, in terms of attaining all the requirements for large scale farming.

    “In the interim, if foreign investors can come in, on terms that are acceptable by government through policy, there is nothing wrong with it,” he said.

    On reports of kidnapping of farmers in the northern part of the country, Adamu said: “I don’t know if that is completely true or correct.

    “I accept the fact that there has been some degree of exposure of insecurity in farms across the country.

    “It is not something that is just in the northern part of Nigeria, but what I do know is that government is striving to check the development.

    “I know government has taken very specific steps to combat it,’’ he added.

    The lawmaker said that government was deploying security outfits to farms, while that the Ministry of Interior was training young men and women to provide security in farms.

    “We cannot be everywhere but at least, for a start, we cover substantially some of the farms where we know huge investments have been made, or where we know there is a menace of disruption of farm activities by these men of the terror world.

    “Government is trying to make sure that the farms have some level of security. It is a national phenomenon and we are seeing it in that light: We are taking the steps that are absolutely necessary to contain the menace,” he said.

    While assessing the Anchor Borrowers Programme ( ABP ) of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), Adamu said that unfortunately, the programme was not quite going round all the 36 states.

    The Anchor Borrowers Programme is designed to create a linkage between companies that are involved in processing of key agricultural commodities and smallholder farmers, among other things.

    Adamu said there was concentration of ABP projects in certain parts of the country, while some areas have yet to benefit from the programme.

    “Like anything in the world, everything has teething problems in the beginning; we can forgive the concentration in one part of the country to the detriment of the other part.

    “The good excuse we have is that the programme is just beginning and it has recorded some successes by the grace of God.

    “The CBN is anchoring the ABP projects through its various intervention funds and this is doing a lot of good to us,” he said.

    NAN

  • Pellegrino says Southampton must keep fighting for points

    Pellegrino says Southampton must keep fighting for points

    Southampton must continue to fight for every single point in the English Premier League, manager Mauricio Pellegrino said on Monday, following Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

    Moroccan midfielder Sofiane Boufal ran almost the length of the pitch to score a stunning 85th-minute goal at St Mary’s Stadium to score.

    It helped the Saints post their third win of the season.

    Goals have been in short supply for Southampton — Boufal’s wonder-strike was their eighth of the season — but Pellegrino said he was happy with the team’s style of play.

    “In football in the Premier League you have to fight for every single point,” the Argentine manager said.

    “We play a very difficult team and to beat them you have to do a lot of things. I am happy with how we play and we have to continue,” he added.

    “To sustain and to win games you have to play well. You have to play better than the opponent… This is our job and I will repeat that the attitude of the players is right. It’s good.”

    Southampton, who are 10th in the league with 12 points from nine games, travel to 12th-placed Brighton and Hove Albion in the league on Sunday.

    NAN

  • Motorists to FG: Reconstruct Ose Bridge in Edo state

    Motorists to FG: Reconstruct Ose Bridge in Edo state

    Motorists on Monday appealed to the Federal Government ( FG ) to urgently reconstruct the old and narrow Ose Bridge at Owan West Local Government in Edo to prevent vehicles from plunging into the Ose River.

    Several vehicles from the western part of the country going to Abuja had plunged into the river killing many of the occupants.

    The bridge is situated between Ifon, a village in Ondo State and Uzebba, a town in Owan West Local Government in Edo.

    The road, constructed in the 1970s, is the only link for motorists from Afemai, Owan West and East Local Government Areas to the western part of the country.

    Besides, it is the only short route for motorists from Esan in Edo and the eastern part of the country to the western states.

    According to one of the motorists, Mr Edeki Aigbogun, who resides in Uzebba, the bridge is a death trap whenever it rains.

    “It is situated at a slope and whenever it rains, the bridge is always flooded, prompting drivers to wade through the flood at their own risk because it has no railings.

    “The situation makes it more difficult for the drivers to see the edges of the bridge whenever it is flooded.

    “Many vehicles had plunged into the river because the bridge has little or no demarcation from the river,’’ Aigbogun said.

    Another motorist, Mr Dada Okun, said the narrow bridge, which could not accommodate two vehicles at a time, was built by a construction firm, Niger Cat in the 1970s.

    Okun said the bridge required an upgrade due to the surge in the number of motorists that use the bridge to prevent loss of lives.

    He said that aside the Ose Bridge, there were two other bridges at Igwue Obi, whose base and sizes had been depleted by erosion.

    He said that residents of Uzebba had on many occasions provided palliatives by sand-filling the edges of the bridges but their efforts were always washed away by rainfall.

    NAN

  • UNICEF sensitises 500 rural traders on hand washing in Osun

    UNICEF sensitises 500 rural traders on hand washing in Osun

    No fewer than 500 rural traders were on Monday sensitised on the importance of hand washing at Olufi Market, Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun.

    The hand washing campaign was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with Ayedaade Local Government.

    Addressing the traders, a UNICEF consultant, Mrs Bidemi Omopariola, said that “hand washing with soap was an easy, effective and affordable do-it-yourself protection that prevents infections and saves lives.’’

    Omopariola said that the importance of hand washing could not be over emphasised at this critical period of reported outbreak of Monkey-pox in some states in the country.

    She said that the hand washing campaign targeted markets where sellers and buyers could help in spreading the message to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    “It is important to turn hand washing to habit. The simple act of washing hands at this critical moment is an easy and affordable intervention.

    “Good hand washing hygiene will reduce the risk of water borne diseases, flu, food poisoning and health care associated infection being passed from person to person,” she said.

    Earlier, Mr Oduwole Bashir, Executive Secretary, Aiyedaade Local Government, said hand washing with soap was an inexpensive way of preventing diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.

    “It is important to turn hand washing to habit. The simple act of washing hands at this critical moment is an easy and affordable intervention,” Bashir said.

    In his remarks, the Council Manager, Mr Olalekan Akande, also urged the traders to make hand washing a habit.

    “When hand washing with soap is practiced regularly at key times, such as after using the toilet or before contact with food, it can dramatically reduce the risk of diarrhoea and pneumonia, which can cause serious illness and death,” Akande said.

    Some of the traders who spoke with NAN commended UNICEF for the programme.

    Mrs Bukola Oyediran, a pepper seller, said the programme was an eye opener for her on the importance of hand washing.

    Another trader, Mr Segun Adeoye, a meat seller, said he hardly washed his hands after sales and commended UNICEF said for helping him to know the importance of hand washing.

    NAN