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  • 39 candidates vie for eight positions in Gombe APC

    39 candidates vie for eight positions in Gombe APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Gombe State said it had screened 39 candidates vying for eight vacant positions in the party’s congress election scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21.

    Malam Kasim Maigari, the sate Caretaker Secretary of the party, disclosed this in an interview with the newsmen in Gombe on Friday.

    Maigari said that arrangement had been made for the congress which would be an indication that unity had finally returned to the party.

    “There are eight vacancies and we have screened 39 persons who are all qualified to contest.

    “There are eight persons contesting for the post of  chairmanship, five for deputy chairmen, four for secretary, 10 for youth leader, three for legal adviser, two for zonal women leader and three for ex-officio,” he said.

    Maigari said that the party sold the forms for the chairmanship at N100, 000 while other positions went for N30, 000 each.

    He said the APC equally waived 50 per cent of the cost for female contestants.

    Maigari promised that a level playing field would be put in place for credible, free and fair congress.

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  • Court jails tricycle rider for dangerous riding

    Court jails tricycle rider for dangerous riding

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday sentenced a 26-year-old tricycle rider, Nnadozie Friday, to one month imprisonment for dangerous riding.

    The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave the convict an option to pay N10,000 fine.

    “Ride carefully, there are other people using the public road,” he said.

    Sadiq advised the convict to desist from committing crimes, adding that the sentence would serve as deterrent to others.

    Friday, who resides at Dape village, Abuja, was convicted on a four-count charge bordering on dangerous riding, causing obstruction on public high way, driving without national driver’s licence and expired certificate of road worthiness.

    The convict, who pleaded guilty to the offence, urged the court to temper justice with mercy that he did not realise he was riding dangerously.

    The Prosecutor, Florence Avhioboh, had told the court that he did not allow flow of traffic and he was arrested by the police on Oct. 13, and taken to Karmo Police Station.

    She said during police investigation, they discovered that all his papers had expired.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 18, 39, 7 and 19 of the Road Traffic Act.

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    Read Also: Court remands men for stabbing woman to death

  • Adesina receives award, commits $250,000 to African youths in agriculture

    Adesina receives award, commits $250,000 to African youths in agriculture

    Nigeria’s image received a boost on Thursday before the international community as former Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina formally received the 2017 World Food Prize ( WFP ) Laureate award in the U. S.

    Adesina was confered with the laureate in Des Moines, U. S. during which he committed the 250,000 dollars cash prize to set up a fund for financing African youths in agriculture.

    Adesina had been announced as winner of the global feat by the WFP for his dogged determination and practical commitment to boosting agriculture and food supply chain both as Minister of Agriculture and President of AfDB.

    Adesina, who is also the President of African Development Bank ( AfDB ), commended his staff for the shared passion to feed Africa.

    The former minister expressed gratitude to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for nominating him as minister.

    Adesina also thanked former President GoodLuck Jonathan for giving him the opportunity of his life to serve his country, Nigeria, as a minister.

    He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his strong support to achieve the feat.

    “There wouldn’t be any rest for me until Africa feeds itself and for that we need the youth.

    “And so even though I don’t have the cash in my hand, I hereby commit my 250,000 dollars as a cash prize for  the WFP award to set up a fund fully dedicated to providing financing for the youth of Africa in agriculture to feed Africa.

    “A day is coming very soon when the barns of Africa will be filled and all her children will be well fed, when millions of farmers will be able to send their kids to school.

    “Then you will hear a new song across Africa; thank God our lives are better for us,’’Adesina said.

    The Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, who officially declared Adesina as the 2017 laureate winner of the WFP, said he was a man who grew out of poverty to create wealth.

    Reynolds said that the laureate commitment and dedication in agriculture had impacted on lives of many, not only in Africa but around the world.

    Former President of Ghana, John Mahama, attended the ceremony and other dignitaries from Nigeria and African countries.

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  • 850 police personnel, others to engage in fitness exercise in Enugu

    850 police personnel, others to engage in fitness exercise in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State said about 850 of its personnel, personnel of sister security agencies as well as staff of corporate bodies would on Oct.21 engage in monthly  fitness exercise.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Enugu.

    Amariazu, a Superintendent of Police, said the October monthly edition of the sporting exercise was tagged “Jog/Walk for Life and Agility’’.

    He, therefore, urged members of the public not panic as the exercise would command large turnout of able-bodied men and women.

    He said those involved in the exercise would pass through major roads and routes within Enugu metropolis.

    “The Command will on Saturday, Oct. 21, hold its October monthly edition of the sporting exercise tagged: “Jog/Walk for Life and Agility’’.

    “The exercise is packaged to foster unity between the command and its publics and to promote physical and mental well being of participants.

    “During the period of the exercise, participants which include officers and men from among the police, sister security agencies and other relevant stakeholders, would jog and walk together.

    “Participants would take-off from the command headquarters passing through designated streets and roads in Enugu metropolis.

    “The exercise will terminate at the Superior Police Officers Mess field for further cooling down and warming down exercises,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu, who doubles as Sports Officer of the command, urged motorists and other members of the public to be guided by the information.

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  • CIA fires Lulu, a bomb-sniffing dog

    CIA fires Lulu, a bomb-sniffing dog

    The Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) has fired Lulu, an adorable black Labrador, from a training programme after refusing to become a bomb-sniffing dog.

    In a series of tweets, the CIA explained that Lulu, who was being trained for the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, “began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odours.”

    In spite of attempts to motivate her with food and toys, Lulu showed zero interest in sniffing for explosives and “was clearly no longer enjoying herself,” CIA said.

    “Sometimes, even after testing, our pups make it clear being an explosive detection K9 isn’t for them.

    “We’re sad to announce that a few weeks into training, Lulu began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odours.

    “All dogs, like humans, have good and bad days when learning something new. Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two.

    “There are a million reasons why a dog has a bad day and our trainers must become doggy psychologists to figure out what will help pups,” CIA tweeted.

    According to the  agency, sometimes, a pup is bored and needs extra playtime, sometimes they need a little break, or it is a minor medical condition like a food allergy.

    “For some dogs, after weeks of working with them, it’s clear the issue isn’t temporary and instead, this just isn’t the job they are meant for.

    “Lulu wasn’t interested in searching for explosives. Even when motivated with food and play, she was clearly no longer enjoying herself.

    “Our trainers’ top concern is physical and mental well-being of K9s. They made difficult decision and did what’s best for Lulu: stop her training”.

    CIA said when a dog is removed or retires from its K9 programme, the handler and their family is given the chance to adopt them and many do.

    “Lulu is no longer training, but was adopted by her handler and currently living her best life in retirement.

    “We’ll miss Lulu but it was the right decision for her and we wish her all the best in her new life!” CIA wrote.

    It said Lulu now enjoys her days playing with his kids and a new friend, and sniffing out rabbits and squirrels in the backyard.

    According to the agency, however, Lulu’s handler still needs a K9 partner, and went on to introduce the newest member of the Fall 2017 Puppy Class – Heron, aka Harry.

    “As the K9 class was only in the imprint stage of training when Lulu left, we were able to bring on a new CIAK9 and catch them up on training.

    “At just over a year old, Harry is the youngest pup in class, but has an incredible drive to learn and is super smart,” CIA tweeted.

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  • Africa’s rapid urbanisation can drive industrialisation – UN

    Africa’s rapid urbanisation can drive industrialisation – UN

    A UN report on Thursday made concrete recommendations on how the right African policy framework could harness the continent’s rapid urban transition to drive industrial development.

    ‘The 2017 Economic Report on Africa’ was launched by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Kigali.

    Ms Giovanie Biha, the Deputy Executive Secretary, at the launch said: “African urbanisation has not been driven by improving agricultural productivity or increased industrial output, as has been the case elsewhere.

    “On the contrary, it has been dominated by the expansion of the informal sector – often services.

    “To foster enhanced growth and poverty eradication, African countries should put in place industrial policies that will generate the skilled jobs and productivity gains needed for the structural transformation of their economies.”

    She pointed out that by 2035, half of the continent’s population would be urban, compared to just one third in 1990.

    “Industrialisation and Urbanisation for Africa’s Transformation also provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges of industrialisation and structural transformation on the continent and for Eastern Africa, in particular,” she said.

    In most of the 14 countries covered by the Sub-Regional Office, the share of the manufacturing sector has been stagnant or declining over the past 10 years while the services sector has expanded rapidly.

    In spite of a weak structural transformation process, the long-term growth outlook remains promising in Eastern Africa, the report said.

    According to the ECA report, the gross domestic product ( GDP ) growth rate in 2017 is estimated to remain at the 2016 level of 5.6 per cent – down from the exceptional performance of the past five years.

    Ethiopia’s average annual growth rate is 9.5 per cent and Rwanda’s 7.2 per cent between 2012 and 2016, remaining well above the African continent average of 3.1 per cent in 2017.

    Andrew Mold, Acting Director of the ECA sub-regional office, highlighted some growth catalysts, such as massive investments in infrastructure or service sectors.

    According to him, increased investments have started to stretch budgets and weaken structural constraints, such as exchange rate volatility.

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  • NDDC, NSIP to tackle poverty in Niger Delta – Ekere

    NDDC, NSIP to tackle poverty in Niger Delta – Ekere

    The Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) says it will work with the National Social Investment Programme ( NSIP ) to eradicate poverty in Niger Delta.

    NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere, said this on Thursday in Port Harcourt, when the Special Adviser to the President and Head of NSIP, Mrs Maryam Uwais, led a delegation to the commission’s headquarters.

    According to a statement by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, NDDC will support NSIP to fight poverty in Niger Delta because poverty knows no political affiliation or religious inclination.

    “I am happy that NSIP is fighting poverty and striving to give hope to the poorest of the poor – who arguably are more in the Niger Delta that produces the nation’s wealth.

    “The present NDDC board and management are making efforts to return the commission to its core mandate. This explains why we currently have as much as 8,000 projects ongoing,” he said.

    Ekere said the desire to end poverty in the region led the board to adopt a 4-R strategy which focuses on redefining the commission’s processes.

    He said the strategy aimed at restructuring the commission’s balance sheet; restore its core mandate and reaffirm commitment to doing what was right and proper at all times.

    He said the strategy also entails reformation of the commission’s governance system to ensure it complies with extant rules and regulations.

    “NDDC has done a lot in infrastructure over the years; however, we also want to build human capital, which is the area that connects with NSIP mandate to fight poverty.

    “We are embarking on collaborations that will help; recently, we signed agreement with NEXIM bank to help us achieve this.

    “We want to create an export initiative in the agricultural sector – which will create jobs and help the nation’s economy, especially now that value of crude oil is waning,” he said.

    Ekere said the commission was in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency ( SMEDAN ) to create jobs for indigent youths and train women on businesses.

    Earlier, Uwais, the Head, NSIP, called on NDDC to assist the body to drive its four social investment programmes in the region.

    She said the Federal Government’s N-Power job programme for unemployed tertiary graduates in the country was by far “the largest spending item among its four social investment programmes.”

    “N-Power job scheme for unemployed graduates is running in 36 states and have seen 200,000 unemployed youths effectively enrolled, validated in 2016 and cleared to receive N30,000 monthly stipend.

    “The number of beneficiaries is expected to increase to about 400,000 in a couple of months,” she said.

    Uwais said they had made progress with GEEP, designed to empower market women, traders and artisans, with the disbursement of interest free loans.

    She said the portal for engagement of the beneficiaries would soon be opened and would last for a period of six weeks.

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  • Kano Hisbah board received 328 cases in September

    Kano Hisbah board received 328 cases in September

    The Fagge outpost of the Kano State Hisbah Board said it had received 328 cases in September, according to an official of the board, Alhaji Salisu Umar.

    Umar, who is the Commandant, Special Service Office of the Board, said in Kano on Friday that the cases included matrimonial disputes and quarrels between neighbours.

    “The disputes relate to debts, disagreements among neighbours, breastfeeding as well as consumption of alcohol, among others,” he said.

    Read Also: Kwankwasiyya are liars, says Kano Police

    The commandant said that the board was committed to its mandate of ridding the society of all ills, adding that efforts would be intensified to restore moral sanity in the state.

    He urged members of the public to support the board’s efforts at ensuring a better society.

    NAN

  • Court remands men for stabbing woman to death

    Court remands men for stabbing woman to death

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of two men; Nduka Okafor and James Aikhionbare in prison custody for allegedly stabbing a woman to death.

    The Magistrate, Mrs A.S. Okubule, ordered the remand of Okafor, 62, and Aikhionbare, 38, who were brought before her court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

    Okubule said that the accused should be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending an advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Earlier, Mr Goddey Osuyi, a counsel from the Panti Police Station told court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 17, 2016 at House J68B, Close 9, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagbos.

    Osuyi told the court that the accused conspired to stab one Mrs Mabel Okafor to death at her residence.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 223 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Okubule adjourned the case to Nov. 20.

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  • Gombe trains 50 retired health workers for Immunisation

    Gombe trains 50 retired health workers for Immunisation

    Gombe State Government said it has trained 50 retired health workers to improve service delivery for non-compliance to routine immunisation in five Local Government Areas (LGA).

    Alhaji Sallau Malami, State Health Educator, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, disclosed this in an interview in Gombe, on Thursday.

    He said that 10 retirees were selected from each of the five LGA which include Akko, Gombe, Funakaye, Dukku and Yamaltu/Deba for the training.

    Malami said they were trained on how to address the problem of non compliance of routine immunisation in such areas, which he said was reducing instead of improving on the targeted population.

    “We are going to commence measles immunisation by November, that is why we sensitise them and for them to educate the people in their community to know the benefit of the immunisations and to accept it at the same time.

    “Because we are having complains of non compliance in these areas and we want to join hands together in order to resolve that and improve on the routine immunisation in the communities,” he said.

    According to him, they will also participate fully during the exercise to help people in the communities and the workers.

    “They were the former health workers, they will give inputs to our people working in the communities on how to convince people to accept the immunisation in a friendly manner for us to achieve our goals,” he said.

    He however said that if the participation in the immunisation is encouraging in the five council areas, the remaining six would be included in subsequent exercise.

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