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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Gunmen kill former Plateau HoS, two others

    Gunmen kill former Plateau HoS, two others

    Gunmen on Tuesday attacked Wereh village in Barkin-Ladi, Plateau State, killing former Plateau Head of Service, Moses Gwom, and two other persons.

    Sources from the village indicated that the assailants invaded the village at night, shot many people, and ran into the bush.

    “The attack lasted about 10 minutes or so,” the source told the on Wednesday in Jos.

    Mr Terna Tyopev, the Public Relations Officer ( PPRO ) of the Plateau Police Command, who confirmed the incident, said that it took place “around 8 pm on Tuesday”.

    “The incident took place on Tuesday, that I can confirm. Another thing I can confirm is that a former Head of Service was killed and many others were injured,” he said.

    He said that investigation had begun toward unraveling the mystery behind the killings.

    The recent attack is the third in the last few weeks in Plateau.

    Last week, gunmen killed Alhaji Mohammed Suleiman, the Village Head of Gyangyang in Jhar Chiefdom of Kanam Local Government. Twenty-five others had been killed at Ncha village in Miango, Bassa Local Government, a week earlier.

    NAN

  • Navy to begin recruitment of graduates

    Navy to begin recruitment of graduates

    The Nigerian Navy ( NN ) says it has commenced the process for recruitment of suitably qualified Nigerian graduates through the Nigerian Navy Direct Short Service Commission ( DSSC ) Course 25.

    The Acting Director of Public Relations, Naval Headquarters, Navy Capt. Suleman Dahun, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to Dahun, the guidelines for the enlistment can be accessed on the Nigerian Navy Enlistment Portal www.joinnigeriannavy.com which will be opened on Oct. 11, for interested candidates to apply online.

    He said interested applicants, who must be Nigerians by birth, should possess a minimum of Second Class Upper Division for first degree holders and Upper Credit for HND holders.

    The director added that Male applicants must not be less than 1.68 metres tall, while female applicants must not be less than 1.65 metres in height.

    Dahun said applicants should be of between 22 and 28 years by Jan. 31, 2018, except for Imams and Chaplains who should not exceed 30 years by Jan. 31.

    NAN

  • Former CITA boss to head Caleb University taxation unit

    Former CITA boss to head Caleb University taxation unit

    Prof. Teju Somorin, the immediate past President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria ( CITA ), has been appointed the Head of Department of Taxation at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State.

    Prof. Ayandiji Aina, Vice-Chancellor of the university, disclosed this at the university’s convocation media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Aina said that Somorin would resume office on Nov. 1 to kick-start the newly approved course of Bachelor of Science in Taxation by the National University Commission (NUC) for the 2017/2018 session.

    He said 13 courses of Caleb University were accredited by the NUC in the 2016/2017 academic year and this included B.SC Taxation, Business Administration, Environmental Management Toxicology, among others.

    According to him, the university recruited Somorin as the foundation head of the department to breed it in line with international standards.

    “As a matter of fact, we are the only university in this region of Africa offering taxation as a course and we intend to hit the ground with unbeatable record,’’ he said.

    Aina said all is set to also commence courses in Environmental Management and Toxicology in the new session in a bid to train manpower that would save Lagos State and Nigeria from environmental decadence.

    He said the B.SC in Peace and Conflict Resolution that would be offered by the university had also been tailored to address law and order in the face of the present security threat confronting the country.

    The VC, however, said 405 graduates as against 355 graduates in 2016 would be convocated at the 7th convocation scheduled to hold on Oct. 13.

    He said 361 out of the 405 of the graduates would receive the Bachelor degrees and 44 post-graduates students would receive the Masters degrees.

    “In the breakdown of the 409 graduands, 14 persons made First Class honours, 142 Second Class upper honours Division, 162 Second Class lower honours and 47 with Third Class.

    “Others in the class of higher degrees were 12 for Master Business Administration and 32 MSc Architecture,’’ he said.

    The VC named Miss Elizabeth Nejo of the Department of Mass Communication as the best graduating student with a Commutative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.85.

    He added that Mr Qadri Ahmed of Department of Architecture was the best post-graduate student with a CGPA of 4.91.

    Aina further disclosed that the certificate and transcript of the graduands were ready, signed and would be issued to the recipients at the convocation ground once they have been cleared by the university.

    NAN

  • PDP candidate warns against smear campaign in Anambra guber poll

    PDP candidate warns against smear campaign in Anambra guber poll

    Mr Oseloka Obaze, the governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has warned other PDP candidates, political parties and their supporters to eschew politics of bitterness and campaign of calumny.

    Obaze made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, the state capital, on Tuesday.

    He decried the alleged smear campaigns targeted at discrediting his person and the process of his emergence as the PDP candidate in the upcoming election in the state.

    He said that although political parties and their candidates enjoyed the right to freely sell their manifestoes to the electorate, others reserved the right to seek redress whenever they felt slandered under the guise of campaign.

    He said: “My attention has been drawn to various malicious reports on social media platforms aimed at tarnishing my image and credibility as the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming election.

    “Such reckless postings constitute fake news, hate speeches and inciting words,” Obaze said.

    According to him, “the malicious reports range from allusions that I fraudulently won the PDP primaries, which was nationally televised, to my going to take an oath of allegiance in a shrine and, of late, that I was admitted in a psychiatric hospital overseas.

    “Rather than focus on campaign issues, they resort to campaign of calumny,” he said, adding that there were acceptable limits to propaganda.

    The PDP governorship hopeful further said that he remained committed to issue-based campaign, in spite of the fact that he had access to damaging information about other contestants.

    “I hereby reiterate my commitment to run a campaign free of fake news, hate speech and calumny. I will dismiss anyone on my team who engages in such unacceptable conducts.

    “I hope other governorship candidates will publicly make a similar commitment,” Obaze said.

    NAN

  • Katsina releases N350m for treatment of malnourished children

    Katsina releases N350m for treatment of malnourished children

    The Katsina State Government has released N350 million as its contribution to UNICEF for the purchase of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic-Food ( RUTF ) for treatment of malnourished children in the state.

    The Special Adviser to the governor on Budget and Planning, Alhaji Abdullahi Imam, disclosed on Tuesday in Katsina, while signing the agreement on behalf of the State Government.

    Imam said that was part of the state government commitment toward improving the living condition of the malnourished children.

    “The government is committed to the plight of malnourished children, it will continue to provide its support towards addressing malnutrition in the state,’’ he said.

    Imam assured that the government would double its contribution to the programme in 2018 budget.
    He stressed the need for the state House of Assembly to ensure speedy passage of 2018 budget whenever it was presented before it to enable the government save lives of malnourished children.

    In her remarks, the UNICEF Field Officer in charge of Katsina and Kano States, Padmavathi Yedla, announced that Children Investment Fund Foundation ( CIFF ) has pledged to support the programme with equal grant of N350 million, thereby raising the total amount of RUTF to be purchased in the state to N700m.

    She said that malnutrition needs collective collaboration from all sectors like Education, Agriculture, Water Resources and Health, adding that attitudinal changes are vital in dealing with malnutrition.

    Following the signing of the agreement, about 30,000 cartoons of RUTF are expected to be delivered to the state for treatment of malnourished children in 15 local government areas of the state.

    NAN

  • Abia to partner FG on rural electrification

    Abia to partner FG on rural electrification

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of  has expressed the willingness of the state government  to support  the Federal Government to actualise its  proposed electricity project in Ariaria market.

    Ikpeazu made this known on Tuesday when officials of  Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria paid him a visit in Abia Government Lodge in Aba.

    The governor said that the decision of the Federal Government project aimed at providing steady power supply in Ariaria market was commendable.

    According to him, steady power supply is an important resource required to drive economic growth in the state and the nation.

    He said that the state government would support the Federal Government’s efforts to  ensure that the project was a huge success.

    Ikpeazu said that the entire Ariaria market community would be happy with the project if it was eventually realised.

    Earlier, Mrs. Camilla Ogunbiyi, the Managing Director of the Agency, said that the agency was in Aba to provide energy solution to the power challengs of Ariaria market.

    Ogunbiyi said that the agency had identified the energy needs of Ariaria market, and disclosed that the power supply project would be run with sustainable  natural gas solution,

    She said that a few thousands of shops in Ariaria market would be used for a test run of the steady electric power supply  project.

    NAN

  • LAUTECH: Lectures to resume on Monday – VC

    LAUTECH: Lectures to resume on Monday – VC

    The Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University ( LAUTECH ) Prof. A.S. Gbadegesin has assured that lectures will resume on Monday, October 16.

    He gave the assurance on Tuesday when he and other staff of the university held an interactive session with agitated students on the progress being made to ensure the resumption of academic activities.

    The school management had originally announced that lectures were going to begin on Monday, October 3. However, the striking academic staff union refuted this claim stating that they were not going to resume until the school management showed full commitment.

    At the meeting he assured the students that “the end of the struggle is here,” adding that “of all stakeholders in LAUTECH, the students are the most important.”

    One of the management staff appealed to the agitated students to exercise patience, promising that “LAUTECH will bounce back in the next few hours.”

    “By the grace of God, lectures will start on Monday. This type of thing will never happen again,” the Vice Chancellor stated.

  • NAICOM, others to lead discussions at NAIPCO 2017 conference

    NAICOM, others to lead discussions at NAIPCO 2017 conference

    The National Insurance Commission ( NAICOM ), National Pension Commission ( PenCom ) and Lagos State Government are to lead discussions on burning industry issues at the Insurance and Pension Correspondents 2017 Conference on Oct. 25.

    The National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents ( NAIPCO ), which disclosed this in a statement signed by its President, Mrs Omobola Tolu-Kusimo, said the conference would be held in Lagos.

    Tolu-Kusimo said that the theme of the conference would be “Legislation of Pensions, Intrigues, Interest, Governance and the People”.

    She said that the keynote address at the conference would be delivered by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The NAIPCO president said that solutions would be proffered to challenges facing the sector to enhance its contributions to economic growth.

    “The stakeholders will discuss legislations in the sectors and impact on Nigerians at large.

    “An investor and Industrialist, Chief Dele Fajemirokun, will chair the occasion, while the Iyaloja of Lagos, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, is expected to lead the market women and traders to the conference.

    “The 3-in-1 event will also accommodate the launch of the Association’s Quarterly Journal named “NAIPCO Trumpet”, and awards for deserving legendaries in the insurance and pension sectors.

    “At the event, 21 individuals and companies have been slated for awards for their outstanding services and performance,” Tolu-Kusimo said.

    She said that the lead paper of the conference on  “Insurance Legislation: Beyond Lawmaking” would be delivered by the Managing Director, Leadway Assurance Ltd., Mr Oye Hassan-Odukale.

    “Another paper on ‘Insurance Consumption: The Apathy and Unknown Secret,’ will be delivered by the Deputy Commissioner, NAICOM, Mr Sunday Olorundare Thomas.

    “The Director General, Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, will speak on ‘Boosting Customer Service Relations between Insurance and Pension Operators’.

    “A paper titled: ‘An Overview of Pension Administration in Nigeria’, is expected to be delivered by the Chairman, Pension Funds Operators’ Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Mr Lounge Eguarekhide,” the NAIPCO president said.

    NAN

  • Udom urges youths to remain patriotic

    Udom urges youths to remain patriotic

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on NYSC members and other Nigerian youths to remain patriotic, especially in this period some sections were clamouring for restructuring.

    Emmanuel made the call while he declared open the NYSC Pre-Mobilisation Workshop for 2017 Batch “B” Corps members in Uyo on Tuesday.

    The theme of the workshop is “Consolidating the Gains of the NYSC Online Integrated System through Best Practices in Mobilisation Process.”

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, said that NYSC had played tremendous role in the evolution of the country.

    He said that the scheme was established to restore the robust belief in one united Nigeria, which he said was fatally shattered by the 36-month civil war.

    “I wish to acknowledge that NYSC has indeed played a tremendous role in the evolution of our nation as a stabilising factor.

    “All Nigerians must ensure that the National Youth Service Corps, which is a signpost of our unity and progress, remains one of the binding chords which keep us together as a nation.

    “This is the time to hearken to the clarion call for patriotism and let it resonate in your minds,” Emmanuel said.

    Udom noted that the workshop would serve as a clearing house for all critical stakeholders in the mobilisation process for corps members, nationwide.

    The governor stressed the need for harmonious working relationship between the NYSC Coordinators in the state and their host ministries.

    He said that the state government would continue to support the scheme and ensure adequate protection of corps members posted to the state.

    Earlier in his address of welcome, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, said that the scheme would continue to provide platform to aggregate and accommodate suggestions for better outcome.

    Kazaure said that the workshop was usually held at the commencement of every new mobilisation cycle to introduce to stakeholders, new measures and guidelines put in place for hitch-free mobilisation.

    He assured that NYSC would leave no stone unturned in training and re-training of its members of staff on handling of mobilisation process, both within and outside the country.

    “Let me therefore implore all participants at this workshop to see their invitation as an opportunity to contribute to the proceedings, acquire requisite information and knowledge for better performance.

    “Your role is not only critical but also germane to the success of the 2017 Batch “B” mobilisation process,” he said.

    The director-general commended Akwa Ibom Government and the people for the support and cooperation the scheme had enjoyed in the state.

    NAN

  • INEC deploys 6,000 card readers in Anambra

    INEC deploys 6,000 card readers in Anambra

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Tuesday that it had deployed over 6, 000 card reader machines to ensure smooth conduct of the Nov. 18,  Anambra governorship election.

    Mr Charles Mbanaja, INEC Administrative Secretary in Anambra, made this known in an interview  in Awka.

    Mbanaja said that out of the machines provided 5,000 had been tested and found to be in good working condition.

    The secretary assured stakeholders of the readiness of the commission to provide a level playing ground to in all candidates participating in the election and urged politicians to play by the rules.

    He said INEC had embarked on public enlightenment to sensitise the people on the electoral processes, especially the voting system to address re-occurring cases of invalid votes and other related electoral shortcomings during the election.

    Mbanaja said that the commission had also organised a voters’ education forum, which was attended by stakeholders in the electoral process in a bid to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.

    He called on the people of the state to cooperate with the INEC to ensure that the election was hitch free, free, fair and acceptable.

    NAN