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  • International humanities scholars storm UI

    International humanities scholars storm UI

    No fewer than 18 international scholars and 25 young doctoral participants in the field of humanities will storm the University of Ibadan for the first ever Humboldt Kolleg Conference to be held in the premier institution.

    The international conference which will attract participants from Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Togo and other African countries is entitled: “Of Texts, Spaces, Signs, and Symbols: Questing Corpora for Translational Research in the Humanities”, would hold at The Conference Centre of the University from Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd, February 2018.

    The conference is sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Foundation, a German-based organization.

    Dignitaries expected at the opening include the Consul General, Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria, Mr. Ingo Herbert (Special Guest of Honour), Prof. Sussane Gehrmann of Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany (key speaker), Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo (Chairman of occasion) and the Vice Chancellor, UI, Prof. Idowu Olayinka.

    The Convener of the conference, Prof. Aderemi Raji-Oyelade while speaking at a press conference to herald the said the main focus of the four days conference is to provide opportunity for career networking between established, renowned and accomplished scholars in the field of humanities with the young minds who are aspiring to make their parts and contribute to knowledge.

    According to Raji-Oyelade who was also a 2017 winner of the Humboldt Kolleg Award, many of the international scholars expected to deliver a paper at the conference are coming to Nigeria for the first time and would as such create the opportunity for young scholars to learn and even share their new ideas for improvement.

    Flanked by other members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the former dean of the Faculties of Arts, explained that the conference will also among other things help to create a new culture of making Africans see themselves  as Africans, understand the similarities, codify same and seek ways of harnessing the potentials through the humanities.

    Noting that text, spaces, signs and symbols as adopted in the title of the conference, have shaped studies in the humanities over the years and as such define the international interrelations and activities.

    He warned that the way scholars are relegating the studies of humanities to the sciences may pose some danger for development in the coming years, noting that the time is ripe for scholars in the field of science to embrace the basis of all knowledge which is humanities if solutions must be proffered to the myriads of socio-economic challenges of the time.

    Speaking in same vein, the Chairman of the LOC of the conference, Dr. Adedoyin Aguoru said the young scholars at attending the conference will not only learn from the globally recognize scholars but would be allowed to express themselves during the workshop sessions so as to have a firsthand assessment of how they are going about their research and how to get globally acclaimed result. She emphasized that the opportunity of the rapport will also give room for better mentoring of the young scholars by the renowned international scholars.

    Other members of the LOC at the briefing include, Mr. Akin Tella, Dr. Senayon Olaoluwa, Dr. Charles Akinsete and Dr. Demola Idowu.

  • Egyptian army kills 15 terrorists in anti-terror raids in North Sinai

    Egyptian army kills 15 terrorists in anti-terror raids in North Sinai

    Egyptian forces have killed 15 terrorists during anti-terror raids in North Sinai Province northeast of the capital Cairo, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.

    “The forces also destroyed 11 targets used as shelters and hideouts of terrorist elements,” Military Spokesman, Tamer al-Refaay, said in a statement.

    According to the statement, the raids destroyed 181 mountain huts, hideouts and warehouses containing explosives and chemicals used for making improvised explosive devices.

    The army forces launched a massive anti-terror operation on Friday and have killed 53 terrorists until Wednesday, while the police forces have killed 13.

    The operation mainly targets the Islamic State (IS) militants in the restive North Sinai bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

    It also covers the Nile Delta provinces and the western borders with eastern war-torn Libya.

    The northern part of the Sinai Peninsula has been the centre of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers following the military removal of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests.

    Terror attacks later extended to several other provinces including Cairo and started to target the Coptic minority via church bombings and shootings.

    Most of the attacks were claimed by Wilayat Sinai, a Sinai-based IS-affiliated group.

    Read Also: Egyptian court sentences 16 over Church raid

    Terrorists in Egypt have, apart from targeting security personnel and Copts, they attacked a mosque in North Sinai’s Arish in November 2017, killing at least 310 Muslim worshipers and injuring more than 120 others.

    No group has yet claimed responsibility for the mosque attack, the deadliest terror attack and the first against a mosque in Egypt’s modern history.

    Following the attack, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered the army to restore security and stability in North Sinai within three months.

    Egyptian security forces have so far killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested thousands of suspects during the anti-terror war declared by Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi’s ouster in 2013.

    The anti-terror “Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018” comes weeks before Egypt’s 2018 presidential elections scheduled for March, where incumbent President Sisi is expected to make an easy win for a second term because of lack of strong rivals in the race.

    NAN

     

  • NAFDAC seals 24 bakeries in Borno

    NAFDAC seals 24 bakeries in Borno

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday said it had sealed 24 bakeries in Maiduguri for operating without licences.

    The Coordinator of the agency in Borno, Mr Nasiru Mato, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Maiduguri.
    Mato said the bakeries were sealed sequel to non-compliance with standard operational guidelines and failure to renew their licences.

    He added that some of the bakeries were closed due to poor sanitation and lack of good hygiene practices.
    The coordinator listed the affected bakeries to include Nurul Aini, Nice Bread, D Boss, Save the Nation, Albarka, Ever-Nice and Aljazeera, among others.

    Read Also: NAFDAC destroys expired goods worth N80m in Abuja

    “Some of them are not registered by NAFDAC; they operate with fake label, product name and addresses.

    “We have about 300 bakeries in the state, we embarked on comprehensive campaign to ensure that they comply with our guidelines in order to check circulation of unwholesome products and protect public health,” the coordinator said.

    NAN

  • Tambuwal assents to Sokoto’s N220.5b 2018 budget

    Tambuwal assents to Sokoto’s N220.5b 2018 budget

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Wednesday signed into law, the Sokoto 2018 budget which was recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Government House in Sokoto, Tambuwal said the of N220.5 billion document will be implemented optimally for the benefit of the citizenry.

    He despite despite challenges in meeting revenue targets in the past years, the government is hopeful of performing to expectation in the implementation of the 2018 fiscal document.

    “We are aware that the legislature has not tinkered with the overall budget size even though they have reallocated some resources to different sub heads, we are happy with that.

    “We believe it is within the purview of your rights as legislators to do what you have done and we will implement the as passed,” the Governor added.

    While commending the lawmakers for a thorough job on the budget document, Tabuwal msaid it is gratifying to note that the relationship between the executive and the legislature in Sokoto has continued to blossom.

    Read Also: Tambuwal  effects major cabinet reshuffle

    “This has helped in strengthening democracy in the state. The people should know that our relationship is not a master-servant relationship, but one based on mutual trust and respect for the two arms of government,” he stated.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Salihu Maidaji, said the legislature is satisfied with the performance of the state budget in 2017.

    He urged the state government to strenghten the internal revenue board by providing logistics for enhanced performance.

    He said the the Assembly will work with the executive to repeal obsolete revenue laws hampering drive at effective revenue mobilisation in the state.

    Highlights of the budget include the setting aside of 69.9 percent, orN152.8, for capital expenditure whilethe sum of N67.6 billion, representing over 30 percent, was set aside for recurrent expenditure.

    And for the third year running, Education sector got the highest allocation with 26.1 percent of the total budget sum, followed by Health sector which got the sum of N20.932 billion, Agriculture got the third highest allocation with N16.535 billion.

    Similarly, the sum N14.255 billion allocated to Works and Transport whileLands, Housing and Survey got the sum of N11.560 billion

  • Akure’s monarchs decry herdsmen attack on council workers.

    Akure’s monarchs decry herdsmen attack on council workers.

    The lawmaker representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Chief Tayo Alasoadura has criticized the reported attack on Akure South local government workers by suspected herdsmen.

    Besides,the Deji of Akure,Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo expressed displeasure on the impunity of Fulani herdsmen across the country.

    A statement by Alasoadura’s media aide, Dayo Joseph said it was high time the federal government proffered permanent solutions to the problem.

    The lawmaker described the incident as unfortunate, stressing that the incessant attacks by herdsmen were getting out of hand and should be curtailed.

    The chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources(Upstream) urged his constituents to be more vigilant and wary of the activities of the herdsmen in the area.

    He urged security agencies to be more proactive on the present challenge in order to sustain peace in the community

    Oba Aladetoyinbo described the invasion as barbaric, provocative and an attempt to stir up trouble in the peaceful Akure Community.

    The monarch wondered why the herdsmen would have chosen to lead their cattle to graze on the farmland belonging to the council if not an attempt to create tension in the community.

    Read Also: Suspected herdsmen sack Akure council workers

    He expressed sadness that no major arrest had been made by the Police since the attack on Chief Olu Falae’s farm, stressing that the arsonists who parade themselves as herdsmen now target the local government as their next point of call.

    The royal father called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to treat the issue of the herdsmen with kid gloves as their activities were becoming unbearable.

    Oba Aladetoyinbo said the people could no longer tolerate the excesses of these herdsmen who according to him, are now making live unbearable with their nefarious attitudes.

    The traditional ruler urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) in the State to take proactive measures in curbing the menace.

    Besides, he appealed the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris and the Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju with other security agents to take more decisive action and ensure that the menace is curtailed.

  • LG empowers 53 women with N20, 000 each in Jigawa

    LG empowers 53 women with N20, 000 each in Jigawa

    The Birniwa Local Government Area of Jigawa has empowered 53 female traders with N20, 000 each, to enhance their petty trades.

    The council’s Spokesman, Malam Muhammad Usman, made this known in an interview with the News Men in Dutse on Wednesday.

    “Birniwa Local Government has empowered 53 women with N20, 000 each to enhance their petty trades.

    “The gesture is also aimed supporting women to become self-reliant, as well as encouraging them to participate in productive activities in the area,” Usman said.

    He explained that while handing over the cash to the beneficiaries, the council’s Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Jaji, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.

    Read Also: CPC confiscates 14 sacks of adulterated Sesame in Jigawa 

    The spokesman quoted Jaji as promising that every three months the council would select more women to be empowered to develop the socio-economic wellbeing of the rural populace in the council.

    In her vote of thanks, Hajiya A’isha Usman, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader of the local government area, commended the council for the gesture.

    She assured that the women would make good use of the money in order to achieve the set objective.

    The women leader also called on those who have not benefited from the gesture to be patient, saying that they will soon benefit as promised by the council’s chairman.

    NAN

  • Edo APC denounces APCYV

    Edo APC denounces APCYV

     

    Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress has urged the general public to be way of activities of some individuals who parade themselves as All Progressive Congress Youth Vigilante (APCYV).

    It said there was no body inaugurated to operate under APCYV within the party.

    The APCYV had in a press statement signed by Destiny Oviasu, Abu Umoru, Odianosen Sunday threatened to carry out mass protest to achieve sanctity, sanity and democratic practices in Edo APC.

    It also begged President Mohammadu Buhari not to consider former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for any political appointment.

    But State Youth Chairman of APC, Hon Valentine Asuen, who spoke in a chat with newsmen, said the persons claiming to be APCYV were not recognized members of the party.

    Read Also: Edo APC removes Publicity Secretary

    Hon Asuen urged President Buhari to ignore the statement credited to the group and consider Oshiomhole for political appointment as promised when he (Buhari) visited the state to commission some projects.

    According to him, “There is nothing like Edo APC Youth Vigilante Group. I have called other youth wings across the state, they have denounced knowing the names of Destiny Oviasu, Abu Umoru, Odianosen Sunday as members of the APC.

    “That publication should be ignored. Oshiomhole is our leader who created the platform for this present administration. He deserve good political appointment from Buhari because he has done well for the people of Edo State.

    “There is no reason for Oshiomhole not to be given appointment. When Buhari came to commission some projects in Edo State., he said Oshiomhole deserve to be given some national assignment.

    “Oshiomhole bank of wisdom in the polity of Nigeria should be harvested.”

  • Court dissolves 12-year-old marriage over lack of care

    Court dissolves 12-year-old marriage over lack of care

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved the  12-year-old marriage between Mrs Toyin Adaraloye, and her husband, Ifeoluwa Adaraloye, over lack of adequate care for their children and ‎constant fighting.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the marriage is blessed with three children, namely: Opeyemi, 11, Joy, 8, and Posi,6.

    Toyin, 34, an hairdresser, who resides at No. 5, Acuna St., Ekute Quarters, Ado-Ekiti, in her petition, said after their traditional engagement, they had three children.

    Toyin said that she was no longer interested in the marriage because her husband refused to take care of the children.

    She also said that she no longer love Adaraloye because they fight frequently over his refusal to adequately take care of the children.

    Toyin told the court to dissolve the marriage because she was already pregnant for another man.

    She also prayed the court to award the custody of the children to her to enable her take good care of them.

    Read Also:Court sentences man to death for killing wife

    Toyin requested for N10,000 as monthly upkeep for each of the children, adding that  Adaraloye should also be responsible for the education of the children at all levels.

    Adaraloye, 38, a furniture maker, who resides at No. 7, Igirigiri area of Ado-Ekiti, denied all the allegations leveled against him.

    He told the court that he paid N5,000 as dowry which had since been returned to him, adding that since then he did not know the where about of the petitioner and his three children.

    Adaraloye requested for the custody of the three children, assuring the court that he would remarry in April because he already had a lady that he wished to marry.

    The respondent said if he was eventually denied the custody of the children, he would pay N2,500 for each of the children as their monthly upkeep.

    He also assured that he would be responsible for the education of the children at all levels.

    The court’s President, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, said that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved the union.

    He awarded the custody of the only male child of the marriage, Posi, to the respondent, while the custody of the other two female children Opeyemi and Joy was awarded to the petitioner.

    Ogunsemi ordered the respondent to pay N5,000 as monthly upkeep on each of the two female children, and that the payment should commence from February.

    The president also ordered the respondent to be responsible for the education of the three children at all levels and ordered that the parties should have unrestricted access to the children.

  • Nigeria’s inflation drops to 15.13 % – NBS

    Nigeria’s inflation drops to 15.13 % – NBS

    The inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has further dropped to 15.13 per cent in January from 15.37 per cent recorded in December, 2017, National Bureau of Statistics, NBS has said.

    The NBS disclosed this in its CPI report for January 2018 released on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, started the year 2018 increasing by 15.13 percent (year-on-year) in January 2018

    According to the bureau, this is 0.24 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in December (15.37 per cent).

    It stated that the rate recorded made it the twelfth consecutive disinflation (slowdown in the inflation rate though still positive) in headline year-on-year inflation since January 2017.

    It, however, stated that increases were recorded in the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yield the Headline Index.

    On a month-on-month basis, the report stated that the Headline index increased by 0.80 per cent in January 2018, 0.21 per cent points higher from the rate of 0.59 per cent recorded in December 2017.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s inflation drops to 15.37% in December 2017  – NBS

    The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve-month period ending January 2018 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 16.22 per cent.

    It stated that the figures showed 0.28 per cent point lower from 16.50 per cent recorded in December 2017.

    Meanwhile, it stated that the Urban inflation rate rose by 15.56 per cent (year-on-year) in January 2018 from 16.78 per cent recorded in December 2017.

    The report stated that the rural inflation rate also eased by 14.76 per cent in January 2018 from 15.02 per cent in December 2017.

    On month-on-month basis, the bureau stated the urban index rose by 0.83 per cent in January 2018, up by 0.17 from 0.66 per cent recorded in December 2017.

    It stated that the rural index also rose by 0.77 per cent in January 2018, up by 0.23 per cent when compared with 0.54 per cent in December 2017.

    According to the report, the corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 16.55 per cent in January 2018.

    It stated that this was less than 16.92 per cent reported in December 2017, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in January 2018 was 15.89 per cent compared to 16.10 per cent recorded in December 2017.

    The CPI measures the average change over time in prices of goods and services consumed by people for day- to-day living.

    The construction of the CPI combines economic theory, sampling and other statistical techniques using data from other surveys to produce a weighted measure of average price changes in the Nigerian economy.

    Key in the construction of the price index is the selection of the market basket of goods and services.

    Every month, 10,534 informants spread across the country provide price data for the computation of the CPI and the market items currently comprise of 740 goods and services regularly priced.

    NAN

  • Panic at Lagos Airport as Delta Airlines develops problem midday

    Panic at Lagos Airport as Delta Airlines develops problem midday

     

    There was anxiety in the wee hours of Wednesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as a Delta Airlines Airbus 330- 200 with capacity for 244 passengers developed an engine problem about one hour after it took off from the airport.

    During the emergency evacuation , five passengers were injured.

    According to sources, the pilot sensing danger with the engine on fire initiated an emergency return to the Lagos Airport.

    Airport sources hinted that the pilot had informed Aerodrome Fire and Rescue Safety Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to prepare for emergency landing .

    A source hinted that with sufficient mobilization from the relevant safety emergency agencies, a section of the runway was closed for the aircraft to land.

    While, a section of the runway closed to traffic and the fire in the aircraft engine put out, some operations were disrupted.

    According to investigations,  with the incident occurring at a section of the runway, international departures were reorganized on request with contingency measures in place.

    An official of FAAN confirmed that the Delta Airlines aircraft is still on ground .

    She said the aircraft has been towed from the runway to pave way for other aircraft that are either landing on taking off.

    An official of another aviation agency said though the fire has been put out, the aircraft is still lying near the runway.

    Read Also: Why we stopped flights into Abuja, by Delta Airlines

    Meanwhile, officials of Delta Airlines have confirmed that an Atlanta-bound flight from Lagos, Nigeria was forced to turn back Tuesday after the plane experienced engine issues.

    According to the airline , flight 55 from Murtala Mohammed Internationl Airport in Lagos took off from the airport around 10:50 p.m. Nigeria time.

    Flight tracking website FlightAware indicates the flight had only been in the air for a little less than an hour and a half, and had only traveled 29 of its roughly 5,800-mile journey, before one of the A330-200’s two engines reported issues.

    Delta said the flight landed safely shortly after midnight, but passengers had to use the emergency slides to exit the plane onto the runway.

    Airport fire crews met the plane on arrival, and passengers were bussed back to the terminal.
    At this time, Delta said it is aware of five customers who reported non-critical injuries during the evacuation.

    The company said it’s now focused on trying to find overnight hotel accommodations for customers, and will likely rebook them on a Wednesday afternoon flight.

    “The safety of Delta’s customers and crew members is always our top priority,” the company concluded.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, the airline said :” Delta flight 55 from Lagos, Nigeria to Atlanta returned to Lagos International Airport Tuesday after an issue with one of the A330-200’s two engines.

    The flight landed safely and customers exited the aircraft on the runway via emergency slides. Airport fire authorities