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  • Kano plans kids’ festival to boost tourism – Official

    Kano plans kids’ festival to boost tourism – Official

    As part of plans to boost tourism activities, revenue and Gross Domestic Products ( GDP ) of the state, the Kano State Government says it has concluded plans to hold kids’ festival between January and February 2018.

    Mr Alli Talli, Deputy Director, Kano State Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry made this known in Lagos on Wednesday.

    He said that the second edition of the planned festival would focus on educating, enlightening and exposing children to Nigerian culture in general and Kano traditions/culture.

    Talli said that the forthcoming festival would be memorable, adding that the state government had showed commitment to make it a big event.

    “The maiden edition is a great one but the second edition will be bigger as proper planning is ongoing to make it a memorable one,” he said.

    He also said that no fewer than 1,000 schools across the nation’s are expected to participate in the festival.

    According to him, children between 4 years and above are expected to participate in the festival.

    “The students are expected to come from all parts of the country.Several schools have indicated interest to participate in the kids’ festival,” he said.

    The deputy director said the purpose of the event was also to unite all the children across the country, irrespective of tribe, state or ethnic group.

    “The event will bring about cultural integration and expose the children to culture, arts and lifestyle of people of kano and indeed the history of Nigeria.’’

    According to him, the proposed event will hold in Kano with tour of tourism sites in the state and will also  showcase the role of kano state in the history of Nigeria.

    He mentioned some of the activities for to be featured in the festival to include; cultural dance, drama, poetry, musical shows, visits to side attractions and learning of the history of kano state and its role in Nigerian history.

    Talli assured potential tourists and visitors of adequate security and a befitting tourism experience during the event.

    “The security in the state is under control and the government is working closely with the security agencies to ensure safety of lives and property in the city.”

    He said that the state government had renovated and upgraded all the tourist sites across the state to make it more befitting for tourists.

    NAN

  • Dangote sells noodles plants to De United for $12.26m

    Dangote sells noodles plants to De United for $12.26m

    A unit of Dangote Flour Mills, Dangote Noodles Limited, has sold two production lines to rival pasta maker, De United Foods Industries, for N3.75bn ($12.26m), the company said on yesterday.

    De United said it had signed an agreement with the firm to buy plants at its Ikorodu and Calabar factories. It will also buy stock worth N383.94m, according to a statement from the company.

    The deal comes after Dangote sold a small stake in its cement business to foreign investors in a one-off stock market deal valued at N27bn.

    The company, majority owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, had said it wanted to quit the noodles business to focus on flour and pasta production.

    Nigeria’s noodle market is fiercely competitive and De United, with a market share of around 70 per cent, is seeking to consolidate the sector.

    Privately-held Dangote Industries Limited, with interests in agriculture, real estate and truck assembly, bought back the flour unit it had sold to South Africa’s Tiger Brand for $1 in 2015 after it posted losses.

    Shares in Dangote Flour Mills have more than doubled so far this year after rising by 276 per cent last year. The stock price was down by 3.17 per cent on Tuesday at N9.20 naira.

    Dufil Prima Foods, the parent of De United Foods, is a privately held company set up over two decades ago, which has grown to become the largest pasta maker in West Africa.

    De United said the transaction had been approved by both companies and the regulators.

    It was learnt that De United would continue to produce noodles under the Dangote brand for two years after the acquisition.

    In July Dufil Prima Foods said it would raise N40billion in the local debt market to broaden its funding base.

  • Lagos Assembly urges Ambode to clamp down on fake job advertisers

    Lagos Assembly urges Ambode to clamp down on fake job advertisers

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to work with security agencies to check the spate of fake job advertisements in the state.

    The call followed a motion moved by Mr Abiodun Tobun (APC-Epe I) at the Assembly on the security challenges emanating from such fake adverts that were pasted on street walls in the state.

    Tobun prayed the House to call on Ambode to direct the Commissioner of Police, Department of State Security ( DSS ) and the State Neighborhood Safety Corps to curb the activities of scammers who defraud job seekers.

    “This motion is borne out of conviction. If you go around Lagos, you will be amazed seeing the number of adverts of jobs that are non-existent with a view to luring unsuspected youth into their dens,” he said.

    According to him, some victims are kidnapped, raped or even die in the process.

    “Ritual killers also use that as a strategy. It is time to track down this and ensure that it is nipped in the bud,“ Tobun, Acting Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure said.

    Contributing, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Rotimi Olowo said: “When population is moving geometrically and job is growing arithmetically, there is going to be vacuum.

    “They come up with strategy to recruit and maim and kill. I am worried as a politician because 2019 is around the corner, people will believe the politicians are the ones who need human parts.’’

    Olowo said that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisements Agency ( LASAA ) must ensure scammers are detected.

    Also speaking, Mr Segun Olulade (APC-Epe II) called on the newly established Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps to do more in terms of intelligence gathering.

    “We have seen a lot of advertisements on walls in the streets claiming what they are not,’’ he said.

    Mr Yinka Ogundimu, on his part, said that emphasis should be laid on publicity and enlightenment.

    Ogundimu called for the sustenance of the state’s Employment Trust Fund, aimed at providing loans for small scale businesses.

    Mr Rasheed Makinde (APC-Ifako-Ijaiye II) in the House, who noted that he had once been a victim of such sharp practices, said that Lagos State was working assiduously to provide jobs.

    He urged the Federal Government to do the same to curb influx of unemployed youth into the state.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa said: “it is not out of place to seek for jobs but the situation has turned upside down.

    “I strongly believe that the neighborhood safety corps is not doing enough in this aspect.’’

    Obasa called on the corps to verify claims on adverts placed on walls and liaise with the police in intelligence gathering to address the trend.

    NAN

  • Education graduates to undergo one year internship soon – FG

    Education graduates to undergo one year internship soon – FG

    The Federal Government ( FG ) would soon start a one year internship programme for education graduates to improve teaching quality in the country.

    Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria ( TRCN ) disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders from the North Central zone in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Ajiboye said this was part of the proposals put forwards at the special Federal Executive Council meeting on education on Monday.

    “Part of the things we are trying to look at in the Federal Ministry of Education, which the minister is proposing, is that we are going to have a one year internship programme for teachers.

    “If you can have houseman ship for medical doctors, why not a one year internship programme for would-be teachers.

    “So when they finish from the internship programmes they can be registered as professional teachers.

    “Also, there is a proposal to reintroduce bursary award for those who are reading education courses in colleges of education and the universities to make sure we are able to attract best brains to teaching profession.

    “The minister is also trying to propose that those who have education degree instead of starting them on grade level 8, they should be started on grade level 9 to make the job competitive and make the teachers feel confident about their profession.

    Ajiboye said that the national assembly was amending the name of the council to encapsulate its mandate of regulation.

    He said the council’s name may be changed to “Teachers Regulatory Council of Nigeria.’’

    NAN

  • Kwara LG poll: PDP shuns signing of peace accord

    Kwara LG poll: PDP shuns signing of peace accord

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has shunned the signing of a peace accord between political parties participating in local council election in Kwara.

    It can be recalled that 17 political parties signed the peace accord on Tuesday.

    The peace accord was initiated by the Security Consultative Committee for the 2017 Local Government election in Kwara, headed by the Police Commissioner, Alhaji Lawan Ado.

    The newly elected Chairman of PDP in Kwara, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo on Wednesday said that event coincided with the party’s congress.

    Oyedepo, however, expressed the readiness of the party to fully participate in the election.

    The commissioner of police said majority of the political parties had signed the peace accord, adding that the absence of the PDP would not vitiate the peace accord.

    Ado expressed the readiness of the command to ensure that the election was peaceful in all the 193 wards in the state.

    The local government council elections  in Kwara is slated for Nov.18.

    NAN

  • Be potent force for peace and justice, Osinbajo tells D-8 countries

    Be potent force for peace and justice, Osinbajo tells D-8 countries

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has urged the D-8 countries to remain a potent force for peace, justice and the observance of fundamental freedom, at all times, to enhance trade relations.

    He gave the advice when he declared open the sixth D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The D-8, also known as Developing-8, consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

    Osinbajo said maintenance of peace and justice in the D-8 countries was necessary, especially with the social upheavals, conflicts and tensions flaring up everywhere.

    He told the ministers that though the present situation in the world was a time of great challenges, it was also a time of enormous opportunities.

    “The fall in commodity prices has led us to deepen diversification of our economies and challenge industries to greater productivity and cost effectiveness.

    “Most of our nations are achieving great milestones in the use of renewable energy while our young people, in spite difficulties, are competing with their peers in commercial use of innovation and technology,’’ he said.

    He also said it was time to leverage on the clear vision of the founders of the organisation for economic cooperation by advancing the positions of developing countries in the world economy.

    Other areas, he said were; diversification and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance and provide better standards of living for the people.

    Osinbajo said the organisation must begin to make concrete plans for collaboration and partnerships for areas it had marked for cooperation.

    He said it could this by using its strengths and comparative advantages to advance the good of one and all of its nations.

    The areas of collaboration are; finance, banking, rural development, science and technology, humanitarian development, agriculture, energy, environment and health.

    He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to enlarge the opportunities for trade and investments amongst the D-8 countries and its readiness to continue to support the work of the organisation in the areas of collaboration.

    The D-8 Secretary-General, Dr Seyed Mousavi, in an address said trade was the backbone of the D-8 member states’ cooperation, adding that it needed to be improved substantially.

    He said though the value of the D-8 inter-trade increased from 50 billion dollars in 1997 to around 100 billion dollars in 2015, the revenue remained below the target of the D-8 set at 500 billion dollars.

    Mousavi said there was room for improvement to achieve the target set by the founding leaders, stressing that participation of member countries was very important to realise the objective.

    He said networking among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the D-8 organisation was also very vital to enable them have access to knowledge and expertise.

    The D-8 was established in 1997 to primarily promote industrial and other economic activities in the global economy using the same platform to fast-track the position of member countries’ activities.

    The 3-day meeting is scheduled to end on Thursday.

    NAN

  • FMBN supports Borno to rehabilitate houses destroyed by insurgents

    FMBN supports Borno to rehabilitate houses destroyed by insurgents

    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria ( FMBN ) said on Tuesday that it would support the government and people of Borno towards the rehabilitation of houses destroyed by insurgents in the state.

    Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, FMBN Managing Director disclosed this in Abuja during FMBN cheque presentation to beneficiaries of its Home Renovation Loan in Government House, Maiduguri, Borno.

    Dangiwa in a statement in Abuja called on the people of the state to take advantage of the privilege, especially the home renovation loan for the reconstruction of their houses destroyed by Boko Haram insurgency.

    The FMBN boss said that Borno was one of the states that urgently needed the loan to enable the people affected by the insurgency return to their houses.

    He assured the Borno government of the bank’s continued support in tackling its housing problems and also expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded by the state despite the daunting challenge of insecurity.

    Responding, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno expressed appreciation for the bank’s readiness to support the state towards the rehabilitation of houses destroyed by insurgents.

    He said the state has already embarked on rehabilitation and rebuilding of houses destroyed by Boko Haram in an effort to bringing back displaced persons to their houses.

    Shetima called on the bank to come to its aid by building houses in Biu, Bama and Monguno to reduce the housing deficit in the areas.

    The governor also appealed to the bank to consider local contractors in the state while giving out jobs for housing construction.

    Not less than 81 employees in the state got one million naira each from the FMBN Home Renovation Loan.

    The bank also presented of food items to the State Government for the Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) as the bank’s contribution towards improving the living conditions of the IDPs.

    NAN

  • Police kill two suspected killers of youth leader in Kaduna

    Police kill two suspected killers of youth leader in Kaduna

    The Nigeria Police Force has killed two suspected killers of a Youth Leader, Haru Manya, in Sabon Gaya in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Manya was killed by the suspects while working on his farm on Nov. 12.

    The Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Sabon Gaya on Tuesday.

    Moshood said that the two suspects were killed during a shoot-out with the members of Operation Absolute Sanity.

    He explained that the operation followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to arrest the killers.

    “The Inspector-General of Police commiserates with members of the community and directed Operation Absolute Sanity to arrest the killers,”he said.

    The spokesman said that investigation would be intensified to arrest other suspects connected to the heinous crime.

    In a related development, the Nigeria Police Force said it had arrested eight suspected kidnap-for-ransom and armed robbery gang.

    The suspects are: Umar Ibrahim, gang leader, Iliya Adamu, Ifeanyi Linus, informant to the gang, Jibril Adamu, Samaila Haruna, Ibrahim Mamman, Ibrahim Idris and Silas Chukwuemeka.

    The Force Spokesman said that the suspects had confessed to the various crimes they had committed along the Abuja-Kaduna road.

    He said that three victims were rescued form the suspects’ hideout, adding that a police officer was also injured during the shoot-out.

    He said that items recovered from them are: two Toyota Corolla cars, one with registration number: ABJ 893 NV, and one without a number plate, two locally made single barrel guns and one AK 47 rifle.

    Others are: one locally made revolver gun, one AK 47 magazine, one live cartridge, two expended cartridges and seven AK 47 am munitions.

    He said that investigation was ongoing and when concluded, the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution

    “They will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation and investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large,”he said.

    Moshood urged owners of the vehicles to contact the Police command in Kaduna for identification and collection

    He said that the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, had directed the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and commands to replicate same feat on the highways and major roads.

    He said that they were also to beef up security in their areas of responsibility and ensure massive deployment of armed police personnel, patrol teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots.

    The Force had on July 25 commenced ‘Operation Absolute Sanity’ on Abuja-Kaduna Highway to check incessant cases of kidnappings and armed robbery.

    On July 31 and Aug. 3, the police also arrested 31 and 40 suspects at Katari and Rijana areas, along the Kaduna-Abuja road.

    NAN

  • MKO Abiola airport will stimulate osun economy – official

    MKO Abiola airport will stimulate osun economy – official

    Dr Basiru Ajibola, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun, on Tuesday expressed the optimism that the state’s airport under construction would stimulate the economy.

    Ajibola in Lagos said that the airport named after the late business mogul,  Chief MKO Abiola, would address youth unemployment.

    He named the concessionaire handling the airport project at Ido Osun as All Works of Life ( AWOL ) International Ltd.

    The commissioner said that Osun people had been desiring improved economy and industrialisation of the 27-year-old state.

    “It is incorporated in the action plan that has been the guiding the seven-year-old administration in the areas of reducing hunger, unemployment and poverty,’’ he said.

    “We are banking on its direct engagement of skilled and unskilled workers which will galvanise our local economy.

    “The access road to the airport will be dual carriage, and this will be a value booster for property in the axis,’’ he said.

    According to him, the 3,5km-long airport is 85 per cent completed.

    “The facility will also create good ambience for hanger and aircraft maintenance services which can only be found in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Ethiopia.

    “Its uniqueness will be the ability to energise the haulage system.

    “Let me assume that five to 10 per cent of the N69 billion earmarked for the project will find its way into the economy of the state.”

    NAN

  • Suspension: Senate okays Ndume’s resumption Wednesday

    Suspension: Senate okays Ndume’s resumption Wednesday

    The Senate rose from a closed session Tuesday to give nod to Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume to resume sitting Wednesday.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided, announced the resolution of the upper chamber that its former leader, Ndume, should take back his seat among his colleagues having served out his six months suspension.

    Ekweremadu said that the resolution was without prejudice to the legal tussle surrounding Ndume’s suspension.

    Unconfirmed reports on Monday said that Ndume may not be allowed to resume sitting because he is in court with the Senate over his suspension.

    Those behind the plot to bar the Borno South lawmaker from the chamber said that it would be a misnomer to allow a member who is challenging the authority of the institution he belongs to in court to sit in the same chamber.

    Tuesday’s resolution was however seen as a welcome development by many of the lawmakers who saw it as part of the ongoing peace initiative in the chamber.

    The Senate had on Monday filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered today, 10th of November, 2017 which declared the suspension of Ndume null, void and of no consequence.

    Ndume had told reporters in Abuja that he was prepared to resume sitting on November 15, 2017 at the expiration of his suspension.