Global Naija Info

Hadiza Bala Usman, Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday insisted on dollarisation of transactions and urged terminal operators to pay up to date. The Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, stated this at a Stakeholders meeting in Lagos to round off her two-day tour of the Western ports in Lagos. She said that the dollar regime had been in operation before she assumed office in July and would still remain until a change is considered. “I know these are trying times for everybody but as partners, NPA relies on you to meet its statutory and corporate obligations. “From inception in 2006, the concession terms of payment is in dollar and it will amount to subversion of norms to change the goal post mid-way. “I feel for you, knowing the difficulty in garnering forex with the turbulent dollar to naira regime,’’ Usman said. She urged stakeholders to think out of the box and ensure that the Federal Government royal

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State Sokoto State Government has given approval for the transfer back home of its 39 students currently studying in various schools in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Governor Aminu Tambuwal made this known on Friday in Sokoto when he received the report of the committee instituted to advise government on the issue. According to the governor, the move is expected to save the state government over N500 million. He said that government’s action signalled a change of priorities in the payment of scholarships to indigent students to study abroad. “The transfer/relocation of the students was necessitated by the need to conserve funds and apply same to more critical areas in the education sector,” Tambuwal said. He said that admission had been secured for all the students in Nigerian schools. Tambuwal added that arrangements had been concluded to ensure that none of the students missed a grade level upon their return home. “As at the time we sent

Rats: primary carriers of Lassa fever virus The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Friday, confirmed five cases of Lassa Fever in Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau and Rivers States from Aug. 24 to Sept. 2. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, in a statement in Lagos, said two cases were reported from Plateau and one each from Rivers, Bauchi and Gombe. Ihekweazu said in the statement that the case reported from Gombe died on Aug. 22, while other cases are still alive. He said that public health response commenced immediately in all the affected states under the leadership of the respective state’s Ministries of Health. According to him, resources were immediately mobilised from NCDC and its partner, the Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), to support the investigation and management of cases in the affected states. “We commend the early detection and reporting of the most recent cases, as it significantly improves the likelihood

Gunmen in the Niger Delta The police in Rivers State have confirmed the abduction of 14 workers of Nestoil by gunmen in Port Harcourt. The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, on Friday confirmed the development and quickly added that the command was on top of the situation. “We are combing the bushes in that area right now. Our men are all over the bushes. We are doing our best to rescue the victims and as well apprehend the kidnappers. “We have seen the bus that the victims rode on and we believe that we will rescue the victims soonest”, he added. Our correspondent gathered that the oil workers were abducted in the afternoon in their coaster bus by gunmen afternoon around Omoku-Elele link road in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state. The coaster bus of the oil workers, it was gathered, was diverted to an unknown destination under heavy gunfire by the gunmen.

Garba Shehu, media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari Garba Shehu LET me start by asking an important question: who wants to kill racy introspection? There is a cacophony of voices telling the Muhammadu Buhari administration to close its eyes to the past; that given the enormous tasks that lie ahead, history and its consequences for our nation should be the least of the government’s preoccupation at this juncture. I disagree. Let us keep a fiery memory of the past so that we don’t repeat its mistakes. Look back, look ahead. The future must of necessity be built on the foundations of the past. The Conservative Party took power in Britain six years ago from Labour. Check the British press, they are talking about Labour 24/7, is anyone complaining? Japheth Omojuwa, one of Nigeria’s top three influencers seemed tasked in his patience reacting to calls that we must stop talking about the immediate past administration in this country. “People are still talking about who ran government

Aguero Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will miss Saturday’s derby against Manchester United in the Premier League after being banned for three games. A Football Association panel found Aguero, 28, guilty of violent conduct after he elbowed West Ham’s Winston Reid in City’s 3-1 Premier League win. Source: BBC

Anthony Joshua with his IBF belt Anthony Joshua will attempt to defend his IBF world heavyweight title at the Manchester Arena on 26 November. Unbeaten Joshua, 26, defended his title for the first time with a seventh-round knockout of American Dominic Breazeale in June, having won the belt against Charles Martin in two rounds in April. The British boxer’s opponent will be named on 26 September. “I can’t wait to get back up north,” said Joshua, who beat Konstantin Airich in Manchester in his eighth pro bout. “I have been inspired over the summer by the fighters in the Olympics. It has given me a new perspective and huge hunger to get back in ring.”

Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff The Nigerian Navy has reiterated its commitment to defending Nigeria’s territorial waters for economic prosperity in line with its zero tolerance to maritime illegalities. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, gave the assurance at the graduation ceremony of Senior Officers Course at Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra, Apapa, Lagos, on Friday. No fewer than 22 officers of the rank of captains and commanders graduated from the four-week Command Level Officers’ Course. Represented by Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Ibas said that he was delighted to be in the graduation ceremony. Ibas said his mission statement clearly spelt out the need for well trained organised and highly motivated personnel to fulfil the navy constitutional roles. He said that to achieve this role, the navy needs professional and efficient manpower to defence the country, promote its economic prosperity and well

Yaya Toure Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has left midfielder Yaya Toure out of his 2016-17 Champions League squad. City could not include more than 17 overseas players in their squad. And Guardiola still has 18 on his books, despite letting four foreign internationals leave before Wednesday’s transfer deadline. Clubs can change three players after the group stage but Toure, 33, will not be able to play against Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic and Barcelona. The Ivory Coast international has played a major part in all City’s trophy wins since he was bought from Barcelona, then managed by Guardiola, for £24m in 2010. He has only played once this season, in the second leg of the Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest, when City were already 5-0 up from the first game. It was rumoured Toure might leave the club following Guardiola’s arrival, with Inter Milan one of the clubs who were interested. However, the player never had any desire to leave City and intends to

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje Kano State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba says the state government has approved N137 million for the renovation of Filin- Mushe, Gwale and Makoda health centres in Kano. Garba made this known while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting on Friday in Kano. He said that the council had also approved N605 million for the construction of Janguza- Tashan Bala – Gangare road in Tofa Local Government Area of the state. Garba said the council approved N189 million for the accreditation of School of Health Technology, Bebeji and the re-accreditation of community health extension workers courses at School of Health Technology, Kano. “The council also approved N8 million for the renovation of abandoned leather facility centre at Kings Garden in Nasarawa Local Government of the state,” he said. The commissioner, however, emphasised the state government’s determination to develop infrastructure as

Civil Defence Corps Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says 10,000 of its personnel will be deployed for the 10 September Edo State gubernatorial election. The Commandant General of the Corps, Mr. Abdullahi Gana, issued the directive for the deployment of the officials. NAN reports that he has also directed the Acting Deputy Commandant General Operations, Mr. Hillary Madu, to relocate to Edo to guarantee free, fair and violence-free poll. He is also to be assisted by two Assistant Commandant Generals in Charge Zone G Benin and Zone E Owerri with five Commandants drawn from the neighbouring states. The 10,000 personnel are to be drawn from Kogi, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra state Commands. Gana advised the personnel to cooperate and synergise with personnel of other security agencies in order to ensure peaceful conduct of election. He warned that any personnel caught or found wanting in any act of misconduct will be dealt with in accordance to the law and ethic

Mr Fatai Owoseni, Lagos State Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said on Friday that 31 armed robbery suspects were arrested in different parts of the state in the last seven days. Speaking at a weekly briefing, Owoseni said the suspects were arrested at Ojota, Oshodi, Victoria Island, Ikeja, Orile, Ikorodu, Igando and Anthony village. The commissioner also said the leader of a militant group that terrorised Igando area was arrested on Friday. Owoseni alleged that while some of the suspects trail bank customers, others attacked people at BRT bus stops in the morning and robbed motorists at traffic. “Items recovered from them include a Beretta pistol, two locally-made short guns, cartridges, ammunition, charms, speed boat and 12 vehicles. “They will be charged to court soon,” he said. The commissioner called on personnel of the command to be alert always, especially during the ember months and during the Sallah celebration.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) are poised to undertake joint monitoring across the state to reduce road carnage arising from the current traffic flow pattern, especially at the Toll Gate/7-up area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The joint action plan to deal with incidences in the area was hatched and unfolded over the weekend when the Unit Commander of Ojota Unit of FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola in Ikeja. The commissioner, who observed that the essence of collaboration was to protect lives explained that the joint action and synergy between agencies of the the tiers of government would ensure commuters safety and assist in the realization of the goals of each tier. He decried the continued loading and off-loading of passengers at inappropriate places and filling stations, especially at Ojota despite the existence of appropriate motor parks. M

Cement. Price hits rooftop Two cement dealers in Umuahia have expressed concern over Monday’s sharp increase in the retail price of cement, saying that it would compound the housing deficit in the country, if not checked. Speaking on the development in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Friday, they said that they were jolted by the hike. They said that the hike had caused a lull in their business with an attendant drop in their daily sales and income. Mr. Iheanyi Omeokwe, a major dealer at the Umuahia Industrial Market, said that the hike would negatively affect the building industry. Omeokwe, who is the Chairman, Building Materials Association, said that the new price would make it difficult for many Nigerians to build their own houses. “We are deeply worried over the sharp increase in the price of cement. Already, with Monday’s price hike, our sales have dipped.” He said that many individuals who were building houses suddenly suspended w

Explosion rocks night market in Phillipines An explosion at a night market in Davao City in the Philippines has resulted in multiple casualties, several eyewitnesses tell CNN Philippines. The cause of the explosion is not known. Live pictures from the scene show police sorting through debris. Details later.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says the process of developing a database of journalists nationwide has commenced. The NUJ president, Mr Waheed Odusile, said this when he visited Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his office on Friday in Abuja. He said that having the database had become imperative to ascertain the exact number of journalists who are members of the NUJ in order to reposition the union and to enhance professionalism. “We are trying to have a database all journalists in Nigeria; anywhere, we lay claim to being the largest in Africa that we have between 30, 000 and 40,000 members. “But if you ask me, where is the list, we cannot produce it because we do not have the comprehensive list of journalists in Nigeria. “We are trying to engage with an ICT firm, where we will capture the information of all our members; we will soon commence the re-registering our members, where we will capture their informatio

Adams Oshiomole, Edo State Governor. By Sunny Edoja The people of Edo State will go to the polls to choose Adam Oshiomhole’s successor on September 10,2016. The campaigns have reached a crescendo as the two major candidates, Obaseki and Iyamu are selling their parties. Edo people don’t need to search far before making up their minds on who among the candidates to vote for. Apart from the fact that Godwin Obaseki who is flying the banner of the APC has a good head start because Oshiomhole has given him a lot to market in terms of achievements, the electorates are not sure who the authentic candidate of the PDP is between Pastor Ize Iyamu of the Markarfi led faction and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction. Only the courts could decide and this is enough reason for the electorates to vote for the candidate whose candidacy is sure, and whose party has transformed the state in the last seven years. Considering the antecedents of the two parties in the state, there i

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) is set to introduce a new portal for photographs that would be beneficial to the media industry in the country and the world at large. The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NAN, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made this known when the NUJ President, Mr. Waheed Odusile, paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday in Abuja. “We are trying to start a new NAN portal basically for photos. As of now, we have been sending photographs via email. “We want our subscribers to come to the portal and take photographs themselves and not we sending to them. “We believe that we can serve photographs just like our news to the entire world, not just the only subscribers we have within Nigeria and we have also introduced another website that is just three weeks old. “We also want to set up a video portal because that is the future of journalism, not the lengthy stories that we write.” Onanuga said that soon, stories would be told via video, adding that the agency wou

Alhaji Lai Mohammed The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says that the Federal Government will roll out digital switchover in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in October. Mohammed gave the assurance when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja. The minister said that as part of the effort to fast track digital switchover in Abuja, the government had procured over 200,000 Set-Top boxes that would be used for the project. “We are still hoping to roll out in Abuja in October. “There are three components to digitisation, there is the signal distributor; there is the content provider and there is also what you called the set-top boxes manufacturer. “It is that set-top box which we easily refer to as decoder that will make you be able to receive the digital broadcast in your house. “So unless you have that box you cannot receive digital broadcasting. “There are some televisions in Nigeria today that are already digitalised. “But l

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa The South African government has started implementing the universal test and treatment programme, where every HIV positive person is put on treatment regardless of the CD4 cell count. Joe Maila, Spokesperson of the Department of Health, said on Friday in Johannesburg that until Wednesday HIV-positive people with a CD4 cell count which are less than 500 were put on treatment. He said that government believes the new measure would stop the transmission of HIV and also improve life expectancy in the country. Maila said that the new initiative would lengthen the life expectancy to 70 by 2030, against the current life expectancy at 63. “We have set ourselves a target as the government in line with our National Development Plan to increase life expectancy to 70 by 2030 from the current 63. “This will also reduce the chances of HIV-positive people to pass on the virus to others when they are on treatment. In the long run, lives will be saved and mo

Mark Zuckerberg (right) and President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, expressed admiration at the simplicity displayed by Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook and the Chief Executive Officer, during his visit to Lagos. Buhari while receiving the technology guru at the Presidential Villa in Abuja marveled at the simplicity with which Zuckerberg, one of the world’s richest men, shared knowledge with those with less income. A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said Buhari commended Zuckerberg for sharing his wealth of knowledge with Nigerian youths, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. “I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income,’’ Buhari said, adding that his lifestyle had also challenged the culture of lavish wealth display and impulsive spending that had become peculiar to Nigerians. “In our culture, we are not used to seeing succes

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Development Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the Federal Government may reintroduce civic and hygiene education in primary and secondary schools for value re-orientation. The minister disclosed this on Friday in Abuja when he appeared in a Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Mohammed said civic and hygiene training, as it was enforced in schools in the past, had helped to build good citizens with respect for values. “If we do not check their values and views at this formative stage it becomes a bit more difficult. “At the primary school level when we were much younger, there were basic things that were compulsory hygiene I remember was one of them. “I remember in those days when we went to school, the first thing while on the line was for our teachers to inspect us. “If just one button is missing from your uniform, you will go back home. “They will look at your nails there must be n

Abdulwaheed Odusile, NUJ President The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Friday in Abuja urged the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to expand its scope of coverage of news both within and outside Nigeria. The NUJ President, Mr Waheed Odusile, said this when he paid a visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NAN, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in his office. Odusile said that expansion of news coverage was important as a lot of Nigerians in the diaspora depended on NAN for credible information on happenings in the country. “Because just like your name suggest, the News Agency of Nigeria is for all Nigerians and is for Nigerians who want to know more about Nigeria. “Same thing with Nigeria’s interest outside our country; we expect more from NAN; there are so many Nigerians in the diaspora. “In fact, the large community of Nigerians here want to know what is happening to those in the diaspora. He said that NAN should also be the authority that foreign news agencies would have to r

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Development The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the Federal Government is aware of the sufferings and pains of Nigerians and is working hard to assuage it. Mohammed gave this promise when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja. “We will appeal to Nigerians’ to bear with us we are working day and night to assuage the hardship of Nigerians. “Only yesterday the Federal Executive Council again approved the Borrowing Rolling Plan for 2016 to 2019, because we need external borrowings and multilateral borrowings to be able to compliment our budget.” He said the Federal Government will not leave matters, or rest until it found a solution to the economic crisis facing the country. He said the inability of the government to fund the 2016 budget, was due largely to the shortfall in production and the crash in the price of crude oil. “These are some of the issues the government

The gavel of justice A 42-year-old man, Damisa John, on Friday appeared in a Mararaba Upper Area Court, for alleged breach of trust and cheating. John, who resides at Mammy Road, Mararaba, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge. The Prosecutor, Herman Donald, told the court that Shelbut Shehu of Plot E, Karu Site, Abuja, reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police Station on Aug. 30. Donald said that on Aug. 14, the complainant discovered that the accused who was a tenant moved out while owing him N265,000 as house rent. According to him, the accused packed out of the house without the consent of the complainant to an unknown destination until he was traced and arrested on Aug. 30. Donald added that during police interrogation, the accused confessed to have committed the crime. The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code, which attracts five years imprisonment with fine or both if found guilty. The defence counsel, Sani Noah, appl

A religious group in Bauchi State, Jamatul Nasirul Islam (JNI), on Friday, vowed to unfold programmes that would sustain the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians in the state. Alhaji Nuru Jumba, the state chairman of the organisation, made this disclosure when he led officials of the chapter on a visit to the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bauchi. Jumba, who is also the Ciroma Bauchi, said that JNI was desirous of sustaining the existing cordial relationship between Muslims and Christians in order to avoid any religious crisis. According to him, the body does not discriminate against any sect or religion and it will continue to exhibit that example to promote the unity of the people. Jumba said the organisation would partner with the media to enable it to propagate its activities, especially at the grassroots. Responding, Alhaji Musa Kobi, the state Vice Chairman of NUJ, lauded the leadership of the JNI for reviving the organisation in the s

President Muhammadu Buhari and others welcome Zuckerberg to Aso Rock Following criticisms that he did not meet any political leader during his two-day visit to Nigeria, Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, early Friday took the first flight available to Nigeria from Kenya to meet President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock. Zuckerberg who left Lagos for Nairobi on Thursday was criticized in the social media for shunning the government of Nigeria during his visit to the country. The Facebook founder only met with bloggers software developer and entertainers while in Lagos. He arrived Lagos on Tuesday unannounced and left for Kenya quietly on Thursday. Zuckerberg takes a selfie with the Nigerian president and others But on getting to Kenya, he met a minister of the government. This did not go down well with many of his Nigerian audience who felt slighted. On arriving Abuja, Zuckerberg was ushered in to meet President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other ministers at

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State The Jigawa Government has paid N433.6 million to local and state government retirees and families of dead persons as their gratuity and benefits for the month of July. The Executive Secretary of Jigawa Local and State Government Contributory Pension Board, Alhaji Suleiman Kiyawa, disclosed this in Dutse on Friday. Kiyawa stated that the amount was for those who spent 35 years in service or attained 60 years of age and those who voluntarily retired from service. He explained that 251 people that spent 35 years in service or attained 60 years of age were paid N296 million as gratuity and pension while 68 persons that died, had their next of kin given N131. 6 million. “Families of 12 persons who did not reach five years in service but died, got N8. 6 million while people who did not fulfill the mandatory period of service were paid N977,000. The executive secretary said the board did not hesitate in paying any beneficiary his or her entitlement

Late President Islam Karimov, Three diplomatic sources on Friday in a report in Tashkent confirmed the death of 78 years old, Uzbek President, Islam Karimov, after suffering a stroke. The Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports but agreed that the health of Karimov, who has been in the hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated. Karimov was long criticised by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership, Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991. Meanwhile, critics said that Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, became the first foreign leader to offer condolences over the death of Karimov, whose former Soviet republic has close ethnic, cultural and linguistic ties with Turkey. They said that Karimov did not designate a successor and said that the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doo

An Iraqi man walks near smoke billowing from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before fleeing the oil-producing region of Qayyarah As Islamic State fighters are being routed from cities and towns across Syria and Iraq, they increasingly leave behind carnage, causing major damage to local economies and devastating people they already have traumatized. A VOA reporter this week visited a town that was held by IS until last week, when Iraqi forces pushed the fighters out. The oil-rich town of Qayyarah, 60 kilometers south of Mosul, was under IS rule for more than two years. IS militants made certain that Qayyarah’s infrastructure was damaged before they were defeated. Houses were partially or fully destroyed. Oil wells were set ablaze, causing major damage to the economy and the environment. At least 10 oil fields were burned down, local sources said. “IS targeted oil fields knowing it was people’s money,” said Hussein Jasim, a resident of Qayyarah, referring to the Iraq

The gavel of justice A 45-year-old pastor, Chukwuemeka Okoro, and his wife, Esther, 39, were on Friday arraigned in a Mararaba Upper Area Court for allegedly intimidating their neighbour. The couple, who reside in New Karu, Nasarwa State, were arraigned on a three-count of intimidation, mischief and intentional insult contrary to sections 397, 327 and 399 of the Penal Code. The complainant, Onuh Joseph, of the same address, told the court that since the couple moved into the neighbourhood in 2014, they have been creating trouble with him for no reason. “Sometimes in 2015, the accused blocked a channel in which water flows out of his compound and diverted the channel to my compound which led to erosion that damaged my property. “I did not complain because I never wanted trouble, but I spent so much money in repairing my house and the property the erosion destroyed. “Early this year, I bought a goat which I kept in a cage but it got missing, I reported the matter at the police st

The civil right activists during the protest Hundreds of human rights activists from Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states on Friday held a peaceful demonstration at the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command over the murder of human rights activist and lawyer, Ken Atsuwete. The demonstrators called on the police to act fast and bring to book the killers of the human rights lawyer. Anyakwe Nsirimovu, Director of Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) said the protest was organized under the auspices of Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC). The activist revealed that the peaceful procession began with an audience with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Francis Mobolaji Odesanya. The protesters wore black T-shirts on black trousers and carried inscriptions like: “End the killings in Rivers”, “Fish out the killers of Ken, “This is one killing too many”, “Enough of Blood Spilling in Rivers”, “Ken’s Blood will Speak”. One of the conveners of the prote

Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun,, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University. ‎The Lagos State University (LASU) has commenced the admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session using the online screening approach. The institution’s Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the institution had begun to use the system. He said that candidates, who chose LASU as their first choice as directed ‎by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), would be screened online. Fagbohun said that an online application portal had already been designed for the candidates to upload their results, certificates and other relevant data. “The university will go online and shortlist the credentials of successful candidates, who chose LASU as their first choice, for onward transmission to JAMB. “We are aware that our prospective students are expecting us to invite them for the screening but it will be done online and we have

Chinese embassy attack The UN Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms the serious terrorist bomb attack” against the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Aug. 30, which caused injuries to some embassy staff. “The members of the Security Council on Friday in New York expressed their deep sympathy to the injured and their families and to the government of China and the government of Kyrgyzstan. The 15-nation UN body in a statement said wished those injured in the heinous terrorist attack a speedy recovery. The council members commended the ongoing efforts of the Kyrgyz government to fully investigate this terrorist attack and “underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors to justice. The council members also urged all nations, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with relevant governments and authorities in this regard. The Chinese Emba

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia Alhaji Bala Sakaba, the Kebbi Chairman of Pilgrims Welfare Agency, on Friday, said the state had completed the transportation of 4,307 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj. Sakaba in Birnin Kebbi said that the pilgrims were directly flown to Medina. He said that they were transported by Max Airline from the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, in nine flights. The chairman added that about 3,807 of those transported were from different local government areas, while 500 were from Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area. He commended intending pilgrims from the state for their peaceful conduct during screening and departure procedures. He also commended the management of the airline for providing ultra-modern aircraft and keeping to schedule.

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) said on Friday that it had identified and closed down five illegal study centres operating in different parts of Lagos. The Director, Media and Information of the institution, Malam Ibrahim Sheme, disclosed this in Lagos. Sheme explained that following reports from some concerned Nigerians, NOUN had to constitute a committee to monitor the activities of its study centres nationwide, in the interest of the general public. “We will continue to clamp down on the activities of such centres, whose main aim is to defraud Nigerians of their hard-earned incomes, given the economic situation in the country today. “We just visited Lagos to monitor our centres and their operations and discovered five illegal study centres operating there. “Anyone who wants to run a study centre must go through due process by officially registering with the institution, subject to meeting all the laid-down criteria. “It is not by doing it illegally or by way of