Global Naija Info

Suicide Rope Jefferson Ibiwale A middle-aged man who’s identity is yet to be verified has reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Benin, Edo state. The incident which occurred in the early hours of Friday, in Ogida area of the city, caused confusion among residents of the area. His lifeless body was found hanging from the ceiling of a sawmill in the market. Witnesses said the man was earlier seen in the area looking moody, unknown to them that he had a plan to take his life. They said cooked beans and loaves of bread, including some cloths were found beside his corpse. ‎ No one could however fathom what could have forced the deceased to take his life, as he did not leave a suicide note behind. Edo State Police Command Spokesman, Theodore Okafor, who confirmed the incident, said that the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary for a possible post-mortem.‎

Reverend Ayokunle, CAN President Reverend Samson Ayokunle, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called on Nigerians to embrace hard work as a way of meeting the demands of the nation’s current economic condition. Ayokunle made the call at a thanksgiving service organised by CAN in his honour and CAN Vice-President, Elder Joseph Otubu, at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Saturday. He also called on the leadership of the country to face the challenges with optimism. Ayokunle said that the current economic crisis was a global phenomenon, which should be addressed hopefully, not with frustration. “The Church does not have political and economic power to address the current changes. What we have is the spiritual power. “We have called for a national prayer; the other thing we can do is to urge government to buckle up. “They are the last resort for Nigerians; they manage the national wealth so they should be courageous; tough times don’t last but toug

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked an allegation that the party was planning to rig the Wednesday governorship election in Edo. A statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye on Saturday in Abuja said PDP had no such plan. “We have read the comments attributed to the Deputy Director General, Obaseki Campaign Organization, John Osakue to the effect that our Party is working to rig the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial Election. “This statement is false, misleading and totally in keeping with the All Progressives Congress (APC) principle of propaganda over no substance,” he said. He said that it was on record that the PDP had since raised the alarm over the plans of the APC to manipulate the electoral process in Edo State. “John Osakue’s comment is therefore a smokescreen designed to deceive Nigerians and was made to distract people from plans perfected by APC to rig the Election. “The objective is to falsely curry sympathy from the N

Achese Igwe, National President NUPENG The President, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Achese Igwe, said that the union could not afford to embark strike now, because it would increase the suffering of Nigerians. Igwe stated this while addressing newsmen on Saturday at the end of the NUPENG 3rd Quarter Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Meeting in Asaba, Delta. He noted that this is a challenging time, adding that the union must at this time consider it’s actions. The president, however, warned that the union would not hesitate to resist policies that would frustrate hopes of common people. According to him, the union will resist any attempt by the government to increase the price of petroleum products. “It would not be right for the government to contemplate increase in price of petroleum products in an environment where noting was working, cost of goods are high and the exchange rate fast tumbling. “I tell you if NUPENG should go on any industrial act

Samson Siasia, Nigeria’s former under-23 coach, has given the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a two-week ultimatum to settle its debt to him. Siasia says the NFF owes him five months’ salary arrears from the start of April to August 2016. The 49-year-old led the country to a bronze medal finish at the Rio Olympics. Barely five weeks after ending his two-year contract on a high, Siasia said his patience is fast running out. “I have given them a two week ultimatum to pay me or I will sit inside the NFF office in Abuja until I get paid,” Siasia told BBC Sport. “The national team is preparing for a World Cup qualifier and to be honest my unhealthy distractions are the last thing they need right now. “I’ve made it clear in my letter that my assistants and I should be paid the backlog owed because it’s inhuman. “As head of our families we sacrificed everything for the country but the NFF refused to pay us – it’s not only heartless but wicked,” he said. A top NFF official acknowledg

Illegal shanties demolished by taskforce The much anticipated Clean Up of Ikoyi and Victoria Island areas of Lagos, South commenced simultaneously on Saturday with officials of the State Task Force and other agencies clearing illegal structures and shanties and same being carted away by trucks of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority. The operation which was led by the Chairman of the State Task Force, Supol Yinka Egbeyemi, featured the usage of bulldozers and pay loaders which demolished all illegal structures on median of Water Corporation Drive. The team also cleared the Waterfront at Ozumba Mbadiwe of automobile technicians and food courts that have taken over the space. Officials of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens were also on ground to secure the spaces that have been cleared. Areas already cleared in Ikoyi include Awolowo Road, Falomo and Bourdillon where disused tyres and horticulturists were removed and taken away. At Water Corporation Drive, which is also a majo

Obaro of Kabba, Late Oba Michael Folorunsho Olobayo Late traditional ruler of Kabba town, Kogi, Oba Michael Olabayo, was on Saturday laid to rest in a ceremony attended by Gov. Yahaya Bello and other eminent personalities. The state burial climaxed a three-day of activities put together by the government and the people to honour the monarch, who died at the age of 71 years. Dignitaries at the occasion included the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Ahmed Umar, former Gov. Ibrahim Idris, Maj.-Gen David Jemibewon rtd, former Minister of Industry, Chief Kola Jamodu and Sen. Dino Melaye. Others included Sen. Smart Adeyemi, a former Federal Attorney–General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, among others attended. Bello in a funeral oration noted the late monarch as a peace loving man whose virtues he urged the people of Kabba to uphold by continuing to live in peace. According to him, the demise of the late monarch will test the unity of the people in coming months. He a

President Muhammadu Buhari meets President Barack Obama in New York President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded relevant U.S authorities for ensuring efficient security and administrative arrangements at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71) in New York, USA. The president made his position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. Adesina stated that the president was addressing newsmen at the conclusion of his five-day activities during the UNGA71. Buhari, who disclosed that he had a successful outing during the UNGA71, also commended officials of Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for demonstrating “that we still have capable officers in our Foreign and civil services”. He saluted the Nigerian officers for the “tireless effects in projecting a positive image to our country, even in difficult times.” The president used the opportunity of the media parley to review all his major and si

Pilgrims arriving Nigeria from Saudi Arabia No fewer than 1,000 pilgrims from Sokoto State have been transported back to Nigeria through the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in the state. Alhaji Faruk Umar, the Public Relations Officer in the Sokoto State Muslim Welfare Agency, made this known in Sokoto on Saturday. He said that the pilgrims were transported in two flights by Max Airline. Umar commended the pilgrims for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner during the screening carried out by Customs and Immigration officials. The pilgrims from the state were the first to be airlifted in the country to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj on Aug. 8.

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has restated that no local government area in Borno or any territory in the North East Zone is being occupied by the Boko Haram sect. Buratai spoke on Saturday while responding to questions at a special congress of the FCT Council of the NUJ. The army chief, who said the military had routed the insurgents and was currently securing the region, noted that terrorism was complex and called for patience. Buratai also called on journalists to show understanding in reporting the insurgency for the sake of national interest. He recalled that there was mistrust in the past between the media and the army and assured of seamless flow of information as long as it does not affect national security. Earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Council of the NUJ, Mr Paul Abechi, called for understanding between the military and the media in the interest of the nation. Abechi said that while Nigerians

Kola Oluwawole, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly The Speaker, Ekiti House of Assembly, Mr Kola Oluwawole, said that eight truck drivers were apprehended on Saturday for violating the environmental law in the state. The speaker disclosed on Saturday in Oye-Ekiti that the suspects were apprehended during the monthly environmental sanitation in Oye- Ekiti. According to him, the truck drivers have been handed over to the mobile court at Oye-Ekiti for prosecution. He, however, frowned at the attitudes of truck drivers, who were in the habit of violating the environmental sanitation law of the state. Oluwawole warned them to desist from such practice or be ready to face the wrath of the law. He directed local government environmental officials in the state to always mount road block so that the drivers would not have access to move during the exercise. The speaker advised shop owners to always clean their frontage and gutters because a clean environment would enhance a healthy

Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youth and Sports Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Saturday in Ilorin said he was disappointed with those who said Nigeria performed abysmally at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games. Dalung, while declaring open the second edition of the National Youth Games (NYG), said comments describing Team Nigeria’s performance at Rio 2016 Olympics as abysmal worried him. He said he was in this state because Nigeria’s outing in Rio was better than that of the London 2012 Olympics where the country failed to win a single medal. Team Nigeria to the Paralympics in Rio which ended about three weeks after the Olympics won eight gold two silver and two bronze medals. In 2012 at London about three weeks after the Olympics, Team Nigeria to the Paralympics won six gold, five silver two bronze medals. Dalung, in his argument, pointed out that Nigeria set a unique record at the Rio Olympics with Aruna Quadri being the first African to reach the quarter-finals in mal

Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma says the fiscal stimulus strategy designed is not to sell off all national assets. Udoma gave the explanation in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, James Akpandem on Saturday in Abuja. Udoma said the primary objective of government’s fiscal stimulus plan was not to sell off all major critical national assets but to source for immediate funds to get the economy out of recession. He said the intention of government was just to get enough money to fund the 2016 budget and to put the economy back on the path of recovery. It will be recalled that the Economic Management Team had been working on a plan to generate immediate large injection of funds into the economy. The team had plans to generate and inject large amount of funds, estimated at between 10 billion dollars and 15 billion dollars into the economy. “This unfortunate scenario has prompt

Wheat farm Flour Mills of Nigeria is working with Nigerian farmers on the local cultivation of wheat in the country, its Group Chief Executive, Mr Paul Gbededo, has said. Gbededo told newsmen in Lagos on Saturday that the company has signed MoU with local farmers and the Federal Government on local production of wheat for the industry. He said that milling companies presently imported virtually all wheat used in making flour, adding that the situation was about to change with the local production of wheat by Nigerian farmers. “Wheat production takes about four months and the first batch would be planted between November and February, 2017. “We have promised that we will buy whatever Nigerian farmers produce as soon they start harvesting in February, 2017. According to him, a lot of research was ongoing in wheat cultivation to make the seed indigenous to Nigerian eco system. He noted that Nigerians consumed four million metric tonnes of wheat yearly in semolina, bread, biscuits,

Militants The Nigerian Army has confirmed that militants killed one of its personnel in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River in an attack allegedly led by one Benjamin Simplee, aka G1. Col. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, who confirmed the incident in a statement, however, said the troops killed two of the militants in the attack which occurred on Saturday morning. According to him, the other militants escaped with gunshot wounds. He said the attackers also burnt a buffalo pick up vehicle. Usman said that two soldiers earlier declared missing in the attack were found when reinforcement was sent to the area. He said that the militants came in several speed boats and attacked troops deployed at Efut Esighi waterfront in Bakassi. “The troops’ location has been reinforced with more gunboats and air component. The clearance and pursuit operation is ongoing. “We would like to assure the public that this singular act would not deter us from the discharge of

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State The Borno State Government on Saturday began massive clearing and fumigation of Bama town recently liberated by the military to prepare ground for the return of the people. Alhaji Nasiru Surundi, Sole Administrator of the Borno Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), who launched the exercise in Bama, said it was to ensure the early return of the people back home. “We are here with 1,000 personnel to clear the entire town of refuse and other rubbish ahead of the peoples’ return. “We also came with 15 trucks of different capacity to facilitate our work, ” Surundi said. He said that BOSEPA had earlier deployed 40 environment staff to commence the cleaning before the eventual launching. “Already we have 40 Environment Staff that had started the exercise before our arrival. ”We are also trying to reinforce our workers with additional manpower to fast-track the pace of work, ” he said. “We are also fumigating the town to take care of reptil

Nigeria’s Super Eagles Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, says the state is ready to host the 2018 World Cup qualifying match between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Fennecs of Algeria. The Group B, 2018 World Cup qualifier game between Super Eagles and Fennecs would be played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on November 7. A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday by Sammy Wejinya, Special Adviser on Media to the Commissioner for Sports, quoted him as saying that the state government was ready to host the match in Port Harcourt. “Rivers State is ready to play the perfect host to the Super Eagles and the international community ahead of this important game. “The Super Eagles and Olympic football team have played competitive and friendly matches here in Port Harcourt in the past. “So, this is not novelty in any way,” Iyaye said. He said that the state government was desirous to support the Super Eagles, to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. N

The Katsina State Police Command on Saturday said it had arrested four persons for allegedly diverting tonnes of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East Zone. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Salisu Agaisa, told newsmen in Katsina that the suspects had claimed to be customs agents. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had directed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to distribute rice it seized from smugglers to the various IDPs camps. The police spokesman said the suspects were arrested after they offered to sell the commodity to one of the prominent persons in the state. “One of the suspects had called the prominent person through a mobile phone that they have five trucks of the diverted rice for sale. “Our investigation also shows that the suspects had concluded arrangement to sell a bag of rice to that person at the rate of N12,500 per bag,’’ he said. Agaisa said the suspects were later arrested at Liyafa Pala

Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo Four people were feared dead in Warri River on Friday in a boat mishap involving the funeral party to the burial of late Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). A community leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, who craved anonymity, told newsmen on Saturday in Warri that the victims included a man and three women. He said that two of the female victims were from Kurutie and Ogulaha communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom. It was learnt that the victims boarded the ill-fated speed boat at the Miller Waterside in Warri to attend the weeklong funeral which commenced on Friday. “We were already at the funeral celebrating Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo when we got news of the accident. “Initially, we were told only two persons died, later we heard that the victims were four. ”The male victim, who was apparently from the northern part of the country, was on a mission to sell some wares at the funeral ground,” he said The Late Ekpemupolo die

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has declared Tuesday September 27 and Wednesday September 28 as public holidays for the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 28. According to the governor, the purpose of the holidays is to enable workers travel to wherever they registered as voters to exercise their franchise. He announced the holidays at an event organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in his honour, for making the labour movement proud. Jethro Ibileke/Benin

An alleged mad man A man suspected to be mentally ill has stabbed a man to death and injured three others in Taraya Village of Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa. A resident of the village, Adamu Sani, told newsmen that the suspect was armed with knife which he used in perpetuating the act at about 1am on Saturday. Sani said that the suspected killer attacked the victims in their homes located in different parts of the village and fled. The Secretary of the Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Harbo, told newsmen that the assailant stabbed his first victim, Adamu Jibrin, on the nape which led to his death. Harbo disclosed that the suspect stabbed his second victim, Sale Umar, in the stomach while the two others – Auwal Sani and Yusuf Suleman – were stabbed on the shoulder and ribs, respectively. He said that that the three injured persons were on admission at the General Hospital in Jahun. Two weeks ago, a suspected madman, Haruna Barde, also killed two people in Nahuce village

Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group So thinking outside the box has made many a Nigerian politician stir crazy. Wow! It is really interesting to know some do not think outside the box before and we have same thing in and out the year. The log covering their eyes is seemingly beginning to fall off like scales. I even think they have come to develop insomnia that they would not even bat their eyelids for sleep it would not come because ‘I need to think outside the box’. What a tall order!!! Out of frustration Mr. President told his cabinet members to go think outside the box. In fact, I must say Mr. President this is not fair, to have subjected mummies and daddies your very ministers to do what ordinarily atypical of a Nigerian politician, to go think outside the box; very unusual of a Nigerian politician. Now that they are no longer in the box, as we all know inside the box has brought more advanced looting and mature methods of stoking their stomach with infrastructural rubbish,

Niger Delta Avengers Nigerian militant group the Niger Delta Avengers said on Saturday it had carried out its first attack in the country’s southern energy hub since it declared in August it was halting hostilities to pursue talks with the government. The militants, who said they attacked the Bonny crude export line on Friday night, have in previous months launched assaults which have cut crude production, which was 2.1 million barrels per day at the start of the year, by around a third. In a statement on its website the group said it “brought down oil production activities at the Bonny 48 inches crude oil export line” through its “strike team”. Reuters was unable to immediately independently verify the details. The Avengers, who want a greater share of the OPEC member’s wealth to go to the Niger Delta where most crude is produced, said the attack was a “wake up call” for the government, which it accused of intimidating youths in the region since the ceasefire began. “While we we

Manchester United score one of their goals Manchester United thrashed Premier League champions Leicester City as boss Jose Mourinho dropped captain Wayne Rooney from his starting line-up. Chris Smalling’s header put United ahead before Juan Mata finished off a slick move with a crisp strike. Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba – with his first goal for the club – both scored from corners, with Demarai Gray’s spectacular long-range strike the only consolation for Leicester. Rooney came on in the 83rd minute. United’s first Premier League win in a month was sealed by half-time, but a third defeat for Leicester already matches their total for the whole of last season. “If he has to go on the bench, he goes on the bench. If he has to stay at home, he stays at home.” Mourinho was true to his pre-match words as Rooney was dropped for a Premier League game for the first time since Boxing Day 2015 – and ended up a spectator for what was eventually a transformed first-half performance. For

Pilgrims arriving Nigeria from Saudi Arabia The first batch of 499 pilgrims from Kano state have returned home after performing the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pilgrims, on board a Max Airline Boeing 747 aircraft, landed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport around 2 a.m. on Saturday. The pilgrims, who, were in good health, were later transported in buses from the airport to the Hajj camp. Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, Public Relations Officer, Kano state Pilgrims Welfare Board, told NAN in a telephone interview, that the second batch of pilgrims from the state were expected to leave Mecca around 4 p.m. for Jeddah. “The second batch of our pilgrims will leave Mecca for Jeddah around 4 p.m. Saudi Arabian time where they will be screened for their transportation to Nigeria”, he said. Badamasi said the board had made adequate arrangement to ensure that transportation of the pilgrims back home was hitch-free, adding that no pilgrim would

Governor Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has lauded Adamawa Government’s approval to employ 149 nurses and midwives. The state Chairman of the association, Mrs. Lami Aminu, commented the state government in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola Saturday. Aminu said that the Thursday’s approval by Gov. Muhammadu Bindow for the recruitment of the nurses and midwives was a big relief to the association. Aminu said the recruitment would go a long way in addressing the shortage of nurses and midwives in hospitals across the state. “It’s a dream come true. As a union, we have complained severally to the government on the shortage of nurses and midwives in hospitals. “We have compiled lists of applicants and sent to the government. Over the years, many of our members had retired and some had died without replacement. “Presently, nurses and midwives are being overworked; you will see a single nurse m

Police at the scene of the Mall shooting A man carrying a rifle entered a Macy’s store at a mall in Washington state, shot dead four women and a man, and vanished into the night, police said. Authorities believe only one person fired the shots at Cascade Mall in Burlington on Friday night. A search is underway for an armed man who headed toward Interstate 5 after the attack, said Sgt. Mark Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol. Francis released a blurry surveillance picture of a man described as the suspect. His motive or relationship to the victims, if any, are unclear, he said. The names of the victims were not immediately released. Witnesses described chaotic scenes and confusion when the shooting started about 7 p.m. local time. Brandi Montreuil told CNN she was watching a movie at the mall when attendants suddenly told them to leave. “I didn’t know anything,” she said. “The theater attendant came in and apologized for stopping the movie and said they were asked to hav

Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, a former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, has advised Nigerians to be patient, hopeful, and prayerful for God’s intervention in the socioeconomic and political activities of the country . Gusau gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Saturday. He said that Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliations should seek divine intervention for God to turn the nation economy for optimal goal. “We should all be prayerful in this period of economy recession, insurgency, militancy, kidnapping ,cattle rustling and any act capable of tempering with our nation hard earn unity,” he said. According to him, through fervent prayers the lost glory, virtues and dignity of Nigeria will be restored. He appealed to “Nigerians to be patient, hopeful, expectant and put trust in God who can turn all situations around for the better, above all pray for our God chosen leaders.” Gusau said that good will from followers would pave way fo

Mr Olusola Odofin-Sonuga, Chairman, Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, has called on the electorate to vote for candidates with integrity in the upcoming council elections. Odofin-Sonuga made the call on Saturday in Abeokuta in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). NAN reports that the chairmanship and councillorship elections into 20 Council Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ogun comes up on Oct. 8. The committee chairman urged the electorate to consider the candidates’ character and cast their votes for those who had been contributing to the development of their area. “I urge the people of the state to cast their votes for candidates that have been contributing in one way or the other to the development of their areas. “It is important to vote for candidates who will complement the efforts of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun in the development of infrastructure and spread the dividends of democracy to all nooks

Dolapo Badmos, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson The Police in Lagos State, have arrested a man, who claimed to be a trader, for allegedly raping his 15-year-old daughter and administering drugs on her to prevent pregnancy. The spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday. Badmos said that the Gender Unit of the command was investigating the suspect, Uchena Elumadu for a case of defilement. She said that a neighbour, who resides at Martins Street, new Oko Oba, Agege Lagos, reported the case to the police. She said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on different occasions, raped the JSS 3 student who is his daughter. The police image maker said that Elumadu usually administer drugs to prevent his victim from getting pregnant after having intercourse with her. “The victim said that her father, on countless occasions wakes her up in the middle of the night to rape h

Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, has advised Nigerians to avoid self-medication and seek medical examination before taking drugs. Mr Agada Vincent-Agada, the state chairman of the association, gave the advice on Saturday in Keffi at an event to mark the 2016 World Pharmacists Day with the theme, “Pharmacists care for you.” World Pharmacists Day is held on Sept 25 each year to create public awareness and engage in activities that promote and consolidate the profession’s role in the society Vincent-Agada said that the call had become imperative considering the negative effects of self-medication on human health and to societal development. He said: “the role of the pharmacists in the society cannot be over-emphasised. “Right from the points of manufacturing, handling to administration of medicine to the last point, needed to be handled by trained professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. “That is why as key players in the health sector, there is the n

The Yobe Government has vaccinated more than seven million animals against Trans-Boundary diseases. Dr Mustapha Gaidam, Programme Manager, Yobe Livestock Development Programme, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Saturday. Gaidam said that the state government had also demarcated 1,000km cattle routes in the last eight years to prevent farmer and herdsmen conflicts. “The state government through the Pilot Livestock Development Programme has vaccinated more than seven million herds of animals in the last eight years. “We have also demarcated about 1,000km of stock routes to ease movements of livestock across the state to prevent farmer and grazer conflicts. “I am happy to say that the efforts of the state government had produced positive results with no single case of conflict recorded between farmers and grazers for the past eight years” Gaidam said. He said the economic recession had forced the government to cut its target of 1.2

Dr Godwin Udeuhele, Enugu State Commissioner for Information. The Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, has appealed to the Federal Government to refund the N22 billion the state spent on rehabilitation of Federal roads. Udeuhele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday that the appeal had become necessary to enable the state government attend to other infrastructure needs. “Enugu State Government has expressed worried that the Federal Government is yet to refund the N22 billion the state spent on Federal roads within the state in the past years. “This development has hindered the zeal of the state government to embark on another set of rehabilitation of these roads,” he said. He said that the state government had approved the rehabilitation of the Federal Old Road along Oji River- Ugwuoba at the cost of N783 million. “The road collapsed partly because of increased stress caused by movement of heavy duty vehicles; occasioned by total di

Alhaji Abdulrasaq Okoya, Chairman of Eleganza Group of Companies. The Chairman of Eleganza Group of Companies, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Okoya, has appealed to the Federal Government to build more technical institutions to reduce dependence on white collar jobs. Okoya, who made the appeal at the 2016 Ileya Dance which held at the Island club, Lagos, said such institutions would encourage home-grown businesses and help tackle the current recession. “We have a lot of universities already, which is a good thing, but we need more technical institutions because this is where the practicality of things are taught. “When a person is equipped with the technical know-how of a profession, that person can confidently start up his or her own business. “The present state of the economy of the country is affecting everybody, even I as an industrialist, I am affected seriously,” he said. Okoya prayed for God’s guidance in tackling the present recession. He also promised to continue to support the de

Mr Wobin Gora, Bayelsa State FRSC Sector Commander. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Bayelsa, has insisted that there is no going back on the Oct. 1 deadline for enforcement of the speed limiting device in the state. Mr Wobin Gora, FRSC state sector commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Yenagoa, that the deadline is sacrosanct. He urged the commercial drivers in the state to obey the directive and install the device in their vehicles, adding that the command was committed to enforcement of the directive. He said that any commercial driver who failed to comply with the directive would be punished. “The campaign for installation of the speed limiting device has been going on for quite some time. “Let me emphatically warn commercial drivers in the state that there is no going back on the Oct. 1 deadline. “My advice to them is to install the device in their vehicles as anybody who failed to do so is doing that at his own risk,” he warned. Gor

Dr. Adejare (with mic) during the sanitation exercise Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government has charged residents living in flood-prone areas in the state to urgently relocate as heavier downpour are being anticipated in the next few days. Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare disclosed this on Saturday during the monthly sanitation exercise at Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Adejare said heavier rainfall was being anticipated between 27 and 30 September and that people living in lowland and susceptible to flood should immediately relocate to avert disaster. The commissioner was totally displeased with residents of Church Avenue in the council as they had converted the major canal in the area to dumpsite, with several residents erecting make-shift structures inside the canal. “Our people need to have change of attitude in the way they handle the environment. People living in flood-prone areas should leave. At Ch

An IDP camp in Borno The Adamawa Government says it has relocated no fewer than 350 Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) made up of mostly women and children. The IDPs were relocated from the transit camp in Mubi to the designated camp in Malkohi, Yola South Local Government Area of the state. Mr. Haruna Furo, the Executive Chairman of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Yola on Saturday. Furo said that the move was to ensure the adequate welfare of the IDPs and easy coordination of operations. The relocation, he said, would also enable the state government to re-open the Mubi Burnt Brick Factory initially used as a transit camp. “We relocated about 350 Internally Displaced Persons, mostly women and children, from the Mubi transit camp to Malkohi camp in Yola South Local Government Area. “The development is to bring together all IDPs in the state under designated and secured camps,” Furo said. He said that

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State The Enugu State Government has appointed a company, Niceken Logistic Limited, to collect its solid minerals revenue. The firm will collect revenues from activities bordering on quarrying as well as mining of gravels, laterite and sand. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, disclosed this to NAN in Enugu. Udeuhele said that the move was to streamline the collection of revenue as well as check leakages in the system. “The State Executive Council has directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to generate a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to that effect. “The MoU would be in line with conditions in the committee’s review report between the Ministry of Environment, Mineral Resources and the firm. “The MoU would be signed within the next two weeks between the company and the state government,’’ he said. NAN recalls that the Federal Government had taken over the concession of the coal sites in