Global Naija Info

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Sunday called for an urgent reform of the prison system in the country. The governor made the call while receiving the Comptroller-General (CG) of Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Ja’afaru Ahmed in Ilorin. He said that the action was necessary to enable the prisons to achieve their role of reforming convicted prisoners before their re-entry into society. The Prisons CG was in Ilorin following a violent clash which had occurred between inmates and warders at the Oke Kura Prison in Ilorin. Ahmed described the incident as unfortunate, saying that the restructuring of the prison system was expedient. He said the reforms should address the challenges affecting administration of prisons in the country, especially in the area of infrastructure and prisoner rehabilitation. The governor said that any faulty prison system would adversely affect the service and the society, as unreformed ex-convicts

Akeredolu and Oke Next Saturday, the people of Ondo State will exercise their rights in a historic election, which has already left the electorate utterly disenchanted; leading political parties internally fragmented and the state awfully divided. The stage has been set for the next governorship poll in Ondo State. Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had released a list of 30 political parties, which it said, had presented candidates for the contest. Of the 30 parties, only the Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the forces to reckon with. From all indications, the three political parties share one common trait: they are plagued with intractable internal crisis. By implication, the leading parties are internally divided at different levels, a condition that has thrown up legal actions that might threaten the political future of any party that wins the poll. And behind the rift is the conflicti

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday expressed deep sorrow and regret over Sunday’s train disaster in India that killed more than 100 passengers, near Pukhrayan. Buhari in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed sorrow and shock over the news of the train derailment and heavy loss of lives. President Buhari commiserated with the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi and the families of the victims. “The loss of human life on whatever scale, and anywhere, is bad enough,” adding that “the world becomes united in sorrow during such moments because our common humanity makes us a family.” The president said that the government and the people of Nigeria felt and shared the pains and the anguish of the families of the victims and all Indians. The Nigerian leader prayed that God would comfort the grieving Asian nation. The death toll in Indian train crash has been put at 119, with more than 15

Children at an internally displaced persons camp Tomorrow the Federal Government will commence an education advocacy program for school-aged children displaced in the North East States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. By means of a writing and speech competition between the children in those states, this programme will adopt the children themselves as the main advocates of education and voices countering every form of extreme violence. The competition is open to all school-aged children (8 -18 years old) currently receiving various forms of education in the Internally Displaced Persons Camps and Host Communities in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. This advocacy model will engage the children in conversations concerning their educational plans, intending to create a sense of involvement and enhance the success and sustainability of their education. The programme, tagged ‘2016 Protecting Education Advocacy Challenge, PEACH’, will involve school-aged children residing in the camps and hos

FILE PHOTO: A cultural troupe at Calabar Carnival No fewer than 30 countries are expected to participate in the 2016 Annual Calabar Carnival, Mr Gabriel Onah, Chairman, Calabar Carnival Commission, said on Sunday in Calabar. Onah who spoke at the launching of the Second Carnival Dry-Run said the countries included Brazil, Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain, Ghana, Kenya, among others He said that the theme of this year’s carnival `Climate Change’ was the same as that of 2015, adding that it was retained because the issues of environment were still on the front burner. “We are putting in place the best form of art and entertainment to ensure that tourists who will visit the state for the carnival will have the best of tourism and hospitality. “Calabar carnival is 12 years on the road match and the festival experience has been amazing. “I am happy today that we also have 30 beauty queens from African countries to grace this dry-run,” he said. Earlier, Mrs Linda Ayade, wife of Cross Riv

FILE PHOTO: A cultural troupe at Calabar Carnival No fewer than 30 countries are expected to participate in the 2016 Annual Calabar Carnival, Mr Gabriel Onah, Chairman, Calabar Carnival Commission, said on Sunday in Calabar. Onah who spoke at the launching of the Second Carnival Dry-Run said the countries included Brazil, Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain, Ghana, Kenya, among others He said that the theme of this year’s carnival `Climate Change’ was the same as that of 2015, adding that it was retained because the issues of environment were still on the front burner. “We are putting in place the best form of art and entertainment to ensure that tourists who will visit the state for the carnival will have the best of tourism and hospitality. “Calabar carnival is 12 years on the road match and the festival experience has been amazing. “I am happy today that we also have 30 beauty queens from African countries to grace this dry-run,” he said. Earlier, Mrs Linda Ayade, wife of Cross Riv

Diego Costa Diego Costa’s 10th goal of the season moved Chelsea top of the Premier League as their sixth straight win saw off Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. After an even start, Chelsea upped the tempo and deservedly led at the break when Costa reacted quickest to drill in a loose ball inside the Boro box. The Blues continued to create chances, Pedro going closest when he smacked a rising drive against the crossbar. Advertisement Boro’s best chance came when Alvaro Negredo’s 78th-minute volley was saved. It was the only time the home side forced Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois into a serious stop as they lost for the first time in four matches. Chelsea leapfrogged Liverpool and Manchester City to go a point clear, while Boro remain one point above the relegation zone in 15th place.

The crashed train Death toll in Indian train crash has been put at 119 with more than 150 injured when the county’s express train derailed in northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, says Police. The death toll was initially put at 60 with more than 80 injured. Police said the toll set to rise amid a scramble to locate survivors as people were still missing, while authorities tried to determine what caused the derailment of 14 carriages of the train. The train was traveling between the northeastern city of Patna and the central city of Indore, but suddenly roll off the tracks in Pukhrayan, 65 km south of Kanpur city. Authorities said they were checking the condition of the tracks but would need to look further before concluding the cause of the derailment. It was another India’s deadliest rail tragedy since more than 140 died in a 2010 collision in West Bengal. Desperate survivors searched for family members and some tried to enter the damaged carriages to rescue relatives an

•Oshoala in action Asisat Oshoala scored four goals as Nigeria began the defence of their women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with a 6-0 drubbing of Mali in Limbe on Sunday. The Player of the Tournament at the 2014 edition was in a class of her own as she terrorised the hapless Malian defence. USA-based Francisca Ordega and Uchechi Sunday also scored as the Super Falcons sent out a chilling warning to their rivals. The Group B game produced a slow start as both sides struggled to find their rhythm. But the complexion of the match changed after 22 minutes when Ordega – the Washington Spirit midfielder – struck to give Nigeria the lead. The Super Falcons grew in confidence after that and were in complete control for the rest of the game. Poor defending contributed to the second goal as the Malians failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Oshoala. The Arsenal Ladies forward kept her cool and rounded the goalkeeper Goundo Samake before slotting the ball into an empty net.

A fuel tanker burning The Police have confirmed the death of one person in a tanker fire incident in Zaria, which also razed a police station and 15 vehicles. The incident occurred on Saturday night at Danmagaji area of Zaria in Kaduna State, when the tanker driver lost control in an attempt to avoid a pot hall. In the process, he was said to have been crushed to death a motorcyclist, and the ensuing fire which razed the police station and vehicles. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Agyole Abeh confirmed the figure to newsmen after visiting the scene on Sunday. “The incident was quite unfortunate but we have to give glory to God because the level of lives involved is what we should appreciate God for. “The inferno would have consumed a lot of lives, most especially as Danmagaji usually has heavy traffic, and this police station is a place where people always patronise. “Today, we would have been telling a different story. “However, everything in the station have been

Lawal Shehu, Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command Hajia Rabi Aliyu and Hajia Larai Aliyu, wives of the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Aliyu Tijjani, who were abducted from Nasarawa town, have regained their freedom. DSP Kenedy Idrissu, Spokesman of the state Police Command, disclosed this on Sunday in Lafia. Idrissu said that the women were released by their abductors at about 11 p.m. on Saturday at Mararaba-Udege village in Nasarawa town. He said the kidnappers were forced to release the women following sustained pressure from the Police search party. He said no ransom was paid and that the victims were unhurt and had been reunited with their family. According to Idrissu, no arrest has been made as investigation had begun to find those behind the incident. The women were abducted at about 8 p.m. on Thursday from their residence in Nasarawa town by gunmen, who shot sporadically into the air before whisking away the victims in

Nine people, including two policemen, have been killed by bandits in a fresh attack in Zamfara. The Force Public Relations Officer, Dan Awunah, confirmed this in Abuja on Sunday. Awunah said seven of the victims were members of the communities where the hoodlums attacked. He said the Police Mobile Force and the Counter-terrorism Unit had been deployed to the area to restore law and order. The member representing Zurmi West in the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Moriki, disclosed that the incident occurred at Dole, Tudun Bugaje and Kwangwami communities in Zurmi Local Government Area. According to him, 25 people have been killed, while many others were injured during the attack. “So far, we have the record of 25 people who were killed during the attack, while many others injured have been taken to hospital for treatment,” Moriki said. The bandits attacked the villages on Saturday night after carrying out similar attacks in some communities at neighboring Shinkafi Local Gove

Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, said on Sunday in Maiduguri that an operation tagged “Operation Crackdown’’ to take over the Sambisa forest from the Boko Haram terrorists by troops had commenced. Olonisakin spoke while fielding questions from newsmen after he inspected some military fighting equipment at the headquarters of the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole. He also said that alongside the operation crackdown, “Operation Safe Corridor Initiative’’ had also been put in place for the terrorists to surrender. “That is the corridor for them – terrorist to surrender. That corridor is always open. “However, we will not wait until they surrender, that is why operation crackdown, to ensure that we take over the Sambisa, clear the terrorists from those places and make the place safe for development,’’ Olonisakin said. The chief of defence staff said that he was in Maiduguri for ope

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto and head of JNI The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, says the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), Anchor Borrowers’ Programme has boosted local rice production. The Sultan spoke at the launch of the dry season wheat farming and distribution of wheat seeds to farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Mr Isaac Okorafor, Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, via a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, said the Sultan commended the CBN for making dry season farming possible. The Sultan enjoined farmers to continue to be diligent in their farming activities as oil would only provide funds but would not put food on the table. He harped on the need for partnership among all levels of government in order to end the farmers and herdsmen crisis. He stated that inability to resolve the crisis could frustrate government’s efforts at food security. Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagu

Barges laden with stolen crude oil The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says it has destroyed another set of illegal oil barges in Rivers. Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, said the barges were filled with stolen oil. According to Famuyiwa two of the latest barges filled with stolen oil were set ablaze by NAF helicopters on armed patrol around Okoromabie in the South-East of Port Harcourt Refinery. Famuyiwa explained that the third barge, surrounded by canoes carrying drums, was sited at Onne, while individuals around the barge and canoes fled. He explained further that the barge and drums did not explode, indicating the possibility of being empty. “The latest operations like the previous ones are clear pointers to the fact that it is no longer profitable to steal crude oil in Nigeria,” Famuyiwa said. The NAF, had in the past one month, destroyed a number of illegal refineries and oil barges in R

Stop Pornography Reverend Paul Ojoh, the Resident Pastor, Shepherd House Assembly International, Jos has said that pornography and masturbation could affect the brain and impede productivity. “Those twin evils could hurt the brain and impede productivity because of the cumulative negative effects of addiction to them,” he stated on Sunday in Jos, during a sermon at the Youth Conference of the Church. In the sermon titled: ‘Dealing with Forces of Addiction’, he noted that a high percentage of youths suffer addiction mostly to pornography and masturbation. “Research has shown that more than 50 percent of youths are addicted to pornography, while 60 to 90 percent of adolescent boys and 40 per cent of adolescent girls are addicted to masturbation. “These addictions are sins against nature; the right hemisphere of the brain functions in facilitating creativity and inventions and a portion of the brain called ‘cingulate codex, is responsible for moral and ethical decisions. “So, when

Chief Henry Ajomale, APC Lagos chairman Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria have demanded the removal of the party’s chairman in the area, Alhaji Moruf Ojora Gbadamosi over allegation of corruption. About seven people were injured on Thursday as the APC factional group clashed in the Apapa-Iganmu during a meeting. Those who demanded Gbadamosi’s removal are: the party secretary, Dr. Akintunde Taiwo Sodiq; Sheriff Tomori, Prince Kayode Obadia, Alhaji Saubana Adeniji, Alhaji Afis Olalekan, Alhaja Folasade, ex- Women Leader, Alhaja Osifeso; former member, House of Representatives, Isiaka Lawal, among others. Speaking with newsmen at the weekend, Sodiq, said that the crisis currently facing the party dated back to last year October due to alleged poor leadership style exhibited by the party chairman, Alhaji Gbadamosi,saying that two critical meetings set up by the APC leadership at the sena

Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Sunday said that violation of speed limiting devices would start attracting fines from Feb. 1, 2017. Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal revealed in Lagos that the FRSC had set the date for full enforcement to commence on the device. Oyeyemi said that the commission had commenced advisory enforcement to the road users since Oct. 1, and about 131,000 road users had been enlightened on the importance of the device. “The speed limiter is on course; by Feb. 1, 2017, the full enforcement and implementation will commence. We commenced advisory enforcement some months back. ‘’So far, about 131,000 people have been given citation and enlightenment. “We are on course because speed limit device is the solution; we will lead them to ensure they are safe and also prevent them from crashes,’’ FRSC boss said. Oyeyemi said many drivers had yet to comply with the directive on speed lim

Mr. Bagudu Hirse Mr Bagudu Hirse, former Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), has been kidnapped, his brother, Chief John Hirse, has confirmed. “I got home from church to read the message informing me of the kidnap of my brother, Bagudu, on my phone,” John, former federal permanent secretary and currently District Head of Mangu, in Plateau State, disclosed in Jos. John said that he was expecting further details “on the sad incident.” “You have to exercise patience and call back later for more information and further developments,” he said. Sources indicated that Bagudu was kidnapped “somewhere in Kaduna”.

Gov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State Some traders at the popular Alesinloye market in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State have rejected the council’s eviction notice and have called on Governor Abiola Ajimobi to intervene in the matter. The planned eviction of the traders was to pave the way for the construction of a shopping complex. The local government in a letter entitled, “Notice to Quit, ” and dated November 18, directed all shop owners within the vicinity of Alesinloye market clinic to vacate their shops within seven days. The letter was signed by one Ayelagbe O. A on behalf of the Caretaker Chairman, Rauf Folarin, while the notice would expire on Friday. It was gathered that all efforts made by the market executives and the affected traders to stop the planned eviction failed. One of the affected traders, Saka Salami, who was at the meeting, told newsmen that the council authorities were bent on demolishing the shops. “We were at the local government with th

Oba Semiu The Lagos State Government has charged traditional rulers in the state to complement government’s effort by championing the fight against insecurity in their communities. Acting Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Adebimpe Akinsola said this at the weekend at a news conference heralding the coronation ceremony of the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Semiu Kasali. She said while traditional rulers had been assisting the government in the war against insecurity and kidnapping, the obas could do more by being proactive in mobilizing the people at the grassroots to be extremely vigilant and report suspicious cases to the police for prompt action. “The grassroots people should also try more in exposing criminal cases to the police for prompt action. “These people live with us, they are not ghosts; we should know the happenings in our surrounding. We should report such suspicious cases to the police. People should take ownership of their environment and let it be secured,”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State The problem of unpaid and half salaries in Osun State will persist as the state got only a paltry N305m from the Federation Account in October. None of the remaining 35 states of the federation got less than one billion naira. The paltry amount received by Osun State was attributed to a dip in the oil revenue received by the federal government in October. The 36 states of the federation shared N111.8 billion in October, less than the N143.6 billion shared in September from the Federation Account by N31.8 billion. The breakdown forms part of a report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from a source at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in Abuja on Sunday. Here is the break down of the revenue received by each state from the Federation Account: Abia took N2.6 billlion, Adamawa N2.5 billion, Cross River N1.4 billion, Ekiti N1.6 billion, Edo N1.9 billion, Kaduna State N3.4 billion, Kano State N4.2 billion, Lagos S

Ambode Kazeem Ugbodaga As the world marks World Toilet Day, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has revealed that 1,000 children die daily due to poor sanitation in the world. Speaking at the World Toilet Day in Apapa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Saturday, th governor quoted current world statistics as saying that 1,000 children died daily due to poor sanitation, adding that over 1.8 billion people used a source of drinking water that had been contaminated. “One in every three people on this planet still does not have access to a clean and safe toilet; at least 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is contaminated with faeces; 2.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines and 1,000 children die each day due to poor sanitation; whereas better sanitation supports better nutrition and improved health, especially for women and children,” said Ambode. The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on the

In one of his essays, American author, Wilfred Peterson wrote: “big thinking precedes great achievement.” With the benefit of hindsight, Rauf Aregbesola has left his marks on history and his successors will have to do a lot to rival his achievements. And, as the governor marks six years as Osun State helmsman, an attempt at appraising his stewardship is, in my view, not out of place. Let’s start with the Education sector where Aregbesola’s rich, nurturing, and healing contributions are well known to students of political history. In the last six years, his administration has successfully completed about 100 out of the promised 170 mega schools. Others, though delayed due to obvious reasons, are more than 60% completed. With the employment of about 7,350 teachers, professionally trained and equipped to improve learning in public schools; and with the retraining of more than 5000 others, one is not left in doubt about the “remarkable improvement in the pass rate of students presented fo

The crashed train The death toll following the derailment of a train in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state has reached at least 115, with more than 150 injured, police say. Fourteen carriages of the Indore-Patna Express derailed just after 03:00 local time on Sunday (21:30 GMT Saturday) near the city of Kanpur. Rescuers are still trying to reach the injured and recover the dead from the twisted carriages. The cause of the crash near the village of Pukhrayan is not yet known. However, the Times of India quoted sources as saying a fracture in the track could have been to blame. The death toll has been rising steadily all day and is expected to increase further. Krishna Keshav, who was travelling on the train, told the BBC: “We woke with a jolt at around 3am. Several coaches were derailed, everybody was in shock. I saw several bodies and injured people.” Most of the victims were located in two carriages near the engine which overturned and were badly damaged. By late Sunday af

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun PHOTO: Femi Ipaye The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted the scheduled November 26 governorship election in Ondo State must hold. Reacting to a statement credited to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday calling for the postponement of the election, the APC through its National Secretary Mai Mala Buni, on Sunday said the Ondo governorship election cannot be postponed on account of PDP’s internal crisis The APC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ignore PDP’s bizzare request and concentrate on delivering a free, fair, credible and transparent ballot on election day. The party also denied accusation by the PDP that it was colluding with the judicial system, INEC and the security agencies to “manipulate” the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election. Read APC’s full statement below: The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is drawn to a bizarre request

Ambode The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the promotion of 8,617 public primary school teachers. In a chat on Sunday, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board,SUBEB, Dr Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin explained that the promotion exercise had cleared the back logs inherited by the present administration in the state’s primary schools. Sopeyin stated that 10,851 public primary school teachers of different grade levels sat for the promotion examination, adding that the exercise could not have been possible without the passion of Ambode for the welfare of public school teachers. He assured that the state government would continue to provide for the needs of basic education in order to ensure qualitative and quantitative education in a conducive atmosphere in the state. He urged successful teachers not to relent on their oars but that they should consider their successes as motivating factor which should spur them to do more, stressing

By Caroline Oghuma What can we do without our subscribers? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Where will we be without them? Nowhere. It is that simple. Without them, there will be no us at MultiChoice Nigeria. I believe that is true for any other business or, more specifically, any business that desires long-term viability through quality service, like MultiChoice Nigeria does. It is why we have found recent media reports suggesting that MultiChoice subscribers in Nigeria are being unfairly treated very baffling and I dare say, unfair. The basis for the reports was the recent reduction in subscription rates in some other countries in which we operate and the fact that the reductions did not include Nigeria and South Africa. To be clear, DStv subscription rates, across bouquets, were reduced in those countries. But the claim, as made by authors of the report, that rates were slashed by 20 per cent in those countries were invented and, thus, untrue. The facts bear no resemblance to wha

By Caroline Oghuma What can we do without our subscribers? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Where will we be without them? Nowhere. It is that simple. Without them, there will be no us at MultiChoice Nigeria. I believe that is true for any other business or, more specifically, any business that desires long-term viability through quality service, like MultiChoice Nigeria does. It is why we have found recent media reports suggesting that MultiChoice subscribers in Nigeria are being unfairly treated very baffling and I dare say, unfair. The basis for the reports was the recent reduction in subscription rates in some other countries in which we operate and the fact that the reductions did not include Nigeria and South Africa. To be clear, DStv subscription rates, across bouquets, were reduced in those countries. But the claim, as made by authors of the report, that rates were slashed by 20 per cent in those countries were invented and, thus, untrue. The facts bear no resemblance to wha