Atta Igala warns against roadside trading and it’s consequences

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PHOTO: Juju Films

The Ata of Igala HRM Idakwo Micheal Ameoboni 11 has challenged market women in Kogi State who specialize in using the shoulders of major highways as their market square to desist to avoid the calamity from articulated vehicles that may loose control as a result of brake failure.

The Royal father who was speaking against the background of lack of adherence to planning laws during a stakeholders meeting and consultation on environmental concerns across Idah Federal constituency said prevention is better that cure.

“We should strictly adhere to planning laws, we have abandoned planning laws, that is why as you approach Itobe the market has moved to the road until the trailer will come and level some human beings before we would be conscious that the market should be transferred inside.

“On the road people put Mortars to pound yam and travelers gleefully stop by the road and start eating. In Lokoja you go to Nataco both left and right by the road is the population of akara sellers and other vendors of foods, it does not speak well of us. “

He recalled when a trailer ran into the market after Kogi Polytechnic in Lokoja when many innocent people looking for their daily bread lost their lives.

“In our case here in Idah if you go to Ega market on a typical market day you will see that the central position in the market can be used to organize a football match and they can play football there because it is empty, they moved to the road where they can be knocked down by vehicles.”

He said people disobey the laws that have kept them for some time.

He warned on the consequences of deforestation should people continue with illegal activities that will continue to cause degradation.
According to him the consequences of such degradation would lead to less food production and less rainfall.

He advised Government to go back to the basics of having nurseries in all the local Governments of the State to raise seedlings of hardwood trees that are almost going into extinction.

He decried the situation where the environment and natural resources have been neglected at the detriment of the people’s lives.

“We should return to the old days when local Government plant nurseries, the one in Idah was in Ede, but we abandoned them for no reason so I am sure we are ready for their revival because most of our forest reserves have been depleted by motor saw wielding merchants.”

The Royal father warned that should the people continue in the same direction the place would be turned to a desert.

The Atta used the iroko tree in his palace as a standard saying in the forest, Iroko and other hard woods have already gone into extinct.

“The commissioner should quickly embark on afforestation. The nursery should be set up at all the local Government so that the hard woods like iroko, Timber can still come back, if there is enough rain they will grow so we establish that.”

“In advanced countries Afforestation is a continuous process because we have enough Forest and we decide to cut it down it will not help so we should look inwards and creat the nurseries in all the local Governments.”

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Development Bank positioned to catalyse SMEs’ growth, says Adeosun

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Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has stated that the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) is being positioned to galvanise the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises sector for the overall development of the nation’s economy.

According to her, the present administration is aware of the role of SMEs in national economy, hence the resolve to position the DBN as a catalyst for the development of the SMEs, noting that the wide range of SMEs is a reflection of the nation’s economic diversity.

The Minister, who spoke during a Board/Management/Development partners’ retreat of the DBN in Abuja, on Monday, also assured the Board that the Federal Government is ready to provide support for the new development financial institution.

The DBN had convened its Development Partners and incoming management team and Board of Directors for an inaugural strategy retreat, in order to ready itself for immediate operation upon the issuance of its license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

She decried the present situation where SMEs account for 45 per cent of the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but just 10 per cent of bank credit.

She pointed out that currently, Nigeria’s financing of MSMEs lagged significantly behind other countries, including Brazil (63 per cent), Ghana (36 per cent), China (30 per cent), Kenya (24 per cent), and South Africa (21 per cent).

However, the Minister who disclosed that the operating licence for DBN is expected soon, also believed that through the activities of the DBN, some of the problems currently discouraging the growth of the SMEs sector would be effectively tackled.

She stated that DBN would lend to microfinance banks, which will in turn develop specific products for specific markets at a lower interest rate than currently available to SMEs.

She stated that the Finance Ministry is in discussion with the Central Bank of Nigeria on the need to use the Development Bank as a vehicle for any of its subsequent SMEs intervention.

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) is a wholesale financial institution, which aims to increase access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through eligible financial intermediaries (“participating financial institutions”).

The DBN will have access to US$1.3bn (N396.5 billion), which will be provided by the World Bank (WB), KfW (German Development Bank), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Agence Française de Development (French Development Agency).

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NBC ex-director alleges statement made under duress in N2.8b fraud case (Read full details)

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EFCC

Court to begin trial-within-trial on March 8

Former Director, Finance and Account, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Patrick Areh, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the statement he made on January 11, 2016, on the alleged N2.8 billion fraud was not voluntary.

Areh, who made a two-page statement and endorsed same before the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, alleged through his counsel, Ike C. Frank, that he made the statement which admitted the transfer of N2.8 billion from the commission’s bank account with Zenith Bank to Technology Advisor account under duress.

The defence counsel raised the allegation of duress just as the prosecution counsel, Ben Ikani, applied to tender Areh’s statement through the first prosecution witness, John S. Ejim, an operative of the EFCC.

The witness had told the court that a petition written by one Oke Nwafor ignited the arrest of former Director-General, NBC, Emeka Mba; Areh, Basil Udotai of Technology Advisors firm as well as Babatunji Amure of Divine Partners.

He added that the defendants conspired among themselves and transferred N2,899,723,500.00, being the proceeds of sales of 700 mega head of spectrum deposited at the commission’s Zenith Bank account to Technology Advisor account.

The witness added that the diverted money was illegally paid to set-top boxes manufacturer under the digital switch over platform.The court admitted in evidence copy of the petition sent to Executive Chairman of the EFCC and addressed to the President.

The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, stated that the court would conduct a trial-within-trial on March 8, 2017 to ascertain the admissibility of the second defendant’s confessional statement.The four defendants are facing a 15-count charge bordering on corruption and money laundering.

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Atiku visits Babangida in Minna (Read full details)

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that he will not advise the current government in the public except in confidence.This resolve is because he does not want it to be in the public domain or on the pages of newspapers.

He said this yesterday after ‎a meeting with ‎former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his uphill mansion in Minna that lasted for two hours.

When asked on what will be his advise to the government on the way forward, he said “Well, if I am to advise the government, I will advise in confidence because I was in government before. I will only advise the government in confidence so that it won’t be on the pages of newspapers.”

‎
Atiku who arrived the M‎inna international airport was received by the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and accompanied to IBB’s house, said: “I came to visit the former president and also to wish him well since he returned from his medical vacation abroad.”

On his entourage were Capt. Yahaya Gombe, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, Alhaji Kwaironga Jada, Senator Mohammed Magoro and Alhaji Jamilu Jibrin.
Atiku had recently said restructuring ‎was the key to solving most of Nigeria’s problems. It is left for Nigeria‎ns to decide.

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Nyame loses no-case submission, to face trial over alleged fraud (Read full details)

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Jolly Nyame

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gudu District, has ruled that former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame, will stand trial on allegations of N1.64 billion fraud preferred against him.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko in her ruling yesterday held that the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been able to establish through evidence that Nyame has a case to answer in court.

The ruling against Nyame’s no-case submission will therefore precede the trial of the former governor, which will begin on March 8, 2017.He will enter his defence in the trial in compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The EFCC accused Nyame of misappropriating N1.64 billion state funds while he was governor.Justice Banjoko had chosen the date for the ruling at the last sitting after listening to arguments of both the prosecution and defence counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi and Charles Edosamwan (SAN) regarding Nyame’s no-case submission in January.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, Justice Banjoko held that the prosecution’s evidence against Nyame has been able to establish that he has a case to answer.

Nyame is being tried on a 41-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N1.64 billion when he was Taraba State governor from 1999 to 2007.The prosecution closed its case on November 22, 2016 after presenting 14 witnesses.

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ISN moves against diabetes, offers self-care programme for patients

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By Lamidi Bamidele

LAGOS—FOREMOST  Medical Products supplier, ISN Products Nigeria Limited, is to further the crusade of managing diabetic patients in Nigeria so they can lead a more fulfilling life.

Executive Director Business Development of the firm, Mr. Felix Ofungwu, who gave the indication during a chat after the company’s maiden Customer Appreciation Forum in Lagos, noted that it has become imperative to do more to help the patients against the alarming global figure of 400 million diagnosed cases as at 2015 and the forecast of the number doubling in the next 25 years.

Asked how his organisation, the leading marketer of Roche’s range of Accu-Chek blood glucose metres in Nigeria, he said ISN offers a self-care management programmefor patients to help manage their condition against the background that no known cure had been found for the ailment.

He quickly added that the affected persons could still lead a healthy life if the condition is  well managed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chibok community accuses Army Commanding Officer of highhandedness

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By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—CHIBOK community in Borno State has accused the Army Commanding Officer, CO, posted to the area of dividing inhabitants along religious lines and maltreating the youths, among other allegations.

The residents also said the CO is high-handed and never welcomed any suggestion from the community.

In a statement issued on behalf of the community by their spokesman, Manasseh Allen, the Chibok community said the new CO was “unfriendly, unprofessional and brutish.”

Allen said: “Having spent about two years in Chibok, the CO was sent on a course and the people felt great relief from his unfriendly, unprofessional and brutish style of interacting with locals in Chibok.

“Accused of divisive tendencies along religious lines, he once threatened to shoot us when IG Wala, Olatunji Lanre-Baruwa, Bukky Shonibare and I were on a humanitarian outing to Chibok.

“He kept us standing for hours. I begged him for 30 minutes to allow me see my sick dad and for the team to give relief materials to parents of the abducted school girls in Chibok.

“While on course, the people thought the end of the operational style of such an officer had come. The community, through its Chairman made several reports to the District Head on the matter in writing aside several reports to the Chief of Army Staff.

“Shockingly, the same Commanding Officer has now been re-posted to Chibok and moved to mount Kautikari, one of the largest villages in Chibok near the Boko Haram terrorists crossing point.”

Allen claimed the people of Chibok had cooperated fully with the military to bring lasting peace to the area, but the CO’s posting to the area would reverse the gains made in recent times.

“We plead for immediate return of the former Commanding Officer to Chibok, who worked day and night to secure Chibok and its environs with serious coordination between his team and youth vigilantes.”

 

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Oil prices fall to $56.25 per barrel

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By Sebastine Obasi, with agency report
Oil prices fell nearly one percent, yesterday, in response to growing evidence that United States production is rising and as some investors unwound positions ahead of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC’s first report on compliance with its deal to cut production.

Global benchmark, Brent crude futures were down 45 cents at $56.25 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate, WTI, crude futures were down 41 cents at $53.45 a barrel.

“Bulls are liquidating ahead of the release of the monthly OPEC report due out shortly and yet another increase in US rig counts is also playing part in the weakness,” said Tamas Varga, senior analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates.

US oil drillers have added most drilling rigs since 2012 over the past month, bringing the total count to 591 rigs, the most since October 2015, Baker Hughes said in its weekly report.

This rise in US activity comes just as some oil producers are reducing output to reverse global oversupply in a bid to prop up prices. OPEC and other producers, including Russia, agreed late last year to cut output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of 2017.

The group is expected to publish its first assessment of compliance with the deal, yesterday. It was learned that compliance, according to OPEC calculations, was 92 percent in January, while the International Energy Agency said the rate was 90 percent. However, Kuwait’s oil minister said that OPEC compliance was 92 percent while that of non-OPEC producers was 50 percent.

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Recovery of $9.7m, reason to support anti-graft war—Lawyers

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By Elizabeth Uwandu

THE League of Patriotic Lawyers has said that the recent discovery of $9.7 million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Kaduna was a testimony to the commission’s ability to rid Nigeria of corruption.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, in Lagos, chairman of the association, Mr. Abubakar Yesufu, noted that the development was a reason for everyone to support the commission in its war against graft.

Yesufu, a former President, Students Union, University of Benin said its support for the commission was informed by the need to stamp out corruption in the country.

His words: “We salute the entire team painstakingly assembled for this onerous task and commend Mr. Adamu Dan Musa, Director of Operations in Kano Zone, who led the assault on this humongous recovery.

“If there  are still cynics that doubt the commission’s ability to wrestle corruption and give it a bloody nose, the cynics better have a rethink. Our support for Magu was borne out of our strong belief that he would be intolerant of corruption and kick same in the groin. We call on the Senate to proceed and not tarry in your confirmation.”

 

 

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Wike unveils land ship, MV Rivers Pride

Edo Assembly debates Obaseki’s uniform levies bill

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By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, commenced debate on the bill for the law to make provision for uniform and harmonized levies and charges for local government areas in the state presented to it by Governor Godwin Obaseki, and expressed fears about the political will to execute same.

Though majority of the lawmakers, including members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, commended the bill, saying if passed into law, it will not only provide employment for the youths but will also boost the Internally Generated Revenue of both the state and Local Governments, they urged the executive to commence serious enlightenment programme so that people at the grassroots will understand what they are paying for.

There was a thunderous applause from the lawmakers when Mr Monday Ehighalua, who had earlier opposed the bill, said: “Initially, I was against the bill but from what I have read about it, my fears, particularly as regards uniform taxes for both rich local governments areas and those that are not so rich, has been allayed because I have found out that those issues were taken care of. So, I support the bill totally.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ndidi threatens Onazi’s place in Eagles

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IN-form Trabzonspor of Turkey  midfielder Eddy Onazi is in danger of losing his spot in the national team to Leicester City man Wilfred Ndidi.

Onazi has formed a strong partnership in the midfield with captain John Obi Mikel over the years but the emergence of Ndidi could change all of that. The impressive Ndidi has five senior caps to his name but mostly as a substitute either in the midfield or defence, and his last start for Nigeria was from an usual position as a right back.

However, his form for Belgian side Genk, where he excelled as a midfielder before heading to Leicester City, has prompted a change of mind from Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.

“Ndidi has the potential to do more for our team if he plays in the midfield. He has the energy most teams like to see in a defensive midfielder. We have players in his position but our job is to pick the best for every position and for now he is among our best options”, Rohr said.

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FOOTBALL HORROR: Fan shot dead, 8 injured

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A TRAGIC shooting  incident has rocked Brazilian football.

Diego Silva dos Santos, 28, was gunned down and another seven injured during the Rio de Janeiro derby between Flamengo and Botafogo.

Prior to the encounter, there were major security concerns amid a strike from some sections of the city’s police force.

A spokesperson for Rio’s Salgado Filho hospital said: “Eight people were brought in with injuries from gunshot and knife wounds.

“One died after being shot in the chest, three are in intensive care and the other four were released late at night.”

The police strike had put the game in jeopardy, but it went ahead nonetheless — and the more violent incidents took place before kick-off.

It was estimated that only around 50 officers were present, rather than the usual 200 expected for a match of this nature. The local police have been on strike for around a month following a stand-off with Rio authorities over pay and safety.

And it was reported there were “more ambulances than police” present at Rio’s Olympic Stadium.

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Delta monarch tasks subjects on peace, unity

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By Festus Ahon

ASABA—THE traditional ruler of Ogwash-Uku, Delta State,  Obi Chukwuka Okonjo, has charged people of the kingdom to continue to live in peace and unity in the interest of sustainable development of the area.

The monarch, who gave the charge during the 7th edition of Ogwash-Uku carnival in the kingdom, said that the community can only achieve accelerated and sustainable development when the people are united.

Commending the organiser of the carnival, Mrs Anthonia Ogauh, for her initiative and commitment, he enjoined other well meaning indigenes of the kingdom to emulate her by contributing to the upliftment of the community.

According to the monarch, the annual carnival was a rallying point for people of the kingdom, adding that it was also helping in promoting peace and unity among the people.

President-General of the kingdom, Mr Emmanuel Okafor and the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwash-Uku, Mrs Edna Mogekwu, also spoke in the same vein at the event.

 

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Yak is back!

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Coventry have signed former Premier League striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, who has previously spent time in England with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester, Blackburn and Reading, will move to the Ricoh Arena until May 2017 subject to international clearance.

Yakubu has scored over 170 career goals in 400 professional appearances, with 130 of those efforts coming in England.

Russell Slade, the manager of League One basement club Coventry, said: “We’re pleased to have secured the signing of Yakubu, who brings vast experience and a terrific goal record.

“His professional career speaks for itself, having scored consistently at the highest level of English football, and will act as a superb role model for the younger players.

“He is astute on the ball, has clear quality and presence, and we’ll continue to work on his match fitness as we prepare for the final 16 games of this season.”

 

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