Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Category: Featured

Lady golfers canvass support towards Nigeria open
…As 10 countries set to storm Abuja
By Unukere Oboh
Organisers of the 2019 Nigeria Ladies Golf Open Championship, scheduled for IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja from November 12 to November 15, have began activities lined up towards a successful hosting of the event
The President, Ladies Golf Association Of Nigeria (LGAN), Ekanem Ekwueme, led some members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jeddy Agba, as part of the awareness campaign to herald the annual event.
Mrs Ekwueme told the Minister that players from more than 10 African countries have indicated their interest to participate in the championship which was won last year by Eva Magala of Uganda at the Ibom Resort Golf Club in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“The tournament is important because it has the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), being an event where any lady golfer who participates and earn a good score will be ranked internationally,” she said.
Ekwueme said membrrs of the IBB International Golf and Country Club were not only prepared to host but to take the competition’s main trophy from Ugandan Eva Magala as some of the best Nigerian Ladies would take part in the three-day event.
The LGAN President solicited for Mr Goddy Jeddy Agba’s support in making the event a memorable one for foreign players, “so that they will attend and return home with so many good story about Nigeria”.
She however urged the Minister of State for Power to begin to play golf, pointing out that the game is for both the young and elderly.
While responding, Agba who thanked the LGAN members for their efforts in promoting the game of golf among Nigerian women urged them to always think of their country Nigeria first in whatever activities they are doing.
“The present government’s commitment to the development of the Nigerian people in every capacity is unparallel.
“In that regard, your country should always come first in all you do, as a way of giving back to your country too.”
The minister then promised to support the LGAN towards achieving its members’ desire before, during and after the tournament.
October 13, 2019
No govt has justification for stealing
By Abel leonard / Lafia
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State says any person elected as governor of a state has no justification to steal public funds.
Sule stated this during the closing ceremony of the 23rd National Quranic Recitation Competition organised by the Jamaatul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Lafia.
According to him, any person elected as governor and is found to be stealing public funds, requires God’s deliverance.
He said governors were well provided for in the scheme of things, and as such, only a diabolic governor would resort to stealing public funds.
“When I assumed office as governor, I realised that only those who have no true knowledge about God could steal or that their major preoccupation is to steal public funds.
“Any person who is a governor and is stealing public funds , then such a person is in need of God’s deliverance,” he said.
The governor called on scholars and other educated elite to join politics in order to help to bring sanity to the system.
He dismissed insinuations that one must be wealthy before joining politics, stressing that as long as religious scholars kept avoiding politics, then they should be prepared to elect leaders who would betray their trust.
He called on Islamic scholars not to relent in telling the people the truth, even at the risk of rejection.
Sule also urged them to aspire for political leadership positions.
Sheikh Sani Jengre, National Chairman, Council of Ulama of JIBWIS, charged Muslims to be law abiding, stressing the importance of seeking both Quranic and western education.
Jengre decried the level of moral decadence in the country’s educational system, especially with recent reports of sexual harassment of female students in some universities.
He urged university lecturers to put the fear of God in their work and to henceforth desist from molesting both their male and female students.
You would recalled our correspondence report that Mubarak Abdulkarim from Niger, emerged the overall winner of the national Quranic recitation competition, carting away a brand new Toyota Siena Bus as well as a cash prize of an unspecified amount.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, and some other members of the House of Representatives.
Others were traditional leaders led by the Emir of Lafia rtd. Justice Sidi Bage.
Winners of the various categories of the competition carted away various prizes including cars, motorcycles, electronics and cash.
October 13, 2019
NA F HOLDS 3RD QUARTER 2019 ROUTE MARCH EXERCISE FOR PERSONNEL IN ABUJA
By Jennifer Yusuf
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has held its 2019 Third Quarter Route March Exercise for personnel serving in Abuja.
The Exercise, according to a statement by Airforce spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola was led by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Napoleon Bali, who represented the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, he said the event was aimed at ensuring the physical and mental fitness of NAF personnel for the effective performance of their various duties towards fulfilling constitutional roles of the Service.
Speaking at the end of the Exercise, the representative of the CAS commended personnel for demonstrating high level of physical fitness, stating that officers and men of the NAF have proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they are willing, able and ready to serve the nation and defend its territorial integrity.
According to him, a soldier that is not fit cannot perform satisfactorily, especially during emergencies. He urged the personnel to sustain the military culture of regular exercise in order to maintain their personal physical fitness to enable them carry out assigned tasks and perform their jobs more effectively and efficiently. National Youth Service Corps members serving with the NAF as well as journalists also participated in the 10km march, which kicked-off from Mogadishu Military Cantonment to Niger Barracks and back. Similar Route March Exercises were also held in NAF Commands and Units across the Country.

October 12, 2019
In Nasarawa man stabs step mum to death
By Abel Leonard/Lafia.
The Police Command in Nasarawa State has arrested one Ahmed Abdullahi, 23, for allegedly stabbing his stepmother to death.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the arrest of the suspect to our correspondence on Saturday in Lafia.
Nansel said the suspect allegedly committed the act around 11:00 p.m. on Friday at Ungwan-Yakubu, Agyaragu village, in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police spokesman, the suspect escaped from the scene of the incident and went into hiding. However, he was found on Saturday morning.
He said the suspect was about to be lynched by people of the village before the police intervened and took him into custody.
He said the police had launched an investigation to ascertain the motive behind the alleged murder.
October 12, 2019
Nasarawa AGF seeks reduction in civil servants salaries
Abel Leonard/Lafia
The Accountant General of Nasarawa State, Mr. Zakka Yakubu has proposed the review of civil servants salaries in order to free up funds for infrastructural development .
Zakka, spoke during a visit by officials of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning to the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Lafia.
Zakka said the state paid the highest amount in Northern Nigeria as salaries to civil servants, and urged that the figure should be reviewed downwards as civil servants constitute only 4 per cent of the state’s population.
“In Nasarawa, we pay the highest salary in the whole of North, we pay more than Federal Capital. For instance, a level 13 officer in Nasarawa is collecting N142,000 to N148,000, while the Federal Capital Territory pays N93,000 at the same level
“When we receive allocation from the federation account, the whole of it goes to salary, we have a long way to go. Civil servants constitute only four per cent of population, government is all about services and we cannot render services when we have over-bloated our salary,” said Zakka.
Zakka also called for upward review of charges and taxes in order to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“Our revenue rate is poor. Most rates have to be reviewed if we need to generate revenue. Cost of producing receipt is more than collections. For instance, market receipt is N10, you go to court to swear an affidavit, you pay higher and what is on the receipt is N200 and they will charge you N1,000. Something needs to be done,” he said.
Zakka also advocated the reduction in fees of Nasarawa State University to allow children of the poor access the institution.
October 12, 2019
Tribunal judgment: Fintiri extends hands of fellowship to opposition parties
By Our Reporter
Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has extended hand of fellowship to APC and other opposition parties in the state to join hands with his PDP-lead administration in revamping the battered fortunes of Adamawa.
Fintiri made the call on Saturday in a reaction to the Friday tribunal judgment affirming his victory as governor of Adamawa, over an APC petition.
In the statement signed by his Director-General, Media and Communications, Mr Solomon Kumangar in Yola,
Fintiri said he was committed to work with the opposition and all those willing to contribute in building the state and nation at large.
The governor, who described the judgment as a welcome development and a reaffirmation of the people’s mandate, said the development would further ginger him to action.
“The judgment of the Election Tribunal upholding my election and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a re-affirmation of the people’s mandate and an added impetus to my drive to make Adamawa work again,“ Fintiri said.
The governor lauded the tribunal for being upright and just and thanked the entire citizens of the state for support and prayer.
He restated his firm resolve“ to work for the good of the people of Adamawa, adding that he would not let them down (NAN)
October 12, 2019
SON commences market surveillance in Gombe
By Our Reporter
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has commenced market surveillance in Gombe and its environs to ensure that products, especially wires and cables, sold to the public meet standard.
The State Coordinator of the organisation, Alhaji Umar Yakubu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Saturday.
According to him, the Organisation will continue to carry out its mandate as provided for in the Act.
“We embarked on inspection of wire and cables shops aimed at ensuring that only products which meet the required standard of production is sold in the market for consumers.
“It is part of our mandate to set up quality assurance system for certification of products, services and testing, to ensure that products conform to the relevant standards.
“When products are certified, they give assurance for safety, performances, quality and durability,” he said.
Yakubu said that while carrying out raid on electric cables and wires, samples had been taken to SON accredited laboratories for test to ensure their suitability for use by consumers.
He warned any dealer found wanting would be “handled“ as provided by SON Act no 14 of 2015.
According to him, members of the public have the right to buy quality products and as such, should they are expected to report anybody found selling substandard products.
“Not only the cables, including the other products, we have the mandate to ensure that products sold to the public meet the right standard.” (NAN)
October 12, 2019
Flood: Akeredolu orders 3 weeks holiday for public primary, secondary schools submerged in state
By Our Reporter
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has directed public primary and secondary schools submerged by flood in the state to proceed on three weeks holiday from Monday.
Mr Donald Ojogo, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in a release on Saturday, said the directive followed flash floods which affected most flood-prone areas in the state, especially the riverside communities.
Heavy rainfall in the state on Monday and Tuesday, had resulted in floods which submerged some schools in the riverine areas of the state.
According to the commissioner, the order becomes necessary in order to forestall possible attendant incidents that may likely affect lives of vulnerable pupils in those areas as a result of the floods.
“It is also aimed at protecting valuables from avoidable destruction.
“All Head Teachers and Principals are to enforce this directive and, in particular, ensure that all perishable educational materials are evacuated while government works out remedial logistics, believing that the floods would recede within the period of the three weeks holiday,” Ojogo said. (NAN)
October 12, 2019
ECWA to review educational curriculum to make more impact on science, technology
By Our Reporter
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) says it will review the curriculum of its educational institutions across the country to make more impact in the world of science and technology.
The decision is contained in a communique issued at the end of a Summit on Education for National Transformation in Jos.
The document was signed by Rev. Prof. Cephas Tushima, ECWA Education Director, and Mr George Koce, Communique Drafting Chairman, and made available to News Agency if Nigeria on Saturday.
It said that the new curriculum was geared toward addressing future challenges.
It also said that the curriculum would enhance inculcation of critical thinking in both teachers and students.
“There is need to create workable database for effective records keeping in ECWA schools.
“There is a need to evaluate the quality of programmes, contents, teachers and administrators with the aim of having fewer and well funded institutions.
“There is need to make a deliberate plan and constant supervision of the activities and performances of the schools to ensure effectiveness,” the communique said.
It added that Christian education should promote entrepreneurship education that made students self-reliant and productive for national development. (NAN)
October 12, 2019
Super Eagles respect but don’t fear Brazil, Ekong says
By Our Reporter
Super Eagles’ stand–in captain William Troos-Ekong says while they respect five–times world champions Brazil they however have no fear as both teams step out in a friendly in Singapore.
Ekong made the remarks on Saturday at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Brazil at the Singapore National Stadium in Kallang.
He said his team was inspired by the 1-1 draw fellow West African neighbors Senegal played with the South Americans.
Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Senegal on Thursday in Singapore.
“Brazil are a top team, probably the best team in the world, but Senegal gave them a good fight on Thursday.
“We can pick some inspiration from that performance when we play the Brazilians on Sunday.
“It will be tough because they will want to win at least one game against an African team on this tour, but we will also want to take something off them,” he said.
NAN also reports that Sunday’s encounter starts at 8 p.m. Singapore time (1p.m. Nigeria time).(NAN)
October 12, 2019