Doctor Charged with Theft

A 53 year old doctor was arrested on Friday for stealing medical equipment worth more than N1.6 million.

Tom Ohikere of Green House Estate in Kubwa, Abuja was arrested after Mrs Mary Enang reported the case to police at Wuse Zone 3 Police Station, stating that Mr Ohikere and six others, who remain at large, stole her husband’s medical equipment, which include a Rife Medic and a Physiospect valued at N1.6 million. 

The Physiospect was recovered from the house of the accused, who is facing a two-count charge of joint act and theft. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Christopher Oba set his bail at N2 million.

NUJ Advocates for Special Fund for FCT

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT chapter, has called on the National Assembly to give special consideration to funds budgeted for the FCT, so that area councils can pursue infrastructural development.   

The chairman of the FCT NUJ, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, made the call in Bwari when he led members of the union to Bwari Area Council in continuation of the assessment tour of projects executed by the FCTA. He said part of the reasons most council bosses were not performing in terms of project implementation was due to paucity of funds.  

“We know that one percent of the budget that has to come to the FCT has been withdrawn,” Comrade Ehirim said. “The people need dividends of democracy and we are here to urge you to provide the dividends of democracy.”

He therefore called on the National Assembly to increase the revenue of the FCT so that the local government areas will get more and do more for people at the grassroots.

Police Arrest 51 Suspects, Recover 42 Stolen Cars

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command said it arrested 51 suspected armed robbers and recovered 42 stolen vehicles between September and October 2013.

 

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Hyelhira Altine Daniel, told newsmen in Abuja recently while confirming the recovery of a stolen Honda vehicle and the confiscation of bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp by the officers of the Zuba police division.

 

She explained that the command recovered 17 vehicles and 15 armed robbers were arrested in September while in October 13 vehicles were recovered and 21 armed robbers arrested. She added that in November 12 vehicles were recovered with 15 armed robbers arrested. 

 

The PPRO advised residents to always alert the police on any suspicions of activities in order help the police curb crimes in the territory, especially during the festive season.

Abuja-only Grocery Delivery Website Launched

A grocery delivery website for Abuja residents, which enables customers to place their shopping lists online and have it delivered to them recently launched.

Order Me Shopping’s website www.ordermeshopping.com is the first of its kind in the city and boasts more than 1,000 food and household items online for immediate purchase and delivery to the home or office of shoppers based in Apo, Asokoro, Garki , Jabi, Maitama, Wuse, and Utako.

Payments can be made online or on delivery, and customers can shop anytime from the comfort of their homes, compare products and prices and have items delivered directly to their door at a convenient time.

OrderMeShopping’s ‘Shop by History’ feature further saves time by enabling shoppers to buy based on previous purchases, with order tracking also available.

The site hopes to expand its delivery areas soon.

Rotary Club appeals for more to be done for the Disabled

The Rotary Club's Asokoro Chapter has called on the Federal Government to formulate a policy that will enable physically challenged persons to become economically independent.

The Vice President of the chapter, Mr. Kanayo Chukwumezie, made the call at a gathering of the Rotary Family in Abuja recently. He spoke on the need for physically challenged persons to carried along in the formation of policies and given a sense of belonging.

“Some of the physically challenged already have vocations,” he said, “all they need is a little encouragement and support from the Federal Government, wealthy individuals and organisations to boost their trades.’’

The vice president however advised physically challenged persons against begging, and urged them to take up various trades to enable them earn a better living.

The club donated wheelchairs and other gift items to some of the physically challenged persons present at the occasion.

Senate Bans Same Sex Marriage

The Senate in Abuja yesterday unanimously passed a Conference Committee Report banned same sex marriage in Nigeria.

The Bill provides that only marriage contracted between a man and a woman, either under Islamic Law, Customary Law or the Marriage Act is recognised as valid in Nigeria, adding that marriage or civil union between persons of the same sex will not be solemnized in any place of worship in Nigeria.

It further stated that a marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country will be void in Nigeria and the parties involved are liable on conviction to 14 years imprisonment each.

Similarly, any persons or group of persons that administers, witnesses, screens, and aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration, operation of gay clubs, societies and organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and liable on conviction to 10 years imprisonment.

Senate President, David Mark called on President Goodluck Jonathan to speedily sign the bill into law. “We believe in this Bill” he said. “The earlier we sign it into law, the better. We (Nigeria) have many shortcomings, we don’t want to add this one to it.”

54 per cent of Nigerian youth are unemployed

More than half of all Nigeria’s youth were unemployed in 2012, according to The National Bureau of Statistics.

A report released in Abuja yesterday revealed that 54 per cent of young people were out of work, with 52 per cent of women and 48 per cent of men.

Out of 46,836 young people surveyed in relation to crimes, 42,071, representing 75 per cent were male and 24 per cent female.

“Among the 32 different crimes committed, Marijuana (Indian hemp) smoking has the highest figure, representing 15 per cent. This was followed by theft and murder with 8.1 and 7.4 per cent, respectively.’’

The report showed that more than five million young people were involved in conflict resolution at one level of governance or the other.“But the response of the youths shows that most of them are involved in conflict prevention at the community level representing 65 per cent, while 31 per cent are involved at the ward level. In sports, 83 per cent of young men played football with 16 per cent of females. A higher proportion of females, 81 per cent, are involved in volleyball compared with 19 per cent of men.”

Senate dismisses APC’s Call to Impeach the President

The senate has dismissed calls by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged gross misconduct as rubbish.

The Chairman of the Senate’s Media and Public Affairs committee Enyinnaya Abaribe told newsmen in Abuja yesterday, "The Senate's direction to this call is that it is utter rubbish deserving no other comment."

The opposition party APC had appealed to the National Assembly to save Nigeria from imminent collapse by immediately starting impeachment proceedings .

The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had stated that such an act would protect the nation’s democracy.

“Our country is drifting dangerously and our people are divided now, perhaps more than at any other point in our history, with the exception of the civil war period. There is a total failure of leadership, even as insecurity, unprecedented corruption, palpable impunity, massive unemployment and hunger stalk the land.

“Therefore, the time has come for the head of that government, on whose desk the buck stops, to be removed through the provisions stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the patriotic thing to do,’’ he said.

FG to Complete Gurara Dam by 2014

The Federal Government has said it is committed to completing the N54.3 billion Gurara Dam project by December, 2014.

 

The Director of the Gurara Water Management Authority, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Engr. I. Babbaji made this known in during an inspection of the project recently. He said the that the project could not be delivered on schedule due to a review that was carried out on it following additional components that were added to it over the years, among which are a hydro-power plant and pilot irrigation project.

"The Multipurpose Gurara project” the director said, “will satisfy the FCT water demand, produce electricity for Kaduna city, allow development of modern irrigation areas for intensive agriculture in the Gurara valley and will boost the tourism potential of the surrounding communities.”

Fire Razes Kuje Market

Property worth over N50 million was destroyed on Sunday in a fire outbreak at the Kuje main market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Shaban Ishaku Tete, made this known to newsmen as they walked around the market. He expressed sadness over the incidence, adding however, that no life was lost in the inferno.

The chairman appealed to the affected traders to remain calm as the council was working with the FCT administration to work out their compensation. He stated further that plans were ongoing to decongest the market to forestall a recurrence of such incidences.

Meanwhile, Inspector Ubong Attah of the Kuje Fire Service Division attributed the fire to an electric spark in one of the shops. He cautioned traders to switch off the electricity before locking up their shops.

 

Stop Insulting the President – Labaran Maku

The Minister of Information Labaran Maku has warned journalists to stop making insulting comments against President Goodluck Jonathan.

 

Speaking at the Nigerian Pilot and Newsworld’s award ceremony in Abuja yesterday, Maku noted that the high levels of criticism in the media is been fuelled by members of the opposition parties in light of the forthcoming 2015 presidential election.

 

"If you look through our media reports, we see insults and abuses every day,” he said. “If somebody did not abuse Mr. President, it will look as if there is no journalism on that day. We are talking about our country, about setting standards for this democracy.”

 

He said that the president had “developed a thick skin against such criticisms" and advised politicians to be careful with their choice of words and actions, which he warned could destabilise the nation’s democracy.

 

“We should not go personal, but we are going too personal. We have completely ignored issues on ground and we are embarking on personality debates," he added.

 

He said that as a journalist himself, the way the media sensationalises issues and creates drama is not only annoying but wrong. He urged the media to remain impartial in their news reports and refrain from insults in order not to confuse people.

 "I think the liberty which we are now taking for granted should not be so. The liberty you are enjoying today is because you have a president that believes in the rule of law," he noted.

15, 316 Nigerians in Prisons abroad

There are currently 15,316 Nigerians imprisoned abroad, with the largest number, 752, languishing in UK jails.

This was according to Abdulazeez Dankano, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Director of Consular and Immigration Services, who was speaking yesterday in Abuja.

The figure is 6, 000 more than the official statistics published by the ministry in June this year, but Dankano said that the number is still an estimate because some countries do not reveal their prison information.

“Sometimes our missions go through serious challenges to get the information,’’ Mr. Dankano said.

He further revealed that many of the Nigerian prisoners in Asia had been convicted of drug-trafficking, and said that Nigeria and Thailand were currently implementing a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA), which enables the prisoner to return home to finish his sentence. The scheme has seen the repatriation of 400 Nigerian prisoners since 2008.

The UK, Hong Kong and India have also concluded bilateral PTA talks but are yet to sign agreements.

“The three agreements are ready and at a convenient time for the countries, they will be signed’’ he said, adding that the agreement with India, which has 665 Nigerians in its prisons, was finalised last month. Nigeria has an existing PTA with the UK under the Commonwealth scheme, but it had only facilitated the repatriation of one prisoner.

300 Nigerians in UK prisons are qualified for repatriation, but each prisoner has to consent to being sent home so as not to violate their human rights, and both the foreign country and Nigeria also have to agree. In Hong Kong, 22 Nigerian prisoners are willing to return home to complete their sentence and negotiations are underway to bring them back.

Dankano said that the repatriation of prisoners was usually a hard bargain for the country as most airlines are cautious of transporting them.

“The Nigerian government does not pay for any prisoner to be transported home. We can only facilitate their return and when they come, government will shoulder the responsibility of maintaining them until they end their term’’ he said.

66, 000 Sign up for FCT Health Service Scheme

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Service Scheme has revealed that about 66,000 people have enrolled in its programme since its inception in 2006.

The manager of the scheme, Dr. Evans Onyekele, made the disclosure at an interactive session with desk officers of private health institutions in Abuja. He said the number of registrants was encouraging, considering the challenge the scheme initially faced.

“At the beginning of the scheme,” Dr Onyekele said, “there was some level of apathy in registration as staff were not sure of the success of the programme. Today, the story has changed as massive registration of staff and their dependants is the case due to high level awareness campaigns.”

But he admitted that there were more challenges to be surmounted in order to reposition the scheme to meet its set objectives.

Court Clears El Rufai of Illegal Land Grab

An Abuja High Court on Friday cleared Nasir El-Rufai, the former Federal Capital Territory minister, of eight counts of abuse of power and other criminal charges.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed against him in relation to his time as minister in 2003-2007, when he was alleged to have illegally allocated plots of land to his wives, relatives and friends.  

El-Rufai was also alleged to have revoked a plot of land from its previous owner, Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc, and given it to his wife, Hadiza Ahmed El-Rufai and has been on trial since 2008, but was acquitted of all the charges by Justice Sadiq Abubakar Umar.   

The ex-Minister’s spokesman Muyiwa Adekeye, speaking after the ruling said: "It is a vindication he never doubted will come, confident in his innocence and the integrity with which he served this country. Despite the magnitude of the pain he has endured, El Rufai has decided to put all this in the past. He intends to move on, stepping confidently into the future with forgiveness and goodwill, devoid of the cobwebs of grudge."

The EFCC yesterday said it will appeal the court ruling.

Former PHCN Staff Yet to Know Fate

Staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are yet to know their fate with the new owners, as they are yet to receive their severance letters to officially terminate their contracts with the company.

The Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Dr. Sam Amadi, made this known at the second general meeting of industry operators held in Abuja recently. He said as a consequence, these workers who have not yet been legitimately been engaged by the new owners have been forced to linger on in this uncertainty.

Unresolved staffing issues, he said, remain an impediment to the operations of recently privatized electricity generation and distribution companies.

Dr. Amadi, however assured operators that the commission will meet with the Bureau of Public Enterprises to provide necessary interventions for speedy resolution of the legacy staffing issues,
among others.

Court Cannot Sack Defecting Governors – Eze Chukwuemeka

The suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to sack the G5 Governors for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was dismissed as an exercise in futility.

In a statement released in Abuja yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the (now defunct) New PDP, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze stated that the Constitution and previous court cases proved that the five governors: Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State,  Murtala Nyako of Adamawa,  Kwara State’s Abdulfatai Ahmed, Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano cannot be punished for their defectation, because it resulted from a division or split in their party.

“The suit is laughable and betrays the ignorance of the PDP leadership about the laws of the land,” he said. “G5 Governors must be commended and congratulated for standing against the draconian and undemocratic acts of PDP and should go about their normal business as both PDP and its sponsors lack the power to sack any of them. This also covers all members of the National Assembly who desire to join the Aso Rock-bound train (APC) come 2015.”

Eze, who is also the media aide to the Rivers APC Chairman said that the crisis within the PDP meant that none of its members who leave can be penalized, and accused PDP of mischief for instigating the Houses of Assembly in the affected states to start impeachment proceedings against their Governors, as seen in Rivers State where legislators are currently trying to impeach Governor Amaechi.

He warned PDP to desist from any further act of destabilization, and revealed that seven more PDP Governors will be making the move to APC in 2014. The new PDP and APC merged last month.

N40 billion for NASS Renovation

FCT Minister Sen. Bala Muhammed, told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that the renovation of two chambers of the National Assembly will take over three years to complete.

"We are going to close down the two chambers of the National Assembly for a period of 12 months, and we are lucky we have already provided large committee rooms that will be used during the period for the parliament to continue its work."

The minister said a library, budget office, printing press, clinic, restaurants, banquet hall, places of worship and an auditorium will be built as part of Phase three of the building project, and eventually television/radio/press facilities, fitness room, administrative offices, technical rooms, and meeting rooms would be made available and two chambers renovated.

First Lady Joins CAN to Light Christmas Tree

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, joined the rest of the Christian community in Abuja recently to light the 2013 Christmas tree.

The event, which took place at the Unity Fountain, featured Christmas Carol renditions from the Professor Igwe Laz Ekwueme Choral Orchestra and the Nigerian Police Band, cutting of cake, and the lighting of the Christmas tree by the First Lady, supported by other eminent personalities.

Also in attendance were the Minister of State, FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, the Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja Diocese, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the FCT Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and clergymen from different denominations in the Federal Capital Territory.

Mrs. Akinjide said the event was aimed at lightening up Unity, Peace and Progress in the Christian community and in Nigeria as a whole.

NNPC Staff Protest Planned Sale of Refineries

Staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday in Abuja, protested against the planned sale of the nation’s refineries.

The workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and Nigeria Labour Congress, gathered within the premises of NNPC at about 8:30 am.

They were led by the NNPC Group PENGASSAN chairman, Mr. Sanusi Abdulkareem; and NUPENG Group chairman, Mr. Richard Otovwievwiere. Mr. Otovwievwiere said the protest was symbolic because the workers had reviewed the intention of government officials and faulted the decision to privatise Nigerian refineries.

The General Manager, Media Relations Department, NNPC, Dr. Omar Ibrahim, said the corporation was aware of the protest but had nothing to say about it.

Kenya Wants More Tourists from Nigeria

Kenya wants to attract 50,000 tourists from Nigeria next year, compared with the 15,029 that visited the country in 2012.

Kenya Airways will also begin flying direct from Abuja to Kenya in order to increase access for Nigerians to the East African country, according to Fatima Bashir of Kenya’s Tourism Board who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.  This is in addition to direct flights from Lagos to Kenya.

Bashir added that Kenyan tourism contributed 11 per cent GDP to the country, and assured visitors of their safety despite the Westgate Mall terrorists attack in Nairobi in September.

"We have the tourism police unit, which is present in all major cities and in the parks to ensure the safety of the visitor and the Kenyan. Further to this, in every tourist vehicle, we have a 24-7 call center that allows them to be in touch with a Nairobi police unit continuously, should anything happen," she said.

Bashir commended the upcoming launch of a single visa to visit five East African countries – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to promote tourism in the region, and the expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to handle an extra 2.5 million passengers in addition to the current 6.5 million would further boost tourism in Kenya.

HIV rates drop in FCT

The rate of HIV cases has dropped to an all time low of 1.14 per cent in Abuja, which was once one of 13 high risk states in the country.

The Institute for Human Virology (IHVN) tested 16,730 people in the capital’s six council areas last week in a four-day mass testing exercise to mark World AIDS, and only 190 tested positive. This places the capital below the national average in terms of HIV rates for the first time in many years.

Experts at IHVN, which is funded by the Global Fund, are cautiously optimistic about the decline and await further analysis of field data of more than 500, 000 tested nationwide before making a final judgment.

Dr Eno Usoroh, IHVN's Programme Coordinator said "We need to be careful before we draw a conclusion, but it is heartening that we are testing people and many of them are coming out negative.”

Parents and toddlers were amongst those tested across the FCT, with a huge turnout recorded in outskirts communities like Kabusa, Pyakasa and Kuchigoro which attests to a growing awareness about the virus.

Field workers said that some of the 190 people who tested positive already knew their status but wanted to reconfirm following prayers for healing.

Nurses in FCT Begin Warning Strike

Nurses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have begun a three- day warning strike over the non-release of the 2012 promotion list and stoppage of October salaries of some nurses who were not captured during the biometric data verification in FCTA Hospitals, among other grievances.

This was revealed in a statement by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FCT Council.

"After exhaustive deliberations,” the statement said, “the house resolved that since the extension of the 21-day ultimatum elapsed on November 28 2013 and issues raised have not been met, notice of a three day warning strike is hereby given which shall commence by midnight of Tuesday December 10, 2013.”

It added that if nothing was done on the issues raised after the warning strike, the members will commence an indefinite strike as from Monday December 16, 2013 without further notice, until their demands are fully met.

Reacting to the story, the Head of the Public Relations Unit of the FCT’s Health and Human Services Secretariat, Mr. Badaru Yakassai, said that the matter was being settled amicably.

NASS to close for 12 months for renovations

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will close the two chambers of the National Assembly for a year to enable the authorities to renovate the complex.

Briefing State House correspondents after the National Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku was joined by FCT Minister Sen. Bala Mohammed and said that the council approved the project based on a memo presented by the FCT minister.

The project, which will cost N40 billion, includes the upgrade of the two chambers of the National Assembly complex and the construction of the third phase of the complex.

During the period of closure, legislators are expected to use existing committee halls for their deliberations, which the FCT minister assured were large enough to accommodate the lawmakers.

Loyola Jesuit College Marks 8 Years since Sosoliso Crash

The faculty, parents and students of Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja came together to remember 60 of their students who died in the Sosoliso plane crash eight years ago.

Flight 1145 from Abuja to Port Harcourt crash landed at Port Harcourt International Airport on December 10 2005, bursting into flames and killing all but two of the 103 passengers and seven crew members on board. One of survivors was LJC student Kechi Okwuch.

A memorial mass and candle light procession was held at Loyola College in Karu on Wednesday night to remember the ’60 Angles’ who included three siblings, one of whom was the Head Boy at the time.

Mrs Ochuko Momoh, the Chair of the Abuja branch of the LJC Parents Teachers’ Association spoke before the memorial saying “We will never forget our children who left us in the most heart-breaking manner. Having 60 promising lives, 10 per cent of our entire student population, cut short in one swoop was too much for any school to bear.”

Popular Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of Fountain of Life church also died in the plane crash.

Senate Reverses 7 Year Jail Term for Social Media Critics

The Senate on Tuesday deleted section 13 (3) of a proposed bill which stipulates a punishment of seven years in prison for those who publish slanderous messages about the government online.

Senator Gbenga Kaka (APC-Ogun) announced the decision after consulting with stakeholders, citing the uproar on social media  and possible abuse and misinterpretation as reasons for deleting the bill.

The bill had stated that: “Anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic messages shall be guilty of an offence. And upon conviction shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or N5 million fine.”

Senator Kaka, speaking at the press conference, said the reaction to the bill by those on social media led to its removal.

"Following the public hearing which was held after the second reading, the section 13 (3) of the provision was taken exception to by the social media. After consultations, we resolved that section 13 (3) of the proposed bill could be abused, and as a result, I can announce to the world that that section shall be deleted."

Sen. Kaka expressed gratitude for all the online contributions made both locally and internationally, saying that they further enriched the bill, and he called for more suggestions and debates concerning the issue.

He added that the bill was not aimed at gagging the media but targeted against online abuse and internet scammers.

ASUU Strike: FG Withdraws Ultimatum

The Federal Government has said it was withdrawing the ultimatum given to striking university lecturers to resume or be sacked.

Addressing Journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said the decision was taken following appeals from well-meaning Nigerians and substantial compliance with government’s directive by some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Dr. Okupe noted that the federal government was interested in how to resolve the six month old crisis in a peaceful manner for the overall interest of all concerned.

“Right now,” he said, “the issue of ultimatum is not a matter for discussion anymore.”

He further noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria has confirmed that a sum of two hundred billion Naira agreed with ASUU at a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the 5th of November 2013 has been fully paid into the Revitalization of Universities Infrastructure Account.

Amirul Hajj, Gen. A. B. Mamman

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Amirul Hajj, Gen. A. B. Mamman, has said that corruption was gradually creeping into Hajj operation in the territory.

Gen. Mamman made the statement while presenting the report of the 2013 Hajj operation to the FCT Minister of State, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide. He condemned the monopoly of the exercise by FCT officials, the absence of officials at Medina, the wide communications gap, as well as an imbalance in the ratio of nurses, doctors and pharmacists engaged to take care of the health of the pilgrims.

But he noted that the 2013 pilgrimage was generally good, and recommended that political consideration be down-played, while competence be made a priority during appointment of officials for FCT’s Hajj.

In her response, the minister assured that the issues raised will be promptly addressed.

Super Eagles Begin Training for CHAN

Nigeria’s National football team began training in Abuja on Tuesday for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Super Eagles’ assistant coach Daniel Amokachi took charge of the session in which 30 players were in attendance, in the absence of coach Stephen Keshi who will return from his trip to witness the World Cup draw in Brazil tomorrow.

Three of the players included in the CHAN team are from the victorious U17 team: Dele Alampasu, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

“We are very impressed with the response of the players to camp,” said the team’s coordinator Emmanuel Atta. “The fitness level of the boys is very encouraging but we are not surprised because a lot of the premier league clubs are presently on pre-season and that has helped the players remain in good shape.”

Amokachi told the players that only the best will be selected for the tournament, which begins on January 11 in South Africa with Nigeria playing their opening match against Mali.

FCT Minister Promises to Pay Workers’ Arrears

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, has pledged to resolve issues leading to the non-payment of salaries of the staff of the FCT administration.

The minister made the promise in Abuja yesterday while addressing aggrieved FCTA workers who had embarked on a protest demanding the sack of the minister over the late October salary and delay in workers’ promotions.

The minister explained that the FCTA, which had over 28,000 personnel, pays about N3.6 billion monthly as workers’ salaries. The staff strength and huge wage bill, he said, prompted the decision of his administration to start a biometric exercise in order to identify ghost workers.

“The FCTA wants to ensure that every dime spent is well spent with commensurate value,” he said.

250 Uni Abuja Lecturers Resume

Following the directive of the federal government that all the public universities re-open on December 9, about 250 lecturers of the University of Abuja have resumed work and academic activities have commenced in earnest at the institution.

Dr Peter Maidoki, the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of the university told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UniAbuja chapter, were responding positively to the Federal Government’s directive. He said that a register was opened at both the mini-campus and the permanent site of the university, for returning lecturers to sign.

“I just signed and have finished attending to a class,” he said, “my colleague has just taken over from me.”

He added that some of the lecturers who had resumed work were eager to teach, but that there were no students in some departments to take lectures.

Coaches Search for Talent at National Youth Games

Coaches scouting for raw, undiscovered talent have been dispatched across all the competition venues of the National Youth Games, which kicked off at the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

Over 4, 000 under-17 competitors from all across Nigeria gathered at the capital for the first edition of the youth games organised by the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) sent 10 of their top coaches to locate the exceptional athletes in attendance.

The Chairman of AFN’s Technical Committee, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, spoke about the mandate for the scouting committee, which is headed by hurdling champion and former Delta State Director of Sports Seigha Porbeni.

Coach Femi Emmanuel will scout for quality sprinters and Coach Dan Etsebiminor, who discovered U.S-based Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare will scout for the next sprint champion. Talented long and middle distance runners, long jumpers and hurdlers were also been sougth.

Lamorde: EFCC Made 1,000 Convictions in 10 Years

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recorded 1,000 convictions since its formation 10 years ago.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, represented by Mr Chile Okosoma, revealed at this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday in Abuja that the Commission had been relentless in their fight against corruption in both ordinary and high-profile cases.

“In 10 years of existence, EFCC has recorded over a thousand convictions, and over 90 convictions this year. This is quite
heartwarming, giving the constraints that permeate the entire judicial process where cases drag endlessly,” he said.

In its presentation, the associated Code of Conduct Bureau’s acting Chairman, Barrister Yakubu Tuktur said that the bureau received 96 petitions for breaches of the code of conduct by public servants in the last one year, of which 24 were still under investigation, seven were under legal review, 10 had been referred to other agencies and 15 had been closed.

Represented by the bureau’s secretary, Mr Sani Bako, Tuktur said that CCB had verified almost everybody in their highest ‘risk groups,’ which are the offices were breaches were most likely and included governors, their deputies, ministers and commissioners in the country. Procurement and accounting officers were also included in the risk group.

“Our mandate covered from level one up to the President, but because of paucity of funds we are not able to attend to everybody. The department prosecuted 303 cases at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, obtained four convictions, six cases were discharged and acquitted while 293 cases are currently adjourned,” he said.

“We were able to visit 130 agencies and 21 federal ministries for compliance training programmes during the period under review. We were also able to train 185,234 officers on sensitisation.”