Sabinews Evening News Update for October 2, 2015
Stampede: Sanusi meets Saudi authorities on probe
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, on Friday said he held a meeting with Saudi authorities on the ongoing investigation into the recent stampede in Mina, Mecca.
More than 747 Muslims, including 64 Nigerians, lost their lives and 805 others injured at a stampede on the way to Jamarat complex (stone throwing site) on September 24.
Addressing pilgrims during a visit to South-South and South-East camps in Mecca, Sanusi said Nigeria had already requested from Saudi authorities a fair and transparent investigation. Read more
50 French firms to visit Nigeria next week
A delegation of 50 heads of French companies are expected to visit Nigeria next week to explore business opportunities and establish bilateral links in the country, the French Embassy said on Friday.
A statement by the First Counsellor, Political Affairs and Communication, Embassy of France, Georges Vanin, said the business delegation was the first of its kind from France to any African country. Read more
Police uncover body of Edo varsity’s abducted lecturer
The Edo State Police Command on Friday said it has uncovered the lifeless body of a lecturer of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Professor Paul Erie, who was abducted by kidnappers, three months ago.
It also said it had arrested five persons suspected to be members of a criminal gang, one of whom “confessed to the kidnapping and murder” of the lecturer. Those arrested, according to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Stephen Onwochei, and made available to The PUNCH, were “Awulu Samson aka SASEKI, Lucky Owuadegbe, Jeremiah Amayo, Chucks Edobor and Stephen Usiagwu.” Read more
Ondo begins chocolate production April 2016 – Commissioner
The Ondo State Government on Friday said a modern chocolate factory to process premium quality cocoa beans produced in the state would begin production of chocolate bars by April 2016.
The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, made the disclosure at a news conference in Akure on Friday. Read more
No Country Employs More Than 5% of its Citizens, Say Kukah
The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah, stated Friday that no country in the world employs more than 5% of its citizens, and that not everyone must be an office holder before exercising leadership.
Kukah noted that the assertion in some quarters that one must be President or Governor or Local Government Chairman before exercising leadership is absolute nonsense and urged the youths to be problem solvers rather than being the problem. Read more
Australia seeks growth of Nigeria mining sector
The Australian High Commission in Abuja and Murdoch University, Australia, are organising a policy workshop to foster growth of Nigerian mining sector and make it contribute positively to sustainable development.
The workshop titled, ‘Making Growth Inclusive: The Role of Mining in the Post-2015 Development Agenda,’ holding on Tuesday in Abuja, will discuss policy-oriented research that explores how mining can foster inclusive growth, including through links with agriculture, water delivery, environmental protection and infrastructure. Read more
FG gets report on planned national airline
The Federal Government on Friday received the report on the establishment of a national carrier from the 13-member committee it set up in August to produce the document.
According to the government, the report contains recommendations that will guide it as it works towards establishing a national airline for the country. It added that it was put together after the committee consulted with local and international partners. Read more
Teachers shun NLC strike in Cross River
Teachers in public primary and secondary schools in Calabar on Friday shunned the strike called by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The News Agency of Nigeria investigation showed that teachers in government secondary and primary schools in State Housing Estate, Calabar, had normal academic classes. A teacher, Mrs. Ann Odey, told NAN that they did not receive any directive to proceed on strike by the leadership of the NLC. Read more
Global Fund May Cut HIV, TB Funding To Nigeria By $5m
The Global Fund may reduce funding for Nigeria’s HIV and TB grants by more than $5 million because it is having difficulty recovering outstanding amounts owing following an audit and an investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General in 2011.
Over $3 million in recoverable amounts have not been refunded despite several efforts in line with the recommendation by the Global Fund’s Recoveries Committee. Nigeria’s country coordinating mechanism has said in the past that it has difficulties recovering the funds because many of the individuals responsible for the questionable expenses are no longer in service. It has appealed to the government for help. Read more
U.S. Gunman Ordered Victims To Reveal Religion
A killer armed with “multiple guns” shot nine dead at an American college – ordering students to stand up and state their religion before firing.
The suspect, named in reports as 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer, died in an exchange of gunfire with police in Oregon.
Harper-Mercer was said to have been born in England before moving to the States as a young boy. Read more
Bayelsa Worker Commits Suicide Over Unpaid 13 Months’ Salaries
An employee of the Bayelsa State Water Board, Peter Ogiero, has allegedly committed suicide following the non-payment of his salaries for 13 months by the state government.
It was gathered that the middle-aged engineer reportedly took his life on Tuesday after he waited endlessly for the period without any action by the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration to save workers at the board from their financial predicament. Read more
45,000 Kebbi farmers lose crops to flood – AFAN
The Secretary, Kebbi chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, said on Friday that 45,000 farmers had lost crops worth N3bn to flood.
Idris, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi, said the destruction was unprecedented. He added that the association had enlightened its members prior to the flood that they should vacate the flood-prone zones. Read more
YBLN holds residential entrepreneurship training
In a bid to reduce the rate of unemployment by creating 1.2 million jobs by December 2016, Young Business Leaders of Nigeria (YBLN) is thus organizing a residential entrepreneurship training and development programme that would train twenty budding entrepreneurs with viable business ideas, selected from over three thousand business plans.
YBLN would thus be hosting these promising and aspiring budding entrepreneurs in Lagos from 3rd of October to 13th November, 2015 in Lagos. The Programme Director of YBLN, Oye Jolaoso explained that budding entrepreneurs were chosen based on their business plan, innovative ideas and the longevity of the business plan. Read more
FG Seals Up 160 Drug Shops in Akwa Ibom
The Federal Government has closed down 160 drug shops in Akwa Ibom State for dispensing poisons and engaging in other unauthorised services to members of the public.
The Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Abuja, Stephen Esumobi announced this on Friday while briefing Journalists after a one week visit of the enforcement teams of the Council to the state. Read more
Boko Haram fighters kill two Niger soldiers, wound four in ambush
Boko Haram Islamist fighters killed at least two Niger soldiers and wounded four others in an attack on a village near the Nigerian border, army officers said on Friday.
Niger, Cameroon and Chad have all suffered a spillover of violence from Boko Haram’s northern Nigerian strongholds and Niger has arrested at least 1,100 suspected Boko Haram militants this year and has placed its southern region of Diffa under a state of emergency. Read more
FG begins another verification for military pensioners
The Federal Government has concluded arrangement to organise a nationwide verification for military pensioners across the country. The exercise will be conducted by the Federal Government and the Military Pensions Board from October 6, 2015 to October 20, 2015.
The Chairman, Military Pensions’ Board, AVM Muhammad Dabo, said during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday that the exercise, designed to hold simultaneously across the country, would ensure the eradication of ghost pensioners from the payroll of the military and save funds for the government. Read more
PDP, Sylva trade words ahead of Bayelsa poll
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State chapter, and the Campaign Organisation of Timipre Sylva, on Friday attacked each other verbally over the candidacy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) flag bearer for the December 5 governorship election.
Sylva, who emerged the APC candidate, will slug it out with the sole candidate of the PDP and incumbent state Governor, Seriake Dickson. Read more
Mourinho stuck in “worst period” of his career
Jose Mourinho has described Chelsea’s stuttering start to the season as the “worst period of my career.”
The current Premier League champions are 14th after seven games where they have collected just two league victories. Read more
Netanyahu in Berlin next week for talks with Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu next Thursday for talks, as part of a regular annual meeting of the two countries’ cabinets.
The two leaders will hold bilateral talks before joining a plenary with ministers from both sides, in what would be the sixth such meeting. Read more
Leaders meet to consolidate Ukraine’s fragile peace
The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine meet in Paris on Friday to consolidate a fragile peace in Ukraine, with the conflict overshadowed by President Vladimir Putin’s dramatic intervention in the Syrian war.
Fighting has all but stopped in separatist eastern Ukraine and with peace closer than ever, leaders are seeking a lasting political solution to the 17-month conflict that has left more than 8,000 people dead. Read more
Afghan security forces try to flush out Taliban in Kunduz
Afghan security forces were going from house to house hunting for remaining Taliban insurgents in Kunduz Friday, days after the militants captured the city in a stunning strike, sparking fierce fighting.
Officials said they were in control of the northern provincial capital while in the east of the country, a US military transport plane crashed killing 11 people including six US soldiers. Read more
Merkel tops speculation on scooping Nobel Peace Prize
Speculation mounted Friday that Angela Merkel could scoop this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership during Europe’s migrant crisis after she was being tipped by one of Germany’s leading newspapers and experts in Norway.
Ahead of the Nobel prize season beginning on Monday, Germany’s influential Bild newspaper said Merkel, 61, had “a good chance” of winning, in part over her open-door policy on refugees fleeing war and persecution. Read more
