CAN 2013: Ghana anticipates difficult Quarter-Final clash
Ghana’s coach Kwesi Appiah has said that he anticipates a `difficult’ quarter final clash against Cape Verde on Saturday at the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa.
Minna Orphanage Produces 2 Undergraduates
The Officer- in-Charge of Minna Orphanage, Hajiya Ladidi Mohammed, on Wednesday said the home had produced two undergraduates in two institutions of higher learning.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that, the orphans were currently studying in the state's College of Administrative and Business Studies, Bida and College of Education, Minna.
She said that the students, Haruna Abdullahi, 30 and Useni Abdullahi, 28, who were in their second and first year respectively, were being sponsored by the Niger Government.
Mohammed said the home catered for a total of 21 orphans including the two students.
According to her, 15 of them are males while six are females.
She said that the orphans were mainly from broken homes, mentally-deranged women or lunatics, adding that the mode of adoption was based on legal procedure.
``We do not give orphans to single parents and that those we give to must be Nigerians,’’ she said.
Minister Urges Political Understanding Among Tiers Of Government
Information Minister Labaran Maku on Wednesday urged the three tiers of government to align their political differences and work for the progress of the country.Maku made the call in Abakaliki during the good governance tour of the state.
``There is need for a synergy between the three tiers government to work toward the progress of the nation's democracy,” he said.
Maku, who is leading the team, said the tour was all about the people and not the government, noting that development and progress was not about age but leadership.
``Progress is not about age but leadership issue and proper management of available resources.
``The good governance tour of states is a constructive engagement where progress, problems and prospects of the tiers in a particular state are x-rayed,” he explained.
The minister said the tour was also designed to address the challenges of the country's democracy in the past 14 years.
``Our culture of democracy is still problematic. We often criticise and condemn what is on ground.
``This tour will expose the silent transformations going on in various states of the federation and at the same time prove critics right or wrong in their assessments,” he said.
The minister advised politicians to see themselves as arrow heads projected by God to lead.
He added that the team's findings at each state would be beamed to the rest of the world via the social and conventional media.
Responding, Gov. Martin Elechi described the tour as healthy for the country and its democracy.
``The tour will help Nigeria to advance in all facets of the economy as the team should be able to tell the world the truth about each state’s development strides,” he said.
Elechi said the state government was anchored on three policies of civil service reform, attitudinal change and infrastructure development.
He said the success and advancement of any society depended on the three areas.
The News of Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team later inspected some federal and state projects in the state.
The projects included the dualisation of a portion of the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway, the new central bank building, the new secretariat at Ochudo City and the international market.
Man, 26, Remanded For Murder
A 26-year-old, Seun Bankole, was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court for murder. The Prosecutor, Insp. Adewale Amos, told the court that the defendant unlawfully caused the death of one ...
Joblessness: Mimiko Canvasses Vocational Education
Ondo Gov. Olusegun Mimiko on Wednesday advocated for more emphasis on vocational education to address the alarming rate of unemployment in the country. Mimiko identified skill acquisition as a major panacea for curbing joblessness and youth restiveness...
Stop Dumping Refuse In Asa River, Kwara Warns Residents
The Kwara Government has warned people living on Unity road and Amilegbe area of Ilorin against dumping refuse inside Asa River. Mr Tunji Morounfoye, the Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, gave the warning in a statement...
World Bank Develops Assessemnt Standards For States On Water Provision
The World Bank on Wednesday said it had developed standard indicators for assessing states in the provision water.
Mr Hassan Kida, the Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist of the bank, said the indicators were developed to assess states that showed interest in water utility reforms.
Kida disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
"We have developed a standard indicator to assess the states.
“For each state, we have financial indicator, technical staff and institutional indicator, we even have performance indicator on the performance they will do.
"We said this is good, and it will be reviewed with time, every six months or every one year.
“These indicators, for example, may show that last year a state is producing 10 gallons of water, but their treatment plant can produce 20 gallons.
"This year how many are they producing, if they are producing 12 gallons which mean it is an improvement.
“We use this to assess them, the revenue collection was just 20 per cent of their operation maintenance,” he said.
Kida said that the indicator would also help to know how the states had improved, what made them improve and this would help to know the level of commitment towards this utility reform.
"We do this assessment and we see that there is commitment on the side of the government itself to do these things and we do all these monitoring for all the 36 states.
Jonathan Promises Equity In Federal Appointments
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Wednesday in Abuja that his administration would ensure equity and fairness in appointment to political offices and employment into the Federal Civil Service. The president gave the assurance at the swearing-in cerem...
Burkina Faso In, Zambia Out
Burkina Faso reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Tuesday as title-holders Zambia were eliminated. Burkina Faso drew 0-0 with Zambia in Nelspruit to top the Group C table on goal difference from Nigeria, whose midfielder Victor Mose...
NYSC Sports Festival Begins Feb 4
The 2013 edition of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)’s annual sports festival kicks off on monday, February 4th at the Area 10 Old Parade Ground, Abuja. The game which is being bankroll by the Fidelity Bank Nigeria Plc will feature 18 stat...
Nigeria Through To Q/Finals As Moses Saves Eagles’ Blushes
A brace of penalties late in the second half from Victor Moses saw Nigeria save their blushes and qualify for the knockout stages of the 2013 African Cup of Nations after beating Ethiopia 2-0 in their final Group C match at the Royal Bafokeng stadium i...
Rethinking Jonathan, Sambo Frosty Relationship
Recently, the media was awash with reports of a seeming disaffection between President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy, Vice President Namadi Sambo, over the latter’s purported plot to unseat his boss in the 2015 presidential poll. In this piece...
Reviewing Alleged Media Complicity In Adamawa Political Stand-off
The raging crisis in the Adamawa State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is taking its toll on several institutions. MOHAMMED ISMAIL writes that the media seems to be on trial as the people have begun to question its role in the who...
ThisDay Bomber Refuses Arraignment
The federal government yesterday charged a man, Mr. Mustapha Umar alleged to have participated in the coordinated series of bomb attacks on the building housing three media organisations in Kaduna in 2012. However, the arraignment of the suspect ...
Katsina CPC Dissolves Leadership, Dismisses NASS Member
The Katsina State chapter of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has dissolved its leadership at both wards and local government levels even as it dismissed the member representing Bakori/Danja constituency at the national assembly, Am...