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508 Christian Pilgrims Return In Plateau – Official

Mr Ibrahim Kafi, Executive Secretary of the Plateau Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board, said on Wednesday that the 508 pilgrims who performed pilgrimage in Israel had returned home.

Kafi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the pilgrims, who left the state for Israel in December 2012, returned on Jan. 3 without any case of defection. He said the board made travel arrangements for 508 out of the 1,100 pilgrims sponsored by both the state and local governments.

Kafi attributed the low number to logistic problems occasioned by prolonged strike by local government workers in Plateau. He said the state and 17 councils sponsored the 1,100 applicants, adding that the 600 others would make the trip this year. “What we are waiting for now is for the team from Abuja to come and screen them,'' Kafi said. (NAN)

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Kebbi Hajj Committee Seeks Ban On Aged Pilgrims

Leader of Kebbi Pilgrims during the 2012 Hajj, Alhaji Garba Dandiga has called for strict restrictions on aged persons travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. Dandiga made the suggestion while presenting the report of the exercise to Gov. Saidu Dakingari on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.

He advised that such intending pilgrims must also be made to undergo fitness test, and those who passed be accompanied by relatives who would shoulder their burden. Dandiga also advised the state government against recruiting untrained people as guides, saying some of them were caught stealing the Basic Travelling Allowances of pilgrims.

``We recommend that henceforth elderly people without guides be screened to determine their fitness, while local government guides be also screened and trained by the Pilgrims Welfare Agency to avoid encountering problems."

He appreciated the conduct of the pilgrims, which he said had earned the state a commendation letter by the Saudi Arabian Government. Responding, Gov. Dakingari commended the committee for the report, which he said was timely, and pledged to implement the recommendations.

``My administration would ensure that problems encountered bythe pilgrims were resolved, and I call on this year's intending pilgrims to sustain the exemplary conduct exhibited by the 2012 pilgrims.'' (NAN)

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1,000 People Living With HIV And AIDS Access Services In Gwagwalada, FCT – Coordinator

More than 1,000 people living with the HIV and AIDS now access services at the Gwgwalada Town Clinic, Mr Mohammed Labaran, the Coordinator of the centre said on Wednesday. Labaran told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that such services includ...

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PDP Dissociates Itself From Ongoing Adamawa State Congress

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from the ongoing Adamawa State congress.

 Chief Sam Sam Jaja, Deputy National Chairman of the party, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the NWC at its emergency meeting also rescinded the dissolution of Adamawa State Executive of the party.

He said the NWC had earlier dissolved the Adamawa State Executive under article 29 (2b) on behalf of the party`s National Executive Committee (NEC) based on Article 31 (2c).

``it is instructive to know that the Ward and local government executive in the state were never dissolved.''

He said the NWC had at its 314th meeting on Aug. 29, 2012, upheld the March 2012 Ward and local government executive except for one local government, which was later ratified.

He said that it was surprising and embarrassing to read in the media of a purported ongoing ward, local government and state congress in the state.

``For the records, the NWC hereby disassociate the party leadership from the purported congresses, which were neither authorised nor monitored or supervised by the National Secretariat,’’ Jaja said.

 He further said that it was only the party`s National Secretariat that had the authority to conducts state congresses.

``Based on the above, the NWC hereby declare the purported congresses null, void and of know significance whatsoever.

``Consequently, we hereby declare that the only state executive committee constitutionally recognised by this party is the Kangama executive lawfully elected in March 2012 and endorsed by the national convention,’’ Jaja further said.

The News Agency of the Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the PDP NWC had in October 2012 dissolved the Adamawa State executive committee of the party.

A nine-member caretaker committee was sworn-in in its place.

 The committee was to run the affairs of the chapter for three months, pending further directives from the party`s national leadership.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, the dissolved exco had "flagrantly disregarded and shown serial disobedience to the decisions of the NWC".

 Metuh said the decision was in accordance with Article 31, section 2(e) and 29, 2(b) of the 2012 amended constitution of the PDP.

He further said that the action of the dissolved exco was contrary to the provisions of Section 50(1) of the party`s constitution.

Meanwhile, The emergency meeting was attended by 10 of the 12 NWC members.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the party`s National Chairman and Dr Onwe Soloman, Deputy National Secretary of the party, were however, not at the meeting.

 Tukur was said to be at the Villa coordinating the Board of Trustee (BOT) election.

 

 

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UN Chief Tasks FG On Economy

Prof. Banji Oyelaran - Oyeyinka, the Director, Monitoring and Research Division, United Nations – Habitat,  has urged the Federal Government to pursue a development agenda that is manufacturing - based rather than an oil – dependent.

Oyelaran - Oyeyinka made the call on Tuesday in Ibadan  at a seminar organised by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

He said  the actions and behaviour of Nigeria's political elites over the last 50 years had been opposed to economic development.

"More direct, the state in Nigeria has been a major force behind Nigeria's arrested development because the political elites have acted in a manner to oppose all efforts at industrialisation.

 "This is the main reason why Nigeria is at the bottom of rung in the development table of most latecomer countries to industrialisation," he said.

Oyelaran - Oyeyinka said further that the new development agenda should ultimately result in the establishment of new set of institutions and the reduction of poverty level to 20 per cent by 2020.

He advocated  narrowing the persistent high levels of inequality in the Nigerian society, saying this was the source of persistent crime and conflict.

The don  noted that the state, working with critical non - state actors,  had a central role to play in leading  development.

Oyelaran - Oyeyinka said that rather than aim to rank among the top 20 richest countries, Nigeria  should aim for a transformational agenda by facing squarely the development agenda deficit in different indices.

He also  said there was an urgent need to  boost  power supply in order to stimulate and achieve greater industrial dynamism.

Oyelaran - Oyeyinka said the country should improve on security in order to create an enabling environment for inclusive private sector development that could generate jobs and boost the economy.

He advised government to reduce cost of  governance  and focus more on effective delivery of public services.

His paper was entitled  "The Praxis and Perils of the Nigerian Oil Economy.’’

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Police Arraign 2 Bureau De Change Boys For Alleged Diversion Of N16m

The Police in Abuja on Tuesday arraigned two Bureau de Change ``errand'' boys before a Karu Chief Magistrates' Court for alleged diversion of N16 million.

 The two are Hanna Adedeji, 35 and Anikamadu Obiageli, 37 of Jikwoyi phase II.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Abiola Oyewusi, told the court that the complainant, one Tony Iwobi of No. 5 Jamare Close, Garki II, sent his employees Adedeji and Obiageli to collect 100,000 U.S. dollars (about N16 million).

``The complainant, attached a Peugeot 206 car to them so that they can get the cash from the old CBN also in Garki II. ``

After they cashed the money, they conspired between themselves and diverted the said money to an unknown destination and claimed that they were attacked by armed robbers on the way,'' he said.

Oyewusi said that during police investigation, it was discovered that there was no armed robbery attack on the said day as claimed by the accused.

 He told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 28 and 314 of the Penal Code. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Counsel to the accused, Stanley Orakbo, made an oral application for bail. Oyewusi, however, opposed the counsel’s application, and said that ``considering the amount involved in this case, we oppose counsel’s application.''

 ``They may jump bail and tamper with police investigations,'' he said. Orakbo, however, pleaded with the Magistrate and said, ``the accused persons have been in the police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) detention cell for the past 19 days now”.

The Chief Magistrate, Hadiza Dodo, refused to admit the accused to bail. ``I will like you to address the court properly with a motion which must be filed within 48 hours.

``After the address, the court will sit to consider the bail application,'' she said.

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India Embarks On 25-Year Plan To Sustain Its Economy – PM

Worried by the dwindling economic fortunes, India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the government has embarked on 25-year plan to boost and sustain the country annual growth rate of eight per cent.

Singh made this known on Tuesday Kochi, India, while adressing Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and guests at the 11th Pravasi Bahratiya Divas (Indian Diaspora Convention 2013.

 A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the convention reports that the annual gatherinf is being attended by NRI and guests from various parts of the world.

The prime minister said India was not immuned from the major financial crises in the global economy in the last four years, as this had affected the average annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of the country.

 The Prime Minister said ``from an impressive average annual GDP growth rate of over eight per cent between 2004 and 2010, our growth declined to 6.5 per cent from 2011 to 2012, and may even fall below six per cent in the current year’’.

He, however, assured the NRIs that in spite of domestic constraints and challenges, the country was confident that its strong economic fundamentals backed by sound policies, would enable it return to a higher growth path in 2013 and the coming years.

Singh said it was imperative and urgent for India to create rapid growth and healthy economy to meet the aspirations of an increasingly young India population and make its economic development more inclusive and sustainable.

The Prime Minister, however, said to sustain its annual growth policy ambition, the country would require enormous resources, policy and instutution reforms, community participation and innovation-driven science and technology policies.

Singh urged the overseas Indian community to be a vital partner by participating in India’s socio-economic development as the government was determined to turn setback into opportunities to boost a robost economic growth.

Speaking in the same vein, the Special Guest of Honour and President of Republic of Mauritius, Rajkeswur Purryag commended the initiatives of the Indian in Diaspora convention, saying it was a good home coming for the NRI because it serves as a period for stock-taking and projection for the future.

Earlier, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas in India Affairs said the annual convention of India in the Diaspora was to generate ideas for mutually beneficial India Diaspora engagement.

He announced that the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) had been expanded to all the Indian Missions abroad to assist Indian nationals all over the world.

Highlights of the formal opening include the launching of commemorative stamp to mark the centenary year of the `Ghadar Movement', when migrants from India who settled in Canada and USA rose in opposition to the British rule in India.

Nigeria's delegation to the convention is being led by Rep, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House of Representatives committee on Diaspora Affairs.

 The convention is being attended by NRI from over 50 countries.

 

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National Hospital Confirms Conjoined Twins Dead

The National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday confirmed the death of the conjoined twins, saying they did not die during separation.

The newsmen reports that the twins were born to a 17-year-old woman, Safiya Sani on Thursday, Jan. 3 at Mararaba Medical Centre, Mararaba Gurku in Nasarawa State.

They were later transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja.

 The Director, Chief Clinical Services of the hospital, Dr Obasi Ekumankama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the twins had not been separated before they died.

Ekumankama, who confirmed to NAN that the twins died on Sunday when medical investigation was yet to be completed, said the bodies had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

The director also said the twins had some connection in the heart, down to the abdomen and the upper side of the intestines.

“The doctors carried out medical investigations and they were supposed to complete the investigation on Monday to know to what extent they were connected.

 “You cannot operate on them until you know what you are going to do.

 ``The initial thing showed there were some connections in the heart and between the intestine the upper side of the intestine.''

 Ekumankama said that part of the outcome of the investigations showed that the twins were joined from the thorax to the abdomen called thoraco-abdominal conjoined twins.

 He said other investigations that were to be carried out included a CT-Scan to determine if they had one liver.

The director, however, said that if the investigations were successfully carried out, a team of seasoned experts would have been assembled to carry out the operation to separate them.

 

 

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World Bank Expresses Satisfaction With Implementation Of STEP-B Projects

The World Bank has expressed satisfaction with the level of implementation of the 180 million dollars Science and Technology Education, Post-Basic (STEP-B) projects in selected federal institutions in Nigeria.

 The World Bank Senior Education Specialist in Nigeria Dr Tunde Adekola, expressed the feeling in Abuja on Tuesday at a meeting of the National Education Sector Steering Committee on Donors' Assisted States Education Projects.

 Adekola said that the bank was pleased with the level of implementation of projects since it started in 2007. He said for a long time, Nigeria went back and forth rating unsatisfactory and moderately satisfactory.

 ``World Bank is currently spending N55 billion on education projects in 10 states and we are planning to expand the intervention this year.

``We are basically spending 95 million dollars in the Lagos Eko project while 90 million dollars is for Lagos, five million dollars will be for federal.

``We are also spending 150 million dollars on Programmatic Result Learning project in Bauchi, Anambra, Ekiti and Edo and 100 million dollars on Global Partnership on Education in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna and Sokoto, ‘’he said.

 Adekola said by June the bank would introduce a policy note on basic education and skills acquisition in Nigeria, where more than 100,000 households had been interviewed.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'I, ,on her part, appealed to states to address the challenges of the education sector.

Rufa’I said that challenges that could hamper progress had been identified in the sector, including developing sectoral plans and conducting annual school census.

Others are improving literacy, building and equipping technical schools and access to matching grants. She thanked the World Bank for the continuous support of the Nigerian education sector.

 The minister said that the federal component of the Lagos Eko project had also helped in the drive to enhance quality training of education personnel, including teachers.

``I expect the project to complete the work started on supporting the ministry in the provision of some infrastructure for its Education Management Information system,'' she said.

Also, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, said that the World Bank was desirous of improving the quality and access of the Nigeria education.

 ``We believe that when we work in synergy and collaboration, development partners will always identify areas for which they can provide support to Nigeria.

``I want to say that the support we get from our development partners must be efficiently managed and utilised. ``We must review the World Bank strategy from time to time and adopt those that are viable, ‘’he said.

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