Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, has inaugurated National Peace and Reconciliation Committees for each of the six geo-political zones.

The committees are to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Oshiomhole, while inaugurating the committees on Wednesday in Abuja, said its members were expected to help the partys national leadership to find an in-house solution to the acrimony that followed the party`s primary elections.

He added that members of the committees were also to maintain peace and ensure internal harmony within the APC family before the elections.

He further added that the essence of the committees was to bring about lasting peace in the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Help reconcile those who are aggrieved for whatever reasons, do everything that will help in your wisdom to bring peace in your zone, Oshiomhole said.

The national chairman said that members of the committees should meet aggrieved members and leaders of the party in their zones to reconcile them.

He explained that the party had to set up the committee in the six geo-political zones to fast track its reconciliation efforts.

He thanked members of the committees for accepting the responsibility, adding that chairmen of the committees could appoint secretariat staff in their zones to facilitate their work.

Oshiomhole, however, said that the party may not have been able to solve all the countrys problems but had done well in rebuilding the countrys economy.
He said that Nigerians who had good memories would recall that the APC had done better in the last three and half years than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was in power for 16 years.
According to him, the only integrity the PDP has is looting the national treasury, saying that the APC is today delivering on the campaign promises it made to Nigerians in 2015.

Oshiomhole further said that the APC was today a bigger family because of its antecedence which made more Nigerians to join its fold.

We have gone through a very crucial stage in the processes leading to the next Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

I think, from my own records, of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, I believe we have done exceedingly well as it is impossible for the most gifted child to score 100 per cent
in every subject.

The more questions you have to answer, the more chances are that you will miss some of them.

I believe that the house is bigger today than it was before, because those who have reservations, have since realised that President Muhammadu Buhari means business and APC is delivering on its promises, Oshiomhole said.

He maintained that the party`s accomplishment in the last three and half years had enlarged it and brought in more quality political activists and leaders as well as huge electoral value across the states.

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno who spoke on behalf of the committees, thanked the party`s leadership for the responsibility and assured that the committees would deliver on their mandate.

Be rest assured that we will put in our best to ensure the reconciliation of all aggrieved party members ahead of 2019 general election, Shettima who heads the South West National Peace and Reconciliation Committee, said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the full composition of members of the committee for each zone is as seen below:
NORTH-WEST

1. Gov. Abiola Ajimobi Chairman
2. Gov. Mohammed Abubakar
3. Gov. Yahaya Bello
4. Sen. Adamu Aliero
5. Sen. Danjuma Goje
6. Sen. Jim Nwobodo
7. Amb. Fati Balla

SOUTH-EAST

1. Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje Chairman
2. Gov. Samuel Lalong
3. Gov. Kayode Fayemi
4. Sen. Godswill Akpabio
5. Alh. Umaru Dembo
6. Alh. Nasiru Koki
7. Mrs. Ify Okoye

SOUTH-WEST

1. Gov. Kashim Shettima Chairman
2. Gov. Nasiru el Rufai
3. Gov. Akinwumi Ambode
4. Sen. Ken Nnamani
5. Prof. Modupe Adelabu
6. Dr Dakuku Peterside
7. Sen. Seida Bugaje

NORTH-CENTRAL

1. Gov. Ibrahim Geidam Chairman
2. Gov. Godwin Obaseki
3. Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu
4. Gov. Jibrilla Bindow
5. Chief Pius Akinyelure
6. Barr. (Mrs) Vivian Chukwuani
7. Chief Audu Ogbe

SOUTH-SOUTH

1. Gov. Rauf Aregbesola Chairman
2. Gov. Atiku Bagudu
3. Gov. Abubakar Bello
4. Sen. Gbemisola Saraki
5. Mr Emeka Wogu
6. Mr Sullivan Chime
7. Mrs Aleluchi Cookey-Gam

NORTH-EAST

1. Gov. Tanko Al-Makura Chairman
2. Gov. Aminu Masari
3. Gov. Abubakar Badaru
4. Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Anifowoshe
5. Mr Matthew Omegara
6. Hajia Hafsat Baba
7. Gen. Abdullahi Aboki (NAN)
   EEM/AMY

Source: NAN

Leaders from the South East on a thank you visit have confronted President Muhammadu Buhari with a shopping list, including economic free trade zone.

Aside confirming construction work on abandoned Second Niger Bridge, they asked Buhari to make the trade zone in Eyimba in Abia a reality.

The delegation led by Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and governors met with behind closed doors with Buhari on Wednesday.

Chairman of the South East Governors forum and Governor of Ebonyi, Mr Dave Umahi, said after the meeting: We are also asking for economic free trade zone in Eyimba in Abia and he promised to come and commission it; the license has been given.

The governor disclosed that the meeting also deliberated on the state of Enugu international airport.

The president was urged to ensure the completion of the cargo section of the airport and extension of the runway.

Of course, we talked about the geometric power plant in Aba and we asked him to assist in resolving whatever the issues are so that power will be deployed to the industrial clusters in Aba and environs.

We reminded him that the Enugu state government has done quite a lot on the issue of relocating major infrastructure that has been obstructing smooth operations of lives. We requested that he should take over the compensations of the affected lands.

And of course, the issue of gas distribution should be linked to the five eastern states, to the industrial clusters so as to boost economic activities, he added.

They appealed for the reduction of the completion period of the Second Niger Bridge from 42 months to 24 months.

So, we came to ask the president if there is the possibility of paying up to 50 per cent of the sum and secure the other 50 per cent as bond.

According to him, this is expected so that we can sleep with our two eyes closed and be assured that the job will not be abandoned.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who also spoke after the meeting, said: We received very high-powered delegation today led by the Deputy President of the Senate and three of their governors and a deputy governor, and the Director-General of Forum of South-East governors.

I think it is a remarkable visit because they came essentially to thank the president over the major activities that have taken place in the South-East.

The visit by the leaders was remarkable.

Mustapha reminded the people that their political investment in the re-election of Buhari in 2019 election would determine their fate in 2023.

Source: NAN

A South Korean Pastor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping eight of his members more than 40 different occasions at his mega-church in Seoul,Yonhapnews agency reported.

Lee Jae Rock of the Manmin Central Church, which has about 130,000 followers, was convicted by the Seoul Central District Court of using his authority to commit the rapes, the agency reported.

The 75-year-old regularly took advantage of his followers trust in him as a man close to God, Yonhap quoted the court as saying.

The church, which was founded by Lee in 1982 and claims to have more than 10,000 branches around the world, was expelled by the Christian Council of Korea in 1999 under the accusation of heresy.

On its website, the church claims that countless have received Gods healing of such incurable and terminal diseases as AIDS, cancer, and the like on the spot when Rev Dr Lee prayed not by placing his hand on each of the sick but merely from the pulpit.

Source: NAN

By Justina Auta

Nigerian Music star, Olubankole Wellington, a.k.a Banky W says his nine- year old Range Rover Sports will be auctioned for charity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the car had been a subject of ridiculed when two ladies released a video `dragging and stalking Banky on social media for driving an old car in spite of his class and status.

The music star and actor disclosed this in a video posted on his Instagram page, stating that the car had served him for nine years and it was time to let it go for charity course.

He said that the money would be donated to Vocational School for the Blind in Oshodi, Lagos and the Pink Oak Cancer Trust Fund.

This Range Rover has been so good to my Madam and I, but this Saturday, Nov 24 we are auctioning it to raise money for The School for the Blind, and for @pinkoaktrust

If youre looking for a used Car, buy this piece of Nigerian Pop Culture history instead. It has been in more videos and movies than any other option out there lol.

It was also the subject of a stalker video some months ago. Point being, its famous, and these charities need our help.

So come through on Saturday and bid on this and many more cars Hit up @cars45ng @carsbazr with any questions #Carsbazrliveauctuon #Cars45BankyWCharityChallenge #BuyBankysRange #hope19, he captioned the video.
Also, it is a 2008 Range Rover Sport, not a 1999. Amen and Lol. Oh, and additionally, its currently for sale to the highest bidder.

I had decided last month that Id sell it, and whatever I got for it, Id hand over to the Vocational School for the Blind in Oshodi and the Pink Oak Cancer Trust Fund.

Banky W further explained that the car would be auctioned online with autograph of his celebrity friends to enable him raise funds to support his aunt, who works as a volunteer in the school.

You see, Ive never found it necessary to own more than one car. Mostly because I can only ever DRIVE one car at a time; and when I bought the car in 2011, I promised myself that I would never buy another car until I owned the home I live in.

To me, owning a nice car might help me LOOK like I was doing okay, but owning a nice home would help me KNOW. The way my mind is set upwhat good is owning a Rolls Royce, if Im still paying rent on the house I park it in? he wrote.

He started singing at a young age in the church choir and started his record label E.M.E in 2002 while still studying.

After moving to Nigeria in 2009, he established the label in Lagos.

Banky W has signed artists like Niyola, Shaydee, Skales and Wizkid to the label at the time.

His breakthrough debut studio album, Back in the Building was released in 2005.
He wrote the first theme song of Etisalat Nigeria titled 0809ja for life.

Source: NAN

By Hilary Akalugwu

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has announced that its members would boycott the 2018 convocation of the university.

The Chairman of the chapter, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Abada, made the announcement in Nsukka on Thursday at a news conference after a congress to update members of the union on the ongoing nationwide ASUU strike.

He said the union agreed at the congress to write the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, to suspend the 2018 convocation of the university, billed to start on Nov. 26 and end on Dec. 2.

One of the resolutions reached at this congress is that Ozumba should suspend arrangements for the 48th convocation of the university until the ongoing ASUU strike is suspended.

If he refuses and decides to go ahead with the convocation, academic staff of UNN will boycott all the activities lined up for the convocation

I wonder what the convocation will look like in the absence of lecturers, heads of departments, directors and deans of faculties, who have the responsibility of presenting graduating students to the university during convocations.

Abada said that severe sanctions would be imposed on any academic, who might sabotage the union by participating in the convocation if the university decided to go ahead with it.

ASUU executives in Nsukka zone, who attended this congress are in support that the convocation should be cancelled since the ongoing ASUU nationwide strike is total and comprehensive.

Serious sanctions will be placed on any academic staff who participates in the convocation if UNN decides to go ahead with it.

If some universities in the country can cancel their convocations because of ongoing ASUU nationwide strike, I see no reason why UNN will not do same.

The unionist said the congress was happy with the compliance of UNN workers with the ongoing strike of the union, urging the members to keep it up.

The congress is happy that the strike since it startedhas been total and comprehensive in UNN.

The total compliance has paralysed academic activities at both the Nsukka Campus and the Enugu Campus of the university.

The nationwide strike embarked upon by academic staff of public universities in the country will continue until the Federal Government meets the demands of the union, he said.

Source: NAN

Nissan Motor Cos board voted unanimously to oust Chairman Carlos Ghosn on Thursday after the shock arrest of the industry heavyweight, ushering in a period of uncertainty for its 19-year alliance with Renault.

The Japanese firm said its board also voted to remove Greg Kelly who like Ghosn has been arrested after allegations of financial misconduct from his post as representative director.

The moves, which leaves the chairman position vacant, came despite Renault urging Nissans board before its meeting to delay removing Ghosn, sources close to the matter told Reuters.

The Franco-Japanese alliance, enlarged in 2016 to include Japans Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T), has been rattled to its core by the arrest of the 64-year-old Ghosn in Japan on Monday.

Ghosn had shaped the alliance and was pushing for a deeper tie-up, including potentially a full Renault-Nissan merger at the French governments urging, despite strong reservations at the Japanese firm.

Japanese prosecutors said Ghosn and Kelly conspired to understate Ghosns compensation at Nissan over five years from 2010, saying it was about half the actual 10 billion yen ($88 million).

Shin Kukimoto, deputy public prosecutor at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, said on Thursday that court approval was received a day earlier to detain Ghosn for 10 days but he could not comment on whether he had admitted to the allegations.

Nissan executives have five seats on the nine-member board, Renault loyalists have two seats and the remaining two are held by unaffiliated outside directors, a former bureaucrat and a race driver.

With Ghosn and Kelly still in detention, neither of the men were able to vote or defend themselves at the meeting.

Renault has refrained from firing Ghosn as chairman and CEO.

But Mitsubishi Motors plans to remove Ghosn from his post of chairman at a board meeting next week.

Amid growing uncertainty over the future of the alliance, Japans industry minister and Frances finance minister are due to meet in Paris on Thursday to seek ways to stabilize it.

For me, the future of the alliance is the bigger deal, a senior Nissan official told reporters on Wednesday, when asked about Ghosns arrest. Its obvious that in this age, we need to do things together. To part would be impossible.

Nissan said on Monday an internal investigation triggered by a tip-off from an informant had revealed that Ghosn engaged in wrongdoing including personal use of company money and under-reporting of his earnings for years.

Ghosn and Kelly have not commented on the accusations and Reuters has not been able to reach them.

Prosecutors said Ghosn is being held at the Tokyo detention centre, which is known for its austere regime, a far cry from his usual luxury lifestyle, including restrictions on sleeping during the day and a requirement to wear a mask when meeting with visitors to prevent the spread of disease.

The detention house is pretty cold at this of time year, internet entrepreneur and convicted fraudster Takufumi Horie told his followers on Twitter.

Motonari Otsuru, a former public prosecutor who is known for overseeing the case against Horie, was hired as Ghosns lawyer, NHK reported. Otsurus law office declined to confirm that he represented Ghosn and said no one was available for comment.

The Asahi Shimbun said on Thursday, quoting unnamed sources, that Ghosn had given Kelly orders by email to make false statements on his remuneration. Tokyo prosecutors likely seized the related emails and may use them as evidence, the report said.

The Yomiuri, Japans biggest-circulation daily, cited unnamed sources as saying Nissans internal investigation found that Ghosn had since 2002 instructed that about $100,000 a year be paid to his elder sister as remuneration for a non-existent advisory role.

The paper said Nissan had found through the investigation that Ghosns sister had in fact been living in and managing a luxury apartment in Rio de Janeiro that the company had bought through an overseas subsidiary, but had done no advisory work for the car maker. Nissan has shared the information with prosecutors, Yomiuri said.

Shares in Nissan closed up 0.8 percent, in line with a broader market .N225, ahead of the board meeting.

Source: NAN

By Felicia Imohimi

The Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON) has solicited the support of government on strategies for the prevention of hearing loss, early detection and other interventions

The society made the call in a communique issued at the end of its Annual General Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The communique was signed by Prof. Onyekwere Nwaorgu, the President of Pan African Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (PAFOS) and immediate past President of ORLSON as well as Prof. Titus Ibekwe, immediate past Secretary of ORLSON.

The society noted that such strategies should include hearing screening programmes and enforcement of legislation against noise pollution.

The society commended the Federal Government for constituting technical committee to produce the Nigerian National Strategic Policy on Ear and Hearing Care.

It however, urged government to enforce legislation against avoidable risks of Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) diseases.

It further urged the populace to embrace the culture of early presentation of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) cases to specialists to ensure good management.

The society assured of its commitment to ensure the production of highly specialised manpower for Otorhinolaryngology practice in the country.

It identified the conference as part of efforts by ORLSON to champion the cause of uplifting and advancing Otorhinolaryngology Practice in Nigeria to compete favorably with global best practices.

The communique, however, urged government to support training and research, and to establish more National Ear Care Centres (NECCs), at least one in each geopolitical zone.

It noted that government should encourage and establish suitable training programmes for the development of human resources in the field of ear and hearing care.

It is desirable that government funds researches to determine national prevalence of common ORL diseases in Nigeria.

Government should support and fund cochlear implant surgery programmes and also encourage programmes that will improve availability and accessibility of diagnostic and adjunct therapeutic tools in the country.

The communique identified new leadership of ORLSON as Prof. Abubakar Salisu (President) and Dr Aliyu Kodiya as Secretary.

The theme of the AGM was Manpower Development for Otorhinolaryngology Practice in Nigeria: Time for Subspecialist Training, with Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation in Nigeria and Emerging Infections in Otorhinolaryngology as sub theme.

Source: NAN

(dpa/NAN) The Head of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency Col.-Gen. Igor Korobov, who Britain accused of poisoning a former double agent with a chemical weapon in Southern England this year has died.

Korobov, 62, had served as chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate, commonly known by the Russian acronym GRU, for nearly three years.

A distinguished aviator, Korobov died of a serious and long illness, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, using a phrase that implies cancer.

Korobovs agency entered the international spotlight this year when Britain accused it of perpetrating the near-fatal attack on former Russian spy turned double agent Sergei Skripal in the southern English city of Salisbury.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was cited in the statement as expressing condolences over Korobovs death, which occurred on Wednesday, but he did not name a successor.

Russian state media reported that the most probable successor is the agencys first deputy chief, Igor Kostyukov, currently serving as the interim chief.

Source: NAN

Nigerias Visa on Arrival (VOA) policy has increased the influx of tourists as well as facilitated ease of doing business in the country.

Mr Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (CGIS), said on Thursday: The VOA Policy has boosted influx of tourists into the country; people do visit the country now, because the policy has made the acquisition of visa very simple and easy.

Babandede made the observation in his presentation entitled Encouraging Tourism in Nigeria: Role of Nigeria Immigration Service at the fourth Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) in Abuja.

NTIFE is an annual meeting organised by Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) to attract relevant stakeholders and chart a way forward for the tourism sector in the country.

The theme for the two-day forum and exhibition is Infrastructure and Security: Catalysts for Sustainable Tourism Development.

Visitors and tourists now come into the country and get their visa within 48 hours and go to patronise hotels and get involved in other leisure activities.

Babandede, who was represented by an Assistant Controller General, Caroline Adepoju, said that the VOA had resolved the naughty issue of having to return to ones country of residence before applying for visa.

He explained that businessmen, tourists and visitors could apply for the visa from any part of the world.

According to him, the VOA has facilitated ease of doing business in Nigeria, eliminated unnecessary human contact which can encourage corrupt practices and elimination of error in visa classification.

As a leading agency responsible for migration, the importance of encouraging tourism to the Nigeria Immigration Service cannot be over emphasised.

In other to encourage international tourism, the service has taken various measures which include contributing to national security through taking seriously issues of border patrol and security.

Our personnel are trained in `host-manship to engender a friendly atmosphere for migrants, tourists and visitors and the personnel are expected to treat people with courtesy.

The issue of multiple clearance procedures in our ports of entry has been addressed by collaboration with sister security agencies such as Port Health and Nigeria Customs.

Check points along our ways from International Border routes have been dismantled and our personnel have been directed to do more of border patrol because this allows for easy movement, he said.

The Immigration boss also urged groups, government agencies and corporate orgainsations who invited persons from outside the country to always inform the service ahead of their arrival.

It will assist us to provide dedicated desks to facilitate easy and effective clearance of the invited persons at our entry points, he said.

Source: NAN

A man who strangled his pregnant wife and suffocated their two young daughters wanted to escape his marriage and growing family, prosecutors said Monday as a judge imposed a sentence of life without parole after a plea deal kept the killer from facing the death penalty.

Christopher Watts, who pleaded guilty two weeks ago, did not speak during the hearing. One of his attorneys said Watts was sincerely sorry.

Prison is too good for you.

This is hard to say, but may God have mercy on your soul, Rzucek said.

Prosecutors have said Shanann Watts relatives, who live in North Carolina, asked them not to seek the death penalty when defense attorneys made the proposal.

Watts, 33, was formally sentenced to consecutive life sentences for the murders.

He also received a 48-year sentence for unlawful termination of a pregnancy and 12 years each for tampering with a corpse, totaling 84 years.

The girls bodies were found submerged in separate oil tank on property owned by the company Watts worked for.

His wifes body was found in a shallow grave nearby.

As a prosecutor detailed the injuries found on the bodies, Rzucek leaned forward, gasping.

Michael Rourke said Shanann Watts was strangled, but her lack of significant injuries suggested that her death came slowly.

The girls were smothered, and Rourke said there were signs Bella fought for her life. Celeste had no visible injuries, he said.

Christopher Watts parents, Cindy and Ronnie Watts, were permitted to speak as the girls grandparents.

We love you, Cindy Watts said into a microphone before turning to look directly at her son. And we forgive you, son.

Watts wiped away a tear with his shirt after his parents left the podium. He kept his head down for much of the hearing, speaking only once to confirm that he did not want to make a statement before Judge Marcelo Kopcow imposed his sentence.

Friends of Shanann Watts lined up inside the courthouse Monday morning. More people filed into an overflow room to watch a video stream.

The killings captured national media attention and became the focus of true crime blogs and online video channels, which showed dozens of family photos and videos that Shanann Watts shared on social media showing the smiling family.

Prosecutors said the images belied a hidden truth, that Christopher Watts was having an affair.

A friend asked police to check on Shanann Watts on Aug. 13 after not being able to reach her and growing concerned that the expectant mother had missed a doctors appointment.

Rourke said police later found that Watts spoke to a real estate agent about selling the familys home and called the girls school to report that they could not be present when fall classes began.

Investigators quickly became suspicious of him after he was unable to square his claims that his family had disappeared from a tightly secured home in a busy subdivision.

Meanwhile, Watts spoke to local television reporters from the front porch of the familys home in Frederick, a small town on the plains north of Denver where drilling rigs and oil wells surround booming subdivisions.

He pleaded for his familys safe return, telling reporters their house felt empty without Bella and Celeste watching cartoons or running to greet him at the door.

Within days he was in custody, charged with killing his family.

Rourke said Watts has never discussed a motive for the killings with police, but investigators could find no explanation other than his ongoing affair with a co-worker.

I cant speak as to why anyone would take the steps that he did we couldnt find anything else that was a significant enough motive to annihilate your family, he said.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC)has approved the formation and composition of a National Peace and Reconciliation Committees for each geo-political zone.

This, according to a statement by Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the partys National Publicity Secretary, on Monday in Abuja, is in recognition of the need to address the post-primary elections disputes in the party.

Issa-Onilu said that the partys National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, would inaugurate the committees on Wednesday.

The full composition of the committee for each zone:

NORTH-WEST

SOUTH-EAST

SOUTH-WEST

NORTH-CENTRAL

SOUTH-SOUTH

NORTH-EAST

Source: NAN

The Oba Adesoji Aderemi Way built by Osun government and named after the first governor of Western region, was on Monday commissioned.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun commissioned the road situated along Ring Road in Osogbo

The commissioning attracted many dignitaries, including Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the eldest son of the first Governor Western Region of Nigeria, Prince Ishola Aderonmu Adesoji and the the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

Also at the ceremony was the eldest child of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief (Mrs) Tola Oyediran; Deputy governor Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor-elect, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; his deputy, Mr. Benedict Gboyega Alabi.

Oba Sir Titus Martins Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi I, alias Adesoji Aderemi, KCMG, was a Nigerian political figure and Yoruba traditional ruler as the Ooni of Ife from 1930 until 1980. He served as the governor of Western Region, Nigeria between 1960 and 1962.

Source: NAN

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday formally inaugurated the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, urging Deltas Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa to effectively utilise the facility.

This is even as he endorsed the Gov. Okowa for a second term in office, saying who was a good product to the people of Delta

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obasanjo who was in the state on a two-day visit also inaugurated other road projects in Agbor in the state.

The former President, while noting that the stadium might not mean much to the ordinary man, said the gains of the project could however not be over-emphasised.

No one can have a sound mind and sound body without exercising. The stadium is a veritable source of money for the state and the people of Asaba and environs, he said.

Obasanjo added that the essence of the structure would be defeated if the state government failed to through it train the young people by catching them young.

The thinking of the people is `what are you doing with the stadium? and, to the ordinary man, the importance is not appreciated.

But the importance is in having a sound mind in a sound body. I have always played squash rackets and I have a squash court in my house to keep fit and it is very important that you exercise.

In todays world there is virtually nothing from which you cannot make money. Sports tourism will make the economy of the state strong and the people of Asaba will grow their economy.

We must not just have the stadium, we must utilise the facility to bring up the young ones by catching them young.

You must recruit those that would be trained and build a hostel where they stay to be trained and if you do this the state will develop.

Sixteen years ago, I came here to lay the foundation of this stadium and today I am here to inaugurate it. I hope to come back to see the hostel you have built to train the youths, he said.

While commissioning the road project, Obasanjo also endorsed Okowa for second term, describing him as a good product.

As an elder statesman, whatever I see and heard, my mouth will talk about; where I come from, we are always looking for good things and when we have good things, we hold on to it.

When you have good leaders, hold on to them; this governor (Ifeanyi Okowa) from what I have seen and from what I have heard, he is a good product and when you have a good product, you dont throw it away,

I know that this governor is a good governor, I will hold on to him because he has started well and we must give him the opportunity to consolidate on his good works, he said.

Earlier, Okowa had said the stadium was at a 20 per cent completion stage when he came into office as governor.

He added that he had then decided to take up the task of completing the project.

Now, the stadium has hosted an international athletics competition which had in attendance athletes from about 52 African countries in August, and it has also hosted the 2018 Aiteo Cup final match between Rangers International FC of Enugu and Kano Pillars FC.

During these events, the states economy blossomed as hotels in the state capital were fully booked and other economic activities thrived. But some persons have asked that `Of what importance is the stadium?

We are ready to host a friendly match between the Super Eagles and the Cranes of Uganda on Tuesday.

But beyond this, the fact is that we are trying to grow our economy, and when we hosted the athletics championships and the Aiteo Cup final, economic activities in Asaba increased.

Now, we have gotten the Asaba Airport runway right and just few days ago a flight took off from the airport to South Africa and returned and we plan to concession the airport for effective management as cargo airport by December, Okowa said.

Source: NAN

China has launched a new space environment research satellite and four nanosatellites on a Long March-2D carrier rocket which has successfully entered their pre-set orbit.

The rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, said on Tuesday.

According to the centre, the satellites have successfully entered their pre-set orbit after launch on November 20, 2018.

Shiyan-6 will be used for conducting space environment exploration experiments.

The term nanosatellite refers to a small artificial satellite, weighing between one kg and 10 kg.

Among the four nanosatellites, Tianping-1A and Tianping-1B will be used for equipment calibration on ground control stations, while Jiading-1 is the first satellite of the Xiangyun satellite constellation in low earth orbit.

A software-defined satellite, developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will be used for conducting experiments on open-source satellite software research and development on Android platforms.

Compared to traditional satellites, a software-defined satellite is more flexible and reconfigurable.

A report says it enables its operator to capture diverse markets with its ability to change things like frequency band and coverage areas on demand.

It is the 292th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN

The level of transparency in military spending in sub-Saharan Africa is greater than previously thought.

A new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) carried out the survey between 2012 and 2017.

At least 45 of the 47 states surveyed published at least one official budget document in a timely manner online.

Contrary to common belief, countries in sub-Saharan Africa show a high degree of transparency in how they spend money on their military, says Dr Nan Tian, Researcher in the SIPRI Arms Transfers and Military Expenditure Programme.

Citizens everywhere should know where and how public money is spent. It is encouraging that national reporting in sub-Saharan Africa has improved.

No transparency in Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea; fall in Botswana

While SIPRIs study shows that there is generally a high degree of transparency in the military sector in sub-Saharan Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea have not published any official information on military spending since 2009 and 2003 respectively, and Botswana was one of very few states to show a deterioration in transparency.

Recently in Botswana, official budgetary reports have become increasingly difficult to obtain, there is a lack of a national defence policy and almost no government information or dialogue exists on issues such as arms procurement.

While these issues are worrying, the main cause for concern is the decreased public engagement on military-related matters, says Dr Tian.

Botswana had the third highest percentage increase in military spending between 2014 and 2017. Military spending grew by 60 per cent (or $182 million) in that period as part of several military procurement programmes involving France and Switzerland.

This military spending increase has occurred despite the fact that Botswana is located in one of the least conflict-prone areas of Africa and is one of the few states in sub-Saharan Africa to have never been involved in an armed conflict, says Dr Tian.

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the stand-out cases with substantial improvements in military sector transparency.

There is evidence of improved oversight and accountability in budget reporting, such as implementing an official budget formulation process and publishing budget execution reports both quarterly and biannually.

Although improvements are still needed in the areas of accessibility and disaggregation, military sector transparency has increased substantially.

The publication of accessible spending information is a major step towards greater transparency and accountability in the military sector, says Tian.

Unlike Europe and South America, there are currently no regional reporting mechanisms in place in sub-Saharan Africa for exchanging information on military expenditure between states.

The UN Report on Military Expenditures is the only international reporting system to which states in sub-Saharan Africa have agreed to participate.

In the period 200817, only five states in sub-Saharan Africa reported at least once, and no reports were submitted during the years 201517.

It is clear from SIPRIs study that the lack of UN reporting is not due to a lack of information.

Rather, the challenge is to encourage countries to submit data to the UN, says Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers and Military Expenditure Programme.

Government transparency at the international level is key to reinforcing trust and encouraging dialogue between countries, says Ambassador Jan Eliasson, Chair of the SIPRI Governing Board and former UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Therefore, UN member states need to work together on implementing and improving reporting, he says.

Source: NAN

Information and culture minister Lai Mohammed has paid condolence visit to the families of the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) members who died in a road crash between Omu-Aran and Oro on Sunday.

According to Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant to the minister, Mohammed was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa, House of Representatives Member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate Lola Ashiru and other state party Officials.

They visited the families of the five deceased members in Arandun, Agbonda, Omu-Aran, Oko and Odo Owa, all in theEkiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, where the APC won a landmark victory at the polls on Saturday.

The minister and his entourage also visited two others who are in hospitals in Omu-Aran to wish them speedy recovery.

At Agbonda, the Minister and his entourage attended the funeral service for one of the five deceased, Chief Ayobami Adekeye, an official of the party in Ajase Ward 2.

While visiting the homes of the deceased, the Minister commiserated with their families, hailed the members for their supreme sacrifice for the emancipation of the people of Kwara.

He promised that the party would not abandon their dependants.

Source: NAN

Kenya has set up a committee to discuss with China on the possibility of easing the East African nations entry into worlds flower market.

Last week, Kenya and China formed a technical work group that will oversee the withdrawal of the four per cent duty on most Kenyan exports to China.

If successful, this will allow flower growers to tap into the growing Chinese market and boost the earnings of the sector, as part of the countrys effort to diversify its markets.

We are going to have the first meeting next January with China and we hope to have completed negotiations by the end of February.

Our target is to do away with this four per cent tariff to make our products competitive, Kenyas Trade Cabinet Sectary Peter Munya said.

In July 2010, China removed tariffs charged on 60 per cent of the goods that it imports from Kenya and 32 other developing countries but retained the levy on cut flowers.

Beijing and Nairobi also signed a memorandum of understating to drive exports of over 40 per cent of Kenyas fresh produce to the Chinese market that has over 1.3 billion consumers.

Currently, Kenyas cut flowers are sold to a single economic bloc, the European Union, exposing export trade to vulnerabilities.

Most Kenyan flower reach China via the Netherlands-based international flower auction.

However, Kenya enjoys a duty and quota-free export arrangement in the EU market, and also has a duty-free flower arrangement with Japan.

In the region, it is only Ethiopia that enjoys a duty- free flower arrangement with China.

This agreement will facilitate export of agricultural products from Kenya to China.

We would love to see more of Kenyas products on our shelves, Guo Ce, the economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Kenya, said.

For Kenyan growers who earned $822.5 million last year this new development is a boon.

I havent seen the actual documents signed but we are interested in expanding our footprints in China.

Currently our flowers are being charged higher taxes in China, which makes them uncompetitive. We hope that the government will negotiate favourable trade protocols and agreements with China, Clement Tulezi, the chief executive officer of the Kenya Flower Council, said.

Bobby Kamani, the managing director of Primarosa Flowers Ltd said the government talks with China were welcome development, especially for the flowers sector, given the potential it has.

We were in China with government officials and we saw the interest. It was an eye opener for us at the expo because Kenyan growers had an unexpected reception in the Chinese market.

We got contacts of flower suppliers who have traditional dealt with Ecuador and Colombia and having an African connection further opens up our access, Mr Kamani said.

He added that Primarosa has turned around its business model and now does more than 70 per cent of its sales to individual buyers with 30 per cent sales in auctions, a model he believes the Chinese market will sustain.

Some Chinese flower importers have been forced to use a single import and centralised distribution system to lower costs as it allows them to import multiple batches of products at a single time and redistribute them in warehouses scattered across China, which also reduces their tax obligations.

The opening up of the Chinese market now offers bigger opportunities for Kenyan flower farmers and also Chinese importers, who have over the years developed strong interest in the produce.

Chinas Jiuye Supply Chain in Guangzhou has emerged as one of the leading contact firms that Kenyan flower exporters are using.

We chose to introduce flowers from Kenya to China because of the vast number of varieties they grow, including some that you cannot find in other regions.

We were also impressed by the length of the flowers vase life, said Qi Bo, the director of Jiuye supply chain department, adding that with a 25 per cent annual increase in demand for the Kenyan flowers should see them double imports from Nairobi to five million stems by the end of this year.

Logistics is, however, still a challenge since only Kenya Airways through its code share with China Southern Airlines flies directly to Guangzhou.

The other options are Ethiopian Airlines flights from Addis to Shanghai, with a two hour transit time, while the Gulf carriers are costly because of connections.

Source:

Source: NAN

Egypt and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are going to hold the first round of negotiations on trade agreement in mid- January in Cairo.

They had signed a framework document for negotiations on the free trade agreement.

The document was signed by Egypts Minister of Trade and Industry Amr Nassar and Minister for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Veronika Nikishina.

The Egyptian minister noted that this agreement came as a result of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisis visit to Russia in October, where he agreed with Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan on speeding up the negotiations related to the free trade between both sides.

According to Nassar, both sides agreed to hold a joint business forum during the first half of 2019 to boost the economic and trade partnership between businessmen of both sides and stressed on the necessity to complete a free trade agreement between Egypt and the Unions countries in 2019.

Nassar said that the document targets to generate continued talks and negotiations about the bilateral economic and international cooperation between both sides and to enhance the economic and trade relationship as well as the liberalization of trade between them through the establishment of a long-term and stable institutional legal framework.

He explained that agreement will contribute to the enhancement and development of the joint relations between Egypt and the Eurasian countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

The minister pointed out that Egypt is a major hub for the Unions exports to various African and Arab markets and other economic blocs,with which Egypt has free trade agreements.

The Eurasian countries also represent a distinct window for Egyptian exports in North and Central Asia as well as Europe.

Trade exchange between Egypt and Eurasian Union countries hit $6.78 billion in 2017, in which $6.24 billion represented Egypts imports and $544.7 million went for exports, according to the minister.

Nassar said that this agreement is expected to raise the trade volume between both sides to reach $15.7 billion, and to upgrade Egypts exports to the Unions countries to $1.9 billion.

The minister referred that the most important Egyptian exports to Eurasian countries are agricultural commodities, machinery, equipment and pharmaceutical products, while the main imports to Egypt include wheat, minerals, chemical products, plastic products, cars and tractors.

He reiterated the need to encourage the business community and industrial companies from the Eurasian countries to increase their investments in Egypt during the coming period, especially in light of the Egyptian governments adoption of a number of mega projects, including the New Administrative Capital project,the development project of the Suez Canal and the Russian industrial zone in Egypt.

Nassar also emphasized the importance of the role played by the private sector in enhancing trade and investment relations between Egypt and the unions countries.

For her part, Nikishina said that Egypt is one of the most important markets in the Middle East and Africa, and is a focal point for the transit of the products of the union countries to African countries.

She pointed out that the next phase will witness more cooperation between the two sides, especially after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, which will make a quantum leap in the level of trade and economic relations Between Egypt and the Eurasian Union.

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Source: NAN

The criminals terrorising citizens in North West have been disorganised and are on the run as operations to flush them out extends beyond Zamfara.

The Defence Headquarters reported on Tuesday that the criminals fell to the superior fire power of the joint security operation in the area.

Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. John Agim, stated this while briefing newsmen in Gasau on Tuesday.

He said that several enclaves of the bandits were being destroyed by constant air strikes, which had led to the death of some of the criminals and arrest of some as well as rescue of some victims.

Agim said that Operation Sharan Daji launched in Zamfara, had been expanded to cover the entire state and local government areas in neighbouring Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Kaduna states.

He also stated that under the trans-border joint security patrol with the Niger Republic, bandits were followed into the neighbouring country and either neutralized or arrested to help in investigation.

Although we lost one of our soldiers during encounter with the bandits in Zamfara recently where six others were wounded and receiving treatment, we have neutralized over 20 of the bandits and arrested 21 others.

The defence spokesman also said that 1,444 cows, 473 sheep, 11 camels, 14 donkeys, 56 rams and 293 goats were recovered from the bandits and handed to the state government to return to the rightful owners.

Similarly, he said that 24 AK 47 rifles, two pump action guns, 4,798 rounds of 7.6 mm ammunition, local bullet prove jackets, bows and arrows and local charms were also recovered while two kidnapped persons were rescued.

Agim urged members of the public to continue to give credible information to security agencies on suspected persons or movements. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Africa will become the worlds next big growth market, akin to the Asian boom, McKinsey, a management consulting firm said on Tuesday.

While other geographies are seeing incremental growth, global companies that get in early and join the African champions shaping the right strategies, can sustain double-digit profit growth over the next few decades, it noted.

The report drew the conclusions from a survey of 3,000 McKinsey client engagements, in-depth proprietary research and interviews with 40 of Africas most prominent business and development leaders.

The report, examining several examples of African businesses that have translated opportunities into enduring business value, revealed how companies can better understand the African market.

It also seized the opportunities for building profitable, sustainable businesses.

Africa has a fast-growing, rapidly urbanising population with big unmet needs.

It means that there is a trillion-dollar opportunity to industrialise Africa, to meet rising domestic demand and create a bridgehead in global export markets, the report said.

According to the report, there has been a big push by governments and the private sector to close infrastructure gaps.

The report pointed to continued resource abundance in agriculture, mining, and oil and gas, with innovation and investment in these sectors unlocking new production on the continent.

The rapid adoption of mobile and digital technologies could leapfrog Africa past many obstacles to growth.

With over 400 African companies earning annual revenues of 1 billion dollars or more, we can identify what works, the report said.

According to the report, the highly successful businesses are often African companies, but many are entrepreneurial firms with Western, Indian, or Chinese founders.

The report, however, pointed out that building a successful business in Africa requires a long-term approach.

The four essential practices are mapping an Africa strategy, innovating business models and building resilience for the long term and unleashing talent.

At the heart of these four imperatives is a commitment to doing well by doing good, said Acha Leke, senior partner and chairman of McKinseys Africa Office and co-author of the report.

Source: NAN