Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft has died at 65 from complications of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the bodys immune system.

His family made the obituary announcement in a statement on Monday through his sister Jody Allen.

My brother was a remarkable individual on every level. While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend.

Pauls family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern. For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us and so many others we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day.

Allen was also owner of the NFLs Seattle Seahawks and NBAs Portland Trail Blazers

He announced on October 1st that the cancer he had defeated in 2009 had returned.

Ive begun treatment

Kano state government has discredited the trending video portraying Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje collecting some dollars as bribe from a contractor.

Commissioner of Information, Youths and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba described the video as a cloned work, distorted and disjointed and calculated to discredit Ganduje.

Garba said the unidentified source is a serial blackmailer and extorter, adding that government will seek redress in court.

The Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is challenging the implausible and eccentric posting of the cloned video that went viral in a court of law considering the gravity of the caricature, which indicates the extent to which mischievous elements can go to discredit public figures by wielding non-existent scandals against them.

A mere observation of the cloned video clearly shows that the video is doctored and disjointed with no material facts or evidence to prove the allegations, other than a callous attempt to tarnish the hard earned image of the office and the person of the Governor.

The Governor of Kano State wishes to once again emphatically debunk the allegation of receiving gratification of $5Million or any amount whatsoever from any person or body.

It is important to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that the alleger is a serial blackmailer and extorter. We are also aware that the hidden motive is to reduce the popularity of the Governor and consequently affect the anticipated quantum of APC votes from Kano in the 2019 general elections.

While the state government is taking the legal action, we wish to assure the good people of Kano that His Excellency will remain focus and continue with laudable programmes that will add value to the lives of the people of Kano State. We also call on the general public, especially members of the APC to remain calm and always be law abiding.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army has arrested an informant and killed some armed bandits in some troubled areas in Kaduna state.

The 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna, on Sunday killed armed bandit in Kidandan and arrested an informant at Doka-Rijana road both in Birnin Gawri and Kachia Local Government area in Kaduna State.

The 1 Division, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Col. Muhammad Dole said in Kaduna on Sunday that the troops acted under Operation Whirl Punch continue to clear bandits, kidnappers, recover arms and destroy their camps.

He also disclosed that in another successful operation, a combined effort between the troops and local vigilante group raided an identified camp in Kidandan general area.

As a result, one bandit was neutralised, others escaped with gun shots injuries and one AK 47 rifle with 25 rounds of 7.62mm Special was recovered.

Dole said acting on reliable information on activities of kidnappers at Unguwar Maigwari, troops swung into action, raided an identified kidnappers camps along Doka Rijana Road.

The Camps were discovered to have been littered with emptied alcoholic bottles, used syringes and some narcotic substances.

During the raid, one informant was arrested and three Dane guns were recovered. he said

The spokesman said on Oct. 9, troops launched raid operation in Kamuku Forest where bandits used to harbour and plan their nefarious activities.

Several bandits were killed and the camps destroyed.

He, however, said the troops under OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH will continue to raid all suspected camps and maintain aggressive patrols in order to ensure safety of lives and properties of the innocent citizens.

The level of cooperation and support from the locals is highly appreciated and they are urged to sustain it so as to be able to eliminate the criminals in our midst. Dole said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a socio-political organisation of the North, has split over former President Olusegun Obasanjos declaration and endorsement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, PDPs presidential candidate for 2019 election.

ACF reacted to its General Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sanis description of Obasanjo as suffering from a dearth of vision, conviction and consistency required of a statesman, reports.

The northern organisation has suddenly realised that it was not in the character of the forum to attack the views of former Nigerian leaders.

It is not in the character of the forum to attack the views of former Nigerian leaders.

It is not in the character of ACF to attack the views or opinion of the former president and elder statesmen of Chief Obasanjos status on national issues in such uncomplimentary manner.

Chief Obasanjo as an elder statesman is entitled to his opinion on all issues including democracy, as he had previously endorsed presidential candidates.

The reaction to Sanis remarks was made by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, on Sunday, said.

Biu said that the purported interview granted by Sani was his personal views.

`It is not in the character of ACF to attack the views or opinion of the former president and elder statesmen of Chief Obasanjos status on national issues in such uncomplimentary manner, Chief Obasanjo as an elder statesman is entitled to his opinion on all issues including democracy, as he had previously endorsed presidential candidates.

ACF, therefore, dissociates itself from the contents of that interview granted by Mr Anthony Sani as it was not the position of ACF.

The views expressed by Anthony Sani were his personal views as an individual. For the avoidance of doubt, all ACF official statements on any matter come through and from the National Publicity Secretary only.

According to the , Sani attacked Obasanjos endorsement of former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,

He said Obasanjo is suffering from a dearth of vision and conviction required of a statesman.

Sani, an elder statesman, however noted that with the level of Obasanjos inconsistency, he may change his mind again and withdraw his support for Atiku before 2019.

Sani said Obasanjo as a statesman is expected to be an embodiment of national ideals and moral values for the nation.

He said that the way Obasanjo has conducted himself by tearing his PDPs card and saying he would no more play partisan politics and forming a movement which he said is third force only for him to convert it to a political party of ADC, culminating in the endorsement of former Vice President Atiku reeks of inconsistency which comes with a dearth of vision and conviction required of a statesman.

It is democracy in action which at once confirms the saying that the only thing that is permanent in politics is interest; no permanent friends or enemies.

If you consider what the former President has written about his former Vice President Abubakar Atiku to the extent of saying God would not forgive him if he endorsed Atiku for president, then you can hardly avoid the conclusion that common decency is yet to take root in our democracy, especially when regard is paid to the place of the former president in the order of things in Nigeria.

President Obasanjo is a statesman who is expected to be an embodiment of national ideals and moral values for the nation. But the way he has conducted himself by tearing his PDP card and saying he would no more play partisan politics and forming a movement which he said is third force only for him to convert it to a political party of ADC, culminating in the endorsement of former VP Atiku reeks of inconsistency that comes with dearth of vision and conviction required of statesmen.

That may explain why most Nigerians may be curt and dismissive of the former president out of fear that he is just like a reed who can change his mind before the day of elections in 2019, quoted Sani as saying.

Source: and

Source: NAN

The Presidency has denied issuing a list of Nigerians affected by a travel ban as it also clarified that the Executive Order No. 6 is not a political weapon against opposition but part of revolutionary efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity issued the clarification today after a national newspaper published a list containing 50 names of people cutting across the two main political parties and the military establishment.

I want to confirm to you that we have not issued any list and we are not doing so, the presidential aide said.

These cases are well known and to say this or that name is on it will open the door to further accusations, including trial by media.

The Immgration Service and other security agencies have the mandate of the President to carry out enforcement and they will do so giving due respects to individual rights, in line with the constitution,he said.

The presidential aide was reacting to a trail of criticisms over the implementation of the EO6 by the federal government.

Shehu dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that the activation of the EO 6 was targeted at some individuals or politicians in the country.

EO 6 is not only revolutionary to the efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption but a manifestation of systemic changes that are required to make necessary adjustments as we carry on with the war against corruption.

The very essence of the order is to make for speedy trials and conclusion of graft cases.

The order is not politics and there is no political gain behind its activation.

These high profile cases we are talking about have been ongoing for between seven to 10 years with no end in sight. These cases were mostly originated by administrations other than this one.

What is clear is that the access to these resources by the suspects has enabled them to be in a composition to sometime compromise investigation, prosecution and trial.

He further explained that, in most of the cases, the courts were held in a helpless position by legal acrobatics paid for from corrupt enrichment by the suspects.

He, therefore, expressed the hope that the new measures put in place would compel everyone involved to make for a speedy conclusion of these cases.

If it is your money, you have it back. If it belongs to the public, it goes back to the treasury, he said.

Shehu added that the question of the constitutionality of the restriction order had been answered by the fact that a court of the land has given government a clean sheet.

The Executive Order is legal and constitutional and therefore implementable.

One of the cardinal objectives of the government under our constitution is to fight corruption. Fighting corruption is a responsibility and obligation upon the government, he further maintained.

Source: NAN

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporate (NNPC) and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu said the huge gas deposit in the country was a veritable tool for economic diversification.

They both made the assertion on Monday at the Nigerian Gas Association 11th International Conference and Exhibition holding in Abuja.

Presenting a keynote address, Baru said Nigeria was more of a gas than an oil nation.

He spoke on the topic `Gas as catalyst for sustainable national growth.

With the huge deposit of gas in the country, it is germane that we leverage on the potential to grow our economy.

Gas has significant impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as it impacts on agriculture, power and other sectors which influences economic growth, he said.

He noted that in the last eight years, government had invested in about 500 km of gas pipeline infrastructure adding that there was the need for more to be done.

In the last eight years, we have completed and commissioned over 500 km gas pipelines which are now delivering gas to our power plants and industries.

Some of the completed pipelines include the Oben-Geregu (196km), Escarvos-Warri-Oben (110km), Emuren-Itoki (50km), Itoki-Olurunshogo (31km), Imo River -Alaoji (24km) and Ukanafun-calabar pipelines (128km).

He said that the corporation under the current administration had invested in gas pipeline projects and also signed MOUs on gas development.

Baru said the NNPC is completing the construction of the 48 inches by 130km Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (0B3) East-west interconnection pipelines which would deliver 2Bscdf of gas.

We expect to complete and commission this pipeline early 2019.

In addition, we are completing the expansion of the existing Escravos to Lagos pipeline (ELPS) to double the installed capacity of ELPS from 1.1Bscfd to 2.2Bscfd.

This will be commissioned by the end of this year, he added.

Commenting on gas production, he said that the current average gas production in the country was in the region of 8.5Bscfd, out of which about 43 per cent or 3.7Bscfd was exported.

He added that 3.2 per cent or 2.7Bscfd was utilised for gas re-injection or gas lift, 18 per cent or 1.5 Bscfdwas for domestic and industrial use.

According to him, the balance of 7 per cent or 0.6Bscfd is flared daily.

This he said was unfortunate adding that efforts were on to stop the gas flaring.

Baru further noted that pipeline vandalism, funding among others remained a major challenge in the effort to develop the sector.

In his remarks, Kachikwu reiterated the need to create enabling environment for gas to lead in the economic diversification in the country.

He said that Nigeria had all it takes to broaden its economy through gas, given its huge deposit of natural gas.

The minister commended entrepreneurs striving to develop the sector andassured of improved policy and legal framework for the growth of the sector.

He said that a review of the 2008 gas policy was on going to tackle all issues concerning the gas sector.

Source: NAN

Ebere Agozie

Participants at the just concluded 3rdSouth-West Agro-ecological Biosafety Workshop, have endorsed the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the agriculture sector to boost food security in the country.

Participants at the workshop held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, were drawn from universities and research institutes.

Dr Rose Gidado, an Assistant Director, National Biotechnology Development Agency(NABDA), via a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, noted that the Nigeria Academy of Science, had earlier endorsed GMOs.

The endorsement came a year after the countrys topmost scientific body, the Nigeria Academy of Science equally urged government to roll out the technology in all areas to ensure Nigeria benefit maximally from it.

Gidado, who is also the CountryCoordinator, Open Forum on AgriculturalBiotechnology(OFAB), said scientists were of the view that although government action was belated, it was better now than never.

Gidado stressed that technology remains one of the most viable options for the country to enhance its food security strategies as well as provide healthy food for its growing population.

Professors in various aspects of biosciences were of the view that government in its wisdom has set in motion all the necessary machinery needed to enable the technology take effective root in the country.

This it did by establishing the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) as the promoter of the technology over 15 years ago, and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) as the regulatory in the last three years, Gidado said.

Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, who spoke, said that government economic diversification plan to reposition agriculture as the main stay of the economy would be achieved if conventional agriculture give way to modern tools such as biotechnology.

Conventional agriculture has led to food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the country.

As the debate on the use of biotechnology for food production continues in the country, opportunity must be given to scientists and scientific evidence to prove that GM foods are safe as any other food from conventional sources.

Ogunbodede added that with the National Biosafety Policy in place, the legal framework had been established for the safe and responsible application of modern biotechnology in the country.

Prof. Bamidele Solomon of the Chemical Engineering Department, OAU, and Chairman, Ife Biotechnology Group, listed some of the challenges of food security.

The challenges include climate change, persisting pest infestations, declining soil nutritional quality, gradual reduction in arable land use due to the pressures of urbanisation.

But modern biotechnology has been identified as an important tool that can help countries like Nigeria achieve food security and food sufficiency, industrial growth, health improvement and environmental sustainability.

According to Solomon, modern biotechnology is a technique used for genetic improvements that is more efficient and precise compared to conventional breeding, he said.

Prof. Durotoluwa Oyedele, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, OAU, said that biotechnology has the potential to increase agricultural productivity, enhance food security, move agriculture away from dependence on chemical inputs and reduce environmental problems.

It is important we come to the realisation that food security and agricultural productivity depend largely on domestication of biotechnology, he added.

Dr Babatunde Ogundare, the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science, OAU, said Nigeria must step out of the political campaign involving GMOs and focus more on scientific information backed by evidence.

We are currently faced with issues of hunger and food insecurity, therefore all hands must be on deck to think of the most appropriate strategy that will make safe and healthy food available to all Nigerians.

Food is the only thing left for the common man, it must not be contaminated, and it must be free, he added.

Source: NAN

By Gami Tadanyigbe

AME Trade Limited, an independent business to business event organiser, has concluded plans for the 10th Africa Public Private Partnership (PPP) Conference and Showcase scheduled to hold from Oct. 24 to Oct. 25 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Ms Justine Delvoux, AME Trades Marketing Executive, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to the statement, AME Trades business to business events, provides vital practical information for companies looking to diversify and realign their business strategies to keep up with global trends.

Delvoux revealed that the event was sponsored by Nedbank CIB, Almar Water Solutions, Allen and Overy and Kukuza, with the support of NEPAD group.

The forum brings together various PPP units, project developers, financiers, multilateral institutions, legal advisors and other international key PPP stakeholders.

The 10th edition of Africa PPP will be focusing on Energy, Transport and Water partnerships.

Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille, and the Chief Executive Officer of WESGRO, Tim Harris will be addressing at the opening ceremony.

47 expert speakers, from private and public sector, will share their expertise, present project opportunities and debate current and future state of PPP in the African Continent.

The specialised conference has already over 130 confirmed high-level delegates from the related industries.

The Africa PPP Conference will showcase over 48 PPP projects spanning across the African continent.

She said that the projects would be presented by different PPP units from 12 African countries.

The marketing executive said that since its inception in 2009, Africa PPP had become a key platform for industry stakeholders to meet, discuss, debate and share PPP plans.

She said that to commemorate the completion of a decade, there was a new addition to the agenda.

There will be a pre-conference CPD certified training focusing on Project Preparation Skills Development for Bankable PPPs on Oct. 23rd.

Delvoux said that the workshop would be addressed by Norma Sephuma, PPP Consultant, Sheila Galloway, Group Chief Executive Officer, Utho Capital, Kantha Rattay, Legal Consultant, KR Consulting and Mari Bruwer, Founder, MCA Consulting.

According to her, the workshop will enable the participants to delve into practical case studies and learn the essentials of how to develop project assessment methodology.

She added that that AME Trade was one of the leading providers of strategic business intelligence for the African, Middle Eastern and South American regions.

Our guest speakers include: Keeta Shisholeka, Director, PPP Unit, Ministry of Finance, Zambia, Samuel Joseph, Chief General Manager, Export-Import Bank of India.

Also in the guests list are Shaheed Alli, Principal: Infrastructure, Private Sector and TMT Finance, Nedbank, Symerre Grey Johnson, Head of Regional integration Infrastructure and Trade, NEPAD.

Others are Judith Nyakawa, Acting Director of PPP Unit, National Treasury, Kenya, Ben Brimble, Project Manager, Windlab, Lucy Chege, Head Energy, Environment and Information Communications Technologies (ICT),

Source: NAN

By Hamza Suleiman

The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), on Monday donated relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Dalori Camp, Maiduguri.

The items donated include mattresses, pillow, rice, bucket, soaps, and wrappers.

President of the association and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Hajiya Asta Ibrahim, who led other police officers wives to the camp,said the gesture was to share love and care with the IDPs, currently facing consequences of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North/East region.

I am extremely happy to be with you here in Dalori Camp, as the President of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA).

I am here with some of my management team and executives to visit you and share love and care with you.

The Police Officers Wives Association is known for its humanitarian, charitable and philanthropic gestures.

We are here, therefore, to showcase these and extend our hands of fellowship in your present predicament.

I assure you that God has not abandoned you, keep your faith alive, by the grace of God, this menace shall be eliminated and peace shall reign supreme once more, she stated.

In her remarks, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the wife of Borno Governor, commended the gesture, saying that it would go a long way in providing succour to the beneficiaries.

Shettima urged wealthy individuals and philanthropists to assist thousands of widows and children orphaned by insurgency in the state.

Zainab Bukar, one of the IDPs, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), expressed appreciation to the association for coming to theiraid at this crucial time.

She also commended Shettima for supporting widows, orphans and other vulnerable persons under her pet programme, SWOT Foundation.

Source: NAN

(dpa/NAN) Egypts top appeals court on Monday upheld a three-year prison sentence and hefty damages on deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on charges of insulting the judiciary, state media reported.

The Court of Cassation also confirmed the same sentence for 19 other defendants in the same case.

The initial sentence was issued in 2017 by the Cairo Criminal Court that convicted Morsi of defaming the judiciary in a televised speech he made in 2013 when he was in power.

In his speech, Morsi accused a judge of overseeing fraud in previous elections.

The criminal court had also ordered Morsi to pay one million Egyptian pounds (56,270 dollars) in damages to that judge.

Five other defendants were ordered to pay a fine of 30,000 Egyptian pounds each in the case.

They include Alaa Abdel-Fatah, a leading pro-democracy campaigner, who rose to prominence during the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time dictator Hosny Mubarak.

Morsi, Egypts first democratically elected president was toppled by the army in mid-2013 following mass protests against his rule.

He has been tried in several different cases since his ouster.

Morsi is serving a final sentence of 20 years in prison in a separate case related to inciting deadly attacks on anti-Islamist protesters in 2012.

In 2017, the Court of Cassation upheld a separate 25-year jail sentence for Morsi on charges of harming national security by leaking secret state documents to his ally Qatar while he was in office.

Source: NAN