news page 10

news page 10

2 boats conveying 671 bags of rice arrested

From Eyo Charles, Calabar

Two boats were arrested yesterday on the Nigerian waters carrying 671 bags of rice from Cameroon.

Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, outgoing Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command said another reason they had to arrest the boats was because only one of the 22 passengers had valid traveling documents.

The outgoing FOC said that the boats were arrested by his men who were on board Nigerian Navy Ship Makurdi while on routine sea patrol.

“One of the boats was carrying 14 Nigerians with 550 bags of rice, while the other carried eight Cameroonians with 121 bags of rice. The two boats were arrested because the passengers on board had no valid traveling document. We want to search them and see what they are up to. Because, out of the 22 of them, only one woman has a valid traveling passport that can be identified,” he explained.

He maintained that they were very concerned about security on the water ways, for which reason he said the navy would continue to maintain their presence at sea.

Yobe to relocate IDPs in govt established camps soon

From Hamisu Kabir Matazu, Damaturu

The Yobe State Government is making arrangement to officially relocate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in government established camps to their communities with relief package to help them survive until farming activities pick up.

The Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Musa Idi Jidawa, disclosed this yesterday after distribution of food and non-food Items to 5,000 returnees in Goniri town.

He said that the food and water provided to the IDPs who returned voluntarily to the liberated communities was a supportive role played by the state government to cushion their suffering.

“We are waiting for security clearance to officially relocate IDPs from camps in Damaturu to their ancestral homes, with exit package that would help them to survive until farming activities pick up,” he said.

Jidawa said the state government was concentrating on the immediate needs of the returnees in terms of food and water, adding that government would soon go into rehabilitation of infrastructure like schools, hospitals and other critical sectors to address their plights

The Yobe state commissioner of Education, also Chairman, sub-committee on Food distribution and Resettlement of the IDPs, Alhaji Mohammed Lamin, said the food stuff would last for some months before they settle down for agriculture and some economic activities to fend for themselves.

The food items distributed to the returnees include rice 540 bags, millet 190 bags, beans 600 bags, vegitable oil 80 rubia, and indomie 150 cartons. Non-food items are wrappers, brocades, nylon mats, and mosquito nets.

Ugwuanyi reassures foreign investors as investment summit kicks off

From Tony Adibe, Enugu

The Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi hosted foreign and local investors at the Government House yesterday as both parties agreed to make the on-going Enugu International Investment Summit a mutually beneficial event.

Some of foreigners who arrived first yesterday were the Consul General of the Embassy of France in Nigeria, Laurent Polonceaux, a Nigeria director of a French group known as Proparco, Olivier Follin, the Irish

Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy as well as director of an Irish

organization, Sustainable Food Systems Ireland.

Speaking during a brief ceremony at the Government House, Enugu when he received the guest who came for the summit, Governor Ugwuanyi told his visitors: “This summit is the first of its kind in our state and it would showcase its importance to the world. Through this summit, we are also prepared to add value to what we

have in our dear state. Enugu state is richly endowed with a lot of

variables that when exploited appropriately would spin economic

bounties.

Banks rush to remit old taxes in Plateau

From Hir Joseph, Jos

Three banks operating branches in Plateau State have rushed to remit taxes to the state Inland Revenue Service (PSIRS) after the service served them with legal notices from a special tribunal set up to try tax evaders, Dashe Arlat, acting chairman of the service has said.

“You know, after we served them with legal notices, they rushed to pay. One has already paid while two others have sent their directors who have called for discussions to remit the taxes,” Arlat told Daily Trust on phone yesterday, adding, “We had taken them to the tribunal and we got a disclaimer and have served them for not remitting tax audit liabilities in 2013 and 2014.”

Daily Trust reported last week that the PSIRS was compelled to run to the special court on tax evaders to seek the trial of certain banks, luxury hotels, and brothels which the service is yet to name, after compiling their list.

1 out of 3 suffers chronic malnutrition in Nasarawa

From Hassan Ibrahim, Lafia

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Iya, has said that one out of every three children in the state suffers chronic malnutrition of long standing duration.?

Iya who said this yesterday in Lafia at an advocacy/sensitization meeting for policy makers and nutrition stakeholders to scale up in nutrition in Nasarawa State, said, “This worrisome statistics is a pointer to us that all hands must be on deck to ensure that corrective measures are put in place to stem the tide of malnutrition in our dear state and to save our children of physical, mental and social handicap.”?

?Iya explained that although the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health was willing to create the enabling environment in terms of policy and strategies to fight malnutrition, it would need the support of other sister ministries to achieve its goal.?

Earlier in her remark, a representative of the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Mrs Florence Oni, said that her organization was committed to supporting states 100 per cent of Vitamin A supplement for children from 0 to 6 years.????

Imo Speaker tasks communities on economic facilities

From Johnkennedy Uzoma,Owerri

Communities in Imo state have been advised to make judicious use of economic facilities established in their domain

Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Acho Ihim, who doubles as the Vice President, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African Region, made the appeal yesterday during the foundation laying ceremony of Isu Local Government Area Automobile Park, near the council headquarters.

He said that the present administration was determined to establish social amenities that would alleviate people’s sufferings in all parts of the state.

“It is instructive that our people should make judicious and profitable use of such facilities in their areas,” warning that the automobile parks were not only a safe haven for commuters but also something that acts as confluences for vehicles and safety of travellers in the state.

He expressed optimism that such facilities would play significant roles in promoting tourism potentials of the state which cumulatively improves the economy through job creation for the teeming population of Imo citizenry.

Some indigenes of the area, who spoke at the event, commended the Speaker for being part of the ceremony and the state government, for bringing the facility to the area.