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Dr Victor Adeniran, the Executive Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a viable sector to get the nation out of economic recession.
Adeniran told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the present downturn in the economy had drawn out the importance of Agriculture in the drive towards our economic revival.
He said in spite of the fact that oil sector had provided the mainstay of the economy of Nigeria over the years, "the reality is that we must revive our agriculture to exit from economic recession".
Adeniran said that it was in realisation of this fact that the NNPC was planning to invest heavily into the cultivation of Jathropha, a plant that had a lot of value for production of bio fuels, as an alternative to fossil fuels.
"This investment will boost employment generation, with catalyse agricultural linkage with oil and gas which is desirable for economic growth, " he said.
He called on agricultural based communities to realise their potential in the scheme of things and be prepared to harness the renewed focus on agriculture.
He also called for the revival of the Orin-Ekiti farm settlement scheme and other farm settlements created by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to make them the pivot of youth empowerment in this period of recession.
"Farmers and those who add value to farm produce are the ones who can benefit from the current foreign exchange regime.
"Our youths should be encouraged to embrace this agriculture initiative as a way to solve the unemployment quagmire that stare us in the face, " he said.
Air traffic controllers have declared a state of emergency on the communication facilities at the nation's airports "in view of their epileptic conditions and the danger posed to air travel.''
"We are heavily disturbed by the deplorable state of the communication facilities; in view of their relevance to airspace travel, we want urgent steps to upgrade them if we indeed care for safety on our airways," the controllers said on Monday.
The document was signed by Mr Victor Eyaru and Banji Olawode, President and Secretary General of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), respectively.
The air controllers particularly decried the poor state of the controller/pilot VHf communication coverage of the country's airspace, and declared that it constituted a heavy risk since it did not meet required standard.
They said said that the "horrible facilities" were dangerous to the safety of pilots, aircrafts and passengers operating within the Nigerian airspace.
The controllers also observed that Nigeria had consistently lost enormous foreign exchange because many aircrafts operating within the upper space usually avoided its airspace.
They further pointed out that the inability of air traffic controllers to communicate effectively with pilots over the years had negatively affected the health of air traffic controllers, hence the need for urgent attention.
The Federal Government, they said, must investigate the status of the communication facilities and take steps to reform the system "within three months".
"After three months, if nothing tangible is done, the air traffic controllers may be left with no option than to take necessary actions," they said.
They also noted that the workings of radar equipment had become `appalling", leading to frequent failures.
"The lifespan of the equipment has expired; it requires urgent replacement or upgrade.
"The replacement process should involved active air traffic controllers and be handled in a transparent way in the best interest of the nation," they said.
The workers also decried the mass shortage of air traffic controllers, noting that the nation had "just 300" to cater for 32 airport control towers.
"The situation is a sharp contrast to South Africa that has more than 500 air controller to cater for 22 towers," they said.
The association urged the Federal Government to recruit more air traffic controllers into the system "in the interest of safety".
It expressed ample support to government's stance against corruption and urged that it be extended to the civil service to rid the system of corrupt elements whose actions had hurt the country.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum has appealed to Nigerians to show more understanding, support and cooperation as the Buhari Administration strives towards meeting genuine national aspirations for better and prosperous Nigeria.
Chairman of the Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state made the appeal while briefing newsmen after a closed-door meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Forum.
While restating their resolve to support the President in the implementation of the Change Nigeria project, the Governor assured Nigerians that their suffering will soon be over.
The APC Governors also used the forum to congratulate the President for the Bumper harvest being witnessed this year as well as the release of 21 abducted chibok school girls.
Protesters on Monday blocked the Uselu/Ugbowo section of the Benin-Lagos highway over plans by Egor Local Government Area of Edo to relocate traders.
The protesters, under the aegis of Uselu Market Women Association, were resisting the directive to move to lock-up stores built by the council.
Motorists trapped along the Benin-Lagos highway following the protest
The women, displaying placards, blocked both sides of the highway, preventing motorists from continuing with their trips.
Some of the women said the N1.2 million charged for the stalls was too expensive for them, especially given the type of businesses most of them do.
The women said their problem was compounded by the action of the local council, which commenced the removal of their make shift shops on Monday.
Mrs Celena Okon, one of the market women, described the council's action "as an act of wickedness", in view of the current economic situation in the country.
"What am I selling that you will force me to pay over a million naira for a single store? I believe they should consider the worth of our businesses individually.
"Where do you expect a woman who sells only crayfish or tomatoes to get such a ridiculous amount of money to pay, when in actual fact most are in dire need of additional funds to grow their businesses," Okon said.
Another market woman, Mrs Imade Osifo, who described the situation as pathetic, said their decision to barricade the highway was for the world to know what they were going through.
She said, "They want to force us to go into the stores and we have told them that we cannot afford the stores; that is why they are destroying our businesses."
Mrs Osifo also alleged that the council was "insensitive to them", especially against the backdrop of the different fees levied to allow them do business in the market.
"When the plan to construct these lock-up stores came up, they (Council) told us that the prices will be pocket friendly, especially to some of us involved in petty trading.
"But what do we have now, N1.2 million for a store is a price that most of us cannot afford; there is no way many of us can afford that now.
"Even if the country's economy was okay, how do you expect a woman who sells only salt and Maggi to generate such," Osifo asked.
All efforts to get authorities of Egor local council to comment on the situation proved abortive, as the Council's Head of Service was said to be unavailable.
When contacted on telephone, the Council's spokesman, Mrs Prisca Ebvadiaro, said she was not in the position to comment on the matter.
"I cannot speak on this; there is a committee that has been set up and as such, I cannot speak on it," Ebvadiaro said.
As at the time of filing the report, several motorists were stranded on the highway while other commuters have resorted to trekking to get to their destination.
The women resisted attempts by the police to get them off the road.
By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – A member of the House of Representatives, Barrister Rita Orji has threatened to lead protest in Lagos over what she described as outrageous billing system by the Electricity Distribution Companies.
The lawmaker has also raised the alarm that stealing of children in Ajegunle, Lagos State is now on the increase, accusing the Power Distribution Companies, Discos, in the state of being responsible as a result of total blackout in her constituency.
Orji who represents Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State said there will be no going back on the protest in Lagos especially in Ajegunle if the people responsible for distribution of power in her constituency failed to reconnect over 37 communities that were disconnected over 10 days ago.
Besides, she accused the Discos in the area of ‘defrauding’ the people by giving outrageous bills to them and had warned that the Electricity Companies should not take the peaceful disposition of her constituents for weakness.
The lawmaker who had sponsored a motion on Thursday last week for the investigation of the the Distribution Companies, on their ‘outrageous’ billing system which was adopted by the House of Representatives, lamented that her constituents were paying for darkness.
The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) on Monday urged parents and caregivers in the state to present their children for polio vaccination.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, made the plea at an event commemorating the 2016 World Polio Day in Kaduna.
Balarabe said that the Kaduna State Government was committed to total eradication of polio virus, urging parents to ensure that their children were not left out in the exercise.
She said that the Day was an opportunity for the state government to renew its promise of polio-free world to future generation.
"Tremendous achievements were recorded from December 2012 to date.
"Nigeria recorded only four cases of Wild Polio Virus in Borno this year (2016) as against zero cases over the same period last year.
"Kaduna State in particular did not record any case of wild polio virus since November, 2012," the executive secretary said.
Balarabe said that following intensified efforts to ensure total eradication of polio in the state, the agency, in collaboration with all development partners working in the state, planned to celebrate the World Polio Day.
She said that the event would give opportunity to all stakeholders to rub minds on the successes and challenges recorded and devise ways of making the state polio-free.
Balarabe said that the event would feature lectures, rallies and distribution of communication materials to create public awareness.
The Federal Government has blamed the low level implementation of annual budgets and national development plans in the public service on capacity gaps in the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs Fatima Mede, said this in a statement on Monday after a training for budget and planning officers of federal MDAs in Kano.
The training was organised and conducted by the Centre for Management Development (CMD).
CMD was established by the Federal Government as the operational arm of the Nigerian Council for Management Development (NCMD).
The Centre commenced operations in 1973, although it only derived its legal backing by an Act of 1976.
It is also actively involved in the regulation of standards, development of managerial manpower for the country and a broad range of skills to enhance the quality of management and leadership for the attainment of national economic goals.
Mede, who was represented by Mr Aminu Yargaya, also blamed some government agencies for not being able to effectively formulate or implement sector plans or annual budgets.
She said that countries like China, Malaysia and Indonesia were growing successfully and sustaining rapid developments because of their consistent implementation of National Development Plans.
She said that in order to contend the gap, the ministry embarked on a capacity training for budget and planning officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
"The Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning is conducting a rigorous capacity building programme on planning, plan formulation and effective linkage to the budgeting process for Budget and Planning Officers
"This would be done for officers of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies as part of the process in the preparation of the 2017 Budget as well as the 2017/19 Strategic Plan,''Mede stated.
Mede said due to the present economic crises that was resulting in negative consequences on revenues, there was the need for effective planning and budget implementation to achieve value for money.
She explained that expenditures were now tied to the country's needs for maximum impact on the lives of the citizens.
"This is buttressed by the introduction of such economic and fiscal policies as Zero-based-Budgeting (ZBB), Treasury Single Account (TSA), Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the Restructuring of the Budget Framework.
"This is in favor of capital expenditure among other policies,'' she said.
She further said that the training was imperative as it would enable government to derive ways of reducing economic wastes and technical challenges.
Dr Kabir Usman, Director-General, CMD, said the Federal Government was working diligently to ensure a knowledge based society to create opportunity in the culture of strategic planning and planning for implementation.
He said that when this was done, it would help ensure that "we put every Kobo into a good use".
"This requires directors of planning, research and statistics across the Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies to have the rudimentary skills to be able to craft the 2017 budget for the change agenda.
"It informed the decision of the Federal Government to assign the CMD to add skills and create capacity of directors responsible for preparation of budget and planning.
"Ours is to train the planners of the budget to enable them to articulate the priority areas of the government for maximum economic growth and development in the country,'' he added.
Usman expressed optimism that the participants would utilise the knowledge they acquired as well as extend same to their colleagues who had no opportunity to attend the programme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 250 Budget and Planning Officers from Federal the MDAs attended the Kano workshop.
The first batch of the training was held earlier in the month in Lagos.
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen in defence of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, dismissing calls for his resignation led by the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following allegations by some recently arrested Judges that he tried to influence their rulings on some election petition cases.
Rivers APC in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt and signed by the State APC Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, insisted that Amaechi is clean and not guilty as charged. "We are convinced that God, who has always fought for Amaechi, will continue to save and strengthen him and will once again vindicate him," the party said.
It lambasted both Rivers PDP, the National PDP and others who have joined in calling on Amaechi to resign and for his probe based on the allegations of attempted bribery levelled by some sponsored and drowning judges who were looking for a tool to stay afloat as not only vindictive, shameless, laughable, mischievous but exposure of a clique that is so desperate to expose and express their ignorance and evil plots against a man whom they see as the arrowhead that dislodged them from power at the centre. Amaechi and Justice Ngwuta
"These calls being championed by the PDP are just the latest manifestation of the party's frustration and fight against Amaechi in retaliation for his role in dislodging the PDP Government at the centre during the 2015 presidential elections. These useless calls based on the unfounded and baseless attempted bribery allegations against the former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation confirms our fears and stand that the two discredited Justices made these allegations as part of a political strategy to destroy APC and run down the political fortunes of this rising star. PDP is only acting out its frustration over the key role that Amaechi played to end the corruption system engineered by the past PDP administration at the centre but let us assure the public that this plot has already failed before it was hatched because no sound Nigerian will buy this lame allegation that have no logical stand," Rivers APC said.
The party recalled the failed plots by PDP to deny Amaechi the party’s gubernatorial ticket he won convincingly in 2007 and the efforts PDP also made to ensure that Amaechi was neither screened nor appointed as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "Having failed to deny him the 2007 PDP gubernatorial ticket and to stop his appointment as a Minister, PDP is now sponsoring some unpatriotic, chronic corrupt and confused Judges to start mentioning Amaechi's name in the hope that doing so will save them from paying for their heinous crime against the people of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole," the statement said.
Continuing, Rivers APC said: "We wish to counsel the Justices already arrested for corruption to be men enough and face their trial accordingly and leave Amaechi alone. Amaechi's only crime was that he played a yeoman's role in the efforts to see to the emergence of the revered Muhammadu Buhari as the President of Nigeria who, imbued with God's wisdom and strength, has launched an uncompromising war against those who looted our common patrimony who in retaliation are frustrating the economic recovery of our dear country by promoting insecurity in our country.
"We will like to reiterate unequivocally that Amaechi is not only clean but a tool to free Nigeria from the corruption imposed on us by those who hate our nation. He demonstrated his sagacity and prudence by saving a whopping sum of N134.4 billion (Using N168 to $1 as it was in 2014 when the contract was first signed under Jonathan’s Administration) for the nation by negotiating downwards the planned 1,402km Calabar-Lagos Coastal Rail Project. "Rt. Hon. Amaechi has by this singular act demonstrated to the entire world that he is one of the Saints in the public service of our great nation."
As much as we sympathise with PDP in its failed plot and wild chase to silence and intimidate Amaechi, let us remind them that Amaechi will never be cowed as fighting against him means fighting against God and failure will always be their portion but incase they have forgotten so soon, Chibuike means "God is all Powerful" and "Rotimi" an abridged version of "Oluwadurotimi" meaning "the Lord stands by me", while Amaechi means "who knows tomorrow?" It is, however, in vain that these chronic looters and enemies of Nigeria are fighting against Amaechi as he is innocent of the charges against him and bound to triumph at the end of the day.
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday said it would create a Specialists Unit to deal with the rising cases of cybercrime in the country.
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris,disclosed this at a three-day Training Workshop on Cybercrime for police officers in Abuja.
Idris was represented by AIG Umar Shehu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence department.
He said that the training further demonstrated the commitment of the force to check cybercrime in the country.
He said that the workshop would focus on scientific police investigation processes, tools and techniques for tackling cybercrime, among others.
"We are building on our existing forensic and cybercrime facilities in order to successfully tackle the menace of this complex crime.
"Apart from setting up a dedicated forensic and cybercrime unit, we are going to continue to educate our rank and file on ICT,"he said.
The I-G said that the force was also providing up-to-date training and retraining to the rank and file.
He said that there was a need for collaboration between the police and the Cybercrime Advisory Council Office and other stakeholders to check the threat.
He reiterated the commitment of the force to do everything within its powers to tackle cybercrime.
"As you can see, the challenges we face in policing cybercrime are multidimensional,"he said.
Earlier, Prof. Olu Ogunshaki of the DFID and Technical Advisor to the I-G on ICT, said that cybercrime would continue to rise unless there was collaboration to fight it.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, said Nigeria was losing about N127 billion to cybercrime annually.
NAN reports that the workshop would be organised in all the zones and Police Colleges.
Mr Jiten Vyas, Chief Operating Officer of VFS Global in Africa on Monday cautioned Nigerians against patronising touts and entities using his organisation's name to defraud visa applicants.
Vyas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that unsuspecting Nigerians should know that his organisation had no dealings with touts promising jobs or immigration abroad to them.
"VFS Global is appointed by the client, Governments to assist with visa application processing and consular support services.
"VFS offices are centrally located with longer working hours and offer one-stop-shop service to applicants.
"We often find that many applicants fall prey to touts and entities that use our good reputation to make them false promises of jobs or immigration in foreign countries.
"I want to advise Nigerian citizens to be wary of these scams, considering that they risk being defrauded,'' he said.
Vyas enjoined applicants to be wary of touts and personally visit VFS Global website or mobile App for the necessary visa application requirements and processes.
He said that it was imperative for Nigerians to know that VFS Global was appointed by the client, Governments to assist with visa application processing and consular support services.
Vyas said governments had saddled only his organisation with visa application processing and consular support, including information dissemination, checking and acceptance of documents, telephone and e-mail help lines.
He noted that the collection, remittance of fees, biometric enrolment, data reconciliation and return of passports were his organisation's duties.
"Be wary of these scams, considering the risk they run of being defrauded.
"It is always better for applicants to visit the website or the VFS Global mobile App to gain visa information first-hand and better understand requirements and the process.
"Please also remember that VFS Global in Nigeria will never request for money or payments over the phone and operates in a highly secure environment,'' he said.
Three-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will have to take on Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale for the Ballon d’Or.
Both were on the 2016 longlist announced Monday which also featured Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Borussia Dortmund’s Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Juventus veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Manchester United’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also on the list, while Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was expected to be added later.
Ballon d’Or sponsors France Football magazine, who are organising the trophy on their own after the end of their partnership with FIFA, are releasing the names of the 30 players in batches of five over the course of Monday.
Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008 and 2013-14, set himself up for a fourth Ballon d’Or when captaining Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and helping Real Madrid to an 11th Champions League triumph.
Bale and Ronaldo
Another player to make the list is Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, one of the stars for hosts and beaten finalists France at Euro 2016.
One man not included is Griezmann’s compatriot Karim Benzema, the Real Madrid striker’s year having been overshadowed by the sextape blackmail affair which led to him being frozen out of the national team ahead of the Euros.
The winner will be determined by a vote of journalists — players (national team captains) and managers will no longer have a say after the ending of the five-year deal between France football and FIFA.
The first Ballon d’Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.
Last year’s honour went to Ronaldo’s arch rival Messi, who won it for the fifth time.
A Georgian teenager Reuben Nsemoh has cheated death after he survived a life-threatening head injury on a football pitch that sent him into coma for three days.
According to Fox News, Nsemoh, the 16-year-old goalkeeper at Brookwood High School, was kicked in the head weeks ago diving for a loose ball, his third concussion.
Reuben Nsemoh, a Georgian who came back to life after three days in coma
He stopped breathing and was in a coma for three days.
When he woke up, he couldn't speak English, but he was able to speak fluent Spanish, a language he couldn't speak before.
The teen told WSB radio in Georgia he thinks maybe he picked it up from his friends and his brother.
As his ability to speak English returned, his Spanish fluency has faded out, although he still continues to speak Spanish.
"My friends will always talk to me in Spanish; they teach me too," he said.
Nsemoh said he wants to return to playing football once he recovers, but his coach said he won't let him back without a helmet.
For now, the teenager hasn't returned to school as he continues to recover from the injury, and it's unclear when, or if, he'll be able to play again.
"Sometimes I daze out," the teen told WSB-TV. "Sometimes I feel like I'm not here, but I am."
The family has set up a GoFundMe page for his medical expenses.
It would be recalled that a young man in India who was presumed to have died after being bitten by a snake in July, rose up from the funeral pyre at the moment it was set on fire.
The 23-year-old man, named as Sandeep, was attacked while collecting wood from the forest.
When he arrived back in his village in the Raisen district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, he told his family about the snake bite.
Instead of taking Sandeep to a hospital, they brought him to a traditional tantric practitioner in a nearby village.
But the tantric's treatment proved ineffective and it was assumed the young man had passed away.
Villagers were left baffled at what to do because some in India claim that those who die of snake bites should be buried rather than burned.
In the end it was decided that his body was to be taken to the local cemetery where a funeral pyre was prepared.
But when the fire almost reached the body of Sandeep, the young man started to shout and people realised he was still alive.
Funeral attendees were stunned when the 23-year-old appeared to come back to life as his funeral pyre was set alight
Sandeep was taken to the same tantric practitioner instead of a hospital after he regained consciousness.
But again his life could not be saved, and the tantric declared Sandeep dead for the second time.
He was taken to the district hospital where a post-mortem examination took place.
The 2015/2016 NPFL Champions, Enugu Rangers are to be hosted by the government and people of the state on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20.
The Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Charles Ndukwe, made the disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Monday.
Ndukwe said that Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi wanted all stakeholders in the state, Nigeria and in the Diaspora to be part of the reception.
"Our governor has planned a grand and all-inclusive reception for our victorious Rangers, which will hold between Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.''
According to the commissioner, Ugwuanyi is not leaving any stone unturned toward giving a befitting honour to the victorious players and officials.
Rangers
"They have made Enugu State people and Igbos in general happy by winning the 2015/2016 NPFL trophy after 32 years.
"Past governors of the state, South East governors, national and state assembly lawmakers, political appointees and leaders of thought in the state are expected to be part of the grand reception in December,'' he stated.
Meanwhile, players and technical crew of Rangers are expected to return to camping immediately in a location yet to be determined by the technical team.
According to Rangers Media Director, Foster Chime, the team's Coach, Imama Amapakabo, is expected in Enugu on Oct. 31.
Chime noted that Amapakabo would be concluding issues relating to players to be retained, those to be placed on transfer market and programme for pre-camping.
"The Rangers management is also discussing with some partners and sponsors for the 2016/2017 Confederation of African Football and NPFL leagues.''
To curb increasing piracy of intellectual works, a motion picture practitioner, Mr Dele Odule, has urged the National Assembly members to initiate a bill that would apply stiffer penalties on pirates.
Odule, the National President, Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producer of Nigeria (TAMPPAN), made the call while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.
According to him, piracy is a global problem but is predominant in Nigeria due to the low penalty meted out to offenders and lack of actualisation of the law on the culprits.
"Film producers in Nigeria do not have retirement benefits like civil servants and our production is our benefit after retirement.
"But a situation where their works have been pirated, they are doomed and have a hopeless future,'' Odule said.
The TAMPPAN president called on the Federal Government to assist film producers by creating an enabling environment for the practice as in the developed countries.
"The Federal Government should try to build a large Film Village where practitioners will pay a token to the government, while TAMPAN members could be loaned the facilities at low interest rates,'' Odule said.
Eighty people have been confirmed dead and more than 600 others injured, three days after the derailment of a passenger train in Cameroon.
The Transport Minister, Edgar Mebe'Ngo'o, on Monday said in Yaounde that government was expecting the toll to rise further.
"There may still be corpses hidden in the rubbles, and we have critical cases in hospital," he said.
The minister said train, which had about 20 carriages, started developing problems near the town of Eseka, which is 120 kilometres from Yaounde, with coaches gradually detaching themselves.
"Four carriages crashed into a ravine and ejected passengers. Bodies were strewn at the site.
"The witnesses said some were mutilated beyond recognition,'' he said.
The witnesses said that the train, which was meant to carry 600 people, carried more than twice that amount because hundreds of extra passengers had sought rail transport after the collapse of a bridge blocked an alternative road route.
Cameroon's President Paul Biya on Sunday put the death toll at more than 70 and pledged to investigate the causes of the rail crash.
"I have ordered an indepth inquiry into the causes of this accident," Biya said.
Report said that rescue workers were still scouring wreckage for more bodies.
It said that some were still seeking news of friends and family members on hand-written lists of passengers pinned up outside medical centres in the two cities.
The report said that on Sunday, the government appealed for additional blood donations to assist with the treatment of some 600 people who suffered injuries.
Abuja – A 28-year–old woman, Jamila Idris, on Monday prayed a Grade 1 Area Court in Gudu, Abuja, to grant her the custody of her three children from her former husband, Umar Musa.
Jamila a tailor of Durunmi 3, Abuja, also prayed the court to order Musa to provide monthly N30,000 allowances for maintenance of the children.
She said the marriage, which contracted in 2007 produced three children, and was dissolved in July, 2016.
The mother of three told the court that all the children were in her custody when her former husband came and took them in September.
She told the court that when the children were of age they could be with their father.
"He doesn't know the pains of caring for a child. The day I went to his house, I saw my two-year-old son sleeping on the floor, exposed to the cold because it rained heavily that day.
"He cannot take proper care of the children because they are not under anybody's care''.
Musa in his response told the court that he had tried his best to settle with Idris and for them to be together with their children without success.
He told the court that he still loves his wife which was why he had not remarried, adding that since she had refused to settle, he took his children away from her custody.
The respondent said that the children would be with him since she was not breastfeeding any of them again.
"I can keep a close eye on my children if they are with me, if she refuses to be with me, she cannot refuse me seeing my children," he said.
The presiding judge, Malam Isah Imam, adjourned the case till Nov. 10 for continuation of hearing.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The National Judicial Council, NJC, Monday, inaugurated a 10-man Judicial Ethics Committee with a mandate to review the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in the country.
The Committee headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutugi, also has an erstwhile Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, as a member.
Other members of the Committee include former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, two retired Justices of the Supreme Court, as well as a former President of the NBA, Chief Okey Wali, SAN.
Commissioning the Committee at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, on Monday, the CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, tasked it “to do all such things necessary to ensure a continuous high standard of judicial accountability and probity”.
The Committee was further mandated to conduct periodic surveys on behalf of the NJC to measure public perception of level of compliance with ethical standards by the judiciary.Justice Mahmud Mohammed
As well as to, “Monitor and report on laxity by judicial officers in observance of ethical standards in the performance of judicial duties”.
Earlier, the NJC which is headed by the CJN, unveiled a new National Judicial Policy (NJP), which was described as a road map for effective Justice sector reform.
Former ICPC Chairman, Justice Ayoola who gave synopsis of the new policy, said it is a “codification of best ways to ensure an integrity driven judiciary whose hallmark is reliable and effective Justice system”.
Similarly, former CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher who was Chairman of the event, decried that the Nigerian judiciary hitherto lacked a clear and over-reaching policy structure that defined its core ethics.
He said the new judicial policy is “a laudable and exemplary document that will set a better focus for effective judicial system in the country”.
Legal luminaries at the unveiling ceremony included former CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais, CJN-designate, Justice Walter Onnoghen, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Administrator of the NJI, Justice R.I.P. Bozimo, as well as Chairman and Members of the Senate/House Committees on Judiciary.
Among issues covered by the new judicial blueprint are policies relating to appointment of judicial officers, Judicial Discipline Policy, Judicial Code of Conduct, Judicial Education and Training, Judicial Performance Policy, Access to Justice Policy, Case flow Management Policy, Judicial Administration and Court Management Policy.
Others are Transparency and Anti-Corruption Policy, Judicial Independence Policy, as well as issues relating to the office of the CJN.
Under the Judicial Code of Conduct Policy, Judges and Court employees were barred from accepting gifts from other arms of government.
According to the document, “Judges must be accountable for public funds and property in their care and should be prudent in the management and use of resources”.
Likewise, under Judicial Discipline Policy, allegation of misconduct against judicial officers or employees of the Judiciary shall not be leaked or published in the media.
It gave institutions of the judiciary concerned with investigation or implementation of decisions taken on complaints against Judicial Officers to cease further action where such complaints are leaked or discussed in the media.
The Judicial Appointment Policy stressed that the process must be transparent, merit-based and skill-based.
“A transparent and carefully designed appointment process is indispensable to an efficient and independent judiciary, able to command public confidence in the administration of justice and capable of promoting and protecting the rule of law and human rights.
“Every aspect of judicial appointment process should, therefore, be such as would command public respect and confidence that the best persons in terms of skill, learning, integrity and courage are appointed as judicial officers”, the document stated.
Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, is holding a meeting with the progressive governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation's capital.
Details of the meeting have not been made known to journalists at the time of this report. Speculations have it that the Governors may have been piqued by some of the actions of the President, which may not have been favourable with the APC governors.
One of such is the ambassadorial list, which many say has not favoured the Governors' choices. The Governors were seen strolling into the presidential villa at about 11:45 am on Monday, for the meeting scheduled to kick off at noon.
For allegedly stealing a phone valued at N140, 000, a 23-year-old unemployed man, James Adavo, was on Monday released on a bail of N200, 000 on the order of a Badagry Chief Magistrates' Court in Lagos State.
The Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, who gave the ruling, also gave the accused a surety, who must provide an evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The accused, whose address is unknown, was arraigned for stealing.
According to the prosecutor, Innocent Uko, the accused committed the offence on Oct. 17 at No. 27, Limca Road, Ibereko in Badagry.
"The accused stole a Samsung S6 phone, belonging to a woman, Miss Senyo Balogun.
"The woman was listening to music on her phone while walking along the road when the accused came and snatched the phone from her.
"As he was running away with the phone he was caught," Uko said.
The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty and his lawyer, Mr Akin Adewale, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, promising that he will not jump bail.
The case was adjourned to Nov. 17 for further hearing.
