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From Magnus Eze , Abuja Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that Bayelsa State could help in bridging the about two million tonnes rice deficit in the country if the four designated farms in the state become fully utilised. This came at a time when Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, disclosed that with 4, 000 hectares of rice farm at Peremabiri, 5,000 hectares at Isampou and 2,000 hectares at Kolo, the state had the capacity to grow and produce rice not only for local consumption but for export. The minister, who spoke at a function in Abuja, lamented that insecurity in communities, like Peremabiri, with the largest rice farm in the state, had not allowed farming to work in the state. “100 tonnes of rice is possible in Bayelsa State if the militants would allow it thrive,” Ogbeh stated, while giving assurance that the ministry was ready to give farmers in the area all the needed support. He also disclosed government’s plans to buy machine

Situation reports from Federal Government colleges, and what PTA and old students associations are doing to help Students defecate anywhere they could find space By Chika Abanobi They say photographs do not lie. The photos you see here depict the situation of things, physical infrastructure-wise, in some of the Federal government colleges, otherwise known as Unity Schools. Together, they show the kind of environment in which our children learn, situation far from the ideal, and, definitely, a long cry from the one under which their parents or sponsors studied, in years gone by. Take for instance, Federal Government College, Ilorin (FGCI), Kwara State. The co-educational institution said to have produced the likes of Donald Duke, former governor of Cross Rivers State, Alhaji Aminu Shehu Shagari, son of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Nigeria’s ex-civilian President (1979-1983), and today, Member, House of Representatives, Hassan Bello of Nigeria Shippers Council, Steve Nwosu, Deputy Managing

By Franklin Onwubiko The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku sounded prophetic when he said that Ivory tower should always lead the drive in the development of the society through innovations and designs. His wishes came to pass when some final year students of the university designed and produced a tricycle with a trunk. This latest innovation has increased the number of automobiles produced by UNIZIK students to three. The tricycle, named Tri-Zik was designed and produced by Chucks Joshua, Peter Okeke, Amaka Akajiugo, Samson Ibechone, Lawrence Ofuokwu and Jude Adonu. Two years ago, the graduating students of Mechanical Engineering wowed the university community with the production of a formula 1 car using locally sourced materials. The car was named Auto-Zik 1. Another landmark achievement followed, as the next graduating set from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Industrial production Engineering (IPE) designed and produced two mini

By Sam Otti Like a firebomb, fury exploded on social media following the N30,000 prize given to Yusuf Ololade Faidat, the 2016 Best Graduating Student of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin). A chorus of protest rang out, as people from different parts of the country described the reward as a beautiful nonsense, when compared with millions of naira given to winners of various vanity fairs. Yusuf, from the College of Health Sciences, clinched 19 academic prizes to emerge the best graduating student for the 2016 session. For her efforts, she won N20,000 awarded each session by the Senate to the student adjudged to be the best in each faculty. She also got another prize of N10,000, awarded by the Senate to the best student in each department. Yusuf smiled home with coveted prizes for the best student in the Departments of Behavioural Sciences, Pathology, Community Medicine, Paediatrics and Child Health, Medicine, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Surgery. In fact, she won 10 o

…As FCC denies granting waiver for exercise From Magnus Eze , Abuja The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) last week embarked on secret recruitment of staff to fill observed vacancies in the organisation Daily Sun has authoritatively learnt. The latest of such exercise took place last Thursday when scores of applicants were screened for appointments into various cadres in the organisation. But the Corporation said its action was in order because it got waiver from the Federal Character Commission (FCC). Notwithstanding however, it was alleged that the recruitment exercise was mainly organised for children and candidates of influential persons in government as well as some senior management staff of the organisation. Daily Sun reliably learnt that those invited for the interview, which held at the NDIC Training Academy at No 32, Anthony Enahoro Street, Utako, Abuja, on October 27, were called on telephone and asked to come with six copies of their credentials, including

Insists he deserves Eagles call up By George Aluo (with agency report) Belgium –based Super Eagles midfielder, Anderson Esiti is not happy that he has been left out of the squad to face Algeria this month by the German manager of the team, Gernot Rohr. Rohr last week reeled out the names of the 25 players called up for the crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria with Esiti’s name missing. Esiti was a second half substitute when the Eagles defeated Zambia by 2-1 in Ndola last month. The player, while expressing his disappointment over the snub told Africafootball.com that he felt he did enough in the difficult battle in Ndola to deserve a call up for the game against Algeria. His words: “My not being invited came to me as surprise because I thought I did well in the last match when I came in against Zambia to merit another invitation. Honestly speaking, I felt bad when a friend broke the news to me that I was not invited for the match against Algeria.” Esiti stres

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has admitted his players must keep their discipline and produce the “perfect” performance to beat Barcelona in the Champions League at Etihad today. Guardiola’s side lost 4-0 in their Group C encounter against the Spanish giants at the Nou Camp on October 19 –- their fifth defeat in as many meetings with the Catalan club. City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was sent off in that match and Guardiola acknowledged the importance of keeping 11 players on the pitch against a side of Barcelona’s class. “We know we need to play almost perfectly,” Guardiola, who guided Barcelona to two Champions League titles while manager from 2008-12 after starring for the club as a player, said  yesterday. ”It’s always difficult in the Champions League. Ten versus 11 against Barcelona is almost impossible. We have to improve that otherwise it is impossible to achieve the target. “I have never thought we can’t win a football match and I will never start to think that way,

The Super Eagles will be playing their 50th World Cup qualifying home match when they take on the Fennecs of Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo next week Saturday. In their previous 49 home matches, the Eagles had won 39 and drawn seven, while losing three. The first home match for Nigeria was on 10th September 1960, when they tied 2-2 with Ghana’s Black Stars in Lagos. The team had earlier lost the first leg 4-1 to the Ghanaians in Accra and crashed out of the race to the 1962 World Cup finals in Chile. The last was against the Sihlangu of Swaziland at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on 17th November 2015, in the preliminary round for Russia 2018. Nigeria won 2-0 courtesy of goals by Moses Simon and Efe Ambrose, following a 0-0 draw in Lobamba four days earlier. The six other drawn matches were against Cameroon on 7th December 1968 (1-1 in Lagos); against Sudan on 13th September 1969 (2-2 in Ibadan); against Tanzania on 6th December 1980

The Supreme Court on Monday struck out two motions by Chris Giwa and his group seeking to stay the execution of the ruling of the Court of Appeal baring one Mr. Oba Maduabuchi from appearing before it on behalf of Giwa and his group, and the judgement of the same court vacating the orders of the Federal High Court re-listing the case and restoring the orders. Giwa, proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, has been in and out of court against Nigeria football in the past 28 months, sustaining his quest even after a celebrated loss at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. On Monday, Justices at Nigeria’s highest court were of the view that the said Oba Maduabuchi cannot appear in the case until the ruling of the Court of Appeal refusing him audience is vacated. Giwa’s lawyers immediately saw the futility of the twin applications and withdrew same, and the Supreme Court promptly struck out both applications. Giwa and a member of his group, Yahaya Adama, were both in court

Even as the world has become a global village, nations still defend their territorial integrity. It is not likely that God blessed Nigeria with ample natural resources so that the resources of the country would be used to enrich citizens of other nations and to develop those other nations. While no nation can be an island in today’s world, certain assets and chattels of each nation must be respected and protected. No doubt, there is a need for international trade and collaborations, but there must be limits to which the citizens of a nation are exploited and denied. Nigeria belatedly came up with the Local Content Act when the cream of the oil industry had been taken wholly by foreigners. We are having challenges passing the Petroleum Industry Bill because foreigners have seized our oil industry. As the oil assets of Nigeria have been taken by foreigners, these foreigners are the majors in the oil industry while we belatedly introduced the concept of “marginal players” to accommodat

From    Adewale Sanyaolu , Abuja As part of efforts to attain the full potential in the oil and gas sector, the Federal Government has disclosed plans to create a new regulator to be known as Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRA). Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, announced the plan during his presentation at the ongoing 10th International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) in Abuja, yesterday. The Minister said the new independent PRA to be established will be empowered with sufficient capacity to regulate the petroleum industry. According to him, the new agency will cover the activities of existing petroleum regulatory authorities as well as new responsibilities and carry out economic, competition, safety, licensing, investigating, technical and monitoring of the gas sector. Government, he said, will remain a commercial operator with full legal separation of the midstream from  upstream alongside the legal separation of gas

Story by Omodele Adigun Microfinance banks (MFBs) play a critical role in the survival of families during economic recession like the one currently being experienced in the country. According to the CEO of Grooming Centre,  an NGO, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, this is done through inclusion-driven financial services and loans to small business holders. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos recently, Nwabunka said the centre had given out 4.5 million micro-credit since its inception by operating simple transparency model and creating opportunities for females. He said: “Microfinance institutions and banks become the most active parts during recession. You have to ensure that households survive. There has to be food on the table, children have to go schools, and there is a need for access to health and sanitation. They don’t understand recession. The micro enterprises at the bottom level of the pyramid need to ensure there is food on the table. By empowering those women, Microfinance sect

From   Adewale Sanyaolu , Abuja Despite the nation’s undiscovered gas potential of 600 trillion Cubic Feet(TCF )the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said about $51 billion investment opportunities exist  in the midstream and downstream gas sector . Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, made this disclosure while delivering a key note address at the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) 10th International Conference and Exhibition in Abuja. Baru in his paper titled “New Growth Phase for Gas Business in Nigeria,  posited that about $35.4 billion investment will be required in the gas exploration and production activities, power plants projects, fertilizer plants, virtual pipelines and flare gas commercialization initiatives. The GMD added that $16 billion investment will also be needed in the Free Trade Zones (FTZ) infrastructure development and concessioning, port infrastructure, central gas processing facilities, gas transmission, LPG plants, real esta

Stakeholders in the petroleum industry are nursing fears that OPEC’s oil output would likely set another record high this month as Nigerian and Libyan output partially recovered from disruptions while Iraq boosted exports. The rise in output could add to scepticism about the cartel’s ability to finalise a plan agreed in September to limit supplies. Oil, which rallied to a 2016 high near $54 a barrel following the decision, has since slipped towards $48. Supply from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has risen to 33.82 million barrels per day (bpd) in October from a revised 33.69 million bpd in September, according to the survey based on shipping data and information from industry sources. That would be 820,000 bpd above the top end of a target output range OPEC agreed to adopt at a September 28 meeting. According to analysts, production near 34 million bpd would prolong the supply surplus weighing on the market. “With OPEC production creeping up towards 34 milli

…Sets up special mobile court to try loan defaulters From Desmond Mgboh , Kano Kano State government has launched the N1 billion interest-free Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) with a view to empower over 4,000 farmers in the state. Launching the scheme in Kano recently, Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, disclosed that the agricultural loans were part of efforts to revitalise agriculture, empower farmers and ensure food security for all in the state. He hinted that the scheme was informed by the need to deploy agriculture to combat the present economic recession. He said it would also provide an opportunity for the farmers to boost their harvests even as he added that a workshop component has been attached to the disbursement to help train the beneficiaries on the utilisation of the loan. Ganduje cautioned the beneficiaries to put the loans to the intended purpose as he noted that the loans must be repaid at the duration of the facility. He also disclos

…Victim alleges threat to life after losing N250,000 By Job Osazuwa At the moment, Kenneth Anene Ikechukwu is in shock after being duped by a fraudster posing as a visa agent. Ikechukwu said he still rues the loss of his hard-earned N250,000 to the fraudster. He is greatly pained that the man caused him to lose his job and personal effects that he sold to raise the money. He told Daily Sun that his ordeal started when he was deceived into believing that he could make a fortune in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), if he got a visa to live and work there. So he resigned from his job as a sales representative, just before the supposed visa was out, to pursue the prospect. He said his expectations were high and he was already counting the money he would be making while overseas. “Everything looked so real. So I had to resign from my job and even auctioned most of my valuables,” Ikechukwu said. He recalled how in mid-2014, his friend, Fatai, who had returned from Dubai, told him about

‘What we’re planning to do in Niger Delta’ By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye The Minister of state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, after the launch of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Roadmap tagged “The 7 Big Wins”, a new initiative by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, by President Muhammadu Buhari, held a press conference to address areas of concerns on the roadmap raised by journalists. He also spoke on the benefits of the Buhari’s meeting with Niger Delta stakeholders as well as  why the $10 billion infrastructural rebirth investment programme in the Niger Delta region is to be launched. What’s new on security of the Niger Delta? The first is to accept that there is a problem because I think we have carried on as if there is no problem. The beginning point is to first acknowledge the fact that there is a problem and is so critical that it can no longer be left to chance. And we have to take very concrete steps. We are planning to do a couple of things. The first is that on Tuesday,

By Willy Eya Since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on May 29 last year, some things hitherto impossible in Nigeria have been happening. Many believe that following the president’s body language and his leadership style, the nation’s governance architecture has changed. And as it appears, there is a paradigm shift in the thinking and socio-economic and political culture of the people. Early this month, Senator Osita Izunaso who once represented Imo West(Orlu) constituency of Imo State rejected his appointment into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC). The Senator’s decision came to many as a surprise and raised a lot of questions. Again last week, in what many consider unusual in this clime, two other nominees to juicy Federal Government positions turned down their appointments. First was a former deputy governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen who said she turned down her ambassadorial nomination in order to be fair to other par

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure Mr. Tunji Ariyomo is one of the 24 governorship aspirants that contested the September 3 primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and a committed member of the APC in the state. Before his defection to the APC, Ariyomo was a Special Adviser to the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. In this interview, Ariyomo speaks on the virtues of the candidate of the APC in the state, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and why he should be the next governor of the Sunshine state. As an aspirant at the last gubernatorial primary election and a stakeholder in Ondo APC, how do you rank your party’s chances in the November 26 gubernatorial election? Our candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu is the next governor of Ondo State. You can note that somewhere for future reference. We have looked at the arithmetic and the dynamics of the 2016 election. He will win. And of the lot in the field, Akeredolu is the only one that can be described as truly inde