Corper dies of disease in Kaduna A corp member serving in Kaduna, Kelechi Aaron Ogboji, has died of Lassa Fever, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) confirmed. According to statement released today, march 3, by the NYSC spokesperson, Mrs. Abosede Aderibigbe, the diseased was serving at St. Louis Hospital Zonkwa in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Ogboji, the statement said, was a native of Igweledoha Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He was described as “an exceptional corps member who was fully dedicated to his duties and in the process paid the supreme sacrifice.” NYSC Director-General, Brig. General Johnson Olawumi, who was represented by the Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, Mr. Michael Ahile, condoled with the family of the diseased, saying Nigeria would miss selfless service.

Nigerians reacts to violent clash between Hausas, Yorubas The popular Mile 12 area of Lagos State was the scene of chaos on Thursday, March 3, 2016, after a riot broke out between the Hausa and Yoruba communities. The violence is said to have left about 10 people dead while many properties were destroyed. Nigerians have reacted to the incident via social media.

477 companies fail SON certification No fewer than 477 companies in Kaduna State have failed the routine certification of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the State Coordinator, Alhaji Abba Bauchi, has said. Bauchi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that out of the 561 companies inspected, only 84 of the companies met the criteria. He explained that of the 84 certified companies, 77 were given Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) clearance while seven received Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) certificate. "Companies with MANCAP certification categorisation include: Food Codex, 60; Chemical Technology, 13; Mechanical, 3; and Electrical, 1; while the NIS certified companies were Food Codex, 6, and Electrical, 1.'' On the 477 companies yet to be certified, the official said SON would continue to monitor them until they attain the required standard. "SON Mandate is to encourage standard and quality not to close companies but encourage them to produce quality and standard products." Bauchi said SON is partnering with Kaduna State Government and the 34 local governments in the state on standard procedures in setting up factories. "We commend the state government's policy on industrialization, and SON will compliment it with standardization.'' He appealed to all companies operating in the state to get SON's clearance "or action will be taken against them.'' The coordinator stressed that SON would continue to insist on standard by all companies operating in the country, adding, "there is no industrialization without quality and standard."

KEDC returns to 'Trade Fair' after three years Kaduna Electric, the operator of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has returned to Kaduna International Trade Fair after three years of absence, Pulse has gathered. The company has some new products ranging from Electricity transformers, billing machine and meters which its customers are not familiar with, it was gathered.Returning to the Kaduna Trade fair after three years, according to the company’s Chief Marketing and Customers Services Officer, Alhaji Murtala Bello, will enable the company to inform the public about their new services. “We are at the trade fair to share with the general public, especially our valued customers, the success recorded after the privatization of the company and further create the necessary awareness on the operations of the Company and the Nigerian electricity supply value chain,” Bello said

Kaduna state university lecture pens open letter to governor A lecturer with the department of Political Science, Kaduna State University (KASU), Dr John Danfulani, has written to the Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai urging him to convene a town hall meeting in the Southern part. Pulse gathered that since assumption of office on May 29, 2015, El-rufai initiated a town hall meeting but has not attended any in Zone 3 Senatorial District also known as Southern Kaduna.

Senator Condemns Neglect Of Nigerian Students Abroad Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna-Central senatorial district, has voiced out his worry over the neglect students on scholarship from Nigeria in foreign lands. Sheu Sani called on the federal government to save the country from embarrassment and safe the education of the kids. The senator who expressed these views through his Facebook post, said the federal government needs to urgently correct the situation. On the lingering issue of hike in price of UTME forms, He said that the Senate had unanimously agreed that the fees for the UTME should not be more than N2, 500 and also debated the possibility of reducing the validity of the result to three years. Sani stated that, “Senator David Umaru’s motion on our students on scholarships who are stranded abroad is timely. Senate resolved and recommended that they should be paid. The neglect of students abroad is unacceptable and shameful. The Federal Government and other state governments must pay them to save us from this embarrassment. We in the Senate overwhelmingly insisted that the UTME fees should not exceed N2, 500 and that the results should be valid for three years.” On the visit of Turkish President, Recap Erdogan, to Nigeria, Sani said discussions with him should focus on boosting trade and educational ties between the two countries.

Nigeria invites Oshoala, Oparanozie, 38 others for AWCON qualifiers The technical crew of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, headed by Florence Omagbemi, has called Liverpool Ladies star Asisat Oshoala, France based Desire Oparanozie and 38 other players to camp ahead of the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against either of Senegal and Guinea. Seven –time champions Nigeria have drawn a bye into the second round of the qualifying series, with the final competition to hold in Cameroon in November. The senior women teams of Senegal and Guinea will contend over two legs in March, with the winner to battle the Super Falcons in home-and-away contests between 4th – 12th April. Other prominent invitees are Goalkeepers Ibubeleye Whyte and Sandra Chichi, defenders Onome Ebi, Josephine Chukwunonye, Ngozi Ebere and Joy Jegede, midfielders Halimatu Ayinde, Ngozi Okobi, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Joy Bokiri, and strikers Chinwendu Ihezuo and Francisca Ordega. All invited players are expected to report at Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Tuesday, March 1.

Buhari: Insecurity scaring investors away President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the incentive to invest in the nation’s infrastructure is quite slim owing to insecurity. Presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement quoted Buhari as saying this yesterday in Doha while speaking at a town hall meeting with the Nigerian community there. The president, who is on a state visit to Qatar, charged Nigerians to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and selfless service to encourage more foreign investments in the country. Buhari assured that his administration would continue to create the enabling environment for investments in the country, anchored on peace and security. “We have abundant natural and human resources in the country, including huge oil and gas deposits. But the challenge is securing those installations and to persuade some of our countrymen to be more patriotic and stop sabotaging the installations. “When people are being abducted and some are being murdered, when installations are being blown up now and then, the incentives for people to invest in our infrastructure are quite slim,” he stated. Buhari also promised to look into the complaints of alleged blanket denial of visas to families and relatives of Nigerians intending to visit the State of Qatar. “Like I tell other Nigerians living in other countries, you must be good ambassadors of the country because globally things are quite difficult in terms of security and the economy. If you have something doing, please hold it tight to your heart and try to improve on it because things are quite difficult all over,” he said.

Governor says 10,000-hectare rice farm will be built in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed Elrufai has said that a rise company, Stallion Group is to build a 10,000-hectare farm and mill in the state. According to the governor, the plant would be built in the Southern part of the State to reduce dependence on imported rice. “There are other rice farms and mill projects being implemented by many firms to utilize our zero-interest loans around the CBN Rice Anchor Lending Programme," Elrufai said during a town hall meeting in Saminaka. On the security challenges in the state, the governor said security agencies have better vehicles and improved communication infrastructure to respond to the threats. “Our internal security team, Operation Yaki, has been active in raising black spots and preventing crimes, while responding more rapidly to instances of robberies and other threats to lives and property. While thanking the security agencies for their efforts and service to our state, we ask our religious and community leaders to continue to preach peace and unity “El-Rufai said. "The current APC government believes that every resident of Kaduna State is entitled to security, safety and progress. Let us keep marching together to make Kaduna great "El-Rufai added.

Nigerians react to ex-minister’s imprisonment The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro at the Kuje Prison on charges of fraud. The judgment was given today, February 29, 2016, after Moro was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Nigerians have reacted to the development via social media.

No repatriation of Nigerian Refugees from Cameroon – Envoy The Consul-General of the Republic of Cameroon in Lagos, Dr Paul Ekorong a’Dong, on Monday said that his government had no intention to repatriate Nigerian refugees currently in various camps in Cameroon. Ekorong a Dong told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it would be unfair for the Cameroonian government to repatriate those Nigerians that had fled to Cameroon for safety. The Consul-General said that his government would continue to respect the existing strong regional cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon, and would, therefore, not treat the Nigerians badly. "Let me say without hesitation that the rumour that the Cameroonian government plans to repatriate Nigerian refugees is completely wrong. "What my government and the Nigerian government are jointly working on is to find a lasting solution to how best to bring them back and get them re-integrated into their communities. "So, we do not see this as any kind of repatriation. Repatriation has to do with the deportation of people. "But this is not the case because our two governments are already discussing on the most appropriate process for them to return to their communities,’’ he said. Ekorong a’Dong said that the Nigerian Minister of Interior had recently visited Cameroon and had fruitful discussions with his Cameroonian counterpart and the Prime Minister on the issue of the refugees. The Envoy, who said that some of the refugees had started returning on their own to their communities in Nigeria, added that his government had not requested the refugees to leave. "The Nigerian and Cameroonian governments are still working on the appropriate measures and solutions for bringing back those who are eager to return to their communities. "We are looking at a situation where those who still want to stay in Cameroon can stay, and those who want to return to their communities are able do so at their will. We are not forcing any of them to leave,’’ he said. Ekorong a’Dong added that his government would continue to cater for the 6,000 Nigerian refugees currently in its established camps, until both countries are able to conclude their plans.

Army Discovers Boko Haram Market In Borno The Nigerian Army has rescued 195 captives, discovered a patent medicine outlet and also a major market operated by members of the Boko Haram sect at Gulumba in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. The Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said that a number of insurgents were killed and a lot of items recovered during a raid carried out by troops of Seven Division Garrison, comprising the 112 Battalion and Armed Forces Special Forces on Wednesday. The Army carried out the raid on suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ locations at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma’asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas of the state. Items recovered from the terrorists were military items – camouflage uniforms – rifle magazines and grenades – two logistic trucks, 180 motorcycles, 750 bicycles, 100 kva Mikano generator, grinding machine and various perishable materials.