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  • Trump accuses Google of hiding ‘fair media’ coverage of him

    Trump accuses Google of hiding ‘fair media’ coverage of him

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Google’s search engine of hiding “fair media” coverage of him and said he would address the situation, without giving any details.

    In a pair of tweets, Trump said Google search results for “Trump News” showed only the reporting of what he terms fake news media.

    “They have it RIGGED, for me & others,” he said, blaming Google, part of Alphabet Inc, for what he said was dangerous action that promoted mainstream media outlets such as CNN and suppressed conservative political voices.

    “This is a very serious situation-will be addressed!” Trump added, without offering any details.

    Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Google also could not be immediately reached.

    Trump has long criticized news media coverage of him, frequently using the term fake news to describe critical reports.

    He has made social media, particularly Twitter, an integral part of his presidency.

    He has previously accused social media companies, which include Twitter and Facebook, of censorship.

    Trump’s accusation of bias on the part of Google comes as social media companies have suspended accounts, banned certain users and removed content as they face pressure from the U.S. Congress to police foreign propaganda and fake accounts aimed at disrupting American politics, including operations tied to Iran and Russia.

    Companies such as Facebook and Twitter have also been pressed to remove conspiracy driven content and hate speech.

    Tech companies have said they do not remove content for political reasons.

    Some Republican U.S. lawmakers have also raised concerns about social media companies removing content from some conservatives, and have called Twitter’s chief executive to testify before a U.S. House of Representatives committee on Sept. 5.

    Earlier in the month, Alphabet’s YouTube joined Apple Inc and Facebook in removing some content from Infowars, a website run by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

    Jones was also temporarily suspended on Twitter.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Police impound imported military uniforms in Aba

     

    Kidnap
    By Admin
    Umuahia, Aug. 28, 2018 (NAN) Abia Police Command has impounded a large quantity of military uniforms, allegedly imported from China and stocked at a warehouse in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

    The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, made this disclosure at the Umuahia Central Police Station on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen on the achievements recorded by the command in the fight against crime and criminality within the last two weeks.

    Ogbizi said that the owner of the warehouse, one Michael Onuoha, was arrested for alleged conspiracy, aiding and abetting the unlawful procurement, importation and possession of the uniforms, which were mainly camouflage.

    He alleged that the Managing Director of Messrs U.U Iruoha, one Uche Iruoha, popularly called Urchman, shipped the uniforms in a container to Apapa Port, Lagos, from where they were transported to Aba in March.

    The police commissioner said that Onuoha was arrested on Aug. 16 but that Iruoha was still in China.

    Brig.-Gen. Abubakar Ibrahim, the Commander, 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, who accompanied the police boss at the briefing, said that the army was worried by the development.

    Ibrahim said that it was disturbing that unscrupulous persons wear military uniforms and camouflage to commit crimes.

    He said that the organisation was collaborating with the police and other security agencies to check the phenomenon and ensure that perpetrators were arrested and brought to book.

    In a related development, the police also arrested two officials of a new generation bank in Umuahia for alleged conspiracy to defraud a high profile customer of the bank.

    The suspects, which included a Marketer, Mr Promise Nwangene, and Customer Service Officer, Kenneth Ebereonu, were alleged to have collected the bank account details of the customer, names withheld, including the Bank Verification Number and Automated Teller Machine, which they posted online.

    The police commissioner said “their intention was to begin to steal the N1 million in the account but nemesis caught up with them.”

    He alleged that Nwangene “in a bid to pass the information to his accomplice, Kenneth, mistakenly sent it to a WhatsApp group chat, where it was intercepted by a friend of the customer, who alerted the management of the bank.”

    Nwangene told newsmen that they collected the bank details in order to reactivate the account for the owner and that no fraud was intended.

    He said that he saved the information to be able to access it for the reactivation of the account but “mistakenly” posted it online.

    To further diffuse the allegation of fraud, the two suspects said that no money had been removed from the account since July 1, when the information was posted, to date.

    “We would have started removing money from the account or eloped since July 1, if the intention was to commit fraud,” they said.

    Also in police net were a 65-year-old iron bender, Mr Chukwuma Orji, and two others, arrested in connection with the alleged kidnap of Dr. Innocent Iwegbu, a medical doctor with the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

    Ogbizi said that one of the suspects, Ikechukwu Ogbonna, who confessed to the crime, said that Orji, who lived close to the victim, allegedly availed the gang with the information that led to his kidnap.

    He said that police busted the gang with the assistance of the people of Ohokobe Ndume community, near Umuahia, where the victim was held hostage in a hideout.

    The gang had demanded N5 million ransom from the relatives of the doctor before he was rescued on Aug. 16.

    The command also arrested four robbery and rape suspects for allegedly terrorising the Ohuhu communities, near Umuahia, with machete and other dangerous weapons.

    They were alleged to have broken into the house of one Mrs Osinachi Stephen in the area, where they allegedly gang raped her and dispossed her of her valuables.

    Ogbizi also said that the command recovered a Toyota Camry, which was snatched from the owner, one Mr Augustine Uchenna, at a gunpoint in Umuahia.

    He said that two suspects, Kalu Kalu and Ndubuisi George, were arrested in connection with the theft of the vehicle.

    He said that the police also recovered N385,000 being part of N695,000 allegedly snatched from one Nnamdi Nwosu by robbers, said to be operating in a stolen tricycle (Keke Napep).

    The police boss said that Nwosu was on his way to deliver the money from his master to somebody at Umuobasi Village in Umuahia before he was attacked.

    He said that the robbers chopped off Nwosu’s finger, when he attempted to resist them.

    He said that the command had also recovered the stolen tricycle.

    Ogbizi appealed to residents of the state to be vigilant and assist the police with relevant information that could help in crime reduction.

    He said that the command would not rest on its oars but would sustain the war against violent crimes in the state.

    He said that the suspects would be arraigned at the end of the ongoing investigation. (NAN)

  • FUNAAB records major breakthrough with new chicken breed

    Chicken

    1. By Admin
      Abeokuta, Aug. 28, 2018 (NAN) The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), says it has recorded a major breakthrough in its First Improved Indigenous Chicken Breed after 24 years of research and named it “FUNAAB Alpha”.

    Speaking at the presentation of Certificate of Registration for FUNAAB Alpha, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako, said the achievement which spanned 24 years is a blend of hard work and persistence.

    He noted that the breakthrough would positively affect the common man and the nation in the poultry market and of course, food production in Nigeria.

    According to Salako, the university having found the breed acceptable by rural and commercial producers, went ahead to register the project as FUNAAB Alpha on July 26, 2018, by the National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB).

    `’Our university has successfully placed on the Nigerian poultry market a dual purpose breed of chicken, tested under rural households from September 2016 to December 2017, and was found to be one of the breeds preferred for egg production under semi-scavenging and scavenging conditions.

    “The dual purpose FUNAAB Alpha attains 2.1 to 2.6kg at 20 weeks for males; 1.6 to 1.8kg for females, while eggs are improved from white to brown from 60 to 120 eggs per annum to 200 to 250 eggs per annum,” he said.

    He commended the team of scientists, led by Prof Olufunmilayo Adebambo, who worked tirelessly on the project for 24 years.

    Salako also appreciated the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the major stakeholders who funded the establishment of the “Pearl-FUNAAB Chicken Breeding Center” in the university for the project in 2014.

    He called on other stakeholders and the Federal Government to support the movement so as to ensure the sustainability of the project.

    “I know that this project needs to be sustained for the next 20 to 25 years with the chicken products available to meet the demands of rural households.

    “The sustainability shall be a culinary delight to Nigerians who still prefer local chicken and the university management is already meeting with Adebambo on the sustainability of the project,” he added.

    Also, the Lead Researcher, Adebambo, she said the project was borne out of a challenge given to her by the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nimbe Adedipe, to work on the genetic improvement of local chickens in Nigeria.

    According to her, the expected national concept of the project is innovation solutions for indigenous animal breeds.

    She, however, lamented the non-availability of funding for research programmes as well as Nigeria having just one Animal Research Centre.

    “Nigeria spent 18 million dollars on chicken importation in 2009 alone. If the government spends half of that money on developing local breeds; imagine what that will translate to,” she said.

    She appealed to the Federal Government to establish an indigenous breeding centre for the South and also involve stakeholders in poultry and research development.

    Dr Sunday Aladele, the Director of NACGRAB, while presenting the certificate to the vice-chancellor, commended the university for supporting the principal breeder to come up with this achievement.

    He said FUNAAB was one of the few universities that came up to register its crop varieties and advised it to work with relevant agencies so as to popularise the chicken breed. (NAN)

  • Survivors mark 30 years after Ramstein air show tragedy

    Survivors mark 30 years after Ramstein air show tragedy

    Survivors and relatives at Ramstein in Germany gathered at the base on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the air show tragedy.

    This is a tragedy where 70 people were killed when three Italian jets collided during a military air show over the U.S. base

    “The truth does not endure forgetfulness,’’ Giancarlo Nutarelli, the brother of one of the pilots, said during an ecumenical church service. “The pain affected all of us, but also united all those involved with each other.’’

    The jets from the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour Arrows), the Italian military aerobatic team, collided over the base on August 28, 1988.

    One fell into the crowd, killing 67 spectators subsequently all three pilots also died.

    70 candles were lit in the church at Ramstein-Miesenbach during the service and six wreaths were laid on the altar.

    “The air show disaster at Ramstein is more deeply anchored in the memory of our state than virtually any other tragedy,’’ Malu Dreyer, the prime minister of the state of North Rhine Westphalia, said.

    Some 100 relatives and survivors were present.

    “It’s like a family gathering,’’ a woman who was one of the 350 seriously injured in the accident said. “I saw a huge fireball. It was as though the sky was on fire.’’

    “It’s a pity that we meet so seldomly,’’ said Marc-David Jung, who lost his father in the accident.

    The U.S. airbase at Ramstein is the largest of its kind outside the United States. (dpa/NAN)

  • Institute seeks interdisciplinary collaboration to boost health research

    The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has called for interdisciplinary collaboration to boost clinical research in the country to global standard.

    The Acting Director-General of NIPRD, Prof. Olobayo Kunle, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Kunle said such inter-institutional and international collaboration would enable the country meet global standard and aid useful policy decisions.

    Kunle noted that clinical research should be on identifying diseases to ascertain disease patterns as well as ensure improved therapies because the current clinical research focus was limited.
    He said that a broad research would provide the required data that would enhance policy decisions.

    According to him, clinical research in Nigeria has a very long history but when it comes to drug targeted clinical research we have a lot more to do because we do very small studies in limited areas.

    “We need to progress to more collaborative work so that data generated can be significant because for you to make statement out of research you must study population.

    “Some of the studies done in the country are done in a very small scale they do not provide the strength of data for you to make policy decision.

    “Therefore, we have to do a lot more collaboration both interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, even at international levels so that we will share our strength with what is happening in other part of the world.

    “Such efforts will ensure what we get becomes more universal and more useful to policy makers.

    “It will also enable us to contribute to international data base so that decisions taking on drugs whether to use or keep them will be based on data that reflect what is happening in the whole world,” he said. (NAN)

  • INEC adjusts 2019 Elections budget to N143bn

    INEC adjusts 2019 Elections budget to N143bn

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has adjusted its budget for 2019 elections from N189 billion to N143 billion in compliance with directive from the National Assembly.

    The Chairman of the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC, Sen. Suleiman Nazif, made this known to newsmen after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, saying that INEC had effected the changes.

    He said that the commission submitted a new budget reflecting N143 billion as originally requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Nazif disclosed that a sub-committee had been set up to look at the proposal and to point out any area of infraction to the committee, adding that the committee was mandated to complete its assignment on Aug. 29.

    The National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC had on Monday, recommended N143 billion for approval for the commission’s preparation ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    This is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s request on July 11 when he sought the legislators’ approval of N242 billion for the elections.

    Specifically, he said that N164.10 billion of the funds was urgently needed to enable INEC to commence preparations for the elections, while the balance of N78.34 billon would be provided for in 2019 Budget.

    The President had in his letter of request explained that the urgently needed N164 billion would be allocated as follows: INEC, N143.51 billion; Office of National Security Adviser, N3.86 billion and Department of State Services (DSS), N2.90 billion.

    Others are Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, N1.85 billion; Nigeria Police Force, N11.46 billion and Nigeria Immigration Service, N530.1million.

    The Senate Committee on INEC had on Aug. 16, queried the commission for presenting a budgetary proposal of N189 billion for the elections, saying it was at variance with the president’s for the polls.

    This was because, though Buhari had in his letter requested for N189 billion for the 2019 elections, he said that N143 billion was urgently needed by INEC to begin preparations for the polls.

    The money is expected to be vired from the 2018 Budget, especially from the N587 billion, which the president said was inserted by the lawmakers into the budget, raising it from N8.6 trillion to 9.12 trillion. (NAN)

  • Man remanded in prison over alleged theft of laptop, phone

    A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded a 22-year-old man, Nura Dahiru, in prison
    over alleged theft of laptop and a phone handset valued at N90, 000.

    Dahiru, who resides at Minanata area of Sokoto, pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft brought against
    him.

    Chief Magistrate Abubakar Adamu had ordered his remand to allow the police to carry out further investigations.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Khalid Musa, told the court that the case was reported at Ugwuan Rogo Police Station by the complainant, Abubakar Abdullahi of the same address on July 16.

    He said Dahiru, who allegedly conspired with Abdulaziz Bawa now at large, entered the complainant’s room and stole a laptop and
    a Nokia phone all valued at N90, 000.

    The offences contravened Sections 97 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    Further hearing has been fixed for Sept. 10. (NAN)

  • APC Primaries: We will respect guidelines – Oshiohmole

    APC Primaries: We will respect guidelines – Oshiohmole

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pledged to ensure compliance with the electoral guidelines, fairness and justice as well as observe all the principles of internal democracy while conducting its forthcoming party primaries.

    The National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, gave the assurance when he spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the APC Caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday night.

    He confirmed that the meeting discussed the upcoming party primaries based on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general elections as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in January.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the timetable covered the Presidential, National and State Assembly, Governorship and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council elections.

    The timetable, which was issued by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud, in Abuja, indicated that party primaries for the Presidential, Governorship, Federal and State Elections would begin on Aug. 18 to end on Oct. 7, 2018.

    The Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections would commence on Sept. 4 to end on Oct. 27.

    According to Oshiohmole, the APC is obliged to comply with the INEC guidelines because the rules are derived from the provisions of the nation’s Electoral Act.

    “The meeting just had a conversation around the forthcoming primaries.

    “As you know, based on INEC timetable on primaries, this is the season from the President down to House of Assembly and the exercise must end on Oct. 7 according to INEC guidelines.

    “We are obliged to comply with the guidelines because the guidelines are derived from the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    “So, we basically discussed how to ensure full compliance with the INEC guidelines and also ensure that that we observe all the principles of internal democracy, participation, ensuring fairness and justice.

    “I think those are the issues basically,’’ he said.

    The chairman maintained that APC as the governing party had since resolved to respect the electoral act and the APC’s constitution while conducting its activities to ensure justice for all members.

    He announced that the resolutions at the APC Caucus meeting would be tabled at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party fixed for Thursday for deliberation and possible endorsement.

    “By Thursday we will go to NEC where the formal decisions will be rectified and once they are rectified there will be no problem; they are not being kept because every member of the party and indeed Nigerian are entitled to know how we agreed about the exercise.

    “But I think everybody has confidence that we will do very credible primaries to ensure that those who fly the flag of the party have the mandate of their various constituencies,’’ Oshiomhole said.

    The meeting was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the National Executive Committee of the APC led by its chairman.

    Others at the meeting were APC governors of Borno, Jigawa, Niger, Plateau, Kogi, Adamawa, Ondo, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Katsina, Osun, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Imo and Lagos States.

    Also at the meeting were former governor of Ekiti state, Mr Segun Oni; Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila; former Ebonyi governor, Mr Martin Elechi; former Borno governor Ali Sheriff; former Lagos state military administrator Buba Marwa; retired Gen. Lawrence Onoja; Chief Jim Nwobodo, and Sen. Kabiru Gaya.

    Former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Enugu state governor Sylva Chime, and former Edo governor Oserheimen Osunbor also attended the meeting.

    Others that attended were the former President of the Senate Ken Nnamani; former Ekiti state governor Niyi Adebayo; former Akwa Ibom governor Godswill Akpabio; former Bayelsa governor Timipre Sylva; former Petroleum Minister Don Etiebet, and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Some members of the National Assembly from the two chambers were also in attendance. (NAN)

  • PDP Primaries: Dankwambo will not defect – campaign org.

    The Presidential Campaign Organisation of Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo says the governor  will remain in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) irrespective of the outcome of the party’s primary.

    Prof. Terhemba Shija, the Director-General of the campaign organisation, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He was reacting to speculations that Dankwambo may soon dump the PDP after the presidential primary and seek another platform to actualise his presidential ambition.

    Shija said that Dankwambo had consolidated his position in the PDP having distinguished himself as the only state governor who refused to defect before and after 2015 elections in the entire 19 northern states.

    He said that the presidential aspirant would accept whatever the outcome of the PDP’s presidential primary and work with whoever emerged as the party’s flag bearer in his determination to re-position Nigeria’s economy.

    “Luckily, Gov. Dankwambo himself has said it repeatedly that he is a team player. He said that he is a PDP man who was brought up and groomed by the PDP.

    “He said that the party is a pool where leaders are grown and that he is one of them.

    “So, nothing will make him walk out of PDP just as he did not walk out of PDP when every other person was running away.

    “Don’t forget that people ran away before and after 2015, they said all sorts of things against the party. But Dankwambo stood his ground.

    “Many people chickened out because of the Tsunami that APC unleashed on the country. Despite this, our principal stood his ground and fought them to a standstill both in his state and the entire North/East.

    “Mind you, he was the only PDP governor who retained his position and eventually returned for a second term as a governor.

    “Today, he is one of the most senior in the fold of the PDP governors. He has been resilient and consistent.

    “I cannot see him running away from PDP because leaders and delegates at the presidential primary election will prefer somebody like him. Such politicians do not jump around over personal ambition or interests judging from his antecedents.

    “At the end of the primaries, let me assure you that he is ready to stay back in PDP and work with whoever eventually emerges.

    “But it may not even come to that because the leaders and delegates know that we will win the primary and we will fly the flag of the party’’ he said.

    He said that Dankwambo would help deploy his years of professional experience as a financial expert to salvage the country from economic challenges.

    He appealed to other aspirants in PDP to demonstrate the same spirit of sportsmanship in the primary elections slated for later this year. (NAN)