Author: Isah Mukhtar

Suicide

Lagos, June 11, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said it had commenced investigation into the report that an unidentified lady allegedly packed her car on the third mainland bridge and jumped into the Lagoon.

SP Chike Oti, the Command’s Spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that though the police had not received any official report, they were already making efforts to find out the true story.

He said that the report of their investigation would be made public as soon as the police find anything.

“There is no official report yet. It is the news making the rounds. However, our rescue team is searching, divers and Marine policemen are working.

“Investigation is ongoing, findings will be made public please,” the police spokesman told NAN.

NAN learnt that the purported incident was said to have happened at about 8.45 p.m. on Sunday. (NAN)
BOM/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

Projects
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, June 7, 2018 (NAN) The FADAMA III Additional Financing (AFII) Programme says it has put in place institutions that will sustain its projects after its Dec. 31, 2019 terminal date.

Dr Adetunji Oredipe, World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL) of the FADAMA Programme, said this while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the FADAMA programme had created institutions which existed as groups, associations and federated associations in states and at the federal level.

“We need to make sure that all these stakeholders come together to sustain the investments and in doing this, we are consulting at different levels.

“We have also been receiving assurances from state governments that they will continue to support the good work which FADAMA has done,’’ he said.

Oredipe said that judging from the assessment of the FADAMA programme at a recent summit, “we gathered that the programme has made a huge impact on the participating states and most of its activities have been completed.

“We were able to interact fully with the beneficiaries; the feedback shows that things are working well as we all know that the project is going to an end in about 18 months time.

“We are paying more attention to details on how to sustain all the projects that have been put in place by the programme thereafter,’’ he said.

Oredipe said that the FADAMA Vanguard was launched in Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi and Borno states to enable youths and women to contribute their quotas to the development of their communities.

“Our objective is to revive the livelihoods of our people after suffering from the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, while ensuring that there is enough money in circulation.

“If you provide work for the young ones, they will make income and use the income for other productive ventures.

“We select 40 individuals from 600 communities we are working with, so as to make sure they utilise their services in rebuilding their communities and at the same time, put some money into their pockets.

“The scheme is receiving the support of the state governments in the region and they promise to do more because the project is able to revive the economy of those communities,’’ he said.

On her part, Dr Aisha Ndayako-Mohammed, Head of Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry Agriculture and Rural Development, told NAN that the primary role of the ministry was to coordinate the projects of development partners in agriculture.

“FADAMA is one of the programmes and it is being funded by World Bank; it strengthens the Federal Government’s efforts to boost the production of certain foods like rice, cassava and sorghum.

“Our mission is to check the implementation of development partners’ programmes, jointly carried out with the officials of World Bank and key ministries like Finance, Agriculture as well as Budget and Planning.

“The objective is to go and verify if the funds being released are utilised efficiently, effectively and for the purposes which they are meant for.

“It is also an opportunity for us to see what they are doing well and those that are not good so that they can be corrected, in conformity with the programme’s objectives,’’ she said. (NAN)
ROK/KOO/OOK
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Dayo Komolafe

Disbursement
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, June 7, 2018 (NAN) The World Bank, through the FADAMA III Additional Financing (AFII) Programme, says funds will soon be disbursed to the beneficiaries of the Graduate Unemployment Youths Support Scheme (FADAMA GUYS).

Dr Adetunji Oredipe, World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL) of the FADAMA Programme, gave the assurance in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that FADAMA GUYS was the special programme designed to empower youths and women who were trained in their chosen enterprises.

“We are working around the clock to make sure that we are able to raise funds to support the approved business plans.

“We are working with Federal Ministry of Finance to get what we call reallocation; that is putting money under appropriate category where it can be utilised for the purpose we have already identified.

“As soon as we come out of that, FADAMA GUYS beneficiaries out there should be rest assured that we will not waste time in disbursing the funds to them.

“We have applied to the Federal Government, through Federal Ministry of Finance, for permission to reallocate funds from other categories like consultancy, training, civil works into the grants and funds category.’’

Oredipe said that any moment from now, funds disbursement would start, particularly to those beneficiaries who would engage in rainy season agricultural activities, because they had completed the grants agreement and submitted their land documents.

“We will work with the planting period and when it is late, they will have to wait for the next planting period.

“We are sorry that this programme did not go as planned but I want to assure you that it will come to pass,” he said

The task team leader said that the objective of the programme was to partner with government in areas of job creation and capacity building, while keeping the foreign exchange rates low.

“We are making sure we import low quantities of rice and tomatoes, while putting less pressure on our Naira (currency) so as to make our economy strong.

“Anytime from now, you will be able to see our support at the state level and FADAMA GUYS beneficiaries will start receiving the funds which they have been waiting for.

“If I receive a go-ahead from government today; within two weeks, we will be able to finalise the process and the disbursement will start immediately,’’ he added.

NAN reports that the 23 participating states of FADAMA GUYS are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Ogun and Ondo states.

Others are Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). (NAN)
ROK/JTJ/OOK
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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede and Dayo Komolafe

FADAMA
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, June 5, 2018 (NAN) Mr Tayo Adewumi, the National Programme Coordinator of FADAMA, says the FADAMA III Additional Financing (AFII) Programme has served as a medium of national social integration among the citizens.

Adewumi said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the wrap-up meeting of the 9^th World Bank/Federal Government Support Mission.

He noted that beneficiaries of the programme had been integrated into the economic and social life of their communities, irrespective of their different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

“We just came back from the mission to check the implementation of the project, the success report and see how to tackle challenges being faced in the beneficiary states.

“We can say that the FADAMA programme has really achieved its target; it has also met its set objectives because they were lots of testimonies from the beneficiaries.

“The beneficiaries from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds are now seeing themselves as one and they do things together to facilitate the development of the nation,’’ he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the wrap-up meeting was convened to discuss the key findings, observations and progress witnessed in the states that were visited during the mission.

The national programme coordinator noted that the achievements of the FADAMA programme in the participating states had given the National FADAMA Office the motivation to start planning for the 10^th supervision mission.

“We need to put in place strategies on how the beneficiaries will sustain the project, since it will close by Dec. 31, 2019.

“We really need to work with the FADAMA Federated Communities Association (FFCA) and renew our agreement with NAFDAC to solidify our products home and abroad.

“We will make place emphasis on nutrition to make our project superb and unique, while establishing mini-libraries or resource centres to document our activities for research purposes,’’ he said.

Adewumi commended Dr Adetunji Oredipe, World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL) for the FADAMA programme, for bringing up ideas that enhanced the implementation of the programme.

He also praised the team leader on his efforts to showcase the successes recorded while implementing the programme.

“I thank the states visited during the mission for their support; I also commend the project consultants and officials of FADAMA AFI and AFII programmes for the success recorded.

“We promise to do more, we will not ignore the report submitted; we will also work on the reports of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO),’’ he added. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

Death
Lokoja, June 5, 2018 (NAN) A Deputy Director in the Kogi Ministry of Education, Mr Haruna David, suddenly collapsed and died in his office on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt in Lokoja that late David collapsed at about 3 p.m.

He was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where he was pronounced dead by medical officials on duty.

Until his death, he worked in the Quality Assurance department of the ministry.

The deceased hailed from Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government and was the Unit Chairman of the ministry’s Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and Chairman, Lokoja branch of the Ogugu Development Association.

However, NAN gathered that the deceased was suffering from diabetes.

His corpse had been deposited at the morgue of Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

The Public Relations Officer of Ministry of Education, Alhaji Seidu Adamu, confirmed the incident but refused to comment further. ( NAN)
KKA/HA
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Drugs safety: NAFDAC partners academic, research institutes
By Biola Lawal
NAFDAC
Abuja, June 5, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is partnering with academic and research institutes to ensure effective monitoring and safety of new drugs in the country.
Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the Director-General, NAFDAC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that already collaborations had begun with a number of stakeholders towards achieving this objective.
She disclosed that NAFDAC is in partnership with the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), and the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.
Adeyeye added that the partnership is supported by PharmacoVigilance Africa (PAVIA) Project through a grant from European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).
She explained that the aim of the PAVIA project is to improve the readiness of Sub-Saharan African health systems to effectively deliver new medical products and to monitor post-market safety.
Medical Research Institutes (MRI) in Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Swaziland are collaborating with National Pharmacovigilance Centres (NPC) and Public Health Programmes to strengthen drug safety monitoring.
NAN reports that NAFDAC, IHVN, UniBen, NTBLCP and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria participated in PAVIA kick off meeting held in Dar el-Salam, Tanzania, in April.
NAFDAC is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water in Nigeria. (NAN)
BL/IS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Commission moves to resolve 482 complaints in Kogi

Complaints

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, June 4, 2018 ( NAN) The new Commissioner in charge of the Public Complaints Commission in Kogi, Chief Gabriel Otitoju, has promised to ensure speedy adjudication of over 482 pending complaints before the commission in the state.

Otitoju, who spoke in Lokoja on Monday said that this had become necessary in order to retain the peoples’ confidence in the commission and ensure administrative justice among the parties involved.

The Commissioner also promised to introduce new ideas that will fast track the dispensation of justice on the basis of the rule of law.

He commended the officials of the commission for their diligence and good attitude to work, urging them to be ready to do more for the nation.

Otitoju said that the government was aware of the precarious financial situation of the commission and the problem of poor welfare condition of workers, saying that these and other problems were being addressed by the Federal Government.

Earlier, while briefing the Commissioner, the Director of Litigations, Mr Tom Acheneje, said that the office handled 850 cases between January 2017 and April 2018.

According to him, 468 complaints were successfully resolved, while 482 were still pending.

Acheneje said that cases handled included complaints of wrongful dismissals, non-payment of salary, dismissal without letters, non-payment of compensation for lands acquired by government among others.

The Director listed challenges facing the commission to include delays in payment of salaries and allowances, lack of funds, refusal to honour invitations by government officials and the inability to enforce the decisions of the commission. (NAN)
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

`Against All Odds’ documentary on amputees debuts
Documentary
By Oladapo Udom
Lagos, May 30, 2018 (NAN) A filmmaker, Adefemi Davies on Wednesday said a documentary titled, “Against All Odds,” produced to support an amputee, Miss Adenike Adebayo to walk freely again has debut online.

Davies told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Adebayo’s determination to succeed in life inspired him in making of the documentary.

According to him, the documentary is also created to enlighten the public about the need to help people with such conditions.

“The documentary speaks about the challenges, resilience and fighting spirit of Adebayo, who will not be deterred from pursuing her dreams in spite of her plight.

“We want to tell her story to the world so that concerned people in the society can help her achieve a better life.

“She has suffered physical and mental pain for a long while and it is time she start getting something better out of life,” the filmmaker said.

Adebayo, whose two legs were amputated at the age of five, following an infection when she was two is currently a Higher National Diploma one student of Banking and Finance, Polytechnic, Ibadan.

He said that the funds realized from the documentary would be used to get prosthetics for the 23 year-old.

Prosthetics is the evaluation, fabrication, and custom fitting of artificial limbs, known as “prostheses.”
Prostheses enhance the function and lifestyle of persons with limb loss.

The filmmaker, however, appealed to orthopaedics, surgeons, physiotherapists and medical foundations to support Adebayo.

Davies said that the success of the documentary in solving a problem would encourage HO3D studios expand its support to other physically challenged persons in society. (NAN)
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ekemini Ladejobi

Farm Lab initiative will prepare youths for agribusiness entrepreneurs – Synergos

Agribusiness
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, May 30, 2018 (NAN) Synergos Nigeria, an agriculture transformation supporting group, has said that Farm Lab Initiative would give interested Nigerian youths between ages of 18 and 35 an opportunity to become agribusiness entrepreneurs at no cost.

The Country Director of Synergos, Mr Adewale Ajadi, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ajadi explained that the Youth Farm Lab is an initiative of Synergos through its project called State Partnerships for Agriculture (SPA), in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

”SPA and ministry were hosting an Agriculture Boot Camp on Livestock Farming, to give interested young Nigerians between ages 18 and 35 an opportunity to become Agribusiness entrepreneurs at no cost.

”The policy intervention in this project is about livestock production and entrepreneur education.

”Part of challenges of agriculture is how to get young people interested in agriculture, how do we show them that agriculture is viable employment and entrepreneur opportunity.

”Youth Farm Lab is designed to target youth in Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States,” he said.

He added that the programme targeted about 150 young people; it is a small programme designed for two months to train youth on goats, pigs and snails production on entrepreneur approach.

”There would be practical classes in Lagos, six weeks basic classroom, one week field work, two weeks internship; the goal is to let them understand what it takes to develop the ruminants.

”They would also acquire extra knowledge about what kind of thing they need in term of health care support for those kinds of breeding.

”To also develop the output for either employment or start-up of the business and to interact with people who are financiers, who might finance them and provide for them,” he said.

He said, ”We do not have fund to give but other programmes like Fadama and others can take up the programme and expand it, we are providing this for those that have finances to expand on it.”

Mrs Mosumola Umoru, Special Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the initiative was to encourage youths into agriculture.

She said that they were working closely with the entire faculty to support these young people.

According to her, the ministry is providing a linkage between Synergos and the youth, giving technical support, build farmers’ capacity and make agriculture attractive to the youth and women.

”The 50 candidates have been selected to participate in the first batch of this Agric. Innovation Lab. Project, same with the second and third batch to make it 150 candidates.

”We really want youths and women to fully involve in developing country agriculture because they have what it take to develop the sector and ready to work with any technology come their ways.” (NAN)
ROK/MOL/AFA
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Edited by  Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide

PVCs
By Yemi Adeleye
Lagos, May 29, 2018 (NAN) The Woman Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State, Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, has urged women to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote in the 2019 elections.

Okoya-Thomas, made this appeal on Tuesday in Lagos in a statement signed by her Media Officer, Mr Oladipupo Awojobi.

She promised to mobilise support for the re-election of both Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the statement, as the nation celebrates another Democracy Day, it is important to encourage our women to show more interest in politics.

“Women should continue to be part of the electoral process in Nigeria and this won’t happen except they participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and get their PVCs to vote in elections.

“Our women in Lagos should not renege on their efforts of taking active part in the political development of the state and the country,’’ the statement quoted Okoya-Thomas as saying.

The woman leader added that all hands must be on deck to ensure the continuation of massive growth and development in the state and Nigeria.

She said that both Ambode and Buhari meant well for the citizens, hence the need to mobilise for their re-election in 2019.

Okoya-Thomas, a three-time member of the Federal House of Representatives, challenged women not to take the backseat in the efforts to deepen democracy in the country.

“Those who have written Nigeria off can now see that democracy has come to stay in the country.

“I am proud of the Nigerian women and those of them in Lagos State in particular.

“They have been part of our political development and we will ensure that they continue to play active roles in the state and in the country,’’ she said.

Okoya-Thomas had on Saturday, visited Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria and National Woman Leader of President Buhari Campaign Group to solicit her partnership in mobilising women for the 2019 elections.

She congratulated Tinubu-Ojo on her appointment, saying that the APC-led government had impacted positively on Nigerians. (NAN)
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Ify Omowole/Yemi Idris-Aduloju