Author: Isah Mukhtar

Kogi gets modern diagnostic, imaging centre
By Kola Adeyemi
Centre
Lokoja, March 13, 2018 (NAN) The Kogi Government says its N2 billion newly built advanced medical diagnostic and imaging centre in Lokoja will commence operation before end of April.
The state Commissioner for Health, Mr Saka Haruna, told newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja that the centre was fitted with cutting edge medical equipment such as CT Scan, MRI and digital mamography.
“With its completion, it will no longer be necessary for residents to travel out of the state to seek advance medical investigation,’’ he said.
Haruna said that the state recorded 29 cases of suspected Lassa fever recently, saying that nine cases were confirmed while six persons were treated and discharged.
However, he said that three persons lost their lives while another patient was still on admission.
The commissioner said that the state had designated a five-bedroom building at the Specialist Hospital in Lokoja as an isolation centre for the treatment of Lassa fever patients and other epidemic diseases.
On the ongoing strike by public medical doctors in the state, Haruna said that government was still negotiating with them on the need to call off the strike.
He added that government was taking steps on how to meet the doctors’ demands and dismissed speculations that youth corps doctors were being mobilised to replace them.
According to him, the state government was sponsoring the treatment of 28 indigenes with life threatening medical issues of stroke, congestive heart failure, malignant diseases and spinal cord injury abroad.
“One of the most fascinating of these was the successful separation of conjoined twins,” the commissioner said.
He stated that the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello had also conducted a comprehensive upgrade of five zonal hospitals and provided them with N550 million worth of state of the art medical equipment, drugs and furniture. (NAN)
KKA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Aledare Akinwale

Lokoja, March 13, 2018 (NAN) A human rights activist, Mr Biodun Adeyemi, has advised  politicians, including the youth, to avoid hate speeches in order not to overheat the polity ahead the 2019 general elections.

Adeyemi told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Tuesday that as political activities approached preparatory to the general elections, politicians should play the game according to the rules.

“Political parties’ primaries, national conventions, campaigns and other political activities will happen in this 2018,’’ he noted and appealed that politicians should avoid hate speeches in all the activities.

He pointed out that the rate at which youths engaged in hate speeches on social media was alarming and urged the government and political parties’ leadership to check the trend.

According to him, what is needed now are comments that will strengthen peace and unity of the country and move it forward.

“All the citizens of the country are one; no matter the tribe or religious affiliations, we should see one another as brothers and sisters; we should do more of what will unite us than what will divide us.

“God who made us to be in one country did not make a mistake; his reason is to make Nigeria a great country,” Adeyemi said.

He particularly urged youths to resist attempts by politicians to use them as thugs during campaigns or elections.

“If any politician wants to use youths as political thugs, they should tell him to go and bring his children to do that.

“Some politicians are wicked, and that is why they will send their own children abroad and will want to mar the future of other children by using them as thugs.

“As youths, you are future leaders of the country; if unpatriotic politicians want to use you to destroy your future, resist them so they will know you are wiser than them,” he said.

The activist appealed to politicians to calm their followers to ensure peaceful politicking, saying that people would always remain after politics.

He warned youths across the board to be careful in supporting candidates, saying that anyone arrested would be made to face the wrath of the law. (NAN)

WAL/OPI/OPI

Dangote restates resolve to bridge manpower gap as Dangote Academy admits fresh 100 trainees

NAN-HE

Manpower

Lokoja, March 12, Lokoja, March 12, 2018 (NAN) The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, says his resolve to provide technical manpower needs for the country’s industrial growth has started yielding desired results.

Dangote said this on Monday at Obajana, Kogi State, while inaugurating fresh 100 trainees recently admitted under the Junior Technician Scheme (JTS) of the Dangote Academy in Obajana.

Dangote, who was represented by Mr Davar Kumar Edwin, Executive Director, Project and Portfolio, Dangote Group, said that the trainees, who form batches three and four of the academy, would be trained to suit the needs of indigenous companies and multinationals.

He said that many companies, including Dangote Group, could not continue to solely rely on universities and polytechnics to produce the needed technical manpower, hence the decision to establish the academy.

Dangote said that the trainees, selected from the host communities of Obajana and Ibeshe cement plants and other parts of the country, would be taken through critical technical areas of engineering, electrical installation and maintenance, automobile maintenance and instrumentation, welding and fabrication, machining and fitting, among others.

“The JTS is one of the flagship programmes of the Dangote Academy running for a period of 18 months.

“At the end of the training programme, these 100 young Nigerians, being admitted here today, will become master technicians in one or more areas,” he said.

On completion of the training, he said, some of the trainees will be absorbed into factories of Dangote Group in Nigeria and other African countries.

He also spoke of plans to upgrade the academy, established in 2010 to a global institution, saying that it had started partnering with the German Association of Equipment Manufacturers in furtherance of this.

Dangote said that the academy was also in touch with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for approval, registration and accreditation of its agreement on technical vocational education and training.

He charged the new trainees to show a strong commitment to learn and take cognizance of the immense investments being committed to their training by the company.

“This programme is offered free at no cost to the trainees. You are going to have the best training of your life in the next 18 months, do not disappoint all those who have helped make this a reality,” he charged them.

The Olu of Imasayi, Oba Adesola Oni and Bajana of Obajana, Oba Idowu Isenibi, who spoke on behalf of the host communities, commended the company for its efforts at helping the country to develop manpower needs of the country in critical areas.

The traditional rulers promised to continue to work with Dangote Group and other stakeholders to create enabling environment for the company’s operations.

Three of the trainees, Mr Mayomi Samuel, Mr Ajayi Adepegba and Miss Blessing Oguche, thanked Dangote for the opportunity given to them to be admitted into the academy and promised to be of good behaviour throughout their 18-month stay at the academy. (NAN)
KKA/TÁ
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

Specialist urges FG, herdsmen to embrace artificial insemination

Centre
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, March 12, 2018 (NAN) Mr Yusuf Gomu, an official with an Artifical Insemination (AI) Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Kano, on Monday, urged the Federal Government and herdsmen to embrace artificial insemination to upgrade local breeding.

Gomu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that artificial insemination needed to be financed and more hands employed to service the centres.

NAN reports that AI is the breeding of a female with semen that has been collected and inseminated into the uterus or vagina using instruments or equipment rather than by natural service (breeding).

“What we have seen is that the sub-sector has been neglected in terms of financing.

“However, if a little attention is given it will upgrade local cattle breeding, boost milk and meat production.

“For example, local breeding produces one litres to two litres of milk but when cross bred, the female cattle can produce up to 10 litres to 15 litres per day,’’ the official said.

According to him, during artificial insemination treatment, the female cattle menstrual cycle is closely monitored using ovarian kits, ultrasounds, and blood tests.

He said that the semen to be implanted would be washed in a laboratory, which increased the chances of fertilisation while removing unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals.

“The semen is inserted into the female, and if the procedure is successful, it conceives,’’ Gomu said.

He urged the Federal Government to get involved in such programmes, saying that it would help to boost livestock production in the country.

He advised government to get extension workers to educate the rural farmers on the artificial insemination process.

“Government should give more attention to artificial insemination centres in terms of finance and manpower.

“If adequate attention is given to the AI centres by financing and increasing security, it will help tackle unemployment, and revenue generation will be improved,’’ the official said.

Also speaking with NAN, Mr Olagbaju Tumise, a laboratory and animal technology consultant, said that his organisation would start training farmers on the rudiments of profitable ruminant production through artificial insemination.

Tumise, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Real People Concept, said that farmers had in the past left breeding to unprofitable animals.

“To be profitable, livestock farmers must breed deliberately and farmers must be in control of breeding of the animals.

“To breed effectively, farmers must make use of modern technology such as Draminski estrous detector, Draminski pregnancy detector and Draminski portable ultrasound scanners in their breeding plan.

“A number of times farmers are not sure whether their animals are pregnant or not. One of the ways to check pregnancy in large animal is through ultrasound scanning,’’ he said.

The consultant said that artificial insemination had numerous advantages that farmers could benefit from like disease control, because there would be no skin contact as in natural service.

“The most important diseases it protects against are transmission of the herpes virus-equine coital exthanema, which is caused by a bacteria.

“ In addition, antibiotics can be added to the semen at the time of insemination or collection to reduce or totally eliminate breeding of the mare with any bacteria at all,’’ he said.

Tumise added that some other advantages of AI were decreased chances of injury, adding that semen could be collected from stallions with problems and evaluated each time it was collected.

He said that it also prevented stallion overuse and allowed breeding of more mares. (NAN)
ROK/COF/AFA
============
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Felix Ajide

NAN-H-38
Employment
By Hajara Leman
Gombe, March 10, 2018 (NAN) The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the Access Bank Nigeria PLC, Mr Herbert Wigwe, has offered employment to 51 first class graduates  of Gombe State University.

Wigwe , who with three other Nigerians received honorary doctor’s degrees from the university at its 6th,7th 8th and 9th combined convocation on Saturday in Gombe, said the bank was ready to engage the graduates if they accepted the offer.

The school graduated 3,958 students in various disciplines at the ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of other awardees, Wigwe, who received an Honorary Doctor of Administration award, commended the university for the remarkable achievement.

“ In spite of the security challenges in the region, the state government has put up a remarkable infrastructure in the institution in spite of its lean resources,” he said.

Wigwe also commended the graduates for the feat they achieved in their academic pursuits and assured them that with perseverance, the sky was their limit.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, it may take some of you several years after graduating to settle,” he said.

Other  Nigerians honoured at the ceremony were Hajiya Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and Dr Christopher Kolade, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK.

Another award recipient was the Emir of Gombe, Dr Abubakar Shehu, who is  the University Chancellor. (NAN)
HUL/PD/JCE
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Edited by Philip Dzeremo/Chukwudi Ekezie

6 docked for allegedly disrupting Kogi senator’s empowerment programme

NAN-H–80
Arraignment
Lokoja, March 9, 2018 (NAN) Six persons were on Friday charged before a Lokoja Senior Magistrate’s Court for allegedly disrupting an empowerment programme organised by Sen. Ahmed Ogembe (PDP/Kogi West), in Okene, on March 3.

The suspects included Moshood Shuaib Onimisi, Abdullazeez Yusuf, Otaru Musa, Onipe Innocent, Iliyasu Momoh and Jimoh Raji.

The accused, who appeared before Senior Magistrate Ojoma Rachael Haruna, are facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and mischief punishable under section 97(2) of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N20,000 each.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the venue of the empowerment programme had in attendance 1,200 indigent women, who were to share the sum of N24 million provided by the lawmaker, before the armed thugs disrupted the occasion.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Mohammed Abbas and Mr M. J. Samuel, made an oral application for their bail which was rejected by the prosecutor, Sgt. Oladipupo Abimbola, who stated that investigation into the matter was yet to be concluded.

In granting them bail, the magistrate ruled that the surety must present two passport photographs and sign a bond to be of good behaviour.

The magistrate then ordered that the case be transferred to the Senior Magistrate Court in Okene, and fixed March 28 for mentioning. (NAN)
KKA /JIE/ETS
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Edited by Julius Enehijhuere and Ephraims Sheyin

Kogi lawyer charged with forgery, granted bail

NAN – H –15

Forgery

Lokoja, March 9, 2018 ( NAN) A lawyer, Julius Elukpo was on Friday arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge of forgery.

Elukpo who is also the Chairman of Kogi State Elders Forum was alleged to have forged the signatures of two persons to write a petition to the Minister of Health on March 22, 2017.

When the charge was read to Elukpo, he pleaded not guilty.

However, the police prosecutor , Sgt. Obi Ubana told the Chief Magistrate, Mr Seidu Hussein that Elukpo had in the the petition alleged corruption, fraud and injustice against some management staff of the Federal Medical Centre , Lokoja.

He said that after police investigation, it was established that two of the signatures on the petition were forged, prompting the state Commissioner of Police to institute the case against Elukpo.

Ubana said that the offence is contrary to Section 364 of the penal code and prescribes a maximum of 14 years imprisonment if found guilty.

He told the court that he had lined up five witnesses , including the two persons whose signatures were allegedly forged by the defendant to prove his case.

Ubana then asked the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and sought for adjournment.

Counsel to Elukpo, Mr Muizdeeen Abdulahi , while making oral application for bail, urged the court to use its discretion in granting his client bail.

He said that Elukpo is a well respected member of the bar in Lokoja who will not interfere with investigation or jump bail.

However,  the prosecutor urged the court not to grant the bail, saying that the defendant had consistently failed to honour police invitations.

He said that the police had to arrest the accused on March 8 and consequently charged him to court.

The Chief Magistrate agreed with the prosecution that the case was ordinarily bailable, but explained that the court can still exercise its discretion over the application.

Hussein consequently granted Elukpo bail on self recognition, with a N50,000 bond.

He warned the defendant not to interfere with investigation or commit any other offence.

The Chief Magistrate them adjourned the case till March 19, for mention. ( NAN)
KKA /MZA
———–
Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Igando Gardens Housing Estate 90 per cent completed – Commissioner

NAN-H-56
Housing
By Grace Alegba
Lagos, March 8, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal on Thursday assured prospective home owners that the Igando Gardens Housing scheme was 90 per cent completed and would be allocated in May.

Lawal gave the assurance during an inspection tour of the housing project in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government through the Ministry of Housing officially inaugurated the Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing Policies on Dec. 8, 2016.

The scheme targets the low and medium income earners in both the formal and informal sectors.

Under the arrangement, payment for the housing units is staggered and tenants are allowed to live on the property while paying toward ownership as a fixed rent within the period of ten years.

The Igando Gardens Housing is under the Rent-To-Own scheme of the Lagos state Government.

The commissioner said: “Igando Gardens has 41 blocks, that is 492 units of one, two and three bedrooms and we have our contractors on site.

“The race is to complete the project by the end of May, but all things being equal, if we can complete the project before the end of May, we would do that.

“The percentage completion of the project is presently hovering between 85 to 90 per cent completion and what we have left is a bit of snags.”

Lawal said that water treatment plants and other facilities were ready, except the sewage treatment plant which was under construction and nearing completion.

He said that over 35 blocks had been totally completed.

“We are seriously working on completion by eight weeks, and allocation would commence first week of May.

“A lot of people have already applied for this scheme and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to them that very soon, they would be called upon to get their allocation letters,” he said.

While being conducted around the site, the commissioner directed the project engineers to speed up work to meet up with the scheduled delivery date.

Mr Aderemi Oseni, CEO of Step Development Ltd., contractors handling the car park areas of the project, told journalist that interlocking stones for the car parks were almost completed.

He said that the drainage channels under construction were designed to empty into a nearby valley to keep flood away from the estate. (NAN)
GA/ENN/SOA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-75

Gender

By Kudirat Musa

Abuja, March 8, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Dolapo Ajayi, a gender specialist, has advised women to build self-confidence and forge a common front, to enable them achieve success in their undertakings.

Ajayi, who is also Senior Manager (Tax), Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) gave the advice at the International Women’s Day celebration organised by Fadama III Additional Financing (AF) in Abuja on Thursday.

She said women needed to network for them to efficient career booster to engender job opportunities.

“Networking is highly important for any leader, but even more so for women. It allows people to share experiences and knowledge and even support each other.

“By doing this, the gender division in the labour market might in  a long-term open more doors for women to advance to management level and diversify leadership in male-dominated sectors,’’ she said.

Mr Amara Okalia, Gender Officer for Fadama III AF, said that the day was also to celebrate accomplishments of women in various spheres of human endeavour.

According to her, it is also to open doors for the tapping of the potential of women for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Okalia, however, urged women to correct instances where women were being treated as ”little interest group.”

“We need to be given equal opportunity and rights to explore God’s purpose.

“Women and men should have equal possibilities to get ahead in their careers and rise to higher positions, especially when it is not a question of incompetence anymore,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year to commemorate movement for women’s rights.

This year’s theme is ‘’Press for Progress.’’ (NAN)

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Dada Ahmed
KM/MOL/DUA