Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-H-29

Accident (2)

Lokoja, July 29, 2017 ( NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) on Saturday said the death toll in the Friday petrol tanker accident in Felele area of Lokoja, has risen to 13.

The state FRSC Sector Commander , Mr Olusegun Martins told newsmen in Lokoja that three other victims died Friday night.

He said that a staff of the Kogi state Polytechnic , Lokoja was one of them.

He said the relations of dead victims have started identifying them but said that six of them were burnt beyond recognition.

According to him, eight other injured victims of the accident are still receiving treatment at the intensive care units of the Federal Medical Centre and the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.

He said that investigation into the cause of the accident was underway.

NAN reports that 10 people lost their live instantly in the accident which occurred at about 1:45 pm on Friday, at Felele area of Lokoja.

The accident occurred as a result of a head-on collision involving a bus and tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol.

Eyewitnesses said that the collision ignited a fire which engulfed the two vehicles and a commercial tricycle.

Most of the victims were occupants of the 18-seater bus believed to be owned by Delta Line.

The bus was coming from the Abuja end of the road while the tanker was coming from the Okene end. ( NAN)
KKA/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

NAN-H-1
Refund
Lokoja, July 29, 2017 (NAN) Kogi Government has released N2 billion to the 21 local government councils in the state as their share of the N6.2 billion of the Paris Club refund the state received from the Federal Government.

A statement issued in Lokoja on Saturday by the Commissioner of Finance, Mr Idris Ashiru, said the government’s share of the refund was N4.02 billion.

He said that N1. 716 billion out of the government share had been released for the payment of May and June salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions.

Ashiru said that N1. 323 billion was expended on the payment of May and June pensions of retired workers.

The commissioner added that N987, 540, 000 was expended on the payment of May salary of workers in ministries, departments and agencies.

“In addition, the Ministry of Finance made additional fund of N3,219,145,997.12 available to the Accountant-General to clear arrears of May salary of civil servants.

He assured that workers who were indicted by the screening exercise and granted clemency by Gov. Yahaya Bello would be paid.

Ashiru said that staff of the judiciary, the Legislature and political office holders had since been paid their June salaries.

“It is important to note that Gov. Yahaya Bello directed that the state should use all the Paris Refund to clear outstanding salaries and pensions as against the undertaken with the Federal Government to use only 75 per cent of the refund,” the statement quoted Ashiru as saying. (NAN)
KKA/AEA
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NAN -H -70

Accident

10 die, 6 injured as fuel tanker catches fire in Lokoja

Lokoja, July 28, 2017 ( NAN) Ten people were burnt beyond recognition while six others sustained serious injuries when a petrol tanker went up in flames in Felele area of Lokoja on Friday.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kogi State, Mr Segun Martins, who confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, said most of the victims were passengers travelling in an 18-seater commercial bus.

Also affected were one commercial tricycle operator, the driver and motor boy of the fuel tanker.

He said the death toll might rise as some of those who sustained injuries  were in  critical situation.

Martins said the dead and injured victims were moved to various hospitals in Lokoja.

Eye witnesses told NAN that the accident was due to a head-on collision between the bus, coming from Abuja and the tanker coming from the opposite direction.

They said that the impact of the collision ignited the fire which spread to other vehicles while the entire area was covered by smoke for many hours.

Men of the state Fire Service Department, who arrived the scene at about 2:20 pm, could not to really help due to lack of water in their vehicles.

The accident led to disruption in vehicular movement on the ever busy Okene -Lokoja -Abuja Road but FRSC officials, police and sympathizers were seen trying to open the road. ( NAN)
KKA/YAZ
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NAN-HG-4
Distribution
By Huseyn Abubakar Mbar.
Bauchi, July 27, 2017 (NAN) Bauchi State Government has commenced the distribution of 198, 345 doses of malaria drugs and equipment to 222 health facilities to reduce the burden of malaria in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AID, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, (BACATMA), Dr Mansur Dada, on Thursday said this in Bauchi at the inauguration of exercise.

Dada said the purchase of the drugs and equipment was funded by the state government through the agency with support from Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

He also said that the items would be distributed to health facilities in all the 20 local government areas in the state between July and August.

Dada said that the items would be distributed through contracted third party, vendor directly from the state store to the facilities with the involvement of local government primary health care departments.

He said that community leaders in the affected heath facilities would be involved to ensure judicious utilisation of the drugs by targeted communities.

Dada said that the programme was part of routine distribution to ensure continuous availability of malaria drugs and commodities in the health facilities.

The executive secretary further said that the distribution was to help reduce the burden of malaria as well as morbidity and mortality in the state.

According to Dada, contributions by USAID, Catholic Relief Services and Chemonics International have also assisted in the programme.

He particularly commended them for their supports in areas of supply chain-procurement and supply management; implementation and logistics support to ensure the success of the programme.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, Dr Abdulai Kaikai, in a goodwill message to the occasion said that UNICEF would support the distribution programme to enable succeed.

Kaikai pointed out that UNICEF would particularly support in the area of advocacy to justify the funds expended on the programme. (NAN)
HAM/AOS/DUA

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Dada Ahmed

NAN-HG-4
Distribution
By Huseyn Abubakar Mbar.
Bauchi, July 27, 2017 (NAN) Bauchi State Government has commenced the distribution of 198, 345 doses of malaria drugs and equipment to 222 health facilities to reduce the burden of malaria on the people  in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AID, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, (BACATMA), Dr Mansur Dada, on Thursday said this in Bauchi at the inauguration of exercise.

Dada said that the purchase of the drugs and equipment was funded by the government through the agency with support from Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

He also said that the items would be distributed to health facilities in all the 20 local government areas in the state between July and August.

Dada said that the items would be distributed through contracted third party, vendor directly from the state store to the facilities with the involvement of local government primary health care departments.

He said that community leaders in the affected heath facilities would be involved to ensure judicious utilisation of the drugs by targeted communities.

Dada said that the programme was part of routine distribution to ensure continuous availability of malaria drugs and commodities in the health facilities.

The executive secretary further said that the distribution was to help reduce the burden of malaria as well as morbidity and mortality in the state.

According to Dada, contributions by USAID, Catholic Relief Services and Chemonics International have also assisted in the programme.

He particularly commended them for their supports in areas of supply chain-procurement and supply management; implementation and logistics support to ensure the success of the programme.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, Dr Abdulai Kaikai, in a goodwill message to the occasion said that UNICEF would support the distribution programme to enable succeed.

Kaikai pointed out that UNICEF would particularly support in the area of advocacy to justify the funds expended on the programme. (NAN)
HAM/AOS/DUA

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Dada Ahmed

NAN-AE-3
Sanitation
By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, July 27, 2017 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has warned that it will apprehend and prosecute those who refuse to participate in the monthly sanitation programme of the state.

Mrs Amaka Anajemba, the Managing Director of Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA), gave the warning on Thursday while speaking with newsmen in Enugu.

She said that the mobile courts would be stationed in strategic locations across the state to prosecute those who were detained by law enforcement agencies during the exercise.

‘‘For those in the habit of doing fitness exercise at Okpara Square and other places within the Enugu metropolis; we advise you to spare some few hours to join in keeping your environment and homes clean.

‘‘All forms of loitering during the exercise will not be condoned.

“The Authority will not fail to apprehend and prosecute those engaging in fitness exercise or loitering about during the sanitation hours.

“The state’s environmental mobile courts will be on ground to trail and persecute offenders,’’ she said.

Anajemba stressed the need for all residents in the state to partake in the exercise.

He, however, appealed to the residents of the state to clean their drains and waterways so as to prevent flash floods, while freeing their neighbourhoods from the menace of stagnant water that bred mosquitoes.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the next sanitation programme will take place on Saturday, July 29 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. (NAN)
KSN/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-F-35
Prevention
By Akeem Abas
Paris, July 26, 2017(NAN) Researchers say monthly vaginal ring and daily oral tablet, both containing anti-HIV drugs, are safe and acceptable in adolescent girls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the results of the study were presented on Wednesday at the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science in Paris, France.

The study reveals that the use of dapivirine vaginal ring by adolescent girls, most or all of the time, reduces the risk of HIV infection in women by no less than 56 per cent.

Dr Sharon Hillier, the Principal Investigator, NIH-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), said the researchers were encouraged by the result of the dapivirine ring in 15 to 17 year-old girls.

“The study has demonstrated that the ring is safe in US teens, and now we need data on the safety and acceptability of the ring in African adolescent girls.

“The REACH study, scheduled to launch later this year, will generate this data,’’ she said.

Hillier stated that an earlier NIAID-funded study called ASPIRE, which enrolled women ages from 18 to 45, tested a ring that continuously releases the experimental anti-HIV drug dapivirine in the vagina over one month.

“The results, reported in 2016, showed 27 per cent protection overall but no protection in women ages 18 to 21, likely due to low adherence.

“A subsequent exploratory analysis of ASPIRE study data found that, using the ring most or all of the time reduces the risk of HIV infection in women by at least 56 per cent.’’

Hillier said that a phase 2a clinical trial, called MTN-023/IPM 030, was conducted in the United States to examine the safety and acceptability of the dapivirine ring among sexually active girls from 15 to 17 years old.

“ Adolescent girls and young women, ages 15 to 24, are at particularly high risk for HIV infection. They accounted for 20 per cent of new HIV infections among adults globally in 2015.

“Ninety-six girls enrolled at six U.S. sites were assigned at random to receive either the dapivirine ring or a placebo ring in a 3-to-1 ratio.

“Neither the participants nor the investigators knew who had received which ring until the end of the trial. Participants were asked to insert a new ring each month for 6 months.

“Researchers monitored participants’ health and gauged adherence by measuring the amount of dapivirine in blood samples and used rings.’’

Hillier further stated that the study revealed that the dapivirine ring was safe and acceptable to participants.

‘’Adherence to the ring was high: drug levels in 87 per cent of blood samples and 95 per cent of used rings met pre-specified adherence criteria.

“Overall, participants said they liked the ring at 93 per cent of study visits but were concerned about keeping the ring clean and fear of it being  felt by primary sexual partner during sex.’’

Hillier said that the MTN investigators would in the study tagged `REACH’ assess how study participants used the monthly ring and daily PrEP and their preferences for either or both approaches.

NAN reports that Hillier is a Professor and Director of reproductive infectious disease research, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Similarly, Dr Anthony Fauci has said that adherence to the ring was high, adding that adherence to the tablet was moderate and diminished substantially when study visits became less frequent.

Fauci, a Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said that it was the first clinical trial of the oral tablet as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), specifically for adolescent girls.

He said that the findings paved way for larger trials of the vaginal ring and oral PrEP in this vulnerable age group.

“Adolescents and young people represent a growing share of people living with HIV worldwide.

“Science has demonstrated that the HIV prevention needs of adolescents may be different from those of adults, which is why these new study findings are so important,’’ he said. (NAN)
TAA/DUA

NAN-DS-9

Kidnapping

Lokoja, July 25, 2017 ( NAN) Kogi State Police Command said it had foiled an attempt to kidnap a member of the State House of Assembly , Hon. Moses Ododo by a gang of kidnappers.

A statement issued in Lokoja On Tuesday by the state police command, said two members of the kidnap gang were arrested on July 24, in the process of collecting N3 million ransom from Ododo.

The statement signed by the spokesman of the command, ASP William Aya said that Ododo reported to the police that some people had been threatening him on his phone to give them N3 million or risk being kidnaped.

The kidnappers had arrived at the agreed time of about 5:30 pm and spot at Omadeni village in Dekina Local Government and were about picking up the N3million ransom when a detachment from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested them,

Adodo is the member, representing Dekina/Biraidu constituency in the state house of assembly.
“Operatives attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad promptly swung into action by accompany the complainant to the agreed point where money will be dropped, “ the statement said.

The statement said that two members of the kidnap gang, Omeje Shehu and Mohammed Jibril were arrested while others fled into the bush.

According to Aya, one locally made single barrel pistol, one live cartridge and thirteen cowries were recovered from the gang.

“Effort is on to track down the fleeing suspects, “ he said.

In another development, a suspected burglar, Abdullahi Bello was arrested in connection with a case of house burgling.

The statement said his arrest followed a tip off that the suspect with others now at large on July 16 broke into the houses of Emmanuel Baba and Onimi Reuben at Zango-Daji area of Lokoja and carted away some items.

Items allegedly carted away by Bello and his colleagues include a 42- inch Plasma Samsung Television valued at N40,000 one 32-inch LG Plasma Television valued at N37,000, two plasma TV sets and N71,000 cash.

The statement further said that men of the A Police Division in Lokoja on July 23, intercepted and arrested Abdulkadir Abdulramat, Angulu Adulwajid and Oluwale Samson, all members of a syndicate that specialised in snatching of motorcycles.

Aya stated that the suspects who were residents of Felele area of Lokoja, were arrested while in possession of two stolen motorcycles, two hammers and other dangerous weapons.

He said that all the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded. ( NAN)
KKA/MTM
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Edited by Tukur Muntari.

NAN-H-16
Water
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, July 25, 2017 (NAN) The Kogi Government said on Tuesday that it had completed 23 water projects abandoned at various stages by previous administrations in the state.

The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Salami Ozigi, said this while speaking with  newsmen after a visit to the multi-billion naira  Greater Lokoja Water Plant in Lokoja.

He said that the water projects, which were spread across the three senatorial districts,  were rehabilitated and inaugurated  between March, 2016  and June , 2017.

According to him, some of the completed water projects are located at Nagazi and Kuroko in Adavi Local Gvernment Area, Obangede in Okehi Local Government  Area and  Magongo in Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area.

Others, he said, were at  Aiyegunle-Gbede and Ogidi in Ijumu Local Government Area, Mopa in Mopa -Muro Local Government Area and Egbe in  Yagba West Local Government Area.

He said the rest were located at Imane in  Ofu Local Government Area, Ajaka in  Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area and Oguma in Bassa Local Government Area.

He said that his visit to the Greater Lokoja waterworks  was  to assess the state of facilities at the treatment plant.

Ozigi said  government had also rehabilitated the old Lokoja waterworks  to complement supply from the Greater Lokoja plant  as part of efforts to increase water supply in the capital  and its environs.

He said contract for the metering of water supply to houses and industries in Lokoja metropolis had been awarded, adding  that this would curb wastage and boost  internally generated revenue. (NAN)
KKA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-49
Conflicts
By Kudirat Ogunyemi/Philomina Attah
Abuja, July 24, 2017 (NAN) The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) has solicited partnership with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs  and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop pastoralists and farmers clashes in Nigeria.

NAPRI  sought the partnership when  its delegation led by the Executive Director, Prof.  Clarence Lakpini, paid courtesy visits to the two institutions on Monday in Abuja.

At the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lakpini said that the conflicts between pastoralists and arable farmers were of national concern.

This, he said,  led  to the Ministry of Agriculture  to set up a ministerial committee for transformation of grazing reserves to ranches.

He said the whole idea was to look for possible ways of ending the continued clashes between the two groups in the country.

“ The livestock sector in West Africa contributes six to eight per cent of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the agricultural GDP.

“ This is a socio-economic strength that can be harnessed to create jobs and ensure food security for the Nation.

“ This is the time to put in place a strategic sustainable intervention mechanism to avert more serious conflicts in the future,’’ Lakpini said.

According to him, NAPRI has been mobilising critical stakeholders to evolve  a holistic strategy and  ensure  implementation of applicable solutions to the challenges.

“ We can approach the challenges through training of pastoralists by skills acquisition of modern animal husbandry techniques.

“ Encouraging and training of youths in livestock value chains as small and medium enterprises.

“ we will be developing a NAPRI integrated livestock model farm project which can be out-selected for cluster livestock farmers in states  that provide the land and encourage partnership with private developers.

“ The private developers, whose expertise and resources are used to establish pastures, provide feeds and other inputs like biological and drugs within the vicinity of the cluster farms, ‘’ he added.

He said  that the Foreign Affairs  Ministry would open relations with other countries in the region and globally which they considered  auspicious to seek partnership with.

According to him, the aim is to break through the  malady caused by the prevailing livestock husbandry system.

“ To achieve the goal of developing the NAPRI Integrated Livestock Model Farms Project and out-scale to states, we need foreign technical and investment partnership to be synergised.

“ These will help us develop our beef, dairy, poultry, sheep and goat products to meet export international standards.

“ We need the ministry’s support in raising funds toward  the launch for infrastructural development for national livestock training aimed at raising N5 billion,’’ he said.

In his response,  Mr Sola Enikanolaiye, the Permanent Secretary in the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who received the NAPRI  delegation,  said an inter ministerial committee within ECOWAS had deliberated on some of the issues raised by the Executive Director.

“The herdsmen and farmers are all involved in agriculture.

“ Government is concerned about the relationship between these two groups in a sector that is so critical that their relationship has not been too good recently because of conflict and attacks.

“ Government is already taking measures to address challenges through various options. We will listen to you because you are all experts.

“Tell us what should be done to stop the attacks  and conflicts  between herdsmen and farmers for  a permanent solution,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary said that the foreign affairs ministry was Nigeria’s window to the world.

“Every aspect of government policies and programmes has a foreign policy component and the ministry must ensure that government policies are adhered to,’’ Enikanolaiye said.

He added that NAPRI has  a very important role to play in terms of employment generation  and domestic food self sufficiency.

“If a country like India can feed itself with their large population with very little importation of food, there is no reason why our country cannot feed itself and export and become food basket for not just Africa but the rest of the world.

“ For us at the ministry, I believe we can partner in three areas such as learning from other countries in terms of global best practices to achieve our objectives of exportation,’’ he said.

The team, which  also visited the  CBN, was received on behalf of the governor by Mr Sani Mohammed, Deputy Director, Development Finance Department. (NAN)
APA/ROK/AOS/OJO
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Mufutau Ojo)