Author: Isah Mukhtar

Alabi becomes substantive CMD, FMC Lokoja

NAN-H-74

Appointment

Lokoja, June 29, 2017 (NAN) The appointment of Dr Olatunde Alabi, has been confirmed as the substantive Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN also reports that his appointment was among those approved by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo on June 28.

Alabi, who spoke with NAN in Lokoja on Thursday, described his appointment as a call to higher service.

He promised to ensure quality health care service delivery to the patients and also pay much attention to staff welfare.

The chief medical director thanked the Federal Government for the confidence reposed in him and promised to live up to expectation.

He also called for the support and cooperation from all staff and other stakeholders to enable him take the centre to a greater height.

Alabi, a consultant obstetrician /gynecologist, was until his appointment, the acting Chief Medical Director of the medical centre.

Before the acting appointment in 2015, he was also the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council of the centre. (NAN)
KKA/MO/YEMI

Edited by Morayo Omolade/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-66
Accidents
Lokoja, June 29, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Thursday that two persons died and 10 vehicles got burnt in four crashes that occurred in different parts of Kogi State between June 23 and June 28.

The state Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Olusegun Martins, who made this known to newsmen in Lokoja, said that the four crashes occurred at Kabba, Okene, Ankpa and Koton Karfe.

According to him, four other persons sustained serious injuries in the accidents.

Martins said that 10 vehicles got burnt at Total area in Okene on June 23 when a fuel-laden tanker went up in flames.

He said that nobody died in the incident and that the obstruction that followed, was promptly cleared by men and officers of the FRSC.

He said that other obstructions at Murtala Bridge at Jamata, Zariagi-Okene Road and Lokoja-Ajaokuta Road were promptly cleared to allow for free flow of traffic.

The sector commander observed that there was an unusual increase in the number of trucks plying the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway, attributing the development to the collapse of Mokwa bridge.

He appealed to the Federal Government to repair the bridge before another festive period, to ease pressure on the road. (NAN)
KKA/NKO/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

NAN-AE -5
Erosion
By Aledare Akinwale
Lokoja, ‎June 29, 2017 (NAN) Residents of the Adankolo neighbourhood of Lokoja on Thursday appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to come to their aid and save them from the perennial menace of erosion.

A spokesman for the residents, Mr Segun Aleriwon, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the situation in their area was becoming too difficult to control.

He noted that some residents had been advised to relocate from their homes to avoid disasters which could arise from erosion around the River Niger.

He said that the residents’ association had met on several occasions to contribute money and repair some locations in the neighbourhood, adding, however, that their efforts were largely ineffective without the government’s intervention.

Aleriwon called on the state government to direct its agencies to attend to the environmental problems facing the community.

He appealed to the residents to relocate from areas which extremely unsafe, while urging the state government to expedite action in addressing the menace of erosion and floods in the Adankolo area.

Aleriwon also urged the government to look into the reports on the 2012 flood fund and post-flood housing scheme, saying that some residents living in flood-prone areas should be relocated to houses constructed under the scheme. (NAN)
WAL/OOK
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Eid el-Fitr: Gov. Bello tasks Muslims on good virtues of peace, love

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Eid
Lokoja, June 24, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has urged Muslims in the country to make the lessons of Ramadan remain permanent in their life.

The governor made the call on Saturday in Lokoja in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule to commemorate the Eid el-fitr.

Bello said that the virtues of peace, love and respect for constituted authorities should be sustained beyond Ramadan period by all Muslims

“All the good virtues exemplified by Prophet Mohammed must continue to guide Muslims in all their dealings with each other and those of other faith,” he said.

The governor thanked the people of the state for their prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari during the period, urging them not to relent.

While congratulating Muslims in the state on successful completion of the Ramadan, Bello called on them to continue to live in peace and shun divisive tendencies.

“The virtues of Islam are grounded in love for our fellow man and living in peace with all our neighbours.

“Allah in His infinite wisdom created us differently and knows best why.

“The lessons of peaceful coexistence, gratitude and benevolence, which we have been taught in the Month of Ramadan, must remain with us all through our lives,” Bello said.

He enjoined them to remember the less privileged, orphans and other vulnerable persons in the society by extending charity to them as stipulated by Islam. (NAN)
KKA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide

NAN-H- 87

Kits

By Aisha Ahmed

Kano, June 22, 2017 (NAN) The Kano State Government, on Thursday, distributed breast cancer screening kits worth N30 million to 26 health facilities across the state.

Dr Kabiru Getso, the state Commissioner for Health, said at the Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency in Kano, that the move was necessary to checkmate cancer.

He said that the 7, 680 breast cancer kits were procured by the State Government for the early detection of the disease.

“These are kits which women can easily use at their homes,” he said.

The commissioner revealed that from statistics, eight million women died as a result of cancer in 2016 worldwide.

“A projection has also shown that another 13 million might die of the disease by the year 2030,” he said.

He added that in view of the statistical evidence, the present administration decided to provide the means of checking to detect the disease at an early stage.

The commissioner, who said government had given priority to the health of its citizens, disclosed that 270 kits would be provided to each secondary health facility.

Getso urged residents of the state to always visit hospitals whenever they  fall sick in order to receive quality health care.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr Nura Idris, the Medical Director of Murtala Mohd Specialist Hospital, pledged to make effective use of the kits. (NAN)

AAA/MAS/YEMI

Edited by Moses Solanke/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-21

Festival
By Aledare Akinwale
Kabba(Kogi), June 22, 2017 (NAN) Chief Tolorunleke Obagbayi, a community leader in Kabba said on Thursday that the new yam festival is a festival used to appease the gods of the land to bring prosperity to the people.

Obagbayi spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kabba in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi on Thursday during the 2017 New Yam festival, which commenced on Wednesday.

The community leader said the festival was an annual event used to usher in the new yam season.

He said that the festival was only witnessed by male children in the land, while females and visitors should not be seen outside during the festival, which lasts for two days.

“Also, business activities are closed down for the two days of the festival,’’ he said.

Obagbayi said this year’s festival would be accompanied with prayers for the nation and for President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the festival period was a time whereby all prayers requests were answered speedily by the gods.

Obagbayi noted that the festival would bring good tidings to the nation and that the nation would remain one united and indivisible country.

He, however, sought prayers for the repose of the late Kabba Monarch, Oba Michael Olobayo, the Obaro of Kabba.

The community leader urged the youths to go about the festival lawfully and should not cause any crisis within the community.

He also prayed that the community would not witness the untimely death of its indigenes. (NAN)
WAL/JEO/PIO
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(Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Idonije Obakhedo)

NAN–H–93

Strike

Lokoja, June 21, 2017 (NAN) Academic and non-academic staff in five Kogi State government-owned tertiary institutions have suspended their five-month-old strike.

The institutions are the Kogi State University, Ayangba, Kogi Polytechnic, Lokoja, College of Education, Ankpa, College of Education (Technical), Kabba and College of Nursing, Obangede.

Mr Moses Balogun, Chairman, Joint Action Committee of the tertiary institutions, who announced this on Wednesday in Lokoja, after a meeting with officials of the state government, said that the strike would be suspended “for four weeks”.

He directed the workers to resume work on Thursday, June 22.

“The workers decided to suspend the strike in the interest of the students and out of respect for the members of the governing councils of the tertiary institutions.

“The suspension is to allow government to pay arrears of workers salaries and implement tax relief packages approved by government since 2014,” Balogun said.

Balogun, while sympathising with students over the impact of the strike, appealed to government to meet the workers’ demands to prevent them from resuming the strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers have been on strike since Jan. 31.

Among the workers demands are the implementation of 65 years retirement age for non-academic staff, complete investigation into certificate status of some staff and payment of salaries.

The Commissioner for Education, Mr Sunday Tolorunleke, in a reaction, thanked the workers for suspending the strike and promised that government would fulfill its side of the agreement “within the next four weeks”. ( NAN)

KKA/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

NAN-AE-1 
Erosion
Aledare Akinwale 
Lokoja, June 21, 2017 (NAN) Mr John Ibejemite, a community leader from Asuta area of Kabba in Kogi, has urged the state government to assist Asuta residents to tackle environmental challenges in the area.

Ibejemite told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Wednesday that erosion had almost destroyed homes in the area.

He said that people now flee their homes whenever it was about to rain due to the havoc it causes in the community and called for drastic measures to stop the erosion. 

Ibiejemite noted that the situation was beyond the control of the community, as only the government could successfully intervene in such circumstances. 

He noted that if urgent action was not taken, houses around the area might collapse.

The community leader said that though the rain had not been much this year, the situation was already beyond control.

“We don’t know what we can do to resolve this as it poses a ‎danger for people staying in the area.”
‎
Ibiejemite urged both local and state governments to assist the people, adding that the community members were also doing all they could at their own level.(NAN)
WAL/ORO/NKO
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Nkechi Okoronkwo

Sungold Group pioneers “smart” homes concept in Nigeria

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Estates
By Kabiru Muhammed
Abuja, June 20, 2017 (NAN) The Chief Executive Officer, Sungold Group Ltd., Abuja, Mr Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, has announced the completion of its first set of 350 Solar powered Energy Estates in Gwarinpa in Abuja.

According to Iwuanyanwu, the set of buildings are part of the over 4,000 being planned for the FCT Abuja and on completion will be first of its kind in Nigeria.

Iwuayanwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that it is time builders in the country start to think outside the box to meet the housing needs of Nigerians.

He stressed the need for critical infrastructure like power in some housing estates, saying that most elegant buildings remain an “uncompleted project” as owners still need to continually source for energy to make their homes comfortable.

“Housing also becomes more expensive, when you quantify this additional cost of generating power through the use of generators and the attendant environmental pollution it causes.

It becomes necessary for developers to seek permanent solution.

This, he said, informed the idea behind smart homes that will incorporate inbuilt sources of power not dependent on external energy supply.

Iwuanyanwu said,  “already this innovation has gone down well with our clients/buyers, who inundate us daily with enquiries about owing such dream homes where power outage no longer constitute a challenge.

He said spurred by the housing deficit in the country, “Sungold a foremost Estate builder is determined with the good environment created by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to build affordable houses in every part of Nigeria.”

NAN reports that according to experts in the housing sector, Nigeria is in deficit of over 17 million housing for its 170 million citizens, whereas China with its 1.3 billion populations has a surplus of 70 million unoccupied houses.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, has assured that the present administration is determined to bridge the housing deficit confronting the nation.

He said this at the inauguration of a housing estate initiated by the Federal Mortgage Bank under public/private partnership agreement in March.(NAN)
KM/AK/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Felix Ajide

Gov. Ortom defends anti-open grazing law

NAN-AE-67

Grazing

By Nicholas Dechi

Makurdi, June 20, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, has said that the state followed due process in the passage of the open grazing prohibition bill and its signing into law.

This clarification was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Godwin Akor, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Makurdi.

In the statement, Ortom made the disclosure while receiving the leadership of Makurdi Catholic Diocesan Laity Council at the Benue Peoples House.

He maintained that anyone, who was not satisfied with the law should go to court and not to think of creating anarchy.

The governor thanked the Catholic Church for standing firmly behind the present administration, adding that the bishop in-charge of the diocese had always encouraged him on matters concerning development, especially security.

Ortom disclosed that the herdsmen, who were not ready to ranch their cattle were already leaving the state and called on the Benue people to allow them to depart in peace.

He said those who were ready to ranch their cattle would be assisted to do so, noting that peace had started returning to the state.

The governor said the Catholic Church had assisted in the development of education, health and agriculture and assured that his administration would continue to partner with the body of Christ.

Ortom said he had been fighting corruption and corruption was fighting back but victory was certain at the end of the day because the state had been dedicated to God.

“My administration has made arrangements to block loopholes in the payment of salaries, so every other things have been suspended to ensure that salary problem is tackled,” Ortom said.

Earlier, the President of the Makurdi Catholic Diocesan Laity Council, Mr Damian Kpengwa, had lauded the governor for remaining committed to the development of the state.

Kpengwa also lauded him for giving support to the Church.

He pointed out that Ortom assisted the Catholic Church in giving the late Bishop Athanasius Usuh, a befitting burial and organised a glamorous coronation for Bishop Wilfred Anagbe.

The president condemned the criticisms from certain quarters against the anti-open grazing law and urged the governor not to waiver in the implementation.

He told the governor that the body would be requesting him to assist it in building its secretariat and hosting a national convention when the financial situation improved.

The president presented to him a Bible and Rosary after a prayer session for the success of the administration.

The executive members of the laity council were accompanied with the organization’s chaplain, Rev. Father Stephen Ishor. (NAN)

DND/TO/YEMI

Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Yemi Idris-Aduloju