Category: General News

Congratulation
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 13, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu on Thursday congratulated Otunba Adekunle Ojora on his 92nd birthday.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement that President Tinubu joined family and friends to celebrate the renowned businessman on this special occasion.
“The President salutes the elder statesman, recalling his contributions to advancing the economic wellbeing of the nation through enterprise development, as well as by encouraging indigenous participation in critical sectors of the economy.
“President Tinubu extols Otunba Ojora for his statesmanship, life of service, and wisdom.
“The President prays for many more years in excellent health for the elder statesman and his family,” said the statement. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
SA/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FERMA inaugurates operation desilt water channels in Kogi

Inauguration

By Thompson Yamput

Itobe (Kogi) June 13, 2024 (NAN) Dr Chukwuemeka Agbasi, Managing Director (MD), Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA), on Thursday inaugurated “Operation Desilt Water Channels” to checkmate erosion in Kogi.

Speaking during the inauguration at Ajegu, along the Itobe-Ayangba road in Ajaokuta Local Government of Kogi, Agbasi cautioned against indiscriminate dumping of refuge in drainages along the highways.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Agency’s boss was in Kogi for a one-day working visit.

The MD had visited the ongoing project “Reinstatement of critical washout and failed section” along the Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Road, assessing progress and expressing satisfaction with the work done.

The visit, according to him, was aimed at engaging the state in meaningful discussion with staff, inspect ongoing projects, and inaugurate the new initiative, operation desilt water channels in the state

“We can’t have the drainages blocked with refuge and expect the roads not to be exposed to erosion and potholes.

“It’s the duty of communities to ensure that the drainages are free for water passage and safety of our roads in order to avoid road traffic crashes.

“This is a vital initiative designed to mitigate the impact of flooding on federal roads in Kogi.

“The overall objective is to reduce flood risk and enhance road safety by clearing hydraulic structures and improving drainage systems across critical sections of Federal Roads in Kogi.

“This innovative programme will engage youths from the host community to remove silt and sediment from drainage channels and bridges across federal roads in the state.

“By doing so, it will not only empower them to contribute to the development and safety of their own community but also foster community participation and inclusiveness in the programme’s success,” he said

The FERMA Chief Executive Officer, added: “Also, safety is the top priority when working on site more so that vehicles do pass by on the roads under repairs.”

Agbasi, who disclosed that he planned to digitise and improve the agency’s workflow, assured the workers of his commitment to provide inclusive training to address their needs.

NAN reports that the MD was accompanied in the inauguration and supervision by Director West Operation, Mr Agboade Adewunmi and the Kogi Federal Road Maintenance Engineer, Mr Muktar Abdulrahim amongst other officials. (NAN)(we.nannews.ng)

TYC/AMM

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Niger: Stakeholders brainstorm on farmer-friendly insurance policies

By Rita Iliya

Minna, June 13, 2024 (NAN) Stakeholders have come together to brainstorm on ways insurance firms can provide friendly insurance policies for farmers to avoid total losses after natural disasters.

Dr Ken Ukaoha, President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), said this during the NANTS/AGRA stakeholders workshop on “Enhancing Agricultural Resilience through Farmer-centric Insurance Products’, in Minna on Thursday.
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The theme of the workshop was” Improving farmers’ Resilience and Upscaling Productivity, Incomes, and Livelihood in Rice, Maize, Soyabean, Cowpea and Vegetable Value Chain in Niger’.

Ukaoha explained that the ongoing agricultural revolution by the Niger government necessitated the critical stakeholders to come together to brainstorm on how to protect the government and farmers’ investment.

“Niger Governor has embarked on massive investments in agriculture with the cultivation of 10,000 hectares in each 25 local government areas.

“Therefore, for the government and farmers to reap from their investments, they must be insured against natural disasters, this will also bring about food security.

“The workshop will discuss why farmers are afraid to insure their crops and why insurance firms are afraid to insure farmers, all these issues will be reviewed and refined,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr Mattew Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Agriculture, described the workshop “as apt”, saying that the state government was investing about N50 billion in agriculture in the wet season.

He said the workshop would sensitise the farmers on the importance of insurance in case of disasters like flood, droughts, fire and pests’ infestation of which only insurance can cover their losses.

Ahmed disclosed that only 2 per cent of the farmers in Niger were insuring their crops and called on them  to key into the insurance policy.

Similarly, Mr Godswill Agwuyi, representative of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said the organisation was working to improve the lives of smallholder farmers through access to credits and finance.

Also, Malam Idris Abini, the Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Niger, disclosed that its members benefited N16 million from an insurance firm in 2018 and 2019.

He promised to sensitise RIFAN members on the importance of insurance, its benefits and the need to key into it. (NAN) (www.nannews,ng)
RIS/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Congratulations

By Salif Atojoko

Abuja, June 13, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has extended his warm congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, on her 70th birthday.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Thursday that the President rejoiced with the remarkable leader and her family on the momentous occasion.

“The President extols the former Minister of Finance for her service to the nation and efforts towards building resilient institutions.

“President Tinubu also commends the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation for being a worthy ambassador of Nigeria, exemplifying the grit, diligence, and brilliance that Nigerians are known for.

“The President prays for many more years in good health for Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and her family,” the statement read. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SA/ROT

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Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Smuggling

By Abiodun Lawal

Abeokuta, June 13, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC)
said it has seized 26,950 litres of petroleum products worth N19 million being smuggled out of the country into Republic of Benin.

The National Coordinator, Operation Whirlwind of the NSC, Mr Hussein Ejibunu, disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference held at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta.

He said that the petroleum products which consisted of 978 kegs of 25 litres totaling 26,950 litres was impounded in Zone A of the NCS consisting of Lagos and Ogun.

Ejibunu said the special squad was set up few weeks ago by the Controller-General of NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, to complement efforts aimed at cracking down on criminals smuggling petroleum products outside the country.

The customs officer added that the activities of the smugglers usually aid the artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the country forcing the prices to go up for as much as N900 per litre.

He said: “In just about two weeks of operation, Operation Whirlwind team, Zone A axis, intercepted 26,950 litres of premium motor spirit worth N19 million.

“121 kegs of PMS of 25 litres equivalent to 3,025 litres was intercepted at Oyinkansola Global Concept along Badagry/Seme road in Lagos State on May 31.

“77 drums of PMS (616 kegs of 25 litres) equivalent to 15, 400 litres was seized on June 7 at Seayab Petroleum along Imeko/Obada road in Ogun state.

“The means of conveyance is a truck with the registration number 95D4244D,” he said.

Ejibunu stated further that another 100 kegs of PMS of 25 litres equivalent to 2,500 litres was impounded on June 8 along Owode/Atan road in Ogun.

“While an equivalent of 6,025 litres consisting of 141 kegs of 25 litres was seized at Julankoly Oil and Gas along Owode-Ilaro Road,’’ he said.

Ejibunu said that the petrol stations involved in the criminal activities had been sealed while their owners would be prosecuted.

 He said the menace posed by the unpatriotic act of smugglers on the Nigerian economy could not be overemphasised, hence the need for synergy with other relevant agencies to win the fight against the saboteurs.

He warned all those who were into criminal acts of sabotaging the country’s economy to either have a change of heart or get dealt with according to the laws.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

LKA/DE/FAA

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Folasade Adeniran

Support

By Usman Aliyu

Benin, June 13, 2024 (NAN) A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Initiative for Advancement of the Albinism Cause (INAAC), has called for support to sustain its skin cancer surgery programme for persons with albinism.

Miss Joy Odigie, Founder, INAAC, made the call on Thursday in Benin at the annual 2024 International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD).

Odigie said that persons with albinism were prone to skin cancers due to the lack or minimal amount of melanin in their skin.

“Melanin pigmentation gives the skin its dark colouration as well as provides natural protection for the skin against the harmful effects of the sun rays.

“When persons with albinism have prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays of the sun, they can develop skin tumors, freckles, and skin cancers,” she said.

According to her, the increasing burden of skin cancers among persons with albinism in Nigeria prompted the NGO to start a subsidised skin cancer surgery programme.

“Climate change has led to rising temperatures and heat waves, negatively affecting the skin of people with albinism in Nigeria.

“We are now recording increasing cases of skin tumors and cancers, especially among rural dwellers and poor persons with albinism who lack access to sunscreen lotions, skin checks, and services,” Odigie said.

She said that since the programme’s inception two years ago, about four individuals had benefited, with four more waiting in line.

“We partner with a hospital in Benin to run the subsidised skin tumors and cancers surgeries.

“The hospital offers a 20 per cent  to 30 per cent discount to patients, while the NGO covers an additional 30 per cent  to 40 per cent of the remaining medical bills,” she said.

She, however, said that the NGO was struggling to sustain the programme due to insufficient funding and high cost of medical treatment.

“For instance, a type of surgery that used to cost about N120,000 now goes for about N250,000 due to high cost of medical services and consumables.

“Also, some of the patients find it difficult to pay the subsided amount while those who live outside Benin City find it difficult to pay transportation fees to access treatment at the hospital.

“We are calling on well meaning Nigerians, government and NGO’s to support these subsided surgeries and if possible make it a free surgery programme,”she said.

She noted that the theme for the 2024 IAAD, “10 Years of Collective Progress,” highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing the wellbeing of individuals with albinism. (NAN) (wwwn.annews.ng)

AUO/AYO/IU

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Edited by Ayodeji Alabi / Isaac Ukpoju

Women farmers task govt. farmers’ safety, security

Safety
By Perpetua Onuegbu
Abuja, June 13, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) on Thursday urged governments and relevant stakeholders to pay more attention to safety and security of farmers.

Mrs Omolara Svensson, President, Nigeria Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) said this in Abuja at the Free Safety Awareness course on Agro Safety Procedures for Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progress.

The theme of the training which was organised in collaboration with Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHAssociation), UK, is “Identify Hazards Risks in Vegetable Farming in Nigeria“.

Svensson said a lot of  attention was paid to empowerment and provision of farming aids while the safety and security of farmers were neglected.

“It is high time we started paying more attention to training our farmers, food processors everyone in the agriculture sector on the importance of security and safety on our farms and at processing plants.

“We focus a lot on empowerment, giving out subsidies and farm input but there is a lot of gap when it comes to safety at work place.

“I know how much out of pocket I give to farmers because they didn’t have the right sort of farm booths on or they didn’t wear their gloves.

“It’s high time we have to look into the type of training that have to do with security and safety at our place of work”, he said.

She commended OSHAssociation for collaborating with the group to educate the women in agriculture on proper safety measures in their operations.

“In this training we have 150 women. The whole idea is that the zonal and state coordinators would take this training back to their ward coordinators and spread it so that we keep improving our selves’’, she said.

Speaking on the association’s collaboration with All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) she said they would work with the farmers` body to improve the fortunes of female farmers.

Mr Harrison Ehimikhuai, Chief of Staff to the Nigerian Regional Administrator, OSHAssociation said though hazards and risks are part of every occupation, it was important to have the necessary skills to mitigate them.

“For the agric women we know that there are many hazards which pose threat to their existence and the crop or the produce they are expected to get after the farming season.

“So during this training they are expected to go home with various knowledge on how to control hazards, be it physical, chemical from fertilisers, biological hazards or even psychological,” Ehimikhuai said.

The President, AFAN, Mr Kabiru Ibrahim, commended NWAPDI for the training, saying that safety was important in agriculture.

“People in Europe reject what we produce because they say it is not safe. If women who are very important farmers prepare with that in mind then we will be able to export and earn foreign exchange for Nigeria.

“So it is very important that our women are trained properly so that they can prepare safe agricultural products for Nigeria and also be safe’’, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that NWAPDI at a news conference dissociated itself from AFAN over what it described as poor inclusion of women in AFAN activities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
PUO/KUA
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Edited by Uche Anunne

Training

By Bosede Olufunmi

Kano, June 13, 2024 (NAN) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday, trained 25 journalists in Kano State in effective first aid treatment techniques.

Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kano branch, said at the opening of the training on Thursday that journalists should possess the skills to administer first aid treatments.

He said that as first line responders to emergency situations, journalists ought to be equipped to save lives.

“So this training will teach the participants how to administer first aid treatments effectively. I see the training as timely and well-intended.

“Emergencies happen almost every day. That is why it is necessary to assist and show compassion to the injured person.

“Wherever emergency happens, media people are usually the first to break the news, so having the skills to save life is very important,”  he said.

Also speaking, Aliyu Dawobe, ICRC’s Public Relations Officer, described the media as a cornerstone institution for public service and nation building.

He said that journalists are regularly exposed to accidents and emergency situations, saying: ” it is only critical to equip them with life-saving techniques”

Dawobe urged the media to support the activities of the Red Cross by indulging in more humanitarian services in support of the society.

He said that in 2023, the ICRC trained no fewer than 150 journalists across the northern region in first aiding.

“Our mandate is to assist and protect the dignity of people that are affected by armed conflicts, most especially in the North-East region.

“We support them with relief materials and other ways to improve their living conditions,” he said.

Mr Abba Salisu, a journalist from Radio Kano, who spoke on behalf of the participants, described the training as a good omen.

“It will enable us to support humanity, with this training, we are equipped to do our little parts to save lives while on duty,” he said.

NAN reports that the participants were given first aid kits after the training. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

BO/DE/AZU

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Azubuike Okeh