Aiyedatiwa orders traditional stools to register for Chieftaincy Declaration
Stools
By Alaba Olusola Oke
Akure, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has ordered traditional stools in the state without Chieftaincy Declarations to register with the government before the end of September.
Chieftaincy Declaration is the law that stipulates enthronement guidelines of traditional stools in each community of the state.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, in a meeting on Friday with the Ondo State Council of Obas, gave the order.
He said that as a strategy to ensure seamless transition and put at bay agitations and tussles associated with Obaship selection process, it had become imperative to take the decision.
The governor urged chieftaincy committee in each local government area to ensure that all traditional stools in their jurisdiction, without declaration, have one prepared and registered by the end of September.
Aiyedatiwa, who promised to continue to prioritise the welfare of traditional rulers in the state, added that five per cent of local government allocation had been approved for their welfare.
In another development, the state government has warned minor chiefs in the state not to put on traditional crowns.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, said “any ‘Olu’ or ‘Baale’ that put on crown, henceforth, should be ready to face the wrath of the government.”
Takuro enjoined obas to report any minor chief in their domain that goes contrary to the directive.(NAN)
Water
By Peter Okolie
Owerri, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down two sachet water factories in Owerri for operating in unhygienic environments.
The agency further cautioned another factory during the routine inspection carried out on Friday in the Imo capital city.
The two affected factories included Elmabo Table Water and Sylchap Enterprise Table Water, while Giver Table Water was cautioned over minor issues.
In an interview with newsmen at the end of the enforcement, the Imo NAFDAC Coordinator, Mrs Mercy Ndukwe, said the factories were sealed for poor manufacturing practices.
Ndukwe said: “We have invited them all to visit NAFDAC office with their licences for verification.
“Looking at the factories we visited, the agency is not happy seeing the environment they were operating on.
“NAFDAC’s minimum requirement is four to five rooms for small scale operators to operate a water production facility.
“At the time we registered them, these rooms were available but today, most of the rooms have been converted to other uses, like living rooms and other businesses.”
The NAFDAC chief expressed concern that cholera and other diseases could breakout from such unhygienic environments, if not given proper attention.
Ndukwe recalled that the agency, about three weeks ago, directed the water association in the state to close all operations for two days for proper cleaning and sanitisation of factories to avert cholera outbreak.
“In spite of the directive, we are very sad to see the environment where they operate in to be unhygienic,” she said.
She cautioned other producers “to sit up and conduct self sanitisation of their premises.”
“They should ensure that those they leave their businesses to run adhere strictly to the directives of NAFDAC.
“Our aim is not to close down factories or push them out of business but to ensure that Nigerians consume wholesale and hygienic food and water,”
Ndukwe further said.
She expressed the willingness of the agency to organise free trainings for the operators of table water factories in the state on the best practices.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement was carried out by NAFDAC, in collaboration with the Imo House of Assembly Committee on Health and Environment as well as the state chapter of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP).
The Vice Chairman of ATWAP, Mrs Joy Uwakwe, expressed the support of her association to the enforcement by the agency.
“The association is in support of ensuring that water sold to consumers are clean and treated for consumption for Imo residents.
“The most unfortunate thing that happened today is that the sealed factories are not members of ATWAP,” Uwakwe said .
Also, the chairman, Imo House of Assembly Taskforce on Health and Environment, Chief Odyssey Obioha, expressed concern that the test conducted for quality at the facilities showed that the water was not safe for drinking.
Obioha said that a similar test was conducted on different sachets of water at the Imo State House of Assembly where it was discovered that most of them were unsafe for consumption.
“The discovery necessitated the inspection of water production facilities in the state, in collaboration with NAFDAC and ATWAP.
“The outbreak of cholera in the country has become an issue and the State Government is determined to ensure that Imo is free from cholera,” Obioha said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Jakarta, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has called for a 12-year prison sentence for former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo on charges of extortion and corruption.
Limpo is also to pay a fine of 500 million rupiah (approximately 30,600 U.S. dollars).
During the trial on Friday, prosecutor Meyer Simanjuntak revealed that Limpo is also required to repay 44.27 billion rupiah (about 2.71 million U.S. dollars) and 30,000 U.S. dollars; he allegedly received between 2020 and 2023.
This sum was amassed with the involvement of his secretary-general and a director.
Limpo, served as the agriculture minister from 2019 to 2023, was accused of misappropriating 20 per cent of the ministry’s budget for personal and family expenses, as well as for donations to his political party.
Simanjuntak said that Limpo was found guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Law in conjunction with the Criminal Code. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Moscow, June 28, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Moscow is anticipating difficult relations with the European Union given the politicians put forward to lead the bloc over the years ahead, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister penciled in to head the bloc’s foreign policy unit, had not till date stood out through her diplomatic skills, Peskov said, according to reports by Russian news agencies.
He described Kallas as “well known to Russia for her absolutely unacceptable and sometimes extremely Russophobic remarks.”
Peskov was similarly critical of Ursula von der Leyen, who has been put forward for a second term as European Commission president.
“The prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are poor,” Peskov said, adding that a normalisation of relations could not be expected.
Relations between the two deteriorated following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The EU recently passed its 14th package of sanctions targeting Russia and its leaders. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Medics commit to promoting micro-nutrients intake in Kaduna
Intake
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, June 28, 2023(NAN) Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) from the 23 Local Governments of Kaduna State have restated their commitment to promoting the intake of ‘Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS)’ and improving health outcomes of pregnant women.
They made the commitment at the end of a two-day orientation programme on MMS organised by the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), with support from Alive & Thrive on Friday in Kaduna.
The sensitisation was also supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) MMS grantees; UNICEF, Nutrition International, Results for Development (R4D) and Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
One of the NFPs, Nafisa Yusuf of Makarfi LGA, said she would step down the training she received to pregnant women in her LG.
She said that the MMS, which contains 15 micro nutrients, could not be derived from normal diets.
“MMS improves the nutritional situation of pregnant women and prevents them from anaemia, eclampsia and heart failure.
”The orientation we have by Alive & Thrive will be a game-changer in our efforts to promote MMS,”Yusuf said.
On her part, the focal person of Jema’a LGA, Blessing Thomas, said that the orientation would be valuable in enhancing their capacity in promoting MMS intake and improving health outcomes.
She explained that they were hitherto only familiar with Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS), which they normally gave pregnant women during antenatal natal care.
Thomas, however, said they now have a better knowledge and better product to use (MMS), which is used to prevent anaemia, where IFAS was used for treatment.
She, therefore, said she would intensify efforts to promote the MMS through increased awareness at the communities in her LGA even before the products
were available.
Also, Mrs Ruth Samuel, NFP, Chikun LGA, stressed the importance of MMS in the maintenance of haemoglobin level of pregnant women and suppressing chances of anaemia.
She explained that MMS intake would be easy for the women, ” because it is a single tablet containing 15 nutrients, against IFAS which is two to three which the women take at once.
“IFAS is only used when there is low haemoglobin level (anaemia), where is it normal, then MMS plays a role in maintaining the haemoglobin level, protects the fetus, reduce mortality and mobility rate for pregnant women.”
Samuel said they would work tirelessly to ensure that every pregnant woman and child in their communities receive the necessary MMS for optimal health.
Equally, Tukur Muhammad, the NFP, Zaria LGA, said he would scale down the orientation he received to the health facilities at his LGA.
He added that, when the commodities became available, he would distribute them to all the facilities.
Muhammad underscored the importance of a behavioural change approach in convincing pregnant women to switch from IFAS to MMS.
He, however, expressed optimism that his LGA would accept MMS, stressing that it has no side effects.
Mrs Sarah Kwasu, the State Team Lead of Alive & Thrive, said she was thrilled to see the commitment of the NFPs to promoting MMS intake and improving health outcomes for pregnant women at the local level.
She said that the orientation programme was aimed at equipping the NFPs with the knowledge and skills necessary to champion MMS promotion in their respective LGAs.
Kwasu said, “We believe that our support, combined with the NFPs dedication, will lead to a significant impact on the health and well-being of mothers and children in Kaduna State.”
NAN reports that at the end of the orientation, the NFPs agreed on strategies to address the challenges and improve MMS coverage in the state.
NAN also reports that Alive & Thrive, which facilitated the orientation, is a global nutrition programme aimed at improving the health and well-being of mothers and children in developing countries.
The programme focuses on promoting optimal maternal and infant nutrition practices, including breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding and adequate micronutrient intake.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Police confirm kidnap of popular Hausa singer, Rarara’s 75-yr-old mother
Mother
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The Police Command in Katsina State has confirmed the kidnapping of a 75-year-old, Hauwa’u Adamu, mother of the renowned Hausa singer, “Dauda Kahutu Rarara”.
A statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said the elderly mother was kidnapped at her residence in Kahutu, Danja Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Friday.
“Today, June 28, at about 1:30a.m., an information was received at the Danja Divisional Police Headquarters, that some suspected kidnappers silently invaded the residence of one Hauwa’u Adamu, aged 75, in Kahutu village, Danja Local Government and kidnapped her.
“Upon receipt of the report, promptly, the DPO Danja led a team of operatives to the scene with a view to arresting the culprits and unhurt rescue of the victim,” he said
However, the kidnappers had already fled with the victim.
The PPRO further explained that two suspects were arrested during investigation for questioning on the matter.
Aliyu said that further developments would be communicated in due course as the investigation into the matter was in progress.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Washington, June 28, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Response to Iran’s continued nuclear escalations, the United States has imposed sanctions on three United Arab Emirates shipping companies involved in the Iranian petroleum and petrochemical trade.
The Department of State also identified 11 vessels that were transporting petroleum or petrochemical products as blocked property.
The targeted companies are, Sea Route Ship Management FZE, Almanac Ship Management LLC, and Al Anchor Ship Management FZE.
Over the past month, Iran has announced steps to further expand its nuclear programme in ways that have no credible peaceful purpose.
“Iran’s actions to increase its enrichment capacity are more concerned in Iran’s continued failure to cooperate with the IAEA and statements by Iranian officials suggesting potential changes to Iran’s nuclear doctrine,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
He said Washington remains committed to never letting Iran obtain a nuclear weapon, and is prepared to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome.
Earlier this month, the leaders of the G7 had called on Iran to stop its escalation of its nuclear programme. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
V-C advocates implementation of retirement benefits for professors
Benefits
By Mustapha Yauri
Zaria (Kaduna State) June 28, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, has appealed to unions and other key stakeholders in the sector to push for the full implementation of retirement benefits for Professors.
The vice-chancellor made the appeal during an inaugural lecture series Number 04/24.
The lecture was titled ‘The political benefits of public employee benefits in Nigeria: The proletarianization of the elite’.
Bala said, ‘There are legal provisions that say a professor who served for 20 years will retire with full salary and other benefits that have not been implemented and the law is there.
“I don’t know whether our unions are aware of this problem, because it has not been implemented.’’
He added that there were many colleagues in the university who were not enjoying these benefits; saying, ”there is a need for the unions and stakeholders to do something about this.”
Bala congratulated Prof. Isa Abbas and the Faculty of Social Sciences for the lectures.
However, Prof. Nasiru Musa-Yauri, Vice-Chancellor, Al-Qalam University Katsina, told NAN that initially, any lecturer that retired at the rank of Professor went with his full salary regardless of the time he attained the rank.
He added that the situation was reviewed at one of the negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Musa-Yauri, who was also a former union leader at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto said that under the reviewed agreement, it became 10 years on the rank before a professor enjoyed such privilege.
Earlier, the Presenter, Abbas, said the result of his investigation of his study provided insight into the relationship between the state and economy vis-à-vis politics and economy of employee benefits.
Abbas said the cases of violence, insurgency and terrorism were precipitated by the government and institutional failure to provide employee services to workers who render such services.
The rise in antisocial vices, according to him, was as a result of the government’s failure to provide benefits to the workers, saying that the government could do so.
“Public employees are frustrated due to the lack of adequate benefits and incentives for the services rendered/
“ This lack of adequate benefits and incentives makes most of the middle class elites in the society to be downgraded to a level of beggars for salaries and so on,’’ he said.
Abbas explained that the middle class elites were in the category of the intellectuals, professionals and industrialists who also had means of production and employment but were reduced to beggars for salaries.
The don added it has transcended down in the corridor to disrupt effective service delivery across several sectors.
He, therefore, urged the government to be up and doing in ensuring institutions were stabilized and provide adequate benefits to those who deliver services to the society.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Ankara, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) The global financial crime watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has removed Türkiye from its “grey list” of countries that requires special scrutiny, the country’s Finance and Treasury Ministry said on Friday.
“As a result of the steps taken in the right direction, Türkiye has been removed from the grey list,” said the ministry in a statement.
The result will further enhance confidence in the country’s financial system and support Türkiye’s efforts to achieve the objectives of its economic program, it added.
The ministry stressed that in this regard, the administrative and technical capabilities of Financial Crimes Investigation Board and other relevant institutions will be further enhanced, legal and administrative regulations will be promptly implemented as needed.
“With this development, international investors’ confidence in our country’s financial system has become even stronger,” Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said on the social media platform X.
“The decision will have extremely positive consequences for both our financial sector and our real sector,” he added.
Türkiye was placed on the FATF grey list in 2021 due to concerns about money laundering and terrorist financing in the country. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Don tasks FG on revamping Ajaokuta Steel Coy to boost economy
Economy
By Taiye Agbaje
Prof. Osita Agbu of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Baze University Abuja while delivering his inaugural lecture.
Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Osita Agbu has urged the Federal Government to revitalise the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited to boost the country’s economy through industrialisation.
Agbu of the the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Baze University Abuja, gave the advice while delivering his inaugural lecture at the institution in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was titled: “Technology and International Relations: Backward and Forward Linkages In Steel Development and Nigeria’s Foreign Relations.”
According to him, we cannot make progress if we don’t embrace science and technology.
He said coming from Africa where issues of primordialism and spiritualism hold sway, it was high time the country directed its attention to bringing the company back to life.
“Look at other countries of the world that have industrialised and make progress, you see that there is a whole lot of attention on scientific issues that you don’t have to be living in the past.
“Yes, you can preserve your culture but you need to embrace the present and move into the future,” he said.
Agbu said it was against this backdrop that he researched on the topic..
“Almost everything of used value that can make a country to develop or make a person to improve their civilisation comes from the use of iron and steel industry.
“And that is why I took us back to the various industrial revolutions we have had, up to the 5th Industrial Revolution, to show the importance of iron and steel industry in the development of mankind and the things that we use.
A cross section of management staff of Baze University Abuja, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kathleen Okafor, during the inaugural lecture.
“It is people who can conquer their environment by use of technology and it is iron and steel that are able to make such progress and have industrialisation.
“If you are unable to do that, you are going to remain years behind.
“So that is why I focused on what we have on the ground; the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel.Industry.
“What are its various constraints and problems right from Inception, the cold war politics around it, the coming of the company from the Soviet Union and what we have been able to achieve.
“And I have been monitoring that project for three decades, and without that project coming on stream, we cannot be able to lay the foundation for industrialisation in Nigeria.
“Yes, there are mini steel but they are just a few; they can’t even satisfy the domestic market, not to talk of exportation.
“So, we really need to do something very drastic about the country being able to have control over the production of iron and steel.
“If we can do that and allow this to sip into other sectors of our economy, you will see what will happen to our economy .
“People will be engaged, people will be able to produce, the country will have greater influence among the comity of nations, etc,” he said.
The professor said any country that wants to be industrialised must be organised and discipline.
He said it was unfortunate that Ajaokuta Steel Company had gulped about $8 billion dollars to build since its inception and till date without much to show for it.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Kathleen Okafor, in an interview, enumerated some.of the takeaways from the lecture.
“This is telling us to disabuse our minds of political considerations when we are positioning investment institutions.
“We should also be concerned with short and long term benefits to the country.
“We should be aware of the presence of neocolonialism, where the super powers are not relenting in recolonising us in one way or the other; not recolonising us as a country geographically but our minds.
“We should also be able to think and implement,” she said.
Okafor said issues of corruption that had stalled development should be tackled.
According to her, the impact on us is horrendous and it was high time we pursued development with a passion and aggression.
“In terms of technology, we need to upscale, we need people with integrity and those who are prepared to be heroes for industrialisation,” she said.
According to the VC, it is not only about the leaders but individuals are needed who have the right minds to champion development.
“Education or research alone can’t take us there.
“When we researched, we have to look at the future, we need to continue; feeding research outcome to the society, to government for policy making and for implementation,” Okafor concluded.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
TOA/SH
