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Implement Child Right Act to curb malnutrition – CISLAC urges FG
By Angela Atabo
Malnutrition
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), an NGO, on Monday appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the full implementation of Child Rights Act to effect adequate nutrition status as a child right.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC, made the call while addressing newsmen on the Status of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Nigeria and the human rights of the Nigerian child in Abuja.
Rafsanjani said that the call became imperative because sustainable growth in Nigeria would not be achieved without prioritised attention to scale-up and sustain investment for nutrition.
“Adequate nutrition status constitutes component of the rights of a child enshrines under Section 13(1) of the Child Rights Act 2013, which provides for every child to enjoy the best attainable state of physical, mental and spiritual health.
“More importantly, Section 3 mandates the government to reduce infant and child mortality, ensure health service, and provide nutrition and most importantly provide affordable primary health care service,’’ he said.
He said that Nigeria was blessed with enough resources to curb the menace of malnutrition so that no child would have to die, but corruption was limiting the process.
He urged governments at all levels to be responsive and responsible to tackling malnutrition so as to save the future generation of the country.
Ms Lovelyn Gabriel, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, CISLAC, said that malnutrition by implication increased susceptibility to infection, slow recovery from illness, low quality breast milk and development.
Gabriel said that an estimated 2.5 million Nigerian children under-five suffer from severe acute malnutrition annually, exposing nearly 420,000 children under-five to early death from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria.
She said that apart from challenges associated with poor domestication of policy, other shortcomings like weak nutrition governance and non-implementation of strategic plan, among others, were prevalent across many states.
“The future of Nigeria seemed bleak with the huge number of children under age of five that were unlikely to see their fifth birthdays as shown by statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.
“The highest prevalence of global acute malnutrition based on middle upper arm circumference was reported in Zamfara with 10.3 per cent, followed by Katsina with 8.5 per cent and Sokoto with 8.4 per cent.
“The lowest was recorded in Imo with 0.8 per cent, followed by Anambra with 1.3 per cent then Bayelsa has 1.9 per cent, Delta two per cent, Kaduna 2.4 per cent and Jigawa 2.1 per cent.’’
Gabriel said that lack of uniformity in data presentation across levels of government on nutrition budgetary allocation and utilisation, inadequate legislative oversight on nutrition budget and delay in budgetary release hampered funding for nutrition.
She said that Nasarawa State fell within the worst hit region on malnutrition prevalence with 37.2 per cent, yet it had the least released counterpart funding.
She said that Sokoto ranked among the 12 northern states with high malnutrition and also lagged in counterpart funding, thereby putting the state at risk of socio-economic setback.
She said that the statistics buttressed the fact that a high percentage of Nigerian children were denied their fundamental right to life through inadequate provisions and releases of funds for treatment of acute malnutrition.
She noted that only Kaduna State provided the full counterpart funding as promised, adding that most states failed in keeping to their promise.
Gabriel said that government at all levels needed to take opportunity of the available matching funds by development partners before the Dec. 31 deadline to address the nutrition scourge across the country.
She also called for the release of funds committed to treatment of acute malnutrition in the 2018 budget and includes the treatment in the 2019 budget.
She called for the prioritisation of the establishment of community management of acute malnutrition programmes in states and implementation of National Health Act 2014.
She also called for improved focus on prevention and support early child development centres across the country to sustain nutrition interventions. (NAN)
ATAB/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

China imports zero U.S. soybeans in November for first time since trade war started

Importation
Beijing, Dec. 24, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) – China’s soybean imports from the U.S. plunged to zero in November, marking the first time since the trade war between the world’s two largest economies started that China, the world’s largest soybean buyer, has imported no U.S. supplies.

Instead, China has leaned on Brazilian imports to replace the U.S. cargoes, customs data showed on Monday.

China brought in 5.07 million tonnes of soybeans from Brazil in November, up more than 80 per cent from 2.76 million tonnes a year ago, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

Meanwhile, U.S. imports plunged from 4.7 million tonnes in November 2017 and were down from 67,000 tonnes in October.

China, the world’s top soybean buyer, usually gets most of its oilseed imports from the U.S. in last quarter of the year as the U.S. harvest comes to market.

The U.S. was the second-largest supplier of soybeans to China and the trade was worth $12 billion in 2017.

But, purchases have plunged since Beijing placed an additional 25 per cent tariff on U.S. imports on July 6, in response to tariffs enacted by the U.S. on Chinese goods. The country has stepped up its Brazilian purchases to fill the gap.

Beijing resumed buying U.S. cargoes earlier this month, after the two countries agreed on Dec. 1 to a truce in their trade war. But, the hefty tariffs on U.S. cargoes remain in place.

China crushes soybeans for animal feed ingredient soymeal for its massive livestock herds.

The country has managed to maintain high soybean inventories even as buyers shunned U.S. cargoes through the Brazilian shipments, and as African swine fever has decimated pig herds, sapping demand for animal feed.

However, Brazilian crops are now in the middle of their growing cycle meaning less is available for export.(Reuters/NAN)
DCU
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Edited by Donald Ugwu

NHF
By Emmanuella Anokam
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has lauded the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for introducing the National Housing Fund (NHF) mobile application.

TUC National President, Mr Boboi Kaigama disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

NAN reports that FMBN on Dec. 19 inaugurated a digital mobile application that allows NHF contributors have unfettered access to the operations of the scheme by simply dialing *219# USSD Short Code on their mobile phones.

The mobile App is a service delivery channel based on internet and mobile platforms for contributors to conveniently get updates on their contributions.

Kaigama, who commended the bank on the development, described the platform as a confidence building procedure which would enhance transparency and encourage workers to continue to contribute.

He added that the bank could further be more efficient by bringing on board contributors as members of the board, recapitalisation and compliance with the NHF Act.

Mr Mustapha Oloyede, a civil servant, also told NAN that the digital mobile application for the scheme was apt.

He said that the platform should be sustained and improved on to address the needs of consumers.

Another civil servants, Mr Gabriel Agbaje, said that the platform would advance the sector and check corruption.

“This will make the contributors, especially retirees, to have confidence and trust because contributions are believed to be going to the right place,” he said. (NAN)
ELLA/GOM/IS
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Ismail Abdulaziz

Supply
By Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has reiterated its commitment to ensure 24-hour supply of petroleum products across the country during the Yuletide.

Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, National Chairman of IPMAN,  gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

Okoronkwo said that members of the association had been instructed to ensure products availability in all nooks and crannies of the country.

According to him, the association will ensure massive loading of petrol at various private depots across the country during the Christmas and New Year season.

The president, however,  appealed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to boost allocations for effective distribution.

“We urge NNPC to give us products;  we will ensure judicious distribution to the public through marketers because we are not importing petrol.

“NNPC is the sole importer and supplier of petrol to marketers. We will ensure that any quantity of petroleum product given to us is distributed to customers,’’ he said.

Okoronkwo said that most tanker drivers had commenced loading to the northern part of the country so as to ensure adequate supply of petrol in filling stations for the festive season.

He commended the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru,  for his commitment and support especially in the resuscitation of depots in some parts of the country, saying this contributed immensely to steady supply of products nationwide.

NAN recalls that the NPPC had earlier said it had 2.6 billion litres of petroleum products offshore and onshore in Lagos to meet the nation’s demands.

Mr Isiaka Abudulrasaq, Chief Financial Officer of NNPC, had given the assurance in an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Dec. 8.

Abdulrasaq said that the country had about 52-day-petroleum sufficiency, adding that this represented an average of 50 million litres per day product availability on land.(NAN)
YO/MAM/WOJ
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(Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Wale Ojetimi)

Youths

By Ummul Idris

Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Dr Moses Jacob, a medical practitioner has decried the high level of illicit drug consumption among youths, stressing that parents should checkmate the activities of their children.

Jacob, who made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, said that the rising cases of illegal drug consumption called for concern.

He said that family values which were supposed to be inculcated on the youths by their parents and guidance had lost its place.

“Parents do not talk to their children when they see them indulge in drugs until it gets out of hand,’’ he said.

Jacob decried the alarming rate that people consumed various types of illicit drugs, saying that this had made them irresponsible to themselves and the society.

“Parents should cultivate the attitude of reporting their children to relevant security agencies when they see them indulge in unwholesome activities.

“Intake of prohibited substances has adverse effect on health; drug abuse is dangerous and these should be avoided for sound health.

“The circulation of hard drugs is actually high in rapidly developing cities including the FCT.

“The growing scale of drug abuse among youths is very alarming and something needs to be done urgently,” he said

The medical practitioner appealed to parents to join hands with organisations and relevant stakeholders to ensure a responsible society, free of drug abuse. ( NAN)
UMD/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Christians
By Moses Kolo
Kafanchan (Kaduna State), Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Assemblyman Labari Tella, lawmaker representing Jema’a constituency in Kaduna State House of Assembly, has advised Christians to make use of the Christmas season to intensify prayers for hitch-free elections in 2019.

Tella, a PDP lawmaker, gave the advice on Monday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kafanchan.

He all urged Nigerians to offer prayers, in the spirit of Christmas, for the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

“The underlying message of the Christmas season is encapsulated in the sacrificial love which God demonstrated to humanity and therefore, we, as Christians, ought to replicate the sacrificial lifestyle and mindset towards our neighbours and the nation,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, commiserated with some communities in Southern Kaduna and Jema’a Local Government Areas that suffered casualties due to gun attacks by some assailants.

He urged the communities to continue to pray for peace to reign in the state and the country at large.

“It is our prayers that God would bring succour to the afflicted so that the horrors would be a thing of the past,” he said.

Tella urged the youth to refrain from engaging in anti-social activities during the festive period and wished his constituents a merry Christmas. (NAN)
MGK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

Gridlock
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says it is collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to ease gridlocks across the state during Yuletide.

Mr Chris Olakpe, LASTMA Chief Executive officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the agency had mapped out strategies to ensure free flow of traffic in all critical corridors of the state this season.
“We have rolled out plans to ease vehicular movement during the festive season.
“LASTMA has entered into partnership with other law enforcement agencies, like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Civil Defence, Police, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and the military to ensure sanity on the road at the festive period,’’ he said.

According to him, the agency also partnered with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to assist in quick removal of breakdown vehicles to avoid traffic jam.

The LASTMA boss appealed to the motoring public to cooperate with the traffic officials on duty to ensure free flow of traffic during the season.

Olakpe also advised the motorists to shun drunk driving, overloading, phone calls  while driving and reckless driving  during the festive period.

NAN reports that Lagos State Government on Thursday said it recruited additional 1,000 officers for LASTMA and fashioned out workable solutions to ensure free flow of traffic across the state.(NAN)
AKA/OSA/WOJ
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Wale Ojetimi

Taekwondo
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) on Monday in Abuja said it has begun the registration of athletes intending to participate in the upcoming World Taekwondo-sanctioned Nigeria International Open.

The NTF Technical Director, Chika Chukwumerije, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that registration was reopened on Saturday and would now close on Jan. 20.

The Nigeria International Taekwondo Open was earlier slated to hold from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, but it was postponed.

“Seventy-three athletes from 10 countries had previously registered, before we had to re-schedule the event.

“Before the postponement, only 18 athletes from Nigeria registered, and this did not make any sense.

“It is not wise to have our first G-1 event for other countries to come and top the medals table and walk away with all those ranking points.

“The federation listened to advice and shifted it to give our Nigerian taekwondo community time to get their Global Membership System (GMS) licence and Kukkiwon certification.

“These are mandatory to have for World Taekwondo events,’’ Chukwumerije said.

However, with the event now slated for Feb. 8 to Feb. 10, registration of participants became imperative.

Chukwumerije said all taekwondo athletes with fully operational GMS Licence should use the Nigeria International Taekwondo Open website to register.

He added that payment for the event would be done at the venue of the event.

NAN reports that the postponement would enable athletes in Nigeria and other West African countries to conclude the GMS licensing.(NAN)
DE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Donation
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) A Lagos-based dredging company, Lagos Channel Management (LCM), on Monday donated N5million to five charity homes in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries include Adonai Orphanage and Widows Centre, Francisca Sisters of the Immaculate, Lekki, Haima Health Initiative, Beibei Haven Fertility Foundation and The Care People Foundation, Kaduna.

Mr Danny Fuchs, the Managing Director of LCM, said that the beneficiaries received N1 million donation each as part of the company’s annual corporate social responsibility.

Fuchs, who was represented by the company’s Human Resource Manager, Mr Falade Oyekan, said that the motive was to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged in the society.

“I know what we have given can’t solve all the problems in your various homes, but it is just our own little way of identifying with the children in your care.

“Over the years, we have taken it as a point of duty to give to the society and this has become the norm in LCM.

“I also commend the beneficiaries for dedicating their time to take care of these children and I hope they will use the money judiciously to better the lives of the children,” he said.

He, however, urged other corporate entities to do likewise to cater for the less priviledge in the society.

Meanwhile, Omotade Alalade, Founder of Beibei Haven Fertility Foundation thanked LCM for the donation, adding that the fund would be used effectively.

“We render services and support to low income individuals who seek medical help on fertility related issues and fibroid, so donations like this is a boost for the foundation,’’ she said.

Also, Ikechukwu Oloka, President of Haima Health Initiative commended LCM for supporting the body on its mission to encourage more Nigerians to donate blood.

“We appreciate LCM for what they are doing because their support will go a long way to finance some of our programmes in 2019.

NAN reports that forty homes and care institutions have benefitted from the company’s yearly donation since inception in 2008.

The Lagos Channel Management Limited (LCM) is a Public- Private Partnership enterprise formed in 2005 with its core operations centered on the management and dredging of Lagos channels. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/WOJ
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Wale Ojetimi

Afro pop star, Tenientertainer (Instagram)

Teni

By Anita Eboigbe

Abuja, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) Fast rising singer, Teniola Apata aka Tenientertainer is receiving massive accolades on social media for her new song, ‘Uyo Meyo’.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Teni released the soulful track, sang in Ondo dialect, on Sunday to celebrate her birthday although she shared a snippet during her graduation in July.

Announcing the song on her Instagram page @tenientertainer, she wrote, “Uyo Meyo’ out now on all platforms. A gift from me to you. Ondo to the world.”

Following the song’s release, fans have taken to social media an to commend the rhythm of the song and the use of Yoruba language. The song began trending on Twitter, staying at Number three worldwide.

@kevinsykes tweeted, “Listening to @TeniEntertainer #Uyomeyo. Apart from being such a beautiful song, I think it buttresses how important it is to be grounded in your mother tongue. Happy birthday, Makanaki! May you live long.”

@Bamsjnr said, “I think @TeniEntertainer DM’ed Heaven and Ordered #UyoMeyo. This song is more spiritual than physical.”

@Isaacben said, “This new teni single is brain bursting, I have been waiting for the release its amazing #UyoMeyo”

@ibarelytweet tweeted, “I just listened to #UyoMeyo and all I can say is Teni is soooo talented!!!!! Teni is the future of Nigerian music for sure. End time has come for pangolo music in Nigeria. All hail Queen Teni!”

@Bookcover_ said, “At a time when cultural alienation is becoming an ugly phenomenon in Nigeria, I am impressed with @TeniEntertainer for releasing the culturally rich #UyoMeyo.”

@themojeeed tweeted, “If you work hard, you can get it if you want. If you strive hard, you can be just what you want.

“If you work hard, you can climb the mountain top. Cos Nothing is too small and nothing is too big. -Teni Makanaki ’18 #UyoMeyo.”

NAN reports also that her song `Case’ released before `Uyo Meyo’ is still making massive wave too at concerts and parties across the country(NAN)

AEE/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi