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  • Red Cross trains journalists in first aid skills

    First aid

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), has trained 23 journalists in first aid skills to save lives in emergencies.

    The First Aid Field Officer, ICRC, Mr Omoruyi Edobor, who spoke at the end of the three-day training exercise on Thursday in Yola, said the participants were drawn from Borno and Adamawa.

    He urged the participants to apply the skills learnt into practice and step down the knowledge to save more lives in the society.

    Accorcing to him, first aid is an assistance given to a casualty before the arrival of a medical doctor or before going to hospital to saving lives.

    Edobor said it was also to prevent the condition from becoming worse as well as to promote speedy recovery, adding that in the course of providing such assistance, safety and security should be considered.

    The field officer said that as journalists they might come across incidents that need their urgent help.

    Earlier, the ICRC Communication Officer, Esther Eleojo said ICRC is an independent and neutral organisation that ensures humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of war and armed violence.

    “It takes action in response to emergencies and promotes respect for international humanitarian law and its implementation in national law.”

    Eleojo added that the ICRC’s mission was to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and violence, and to provide them with assistance.

    Mr Lemdi Okolie, ICRC Communication Officer, Mubi Sub delegation, said the organisation had provided a lot of services in the North-East as a result of the Boko Haram crisis.

    He listed some of their interventions towards improving the standards of healthcare facilities, vaccinated over two million livestock and reunited missing persons with their families.

    One of the participants, Fati Muhammad, lauded the gesture and promised to put the knowledge acquired into practice.

    She said she had learnt a lot on first aid in terms of domestic accidents, full body examination, controlling of bleeding and handling fracture. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/CEO/RSA

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    Edited by Chidi Opara/Rabiu Sani-Ali

  • Association calls for review of 2024 Hajj operations

    Hajj
    By Salisu Sani-Idris
    Makkah, June 27, 2024 (NAN) Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN) has called on the Federal Government to set up an inter-ministerial panel to review 2024 Hajj operations.

    Its National President, Alhaji Abdulateef Ekundayo, made the call on Thursday at a news conference in Makkah, on the outcome of the just concluded 2024 Hajj.

    He said “we call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, set up an inter-ministerial and credible panel to review this year’s Hajj, with the aim of restoring sanity into future operations.”

    Ekundayo, who emphasised the need for government to investigate the laws and acts that regulate Hajj affairs in the country, added that “we implore those saddled with such responsibilities to
    act now to safeguard Nigerian pilgrims.”

    He decried poor services at tent A, saying” like the previous years, tent A was characterized by lack of transparency, racketeering, profiteering and poor organisation.

    “Some of us paid double camp fees for camp at zone five and zone one on a single pilgrim.

    “Apart from the exorbitant amounts for basic services, many pilgrims couldn’t have access to the services.

    “This is the peak of any contractual breach, and we demand immediate reconciliation and payment of refund to affected members by the management of Ithra Alkhair (service provider).

    “The Mutawwif (Ithra Alkhair) should immediately reconcile with our members to refund money paid for services not rendered both in Muna and Arafat for this year because of their actions and inactions.”

    He urged the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to stop all charges on
    members of the association, including the dollar equivalent service fees based on the new policy of government withdrawal of subsidy on Hajj.

    He said “while we agree that NAHCON has the right to charge licencing fees, we believe the Hajj licence is the most expensive of any licencing regime in Nigeria.

    “How can anyone justify a fee of N1 million for a licence that has only two months validity.

    “What happened to the component of the international pilgrims out of the N90 billion approved Hajj subsidy. Aren’t they Nigerians?.

    “Our members deserve the right for official visa during Hajj because the Ministry of Hajj provides such as a percentage of the total allocation to Nigeria.

    “Some of the problems our pilgrims face during Hajj can be easily addressed by us if we can move freely.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    SSI/HA
    =======
    Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • Invest in development of Ekiti, Ex-NOA boss urges wealthy indigenes

    Development
    By Adedeji Egbebi
    Oye-Ekiti (Ekiti), June 27, 2024 (NAN) A former Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, on Thursday, urged wealthy and kind-hearted Ekiti indigenes to invest in the development of the state.
    Oguntoyinbo stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Oye-Ekiti.
    He said that the selfishness of some leaders had brought serious setback to the development of the state, thus resulting in many youths becoming jobless.
    Oguntoyinbo, also a former Chairman of Oye Local Government, urged indigenes, who had served as governors, senators and members of House of Representatives, to establish agro-allied industries that would provide jobs for the youth.
    “I want to urge our past governors, senators and former House of Representatives members in Ekiti to invest in the development of the state.
    “We need agro-allied industries that will create jobs for our youths who are unemployed.
    “Many of our leaders, who had served in government positions and made money, prefer to invest in accumulation of property and luxury cars.
    “In the process, they have neglected the youth and the less-privileged who gave them the opportunity to hold those positions.
    “Therefore, I want to appeal to them to have a change of heart and help revive the economy of the state through investment,” he said.
    The former NOA director said the prominent and wealthy indigenes of the state should borrow a cue from a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, who had established a university, hospital and other ventures, thus creating employment for people.
    He commended Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), for his enviable roles in the employment of youths and the overall development of Ekiti. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    DJ/OJI/WAS
    Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • Man, 49, docked for alleged N1.1m fraud

    Fraud
    By Raji Rasak
    Badagry (Lagos State), June 27, 2024 (NAN) A 49-year-old man, Ibrahim Yakubu, on Thursday appeared before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1,150,000 under false pretences.

    The defendant, whose residential address was not provided, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The prosecutor, ASP. Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on Dec.6, 2022, at about 3.90.p.m., at No 98 Timmy Jas Ajara Agelaso area of Badagry, Lagos.

    Okuoimose alleged that the defendant obtained the sum of N1,150,000 from the complainant, Mr Pam John, under the guise of wanting to help him purchase a Toyota Corolla car, which he never did.

    The prosecutor told the court that the defendant instead converted the sum to his personal use.

    The offences, according to him, contravene sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr A. J Aina, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Aina said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

    Aina, however, adjourned the case until July 11, for mention. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    ROR/KOO/JNC
    ============
    Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

  • Child cancer patients transferred from Gaza to Egypt for treatment

    Treatment

    Al-Arish, Egypt, June 27, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Some 21 children suffering from cancer have been transferred from Gaza to Egypt, the first time Palestinian patients have left the territory in nearly two months.

    An Egyptian Red Crescent official in North Sinai said on Thursday.

    The patients were transferred through the Kerem Shalom crossing under the supervision of the World Health Organisation.

    The official said that the child will be admitted into an Egyptian hospital for treatment.

    On May 7, Israel took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in an operation that halted the movement of people and aid deliveries.

    Since then, Egypt has repeatedly said it will not coordinate aid transports through Rafah until the Israeli forces withdraw.

    In late May, Cairo resumed aid delivery through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, following an agreement between Egypt and the United States. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    HS

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    Edited by Halima Sheji

  • Navy destroys 10 illegal refining sites, speedboat

     

    Navy

    By Frank Shedrack

    Nembe (Bayelsa), June 27, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO in Brass, Bayelsa, has destroyed 10 illegal refinery sites in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

     

    The FOB also destroyed a speedboat and seized 100,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

     

    The Commanding Officer, FOB FORMOSO, Capt. Ifeanyichukwu Mabeokwu, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during the operation on Thursday.

     

    Mabeokwu said his team carried out the operation and subsequent destruction in line with the navy’s aspiration to decimate illegal refining sites and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

     

    “My team and I are here to carry out deactivation operations in these illegal refining sites.

     

    “As you can see, there is a large one with over 10 refining units; it has, cumulatively, about 80 litres of illegally refined AGO and 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil respectively.

     

    “Essentially, the illegal refining site is hidden away at the core of Nembe Creek, and it took the deployment of high-resolution drones to discover this site.

     

    “Now it has been discovered, we are going to do everything possible to see that this does not exist and will cease from this moment.

     

    “The discovery was made early this morning at about 0630-7000 hours,” he said.

     

    According to the commanding officer, the team met all the ovens still active on arrival, to prove illegal activities were ongoing just before they sensed the naval presence and fled.

     

    “I believe they heard the sound of our gunboat, and they abandoned the site; as we arrived here, nobody was seen,” he said.

     

    He says the navy, under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, will stay committed to maintaining the security and safety of the Nigerian maritime domain.

     

    According to him, the navy will continue to facilitate a conducive environment for legitimate businesses to flourish and contribute to the nation’s economic progress.

     

    He, therefore, warned those who indulge in such illegitimate businesses to desist, promising that the navy would not allow them to find peace. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

     

    FS/NN/MAS

     

    Edited by Nathan Nwakamma/Moses Solanke

     

  • NDLEA arrests 21 suspected drug traffickers, intercepts 28,622kg illicit drugs

    One of the containers intercepted at Tincan Island Port containing Barcadin cough syrups with codeine.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    NDLEA

    By Aisha Cole

    Lagos, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Special Area Command,  Tincan Island Port, has  arrested 21 suspected drug traffickers and intercepted 28,622.389kg of illicit drugs.

    The agency’s Commander of Narcotics, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    Abubakar said that the arrests and interceptions were  from January 2024 to June 2024.

    He said that 14 of the arrested suspects had  been put on trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    “Seizure of approximately 28,622.389 kilogrammes of various illicit drugs, including cannabis indica or Canadian loud weighing 2,232.999 kilogrammes were made,” he said.

    The commander said that the seizures showed an increase of 261.9% over  seizures recorded by the command in the last six months of 2023.

    “Included also is a seizure of Heroin weighing 79.39 kilogrammes, and 26,310 kilogrammes of Barcadin cough syrups with codeine (i.e. 175,400 bottles of 100ml each).

    “Included also is monetary exhibit of six million naira being a bribe offered by a suspect to thwart seizure of 7.5 kilogramme of Canadian loud.

    He added that the command impounded vehicles and containers used to conceal the drugs  or carry out smuggling activities.

    The commander re-affirmed the command’s commitment to the global fight against  drug trafficking, particularly in the maritime domain.

    He said that  since the beginning of 2024, the command had undertaken a series of robust operations that had significantly disrupted the activities of drug trafficking syndicates on the coastlines and maritime corridors under its area of responsibility.

    Abubakar said that the most notable  seizure  was a combined seizure of heroin weighing 56.39k made from two containers.

    He described it as the highest single seizure of heroin ever recorded in the maritime domain in Nigeria.

    Abubakar said that both containers came from Durban, South Africa, and were declared as personal effects.

    “We apprehended three suspects in connection with the seizure. All the suspects are  on trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    He said that the command also made a single seizure of 1,072kg of cannabis indica from a container shipped from Montreal, Canada, and falsely declared as containing  three units of used vehicles.

     

    He said: “The Tincan NDLEA Special Area Command remains resolute in its mission to deny criminal elements the ability to exploit our maritime domain for their nefarious activities.

    “We will continue to work closely with our national and international partners to strengthen  capabilities, share intelligence, and collectively dismantle the intricate networks of drug trafficking organisations.

    “The command will continue to appreciate and commend the tireless efforts of its men and women who have demonstrated unwavering dedication and professionalism in executing the command’s mandate.

    “These achievements are a testament to the steadfast commitment of our personnel in safeguarding our maritime borders and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of illicit drugs.”

     

    According to him,  as the world commemorates the United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the command reaffirmed its determination to continue playing a pivotal role in the global fight against drug trade, upholding the rule of law and preserving security and well-being. (NAN)

    AIC/IGO

    ========

    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

     

     Canadian loud weighing 2,234kg  intercepted by NDLEA Tincan Island Port

  • Man, 32, arraigned for allegedly receiving stolen phone valued N150,000

    Arraignment

    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

    Ibadan, June 27, 2024 (NAN) A 32-year old man, Waliu Animasahun, was on Thursday, arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly receiving a stolen phone valued N150,000.

    Animasahun, whose address was not provided, is being charged with receiving a stolen phone to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecutor, Insp Olalekan Adegbite told the court that the defendant committed the offence at about 7.30p.m on May 2, at Ojoo, Ibadan.

    Adegbite said that the defendant received a Infinix phone worth N150,000 from a man named, Mutiu Salami, knowing that it was stolen from the rightful owner, Benjamin Inmo

    He said that the offence contravened Section 430 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Oluwabusayo Osho granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until July 24 for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

    CC/AYO/AZU

    =========

    Edited by Ayodeji Alabi and Azubuike Okeh

  • Don tasks Nigerians on water treatment to prevent waterborne diseases

    Don tasks Nigerians on water treatment to prevent waterborne diseases

    Water
    By George Edomwonyi
    Iyamoh (Edo State), June 27, 2024 (NAN) A Don, Prof. Anthony Ugbenyen, has challenged
    Nigerians to always subject domestic water to treatment before use to prevent waterborne diseases.

    He made the call while delivering the 16th Inaugural Lecture at the Edo State University, Uzairue, on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture has “Biopolymers as Eco-friendly Alternative in Water/Wastewater Purification: A Public Health Concern” as its theme.

    Ugbenyen, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry, said “water is an important natural resources for the survival of living organisms, production of food and for other purposes.”

    He added that water is prone to different contamination and pollution that makes it difficult for use without treatment.

    “There is need to educate Nigerians on water treatment and disinfection process before use.

    “Subjecting water to treatment and disinfection will reduce the risk of heavy metal toxicities and waterborne diseases.”

    Ugbenyen added that water related diseases are common in the country and spread by pathogenic micro-organisms that transmit bacteria or viral infections into rivers, wells and rain water.

    He explained that “waters obtained from boreholes and rivers are considered unsafe for domestic consumption without proper treatment and disinfection in spite of good physicochemical properties.

    “The unsafe nature of such water is due to the level of heavy metals in it, which is higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended limits.”

    He urged government to set up an evaluation body to see to the periodic check of natural water bodies, as well as prevent excessive human anthropogenic activities that may result to contamination of the water.

    He added that “there is need for sensitisation on proper waste management and the consequence of anthropogenic activities that may result to water contamination.”

    Earlier, the acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Dawood Egbefo, said the lecture is to
    encourage young professors to share knowledge and promote academic excellence.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    GE/FEO/HA
    ==========
    Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

  • Security guard in court over alleged sexual assault on employer ‘s daughter

    By Moronke Boboye
    Assault
    Ikeja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The police in Lagos on Thursday arraigned a 37-year-old security guard, Idris Hamisu, before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over an alleged sexual assault on his employer ‘s daughter.
    The defendant, who resides at No. 4, Yetunde Adesola St., Igando, Lagos, is standing trial for sexual assault.
    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    The Prosecutor, Insp Samuel Mishozunnu, told the court that the offence was committed on June 12 at No. 4, Yetunde Adesola St., Igando, Lagos.
    Mishozunnu said that the defendant lured his 12-year-old employer ‘s daughter into his room and fondled her breast and body.
    The offence, according to him, contravenes Section 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
    The Magistrate, Mrs F.D. Hughes, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.
    Hughes adjourned the case till July 18 for mention. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    MTO/WAS
    Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq