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Army initiates peace move for Rivers warring communities
Peace
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The 6 Division of Nigerian Army has given assurance that the crisis between Bomu and Lewe communities in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers will soon be resolved.
Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the Division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said that the division had ignited peace talks between the communities.
Iliyasu disclosed this at the commencement of the peace meeting between the warring communities at the divisional headquarters in Port Harcourt on Monday.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that violence started when two rival illegal oil bunkering site operators clashed over control of market share.
The violence allegedly left no fewer than 14 persons dead and properties destroyed in the mayhem that lasted many days.
Iliyasu said that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, initiated the peace talks to put an end to the killings and destruction of properties in the communities.
“The GOC led a delegation for an on-the-spot assessment to the two communities to personally see the level of damage and carnage that befell them.
“The delegation visited the two communities towards finding lasting solution to the issues that caused the mayhem as part of the army’s civil-military cooperation.
“After the on the ground assessment, the delegation met both warring communities, who agreed to meet at the 6 Division for mediation talks.
“Lewe community has honoured that invitation with their presence here today, but unfortunately, Bomu community couldn’t make it for the peace meeting,” he said.
Iliyasu said the meeting was not organised to identify who was right or wrong but to ensure a peace deal was reached between the warring parties.
He said the army would fix another convenient date for the two parties to meet and promised that lasting peace would return to the communities.
“We want peace not just in the two communities but in Rivers State generally. We don’t want anybody killed, maimed or property destroyed,” he said.
The Chairman of Gokana Local Government Council, Paul Kobani, said that aside the army peace moves, the council had inaugurated a committee to look into the remote causes of the crisis.

“But unfortunately the committee has not achieved much because both Bomu and Lewe communities have not done enough to show that they want peace.
“We are here today and Bomu people are absent but we will not relent. We thank the GOC for taking the bold step to return peace to the communities,” he said. (NAN)
DES/KOLE/JCE
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Chukwudi Ekezie

Industrial Strike: OYSCATECH gives students two-week break

Break
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) As the industrial action embarked upon by three unions in the college lingers, the management of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, has declared a two-week break for all students.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Registrar, Mr Niyi Fehintola and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.

The two-week break, according to the statement, took effect from Thursday, September 20.

It said that students had been directed to vacate the college premises with immediate effect.

Recall that three unions of the institution had on June 2 embarked on industrial action.

The unions are Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union(NASU).

They are on strike over backlog of salary arrears and welfare issues.(NAN)

TAA/KOLE/SOA

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Oluwole Sogunle

Lines
By Constance Imasuen
Abuja, Sept 24, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says active mobile telephone lines in Nigeria decreased marginally to 160.5 million in August from 161.42 million in July.

NCC made this known in its monthly subscribers’ operator data posted on its website on Monday, saying the lines decreased by 904,767 in August.

The communications regulatory body added that the Mobile Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for active mobile lines in August was 119,008 as against 125,444 recorded in July, a decrease of 6,436.

The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines in August was 140,806 compared with its July figure of 140,582 lines, recording an increase of 224.

According to NCC, the number of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) was 105,678 in August compared with 101,131 recorded in July,  representing an increase of 4,547.

It also revealed that Teledensity reduced by 0.65 in August to 114.92 as against 115.57 in July.

Teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country.

NCC also said that the number of connected lines in August stood at 240,432,680 million as against 238,219,577 million in July, showing an increase of 2,213,103 million.

The CDMA for connected lines for August, was 247,983 as against 246,126 recorded in July, indicating an increase of 1,857, the subscribers’ data said.

The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in August was 351,103 compared with its July data that had 350,998, indicating an increase of 105 lines.

It also showed that the number of VOIP for connected lines in August was 690,042 as against 667,763 in July rising by 22,279 lines. (NAN)
ARA/FM/COA/ KOO/GY
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Grace Yussuf

Court orders APC to conduct fresh election for post of National Organising Secretary

Election
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct fresh elections for the office of National Organising Secretary (NOS) within 30 days.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba gave the order in a judgment on a suit filed by Sen. Osita Izunaso, the plaintiff and a contestant for the office of NOS in the recent APC elective convention.
Izunaso had asked the court to determine whether the election into the office of National Organising Secretary of APC was marred by violence leading to the disenfranchisement of delegates from some states.
He further wanted the court to ascertain whether as a result of the disenfranchisement of some delegates, APC was right in declaring Mr Emma Ibediro winner of the election since it was inconclusive.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Ibediro were named as defendants in the matter.
Izunaso told the court that some thugs loyal to Ibediro, numbering up to 100, disrupted the election into the office.
He said that they broke the ballot box making it impossible for votes of delegates from Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Abia and Imo to be counted thereby rendering the election inconclusive.
He claimed that if the votes of those delegates were counted, they would have bridged the 290 vote margin which Ibediro defeated him with.
According to Izunaso, APC erred by going ahead to announce Ibediro as winner of the election in spite of the violence, thuggery and irregularities recorded.
The court agreed that exhibits before it proved that the election was marred by violence and thuggery, irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the constitution.
It further agreed that the election did not follow the Electoral Act and the guidelines made by the party for the convention.
The court further noted that the defendants had not presented an effective defence to the claims made by the plaintiff and as such it was bound by the evidence before it.
On the allegations that the thugs acted on the authority of Ibediro, Dimgba said it was not clear on whose authority the thugs acted but that what was clear was that their actions disrupted the election.

The court also said that INEC failed in its duty as an election monitor, adding that its dereliction of duty was evident in its monitoring report.
“In the report, INEC said that the elections were conducted in line with guidelines of the 2018 APC elective convention and so it failed in its monitoring function with respect to election into the office of the NOS”.
He therefore ordered that APC should within 30 days, pursuant to the plaintiffs’ alternative reliefs, conduct a fresh election for the five states that were disenfranchised.
He also ordered INEC to monitor the repeat election as the body empowered to monitor the smooth conduct of elections in the country.
According to him, the duty of officers of the commission as election monitors is not to entertain themselves but to ensure that the elections comply with provisions of the law.
Izunaso had asked the court to declare him winner of the post of NOS but the court was of the view that while his complaints were well founded, it was better to order fresh elections in the affected states. (NAN)
WS/JCE
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NAF

By Mateen Badru

Lagos, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Lagos on Monday  said it had trained 16 of its personnel in core crime investigative skills as it inaugurated a forensic laboratory  in the state.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this at the inauguration of the remodelled Forensic Crime Laboratory and the new 057 Provost Investigation Group Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

Abubakar said that the NAF had embarked on the conduct of various specialist training for its personnel who would be required to man the group for effective operation.

Abubakar said after a gap analysis of the structure of the NAF, it had become obvious that the new expanded NAF Force Structure required a law enforcement arm.

He said that the arm should have the capacity to effectively employ scientific approaches in all the facets of its critical competencies.

He said that it was in the fulfillment of this requirement that the inauguration of the new Provost Investigation Group Headquarters building and the Nigerian Air Force Forensic Crime Laboratory came to being.

“Already, in conjunction with our foreign partners from the United Kingdom, we have trained 16 Provost personnel in the Core Investigative Skills and Interview course.

“Another set of 16 personnel will in four days’ time be concluding the Crime Scene Investigation Course here in 057 Provost Investigation Group.

“In another development, the investigative capacity of the Provost will be enhanced through the training of 10 Provost Officers in the Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos.

“This will be within the last quarter of the year,” he said.

Abubakar, however, stressed that the training of provost personnel in forensic investigation was last conducted 30 years’ ago.

“Akin to the development of investigative and forensic skills, the NAF is also at an advanced stage of expanding and enhancing its utilisation of Military Working Dogs to boost the physical security of NAF in critical mission and essential areas.

“This growth is equally projected to create the capacity for the Air Provost to be integrated into the conduct of Combat Search and Rescue operations in the Service.

“In the same vein, 140 Air Provost personnel will commence the Force Protection in Complex Air Ground Environment training, in conjunction with the British Military Advisory Training Team.

“Furthermore, the rejuvenation of the Air Provost’s Explosive Ordnance Detection capability is projected to commence by the end of this year,” he said.

Abubakar said that the NAF’s recent push to make inroads in the development of the capacity and capability of the Air Provost was premised on the need to have a proactive police force that would nip threats in the bud.

“This will also provide the enabling environment for NAF personnel to freely discharge their duties in furtherance of the Service’s constitutional responsibilities,” he said.

Abubakar, who acknowledged the unflinching support of President Muhammadu Buhari, said that the laudable efforts by the NAF in building capacity could not have been possible without his determined support.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, was the special guest of honour at the event.

He said that he was delighted to inaugurate the newly constructed Headquarters building of 057 Provost Investigation Group and the remodelled forensic laboratory.

“Forensic science is an integral part of the criminal justice system.

“It is vital in aiding the investigation of a crime and detection of criminals, as well as proving the innocence of people suspected of crimes that they did not commit.

“Without the objective evidence obtained through scientific analysis, many crime cases would have gone unsolved and the perpetrators go unpunished.

“It is thus, a veritable tool for not only detection and prosecution, but also deterrence,” he said.

The IGP said that evidence was the cornerstone in modern police investigation, adding that witnesses could fall, be misunderstood, be influenced or contaminated.

“A well preserved and analysed evidence does not.

“This effort by the Chief of the Air Staff in providing a befitting and functional environment and making inroads in the application of forensics in policing is laudable.

“It is a testimony of the Nigerian Air Force leadership’s commitment to push the boundaries, and improve on the methodologies and technological platforms to detect and analyse evidence of crime in the Service,” he said.

Earlier, the Commander, Air Provost Investigation Group, Group Capt. Garba Hello, in his welcome address, said that the facilities would assist the NAF provost personnel to carry out their duties, especially in the area of criminal investigations.

“These will significantly assist Air Provost Investigators in obtaining credible evidence for successful prosecution of cases in a court of law while at the same time adding to the country’s crime fighting resources,” he said. (NAN)

BOM/KOO/PAD

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Peter Dada

Rheumatologists
Lagos, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adewale Oke, has decried the low number of trained rheumatologists to treat musculoskeletal diseases in Nigeria.

Oke made the assertion at the West African Rheumatology Conference organised by the Nigerian Society of Rheumatology (NSR) in LASUTH, Ikeja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day conference is themed: “Rheumatology in West Africa; the journey so far’’.

“This is another challenge that I think we must improve on; that is, the significant low number of rheumatologist available.

“Close to 30 years after my studies, we probably have about 30 or 40 rheumatologists, I think that is a significantly low number of rheumatology for our growing 200 million populations.

“If we have only 40 rheumatologists trained, I think that is an abysmally low number, I want to implore all of us in this gathering, let us continue to fashion a way of increasing this number.

“I encourage us to continue to increase the awareness of rheumatology as a discipline such that we can also increase the number of rheumatologist that is available for our people,’’ he said.

Oke, was represented by Dr Ibrahim Mustapha, Director of Clinical services and training.

Prof. Femi Adelowo, Consultant Rheumatologist in LASUTH said in his presentation that rheumatology in Africa had expanded.

“Rheumatology in West Africa has expanded, it scavenges every other specialty and there are more than 200 cases that come under rheumatology.

“So the theme for this particular conference is apt because it talks about HIV disease which affects us most in West Africa,’’ Adelowo said.

He expressed the hope that the over 40 trained rheumatologists would expand the specialty and ensure they closed the gaps in the knowledge of rheumatology.

Dr Marie Doualla, Professor of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cameroon, said there was the need to work on the poor availability of Rheumatologists in Africa.

“Shortage of rheumatologist is even more acute in Cameroon because for a population of 20 million of inhabitants, we have only 11 rheumatologists.

“In Nigeria, I heard that there are about 42 rheumatologists, for 200 million inhabitants, so the shortage is certain in the African settings and I think we have to do something about it.

“This will make the cure of musculoskeletal diseases more difficult and not readily accessible for patients,’’ Doualla said.

A consultant Physician from the Ministry of Health, Lagos, Dr Rasheeda Oba, said the only way people can know about rheumatology as a specialty was through awareness programme.

“Rheumatology is a fairly new and developing specialty in Nigeria and in the West African sub region.

“Compared rheumatology to most other specialties in medicine, you find out rheumatology is just coming up; we still have very few specialists.

“But the thing about it is that we want the world to know more about it and that is the reason we have this conference,’’ Oba said.

NAN reports that participants at the event are trainees, residents, Dermatologists, Orthopedists, Paediatricians and General Practitioners. (NAN)
LED/VOE/MNA
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Edited by Vivian Emoni/Maureen Atuonwu

Equity
By Lilian Okoro
Lagos, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) Some financial analysts on Monday said there was  the need for government to initiate innovative polices to enhance local operators’ participation and confidence in the stock market.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, they urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to pursue innovative polices.
The analysts spoke on the backdrop of the deteriorating low patronage of stocks in the market.
Mr Fakrogha Charles, the Chief Relationship Officer, Foresight Securities and Investment Ltd, said market regulators should pursue friendly policies and strategies that would restore the local investors’ confidence in the market.
Charles said that increasing domestic investor participation in the market became necessary as foreign investors might not stay forever to help the country due to economic uncertainties.
He said that foreign investors were prone to currency fluctuation and price volatility and could exit at any given time unlike the local investors.
According to him, the local operators are supposed to be the key players in the market and not foreign operators as seen and envisaged by the regulatory bodies.
He said that the failure of SEC and NSE to develop local investors made them to shun the Nigerian capital market.
He said that emphasis by SEC and NSE on foreign investors to the detriment of local investors led to low patronage in the equities market.
“Policies aimed at increasing the participation of local investors should be the priority of the SEC and NSE.
“The foreign operators are visiting and panic investors can leave the market at will and at any slight economic challenge.
“Until the local operators are encouraged and inspired to fully participate in the market, the Nigerian stock market may not record significant growth,’’ Charles said.
He said that the market regulators had not done much to ensure development of local investors for increased participation in the market
Charles said that more companies should be encouraged to list on the exchange to deepen the market and create activities.
According to him, market regulators should stop borrowing and implementing foreign policies that will have negative impact on the market.
He urged the regulatory bodies to continue to develop the market to enhance the participation of retail investors.
Mr Sunny Nwosu, the National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), urged the Federal Government to embrace the capital market for long-term infrastructure projects.
Nwosu said that the government should use the market more to boost liquidity.
“Funding of long-term infrastructure projects must come through the capital market for growth and development.
“Every developing economy is tied to its capital market,’’ he said.
Nwosu said that there must be a linkage between the economy and the capital market for Nigeria to witness substantial growth and development. (NAN)
LUC/AOM/TA
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Tajudeen Atitebi

NANFeatures/Vol.12/No.111/2018 (Sept. 24)

Improved demographic dividend: The UNFPA/religious leaders’ connection

A News Analysis by Mustapha Sumaila, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Religious leaders remain incontrovertible moral beacons, expected to show exemplary life by being upright, trustworthy, honest and disciplined, among other values, to their respective followers.

For this reason, over the years, religious leaders in the country have been entrusted with overseeing development projects in their communities.

For instance, religious leaders play significant roles alongside traditional rulers in sensitising people in their communities to accepting polio vaccination across the country.

In view of this, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently organised a national conference to woo religious leaders to key into the project of harnessing demographic dividend in the country.

The conference, entitled: “Harnessing demographic dividend for sustainable development in Nigeria; the role of Muslims religious leaders’’, addressed some key issues relating what the roles of religious leaders ought to be.

Demographers describe demographic dividend as economic growths that may result from changes to a country’s age structure.

They argue that shift in age structure are driven by a transition from people living short lives and having large families to living long lives and having small families.

“When households have fewer children that they can take care of and a larger number of family members have decent jobs, the household can save and invest more money, then the economy will grow,’’ they observe.

The UNFPA’s Regional Director, West and Central Africa Regional office, Dr Mabingue Ngom, therefore said that community leaders must be the driving force for Nigeria also to attain demographic dividend.

Ngom explained that for a successful demographic dividend in Nigeria, religious and traditional rulers must lead the change.

According to him, sustainable change happens at local level and no one can make any change on demographic dividend without the leadership drive of community leaders.

“The religious and traditional leaders lead the community, therefore, they must lead this change and henceforth we want to see it at the community level and Nigeria has taken a bold step by launching demographic dividend.

“UNFPA values this partnership; this gathering is important because of the need to work with local communities and their leaders,’’ he said.

The regional director also underscored the need to create space for young people for the achievement of demographic dividend in the country.

“Put young people first; not only saying it, but by acting it and giving them space and place to operate and there must be the presence of the youth in the budget and policies, as well as in decision making.

“There is need to create space for the girl-child to be part of the force, therefore, we must invest in the girls and give them chance to grow or else it will be difficult to see the growth we envisage,’’ he said.

Ngom emphasised that the demographic dividend was a holistic approach to ensuring that the needs of youth in terms of health, education, jobs and empowerment were addressed as part of the country’s contribution to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Global engagements, regional engagements specifically informed of UNFPA’s engagements and partnership with religious leaders towards harnessing demographic dividend, including family planning and reduction of maternal mortality,’’ he observed.

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, called for training of community leaders on demographic dividend to properly educate the populace.

Represented by the Emir of Shonga, Alhaji Haliru Yahaya, the sultan explained that the capacity of community leaders must be built and empower them with the right information to disseminate to their subjects on demographic dividend.

“The engagement of community leaders is important and such leaders must be convinced in what the demographic dividend is all about.

“They must be empowered with the right information that demographic dividend programme is not meant to reduce the population of Islamic nations.

“When they are equipped with such right information, they will carry out sermons on Sundays and Fridays in ensuring the attainment of demographic dividend,’’ he observed.

The religious leader noted that Islam encouraged having children, but it was a sin to have children that you could not cater for in terms of providing them with basic needs of life.

The sultan emphasised on the need to make concerted effort to ensure education, health and empowerment of women and young people were put in proper perspective in achieving demographic dividend in the country.

He urged religious leaders to preach to people to give birth to children they could cater for not children that would be thrown to the streets as beggars.

Abubakar noted that attention must also be paid to the reproductive health of women and well being of the young people.

Prof. Salisu Shehu, who represented Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs at the conference, said that it was time to work to save the lives of women and children through improving in productive and maternal health.

Speaking on harnessing demographic dividend, the scholar said that Islam had perspective on quality and quantity children.

He warned that no one should be giving birth indiscriminately at the expense of quality, noting that having children one could not cater far would be a sin.

“When you produce, ensure they are qualitative by ensuring their biological nutrition, good health and give them psychological-intellectual by giving them education as well as moral and spiritual.

“We frown at distribution of condoms to the youth because overtime, that act has encouraged flirting in the society,’’ he explained.

Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, nonetheless, appealed to religious leaders to support the change by embracing this effort to harnessing demographic dividend in the country.

Adewole observed that available record had shown that efforts and role of religious leaders had helped for improved family planning in the country.

He promised that the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to work with UNFPA to continue in engaging stakeholders in that regard.

He also commended the present administration for empowering women and the youth and by affording the girl-child quality and affordable education. (NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 

Markets
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMSON) on Monday advised Lagos State Government to carry out a post-impact assessment of the environment of major markets across the state.

The President of WAMSON, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

He said that the environmental assessment had become imperative because most major markets in Lagos State and other states across the country were located in heavily polluted areas.

“And these are markets where urban dwellers, individuals, restaurant operators, hoteliers and everybody go to buy foodstuffs.

“’Some of these markets are located in areas where refuse is dumped indiscriminately; some of the markets are eyesores.

“Traders display their wares beside and on top of refuse mounds and people openly cook in those filthy environments.

“In short, there is more to be desired in the way traders display their wares, especially perishable foodstuffs, in the markets.

“A post-impact assessment of the environment of markets, particularly Ketu/Ikosi, the popular fruit market, and Mile 12 market, would reveal a lot of toxic waste buried therein.

“The proposed assessment  would help us to ascertain how the harmful waste would affect surface and ground water, escape into the air and its hazardous effects on plants, animals and humans,’’ he said.

Besides, Osibanjo said that the health impact assessment of the markets would facilitate the introduction of remedial actions to clean up the markets.

He underscored the need for the government to promote the wellbeing of its citizens, saying that in the doing this, government should strive to respect laws on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and forcefully implement it in the public interest.

He said that EIA could possibly prevent the outbreak of disasters in the environment, while safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the residents of a particular neighbourhood.

Osibanjo also urged the government to take town planning laws seriously and be proactive in mapping out areas whenever human settlements in unplanned areas were noticed.

He said that if the government adopted such approach, it would be able to anticipate actions that could be dangerous to the environment, while initiating appropriate strategies to deal with them.

Osibanjo also advised the government to start incorporating waste management strategies in town and urban development projects right from the onset.

He said that such policy, if effectively implemented, would encourage people coming to those areas to imbibe proper waste disposal habits. (NAN)
ACA/KOO/OOK
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Dayo Komolafe