Blog

14m people unaware of positive HIV status – WHO

NAN-HG-11

HIV

By Vivian Ihechu

Lagos, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that 40 per cent or about 14 million people globally are not aware that they are HIV positive.

This is contained in a new WHO progress report released ahead of the 2016 World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

The report said that lack of an HIV diagnosis is a major obstacle to implementing the organisation’s recommendation that everyone with HIV should be offered Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).

It said that more than 18 million people with HIV were currently taking ART and a similar number were still unable to access treatment.

According to it, the majority of these people are unaware of their HIV positive status.

To address this, the world’s health body has released new guidelines on HIV self-testing to improve access to and uptake of HIV diagnosis.

It said that: “HIV self-testing means people can use oral fluid or blood-finger-pricks to discover their status in a private and convenient setting.

“Results are ready within 20 minutes or less.

“Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics.

“HIV self-testing is a way to reach more people with undiagnosed HIV and represents a step forward to empower individuals.

“It is also a way to diagnose people earlier before they become sick, bring services closer to where people live, and create demand for HIV testing.

“This is particularly important for those people facing barriers to accessing existing services.’’

Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, said: “Millions of people with HIV are still missing out on life-saving treatment, which can also prevent HIV transmission to others.

“HIV self-testing should open the door for many more people to know their HIV status and find out how to get treatment and access prevention services.

“WHO recommends they receive information and links to counselling as well as rapid referral to prevention, treatment and care services.’’ (NAN)
VIV/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-ELS-7

Tourism

By Justina David Auta

Abuja, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo on Tuesday said that the tourism sector generated over 1.1 billion dollars in 2015.

Mbanefo disclosed this during a two-day Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition.

The forum is being organised by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) in collaboration with NTDC and the National Institute for Hospitality and NIHOTOUR in Abuja.

The theme of the forum is “ Tourism: Tool for Economic and Development.’’

According to her, the tourism sector generated the revenue from the related expenditure incurred from the more than 6.01 million tourists that visited the country in 2015.

She stated that the balance of 853 million dollars was generated from 4.8 million tourists that visited in 2014.

“ In 2014, about 4.8 million people arrived and the related expenditure was 853 million dollars.

“While in 2016, about 6.01 million came into Nigeria and we generated over 1.1 billion dollars as the expenditure related to their arrival in this country.

“ This is an economic indication of the value that tourism can have in any economy where the government and the private corporate sector give value to it.’’

The D-G said that Nollywood had created job opportunities for more than two million persons, 30,000 were working in restaurants and over 11,000 were in the hotel business.

She, however, listed some of the challenges affecting the sector to include access to gathering statistics, epileptic power supply, inadequate infrastructure, poor access to visa, as well as absence of uniformed standardisation and classification for hotels nationwide.

She therefore stressed the need for investors to tap into the abundant opportunities that abound in the sector, adding that it had also created job opportunities and unified the diverse cultures in the country.

Also speaking, the National President, Association of Royal Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Dr Thomas Obiefule reiterated the commitment of traditional leaders towards improving the tourism sector.

“We are living in a challenging time, yet tourism continues to bring us hope. In spite of slow and uneven global economy recovery, growing geopolitical challenges, health scares and security concerns, there is hope.

“In spite of the Nigerian economic recession facing us, there is hope for tourism to create jobs, reduce poverty and make life meaningful to the rural dwellers.

“ We the traditional leaders will join hands making the Change Agenda work for the tourism industry in spite of the economic recession, culture and tourism will help Nigeria to come out from recession,’’ he said.

Obiefule also commended the efforts of the organisers in providing a platform for stakeholders to exhibit their wares and proffer solutions to revamp the tourism sector. (NAN)

JAD/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

NAN-HE-10
Shares
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The market indices of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday depreciated further by 0.34 per cent due to investors economic concerns.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All-Share Index lost 84.99 points or 0.34 per cent to close at 25,233.42 against   25,318.41 achieved on Monday.

Also, the market capitalisation which opened on N8.715 trillion shed N29 billion to close at N8.686 trillion.

NAN reports that Forte Oil for the second consecutive day topped the losers’ chart, dropping by N5.81 to close at N53.85 per share.

Dangote Cement came second with a loss of N1.99 to close at N155 and Transcorp Hotel dipped 27k to close at N5.24 per share.

Also, Dangote Sugar declined by 20k to close at N6, while Oando lost 19k to close at N3.61 per share.

Conversely, Mobil Oil led the gainers’ table, growing by N22.48 to close at N241.89 per share.

Total followed with a gain of N9.40 to close at N254.85 and the Nigerian Breweries garnered N1.99 to close at N143 per share.

International Breweries rose by 29k to close at N18.99 and UPL improved by 19k to close at N4.09 per share.

In spite of the drop recorded by market indicators, the volume of shares traded closed higher with an exchange of 511.58 million shares valued at N1.69 billion.

NAN reports that this was in contrast with a turnover of 202.43 million shares worth N1.62 billion transacted in 2,558 deals on Monday.

Wema Bank was the most traded equity with an exchange of 39.22 million shares valued at N181.31 million.

It was trailed by Diamond Bank having accounted for 63.57 million shares worth N57.51 million and FCMB Group sold 14.60 million valued at N15.03 million.

ETI accounted for 9.47 million shares worth N92.88 million and Wapic Insurance traded 6.93 million shares valued at N3.47 million. (NAN)
JNC/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

NAN-AE-3

Agri-business

By Monday Ajogun

Benin, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) Brig.-Gen Paul Boroh (rtd), Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, says the Federal Government has begun the process of engaging 10,000 ex-militants in its agri-business scheme.

Boro stated this in Benin on Tuesday when the government formally handed over a 2,000 capacity fish pond to one of the ex-militants, Reuben Opobowie.

The special adviser said 100 of the 10,000 ex-militants would be come from Edo and500 from Bayelsa, while the others would be from the remaining oil producing states of the federation.

According to him, Buhari has expressed interest and shown commitment toward the development of the Niger Delta region.

“The drive we are into now is on agri-business, because it captures three major items, which include food, security, job creation and increment in the finances of the farmers because they will be able to get money from their products.

“Agriculture, particularly, is the best alternative to oil for now going by what is happening in the economy of the country as at today.

“Those still involved in pipeline vandalism are those, who are not beneficiaries of the programme because they don’t understand what the Federal Government is doing,” he said.

He stated that the programme has brought him out of the creeks, adding that the programme has given him a direction in life.

He, however, advised those who are still in the creeks to come out and support the Federal Government’s efforts at developing the entire country. (NAN)

AJOM/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

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Launch

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The UN Development Programme (UNDP) says it will launch Africa Human Development Reports at the forthcoming 11th African Economic Conference (AEC) in Abuja.

The UNDP said this in a statement it issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the conference, with the theme, “Feeding Africa: Towards Agro-Allied Industrialisation for Inclusive Growth’’, will hold between Dec. 5 and Dec. 7.

The organisation said that the report would focus on Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa.

It said that UNDP in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) would also launch Economic Report on Africa in 2016.

According to the statement, AEC will hold discussion on Youth Agric-preneurship’s aspirations and challenges.

It added that AEC was designed to brainstorm on the current economic policies on the continent.

“The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss Africa’s agricultural transformation.

“The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss Africa’s agricultural transformation by presenting the latest empirical evidence on how to leverage agro-industrialisation for feeding Africa and promoting inclusive growth.

“It will also provide critical thinking on how policy makers, development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations and the academia should support the planning and implementation of these industrialisation strategies.’’

The planned conference it said would be being jointly organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the UNDP. (NAN)

CIA/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed
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Child marriage
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, says about 65 per cent of children below 18 years were forced into marriage in the Northern region.

Alhassan made this known in Abuja at the launch of National Campaign on ending child marriage in Nigeria.

She said that the detrimental consequences of child marriage on children, women, families, communities and nations at large were evident.

“There are always high maternal mortality and morbidity, illiteracy, lack of skills, unemployment, low income and widespread misery among victims of child marriage, especially female victims.

“Child marriage, a formal or an informal launch union of a child before full maturity, which is the age of 18, is associated with various challenges,’’ Alhassan said.

She said that Nigeria faces the daunting task of harnessing its vast natural and human resources to effectively reduce this harmful practice.

According to her, in 2015, an estimate of six million girls was married by the age of 15 years.

“Child marriage is prevalent in the North-West and North-East geo-political zones of the country.

“The launch is the beginning of a process as the ministry proposes to establish a National Coordination Unit, and a steering committee will oversee the monitoring and evaluation for implementation of the National Strategic Plan.

“All of us need to join hands to achieve this through the provision of adequate services and comprehensive preventive efforts, so that our girls and boys can access and have quality education.

“This will include ensuring that their sexual and reproductive health and rights are protected as well as engagement of boys and men in the society in the promotion of gender equality in various communities,’’ the minister said.

Also, the High Commissioner of Canada, Mr Christopher Thornley, said, “Child marriage occurs more frequently among girls who are the least educated, poorest and living in the rural areas.’’

Thornley said that it was better to delay marriage to adulthood to enable the individual to develop mentally and physically.

In his remarks, Dr Mustapha Hussain, an Associate Professor of Classical Arabic and Modern Literature, said, “A child below 18 years of age should not be forced to marriage.

“Marrying a girl to man she does not know is unislamic,’’ Hussain said.

The Representative of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Supo Adekunle, said that there were no places in the Holy Book where a child should be given out for marriage.

Adekunle said that child marriage should be totally discouraged by everyone who wants the development of the country.

The Speaker, Children Parliament, Mr Grandour Nweke, said child marriage deprives a child from childhood and education, adding that it could lead to domestic violence as well as health challenges. (NAN)
OEO/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

NAN–H–

Clash

Lokoja, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) Kogi State Police Command said on Tuesday that two people lost their lives in a communal clash in Ikende community in Bassa Local Government Council area of Kogi State.

The state Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), ASP William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that the clashes occurred between the Ebira and Bassa kwomu speaking people of the community on Nov. 26 and Nov. 28.

He said that corpses of the two victims were recovered by policemen deployed to the area, adding that four other persons were seriously wounded in the clashes.

According to him, 15 houses, five vehicles and 15 motorcycles were burnt by the warring groups.

Aya said that the situation had been brought under control, saying that no arrest has yet been made.

The PPRO said that Ikende town had been deserted by residents who are now hiding in the bush.

He said that anti-riot policemen will remain on ground until the safety of live and property can be guaranteed, adding that investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the clashes has commenced. (NAN)
KKA/IS

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NAN-DS-4

Accommodation

By Yahaya Isah

Abuja, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Ministry of Defence (MOD), says it is partnering with Blueberry Integrated Concept, a construction consultant, to build 50,000 housing units for its staff across the country.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Danjuma Shani, announced the plan at a One-day Convention of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, MOD chapter, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Shani, represented by Mrs Meteden Huda, the Director, Human Resources Management in the ministry, said shelter was one of the key instruments of human life, adding that shelter began with human development.

Shani explained that any civil servant who retired without having a roof over his or her head may end up being frustrated.

According to him, this informed the ministry’s decision to partner with the company to enable it secure affordable houses for its staff before retirement age.

“The joy of every civil servant is to have a house of his/her own before retirement in order to make life easy for him/herself and family’’, he said.

Shani expressed confidence in the ability of the partnering company to deliver the housing units on schedule.

Group Managing Director of the company, Mr Sanusi Garba said its partnership with MOD was to provide affordable houses to its staff.

“We hope to deliver 3,000 houses to the staff of the ministry at Karshi, 2,000 in Nasarawa and 45,000 in other states of the federation. It is to be called `Defence City Estate.’

“The master plan indicates that in each state of the federation, we will build 1000 housing units and the completion period is 46 months.

“We are bringing our partners that have funds from China and other parts of the world.

“We will provide land and other logistics for the partners and when they are done we hand over the houses to Federal Mortgage Bank.

“The bank will buy them and in turn sell to the staff. They will be deducting the amount directly from the beneficiaries’ salary’’, he said.

Mr Suleiman Mshela, Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria in the ministry, said housing need was as old as the history of man.

“Shelter is the most fundamental needs of man. In the ministry, we have not been fortunate to have had an estate called Defence City Estate.

“Since government cannot do it all alone, we took the initiative to look inward since the best thing that can happen to our members is to own a home’’, he said. (NAN)

YI/AIB//IEA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-77
Rehabilitation
Kano, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government is to commence rehabilitation of Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi road in Katsina state before the end of December.

Controller of Federal Road Maintenance Agency in North West, Mr Sani Mohammed, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kano on Tuesday.

He said the federal government had awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road to a reputable contractor, adding that work would commence soon.

“The federal government has awarded the contract and the contractor is expected to mobilise to the site soon’’, he said.

He said government was determined to rehabilitate the road to curtail accidents recorded on the road almost on daily basis.

He said when rehabilitated, the road would enhance socio-economic activities of communities along the road.

“The importance of this road cannot be over emphasised as it links Kano with Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states’’, Mohammed said.

NAN reports that the Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi road constructed during the administration of former Military President, retired Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. had never witnessed any major repair.
MTM/LAB/IEA
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-H-76
PTAD
Yola, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) will establish an office in Yola to take care of pensioners in the North East, the Executive Secretary, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, said.

She announced the plan on Tuesday when she visited Gov.Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa in Yola.

Ikeazor said the Directorate was committed to making things easier for pensioners nationwide and that so far, it had seven offices nationwide including Abuja.

She lauded the Adamawa Government for its support to the ongoing pensioners verification in Yola, adding that the measure would go a long way to address the plight of the retired officers.

She sympathised with the Adamawa Government over the hardship caused to many citizens of the state, including pensioners by the Boko Haram crisis, and assured that the Federal Government would not relent in its commitment to resettle people of the affected areas.

Responding, Bindow lauded PTAD for its commitment to alleviate the sufferings of pensioners and assured the Directorate of the government’s continuous support.

Bindow also lauded the move by PTAD to establish an office in Yola, a development he described as one of the many steps taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to show his commitment to the welfare of Nigerians. (NAN)
YMU/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu