Blog

NBMA DG urges experts to assist in strengthening biosafety system

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Conference
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Nov.10, 2016 (NAN) Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has urged participants at the agency’s annual conference to suggest ideas that will strengthen the nation’s biosafety system.

Egbema made the call in his address of welcome at the 2nd edition of the Annual National Biosafety Conference, organised by the Agency in collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
He said that the conference taking place in Abuja with the theme: “Biosafety, Food Security and Economic Development in Nigeria,” would open discuss on specific areas of Biosafety in modern Biotechnology regulations.
“The aim is to emphasis the importance of effective biosafety regulation of food security and socio-economic development in the application of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.
“As well as how they relate to pertinent economic issues such as health care delivery systems, environmental management and economic sustainability.
“The Conference is designed to promote collaboration among scientists, line Government Institutions and stakeholders, within and outside the country to suggest ideas that will assist in the strengthening of our National biosafety system.’’
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 1st edition of the conference was hosted by Godfery Okoye University, Enugu, in November, 2015.
The Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, in her speech said the theme of the conference was not only apt but relevant to the Change Agenda of the present administration which focused on revitalising the economy, improve security and tackle corruption.
“This administration is committed to ensuring food security for all Nigerians, therefore, agriculture is one of the ways the government is making urgent efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy.
“Lack of food security is an underlining cause for some of the greatest challenges in the country today so sustainable development goals should seek to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition,” she said.
Mohammed said that for Nigeria to be food sufficient, it must underscore the need for modern and climate smart agricultural practices.
“We must increase investment, including enhanced international cooperation in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity.
“This will provide a form of economic diversification as it will bring with it a new set of skill requirements and expand job opportunities.
“And this government will welcome technology that will provide safe and adequate food for Nigerians,’’ she said.
NAN reports that National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) was established April 18, 2015, with the aim to provide regulatory framework, institutional and administrative mechanisms for safety measures in the application of modern biotechnology in Nigeria. (NAN)
EPA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-87

Railway

Minna, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Railway Corporation (North Western District), has begun

its annual staff screening in Minna, an official has confirmed.

Alhaji Zakari Audu, Manager, North Western District of the corporation, told the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

on Thursday in Minna, that the screening exercise was to ascertain the number of vacancies arising

from retirements and disengagements.

“ We want to be sure of the number of vacancies before initiating the process to fill them,” he said. (NAN)

MNO/DO/ETS

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Edited by David Onilede and Ephraims Sheyin

NAN-S-16

Football (Notebook)

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Nigeria’s Super Eagles will walk onto the pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday on superior ground against the Fennecs of Algeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there have been 17 clashes between both teams (all at competitive level), with Nigeria winning eight times, drawing three and losing six.

Nigeria’s captain Mikel Obi was less than three years old the last time Algeria defeated Nigeria, in the final of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations in Algiers.

Super Eagles’ current goalkeepers’ trainer Aloysius Agu was the Eagles’ goalkeeper and captain that day, March 16, 1990.

It was a tough game at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers, but the Fennecs won their first (and still only) Africa title when Cherif Oudjani’s long range effort beat Agu for the only goal of the match.

At that same competition, Algeria had beaten the Eagles 5-1 in the opening match.

But the Eagles would remember that and pay back the Fennecs when lashing their hosts 5-2 in Oran in a 2006 World Cup qualifier on Sept. 4, 2005.

The first clash between both countries was on Jan. 10, 1973, during the football event of the second All Africa Games that Nigeria hosted. The match ended 2-2.

Seven years later, the Green Eagles thrashed the Algerians 3-0 to lift their first Africa Cup title.

In their last four confrontations, the Eagles have enjoyed a winning streak against Algeria, which is more than the three consecutive wins Algeria had over Nigeria between Oct. 1981 and March 1982.

In the qualifying race for Espana ’82, Algeria beat Nigeria 2-0 in Lagos and 2-1 in Constantine.

The Fennecs came from behind to edge the Eagles 2-1 at the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations in Libya.

Algeria is currently the number one ranked team in Africa and 36th in the world, while Nigeria is 11th and 60th in the world.

Nigeria notably moved up four places in the latest FIFA rankings release in October following their impressive start in 2018 World Cup qualifying.

However, that will count for nothing when both sides clash in Uyo.

Nigeria currently sits on top of Group B table with three points, while Cameroon and Algeria have one point each.

The Desert Foxes were held to a 1-1 draw at home to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Zambia is at the bottom of the log with no points, having lost 2-1 at home to Nigeria.

NIGERIA-ALGERIA IN HISTORY

Jan. 10, 1973: Nigeria 2 Algeria 2 (AAG, Lagos)

Mar. 22, 1980: Nigeria 3 Algeria 0 (ACN, Lagos)

Oct. 10, 1981: Nigeria 0 Algeria 2 (WCq, Lagos)

Oct. 30, 1981: Algeria 2 Nigeria 1 (WCq, Constantine)

Mar. 10, 1982: Algeria 2 Nigeria 1 (ACN, Benghazi)

Mar. 11, 1984: Algeria 0 Nigeria 0 (ACN, Bouake)

Jan. 15, 1988: Algeria 1 Nigeria 0 (Olq, Annaba)

Jan. 30, 1988: Nigeria 2 Algeria 0 (Olq, Enugu)

Mar 23,1988: Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 (ACN, Rabat: Nigeria win 9-8 penalties)

Mar. 2 , 1990: Algeria 5 Nigeria 1 (ACN, Algiers)

Mar. 16, 1990: Algeria 1 Nigeria 0 (ACN, Algiers)

July 13, 1993: Nigeria 4 Algeria 1 (WCq, Lagos)

Oct 8, 1993: Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 (WCq, Algiers)

Jan 21, 2002: Algeria 0 Nigeria 1 (ACN, Bamako)

July 3, 2004: Nigeria 1 Algeria 0 (WCq, Abuja)

Sept 4, 2005: Algeria 2 Nigeria 5 (WCq, Oran)

Jan 30, 2010: Algeria 0 Nigeria 1 (ACN, Benguela). (NAN)

VO/DE/YAZ
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Yusuf Zango

Fire Service wants review of Act for better service delivery

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Act
By Angela Atabo
Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Fire Service on Thursday called for the review of its Act for better service delivery.

Mr Quintus Azogu, the Assistant Controller-General and Head, Policy Regulatory and Inspectorate Department of the organisation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was need to repeal the present act.

Azogu said that the act when upgraded would allow the service carry out some enforcement on fire safety, including search and rescue operations.

He said there were lots to be done in terms of fire service delivery, especially as it had to do with compliance to the National Fire Safety Code that people hardly observed.

He said that the Code, when fully complied with, would give room for fire safety in the country and curb inferno in the markets, as it contained standards to be followed when erecting buildings and markets.

He said that while constructing a building, there was the need for vetting the designs to ensure that appropriate fire safety features were provided right from the design stage.

Azogu said that during construction, there were design features that should be included and ensured were not degraded in the course of construction.

“ For example, you must have a means of escape in a building, you must have a means of warning, in case of fire outbreak, and there has to be a means of fighting the fire.

“So, when these things are at the level where the fire service is not involved, it will be disastrous since they are the first aid fire fighting requirements.

“There is the need to compel people to ensure they have a fire extinguisher, they must also have a fire indicator and a means of escape; this is what we look out for when we vet building.

“Thus, in construction, we check the kind of materials being used to make sure the means of escape are adequately situated, and check the kind of spacing to see if it allows for our access in case of an emergency,’’ he said.

Azogu said this was what the service should be doing even in the states, but that most of the state fire services were not so developed to provide these services.(NAN)
ATAB/KOLE/AMY
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Edited by Remi Koleoso and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-AE-11
NRC
Minna, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Zakari Audu, the District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Niger, urged the state government to relocate the slaughter slab in the state capital to an abbatoir.

Audu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Thursday.

He said that the stench from the slab might cause an epidemic in the environment.

The manager said that the NRC office was mostly affected because the corporation shared
a fence with the slab.

He complained that there were no facilities, including water in the area and as such the presence of the
slab in the metropolis had defaced the capital city.

“Operators of the slab, along Ladi Kwali Road on IBB Way, have continued to defy government orders by their continuous stay in the metropolis.

“They should be at the abattoir where basic facilities are provided for them.

“It is a health hazard and we find it difficult to stay here when it starts smelling because the operators
hardly pour chemicals on the dung to quench the bad odour.”

Audu also said that the butchers were encroaching on NRC’s land and called for urgent government attention.

One of the butchers’ leaders, Alhaji Baba Abu, told NAN that they had been operating at the location for about 35 years and were used to the place.

“Our problem is not to be relocated from this place but to be assisted with a borehole so that we can have water at all times.

“On a daily basis, we buy over 15 trucks of water, which really gulp a lot of money and spending N3,000 on water can really be financially tasking.” (NAN)
MNO/MNA/HA
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NAN-H-88
Approval
By Amen Gajira
Minna, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has sought the approval of the state Assembly to borrow N280.5 million loan from First Bank Plc to boost the operation of the State Transport Authority.

The Speaker, Ahmed Marafa, who presided over Thursday’s plenary, read the governor’s letter on the floor of the Assembly.

Part of the letter read: “I write to intimate you of ongoing negotiations by Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) for a loan of N280.5 million to be utilised for procurement of 30 Toyota Hiace buses for its operations.’’

The governor said that part of the money would be utilised to insure and register the buses.

He said that the bank offered the loan at 18 per cent interest rate per annum at 36 months repayment period.

Contributing to the debate, Shuaibu Iya (PDP- Suleja) urged the House to give the request accelerated consideration, saying the facility was critical to boost revenue of the state transport authority.

He added that improved services by NSTA would enable the people of the state enjoy the dividends of democracy.

After exhaustive deliberation, the House referred the matter to its committees on Transport and Finance for consideration.

In a related development, the House had granted the governor’s request to restructure the terms of N10.4 billion bond by extending the maturity period by 3 years to 2021.

A private member bill for a law to amend the provisions of rent control and recovery of residential premises law 1977 was read for the second time.

The bill was referred to the Committees on Judiciary, Lands and Housing for consideration. (NAN)

AMEN/DUA/AEA
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Edited by Ahmed Dada/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-89
Funding
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Nov.10, 2016 (NAN) The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology has expressed satisfaction with the utilisation of fund released to the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in the 2016 budget.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Beni Lar, made the statement during an oversight visit by the committee to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
She said that NASRDA had done well in disbursing funds released on space technology projects, staff development and so on.
“Developing space technology is not an easy thing, it needs a lot of strength and capacity to do well in the sector, NASRDA has done a lot in terms of human capital development.
“NASRDA has really done well in respect to what has come to them; we have seen the projects on ground.
“ We have seen what is going on in its dome, the ground receiving station, the incubation centre; there is a lot of expansion and improvement in science and technology.

“In this year’s budget, there is significant increase on appropriation and I think it justifies that in next year’s budget, they should give it a better and higher increase in appropriation.
“The agency is actually doing very well as Obasanjo space centre is ranked as one of the best space centres in Africa, it has over 500 researchers and engineers.”

Lar noted that appropriation for the agency in the 2016 budget was increased but the agency needed to be better funded.
“ The nation will be launching nano-satellite which will be major achievement, there should be some strength and capacity on ground to meet those targets, NASRDA has done well in disbursing released funds.”

Responding, Prof. Mohammed Seidu, Director-General, NASRDA, said 73 per cent of the 2016 budget had been released to the agency.
“The sum of N968 million was appropriated for us in this year’s budget, 79 per cent of it has so far been released.
“Construction is going on in our planetarium, ground receiving station, and advance computerisation building among others.
“We paid N200m to survey Satellite Technology this year for our launched satellite while we have also paid our counterpart fund for the launch of new educational satellite-Nano-satelite.
“This satellite will be jointly launched with four other countries of Japan, Nepal, Ghana and Bangladesh to demystify science to the junior ones.
“One of our colleagues from here, currently doing his PhD on nano –satelite abroad, will lead the team as the project manager for the countries when the satellite is launched next year.
“The satellite will be singing Nigeria’s national anthem whenever it is within our territory and we are very happy about that.”

NAN reports that the agency currently, has three satellites in the space which made Nigeria to be ranked among the space nation’s in the world.(NAN)
COA/JPE/MO
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Morayo Omolade
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NBMA well equipped to carry out Biosafety regulatory – Minister
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Personnel
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Nov.10, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, says the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is well equipped to carry out risk assessments on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) currently under trial in the country.
Mohammed made the assertion during her speech at the 2nd edition of the Annual National Conference of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) on Thursday in Abuja.
She said that the agency has capable Biosafety regulatory personnel and was well positioned to carry out risk assessments on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) currently under trial in the country.
“NBMA has personnel who are trained within and outside the country to effectively carry out its regulatory functions and also well equipped laboratory to detect any smallest genes in GMOs.
“Nigerians should be rest assured of the protection of their health and the environment by the agency on matters concerning GMOs.
“We are working in partnership with relevant bodies in line with the United Nations Convention to protect the environment and these partnerships are important if we are to succeed in ensuring food security.’’
She, however, said all Nigerians to support the government in its effort to rejuvenate the economy and free its people from poverty.
“Nigerians should support NBMA to enable us benefit maximally from the practice of safe modern Biotechnology,’’ she said.
Dr Rufus Ebegba corroborated the Minister, saying NBMA was established in conformity with national and international laws, procedures and rules that govern the safe adoption of modern biotechnology practice and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
“This is with a view to preventing any adverse effect on human health, animals, plants and environment and Biosafety regulation of modern biotechnology and GMOs is very crucial for safety assurance and confidence building.
“The NBMA Act 2015 is the only safe value for the adoption of modern biotechnology and the deployment and use of GMOs for socio-economic development in Nigeria.
“And the development of human and infrastructural capacities had been pursued vigorously by the agency, seeing it to be critical to safe modern biotechnology development in Nigeria,’’ he said.
The DG added that the presence of National Biosafety Management Act and the National Biosafety Management Agency were assuring enough.
“This is therefore not the time to get bogged down with fears, inconsistencies and lethargy and Nigeria cannot afford to stand aloof or be left behind in this fast growing world,’’ he said. (NAN)
EPA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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2 Students arraigned over alleged theft of colleague’s school fees

By Dorathy Ahinge

NAN-H-85

Theft

Makurdi, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) Two students of College of Education, Oju, in Benue, Ime Richard, 24,

and Odigiri Exekiel, 25, on Thursday appeared before a Makurdi Magistrate’s court,

charged with criminal conspiracy and theft.

The duo, according to the prosecution, conspired with others and attacked a colleague, Ekoja John,

and forcefully collected N40,000 which John said was his school fees.

Other charges against the duo included belonging to an unlawful society, and disturbance of public peace.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Daniel Swende, the accused persons were arraigned under sections 97,

99, 115 and 288 of penal code laws of Benue State 2004.

“The accused persons criminally conspired with others, who are now at large, armed themselves with guns,

cutlasses and axes and attacked one Ekoja John, a student of College of Education Oju.

“They forcefully collected the sum of N40,000, which was the victim’s school fees.

“During police investigation, the accused persons were arrested with one small axe and a long spear

found on them,” he stated.

The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the prosecution asked for an

adjournment as investigation into the matter was still in progress.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Theresa Wergba, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N80,000 each,

with one surety who must be a civil servant and resident in the area of jurisdiction.

She adjourned the case to Jan. 27, 2017 for further mention. (NAN)

DAJ/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

NAN-ELS-5
Tourism
By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Tourism Practioneers of Nigeria (ATPN) said it was set to establish its presence in all states of the federation to boost the tourism sector.

The National President of ATPN, Malam Kabir Malan, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that ATPN, established in 1990, had been in the vanguard of promoting and facilitating the participation of the private sector in the development, marketing and promotion of tourism.

He added that “the Association fosters the much-needed Public/Private sector partnership for accelerated development in the tourism industry in Nigeria, in tandem with some of its set objectives.

“These set objectives are in line with global standard practice and a road map that has proven to be the most effective.”

Malan noted that it was in recognition of this that the Federal Government made ATPN member of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Tourism Development Cooperation.

According to him, the Association has continued to monitor the effects of the fall in oil price in the international market on the Nigerian economy.

He explained that the fall in oil price had adversely impacted on revenue receipts, with corresponding drawbacks on the fiscal capabilities of states.

He said that “the tourism potential in Plateau State especially places it in the most advantaged position to lead in the development of the sector in Nigeria.

“The state has proven this, both at the public and private sector levels of the industry.

“Against this background, the National Executive Council of ATPN plans to go round the country to set up caretaker committees that will drive the Association’s aims and objectives.’’

NAN reports that the Association recently inaugurated its Plateau branch in Jos to pursue the realisation of its objectives to boost the sector in the state. (NAN)
CMY/DUA/HA
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Edited by Dada Ahmed/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu