Blog

NAN-H-45

Meeting

Abuja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari met with Niger Delta stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja as part of deliberate efforts to find lasting solutions to militancy in the region.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, governors of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo states, as well as ministers and other political appointees from the region attended the meeting.

NAN reliably gathered that the stakeholders are expected to make submissions on issues that border on the economic and human capital development, as well as security and restoration of peace in the region.

The meeting is also expected to “focus on socio-economic development of the region as well as building a strong synergy with multinational oil companies operating in the area’’

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed the names of some of the attendees.

Cue in audio – Adesina

“The governors are seated. Then, we have Ministers from that region; Minister of State for Petroleum; Minister of Niger Delta; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development; Minister of Budget and National Planning; Minister of State for Health; and Minister of Transport.

“Also here Mr President we have other attendees including the National Security Adviser; Director General, State Security Service; Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Navy Staff.

“Then, from the National Assembly we have Chairman, Senate Committee on Downstream; Chairman, Senate Committee on Upstream; Chairman, House Committee on Downstream; Chairman, House Committee on Upstream; Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta; Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta.

“The governor of Imo State is also here. Then, the acting Managing Director of NDDC; Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme.’’

Cue out audio – Adesina

Others are Service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Daura as well as traditional rulers and representatives of militant groups. Former governors, civil rights activists and community leaders from the Niger Delta region including Obong Victor Attah, Timi Aliabe, Diette Spiff, Ledu Mitee, Florence Ita-Giwa, Tony Uranta, Nkoyo Toyo, Sen. Ewa Henshaw, Seminatri Bozimo and Roland Owei.

The meeting, which is being presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, began at about 12.10p.m. (NAN)

SYC/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-52
Jail
By Nana Musa
Abuja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) A Grade 1 Area Court, Karmo, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced a 21-year-old building engineer, Olamide Ahmed, to two months in prison for causing grievous hurt.

The Area Court judge, Alhaji, Abubakar Sadiq, sentenced Ahmed after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge and begged for leniency.

“Temper justice with mercy, I am sorry for the crime,” Ahmed, who resides at Gwarimpa Village, Abuja, begged.

The judge, however, gave the convict an option to pay N10, 000 as fine, and warned him to desist from committing crimes.

He said that the warning became necessary to serve as deterrent to other would be offenders.

Sadiq also ordered him to pay N20,000 to the nominal complainant.

The Prosecutor, Zannah Dalhatu, had told the court that Chukwubike Chukwudi of Works and Housing Estate, Gwarimpa, reported the matter to the Gwarimpa Police Station on Oct. 18.

Dalhatu said the complainant said that the convict approached Chukwudi with a broken bottle along works and housing Gwarimpa Estate.

He said as a result of the conflict, Chukwudi sustained deep cut on his head and right hand finger.

The prosecutor also told the court that complainant was rushed to the Gwarimpa General Hospital where he spent N50,000 for medical treatment.

He said Ahmed confessed to have committed the crime during police investigation.

He said the offence contravened Section 247 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
NHM/DUA/OFN
Edited by Dada Ahmed//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-HG-5
Commendation
Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has
commended a US-based Nigerian surgeon, Dr Oluyinka Olutoye, who successfully removed tumour from a baby
in her mother’s womb.

In a statement in Abuja, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said that Nigerian Government and people were proud of Olutoye.

The statement was signed by Dabiri-Erewa’s Media Assistant, Mr Abdurrahman Balogun, on Tuesday.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that Olutoye and his partner, Dr Darrell Cass of the Texas Children’s Hospital, carried out the operation on a 23-week-old foetus in U.S.

“The baby, Lynlee Hope, who suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma, was removed from her mother’s womb, operated on, and returned to the womb.

“The baby got healed and continued to grow until she was finally delivered at 36 weeks.’’

She stated that Buhari received the news of Dr Olutoye’s feat with excitement and fulfilment and was looking forward to meeting him.

The special assistant commended Nigerians in the Diaspora for their roles in projecting Nigeria’s good image.

According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora are a huge potential, playing greater role in all sectors.

 “Nigerians are a great people, making greater positive impacts in all fields of human endeavour in the Diaspora.

 Dr Olutoye’s feat is one of such testimonies”, she said.

Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigeria was working on a national Diaspora policy guideline geared toward regulating all engagements with all Nigerians in the Diaspora.

According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora are of much importance to the growth and development of the country.

She appealed to other Nigerians in the Diaspora to do their best to give Nigeria a positive image.

Dabiri-Erewa said that Buhari was determined to enhance the welfare of all Nigerians at home and abroad, and remained committed to tackling insecurity, corruption and economic problems.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olutoye is a co-Director of the Texas Children’s Fetal Center, and fetal surgery team member, as well as a general paediatric surgeon.

He has specialised clinical expertise in fetal and neonatal surgery, with specific interest in congenital diaphragmatic
hernia and complex wounds.

Olutoye received his medical degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1988 and PhD in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, U.S., in 1996.

He is a member of the International Fetal Medicine and
Surgery Society and a Fellow of the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons.

He is also a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons (NAN)

IAA/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-44
NECO
By Doris Esa
Abuja, Nov.1, 2016 (NAN) The National Industrial Court has adjourned the suit against the National Examination Council (NECO) till Feb.22, 2017.

Dr Onyemachi Augustine sued NECO and joined its Registrar as co-respondent for alleged unpaid entitlements.

The claimant said the special emoluments and entitlements accrued to him when he worked as Special Assistant to the Registrar of NECO.

The judge, Justice Isele Esele, adjourned the case after claimant’s counsel, Mr Mohamned Ndamitso, prayed for extension of time to respond to defendant’s statement of defence.

“If there is no counter affidavit from the defendants, then I urged my Lord to grant our application,” he said.

The respondent’s counsel, Mr M.Kepmi, did not oppose the application.

The claimant is praying the court to order NECO to pay him his special packages during the period he worked as special assistant to the registrar. (NAN)
ORD/DUA/OFN

NAN-H-43

Pension

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) Sokoto State Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Buhari Kware says the State Government spends about N1.2 billion every month on the payment of pension to retirees in the state.

Kware made this known to newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto during a ministerial news briefing.

As part of the initiatives to enhance  welfare of retirees, the government had disbursed N2.6 billion for the payment of outstanding gratuities of 1,901 workers, who retired between 2009 and 2015, he said.

The head of service emphasised the state government commitment to regular payment of monthly pension to retired civil servants.

He said that various achievements were made by the office of the Head of Civil Service under the two departments of Administration and General Services, and Department of Establishment and Pension Matters.

According to Kware, the government has spent about N 61.7 million to sponsor some indigenes of the state to further their education through the establishment and pension department. (NAN)

MNB/ASS/MO/

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Edited by Morayo Omolade

FMC Paupers Fund settles medical bills of 130 patients in Adamawa

NAN-HG-6

Fund

Yola, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 130 patients have benefited from the Paupers Fund Committee set up by the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola, to assist needy patients in the past one year.

The Chairman of the fund, Alhaji Sulaiman Abdullahi, made this known Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

Abdullahi said that the fund, which relied on donations from groups and individuals, to assist patients has so far generated N11.5 million.

He said that patients were assisted in areas of paying for their surgeries, tests and drugs, adding that before a patient qualified for support, such patient had to be recommended to the committee by the hospital’s social welfare unit.

The chairman lauded staff of FMC who, he said, had through their unions fixed certain amount which they contributed to the fund monthly.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on organisations and individuals to contribute to the fund so that we can assist patients in need particularly those from insurgency affected areas,” Abdullahi said.

While commending the media in the state for its enlightenment support, Abdullahi assured the public that members of the fund’s committee would continue do their best in ensuring judicious use of donations for the benefit of patients who could not foot their medical bills. (NAN)
YMU/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-22
Re-orientation
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Nov.1, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Mohammed Shittu, Global Vice-President of the International Association for Community Development, has called for the re-orientation of students and lecturers from being certificate-driven.
Shittu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin, said that students were more concerned about acquiring certificates and not being skilful and competent.
“We are suffering from diploma disease, which means an orientation by which most teachers and students are only concerned about certificates.
“They are not concerned about becoming competent, skilful and getting the knowledge and attitudes to become functional, in an organised society.
“We need a new orientation in terms of learning and teaching strategies, in view of our vision for change.
“We have to refocus our thoughts and actions in becoming competency-based training outlets.
“We should be a training institution that builds competency among our learners, not just to make them certificate-driven in their thoughts and actions,’’ Shittu said.
The professor, also the President of the Institute of Community Development in Nigeria, said the rush for certificate was the reason for the high rate of examination malpractice.
“It is not only students that are guilty of this but teachers; too, who teach without a programme to make the learner learns to understand the knowledge.
“Teachers are only concerned about students writing examinations and leaving at the end of the session.
“The system is in shambles at all levels; and that explains why people engage in examination malpractice, to get whatever they want.
“But if it is not certificate-driven, examination malpractice will not be attractive,’’ Shittu said. (NAN)
BAY/FLP/PAD
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye, controlled by Peter Dada

NAN-HG-3
Child-Spacing
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Nov.1, 2016 (NAN) A gynaecologist, Dr Zubairu Usman, on Tuesday urged Nigerian leaders to have the political will to promote child-spacing to curb maternal mortality.

Usman, who works at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said that maternal mortality rate in the country was quite alarming compared to other developing countries.

“Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio is about 800 per 100,000 life-births.

“This is of course, very high compared to some developing nations with less than 100 per 100,000.

“This is unacceptable; something needs to be done to save the lives of our women, hence, the need for political will by our leaders.

“This is a serious matter and of great importance.

“Measures need to be put in place to bring down the level of maternal mortality in our country,’’ the expert said.

Usman listed some advantages of child-spacing as: “it provides woman the chance to recover sufficiently before she gets pregnant again.

“This is because, when a woman gets pregnant and delivers, she loses body nutrients that need to be built up; and of course, she needs enough time to rest.

“The resting period will enable her to regain these nutrients to carry the next pregnancy successfully.

“It will also give the couple time to plan financially and ample time to bond with the child.’’

He said that pregnancy-related problems contributed to the main causes of maternal mortality.

According to him, these include unsafe abortion of unwanted pregnancies, even among the married couples.

“Others are excessive bleeding after delivery, eclampsia, infection after delivery or after an abortion, complication after pregnancy and women who have several deliveries.

“There are certain women who have certain medical conditions that require them not to take-in frequently.

“These women include the hypertensive, diabetic and those with sickle cell anaemia; they are required to have wider resting period.

“In addition, some women who had Caesarean Section are advised to have a degree of spacing before their next pregnancy and delivery,’’ he said. (NAN)
KLM/VIV/GOK
Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye
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NAN-H-41
Theft
By Nana Musa
Abuja, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday admitted a 19-year-old security guard, Peter Gwaza, to bail in the sum of N500, 000 for alleged theft.

The Area Court judge, Alhaj Abubakar Sadiq, ordered the defendant to produce a surety in the like sum.

Sadiq said that the surety must be a civil servant of grade level  07 and above, and adjourned the case till Nov. 10 for hearing.

Gwaza, who resides at Daki Biyu, Abuja, was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft.

The Prosecutor, Zannah Dalhatu, told the court that Juliet Okpomwa of Jerry Gana Str., Utako, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on Oct. 6.

Dalhatu said the complainant reported that the defendant was her security guard at her building site at Daki Biyu.

He said she went to the site to pay his salary, the complainant discovered that the security guard had allegedly stolen and sold some building materials, all valued N8.5 million.

Dalhatu said during police investigation, the accused confessed he sold the materials to a scavenger for N17,000.

He said all effort to recover the materials proved abortive.

Dalhatu said that the offence contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
NHM/ORO/OFN
Edited by Razak Owolabi//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-AE-9
Visit
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Nov. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Senate said on Tuesday that it would enact enabling laws to boost the agriculture sector and promote  food sufficiency.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Sen. Adamu Abdulahi, said this during a visit of the committee to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Abdulahi said the committee was committed to learning lessons from the initiatives of   IITA, adding that  it would work for the improvement of research institutes in the country headed by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.

This, he said, would impact on the lives of the people and achieve the intention of the Federal Government in promoting the agriculture sector.

The committee chairman said that the Federal Government and the senate were committed to diversifying the economy through agriculture.

“The senate would try as much as possible to improve on the law that established the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria and entrench best practices to meet the country’s need,’’ he said.

Abdulahi also expressed the willingness of the senate to address IITA’s challenges to enable it  attain success.

The Director-General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, commended the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring food sufficiency in the country.

Sanginga urged the Federal Government to inject more funds into research institutes, saying they were poorly funded.

The IITA boss said that there was no need to help stronger institutions like IITA when other sister institutions were not properly funded.

He added that it was only when all institutions were strengthened that Nigeria could address the problem of food insecurity.

Sanginga further urged the senate and the Federal Government to facilitate linkages between IITA and other similar institutions in the country.

He commended the senate and government for their commitment in supporting 1,000 out of the 27,000 youths in IITA’s Agribusiness Programme. (NAN)
SYS/COF/OJO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Mufutau Ojo)