Blog

NAN-HE-18

Forex

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Friday said that 30 per cent of the country’s demand for foreign exchange was for fuel importation.

Adeosun stated this in Lagos at the launch of “FirstGem” , a product of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., aimed at empowering women through wealth creation.

She said that government was working very hard to transform the country from consumption driven to investment driven nation.

Adeosun said that it was disheartening that Nigeria exports crude oil and imports petroleum.

“We lose a lot of money exporting unprocessed raw materials. We don’t have the power to process and that’s why we need to build infrastructure to export processed products in order to earn more foreign exchange,” she said.

She said that the Federal Government was committed at rebuilding the country’s infrastructure to boost local production for job creation.

“If we have an enabling infrastructure such as power, roads , among others, cost of doing business in Nigeria will reduce drastically,” Adeosun stated.

She said that government would continue to improve the country’s competitiveness through the provision of basic amenities.

The finance minister said that funds borrowed by the government would be tied to capital projects to boost infrastructure development.

She stated that government revenue had reduced due to drop in the price of oil at the global market.

“Its a difficult time but we will get out of it. We will survive and get better. Nigeria is tough but we are very resilient,” Adeosun said.

Speaking on the FirstGem product, Adeosun said that women were very critical to the country’s development.

She said that women needed to be financially independent as they represent 52 per cent of the country’s population, adding that, 70 per cent SMEs operators were women.

The minister, who commended the bank for introducing the product noted that FirstGem would help women to show track record of success that would make banks to offer them funds to grow their businesses.

Adeosun stated that women must learn to save and stick with their budget in order to prepare for tough times, noting that, women must not spend all their monies on consumables.

“Women have to open their eyes, your children are not your pension because it doesn’t work any more,” she added.

Also speaking, the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, who was the special guest of honour, commended the bank for the product aimed at empowering women.

Osinbajo urged women to take advantage of the product and empower themselves, noting that, recession had opened up a lot of opportunities that were yet to be tapped.

Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., said that the product was  introduced to support and make women more financially responsible to be good entrepreneurs.

She added that the given country was going through tough times and women needed to wake up in order to support their families.

“We want to ensure that women stand on their own when the need arises, its time for the women to wake up and must not be a liability.

We want to use the product to challenge the mind of women to save and have the capacity to stand on their own,” Awosika said.

Mr Adesola Adeduntan, FBN Chief Executive Officer, said the significant role of women in economic development was not debatable

Adeduntan said that FirstGem was initiated in order to empower more women to contribute their quota to economic development.

“When women thrive the whole society benefits because there will be sustainable growth,” he added. (NAN)
JNC/YAZ

NAN-DS-9
Dialogue
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Friday called on aggrieved militants in the Niger Delta to dialogue with the Federal Government to end the current economic recession in the country.

Abubakar made the call while inaugurating new accommodation blocks for officers and men at the 97 Special Operations Group (SOG), Nigerian Air Force, in Port Harcourt.

He said that militant attacks on oil and gas installations not only affected the nation’s economy but has also further degraded the environment.

“The Federal government on several occasions has expressed its willingness and has matched words with action to dialogue with agitators in the Niger Delta.

“Militants should heed to this call and stop vandalising pipelines because their actions have not only polluted the environment but has left serious negative impact on the nation’s economy.

“If they fail to embrace peace, then we will do everything humanly possible to protect lives and ensure peace.

“This is because the constitution has given us mandate to protect our people and the territorial integrity of the country,” he said.

Abubakar said that NAF had prioritised training and retraining of its personnel to enable troops to meet current security challenges confronting the nation.

He said that about 700 officers and men were sent abroad in 2016 to enable them acquire more knowledge for efficient service to the country.

The Air force chief said that NAF was currently pursuing aggressive policy which sought to provide functional accommodation and ancillary infrastructure for its personnel across the country.

“The result of this policy is the completion of a block of 18 two bedroom flats for senior non-commissioned officers and another block of 10 one bedroom flats for men funded by 97 SOG.

“This policy will be a morale booster for our troops especially with increased deployment of more personnel to units due to our involvement in counter insurgency and other operations across the country,” he said.

Abubakar said that more accommodation blocks would be built across the air force formations and assured that old facilities would be improved and maintained. (NAN)
DES/AMY/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-HE-16
Shares
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Lagos, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday moved a turnover of 148.45 million shares worth N1.08 billion exchanged by investors in 2,073 deals, a decrease of 4.59 per cent.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was against the 155.59 million shares valued at N1.76 billion traded in 2,648 deals on Thursday.

NAN reports that Fidelity Bank was the toast of investors, having accounted for 20.37 million shares worth N17.49 million.

It was trailed by Transcorp with a turnover of 17. 80 million shares worth N17.79 million, while Access Bank sold 15.49 million shares valued at N87.76 million.

FCMB Group accounted for 14.79 million shares worth N16.06 million and Skye Bank transacted 14.78 million valued at N8.96 million.

Also, the NSE market indices appreciated further by 0.21 per cent with the All-Share Index improving by 57.43 points to close at 27,294.21 compared with 27,236.78 posted on Thursday.

The market capitalisation increased by N20 billion or 0.21 per cent to close at N9.375 trillion against N9.355 trillion achieved on Thursday.

NAN also reports that Total led the gainers’ table with a gain of N10.27 to close at N329.99 per share.

Seplat followed with N5 to close at N380, while Forte Oil garnered N2.57 to close at N120.02 per share.

Presco rose by N1.55 to close at N43.85 and Lafarge Africa improved by N1.38 to close at N50 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle topped the losers’ chart, dropping N6.95 to close at N791 per share.

7Up lost N1.10 to close at N158.80 and Dangote Sugar dipped 25k to close at N6.25 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank dropped by 15k to close at N23.85 and Glaxosmithkline lost 11k to close at N14.92 per share. (NAN)
JNC/AK/YAZ
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Yusuf Zango

Fadama III AF can take Nigeria out of recession – Coordinator

NAN-AE-13
Fadama
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Fadama III, Addition Financing (AF)`s project can take Nigeria out of economic recession due to the successes and achievements recorded in almost 26 states of the nation.

Mr Tayo Adewumi, the National Coordinator of the Programme, stated this at the pre-mission meeting held with its stakeholders in Abuja on Friday.

“The success recorded in the last mission and the challenges we have tackled show that agriculture will take the country out of the recession and increase the nation`s food security.

“The programme started with six states due to the successful participation of these states and we have proceeded to almost 27 states.

“Most of the Action Plan we agreed on in the last mission has been tackled and one billion naira has been disbursed this week to participating states, “ he said.

Adewumi added that the project’s teams are going on inspection on Sunday to check the achievements, challenges and how to make progress on the project.

“Some groups are going to Kano, Niger, Kogi and Sokoto while other teams are going to Enugu, Anambra, Lagos and Ogun States.

“We have the target to produce maximally across the value chain, production, processing marketing and storage and some of the states are doing well.

“The programme also has special project for North East region to support their livelihood and promote agriculture in that region to reduce the poverty and increase agricultural production, “ he said.

NAN reports that Fadama support clusters of farmers in selected states with comparative advantage and high potential to increase production and productivity of cassava, rice, sorghum and horticulture value chains.

Adewumi said, “the project has granted the request of some states that have capacity show in their performances and readiness to add another value chain the existing one.

“For economic diversification to agriculture to be achieved, we give room to the states to handle any other value chain of their choice.

“We also trained their facilitators, smart farmers and give them laptops to make the implementation of the project easy for them and to step down the training to our farmers in the field. “

Dr Adetunji Oredipe, World Bank Task Team Leader, thanked the national coordinator for the success recorded in the project.

“The achievements of the project and the way the states performed had shown that the country will soon be food sufficient.

“When we are food sufficient, every citizen will have food to eat, their income will increase and it will increase our foreign exchange as a country, “ he said.

Oredipe urged the teams to take their time to relate with the farmers on the field, so that the bank would know their challenges and how to deal with them.

He also charged the Fadama office to always monitor the money disbursed to the states for effective ultilisation and accessibility to the farmers.

NAN reports that Fadama is a Hausa name for irrigable land, usually low-lying plains underlay by shallow aquifers found along Nigeria´s major river systems.

Such lands are especially suitable for plant, fishing and livestock production.  (NAN)
ROK/MOL/AFA
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide
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Excessive mosquito coils dangerous, expert warns

NAN-HG-7
Coils
Kano, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Hajiya Hauwa Zubairu, a health worker at Kawaji Primary Health Centre in Kano State, has cautioned Nigerians against the excessive use of mosquito coils in rooms at night while sleeping.

She gave the warning during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.

She added that mosquito coil was harmful to human health and could result to death.

The expert said many households used mosquito coils because it is cheaper and lasts longer instead of using insecticides or other liquid insect repellents.

“Burning mosquito coils indoors generates smoke that can control mosquitoes effectively.

“But the smoke that comes out of it is risky and can kill a person easily.

“People prefer buying mosquito coils but they don’t know the dangers associated to it,’’ she said.

She said besides the health hazards, a N15 worth of mosquito coil could also destroy a whole house.

“I know of a family which lost all their belongings and almost their little daughter due to fire outbreak which was caused by mosquito coil,’’ she said.

She advised people to as much as possible avoid the use of mosquito coils in view of the inherent dangers associated to its uses.

“I am not saying people should not use mosquito coils again or completely, but they should minimise the level they use it and be careful on how they use it as well.

“Even if they want to use it, it should at least be a little bit far from them so as not to inhale the smoke oozing out from the coils,’’ she said. (NAN)

BO/FF/MST

Edited by Fela Fashoro/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Seek urgent medical help if internal heat persist – Doctor advises

NAN-HG-6

Heat

By Chinenye Offor

Abuja, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Dr Okezie Emenike, an Abuja based medical practitioner, has advised patients with persistent internal heat to seek urgent medical help.

Emenike told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that the condition could be as a result of underlying health conditions.

He described internal heat as a situation where a patient feels heat sensation all over the body or in a specific area of the body.

According to him, the heat can start from any part of the body such as the chest, stomach and throat, among others.

He noted that at times some patients may experience hotness from inside but have a normal temperature outside the body.

“Some patients feel intense heat inside the body which can cause excessive sweating while others will feel hot inside without sweating.

“Internal heat occurs irrespective of the environmental conditions and at times can be accompanied by headaches, tiredness and rapid heartbeat,’’ the expert said.

Emenike, however, identified certain drugs and stimulants such as cocaine, among others, as causative factors to internal heat.

He also attributed dehydration, ulcer, high blood pressure, insomnia, neurological disorders and infections as factors that predispose a person to the condition.

The medical doctor further said that emotional problems, excessive exercise, inappropriate clothing as well as malaria could cause the condition in some people.

He also blamed hot spicy foods, oil and fried foods, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol, caffeine and foods rich in sodium as causative factors to internal heat.

Emenike therefore said that identifying the root cause of internal heat should be key in treating it.

He urged patients suffering from the condition to drink lots of water in order to treat the condition if caused by dehydration.

He then advised patients with the condition to quit smoking and other harmful practices in order to avoid health complications. (NAN)

CSO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Expert cautions against consumption of adulterated honey

NAN-HG-5
Honey
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Dr Arikawe Adeolu, a Medical Practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, has cautioned Nigerians against consuming adulterated honey.

Adeolu who raised concern over the sales of the product in the country, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that consuming adulterated honey was hazardous to health.

He decried the nonchalant attitude of most consumers of the product in ensuring the source of honey is ascertained thereby exposing themselves to possible health complications.

“The purity of the source of honey is something that continues to be of great concern to the medical community.

“It is often difficult to get pure honey because many sellers of the product tend to mix it up with other substances and sell to people.

“This is one risk people tend to expose themselves to, especially if they cannot guarantee the source of the honey.

“Honey is a very good natural product and in its pure form have a lot of properties including anti microbial properties that has the ability to kill disease causing organisms.

“The scientifically proven usage of honey is for outside the body to treat infected wounds.

“If there are wounds that have failed to heal, honey helps to heal such because it kills off any organism that has infected the wound and helps local growth of normal tissue.

“Honey is very acidic and contains hydrogen peroxide which is very toxic to micro organisms. This is why it is able to kill off whatever organism has infected the wound leading to better healing.

“It is very important to note that only honey that is pure and unadulterated can give all this desired effects and more,” Adeolu said.

He said that although honey has been proven to have good healing abilities in the human body it could have adverse effects on the body when used excessively.

Adeolu advised against giving children under the age of one year honey as it could put the child at high risk of developing ‘Botulism.

According to him, botulism is a situation whereby a toxin produced by a bacteria which is in honey causes classic paralysis of the baby.

He said that this prevents the baby from being able to control his or her muscles, limbs and obstructs breathing because the child would be unable to control the muscle responsible for respiration.

“We do not recommend that you give honey no matter how pure you think it is to any child below the age of one,” he said. (NAN)

KRY/EAL/MST
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

President Buhari marries off daughter, Fatima

NAN-H-70
Marriage
Daura (Katsina), Oct. 28, 2016(NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari formally married off his daughter, Fatima, to Malam Yau Gimba Kumo on Friday in Daura, his home town.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the wedding took place at the president’s residence on Mai’adua road, Daura at about 2.40 p.m.

The groom, who was a former Managing Director of Mortgage Bank, paid N100,000 as the bride price.

The marriage was contracted in accordance with Islamic injunctions and was attended by top Federal and States’ Government officials.

They included the governors of Gombe, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, and his counterpart from Bauchi, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar.

The Ministers of Interior, Mr Abdurrahman Dambazau; Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Controller-General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, and Director-General, Department of State Service, Mr Lawal Musa Daura, also graced the occasion.

Others were Senators Mustapha Bukar (Katsina North); Ahmed Sani from Zamfara and Danjuma Goje from Gombe state.

NAN reports that guests had unhindered access to the president’s residence, venue of the marriage, in spite the heavy presence of security personnel.

However, only few prominent personnel had access to the main sitting room where the wedding took place.

NAN also reports that praise singers and drummers were not left out of the ceremony as they added glamour to the event. (NAN)
ZI/SUD/JEY/MST
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Gov. Jibrillah calls for more women participation in politics

NAN-HG-11
Politics
Yola, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Muhammadu Jibrillah of Adamawa has called on political parties to review their party constitution to enable more women participate in politics.

Jibrillah, represented by Ahmed Sajoh, the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, made the call on Friday in Yola during a stakeholders’ meeting with various women groups.

He said that to get women actively involved in politics, there was the need for political parties to review their party constitution and make it more gender friendly.

The governor said giving women free nomination forms to contest for political offices was not enough.

“ Giving women free nomination forms has not helped women engagement in politics.

” Political parties in the country should address the low level participation of women in governance by reviewing the guidelines of their constitution to make it gender sensitive.”

Ms Halima Abubakar, the Programme Manager, Women in Politics, Adamawa chapter, explained that the idea of giving women free nomination forms has not helped women who have contested for political offices.

She said: “One of our major findings is that party nomination process does not favour women.

“Most parties give their women free forms even though the forms look free at the surface, they have to still pay a lot of taxes and levies.

“The fact that women have been giving free nomination forms makes the men think the women are not deserving of the positions. So they are pushed out at the primary level.” (NAN)
AMA/BOLA/OU
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Obike Ukoh

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Zero Hunger: Coordinator urges farmers to embrace modern farming

NAN-AE-12
Sensitisation
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN) Dr Tunde Arosanyin, the National Coordinator, Zero Hunger Nigeria Commodity Association, has advised farmers to embrace organic farming in the production of consumable foods such as vegetables and fruits.
Arosanyin gave the advice in Ilorin on Friday during the Zero Hunger Nigeria Commodity Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Training Programme on Modern System of Farming.
The national coordinator asserted that organic farming had proved to be the best system of farming as a result of research that linked some cases of cancer to agro-chemicals.
He explained that organic farming was highly cost-effective and safe for farmer, claiming that the produce from the farming sells above products of inorganic in advanced nations of the world.
The former Kogi Chairman, All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), claimed that most of the chemicals used in inorganic farming had side effects in humans.
Arosanyin, who introduced the farmers at the forum to Agric-Zyme products, stated that the agro-company had partnered Zero Hunger Nigeria to ensure poverty is eradicated in the land through bumper harvest.
Speaking on “Food and Cash Crop Production: The Economic Values and Utilisation, “ Arosanyin expressed regret that Nigeria had allowed her population to be growing faster than her food production.
This, he said, was different from the practice in the 1970`s when a farmer could feed more than his family members because of abundance of food.
He stated that the huge amount spent annually on food importation was not acceptable to the country`s agricultural development.
“It is worrisome that more than half of the food items we consume in the country today come through importation.
“Whereas a country that imports food cannot said to be a sovereign nation.
“Nigeria is the highest producer of cassava in the world today, yet we cannot get what Brazil is getting from cassava sales, “ he said.
He identified decrease in farming population to neglect of agriculture by youths and the attendant increase in food prices in the country.
He stressed the need for farming to be made attractive to youths so as to increase the farming population in the country.
“Modern tools must be provided alongside other technology that can make farming attractive and profitable.
“Credit facilities in form of input supply from government to farmers through organised farmers’ association like commodity association and cooperatives should be introduced.
“Also, government must provide market for farm products at farm gate with a good profit margin, “ he said.
He, however, appealed to farmers to make good use of all government facilities and services so as to guarantee continuity of revolving loans. (NAN)
AUO/MOL/AFA
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide
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