Blog

NAN-H-70
Meeting
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 200 policymakers and public health experts from West Africa and around the world will converge on Dakar, Senegal, to address emerging health threats using the “One Health’’ approach.

“One Health’’ is a way of designing health systems and services that looks at the health of humans, animals and their environments collectively.

The facilitators of the event said in a statement  made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the meeting would hold from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11.

The statement explained that an estimated 75 per cent of infectious diseases that have emerged over the past decade had been caused by pathogens that spread to people from animals or animal products.

“Trends like globalisation, urbanisation and climate change make it easy for these zoonotic diseases to transfer to humans and spread quickly around the world.

“The recent Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa is a prime example of this.

“A single case of the virus in a remote village, likely contracted through an infected animal, ultimately spread between more than 28,000 people.

“The spread also reached urban capital cities of six West African countries, namely Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.’’

According to the statement, West Africa currently faces outbreaks of other zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza in poultry in Nigeria and Rift Valley Fever in Niger.

It said that other public health threats included the appearance of Zika virus in Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau.

At the upcoming West African Regional Conference on One Health, regional and global leaders will discuss strategies for predicting, preventing, detecting and responding to emerging health threats across the region.

This will be done by collectively addressing the health of people, animals and the environment.

“Ministers responsible for human health, animal health and wildlife from 17 West African countries will participate.

“The event will constitute of technical meetings involving health officials and technical personnel; they will focus on next steps for integrating One Health approaches into existing regional and country-level systems and programmes.

“At the Ministerial Meeting on the last day, attending ministers for human health, animal health and wildlife will put forth a communiqué to guide future action for the West African sub-region,’’ it said.

The event will be hosted by the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.

Other hosts include the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Regional Animal Health Center (RAHC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank and U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (NAN)
VIV/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

Recession will end soon, Buhari tells Nigerians to remain positive

NAN-H-80
Breakfast
By Bukola Adewumi
Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016(NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to always speak positively about the country in spite of the current economic recession, saying it will end soon.

Buhari made the call at the 7th National Prayer Breakfast organised by National Assembly with the theme: “A tree and its fruits: is yours a blessing or a curse to Nigeria,” on Thursday in Abuja.

The president was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal.

Buhari assured Nigerians that the recession would end very soon as the government is doing all within its power to restore the economy of the country.

“As Christians and political leaders, we must strive to be the light of the world by speaking positively concerning the state of the nation.

“These hard times we are in, require leaders who are aware of the situation to stand in the gap to see how to turn the situation around.

According to him, Christian leaders have forgotten to look at the positive side of issues and the opportunity it presents for the good of all.

“I have total faith that Nigeria will emerge from this crisis strong, united and prosperous, this will come to fruition in the lifetime of this government.

“Also as Christians and leaders we should all thank God for the opportunity to be key player in this time of economic meltdown,” Lawal admonished.

Rev. Abu Bako, in his keynote address, charged leaders to rise up and take responsibility of making Nigeria a blessed nation.

He said that Nigeria was founded upon water so that she can bear fruits and flourish, adding “we are all instruments of transformation and our role is to make Nigeria great.

Bako urged political and religious leaders to behave like persons who would not steal from the people’s wealth, but have the interest of the people at heart.

“Let us behave as God-fearing persons, who have the interest of its citizen and welfare at heart and not behave as politicians.

“We must be able to take Nigeria to a place of her destiny by praying for clarity of vision for our leaders who are leading us,” Bako stressed.

He urged Nigerians to be instruments of transformation and be carriers of blessing where ever they go by speaking positively.

“When the nation seeks God’s face then the Lord will heal our land,” he added.

According to him,  as a nation we have responsibility to build Nigeria and not to tear it down by our action, inaction and the words of mouth.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the atmosphere was eventful with inspirational songs from popular gospel artist Samsong, Jamaica and Lester Lewis who sang the national anthem with reggae tune. (NAN)
BOL/ACO/AFA
Edited by Oluleye Abiodun/Felix Ajide
===========================

Google urges Internet users to adopt safety measures to protect their business online
NAN-H-69
Safety
Lagos, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Google Country Manager, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, on Thursday advised organisations and internet users to adopt safety measures to guide and protect their businesses online.

Ehimuan-Chiazor gave the advice during the 2016 Cyber Security Awareness Month celebration organised by the U.S Mission Nigeria, Public Affairs Section, in Lagos.

She spoke on the theme: “Thinking Mobile: The Next Cyber Security Frontier’’.

“The internet has a profound impact on people’s life as it is used to learn new trade, export content and culture.

“As more people come online, there is need for them to think about their security and protection online as hackers also thrive online.

“This calls for organisations to understand the basic online principles of how to secure themselves, their businesses and personal information,’’ the Google country manager said.

She said there was also need for internet users to be aware and be trained on the best practices online, which she said, required putting positive things upfront and removing dubious ones from people’s mind.

Ehimuan-Chiazor urged users to adopt some safety measures which would guide them online such as the use of antivirus and antimalware software that would protect the systems from malware.

She urged users to understand security options available online, be mindful of releasing personal information, not to connect to WiFi networks that were unsafe.

The country manager listed practising safe browsing, usage of the latest version of software in mobile phones and use of encryptions as safe practises.

She said that it was also better for internet users to log on to sites that were safe and could protect their information from hackers.

Ehimuan-Chiazor said users should be cautious of apps and ads that they downloaded into their phones, adding that some of them contained malware that hackers used.

“In Google, encryptions technology is used on products, so any ad transmitted online is locked and can only be unlocked by Google.

“Google also works with credible organisations that have legitimate ads, adding that hackers did not pay for ads and so could not upload any.
“For the ad to be uploaded in Google, it has to make sense, and add value to the end users,’’ she said. (NAN)
CAN/FON/COF/TA
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Edited by Olayinka Fadare/Tajudeen Atitebi (more…)

Court grants contractor N50,000 bail for alleged theft
NAN-H-78
Theft
By Ugochi Ugochukwu
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja on Thursday admitted a 30-year-old contractor, Eddy Uloke, to bail in the sum of N50,000 for alleged theft.

The Area Court judge, Abubakar Sadiq, in his ruling, held that the offences were bail able.

“The court has evaluated the applications and it is convinced that admitting the defendant to bail will not in any way hurt the prosecution,’’ he said.

Sadiq said that Uloke should produce a surety in like sum.

He said the surety must be at least a grade level five officer in the Federal Civil Service and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The court adjourned the case till June 1 for hearing.

Uloke of Angwan Gboko village, behind Aso Estate, Abuja, was arraigned on a three-count charge of theft.

The Prosecuting counsel, Mr Dalhatu Zannah, had informed the court that Kunle Olaleke of Block 3 Fiat 1 Idah Str., Area 10 Garki, Abuja, reported the matter at Maitama Police Station.

Zannah said that the complainant claim that some time in August 2015 Gbenga Opemuyi gave Uloke contract to instal an MA Iv on behalf of Darak Global International Limited.

He said that they entrusted some materials, two DSTV decoder, one boaster, one splinter 4 way, 2 splinter way, Adaptor, Strong remote, 4 cable fie remote, face plate funnel to the defendant.

The prosecutor said the materials worth N85,500 but Uloke stole them and converted them to his own use.

Zannah said the offences contravened sections 288 of the Penal Code.

Uloke, who resides at Mararaba in Nassarawa State, who was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft, however, pleaded not guilty.

The defendant could not meet his bail conditions and was remanded in Suleja Prison. (NAN)
UGO/OFN

NAN-H-64
BPP
By Doris Esa
Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) The National Industrial Court in Abuja has fixed Nov.24 for hearing of a case instituted by Mr Anthony Ikor against the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Ikor, a Director of Finance and Administration in BPP, is challenging the purported termination of his appointment through a letter dated Feb. 20, 2015.

The claimant prayed the court to declare his purported termination of service from BPP unlawful, null and void.

The aggrieved director is also seeking a declaration that his employment letter of April 8, 2010 from the bureau remains extant and subsisting.

The claimant further prayed the court to reinstate him and pay all his salaries, emoluments, allowances, bonuses and other benefits due to him from 2015.

At the resumed hearing, the trial could not go on because respondent’s counsel, Mr Godwin Iyinbor, said that he had a statement of defence to file.

Counsel to the claimant, Mr Obinna Omeh, did not oppose the motion.

Justice Isele Esele, subsequently, adjourned the case till Nov. 24 for hearing.(NAN)

ORD/MO/TA

Edited by Morayo Omolade/Tajudeen Atitebi€%%<_

Court jails labourer 2 months for theft

NAN-H-77
Trespass
By Nana Musa
Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) A Grade 1 Area Court in Karmo, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old labourer, Ajiya Solomon, to two months in prison for criminal trespass and theft.

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

“Temper justice with mercy, times are hard; I am sorry for my crime,’’ Solomon said.

an option to pay N10,000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes.

Sadiq also ordered him to pay N25,000 to the nominal complainant.

The Prosecutor, Zannah Dalhatu, had told the court that Akpe Alice of Gwarimpa Village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Gwarimpa Police Station on Oct. 22.

Dalhatu said the complainant said that on Oct. 21, while she was in her shop with her sister, Mary Akpe, the convict criminally entered their shop and stole one Infinix mobile phone and a blackberry phone.

He also told the court that the phones were valued N59,000 and N25,000, respectively.

He said that during police investigation, Solomon confessed to committing the crime and that the Infinix phone was recovered but the blackberry was not recovered.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 384 and 288 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
NHM/HAS/OFN
Edited By Hajia Sani//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-AE-5
Debt
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has recovered about N1.1 billion out of N9 billion owed it by FCT residents and organisations as waste management bills.

Mr Dare Oguntunbo, Assistant Director of Finance and Accounts of the board, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Oguntunbo said that the board was making efforts to ensure that the debt was recovered.

He said that the board had taken to court, residents and organisations owing it and had refused to pay.

According to him, whenever the board takes them to court, they will promise to comply and plead with the court to allow them to settle out of court.

“But at the end of the day, nothing positive will come out.

“Since the residents and the organisations are not complying, the board decided to present a report on that to the Minister, Mallam Mohammad Bello,’’ he said.

Oguntunbo said that based on the board’s complaint, the minister formed a Special Task Force on Recovering of Debt, on May 25 and saddled it with the responsibility to recover the N9 billion from the board`s debtors.

He said that the taskforce decided to take action by disconnecting the residents and organisation`s sewer service lines.

The assistant director commended the taskforce for efforts already made.

He urged residents and organisations owing the board to pay their bill to avoid further embarrassment. (NAN)
VOE/DUA/IGO
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(Edited by Dada Ahmed/Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-HE-25

Training

Jos, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) An NGO, APURIMAC ITALY Project says it has trained over 5, 000 youths and women in different vocational skills in Plateau in last the seven years.

Ms Ilaria Orlandi, the Project Manager, made the disclosure in Jos on Thursday during the official handing over of the project to St. Augustine Order.

“No fewer than 5, 000 persons have graduated in various vocational training skills in Jos North, Jos South, Mangu and Mikang local government areas in the last seven years.

“Our field verification shows that out of these 5, 000 graduates, more than 75 per cent are still not employed because they don’t have workshop, equipment and shops.

“The youths and women are the assets we have, therefore, we should make provision for them and create environment conducive for their productivity, ’’ she said.

The project manager said that APURIMAC ITALY and the European Union came at the picked of the crises in Plateau to see how they could help youths and women through vocational programmes.

Orlandi said the project also set up a Trauma Healing Care Centre at Katako in Jos where over 350 persons suffering physical, psychological and emotional trauma were treated and discharged.

According to her, about 80 inmates are still receiving treatment at the centre.

Orlandi said that he was optimistic that St. Augustine Order would keep the project going and even improve on it.

Responding, Rev. Fr. John Okoro, commended APURIMA ITALY and the EU for their immense contribution to save the lives of many youths and women in the state.

Okoro pledged to keep the flag of the project flying and even do more to affect positively the lives of the unemployed youths and women in Plateau.

Earleir, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr John Hirse, the District Head of Mangu, said the project had given hope to many youths in his domain.

Hirse advised the Augustine Order to work hard to achieve the desired results. (NAN)

TYC/MO/TA

Edited by Morayo Omolade/Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-45
PWDs

By Grace Alegba

Lagos, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Alaba Gbadebo, the Executive Director, Benola, a cerebral palsy initiative, has advised the Federal Government to pay more attention to the welfare of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs).

Gbadebo, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday, said that PWDs suffered a lot of discomfort because infrastructure development in the nation did not capture their needs.

She called for a legislation that would make sure that the Nigerian society is disability friendly.

Gbadebo, who is also a co-founder of the NGO, called for the implementation of laws that can protect the interest of the PWDS in order to reduce stress in their daily lives.

“Government should know that everybody is not the same, as some people have special needs.

“Hospitals, schools, banks, ATM points, public buildings must have some special arena, where people with wheel chairs can be made comfortable.

“Apart from that, all the medications of the seriously disabled children and adults should be free,” she said.

She implored the government to increase the employment quota for PWDS as well as those from poor backgrounds.

The co-founder also called on the government to place the caregivers of PWDs on allowances in line with global practices, so as to reduce stress on those involved.

“In the developed world, if you have a child with special needs or disability, everything for that child is free; you are even paid to look after the child.

‘’You are given wheel chairs and whatever the child needs,” she said.

Gbadebo said that Benola was established to bridge the gap and solve the problem of stigmatisation that could make some families to hide PWDs or even take their lives.

She also encouraged the parents of children with disabilities to ignore the social stigma on the PWDs and focus on how to groom the children for better opportunities ahead.

NAN recalls that the eighth Senate passed the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2016 in July, which provides safeguards against any discrimination that the PWDs may be subjected to.  (NAN)
GA/DUA/YEMI
Edited by Dada Ahmed

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-59
Withdrawal
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court,  Abuja, on Thursday withdrew from handling a case of terrorism filed by the Department of State Service (DSS).

The case is against one Haruna Abbas and two others.

Ademola said at the mentioning of the case that it would not be fair for him to continue with the case.

He announced that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment.

“The matter was here last on June 13, and it involves the DSS; I don’t want to handle any of its matters anymore.

“In the interest of fair hearing, I think I will move the file to another court because it will not be fair to me and to DSS.

“So, I will return the file to the chief judge to reassign.

“The case file is hereby returned to the chief judge for reassignment to another judge on personal grounds,” he said.

However, one of the accused, Abbas, prayed the judge not to withdraw from the case.   

Abbas said that he and his co-accused would prefer to be tried by Ademola.

NAN reports that Ademola on Oct. 18 withdrew from a case brought against a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, by the DSS. (NAN)
WS/HAS/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)