Blog

NAN-HG-1

Cancer

Bauchi, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Bauchi State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) plans to sponsor 100 women for free breast and cervical cancer screening, its Chairperson, Mrs Bulak Afsa, said on Wednesday.

Afsa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that the screening would be conducted in partnership with the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS) in the state.

She said that the women would undergo the screening at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, on Thursday.

“First, we will start by having a lecture on cancer from experts before we commence the screening.

“We are partnering with the NSC in Bauchi to screen 100 women and create more awareness on the deadly disease.

“NAWOJ will sponsor 50 while NCS will also sponsor 50 women.

“The actual amount for the screening is N2, 500, as such; we have decided to settle the financial implication with our partners.”

The chairperson said that the screening would further create awareness in the minds of women in the state on the dangers of cancer.

According to her, research has proven that Bauchi women have been diagnosed of having more of cervical cancer than breast cancer.

She commended the management of the Teaching Hospital for its support towards the success of the screening.

Health experts describe cancer as a serious disease caused by abnormal cells and can spread to one or many parts of the body.
(NAN)

AE/DUA/MZA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Maharazu Ahmed
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NAN-H-35
e-Procurement
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Mr Jide Awe, an Information Technology expert has said that introduction of e-procurement into contracts would standardise contract processes in the country and stem corruption in the system.

Awe, the Chairman, Conference Committee, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to him, e-procurement is relevant in combating corruption in the society and the country at large as it encourages openness.

“It is very relevant in combating corruption because procurement and contract awards are where lots of corruption exists.

“People are awarded contracts on the basis of friendship, family ties and who do you know and by the end of the day, the work is not done and money is taken out of the system.

“With e-procurement, contract awards become transparent, money is saved due to the fact that it helps in blocking leakages that aid corruption.

“It will help to standardise and automate the processes involved in contract awards as one of the benefits of e-procurement is transparency as it enhances access to information to the public on issues of work going on in their environment.

Awe said that it would also lead to collaboration of skills as people could now in combination with one another without fear of being duped due to the fact that most information they needed was online and open to public.

“There is more transparency as people can now download information, bid and not be disqualified because they know what to do, know when the process is starting and ending,” he said.

Awe said that to ensure that e-procurement had the desired impact; there was need for a monitoring mechanism.

“e-procurement is not an end in itself, there is need to ensure that the contract is monitored to get to its logical conclusion.

“We should ensure implementation of the contract and that it meets its specifications, so that people do not steal money meant for work.

“Training of all concerned including the public is important, this is to ensure that people have information easily and be able to investigate the progress of work,” Awe said.(NAN)
CAN/MO/AFA
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-9
Workers
Jalingo, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Taraba Government has retained as permanent workers, 83 adhoc staff of the State Broadcasting Service(TSBS) who have served for between five and 20 years.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Anthony Danburam, said in Jalingo on Wednesday that
the retained workers included presenters, artists, reporters and engineers.

Danburam spoke while inspecting digitisation equipment at the Taraba Television Station (TTV).

He said that the government would soon recruit additional 20 workers for the media house.

The commissioner said that the employment was part of the state government’s efforts to reposition media houses in the state to make them more result-oriented.

Danburam advised the staff members to render efficient services to justify their permanent appointments.
NB/IGO

(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-10
Health
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Oct. 26 2016 (NAN) The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said that there was need to address the issue of poverty to reduce the burden of ill health in the country.

The association said that poverty contributed to ill health which in turn aggravated and extended the poverty, thereby having adverse effects on the country’s health indices.

Dr Olubunmi Omojowolo, Chairman of the Lagos NMA, made the assertion at a news conference to mark the 2016 Annual Physicians Week at the state NMA Secretariat, Lagos.

The theme for this year’s programme is, “Healthcare in a Frail Economy: Challenges and Way Forward.’’

Omojowolo said that “this topic is very important, given the present economic downturn being experienced by our dear nation.

“The World Bank recognises the relationship between economic development and health.

“It also recognises that the poor health indices in most developing countries are as a result of entrapment in a vicious circle of unrelieved poverty.

“As we all know, the health of a nation is her wealth.

“Therefore, for our economy to recover and become more vibrant, we need to pay more attention to the health of the population and of course the health sector’’.

On the goals and challenges of effective healthcare delivery, Omojowolo said: “The goals of effective healthcare delivery are to prevent human diseases, injury and disability.

“As well as protect people from environmental health hazards.

“Effective healthcare delivery should also be able promote behaviours that lead to good physical and mental health, educate the public about health and assure availability of high quality health services.

“Unfortunately, achieving such lofty objectives has been extremely difficult in Nigeria as a result of a lot of challenges facing our health sector’’.

According to him, some of the challenges include poor facilities, dwindling human resource capacity, intra-professional rivalry, inequalities in healthcare access and cultural barriers.

“In a dwindling economy like ours, these challenges are bound to become more compounded and as such, a major concern due to pre-existing poor social and health indices in Nigeria.’’

He said that to improve on the poor health indices, healthcare policies must be inclusive of all socio-economic strata.

“There must be universal basic healthcare coverage and provision of health insurance to Nigerians, especially rural community dwellers.

“We must pay close attention to individuals with disabilities by having a comprehensive reform, while mental health issue must be at the front burner of our priorities,’’ he said.

Omojowolo urged the Federal Government to increase the country’s health budget to approach the 15 per cent as recommended by the World health Organisation.

He also said that the issue of inter-and intra- professional rivalry and incessant industrial action in the health sector should be addressed and resolved in a holistic manner.

On the leadership crisis within the Lagos NMA, he said it was under control.

“Justice Candide-Johnson granted an order restraining any other person or group other than the Omojowolo-led executives of Lagos NMA from parading themselves as officers of the association.

“This is in an originating summons with Suit No. ID/1322GCMW/2016, at the Lagos High court on Sept. 29.

“In the eight-page ruling delivered on Oct. 11, the court reiterated its earlier order.

“It also ruled that no other person or group of persons shall replace or substitute the Omojowolo-led executive, until such time when the substantive suit may have been disposed of,’’ he said. (NAN)
VIV/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-34

Fashola

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has given an assurance that the Federal Government would ensure a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

Fashola said this while speaking with a Swedish business delegation on ICT and Smart Cities who visited him in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the Swedish Minister of Trade and European Affairs, Ms Ann Linde.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation comprised experts in the Swedish financial sector, ICT, energy, transportation, telecommunication, health and agriculture.

Fashola said that  although government`s role in electricity generation was now regulatory and policy making, it was doing everything possible to ensure reliable electricity supply in the country.

He said that for Nigerians to feel the impact of Swedish investment in the country, the investors should think of establishing manufacturing and assembling plants in the country, saying that such investments were critical to getting the country out of its present recession.

Earlier, Linde said that Sweden was doing quite well  in urban transport, land use planning, digitisation, smart grids, solid waste management and sanitation, among others.

She said that Sweden’s experience showed that using ICT smart city and high-tech solutions in urban planning and other sectors could facilitate processes while ensuring transparency.

The Swedish Minister of Trade and European Affairs described Nigeria as a country that enjoys the advantage of abundant renewable energy resource such as solar, wind and biomass

She said that Swedish investors were poised to contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy by providing necessary infrastructure for economic activities.

“I am truly honoured to lead this Swedish business delegation and look forward to gaining new insights on how our countries can develop new and mutually beneficial ventures in future,’’ she said. (NAN)

EEM/DO/NKO

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Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-H-8
Election
By Cecilia Odey
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Democratic Peoples’ Congress (DPC) says it has started mobilising its members for the victory of its candidate, Dr Adeeyo Mathew, in the Nov.26 Governorship Election in Ondo State.
Its National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters Olusegun, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Peters said that the mobilisation was to create the desired impact in the electioneering process in the state.
He said that it was the desire of the party to form a government that would move the state to greater heights if elected.
The party national chairman, therefore, called on the people of the state to vote massively for Mathew.
He said that Mathew had been tested and confirmed to be a man of impeccable character with other enviable qualities and assured the people that DPC would govern the state effectively.
He said that the party had put in place measures to avoid recurrence of past mistakes.
Peters called on the INEC to ensure that the governorship election in Ondo would be devoid of electoral malpractices.
“We urge INEC to provide a level playing field for the political parties contesting in the election and ensure that card readers are used to avoid electoral malpractices.’’
Peters described DPC as a ‘’mass movement in the nation’s political tripod’’ and expressed the determination of the party to win the election.
“We enjoin the electorate in Ondo State to come out en masse and vote for DPC candidate and ensure that their votes count and counted in the overall results.
“It is time to build a strong democratic nation for future generations to be proud of.” (NAN)
COO/DUA/TA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Tajudeen Atitebi

Ooni warns against misrepresentation of African religions
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Festival
By Elusogbon Dorcas
Ile-Ife (Osun), Oct 26, 2016 (NAN) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has cautioned people to stop misrepresenting the importance of festivals and deities celebrated in the ancient city of Ile-Ife and all parts of Africa.

Ooni stated this when he spoke at the 2016 celebration of ORANFE, the god of fire in Ile-Ife, Osun, on Wednesday.

He expressed regrets that many people failed to promote the positive aspects of the Yoruba and African festivals due to slavish mentality and over-westernization.

The royal father said that no one was immune from worshipping the nature, adding that no human being could survive without what the deities represented.‎

“Our people really need to be enlightened, a lot of these festivals have been misconstrued, misrepresented and demonised as if we are idol worshippers. We are not idol worshippers. We are rather believers in nature. ‎

“I am not saying the commandments of God should not be adhered to, but we must know that all these deities are messengers of God.

“They represent nature. Nothing can be done without nature regardless of our religion be it Islam or Christianity or even traditional.

“We only honour nature because we are all integral part of it and do not worship idols. Some of the deities we worship have roots in the holy books.

“We are also following the instructions of God needed for the sustenance of mankind as everybody, including powerful leaders rely on nature to survive.” he said.
‎
He, however faulted the westernisation on the cultural belief of Africans in all part of the world, which he said, was a major factor responsible for the increasing poverty facing the immeasurably blessed continent.
‎
“Those who keep sensitising people against us that we are worshipping idols are not kind to history. I am proud to be associated with nature. Ife has 201 out the 401 deities and they are all relevant.‎

“These deities are divine messengers of God sent for different purposes. One of them is ORANFE, the god of fire being celebrated here today.

“It is a pity that all powers in the possession of black men are being used for battles and power tussles. It is from this unique powers that the west sourced technology and development from, and they are now using it against us.
‎
“We will continue to experience poverty all over the place if we don’t celebrate the good side of our culture.

“Some of these deities also show the mysteries of God, God wouldn’t have made mistake in the creation of the deities, they are representatives of sciences being taught in schools.

“It is very sad that the western world has messed up our psyche and inflicted slavish mentality on us making us to believe we are idol worshippers as our pitiable neglect of our own culture and traditions.

“This is a major factor responsible for the poverty in the land. We left the positive sides and allow the west to implant the negative side in our brain.”

The Ooni wrapped up his food-for-thought speech by warning politicians not to force themselves on the masses, advising that “our politicians should learn to leave once they are seen as naked fires”.
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Oranfe the god of fire is one of Yoruba’s 401 deities sent by God to establish the first world’s community called Ife Oodaye and as one of the historical festivals in Ile-Ife, ORANFE is celebrated annually. (NAN)
EDA/OFN

Animal bones are raw materials for industrial production – Agro-economist
NAN-AE-2
Bones
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) An Agriceconomist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Jadesola  Adebuga, has said different animal bones  are very rich in calcium and also useful for industrial production of ceramics.

Adebuga told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Wednesday animal bones as waste product had high industrial value.

“Animal bones, especially cow bones have been discovered and tested to be a robust source of calcium for fish and other aquatic animals. It is really helping them to survive and keep healthy.

“Aside that, the  poultry farmers are also using the powder form of the by-product to feed their chicken for the purpose of making them strong and healthy.

“Also, most of these ceramics companies are using the cow bones for the production of ceramics plates and tiles,’’ she said.

The  head  of an abattoir at Fakunle Area of Osogbo, Mr Lukman Olaadura, told NAN that buyers of
cow bones come for it from as far as Republic of Benin.

Olaadura said that the price of the cow bones was moderate and affordable, which according to him, continues to endear the people to the place.

He said, “people come to get the cow bones, in fact, people used to come from Cotonou (Benin Republic) because it is not that expensive here.

“We can sell everything we generate for the whole month for three thousand naira, you know it is also a good way of getting rid of our
refuse which we would have been spending money to dispose.”

Similarly, Dr Tolu Bewaji of the Department of Animal Science, Obafemi  Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,  said animal bones as a  by-product could be used  as a raw material in the production of ceramic plates which cost the country billions of naira to import every year.

“The usage of the animal bones  as a raw material has a dual advantages, aside the industrial benefit, it will go a long way to
reduce environmental  hazard, which could have threaten the ozone layer.

“I am enjoining the government  to take the issue of agro-allied industries seriously for the benefit of the real sector of the economy
and the agricultural sector as well,’’ Bewaji said.

Bewaji, however, disclosed that those who were using it to feed their fish and chicken were more than those who were using it to produce plates as at present. (NAN)
DOO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

APGA denies holding NWC meeting presided over by South-East vice-chairman

NAN-H-2
APGA

By Cecilia Odey
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Mr Ifeatu Obiokoye, the National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said the party never held National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, as claimed by Vice-Chairman, South-East zone, Mr Nwabueze Okafor.

Obiokoye, via a statement he issued on Wednesday in Abuja, said no such meeting held anywhere.

Okafor said on Monday that APGA’s NWC, held a meeting under his chairmanship, to ratify the purported suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Victor Oye.

“APGA wishes to assure members and well wishers of the great party that no such meeting of APGA NWC was ever held at anytime or in any place where such decision was ever taken.

“Besides, Okafor as a zonal vice-chairman of the party does not have the constitutional powers  to either convene or preside over a meeting of the NWC,’’  Obiokoye said.

He said that members of the NWC of APGA remained unquestionably committed to the resolution reached at the peace meeting convened at the instance of the national leader and chairman, Board of Trustees.

Obiokoye said the meeting was held on Oct. 13, under the chairmanship of Gov. Willie Obiano, which members of NWC collectively committed themselves to the continued growth of the party.

According to him, Dr Oye is the National Chairman of APGA, and that in the light of the recent development; the party’s NWC will convene an emergency meeting soon to address issues in the party. (NAN)
COO/OU/OU
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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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1. Taraba Commissioner for Environment addresses newsmen on the acute shortage of public toilets in the state.
2. Nasarawa State Commissioner for Finance meets Local Government Directors of Finance to discussion issues on Treasury Single Account.
3. Benue Commissioner for Trade and Investment addresses journalists on alleged illegal taxes in the markets in the state.
4. Enugu State Commissioner for Information briefs journalists in Enugu on the outcome of the weekly state executive council meeting.
5. National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment continues its 8th regular meeting in Abeokuta.
6. Ruling on the bail applications made by some of the accused in the alleged N8 billion CBN currency scam suit comes up at the Federal High Court, Ibadan.
7. Special memorial court session in honour of the late Justice John Ige holds at the State High Court, Ibadan.
8. Katsina State Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the administration of former Gov. Ibrahim Shema resumes sitting in Katsina.
9. NAF Games continue in Katsina.
10. Meeting of stakeholders on the need for peaceful coexistence in Katsina State begins in Malumfashi Local Government Area.
11. Federal Ministry of Interior Games continue in Kaduna.
12. The Federal High Court, Abuja continues hearing in a case of alleged money laundering, possession of firearms and violation of official secret act filed against former Chief of Air Staff, Umar Mohammed and others.
13. An FCT High Court continues hearing in a case of alleged violation of fundamental human rights filed by Ifeanyi Nwosu and another against the Nigeria Police.
14. FCT High Court continues hearing in the case of former Plateau Governor, Joshua Dariye, who allegedly diverted N1.16 billion ecological fund.
15. INEC electoral institute holds roundtable on smart card reader in Abuja.
16. Senate resumes plenary to consider a motion on inland container port in Onitsha and Enugu.