Blog

Guber aspirant promises to open up Nasarawa rural communities
By Awayi Kuje
Roads
Lafia, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Danladi Envulu-Anza, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, has pledged to open up rural through massive construction of roads, if given the mandate in 2019.
Envulu-Anza, the former Executive Secretary, National Judicial Commission (NJC), said this in Lafia when he visited members of the state House of Assembly.
“We all know that development comes through the road, and so I will embark on massive construction of roads so as to connect our rural communities,’’ he said.
The aspirant explained that his campaign train was in the assembly to seek for the member’s support in actualising his governorship ambition.
He promised to also prioritise issues of peace and security, education, economy and agriculture, among others.
He also said he would tackle unemployment and youth restiveness through massive job creation.
“Peace and security will be my topmost priority as no nation will achieve meaningful development without peace.
“I will also initiate good policies and programmes that will address youth unemployment thereby creating jobs for the youths and other citizens,’’ he said.
The gubernatorial aspirant lauded the cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive arm in the state, noting that it has impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state.
Responding, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House, commended the aspirant for considering the state lawmakers as critical stakeholders in the state project.
“We appreciate you and your campaign team for your coming to consult and seek our support in actualising your governorship ambition.
“Your records are clean and we are proud to have somebody like you.
“You have the zeal and the determination to serve the people of the state and we believe if given the mandate you will serve well,’’ he said. (NAN)
AKW/AZA/MST
Edited by Polycarp Auta/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Climate

By Abiemwense Moru

Abuja, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Rep. Samuel Onuigbo, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change said on Tuesday that  adequate and appropriate actions were needed from stakeholders to tackle climate change challenges in the country.

Onuigbo, who represents Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia in the National Assembly, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that deliberate efforts were also needed to ensure straight implementation of the responses.

• Cue in audio 1 (Onuigbo) 

“First, it is to ensure that adequate responses are put in or set aside for tackling climate change issues and that when these responses are put in or set aside, there must be a deliberate effort to ensure their straight implementation.

“Two, people should be taught, should be lectured on basic things they should do in trying to preserve the environment because some of the challenges we are having today such as flooding and others, are all functions of human activity.

“We must take action to save the environment; we must not linger carelessly; in all it is up to human beings – those who are occupying decision-making positions – to take action and preserve lives.”

• Cue out audio 1

The lawmaker stressed the need for neighboring countries to inform the Nigerian government before releasing water from their dams.

• Cue in audio 2 (Onuigbo)

“In a situation where you are talking about coastal flooding or flooding arising from River Niger or as a result of activities by neighboring countries, we should go into serious agreement with such neighboring countries so that whenever they want to open their dams, they must put us on notice.

“And then finally, the Bill on climate change has been passed by the National Assembly.

“So, we expect the Presidency to work on it and ensure that the president assents to it because you need a law to back you up in taking a lot of actions.

“Without the law, some actions cannot be taken.

“That will be my advice to Mr President on how to tackle the challenges of climate change especially as they relate to flooding.”

• Cue out audio 2. (NAN)

AMM/YEE

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Emmanuel Yashim

CSO calls for synergy in addressing challenges in power sector
Power
By Angela Atabo
Abuja Sept. 18, 2018(NAN)The Network of Nigeria Civil Society Organisations, a Non Governmental Organisation, on Tuesday advised stakeholders in the power sector to synergise towards addressing challenges in the sector.
The Director General of the group, Mr Agbonkpolor Splendour while addressing a news conference in Abuja said the collaboration was necessary because the challenges in the sector were hydra-headed.
Splendour identified pipeline and cable vandalism among others as some of the main causes of instability in power in the country.
“Effective power supply remains the fundamental bane of Nigeria’s development but light for us remains an imagination without the corresponding force to affect an end to the reign of beclouding the power sector.
“This is making it difficult for the sector to empower Nigerians to participate effectively in the 21st century global agenda even though we know that light determines the direction that development will go.
“Light for all will remain a life-time quest as long as the major infrastructures in this critical sector remain obsolete to fit into the global industrialisation demand.
“Effective power supply will remain a wish as long as it is a subject of politics rather than purpose and until we get the power sector right, nothing will be right ,’’ he said.
Splendour therefore called on all stakeholders to assist government to achieve a free infrastructure vandalism atmosphere with a view to having an enhanced and credible power sector.
He also urged government to find contemporary solutions to the challenges in the sector.
“We can’t keep using obsolete techniques of the 60s to run the sector in this modern time, it is time to step up to global best practice,’’ Splendour said.
He said if there was sufficient power supply, Nigerians would gladly pay for it and that way, revenue would be generated for the government and jobs would be created.
Splendour commended the Niger Delta Power Holding Company for the improvement in power supply in spite of numerous challenges and urged stakeholders not to relent in supporting the sector.
He said for the power sector to improve, all hands must be on deck adding that stakeholders had great role to play in ensuring the stability of the sector.(NAN)
ATAB/ABI
Edited by Ali Inuwa

NMA

By Mercy Osajiugo

Minna, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) The Niger chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), has advised the state government to improve the working environment of medical workers so as to keep them in service.

Dr. Abdullahi Jibril, its chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Minna that many health workers had left the service because the working environment was “very horrible”.

“A dirty and stinking working environment irritates medics; it deters them from putting in their best,” Jibril said.

He regretted that many quality health workers had been lost to other employers owing to such bad environment, saying that doctors and nurses get “psychologically down” when faced with “nauseating” working environment.

“Job satisfaction goes beyond salary; every worker needs a clean and well kept environment to thrive. This is lacking in Niger’s health institutions,” he said.

The NMA chief advised the state government to improve infrastructure in its medical centres so as to maximise the potential of its workers.

He said that a poor working environment was dangerous to both the medics and the patients, and called for a special attention to the dirty environment so as to save lives.

“The budgetary allocation to the heath sector by the Niger government is encouraging. What is lacking is effective implementation to boost heath care delivery,” he said. (NAN)

MNO/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Advice

By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Sept.18, 2018 (NAN) An NGO, the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), on Tuesday advised motorists, especially commercial drivers, to drive safely to avoid crashes during the `ember’ months.

Mr Paschal Achunine, the Executive Director, HEI, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Achunine said that HEI had helped to save no fewer than 500 accident and other emergency victims in Lagos State in the past 12 months.

He said that when drivers drive with caution, maintain normal speed limit and obey traffic rules, they would avoid casualties.

“HEI provides short-term emergency assistance to accident victims who cannot afford same or whose relatives are yet to be reached or contacted as soon as the accident happened.

“The aims and objectives of HEI is to provide quick, early and instant financial cover and assistance to indigent patients,’’ he said.

According to Achunine, the organisation also identifies and assists indigent patients including pregnant women to offset their medical bills after treatment.

The director said that the NGO used to take medical team to slums, rural and destitute communities.

He said this was to ensure they had free access to healthcare services at subsidised rates.

He said that the organization was also providing periodic health-related data to government agencies, bodies, donor groups and individuals.

He said that HEI was established by some kindhearted Nigerians to prevent avoidable deaths. (NAN)

AKA/COF/PAD
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Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Peter Dada

Term
By Awayi Kuje
Doma (Nasarawa State), Sept.18, 2018 (NAN) The Buhari Support Group says President Muhammadu Buhari deserves second term in 2019, considering his laudable achievements which impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians.

Malam Abdulkarim Mohammed, who is in charge of the group in Nasarawa State, made this known on Tuesday during President Buhari/Osinbajo Dress Code Victory rally.

The rally was organised by the group in Doma Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the group embarked on the rally in order to drum support for the re-election of President Buhari come 2019.

Mohammed, who is a former Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), recalled Buhari’s laudable achievements in the area of security, corruption, agriculture, youths and women empowerment, among others.

According to him, we are canvassing support for President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for continuity and sustained progress in fighting corruption and repositioning the country.

“The group is determined to return President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo come 2019 for good governance and speedy development of the country.

“We are commending the President Buhari’s administration for embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians,’’ Mohammed said.

He urged Nigerians to be prayerful and support President Buhari to enable him to succeed.

Mohammed called on Nigerians, especially the youth, not to allow selfish politicians to use them in fomenting troubles during and after the 2019 general elections.

He urged the people of the state and Nigerians to be law-abiding, respect constituted authorities, to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations. (NAN)
AKW/AJA
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Detergents

By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) A Don, Dr Ikechi Agbugba, on Tuesday urged government at all levels and stakeholders to check traders’ use of soaps and detergents to wash fruits, vegetables and other agricultural produce because of their harmful effects on the body.

Agbugba, a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the traders use soaps in the open to remove dirt from the fruits and vegetables and some root crops and nuts.

“’The use of detergent and soap in washing off dirt from fruits, vegetables and some agricultural produce is rampart, especially among retail traders in agricultural products.

“’This should not even be mentioned but we see it every time.

“’Soaps and detergents are chemicals and they are not friendly to the body.

“’Besides, they are not produced for washing any type of agricultural product and produce, but for washing cloths.

“People do this due to ignorance and those doing it should be enlightened to stop using them on fruits and vegetables,” he said.

Agbugba, who is also a vegetable expert, said that it was time consumers got involved and take seriously what they bought with their money for consumption.

He said that injecting such chemicals which could be avoided, was dangerous to health and contribute to funny illnesses people had to battle with in societies nowadays.

Agbugba said that in the olden days, parents use ordinary water to wash dirt off fruits, vegetables and tubers like carrots, potatoes and yams among others.

He added that they lived long and healthy lives without the illnesses prevalent in the society today.

The Lecturer said that traders and retailers could use ordinary water, foam and local sponge which were friendly to the body to wash dirt off their goods.

He said at times you see retailers immersing nut produce like groundnuts. and tiger nuts, in soapy and detergent water in the name of removing dirt from them.

According to him, the shell of the nuts absorb water and swell up fast as such once immersed in such water the inside will be affected automatically.

He said that the shell of most agricultural products were just like human skin and absorbed liquid fast.

Agbugba added that once the fruits, nuts, vegetables, root crops membrane absorbed the chemical it spread to their inner parts.

He said that relevant government agencies should enforce the laws on safe handling of agricultural produce and products and educate traders on hygienic ways of handling them for sale.

Agbugba said that market officials should also make it their duty to create awareness among their members to stop using detergents and soap to wash agricultural produce and products.

He said that it would be good also if the Consumer Rights Protection (CRP) left its comfortable offices and enter the market to counter the activity.

He said it would make them to have first hand experience of how the markets, where the consumers they were protecting were buying their food stuffs, looked like.

Agbugba said that government should also make the soap and detergent producers to display on the packages inscription like: “Detergent is not for washing agricultural products and produce”. (NAN)
ACA/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Move

London, Sept.18, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal Chief Executive, Ivan Gazidis will leave the Premier League team to join Italy’s AC Milan in the latest move in a year of change at the English club.

Gazidis will start work as AC Milan chief executive on Dec. 1.

This is coming after almost a decade at Arsenal which is restructuring off the field following the departure of team manager Arsene Wenger who had been at the club since 1996.

Vinai Venkatesham, currently Arsenal’s chief commercial officer, will become managing director while current head of football relations Raul Sanllehi will have the title of head of football.

The departure of Gazidis comes a month after American billionaire Stan Kroenke took full control of Arsenal by buying out Russian rival Alisher Usmanov, valuing the Premier League club at around $2.3 billion.

“Arsenal is entering a new chapter and I have done everything I can to ensure that it is strongly placed to take on that challenge,” Gazidis said in a statement.

“Many would say it was a “strange time” for him to leave.

“Although it is very hard to do – the hardest decision of my life.

“I believe that, after 10 years, it is the right time for me to step aside to allow new leadership, energy and ideas to take the club forward into this exciting new era.”

Arsenal and AC Milan will both compete in this year’s Europa League, with both teams failing to qualify for the more lucrative Champions League in recent seasons.

Gazidis said he would be “working to restore (Milan) to its rightful place in football”.

AC Milan, seven times European champions, have also seen upheaval this year.

Elliott Investments took control of the club in July after Li Yonghong, who last year had bought AC Milan from former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, failed to make a repayment that was due to the U.S. fund.

Several English newspapers had reported in recent days that Gazidis, who had previously worked in Major League Soccer, was in advanced negotiations to move to Milan.

He will leave the London club with effect from Oct. 31.

Arsenal recruited Sanllehi last November from Spanish champions Barcelona, where he had a number of roles including director of football.

Venkatesham has been at Arsenal since 2010.

Arsenal currently sit seventh in the English Premier League after a pair of early defeats under new manager Unai Emery, who joined in the summer from French champions Paris St Germain.

As well as the appointment of Emery, Gazidis oversaw high profile signings of players including German World Cup winner Mesut Ozil.

However, many fans voiced discontent with the running of the club in Wenger’s final years, believing financial stability was being prioritised over success on the pitch.

Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/MZA
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Women
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) An NGO, Women Arise for Change Initiatives, has appealed to political parties in Nigeria to go beyond the 35 per cent Affirmative Action and sponsor women for leadership positions.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of the group, made this appeal on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Okei-Odumakin spoke against the background of the upcoming Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun.

According to her, political parties must elevate the role of women not only by ensuring that the minimum standard of 35 per cent affirmative action is met.

“The parties must also ensure that women are sponsored for strategic and leadership positions.

“The world is evolving and the level of political consciousness of women is on the rise,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.

She said that any political party still relegating women out of positions of authority was doing so at its own peril.

“Any society that aspires to develop must consider the importance of women and the critical position of women in the society.

“In the socioeconomic development of societies, women have left the position of being bench warmers to taking up leading roles in both public and private sectors, and have continued to distinguish themselves,’’ she said.

The woman activist explained that the time for women to aspire for positions without considering any barrier was now.

She urged them to take advantage of their population and strength to determine the political future of the society.

The activist, however, urged women to ensure that they played important roles in ensuring that credible candidates were elected in the upcoming Osun election.

She urged them to understand that they were equal stakeholders in the electoral process and as such, should monitor their votes and ensure it counts.

Okei-Odumakin also advised them to ultimately serve as advocates against electoral violence.

NAN reports that out of the 48 governorship candidates to contest the election, only one is a woman. (NAN)
LED/JIE/GOK
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Edited by Julius Enehi/Olagoke Olatoye