Blog

NAN-S-17

Games
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has urged the military to help improve the quality of sports by tapping from the experience and knowledge of its retired athletes.

Dalung, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Tolu Makinde, said the military has a lot to tap from those retired athletes’ competencies.

The statement quoted the Minister as saying this while receiving a 12-man delegation of officers of the Nigerian Air Force, led by Air Commodore Charles Oghowen, during a visit.

“Organisers of sports competitions in the military should use the retired icons in their games as coaches, referees, judges and umpires to improve the standard of their games,’’ it quoted Dalung as saying.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Air Force delegation visited Dalung to inform him of the 2016 Nigeria Air Force Games scheduled for Katsina.

The Games, which will feature 13 sports, is to hold from Oct. 24 to Oct. 29.

Dalung described the Nigerian Air Force and the Ministry of Youths and Sports as partners in progress on issues of sports.

He appreciated the significant role being played by the Air Force in safeguarding and protecting the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring its air space remained secured.

Dalung commended the Air Force for organising sports not only to keep its men and women in healthy shape but as instrument for promoting peace and unity and strengthening the nation.

He promised that the Ministry would help nurture sports talents discovered at the Games to the highest level to represent the country in future international competitions.

Earlier, Oghowen who is Chairman of the Nigeria Air Force Games 2016 had solicited the Minister’s support for the Games to be a successful event.(NAN)

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-AE-7
Weather
BySumailaOgbaje
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states with prospects of early morning isolated thunderstorms over Abuja, Jalingo, Bauchi, Makurdi and Mambilla on Wednesday morning.

NiMet gave the predictions in its Weather Outlook issued by the Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Wednesday in Abuja.

It added that localised thunderstorms would prevail over the high ground areas of Lokoja, Minna, Jos and Bida during the evening/night hour with maximum temperatures of 28 to 32 degrees Celsius.

The agency also predicted that the southern states would experience increased cloudiness in the morning with probability of localised rains over the coastal cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

It predicted that localised thunderstorms and rain showers would prevail over the region during afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 29 to 31 degrees Celsius.

NiMet predicted morning partly cloudy to cloudy conditions over the northern states with localised thunderstorms over Sokoto, Yelwa, Kano and Kaduna in the evening and maximum temperatures of 32 to 37 degrees Celsius. (NAN)
OYS/JPE/AFA
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Felix Ajide
========================

NAN-HE-20
Report
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received the report of the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) from the organiser of the summit, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman of NESG, Mr Kyari Bukar, presented the report to Buhari at the closing of the summit in Abuja.

The report was received by Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, on behalf of President Buhari.

Buhari said that the Federal Government would release a long-term National Development Plan before the end of 2016 to address the current economic crisis.

He said the plan would articulate all programmes and plans from every sector of the economy.

“This comprehensive document will set out in one publication all the various sector plans which have already been adopted by the present administration.

“It will consolidate and harmonise all the sectoral plans in a single document and set out in broad detail an integrated roadmap for the growth and sustainability of the country’s economy.

“The document will make it easier for the general public to easily access government’s overall economic agenda,’’ he said.

The president said that the country was going through a challenging period when he assumed office in 2015.

He said that his administration had come up with the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) which was released early in the year.

“Unlike the SIP, the new document that we will be releasing shall be more comprehensive and present clear roadmap for all the sectors,” he said.

The president opened the summit on Monday and expressed the desire to see Nigeria shift from an import dependent economy to a self-sufficient one.

“We are working night and day to diversify the economy so that we will never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country so that we can produce the food we eat, make our own textiles, and produce the things we use.

“We are working to create the right environment for our youths to be able to benefit and create jobs through technology,” the president said.

NAN reports that the theme of Summit is “Made-in-Nigeria’’. (NAN)
CIA/JEY
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-DS-9

Procession

Dutse, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa Government says it has suspended all public processions of whatever nature in all parts of the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir on Wednesday in Dutse.

“We reviewed the security situation in the country, and the states in the North-central part of the country in particular.

“And after due consultations with the security agencies in the state, His Excellency Gov. Muhammad Badaru, has approved the suspension of all public processions of whatever nature in all parts of the state,” it quoted the SSG as saying.

The statement called on all law abiding citizens in the state to go about their normal businesses as usual. (NAN)

MNB/ORO/MTM/

================

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Tukur Muntari.

NAN-HG-24
Laboratory
Lagos, Oct.12, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Clinical Chemists of Nigeria says about 50 to 80 per cent of laboratory equipment in the nation’s health institutions are not functioning due to diverse unfavourable conditions.

Prof. Elaine Azinge, the Head of Department, Clinical Pathology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, made this known at a three-day Biennial Scientific International Conference of the association in Lagos.

Theme of the conference is: “Toward a Sustainable Clinical Chemistry Practice in Developing Nations.’’

Azinge, delivering a paper entitled: “Breaking the Barriers of Inadequate Funding in Clinical Chemistry Laboratories in Nigeria’’, said that absence of a national quality assurance scheme had also affected the practice.

“Our laboratories do not function optimally; about 50 to 80 per cent of our equipment cannot function well in this environment because of electricity and other accompanying factors.

“The kind of chemistry this equipment utilise are sensitive and they must also be maintained; we also have refurbished auto analysis that are purchased and taken to our hospitals.

“There is lack of basic infrastructure to work with, funding in the laboratory and the health sector is poor and the staff is poorly motivated; leading to brain drain syndrome.

“Also, there is no national quality assurance scheme in the country and this makes us not to key into international frameworks,’’ she said.

Azinge called for a change in every Nigerian and manager mindset.

“Again, most of our problems are self-inflicted; there is need to remove the loopholes and clogs in our system.

“We have decided to look inwards because we think that 90 per cent of the problems are coming from us.

“Government health facilities are underfunded and we have to look for ways for them to function optimally.

“We have to do away with corruption, we have to remove the dependency on oil as sole export; we must pay our taxes and laboratory managers must ensure prudence, accuracy and efficiency,’’ she said.

In his remarks, Dr Graham Beastall, a former President, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), said that laboratory results played major role in diagnosis and treatment.

“ Laboratory medicine results inform a high percentage of all clinical decisions and laboratory medicine plays a key role in the identified mega-trends in healthcare.

“It is important that laboratory medicine aspires to the highest possible quality standards; those standards should be set, implemented and monitored by laboratory medicine specialists,’’ Beastall said.

He said that there was urgent need for an action plan to improve the practice in Nigeria, just like it was obtainable in other climes.

“Laboratory medicine services are ‘under review’ in many countries, in order to improve quality and increase clinical effectiveness, whilst providing gains in cost efficiency.

“Superimposed on this need for change is a profession that is traditional in structure with common divisions of opinion, in terms of staff grade, sub-specialisation and delivery modes.

“There is merit in a national debate to agree on action plan for the future of laboratory medicine in Nigeria, which can be promoted with service users and commissioners,’’ Beastall said.

He said that the universal drivers for change in laboratory medicine were classified into six areas including: globalisation, technology advancement, smarter working ways, integrated diagnostics, patient-centred care and adding value.

Also, Prof. Oluwole Adedeji, the Head, Chemical Pathology Department, LASUTH, said that the conference was aimed at improving the service delivery of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine practitioners.

“It is aimed at improving their operational standards; they need to have skills, and this is an opportunity for us to acquire such skills and knowledge.

“Clinical chemists are essentially a division of pathology; we investigate diseases through taking of body fluids, blood, urine, sputum and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

“We look into the chemical activities in these fluids which reflect what is happening in your body.

“We report on them and we interpret these for the clinicians, for patients’ treatment and diagnosis,’’ Adedeji said. (NAN)
VIV/JPE/GOK
Editing by Joseph Edeh/Olagoke Olatoye)
================

NAN-DS-8
Inauguration
By Mohammad TIjjani
Kaduna, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Chief of Air Staff, (CAS) Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar on Wednesday in Kaduna charged officers and airmen to imbibe the good maintenance culture and prudence in the use of service property at their disposal.
Abubakar gave the charge during the inauguration of some project at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.
According to him, the need for judicious use of resources cannot be over-emphasized in view of the prevailing economic challenges in the country.
“Such good practice would enable the NAF to get the most out of its limited resources.

“As we demand higher performance from you, we will also ensure that you are given the necessary tools and enabling environment for optimal performance in accordance with international best practices, “Abubakar said

Earlier, the Former Chief of Defense Staff, retired Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin said the Challenges facing NAF are enormous.

Petinrin said the main challenge has been trying to strike the right balance between personnel welfare, capacity building, equipment sustenance, result oriented training and infrastructural development.
“The CAS has no doubt tipped the balance by ensuring good welfare packages and infrastructure development in the various Bases through execution of many projects as witnessed today.
He said the CAS and his team are certainly living up to his vision of repositioning the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force that the nation can be proud of.

NAN report that some of the projects Inaugurated, include, The Ground Training Centre Headquarters Complex and Ground training officers instructors quarters.

Other projects are, three blocks of renovated airmen quarters, two blocks of student pilot hostel of 10 rooms each and one block of classroom in 301 FTS. (NAN
TJ/KOLE/MTM
========
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Tukur Muntari.

Lack of awareness, bane of Abuja International  Trade Fair – Exhibitors
NAN-HE-15
Fair
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) Some exhibitors at the recently concluded 11^th Abuja Trade Fair have attributed the low patronage by customers at the fair to lack of awareness.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who spoke to a cross section of the exhibitors gathered that the attendance of customers to the fair was low compared to the previous years.

Mr Christian Okafor, a furniture maker, said he was enthusiastic about the fair and hopeful that it would bring him a lot of customers but he was disappointed at the attendance.

Okafor said,“ I made a lot of beautiful furniture, thinking that I will get a lot of customers to buy the them but to my dismay, I did not see up to 10 people at my stand.

“ Most of the people, who even came around, said they were not aware of the fair but stumbled over it and some even complained about the distance of the venue.

Miss Agatha Eta, a bead maker, said“ I have lots of unique and beautiful beads which I took  time to make.

“ I had high hopes for this trade fair because I really needed money and thought I will get the chance to sell off most of my beads but I was not able to do that.

“I think if many people had come around, they would have seen my products and patronised me but it seems people are not aware of it.

“Also, the low attendance may be as a result of the present economic situation in the country. So many people barely get enough money to feed, let alone buy stuffs these days.

Another exhibitor, Mr Sule Atayi, a tailor, said the exhibition was not well planned as it was not well attended by many Nigerians.

Miss Doofan Peter, a customer, told NAN that she had not witnessed a fair like the current one. According to her, the place looked more like a market than a trade fair arena.

Peter said there were very few exhibitors and the number of customers who witnessed the fair was also very low.

However, the President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, told NAN that no matter the amount of awareness done on a particular product, it could never be enough.

Ejinkeonye said ,“We started awareness for this particular fair over a year ago through media houses but like you said the publicity is still not enough.

“We still need to do more both on the local and national levels; we still have a lot of work to do.

He said that considering the economic downturn, the turnout of exhibitors and visitors were  impressive.

He explained that the number of exhibitors for this year reduced due to the theme of the fair which centred on products made in Nigeria.(NAN)
LCN/GOM/IA

========

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-DS-6
Camps
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Wednesday said all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state wold be shut in 2017.

Shettima announced this at a plenary on Mitigating the Impact of Crisis and Conflict at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

He said the IDPs camps were fraught with lots of challenges.

He added that “my target is May 29, 2017; I want to close down all the camps in Maiduguri in order to restore the dignity of our people.

“We will not stampede or intimidate people to go back to terrains not well secured. The local government headquarters would put up security architecture that would secure those places.

“The IDPs we have right now in Maiduguri, Biu and other places are full of challenges – issues of early child marriages, child prostitution, drug abuse and gangsterism.

“If we allow these things to continue, the challenges will become unmanageable in a few years to come.”

The governor, who said that inequality and extreme poverty were responsible for the insurgency in the state, added that “you cannot divorce insurgency from poverty. We must evolve holistic programmes to create jobs.

“We have come up with programmes of addressing the grievances of the people and bridging the gap in trust between the leadership and the people.”

Shettima then reiterated the state government’s determination to turn the crisis to opportunities to build a better state.

He noted that one of the issues the state government had addressed was education,
saying “education is a great treasure and the administration is determined to change the face
of Borno.

“The destruction in the state are enormous; people are quoting 20,000 as the number of people
killed, but believe me more than 100,000 people have been killed.

“Our IDPs are all over the state. We have hundreds and thousands of orphans and widows, if we don’t take care of them, believe me they will take care of us in the next 10 to 15 years.”

In addition, he said, rebuilding the state was beyond physical construction, adding that the state had built stabilisation factors by focusing on gender empowerment.

“We want to pursue the issue of girl-child education and rebuilding all the communities; we are also focusing on women empowerment.”

The governor also said that the state had been investing in peace in the midst of crisis by concentrating on agriculture through the procurement of farming implements.

“We engage the youth and create jobs so as to reduce vices; agriculture happens to be the best
platform for engaging them.”

He, however, said the state government was determined to address the needs of the IDPs, adding that the population of IDPs in Maiduguri alone grew from 1.2 million to nearly three million.

“There are more to it than the IDPs camps. What can we do to restore the dignity of our people? What can we do to become merchants of hope for a better tomorrow?,” he asked.

He, however, emphasised that there could never be peace and tranquility if the core causes of the crisis were not tackled. (NAN)
CIA/JEY/HA
===========
(Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Minister cautions job seekers against phony empowerment programmes

NAN-H-74

Empowerment

By Bukola Adewumi

Abuja, Oct. 12, 2016 (NAN) The Minister for Labour and Employment,  Sen. Chris Ngige, has warned Nigerians to be wary of phony online empowerment programmes claiming to operate in partnership with the ministry.

Nigige said this in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowokere, Deputy Director (Press) in the ministry, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He decried the fraudulent online claim of partnership between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and African Development Bank, Islamic Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria.

The claim, according to the statement, includes the disbursement of N3 million each to eligible Nigerians.

“The Minister wishes to caution the general public to disregard these fictitious schemes deployed by fraudsters to lure unsuspecting members of the public to pay money into specified accounts for non-existing youth empowerment programmes.

The minster dissociated the ministry from the phony collaborations with the Islamic Development Bank Initiative, African Development Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria.

“We wish to further warn the general public that anybody who does any form of transaction with these self-acclaimed promoters of development and empowerment initiatives does so at his or her own detriment,” Ngige stated. (NAN)

BOL/COO/NKO
===========

Edited by Cecilia Odey/Nkechi Okoronkwo

==============================