Blog

Second day of raids puts 49 Kurdish politicians behind bars

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Arrest
Istanbul, Oct. 12, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Nearly 50 members of Turkey’s opposition Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were taken into custody on Wednesday in the second round of police raids against the party in two days, according to a party official.

The 49 politicians, most of them provincial or municipal officials, were picked up in raids in the provinces of Van and Hakkari, according to Merdan Berk, a spokesman for the DBP.

Police had arrested 32 HDP members on Tuesday.

They are all accused of membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an organization considered a terrorist group by Turkey and with which Turkey has been in conflict for most of the last few decades.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has, in the past, referred to the HDP as an extension of the PKK but HDP members insist there are no ties between the two.

The PKK has been fighting for decades to lift Turkish control of Kurdish regions.

The more mainstream HDP says it seeks simply to promote Kurdish rights within Turkey.

Although there had been some efforts to improve Turkish-Kurd ties in recent years, even leading to a brief PKK-Turkish ceasefire, relations have deteriorated in the last year, with a return to open warfare.

In September, Turkey put numerous DBP-run governments under federal administration, removing local officials from office. (dpa/NAN)

OYE/YAZ

Edited by Damilola Oyewole and Yusuf Zango

Navy appeals to Borno on Lake Chad base

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Navy
Maiduguri, Oct. 11, 2016(NAN) The Nigerian Navy has appealed to Borno State Government to help enlighten residents about the establishment of a Naval base in the Lake Chad Basin to uproot remnants of Boko Haram from the state.
Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Gov. Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Ibas said that the enlightenment was necessary considering that the people had little or no knowledge about the navy.
“Just recently, the president approved the establishment of naval presence in the Lake Chad corridor.
‘Of course, the importance of that area is known to all of us here and this is timely because the menace of Boko Haram has been contained,” he said.
Ibas added: ” Lake Chad is an international (border) with many communities, we cannot operate successfully in the area without the necessary support.
“We wish to solicit your help in communicating to the communities around the area the establishment of the naval base so they can make our job easy.
“Am aware that the people are already used to seeing the army; we want them to see us as their friends like the army too”.
He said that the setting up of a naval base in the area would  help to boost the economic recovery of the area.
” Our presence in the area will help contribute to the quick recovery effort of the Federal Government and the state government effort in putting back the place.
“The post conflict recovery effort requires the joint efforts of all the armed forces, the political class and friends of the state to synergise toward achieving the targeted goal,” Ibas said.
Responding, the governor, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Maman Durkwa, thanked the CNS for the visit.

He lauded the military for their successes in the fight against terrorism  and appealed to the Federal Government to resume  the search for oil in the Lake Chad Basin.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to resume oil search at the Lake Chad Basin now that peace has been restored in the area.
” We believe that the eventual oil exploration in the area will help create jobs and consolidate the gains of the anti-terrorism war, ” he said.
Shettima expressed optimism that the search for oil would  yield dividends as crude had been discovered on the other  side of the lake in Chad Republic.
“Chad and Niger Republic have discovered crude at their own part of the lake, so also is the Republic of Libya.
“We believe that the Nigerian side also contains crude oil in commercial quantity, “he said.
The CNS also visited the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai at his palace to pay courtesy on him. (NAN)
ABI/JCE
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Ed by Chukwudi Ekezie

Get registered or face prosecution, PCN warns patent medicine dealers in Enugu State

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Registration

Enugu, Oct.12, 2016 (NAN) The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN)  has called on patent medicine dealers in Enugu State to register with the council or face prosecution.

Mr Egbuna Udora, the Chairman of PCN in  Enugu State gave the warning on Wednesday in Enugu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Udora said that failure to register with the council amounted to criminal act.

“PCN has insisted that the patent medicine dealers, also known as chemists, must come under its regulations.

“While those without its licence would be treated as criminal,’’ he said.

The chairman also noted that it was compulsory for pharmacists to register with the council before they start pharmaceutical practice in the country.

“Without registering with the council, a person who went to the university to read pharmacy cannot be called a pharmacist until he or she get registered with the council.

“Because pharmacists are involved in providing medicine to patients and as well involved in the production and packaging of drugs, therefore the profession should be given much attention,’’ he said.

Udora, however, cautioned patent medicine dealers that had registered with the council to abide by the council’s and National Agency of Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) stipulation to always sell only over the canter drugs. (NAN)

OJI/KSN/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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6 states to benefit from FG’s Transforming Irrigation project
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Irrigation
By Tosin Kolade

Talata Mafara (Zamfara), Oct.11, 2016(NAN) The Federal Government says six states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Gombe will benefit from its Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project.

The Project Coordinator, Mr Peter Manjuk, disclosed this when officials from the Federal Ministry of Resources carried out a familiarisation tour to Bakolori Irrigation Scheme in Zamfara.

He said the project was targeted at rehabilitating all existing dams to make them meet irrigation and hydropower needs of the country.

According to him, Nigeria must get it right, if it must meet the demands of food production and food security.

Manjuk said in spite of huge investments on dams and irrigation, it had not achieved any meaningful socio-economic impact, saying there was need for deliberate efforts to meet this target.

He stressed the need for farmers to take ownership of all irrigation projects to enable them boost food production at its optimum level.

The project coordinator said the World Bank sponsored project has begun rehabilitation of the Bakolori irrigation scheme, saying it would be completed within three years.

Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, Project Manager, Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, said since 1983 that the dam was created, it had been providing domestic water supply to Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Maidoki said there was the need for investors to come in to rehabilitate the dam towards improving food production, flood control and power generation.

He said the dam was faced with low workforce, due to retirement, and infrastructure vandalisation, calling for improved security to reverse this trend.

He, however, added that with the TRIMING project on board, farmers now put in their best.

Mr Abubakar Aliyu, Assistant Director, Hydropower, Federal Ministry of Power, said the ministry was partnering with its Water Resources counterpart to increase power generation in the country.

Aliyu said eight hydropower dams have been earmarked to be concessioned on power generation, adding that it would take effect soon.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Songhai Farms Limited in Porto Novo to reposition the River Basins across the country.

Part of the provision is the introduction of the Graduate and youth empowerment scheme to boost food security. (NAN)
TAK/AK/AFA
Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Felix Ajide
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Project

By Abdulfatai Beki.
Ilorin. Oct 11. 2016 (NAN) The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has commenced the construction of erosion control in some parts of llorin in fulfillment of his campaign promises.

Saraki, represented by Yinka Otukoko, a Director in his constituency office, started the project in Alfa Yahaya ‎-Idigba- Gaa Aremu Road in Ilorin West Local Government on Tuesday.

Saraki said the project would link up the area and make life more meaningful for the people.

He said that more road projects would be undertaken in different parts of the Kwara central senatorial districts

The senate president added that water projects would also be executed his contribution for the development of the state.

The Ologbin of Adewole, Alhaji Oseni Hanafi, said that the project came at an auspicious time when the road had been washed away by flood.

Hanafi, accompanied by Chairman Adewole Association, Alhaji Isiaka Olorundare, prayed Allah to grant good health, long life and a successful tenure to Saraki. (NAN)

BEKI /OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

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Food

By Amen Gajira

Minna, Oct. 11, 2016‎ (NAN) The Nigerian I‎nstitution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE) has urged all tiers of government to adopt mechanised farming to ensure food sufficiency in the country.
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The NIAEs made the call on Tuesday in a communique, issued at the end of its 37th National Conference in Minna and signed by its newly-inaugurated National President, Mr Shuaibu Musa.

Musa, who is also the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, said that adequate storage system, capable of making agricultural products available all-year round should be prioritised.‎
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He decried the incessant conflicts between herdsmen and farmers across the country, and urged government to go back to the cattle routes system to prevent such development.
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Musa said that the 16-man NIAE executive would develop a new approach to ensure a collaboration between the government and the private sector to maximise production.
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The theme of the conference is: “Agricultural and Bio resources Engineering: Gateway to Diversify Nigeria Oil- Based Economy, Job and Wealth Creation and Environment Sustainability.”

The event was attended by 170 Agricultural Engineers and other related professionals from within and outside Nigeria.
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He condemned government’s full involvement in the purchase and distribution of assorted fertiliser, saying that the government subsidy ought to have been operated by the private sector.
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According to him, a sustained and diligent implementation of the Federal Government’s agricultural promotion policy ‘The Green Alternative’ must be vigorously pursued.
Musa advised that government should liaise with Agricultural Research Institutions in disseminating developed technologies. (NAN)
‎AMEN/FLP/AFA

Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Felix Ajide
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Manpower
Lafia, Oct 11, 2016 (NAN) Most of the over 700 Primary Health Centres in Nasarawa State are ineffectual due to lack of qualified manpower, its Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-makura has said.

Al-makura stated this when Mr Carlos Sosa, the Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria visited him in Lafia on Tuesday.

He said this had brought with it attendant negative consequences on the public health service delivery especially in the rural communities.
He stated that there was need to reinvigorate the Primary Healthcare services in the state by strengthening human capacity in the health sector for which Cuba was renowned.
The governor solicited transfer of Cuban experts in the areas of health, agriculture and education to the state.

Al-makura said the state government would fund expenses of the volunteering expatriates for any period of time they wished to stay in Nasarawa state.

He also solicited Cuban government’s assistance for the establishment of a modern diagnostic/research laboratory in the state.

He explained that such laboratory would help checkmate communicable and other dangerous diseases affecting the wellbeing of the people.
The governor said the research centre would assist communities in the diagnoses of tropical diseases since there was no such centre in the entire northern region of the country.
“My government is committed to eliminating all forms of communicable and other diseases. I consider your coming to Nigeria as very timely.
“I and two other members of my family are victims of Lassa fever. As a government, we are committed to the welfare and wellbeing of the people;
“I should be at the forefront in seeking ways and means of addressing such diseases in the state and beyond”, he said.
The governor commended the Cuban government for its impressive development and urged it to invest in agriculture for the mutual benefit to the state and Cuba.
Al-makura said the state was willing and ready to provide the enabling environment for partnership to thrive if the Cuban authority agreed to its request..
Ambassador Sosa expressed his country’s readiness to partner and render support to Nasarawa state government in any area of its interest.
Sosa held that his country had made the most of its human resource to develop its capacity in various sectors prominent among which was her health sector.
He said Cuba had adopted preventive mechanism in healthcare delivery system through the use of organically manufactured drugs.

He urged Nasarawa state government to adopt the same strategy which was not only effective but also eco-friendly.
Sosa said his country was ready to deploy its expertise in the area of health to improve the health status of the state.
He said Cuba had developed two vaccines to prevent the spread of skin cancer and lung infection, noting that the country was free from malaria, lassa fever, ebola and other diseases. (NAN)
BAB/KOO/IEA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Idahosa Asowata

NAN-S-23

Traders
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) Traders at the ongoing Nigerian Army Sports Festival in Abuja on Tuesday said the low sales of food and wares since the commencement of the festival has been discouraging.

Some of the traders who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however attributed the low sales to the current economic crisis in the country.

One of them, Dorcas Ogunleno from Ekiti, said business had been very dull since her arrival in Abuja on Sunday.

“I came from Ekiti for the festival hoping to make sales but since the commencement I am yet to make any good sales.

“I however believe in God, praying and hoping to make enough sales to help me pay my transport fare back to my state,’’ she said.

Another trader, Charity Ndukuba, who is a food vendor, said fellow traders have been disappointed at the rate of patronage witnessed at the festival.

“We are struggling for customers to come and buy our food. We have even reduced our prices from N500 a plate to N300 just to attract buyers.

“People just come around to look at us and do not come in to eat food. When you ask them what the problem was, they were only saying the economy is bad,’’ Ndukuba said.

A dealer in electronics, Innocent Nweze, said he had not made any sale since he brought his goods to the festival.

“The atmosphere is just too dull. I came all the way from Onitsha and I am yet to sell anything.

“People are only interested in feeding themselves and nobody is interested with buying electronics.

“The present economic situation is not helping matters at all and I pray we will get out of this soonest,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the Nigerian Army Sports Festival which started on Monday will end on Saturday.(NAN)

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Adopt healthy lifestyle, Rivers governor’s wife tells residents

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Healthcare

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, the wife of Rivers governor, has appealed to people of the state to adopt healthy lifestyle that would promote their physical and mental well-being.

She spoke on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, when he declared open the 2016 Week of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Rivers Chapter.

Nyesom-Wike noted that several non-communicable diseases would be prevented if people adopt positive lifestyles.

A statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers Governor on Electronic Media quoted Nyesom-Wike as saying that Rivers Government gave priority to the healthcare of the masses.

The wife of the governor said the present Rivers Government was working to ensure quality healthcare and to improve life expectancy in the state.

“We must regulate what we eat, so that we will live healthily and prolong our lives. I commend MWAN for focusing on the health of the people as part of their 2016 week.

“We shall continue to partner with female medical doctors to improve the health of the people of the state,” the statement quoted Nyesom-Wike as saying.

Rivers Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, who also spoke, noted that developments in the health sector have been sustained since Gov. Wike took over office as governor.

In his address, Rivers Commissioner of Health, Dr Theophilus Odagme said that the state government was expanding the Brathwaithe Memorial Hospital to create more access to tertiary healthcare in the state.

He called on resident doctors and the management of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to resolve their differences to enable the doctors suspend their strike.

MWAN President, Rivers chapter, Dr Rosemary Ogu commended the state government for taking steps to improve on the healthcare needs of the people. (NAN)

EMAF/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Investment
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday assured local and foreign investors that the present administration remained focused on improving the business environment to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth and job creation.

He gave the assurance at a roundtable on job creation, skills and employment at the ongoing 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Osinbajo said it could be achieved through active private sector participation.

He explained that the present administration was seriously tackling issues relating to local production, employment generation and all that would be needed to re-energise the economy.

“We are talking practically to everyone, talking to big investors, talking to big businesses, small businesses, to youth groups that are interested in technology, talking to farmers, talking to market women and men.

“There is a great deal of enthusiasm, everybody knows that this country has tremendous potential and there is so much that can be done.”

The vice president added that the administration was engaging its agencies responsible for facilitating trade and facilitating businesses.

“They have to be up to scratch; they’ve got to encourage business.

“It is our business to make sure that we promote enterprise because the way to create employment is not by direct employment by government.

“It is by private sector being encouraged to create these opportunities, so that is our focus.”

Osinbajo also gave the assurance that beside improving the environment for doing business, government was also focused on increasing the opportunities for the employment of the vast majority of young people.

“We will encourage big businesses, encourage small businesses, encourage cottage industries, that is our focus and it will remain our focus.’’

He said that although there might be challenges with the present duty waivers and tax regimes, the Federal Government was working hard to correct the wrongs.

According to him, it is with the view to encouraging the growth of small businesses and attracting foreign investments.

The vice president added that government’s emphasis on agriculture and agro-businesses was premised on its agenda on diversification and self-reliance in food production for domestic consumption.

He noted that the enormity of the challenge with tax holidays and waivers could not be addressed by a ‘one-size-fits-all’ tax holidays initiative, stressing that there were areas that tgovernment would
revisit.

The Presidential Enabling Business Council (PEBEC), a special initiative of the Federal Government, in collaboration with the private sector, was looking at incentives and issues related to waivers, he said.

Osinbajo, who spoke extensively on the administration’s economic policies on Day 1 of the summit,
also emphasised what government was doing to support funding of small businesses in the country.

According to him, there are complications around funding and that is why in the short term, intervention funds are what might work.

“We are looking at intervention funds in agriculture, we have the anchor borrowers’ programme, we are resuscitating the Bank of Agriculture, and recapitalising it.

“We expect that the Bank of Agriculture and a few other banks will be able to provide some cheap funds for agriculture; we are already seeing that in the anchor borrowers’ programme.

“We also think that intervention fund in setting up areas like health, before we are able to get the overall monetary environment right, is necessary.’’

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, a panelist, suggested a reduction in interest rate from 25 per cent to three per cent “so that investors will not ask for tax relief any more.”

According to Amosun, the `haves’ will not be able to enjoy what they have now if they are unable to take care of the `have nots’.

Another panelist, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, hailed the diversification programme of the administration, adding that Kebbi State had accessed N17 billion on the Anchor Borrowers scheme,
with N100 billion value added and over 300,000 jobs created.

The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe, said that the response to the call on Nigerians to invest in agriculture was massive and thanked citizens for the prompt response.

However, Industrialist Aliko Dangote said he started hearing about diversification since 1988 and expressed the hope that the recent hype on it would achieve the objective.

Dangote warned that those expecting the price of oil to rise to 80 dollars per barrel might not get it as so many countries were already producing crude.

He said the Dangote Group had supported farmers with incentives, adding that it would add three million tons of fertilizer to the market next year for massive farming.

Mr Jay Ireland, the President and CEO of General Electric, Africa, who was also a panelist, said “Nigeria is in a cycle but in the long run, it is the place to invest in.” (NAN)
DCU/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)