Blog

NAN-H-57
Summit
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, said the ministry was partnering with Swedish Government to organise a trade summit.

The information is contained in a statement issued by Mrs Pauline Sule, the Assistant Chief Information Officer (ACIO) Press, Ministry of Communications, made available in Abuja on Monday.

Sule stated that the minister made the disclosure when the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Inger Ultvedt, paid him a visit in his office.

She noted that the summit had been scheduled to hold between Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 in Abuja and Lagos.

The summit would bring Information and Communications Technology (ICT) stakeholders together to showcase ICT innovations and opportunities that would especially engage the youths.

She stated that Ultvedt had earlier thanked the minister for granting her audience in spite of his tight schedule.

She said that the summit would bring the two countries together in the area of ICT and create job opportunities for young and old entrepreneurs.

Ultvedt said that the summit would take place in Abuja on Oct. 25, while on Oct. 26, the summit would
hold at Radisson Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
COA/COF/HA
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

World Mental Health Day: Expert bemoans poor state of mental institutions in Nigeria

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Psychiatry
By Yashim Katurak Rebecca
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Dr Olusola Ephraim-Oluwanuga, the Chief Consultant Psychiatrist, National Hospital, Abuja, has decried the poor attention given to the growth and development of mental healthcare services and institutions in Nigeria.

Oluwanuga made her views known while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

She said that the eight mental health institutions available in the country have been in use since the colonial era.

Oluwanuga said that the Federal Government has since relied on these institutions without finding new and better ways to expand service delivery with the increasing population of the country.

“Since the colonial era, we have had eight psychiatric hospitals in the country only and this is where most of the resources concerning mental health are deposited.

“We are all aware that only this number of institutions cannot serve the large populace adequately. Imagine that there is one institution in Maiduguri and that is all for the North East.

“There is also only one in Sokoto and that is all for the North West. That cannot help as much as if services are available at the primary healthcare level.

“State hospitals and teaching hospitals are supposed to have psychiatric departments.

“There is need for outreach posts in local governments so that these services can be extended to people at the grassroots,” Oluwanuga said.

She said that pockets of crisis taking place in the country and around the world have reinforced the need to give more attention to the development of mental healthcare services.

Oluwanuga said that with each crisis, the number of individuals who suffered psychological trauma increased, adding that at least one in four persons suffered some form of psychological trauma.

She said that although HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases needed to be given attention, agencies of government and international organisations need to turn attention also to development of mental healthcare in the country.

She also called for the implementation of the mental health policy to strengthen institutions and improve service delivery. (NAN)
KRY/DO/MST

Edited by David Onilede/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Lawyer condemns arrest of judges at odd hours

NAN-H-57

Arrest

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016(NAN) A legal practitioner, Mr Ufere Mba, has condemned  the arrest of  two  Supreme Court justices  and three  Federal High Court judges on Saturday by the Department of State Security (DSS).

Mba, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, said that the manner the arrest was conducted portrayed the judges as“terrorists”.

NAN recalls that the DSS on midnight of Oct. 8, 2016, raided the residences of two Supreme Court justices and three other judges and took them into custody on allegations of corruption.

Mba said he supports the fight against corruption if done within the ambit of the rule of law since nobody was above the law.

“There are procedures under which arrests should be made and not midnight invasion of such persons; it is a rape on democracy.

“The DSS is for internal security not corruption-related issues. Those judges were treated like terrorists and it is utterly condemnable.

“Those judges are not posing any threat to national security; they are responsible and respected citizens.

“There should be invitations from the appropriate security outfit before an arrest of these judges could be effected by the police not the DSS.’’

The lawyer said that every well-meaning Nigerian should condemn the midnight raid on judges’ homes under the guise of fighting corruption.

He urged the Federal Government to retrace its steps from the harassment of judicial officers in the over all interest of Nigeria’s democracy.

Meanwhile,  the Presidency has said that it will not do anything to undermine the independence of the Judiciary.

It has also reassured that the President has the  highest respect for  the judiciary as the third arm of government.

Malam  Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President,  gave the assurance in a statement, following the  raid  carried out on the houses of some judges by the police and DSS.

“President Buhari remains a committed democrat, in words and in his actions, and will not take any action in violation of the constitution,” Garba said in the statement. (NAN)

CJ/OSA/NKO

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/NKechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-HG-8
Psychiatrist
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A consultant neuro-psychiatrist, Dr Maymunnah Kadiri, on Monday urged Nigerians to adopt diverse positive measures to reduce stress and depression in the country.

Kadiri, the Medical Director of Pinnacle Medical Services, Lagos, also called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to mental health.

The consultant neuro-psychiatrist spoke at a “Speakout Series on Stress and Depression’’ organised by the organisation in Lagos.

She said, “There is need for Nigeria to pay more attention to mental health through a signed bill, and that the mental health budget should be increased.

“What we have currently is less than one per cent of the nation’s budget.

“Again, measures for psychological first aid, as is being advocated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), should be in place.

“Adequate medication, as well as family, psychological, financial and environmental support should also be in place, because, these are pathways to recovery for every individual with mental challenge.”

According to her, suicide and other outcomes of mental ill health are on the increase in Nigeria.

“We are dealing with a lot of issues; businesses are falling, things are expensive, cash is hard to come by and basic amenities are lacking.

“This is taking a toll on the mental health of Nigerians; it makes people vulnerable to becoming suicidal, aggressive, violent, unruly, corrupt and other anti-social behaviours.

“The statistics may not be there, but by observations, people are bottling up their emotions and challenges, instead of speaking out.

“There is need for people to speak out; let us not be intimidated and bottle up our anxieties and frustrations.

“We have to get the `garbages’ inside of us out; it is the rock to breaking the barrier and reducing stigma; people are encouraged to seek help,’’ Kadiri said.

She said that there was need to identify individual stressors to deal with most of the day-to-day stressors of life.

Kadiri said people should also take up positive activities that could modulate or ease their stresses.

“These positive activities include exercise, sporting activities, acquiring additional skills, hobbies such as dancing, gardening, music, reading, story-telling and going on vacation,’’ she said.

The expert said the first line for depression was therapy and counselling, adding that it could be from family members, friends, religious leaders and medical experts.

She said an individual should not to wait till he or she was battered, violated, injured or close to committing suicide, before seeking for help. (NAN)
VIV/GOK
(Edited/controlled by Olagoke Olatoye)

NAN-H -36
Technology
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) An inventor, Mr Ilyas Nazifi, who fabricated rice parboiling, husking and drying machines in Kano, says he wants a partnership with the Federal Government to enable him mass-produce the machines.

Nazifi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday that the partnership would propel economic growth through improvement in local technology.

According to him it will also encourage more innovative youths to fast-track indigenous technological development.

The inventor had so far fabricated 12 rice processing machines of lower capacities to process 68 metric tonnes of rice daily.

Nazifi, a graduate of chemical engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria also holds a Masters Degree in Refinery Design and Operation from the University of Manchester, U.K.

“If government can empower people like me, we can train a lot of youths on rice processing in addition to improving our local technology.”

According to him, there are many young and vibrant Nigerians who can be assisted with loans to improve their businesses to realise their dreams.

He said his decision to concentrate on fabrication of rice processing machines was aimed at reducing the challenges faced in processing the commodity.

He called on rice farmers in Kano and other neighbouring states to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the government to ensure massive production of the commodity.

“Rice farmers have a big challenge because the commodity has become a staple in many homes.”

He also urged state and local governments, particularly where the crop is produced in commercial quantity to patronise his company.

“This will go a long way in providing job opportunities to many unemployed persons in the state and the country at large.

Nazifi also called on youths to rise to the current economic challenges as “the recession is an opportunity for them to prosper’’. (NAN)
MTM//AOM/SN
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(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed, controlled by Silas Nwoha)

South Sudan says rebels kill 21 civilians in ambush

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Ambush
Juba, Oct. 10, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Rebels attacked trucks carrying civilians in South Sudan, killing 21 people, the government official said on Monday.

According to the report, violence between rival forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former vice president have dragged the country back into civil war.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement that it received reports of horrific violence being perpetrated against civilians in Central Equatorial State.

However, it urged both rebel and government commanders to control their forces and cease hostilities.

The government said that 21 civilians were killed and about 20 wounded when rebel gunmen ambushed their vehicles on a road connecting Yei town, in Central Equatorial State on Saturday.

Jacob Lem Chan, a Local Government official, said four trucks were ambushed and victims were burned and shot at.

While referring to former vice president Riek Machar’s rebel movement, Chan said, “these are SPLA-IO force who laid the ambush.

“We have confirmed 21 dead, and about 20 casualties were admitted in the hospital, one truck was burnt with victims inside,’’ he said.

Dickson Jock, the military spokesperson for SPLM-IO, denied its forces had carried out the attack and said it directed attacks against military installations only.

“We are not intending to harm civilians or to kill them,” he said.

Violence has been growing in Africa’s youngest nation since July when the rival forces battled each other in Juba.

Machar fled the capital to Sudan from where he has urged his forces to re-organise for “armed resistance” to Kiir’s government. (Reuters/NAN)

(Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Julius Enehikhuere)

Kazeem’s audioAudio Attached

NAN-S-16

Tournament

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Tunde Kazeem, Director of Sports Kwara State has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to feature Nigeria only in tournaments it is good at.

Kazeem was speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of the U-17 female football team, the Flamingoes’ unimpressive outing at the ongoing U-17 World Cup in Jordan.

He said first-rate preparation of teams ahead of tournaments would go a long way in ensuring that the teams performed creditably.

• Cue in audio

“Our preparation is something that the ministry and the NFF should look into.

“If I have my way, it is not all tournaments that we need to feature in.

“We should try and pick the one I think we are better at and go for it.

“There is no joy featuring in all the events and they are beating us left and right. It is not a good development.

“The federation should sit down and pick events that we want to go in for and with the little resources that we have release it for it.

“They should look at where we have comparative advantage and put the resources in there, then do a proper follow up.

“The camping of athletes and the preparation generally should be solid.’’

• Cue out audio

NAN reports that the Flamingoes lost out in the preliminary stage of the fifth edition of the U-17 World Cup, making it the worst World Cup qualifier ever for the team. (NAN)

IHA/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-H-35
Regulation
By Uche Eletuo
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) Some maritime stakeholders on Monday in Lagos urged the Federal Government to regulate the activities of shipping companies in order to check capital flight.

The stakeholders, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that most shipping companies were extorting Nigerian shippers.

Mr Alex Allison, a spokesman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), said that shippers were at the mercy of the shipping companies.

“There are some loopholes in the system that these companies are leveraging on to extort money from importers.

“A situation where shippers incurred demurrage caused by deliberate induced delays by the shipping companies should be rejected as such encourages capital flight,’’ Allison said.

A maritime lawyer, Mr Osuala Nwagbara, suggested that there should be a stop to capital flight.

“The legal circle is awash with cases bordering on sharp practices of multinationals, especially those in the maritime sector, Nwagbara said.

According to him, every investor is in business to make profit and it will be anti-trade for polices to be made at the expense of others.

He called on the Federal Government to re-examine the port concession policy in order to create room for improvement.

The president of NCMDLCA, Mr Lucky Amiwero, said that the high cost of clearing cargoes in the ports could be traced to open-ended policies with shippers at the receiving end.

Mr Stanley Ezenga, the Spokesman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), called for proper monitoring of the activities of shipping companies to prevent shippers from being extorted. (NAN)
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro and controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-H-55
Forum
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu,  will be the chief host at the Nigeria Investment Forum  on Nov. 15 in Bangkok, Thailand, during the International Telecommunications Union  (ITU) Telecom World 2016 holding in that country.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mr Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Ojobo said that the investment forum will be the highpoint of the country’s participation in the event that is due to run from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17.

He said that the theme for Nigeria’s participation in the 2016 Telecom summit is “ Smart Communities: The Key to a Digital Nigeria,’’ which runs alongside the global theme : “Collaborating in the Digital Economy.’’

He said the forum will create opportunity for industry stakeholders, financiers and entrepreneurs to share experiences and examine key development trends in technology, regulation, policy, business models, services and applications.

Ojobo also said that the forum would deliberate on the vast investment potentials in Nigeria’s fast growing ICT sector.

He said other panelists at the forum include Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Chairman, Etisalat Nigeria, and Ms. Funke Opeke, Managing Director, MainOne Cable Company.

“The forum will be moderated by Dr Henry Nzekwu a consummate multi-sectoral team leader and Executive Vice Chairman of MessageWise Limited,” Ojobo said.

Mr Hamadoun Toure, a former Secretary General of the ITU, has been named the keynote speaker at the forum.

Toure, a founding Executive Director of SMART Africa Alliance and immediate past Secretary General of ITU, is a longstanding champion of ICT as a driver of social and economic development.

Prior to his ascension to the post of Secretary General, Toure previously served as Director of ITU’s Telecommunications Development Bureau (BDT) from 1998 to 2006.

Toure’s professional career started in his native land, Mali, in 1979, building a solid career in the satellite industry, serving as Managing Engineer in Mali’s first International Earth Station. (NAN)
COA/DO/OJO
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(Edited by David Onilede and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-34
Driver
By Teniola Ibitola
Lagos, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A driver, 31-year-old Paul Morenkeji, was on Monday brought before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly absconding with Honeywell Flour Mills goods valued at N4.8 million.

The accused is facing four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and damage.

Morenikeji, however, pleaded not guilty.

But the Prosecutor, Insp. Daniel Ighodalo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 23, 2013 at the company’s premises in Apapa, Lagos.

Ighodalo said that the accused, a driver with the company, was instructed to deliver 600 bags of flour to a distributor.

“Instead, the accused drove the truck to Ibadan where he sold the goods and destroyed the tracker that was installed on the truck before absconding to Kwara, where he had been in hiding.’’

The offences contravened Sections 285, 337 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Chief Magistrate, Miss Abimbola Awogboro, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

Abimbola said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and adjourned the case to Nov. 15 for further hearing. (NAN)
OAT/DEB/DA
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Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Debo Oshundun