NAN-DS-1
Commendation
By Ali Inuwa
Maiduguri, Oct. 10, 2016(NAN) The Nigerian Army on Monday commended the Nigerian media for its objectivity in the coverage of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

The commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Col. John Agim, made the commendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Agim said that the media had played great role in disseminating accurate information to Nigerians on the successes recorded by the military on the operations against Boko Haram.

“I think that the Nigerian media has lived up to expectation in keeping Nigerians abreast on the military operations in the North-East.

“When we arrived Maiduguri we were surprised that there is peace everywhere, contrary to the belief in many areas.

“I think that the media has a lot of job to do in letting Nigerians and the whole world know that peace has returned here, because outside there many people do not know,” he said.

Ajim added that genuine investors would return to the state when they became aware of the restoration of peace to the troubled zone.

The commander, who led members of the Senior Course on Strategic Communication of the school on tour of the state, said the visit was aimed at getting first-hand information on the military operations in the state.

“The Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information is the one that drives the information sector of the Nigerian Army.

“For the course to achieve its aim we need to be on ground in one of the areas the army is carrying out operations to get first-hand information,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the team also paid courtesy visits to Gov.Kashim Shettima and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai. (NAN)
ABI/IS/AMY

======

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz and Abdullahi Yusuf

Kano Govt distributes anti-malaria drugs to 17 hospitals

NAN-HG-2
Drugs
By Aisha Ahmed
Kano, Oct., 10, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government has distributed anti-malaria drugs to 17 health facilities across the state to combat the scourge.

Distributing the drugs to the benefitting facilities, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Getso, said the government was alarmed over the prevalence of the disease.

The commissioner who was represented by the Malaria Programme Manager, Dr Bashir Lawan, said about 17 primary and secondary health facilities in the state would collect the first consignment of the drugs.

He explained that the next consignment would arrive soon and would also be distributed to the remaining facilities across the 44 local government areas of the state.

The commissioner expressed optimism that Malaria scourge would soon become history with the political commitment of the present administration in the state.

Getso charged the benefitting hospitals to judiciously use the drugs for the purpose it was given for, thus called on patients to access the facilities to benefit from the drugs. (NAN)

AAA/MST/MST

Edited and controlled by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Expert advocates proper funding for Nigeria’s health sector

NAN-HG-1
Funding
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct. 10, 2016 (NAN) A medical expert, Dr Oso Taiwo, on Monday called for proper funding of Nigeria’s indigenous health sector as an alternative to foreign medicare.

Taiwo, who is the Executive Director of Ibukun Oluwa Hospital, Osogbo, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that only well funded and standardised health sector can make the society better for the purpose of improving the well-being of the people and happy at all time.

According to him, “If the healthcare system is being developed and adequately funded, there will be no need for Nigerians to go abroad to treat simple headache.

“The case of former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, is a practical example for the rest of African countries, most especially the ruling class to have a re-think and do the right thing.

“It has been established that those who go abroad for treatment are those who have easy access to national resources, which is seriously killing the economy,’’ he said.

He stressed the need to commit more resources to the sector and make it a priority in the consideration of governmental policies.

Taiwo also called on the practitioners in the health sector to stand up to their professional ethics in order to fulfil their obligation of service to humanity without blemish.

He urged them to be rooted in the modern trend of the profession in order to face the challenges of the moment in the face of global warming, which is seriously threatening the human race.

The physician implored the government to pay more attention to the sector and adequately make funds available.

He said that practitioners without facilities are like army generals without weapons. (NAN)
DOO/KOLE/MST

Edited by Remi Koleoso and controlled by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NEWS EXPECTATIONS FOR MONDAY, OCT. 10, 2016
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Judiciary
=======
1. The Federal High Court continues hearing in a case of alleged money laundering filed against a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh.

1. An FCT High Court, Gudu, hears case of land dispute between Salba Nigeria Ltd and the Minister of FCT.
2. The National Industrial Court hears a case of alleged unlawful dismissal filed by a dismissed corporal against the Nigerian Army
3. An FCT High Court, Apo, hears case of leadership tussle in Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria
4. An FCT High Court, Maitama, continues hearing in a case of alleged violation of fundamental human rights filed by Nnaemeka Njoku against the Nigerian police.

SPORTS DESK
================

5. The 16th Army Sports Festival opens at the National Stadium at 1 p.m.
6. Desk continues with reactions to Super Eagles’ 2-1 win over the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola on Sunday.
7. President Buhari declares Army Sports competition open.
8. Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, holds mental health stakeholders summit.
9. Today is World Mental Health Day

 
ECONOMY DESK
===============

10. The National Automotive Design and Development Council holds an interactive session with mechanics and roadside auto dealers at New Keffi Hotel, Keffi, Nasarawa.

11. The Senate Committee on Industry to visit Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

12. National Cooperative Refinancing Agency of Nigeria holds a news conference.

13. Update: President Muhammudu Buhari to open the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit at Transcorp Hilton.

Defence and Security Desk
====================

14. President Buhari declares Army Sports open.

HEALTH AND GENDER DESK
=========================

• , Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, holds mental health stakeholders summit.

16Today is World Mental Health Day!
 
 

Enugu Govt. urges workers to embrace co-operative societies

NAN-H-48

Co-operatives

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Oct. 9, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Sunday urged workers in the state to embrace co-operative societies in order to boost their socio-economic status.

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary and 2014/2015 Annual General Meeting of the Workers’ Cooperative, Thrift and Loan Society Ltd. in Enugu, Ugwuanyi noted that co-operative societies helped in promoting entrepreneurship.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, commended the society for its planned acquisition of 100 plots of land for development purposes.

He said that the move was in line with the state government’s commitment to provide land and housing to public servants in the state.

Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Poverty Reduction and Human Development, Mr Obinna Mbeke, said the benefits of belonging to co-operative societies were many.

“I personally advise workers yet to sign on to the initiative to have a rethink and join without wasting time,’’ Mbeke said.

In a goodwill message, the state’s Head of Service, Mr Chidi Ezema, lauded the society for successfully keeping the company together for the past 10 years.

“Your strive all these years deserves commendation and is worthy of emulation,’’ Ezema said.

The President of the society, Mrs Veronica Ogbu, said the society had fulfilled its mission “to give succour to its members creditably’’. (NAN)
OJI/KSN/AMY

=========

Controlled by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-10
Traders
Kano,Oct.9,2016(NAN) The Kano State Government has urged traders in the State to contribute their quota towards boosting the economy of the state and the country as a whole.

The State’s Commissioner of Commerce, Industries, Cooperative and Tourism, Alhaji Rabiu Ahmed, made the call on Sunday in Kano during the election of the leaders of Kano Traders Multipurpose Cooperative Society.

The Commissioner said the call had become imperative considering the present economic challenges in the country.

Ahmad advise the newly elected executives to ensure that they discharged their responsibilities diligently.

In his response, the newly elected Chairman of the traders, Alhaji Muntari Gashash, promised to ensure that they contributed in reviving the country’s economy.

Gashash also expressed readiness to work with all stakeholders in for the union to progress.(NAN)

BO/ASH/ASH/

NAN-H-47
IPAC
By Olawale Jokotoye
Abeokuta, Oct. 9, 2016 (NAN)The Ogun chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) is divided over the conduct of Saturday’s poll into the 20 local government councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The state’s Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Moshood Adesina, had said on Sunday in Abeokuta that the body  carefully reviewed the entire electoral process and was satisfied with the result announced by the electoral body.

But three members of the council—Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party(LP) and Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN)– dissociated themselves from the position of the body.

Adesina, however, described the poll as free, fair and credible.

“Guided by reports from our individual party agents across the state and after a careful study and deliberation of same, we hereby declare the poll free, fair and credible,” he said.

He noted that the conduct was transparent and inclusive, adding that a level playing field was provided for all the parties in the contest

Adesina, however, condemned “the few instances where disgruntled elements attempted to snatch ballot boxes or intimidate voters.’’

The chairman commended the electoral body for the “independent manner” in which the poll was conducted.

He also commended the media, security agents and other stakeholders for their various roles in making the poll successful.

But PDP, LP and UPN at separate press conferences called for the cancellation of the poll.

They hinged their arguments on the fact that the poll was characterised by violence and gross electoral irregularities.

The leadership of the South-West Zone of the PDP at a press conference on Sunday described the conduct of the poll as “unacceptable, condemnable and ridiculous.’’

The PDP Secretary in the zone, Bunmi Jenyo, alleged that election materials were not supplied in many polling centres while there were sporadic shootings in many areas to scare voters away.

He also alleged that the process was masterminded to perpetuate the ruling APC in power.

Jenyo, therefore, called for the cancellation of the poll. (NAN)
OAJ/OJO
=======
(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-45
Poll
By Olawale Jokotoye
Abeokuta, Oct. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGESIEC) has announced the results of the election held on Saturday into the 20 local government councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas(LCDAs) of the state.

Declaring the results, the commission’s Chairman, Mrs Risikat Ogunfemi, said the ruling APC won all the Chairmanship positions in all the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs.

The party also won 346 councillorship seats out of the 349 wards in the state.

The Unity Party of Nigeria, however,  won two councillorship seats while the PDP won one.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 17 political parties participated in the poll.

Ogunfemi, who stated that the commission had discharged its duties without fear or favour, adjudged the poll free, fair and credible.

The OGESIEC boss, however, conceded that there was room for improvement on the conduct of council election.

“Election is a process and we can always learn from any shortcomings  and improve on subsequent ones.

“The 2012 local government poll was not as effective as this and so we are sure that the next one will be better than this one,” she said.

Ogunfemi expressed appreciation for the support accorded the commission by the electorate and other stakeholders.

She advised candidates, who might have any complaint  concerning the poll, to direct it  to the election tribunal which she said would soon be constituted.(NAN)
OAJ/OJO
========
(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

WHO provides emergency support to IDPs in Mafa, Dikwa

NAN-H-43
Support
Maiduguri, Oct. 9, 2016 (NAN) The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that it had provided emergency health support to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in liberated communities of Mafa and Dikwa in Borno.

WHO spokesperson, Ms Kulchumi Hammanyero, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri, said the gesture was in response to the critical needs of the IDPs.

Hammanyero said that the WHO Acting Country Representative, Dr Rex Mpazanje, presented the materials at a ceremony in Maiduguri.

She also said that the gesture was aimed at intervening in the critical health sector of the area.

“In response to the critical health needs of IDPs in Borno, the World Health Organization (WHO) through the State Ministry of Health has delivered emergency medical supplies to Mafa and Dikwa IDPs camps.

“WHO is committed to supporting the government of Borno and other parts of North-East of Nigeria to continue to have access to health services, including those in the hardest to access areas through the provision of emergency lifesaving medicines which currently are urgently needed.

“WHO is appealing for US 13.5 million dollars to support health interventions until the end of 2016, out of which US 2 million dollars has been received leaving a funding gap of 82 percent.

“The medical supplies are in form of Inter-agency Emergency Health Kit with enough drugs and medical supplies to treat 15,000 people for three month.Malaria and Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits were also provided.

“The supplies will be distributed to the only existing health facility in each camp and to mobile teams,” Hammanyero said.

She also said:`the selection of the two camps follows from the UN joint assessment mission to Mafa and Dikwa which showed Malaria and Acute Respiratory Tract Infections rates are high in IDP camps, accounting for 33 percent and 16 percent respectively.

Receiving the items on behalf of state government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Abubakar Hassan, thanked the organisation for the gesture.

“Many of the IDPs health facilities in the state are in need of such assistance and WHO’s assistance has, therefore, come at the right time,” Hassan said.(NAN)
ABI/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Western-backed coalition under pressure over Yemen raids

NAN-F-5
Coalition
New York, Oct. 9, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) An air strike on a funeral wake, widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, poses more trouble for a Western-backed Arab campaign against Yemen’s Houthis that has long been criticised for civilian losses.

The White House announced an immediate review of Washington’s support for the 18-month-old military push after planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital Sanaa on Saturday, killing 140 people according to one U.N. estimate and 82 according to the Houthis.

The statement from Riyadh’s main ally, noting for the second time in as many months that U.S. support was not “a blank check”, sets up an awkward test of a Saudi-U.S. partnership already strained by differences over wars in other Arab lands.

The reproach also indirectly hands a propaganda win to Riyadh’s arch rival Tehran, a Houthi ally that has long seen the Sunni kingdom as a corrupt and domineering influence on its impoverished southern neighbour, diplomats say.

Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack, but Riyadh later promised an investigation of the “regrettable and painful” incident, with U.S. expert advice. The move was apparently aimed at heading off further criticism of a military campaign already under fire for causing hundreds of civilian deaths in apparently indiscriminate attacks.

“There will be pressure on the campaign,” said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry. While the coalition followed very careful rules and understood human rights concerns, “there will now be pressure to end the whole operation or to restrict the operation”.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the war and the United Nations blames coalition strikes for 60 percent of some 3,800 civilian deaths since they began in March 2015.

The outcry over civilian casualties has led some lawmakers in the U.S. and Britain as well as rights activists to push for curbs on arms sales to Riyadh, so far without success.

The coalition denies deliberately targeting civilians and says it goes to great lengths to ensure its raids are precisely targeted, with explosive loads calibrated to limit the risk of causing damage beyond the immediate target area.

The coalition accuses the Houthis, who seized much of the north in a series of military advances since 2014, of placing military targets in civilian areas. The Houthis deny this.

Fury in Sanaa at Saturday’s raid was echoed internationally.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said any deliberate attack against civilians was utterly unacceptable.

(Edited and controlled by Julius Enehikhuere)