Blog

NAN-H-49

Lawyer

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Sokoto Sept. 29, 2016( NAN) Mr Solomon Alimasunya, a Sokoto-based legal practitioner, on Thursday opposed the clamour for the sale of the nation’s assets as a measure to pull out of economic recession.

Alimasunya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that there was no need for the sale since the Federal Government’s economic team had informed Nigerians that the recession was a short time challenge.

He said the Ministers for Finance, and  Budget and Planning, had also assured Nigerians to look forward to a better standard of living as the current high prices of commodities in the markets would soon crash due to measures in place to control the recession .

He said that those clamouring for the sale of assets did not mean well for the country.

” This is because such sale is capable of robbing Nigerians and their generations yet unborn of our collective national assets.”

” Once these national assets are sold to individuals or multi national companies, then this country would have lost the assets forever,” he said.

“Once the recession is over, what becomes of the national assets that had been sold off for ever? ”

He said the issue of the option for the Federal government to buy back the sold assets would be irrelevant because it might not be binding on individuals or multinational companies that purchased them.

The legal practitioner lauded the PENGASSAN, NLC and  TUC for their positions on the issue.(NAN)
AAG/IA

(Edited by Idris Abdulrahman)

NAN-H-50

Donation

Damaturu, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Government, says support provided by agencies, humanitarian partners and non-governmental organisations have added value to the resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of displaced communities in the state.

The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, stated this on Thursday in Damaturu while receiving food items as donation from “Air Peace Nigeria,’’ an NGO.

Alhaji Musa Jidawa, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), represented the deputy governor at the occasion.

Aliyu, who is also the Chairman, Resettlement, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Committee, said the donations had complemented government’s efforts in providing the needs of the displaced communities.

The deputy governor said that many displaced persons had relocated to their respective communities.

“Most of them are starting a new life after losing all to the insurgency; this underscores the magnitude of the challenge in resettling and rehabilitating the returnee communities.

“It also explains the importance of collective assistance to assist the affected persons in the displaced communities,” he said.

Chief Allen Onyena, Chairman of the NGO said that the donation was to complement government’s efforts in meeting food needs of the affected communities.

Mr Chris Iwarah, the Communication Manager of the NGO, represented the chairman at the occasion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Air Peace donated 40 bags of rice, 40 bags of maize, 20 bags of beans, 30 bags of millet, 20 Jerry cans of vegetable oil and 30 bags of salt.(NAN)

MM/DUA/MTM/
Edited by Dada Ahmed/controlled by Tukur Muntari.
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NAN-H-23
Imprisonment
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced one Shola Adeitan, 32, to five years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Adeitan, who is unemployed, had pleaded guilty to a count charge preferred against him by the NDLEA
He was first arraigned on June 1 and was subsequently, remanded in prison custody.

Delivering the sentence, Justice Mohammed Idris found the accused guilty as charged.

He accordingly, sentenced Adeitan to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

“The accused is found guilty of the charge before this honourable court and is hereby sentenced to a term of five years imprisonment beginning from the date of his arrest.

“The drug exhibits are to be destroyed by the NDLEA if there is no appeal against this judgement,” Idris said

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had told court that the convict was arrested on a tip-off on April 18 at Aguda in Surulere, Lagos.

Aernan said that a total of 8 gramme of cocaine was recovered from Adeitan, who had concealed the substance in a wrap.
He said the convict was consequently, arrested and detained.

Reviewing the facts of the case, Aernan had tendered before the court a drug analysis form, a request for scientific aid form, a written statement of the accused as well as the bulk of exhibit.

These were accordingly admitted by the court and marked exhibits.

During allocutus (mercy plea), the accused had begged court to show him mercy, pleading that he was a first offender.

The offence contravenes the provisions of Section 11 (a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004. (NAN)
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(Controlled by Silas Nwoha)

NAN-HG-4

Mortality

By Mohammed Mamman

Damaturu, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), North-East zone, says it has embarked on a voluntary intervention programme to ensure safe pregnancy and delivery for women in Yobe.

The Chairman of the society, Prof. Bala Mohammed, stated this on Thursday in Damaturu while donating clinical equipment to the Yobe government.

Mohammed said that the society offered consultancy services at four designated health facilities in Damaturu to provide quality ante-natal care.

He added that SOGON, through safe delivery programmes, had referred cases to hospitals in good time to reduce the rate of maternal mortality in the state.

The chairman said that SOGON’s intervention was aimed at complementing efforts of the state government at curbing the rate of maternal and child mortality in the state.

“The essence of this is to ensure that every woman, who comes for ante-natal care receives quality treatment.

“The society donated sterilisers, delivery packs, neo-natal equipment, and contraceptives among others,’’ he said.

Receiving the donation, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Bello Kawuwa, commended the society for working closely with the state government to save lives of women and children.

He expressed the government’s commitment to supporting safe pregnancies and deliveries across the state.

Kawuwa also expressed the readiness of the Yobe government to partner with other organisations to promote safe pregnancies and deliveries.

The commissioner assured that the equipment would be used judiciously.

“Let me assure the society that these equipment will be effectively used for the intended purpose,’’ he stated.

He said that government would train adequate healthcare providers, including the girl-child, to serve in the state’s health sector. (NAN)

MM/DUAYEE
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim
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NAN-H-20
Maritime
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on its plan to float a new national shipping line.

The National Publicity Secretary of NAGAFF, Mr Stanley Ezenga, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

He spoke on the occasion of the 2016 World Maritime Day with the theme “Shipping: Indispensable to the world`.

Ezenga said the lull in shipping activities in the country was a compelling reason for the quick refloating of national shipping line to drive the industry and restore vibrancy to the maritime sector.

“We are celebrating the World Maritime Day but Nigeria, though, a maritime country, is not an active participant because the shipping industry is in comatose.

“We need the maritime sector in these difficult times because of its potential to attract forex and boost trade; and for the sector to thrive, shipping must be revived.

“Of course, a new national fleet as planned by government would drive the industry and ensure that the country would take its place in the shipping world.

“Enough of foreign shipping lines taking our crude oil and other cargoes to other countries. We can do it ourselves with a shipping line, whether wholly-owned by government or on private sector partnership arrangement.

“What is important for the government is to expedite action on the plan so that our nationalistic pride in the maritime sector is restored and the economy gets a boost. “he told NAN.

Ezenga advised the Federal Government to free the Cabotage Fund for ship acquisition and capacity development to revive the shipping industry.

The NAGAFF spokesman also urged the government to design and implement the right policies to attract investments in shipping toward strengthening the maritime sector. (NAN)
BHB/AJA
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(Controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

Probe health sector’s N2trn allocation in 15 years, SERAP urges FG

NAN-H-19
Probe
By Moji Eniola & Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) A human rights advocacy group — the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) — on Thursday urged the Federal Government to probe what it called pervasive corruption in the health sector between 1999 and 2014.

Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP’s Executive Director, made the call in Lagos at the launch of a report entitled:“Health in decline: Human Rights Impacts of Corruption in Nigeria’s Health Sector’’.

Mumuni said:“According to budget allocations from 1999 to 2014, the Nigeria health sector received more than N2 trillion.

“These funds even though smaller than expected had potential to yield substantial outcomes for the sector such that could reduce out-of-pocket spending to the desirable 20 per cent level.

“However, mismanagement and corruption scandals by top officials within the health ministry provide strong explanations for why this was not attained.

“In the same period, the health sector received about $308 million and €138 million as grants to support vaccines, immunisation and polio eradication initiatives.’’

He said majority of the funds were mismanaged and misappropriated by health officials, thus depriving millions of poor Nigerians access to quality healthcare, one of the internationally recognised human rights.

According to Mumuni, some key unresolved cases of corruption in Nigeria’s health sector include the $29 million vaccine grant scam and the N1.9 billion Ebola special intervention fund scandal.

Others are the N5.4 billion Benzly Benzoate procurement scam and the Nigeria Pharmaceutical Institute ghost workers and illegal recruitment scam.

Mumuni noted that unless those who had stolen or misappropriated the monies allocated to the sector are brought to justice, impunity would continue to reign while Nigerians would continue to suffer.

He said: “We want the Federal Government of Nigeria to encourage anti-corruption agencies to proactively launch and follow through investigations into these credible allegations of corruption in the health sector.

“We want the anti-corruption agencies to promptly and satisfactorily conclude any pending investigation on corruption in the spending of budget allocations and international aids to the Ministry of Health.

“We want foreign governments and donor agencies to insist on transparency and accountability and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of corruption and recovery of stolen public funds as conditions for providing aids and support to the ministry.”

On the National Health Insurance Scheme, the SERAP boss advised the government to “comprehensively review and reform the scheme to remove the risks of corruption so that it could achieve its purposes.

“A nation’s health policy and commitment to ensuring a healthy population defines its development and contributes to its influence among the comity of nations.’’ (NAN)

MAE/ASO/DA
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Edited & controlled by Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-4

Resumption

By Joy Odigie

Benin, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) Public offices in Edo recorded skeletal activities on Thursday as only few workers reported for duty after the two-day holiday declared by the state government for Wednesday’s governorship election.

Similarly, attendance of pupils and teachers in public and private schools was also low.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Edo Government on Saturday declared Tuesday and Wednesday public holidays to enable public servants to travel and participate in the poll in the state

At the state and federal secretariats on Sapele Road and Auchi Road, respectively, very few workers were on duty in their offices.

Most offices were locked as the officers did not report for duty.

The situation was the same in major towns in the state, including Ekpoma, Auchi, Abudu and Uromi and in all the secretariats of the 18 local government areas.

Mr Sylvanus Arevhamhe, a staff of National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, at the federal secretariat, who was in the office, said that he resumed because the holiday was over.

He said that he was able to report for duty because he did not travel from Benin to participate in the election.

According to Arevhamhe, the low turnout of workers was because some of them who travelled to their hometowns to vote have not returned.

“Some workers may also be skeptical about the outcome of events when the election result is announced and would want to stay back at home to monitor the situation,” he added.

A teacher at Aduwawa Secondary School, Aduwawa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that although some teachers were present, only few students came to school.

She said that the school would close early to enable them to go home before the election result was announced.

However, banks and other corporate organisations and business outfits were fully operational while residents went about their normal businesses.

There was also free flow of traffic along major roads except on the routes leading to INEC office where armed security men checked all vehicles. (NAN)

OOJ/EMO/OPI

Edited by Ejike Obeta and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-HE-3
Economy
By Muhammad Bello
Sokoto, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Leader, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Garba Bello (APC- Yabo), has said that the Assembly will sustain its support for the state government.

Bello stated this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.

He said that the legislators would ensure the success of all programmes and policies of the state government.

The lawmaker said that the support would also boost the efforts of the state government, for the revival of the economy of the state.

According to him, this is by ensuring that all leakages were blocked and diversify the economy of the state.

Bello said that this would be in the areas of agriculture and solid minerals, as well as other sources of Internally Generated Revenue.

“We in the State House of Assembly are solidly behind Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on his efforts to diversify the economy and also block all leakages.

“So, as long as these leakages are allowed, the country’s economy will continue to suffer.

“This necessitates urgent action for us to be proactive and block the leakages,  for the revival of the economy,’’ he said.

“I believe when every hand is on deck toward reviving the economy, indeed things can automatically improve,’’ he said.

The lawmaker also said that the economic challenges were not peculiar to Sokoto State and Nigeria alone, but a global challenge.

Bello said that in addition to the global effect of the fall in oil price, Nigeria also had its own problems.

“Some groups feel that they could sabotage the economy by way of vandalising the oil pipelines, thereby causing the production to go down.

“Though, we have now realised and indeed President Muhammadu Buhari realised that there is need to diversify the economy,” Bello said.

He said that by producing abundant farm produce, Nigeria would be able to export its commodities to boost external reserves.

On the issue of the planned sale of government assets, the legislature said the nation still needs the assets..

“But in my own personal opinion, we should first look at how much money was invested in these assets and how much are they going to generate as well as the effects in reviving the economy.

“Moreover, does it mean that we do not need these assets later in life when things improve?

“So, we have to make value judgement and look at what are the consequences of selling or not selling such important assets, ‘’ Bello said.(NAN)
MNB/BRM/AJA
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(Edited by Bashir Mani and controlled by Adeleye Ajayi)

NSCDC urges Kaduna residents to be security conscious

NAN-DS-2

Independence

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Sept 29, 2016 (NAN) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna State Command, has urged residents to be security conscious during the forthcoming Independence Day celebration in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by the Command’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Orndiir Terzungwe.

It advised the residents to provide intelligence report to security agencies that would help to address any threat to the security of the state.

The statement quoted the NSCDC Commander in the state, Mr Bunu Modu assuring the people of adequate security during the event.

“I am appealing to everyone to report any suspicious objects, gatherings, persons, movements and activities to security agencies for appropriate action.”

It added that the corps would deploy its personnel to protect critical assets and infrastructure across the state.(NAN)

TJ/MZA

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Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NAN-HG-5
Food
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, on Thursday distributed food items from the Ajumose Food Bank to more than 2,500 women in Ogbomoso and its environs.

The beneficiaries benefited from the various items which including foodstuff and beverages.

Ajimobi said the exercise, which was continuous, was aimed at addressing economic hardship through boosting the wellbeing of women and children in the state.

The governor’s wife said that the desire to change lives and positively impact on people’s lives was what informed the pet project.

This, according to her, informed her decision to randomly select the beneficiaries across the 33 local government areas in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the local governments include Ogbomosho South, Ogbomosho North, Orire, Surulere and Olorunsogo Local Government Areas.

The wives of the respective local government caretaker chairmen, commended the governor’s wife, saying the various initiatives had brought hope to the helpless.

The wife of Surulere Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Mrs Sarah Bamigboye , said that the initiative had contributed to the lives of women and the less privileged.

“It is worthy of note to say that her other wonderful programmes carried out at all levels of the state include HIV/AIDS advocacy, free cervical screening and advocacy against female genital mutilation,” she said.(NAN)
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(Edited by Mohammed Abdullahi and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)