Blog

NAN-HG-9
Stores
By Bosede Olufunmi
Kano, Sept. 28, 2016(NAN) Kano State drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency on Wednesday said it would establish a zonal medical store in Gaya Local Government Area of the state.

The Managing Director of the Agency, Alhaji Magaji Zarena, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

Zarena said the store would supply drugs to primary health facilities in Ajingi, Albasu, Gaya and Takai local government areas to ease purchase and volume of medical works.

“The agency has recorded successes in the procurement and sales of drugs to various health facilities in parts of the state,” he said.

He also said that the Agency would publish tender in national dailies to invite companies to bring quotations of price list of drugs and medical consumables to enable it select the best base on quality and affordability.

He said the agency’s medical stores in Gwarzo, Rano and Madobi local government areas had been successfully selling drugs to health facilities in the state.

NAN reports that the agency had last year purchased drugs and medical consumables worth N470 million for sale to government health facilities in the state.

The contract for the supply of the drugs was given to drugs manufacturing companies to reduce cost and ensure quality.(NAN)
BO/IM
(Edited by Ibrahim Mammaga)

GM crops safe, improve farmers’ yield, income – experts

NAN-AE-7
Crops
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Sept.28, 2016 (NAN) Dr Morufat Balogun, a Geneticist at the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, says Genetically Modified crops are safe, improve farmers’ production and income.

Balogun made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday.

According to her, modified crops could boost food production as it tackles the major problem of farmers, which is weed.

“Herbicide resistant genetically modified crops withstand herbicides, kill weed while the crop survives.

“This will make the farmers field clean, there will not be competition for food, the yield will be high and farmers will make more money,” she said.

The don emphasised that there were several benefits gained from GM crops, adding that there can be modification of quality trait.

“For instance, more protein in maize, bitter carotene in cassava with high yielding variety can be gotten through modification,” she said.

The geneticist advised the government to regularly organise workshops, media chats to sensitise stakeholders on GM organisms and crops.

“During such a forum, the National Biosafety Management Agency and other Biometric committees will inform people, allow them to ask questions and answer them on the issue; it’s not in the best interest of Nigerians to say no to GMO’s.

“So I am supporting an informed use of GMO’s in the country,” she said.

Similarly, Dr Christopher Ilori, a Geneticist from the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, UI, also stressed the need to enlighten Nigerians on GM organisms and crops.

“The views of people about GMO’s are based on what others say rather than what they know about it.

“Potentially, they have a lot of advantages and also there could be risks, it’s not true that they have adverse effect on the body as many think; the gene determines whether there is potential risk of consuming it or not.

“Sometimes a GM crop can be cross compatible with specie and it may end up being an environmental issue.

“If the government wants to allow importation of GM crops, they should be careful with regards to what type of crop they will allow in and the kind of gene the crops are carrying,” he said.

Ilori further advised that any decision taken on the importation of GM crops or organisms should be based on good information and evidence, not on sentiment.

The  don explained that any crop could be modified in as much as one gathered knowledge about the crop’s reproduction process and the right technique one should apply to modify it.

“However, some crops are easier to modify than others, crops in same family with tomato tend to be easier to manipulate than others,” he said. (NAN)
CC/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Motorists decry of roads

NAN-H-39

Motorists
By Amen Gajira‎
‎Mashegu (Niger),  Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) Residents and motorists in Mashegu Local Government area of Niger have decried the deplorable state of roads in their locality.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  that the situation was affecting their lives negatively, citing roads from Gidan gwari to Tozon dadi, Rifin gora and Makir‎a.

Malam Abubakar Bawa‎ said that the poor state of roads had forced commercial drivers in the area to jack up their fares.

” A journey that is supposed to take a small amount of time, takes several hours owing to the terrible nature of our roads.

“This‎ has caused commercial operators like me to increase our fares because of the stress and all that.” he said

Another commercial driver, Alhaji Musa Saleh, says he repairs his vehicle at least twice in a week because of  bad roads.

“The better part of the money one makes is spent on one repair or the other every time because of the potholes on the roads.

“It is a really pathetic situation down here because we are suffering and we don’t know when all this will be over.” he added

Others called on governments at both the state and federal levels to come to their aid by repairing the bad roads.

Also speaking, the chairman of the local government, Alhaji Saidu Kaboji‎, described himself as a victim of the bad roads.

Kaboji said the situation had brought untold hardship to his people.

He said that he would use his good offices to attract the intervention of the relevant authorities. (NAN)

AMEN‎/NKO/NKO

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NAN-H-27
Swearing-in
By Muhammad Nasir Bello
Sokoto, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) Deputy Speaker Abubakar Magaji of the Sokoto State House of Assembly on Wednesday swore-in the member representing Tureta Constituency , Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the swearing-in followed the resignation of Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar (APC – Tureta).

Abubakar resigned to contest the chairmanship of Tureta Local Government under the platform of APC.

Magaji (APC- Bodinga North), who presided over the assembly on Wednesday, administered the oath of office to Muhammad.

Magaji said: “The new member was elected and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a certificate of election to him.

“In view of the above and Order 11, Sub-Section 6 of the Standing Rules of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, the member is hereby sworn into office as a member of the state assembly.

“The swearing-in of the new member is to ensure that all constituencies in the state assembly are equally represented to enable more development for the state.

“This moreover, followed the bye-election of the member conducted by INEC on the 20th August, 2016, to fill a vacuum.

He congratulated the new member, and urged him to work diligently for the overall development of the state and the country at large.

Commenting, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, thanked the assembly for its peaceful conduct.

“The state assembly followed the technicality in legislative process,” he remarked.

He hoped that Muhammad would work for the development of Tureta Local Government Area, the state and the country in general.

Responding, Muhammad promised to support the legislative and the executive arms of the state government to move the state forward.

NAN reports that Muhammad, a retired Secretary of many local governments in the state, won the Aug. 20 bye-election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). (NAN)

MNB/BRM/IGO
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Controlled by Ijeoma Popoola

NAN-S-6
Chess
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Sept. 28 , 2016 (NAN) Anambra have emerged overall best as the chess event at the ongoing 2^nd National Youth Games (NYG) ended on Wednesday, winning four gold and one silver.

The athletes who won the medals are Francis Ifechukwu, Agha Obianulu, Miracle Omesi and Helen Ikegbunam.

Anambra were closely followed by Ogun with one gold and two silver medals, while Delta got one gold, one silver and one bronze.

Meanwhile, Anambra’s Ikegbunam emerged the best female athlete in the chess event, winning two gold and one silver medal.

She won one gold in the individual and one in the team event as well as a silver in the blitz event.

The overall best female player stunned opponents from Yobe, Imo, Kaduna, Rivers, FCT, Delta, Kwara, Ogun, Gombe, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom Bauchi and Plateau, garnering 100% record at rate point of 1,800.

In second and third place are Katherine Enosoregbe from Yobe and Adaeze Opara from Imo respectively.

The revelation at the chess event was 11-year-old Ikechukwu Osadebe, who won a gold and a bronze medal for Team FCT. (NAN)
BAY/PDE
=======
(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-25

Aviation

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) Leading aviation stakeholders on Wednesday said that a lack of integrity in transactions was the bane of the Nigerian aviation sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders spoke at the First Aviation Transaction Integrity Summit, organised by a company, Aviation Monitor Ltd. in Lagos.

Speakers at the summit include Mr Muhtar Usman, Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Gbenga Olowo, President, Aviation Round Table and Mr Chris Aligbe, an aviation expert.

Others are Dr Harold Demuren, former Director General of the NCAA and Mr Kingsley Nwokoma, President of the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives of Nigeria.

Usman described the theme of the summit as apt, especially with the Federal Government expressing its willingness to partner the private sector to make move the sector forward.

Represented by Mr Adamu Abdullahi, Director, Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA, Usman urged airline operators to take responsibility for their actions by becoming more transparent in their transactions with aviation agencies.

The director-general cited the non-remittance of five per cent Ticket, Cargo and Charter Sales Charges collected at source from travellers by airlines on behalf of the Federal Government.

“These sales charges are to enable all aviation agencies carry out their responsibilities of providing safe, secure and efficient regulatory services for the overall benefit of all aviation stakeholders.”

Also speaking, Demuren said that a lack of consistency in policy formulation and implementation had impacted negatively on attracting foreign direct investment to the country.

He noted that government must learn to abide by concession agreements, adding that previous experiences had led to unending court cases.

On his part, Aligbe argued that policy flip-flop had negative effect on investors, stressing that government should carry stakeholders along while enacting policies in the aviation sector.

“As we are heading towards the next programme of concessioning, we must put integrity and transparency first so as to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

“In my opinion, the way forward for our aviation sector is to concession the airports. That is the only way we can have world-class terminals and facilities but the concession processes must be transparent.”

Similarly, Nwokoma blamed the exit of some foreign airlines from Nigeria on the difficulties of doing business in the country.

He urged the Nigerian government to find an urgent solution to challenges facing airlines such as their inability to repatriate funds, scarcity of foreign exchange and aviation fuel.

The convener of the summit, Mr Albinus Chiedu, said his aim was to evaluate the level of integrity in business transactions, agreements and contract implementation in the industry.

“I believe that it is when we, as stakeholders, begin to address issues of transaction integrity that our aviation sector will experience our desired speedy growth and development.” (NAN)

ASO/SN

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(Controlled by Silas Nwoha)

Edo poll: NAWOJ President commends high voter turnout
By Kevin Okunzuwa
NAN-H-7
Voters
Benin, Sept.28,2016(NAN) Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, National President, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists( NAWOJ), has described the voter turnout in the Edo governorship election as impressive.

Omowole, who made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Benin, said: “I am quite impressed with the level of voter turnout.

“The turnout of men and women is impressive and has erased the initial fear that the election will be trailed by voter apathy following the initial security threat that led to its postponement by two weeks.

“We have moved round polling centres and the voters’ enthusiasm is commendable as they displayed orderly conduct.

“I also want to say that the conduct of security personnel both at the polling centres and at road blocks is simply superb as they were very professional and polite, a sign that they have been properly trained for the exercise.

“My professional colleagues have also been very civil and professional as they have carried out their assignments with the utmost decorum expected of media practitioners,’’ the president said.(NAN)
KOO/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Keshi’s audioAudio Attached

NAN-ELS-1
Centres
By Sharon Obi
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The National Council for Arts and Crafts (NCAC) has  advocated  the establishment of three National Arts and Crafts centres in the country to promote the industry.

The Director-General of the council, Mrs Dayo Keshi, made the call when she featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Wednesday.

Keshi also called on all state governments to set up arts and craft villages to showcase the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the people.

•   Cue in audio

“I believe that our role is to create these economic structures; create an arts and craft fair.

“It doesn’t have to be just AFAC (African Festival of Arts and Culture) – once in a year; we can have ten.

“I believe that in order to promote Nigeria’s Arts and Craft industry, every state in Nigeria should have somewhere in the capital that they will call Arts and Craft village so that all their works from that state will be showcased in such a place and sold there.

“So whenever a visitor or a tourist comes, you just take them to the Arts and Craft village in your state.

“From all that I believe too, we should have three major national arts and craft centres in Nigeria as a start up.”

•  Cue out audio

The director-general dispelled the view that the country’s art and craft sector was dying, saying that foreigners had always valued and appreciated the creative art and craft works  of Nigerians.

“People want these art and craft products; the problem is getting the wares as indigenous as it is to the buyers, and the buyers cannot go into all the villages where they are produced.

“However, we can have an African Festival of Arts and Culture where these things produced will be brought.

“A number of non-Nigerians do place high premium on works of art from Africa.

“What an average Nigerian will see and pass by because he or she is used to it, an art investor will pay attention to it.

And such an investor would constantly want a platform where people will be able to buy the products.”
She further said that the responsibility of promoting indigenous works of art was largely on the citizens.

Keshi said that Nigeria possessed arts products that aptly depicted the country’s diverse and rich culture. (NAN)
SOO/OSA/YEE

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
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Fertility preservation, solution to parenthood for career-minded couples — Gynaecologist

NAN-HG-4

Fertility

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016(NAN) An Abuja-based Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr Ibrahim Wada, says preservation of sperms and eggs is the ultimate solution to child bearing for career men and women.

Wada said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a forum with the theme “The Place of Assisted Reproduction in Infertility Management’’.

He defined fertility preservation also known as `cryopreservation’ as the storage of gamete embryos such as sperms in males or eggs in females of couples for future child bearing.

Wada, an internationally acclaimed gynaecologist and fertility expert, in 1996, founded Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, where Nigeria’s first ever “deep freeze” or test-tube baby was born on 12th October 2001.

He noted that the quest for career has heightened in the 21^st century just as significant achievements in the field of reproductive endocrinology and fertility have been recorded.

According to him, fertility preservation is also useful for couples who want to postpone having children for medical reasons such as treatment of cancer or ovarian cysts.

He explained that sperms and eggs could be frozen prior to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and extensive surgeries.

“For some societies where women are increasingly becoming household heads and men engaged in demanding professions, fertility preservation seems to be the ultimate solution.

“No longer should the pressure of having a baby when someone is not ready weigh them down.’’

On factors responsible for infertility, Wada underscored the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle, adding that avoiding infection, smoking and alcoholism, could help prevent infertility.

“Diverse factors are responsible for the inability of couples to conceive and bear children.

“In men, it could be the sperm quality, infections, injury, aging or impotency while in women ovulation problems, aging, egg quality, blocked tubes, among others.

“As an individual grows older, there could be various impediments to one’s fertility such as smoking, alcoholism, drugs and high risk occupation which could account for decline in sperm count,’’ he said. (NAN)

TIM/HS/NKO

Edited by Halima Sheji/Halima Sheji

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Plateau not polio endemic, says health commissioner

NAN-H-32
Donate
By Blessing Emmanuel
Jos, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Kunden Deyin said on Wednesday that contrary to insinuations and negative reports, the state was not polio endemic.

He said this in Jos, while receiving a donation of 46 Direct Drive Solar Refrigerators from the European Union (EU), to the Plateau Government for the effective storage of vaccines.

The commissioner said at the ceremony that the state had not recorded any case of polio since 2009, and that the ministry was up and doing.

He said the gesture from the EU would go a long way in ensuring that potent vaccines were administered effectively to toddlers and children in the state.

“If vaccines do not get to the child in its potent stage, it is as good as if the vaccine are not administered as the aim of such immunisation is defeated because the vaccine had lost its efficacy.

“This donation will ensure that each of the 17 Local Government Area on the Plateau, have a proper and effective way of preserving the vaccines.

“Since the refrigerators are powered by solar, there will be no gap at all in the administration of potent vaccines”, he said.

He assured that the donation would be used for its sole purpose which is to ensure that vaccines were kept in potent state and that such vaccines were administered in potent stage too.

According to him, Plateau is on its toes to ensure that there is no case of such in the State, by ensuring that children were immunised with the oral-polio vaccine.

Dr Solomon Thliza, the Plateau Technical Assistant of EU Support to Immunisation Governance in Nigeria (EU-SIGN Project) , had while presenting the items to the government, said the EU was committed to ensuring that every child got immunised with potent vaccines.

He said the project had made it a point of duty to provide infrastructure such as cold rooms and freezers, which Plateau was a beneficiary.

He explained that vaccines needed to be kept or stored in a cold temperature of plus one to plus eight for it to maintain its potency.

“Many times, vaccines that have lost potency are administered to infants because such vaccines are not well stored and the aim of giving such vaccines is defeated,” he said,

He explained that the refrigerators, which were solar driven, would go a long way in bridging the gaps of inadequate power supply for areas that lack electricity.

In addition to storage of vaccines, he said the freezers would be used to freeze ice packs, which would be kept in the coolers that are used to convey the vaccines for administration.

He further explained that the ice packs would help ensure that the vaccines were potent for 16- hours in the coolers when outside the cold room or refrigerators. (NAN)

(Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Julius Enehikhuere)