Blog

NANNM lauds Gov. Bindow’s approval to recruit 149 nurses and midwives

NAN-H-8

Commendation

By Muhammad Adam

Yola, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has lauded Adamawa Government’s approval to employ 149 nurses and midwives.

The state Chairman of the association, Mrs Lami Aminu, commented the state government in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola Saturday.

Aminu said that the Thursday’s approval by Gov. Muhammadu Bindow for the recruitment of the nurses and midwives was a big relief to the association.

Aminu said the recruitment would go a long way in addressing the shortage of nurses and midwives in hospitals across the state.

“It’s a dream come true. As a union, we have complained severally to the government on the shortage of nurses and midwives in hospitals.

“We have compiled lists of applicants and sent to the government. Over the years, many of our members had retired and some had died without replacement.

“Presently, nurses and midwives are being over worked; you will see a single nurse managing a whole facility during a shift particularly during evening and night duties,” Aminu said.

She also lauded the state government for ensuring prompt payment of nurses and midwives salaries.

“The governor has been very magnanimous to us; all our salary arrears and allowances had been paid except the increment for those promoted who we have been assured will soon be addressed.”

The chairman urged nurses and midwives in the state to be more dedicated to duty in line with the calling of ” the noble and caring profession”.

She also lauded the emergence of a nurse from the state, Thomas Shettima, as the General Secretary of the NANNM, and assured him of the full support and cooperation of the state branch to succeed in the national assignment. (NAN)
AMA/YMU/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-10
Defilement
By Moses Omorogieva
Lagos, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Police in Lagos State have arrested a man who claimed to be a trader for allegedly raping his 15 -year-old daughter and administering drugs on her to prevent pregnancy.

The spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Badmos said that the Gender Unit of the command was investigating the suspect, Uchena Elumadu for a case of defilement.

She said that a neighbour, who resides at Martins Street, new Oko Oba, Agege Lagos, reported the case to the police.

She said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on different occasions, raped the JSS 3 student who is his daughter.

The police image maker said that Elumadu usually administered drugs to prevent his victim from getting pregnant after having intercourse with her.

“The victim said that her father, on countless occasions, wakes her up in the middle of the night to rape her, mostly when her mother is on night duty.

“The mother is a casual worker in one of the outfits attached to the airport.

“On the night of Sept. 19, the mother discovered the suspect having intercourse with the victim and raised  alarm, and one of their neighbours reported the case to the police,” Badmos said.

She said the victim had been admitted to the Police Cottage Hospital, Ikeja Police College, where she is receiving treatment in partnership with Mirabel Centre LASUTH.

The spokesperson said that medical examination was being carried out on the victim.

Badmos said the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the father, who admitted raping his daughter on three occasions, be charged to court.

“The commissioner has vowed that the command will no longer tolerate cases relating to domestic and sexual abuse in the state,” she said. (NAN)

MIO/FNO/AEA
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Edited by Franca Ofili and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

Yobe Govt. vaccinates 7m livestock, demarcates 1,000km cattle routes

NAN-H-7

Livestock

By Mamman Mohammed

Damaturu, 24, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Government has vaccinated more than seven million animals against Trans-Boundary diseases.

Dr Mustapha Gaidam, Programme Manager, Yobe Livestock Development Programme, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Saturday.

Gaidam said that the state government had also demarcated 1,000km cattle routes in the last eight years to prevent farmer and herdsmen conflicts.

“The state government through the Pilot Livestock Development Programme has vaccinated more than seven million herds of animals in the last eight years.

“We have also demarcated about 1,000km of stock routes to ease movements of livestock across the state to prevent farmer and grazer conflicts.

“I am happy to say that the efforts of the state government had produced positive results with no single case of conflict recorded between farmers and grazers for the past eight years” Gaidam said.

He said the economic recession had forced the government to cut its target of 1.2 million animals for vaccination to 627,000 cows, sheep, goats and dogs in 2016.

“We are vaccinating the animals against Contagious Bovine Pluro Pneumonia (CBPP), Black Quarter (BQ) and Pest Petit Ruminants (PPR) and, Anti-Rabies (AR) for dogs.

“Government had already procured the vaccines, it is in stock and inspected by the state commissioner for agriculture, ready for commencement of the mass vaccination exercise” he said.

Gaidam said the programme had developed a nursery fodder scheme with variety of grasses planted to improve animal feeds in the state.

“We intend to give out these grasses to livestock farmers to plant on their farms to improve animal feeds in all parts of the state to enhance dairy and beef production” he said.

The manager said that Yobe had untapped potential in livestock to turn around economic fortunes of the state.

“Livestock is practiced in almost every household in Yobe State, there are potential through dairy, beef and, hides and skin to diversify the economy and generate huge revenue for the state,” he said (NAN)

MM/FNO/OFN

Edited by Franca Ofili//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-9
Medication
By Awayi Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa state), Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, has advised Nigerians to avoid self medication and seek medical examination before taking drugs.

Mr Agada Vincent-Agada, the state chairman of the association, gave the advice on Saturday in Keffi at an event to mark the 2016 World Pharmacists Day with the theme, “Pharmacists care for you.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Pharmacists Day is held on Sept 25 each year to create public awareness and engage in activities that promote and consolidate the profession’s role in the society

Vincent-Agada said that the call had become imperative considering the negative effects of self medication on human health and to societal development.

He said: “the role of the pharmacists in the society cannot be over emphasised.

“Right from the points of manufacturing, handling to administration of medicine to the last point, needed to be handled by trained professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.

“That is why as key players in the health sector, there is the need for us to create awareness on the need for Nigerians to avoid self medication and seek medical examination before taking drugs.

“We condemn the attitude of those who cultivate the habit of taking drugs indiscriminately without medical examination.’’

Vincent-Agada called on Nasarawa state government to establish Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the state owned University, Keffi to bridge the gap in accessing good and quality healthcare services in the state.

Also speaking, Dr Luka Samuel, Head, Clinical Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, called on pharmacists to adhere strictly to the ethics of their profession.

He urged them to be of good behaviour at all the time in order to improve on the health status of patients.

Earlier, Dr Luka Samuel, Director and Head of department Pharmaceutical service, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, said that the role of the pharmacist in the society is indispensable.

He called on policy makers and other stakeholders in the health sector to formulate policies that would ensure effective healthcare service for the people. (NAN)

AKW/AEA/AEA
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Edited and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-4
Enforcement
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Sept 24, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Bayelsa, has insisted that there is no going back on the Oct. 1 deadline for enforcement of the speed limiting device in the state.

Mr Wobin Gora, FRSC state sector commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Yenagoa, that the deadline is sacrosanct.

He urged the commercial drivers in the state to obey the directive and install the device in their vehicles, adding that the command was committed to enforcement of the directive.

He said that any commercial driver who failed to comply with the directive would be punished.

“The campaign for installation of the speed limiting device has been going on for quite some time.

“Let me emphatically warn commercial drivers in the state that there is no going back on the Oct. 1 deadline.

“My advice to them is to install the device in their vehicles as anybody who failed to do so is doing that at his own risk,’’ he warned.

Gora explained that installing the device would not only reduce crashes resulting from excessive speed, but would go a long way to reduce fuel consumption.

“When speed is reduced, it save cost of fuel consumption; it save cost of reparing vehicle and reduce fatality to the barest minimal,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that the Bayelsa Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) had urged the FRSC to extend the enforcement date of the device citing the current harsh economy in the country.

Noting that transportation business was no longer flourishing as a result of the downturn in the economy, the union stated that extending the deadline would enable its members save money to purchase the device. (NAN)

OOC/AEA/AEA
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Edited and controlled by Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-3
IDPs
Yola, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Adamawa Government says it has relocated no fewer than 350 Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) made up of mostly women and children.

The IDPs were relocated from the transit camp in Mubi to the designated camp in Malkohi, Yola South Local Government Area of the state.

Mr. Haruna Furo, the Executive Chairman of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Yola on Saturday.

Furo said that the move was to ensure adequate welfare of the IDPs and easy coordination of operations.

The relocation, he said, would also enable the state government to re-open the Mubi Burnt Brick Factory initially used as transit camp.

” We relocated about 350 Internally Displaced Persons, mostly women and children, from the Mubi transit camp to Malkohi camp in Yola South Local Government Area.

” The development is to bring together all IDPs in the state under designated and secured camps, ” Furo said.

He said that all the IDPs arrived safely and were camped successfully.( NAN)
AMA/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-1
Revenue
By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike
Enugu, Sept. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has appointed a company, Niceken Logistic Limited, to collect its solid minerals revenue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the firm will  collect revenues from activities bordering on quarrying as well as mining of gravels, laterite and sand.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, disclosed this to NAN in Enugu.

Udeuhele said that the move was to streamline the collection of revenue as well as check leakages in the system.

“The State Executive Council has directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to generate a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to that effect.

“The MoU would be in line with conditions in the committee’s review report between the Ministry of Environment, Mineral Resources and the firm.

“The MoU would be signed within the next two weeks between the company and the state government,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that the Federal Government had taken over the concession of the coal sites in the country, including those in Enugu State.

NAN also learnt that the Federal Government may have decided to concession the coal mining sites in order to boost electricity generation.(NAN)
OJI/KSN/OJO
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(Controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-84
Bail
By Tolulope Dada
Abuja, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) A Magistrates’ Court at Karu in Abuja on Friday granted seven persons from the Shiite group bail of N100,000 each on the three-count charges against each of them.

The seven defendants were charged for the offences of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and inciting public peace, contrary to sections 97, 102 and 114 of the Penal Code.

The defendants are Ibrahim Dogo, Khadija Mohammed, Rukaiya Salisu, Mohammed Habib, Aminu Sani, Leminu Sani and Aisha Ameen, and all were arraigned for the same offences.
The Magistrate, Abubakar Umaru, granted the defendants a bail with two reliable and reasonable sureties each in like sum.
He said the sureties must be Civil or Public Servants with a Grade level of 8 and above.
Umaru also said the sureties must live within the jurisdiction of the court and their addresses must be verified by the officer of the court.
He added that the sureties must submit their passport photographs and national identity cards with the court.
State Prosecutor, Patrick Ogele, had earlier told the court the defendants were arrested by CSP Nwakeme Ezenwa, at Dakwa Road in Deidei, along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway on Thursday.

The prosecutor said Ezenwa, a police officer attached to the Zuba FCT Police Command, reported the matter to the FCT Commissioner of Police.
He said the defendants were arrested after they gathered on the road while holding up two large brand new posters with the face of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, on it.
According to Ogele, the defendants gathered with a common intention of going into the city, and specifically to the court premises where the trial of their leader was ongoing.
Ogele alleged that the intention of the defendants was to storm the court premises and disturb public peace.

He told the court that during police investigations, the defendants could not give a satisfactory explanation to the police and only identified themselves as members of the Shiite group.
The prosecutor had also applied that the defendants not be granted bail by the court.

He had asked the court to consider the nature of the offences and prevailing circumstances of their arrest.
“The court also needs to consider the activities of the group in the country and the fact that the defendants are all residents of Kaduna state,’’ Ogele had said.
Counsel to the defendants, Bala Adukwu, had also earlier prayed the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms and that they were resident within Nigeria.
After listening to the charges, the seven defendants all pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned till Oct. 26 for hearing.(NAN)

(Edited and Controlled by Olawale Alabi)

NAN-H-83
Pilgrims
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept.23, 2016 (NAN) Three Thousand (3,000) pilgrims, who performed the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, have arrived on Medview flights to Lagos, Kaduna and Kano.

Medview airline made this known in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Obuke Oyibotha and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Oyibotha said in the statement that the latest flight arrived on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with 323 pilgrims.

He said the pilgrims comprised those who travelled through Med-View Travels Konsult and some other tour agents as well as pilgrims from Oyo State.

According to him, they were conveyed in a Boeing 777-200 deployed for Hajj operations by Med-View Airline.

“The airline airlifted pilgrims from the South-West states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and South-South, Armed Forces, as well as Kaduna.

“The airline commenced the return journey on Sept. 19 with the transportation of pilgrims from Osun and Lagos states.

“The aircraft carrying the pilgrims touched the terminal of the Airport at exactly 7:30 a.m amidst cheers and praises by the elated pilgrims.

“They described the trip as smooth and stress-free despite going through rigorous screening at the Saudi Airport,” he said.

The spokesman said Med-View Head of Enlightenment, Imam Abdulsalam Abdulraheem, advised the pilgrims not to return to their old bad ways of life which they had vowed to relinquish during the Hajj.

He reminded them that they are now like new born babies without any sin.

He also commended the cooperation and maturity displayed by the pilgrims during the Hajj, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the airline’s foray into Hajj operations.

Oyibotha further quoted the airline’s Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, as saying that the airline had transported over 300,000 pilgrims since it started Hajj operations 10 years ago.

Bankole attributed the airline’s successes in the past decade to sincerity, honesty and commitment to the job. (NAN)
ASO/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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C’River Govt. pledges to pay Fadama III A+ counterpart funds
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Fadama
Calabar, Sept. 23, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has assured the Federal Government and donor partners of prompt payment of the counterpart funds for Fadama III Additional financing project in the state.

Ayade gave the assurance on Friday in Calabar during the launching of the Fadama III additional financing project.

” Let me quickly reassure, therefore, that, we shall honor all previous obligations for accessing funds through the prompt release of counterpart funds.’’

He described Agriculture as the bedrock of development of any nation, adding that the state had the potentials to become one of the food baskets of the country.

“As a state, we are blessed with vast arable land and suitable climatic conditions in participating in different agricultural value chains,” he said.

Ayade advised farmers in the state to key into fadama 111 A+ project and other programmes to better their lots and increase the revenue base of the state.

He reminded the benefiting farmers that the funds that would be disbursed to them were strictly meant for business and warned against waste or mismanagement.

The governor urged project managers and supervisors to closely monitor the project implementation by the beneficiaries in order to expand cassava production in the state.

Speaking, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Bassey Elemi, said Cross River was selected to participate in the additional financing due to its excellent performance in the last fadama 111 project, between 2009 and 2015.

He commended the state government for paying all its counterpart funds for the project implementation which facilitated the selection of the state for the AD+ project.

Elemi urged beneficiaries to do everything possible to make the project succeed as it would give the state opportunity to draw more from the $200 million World Bank funds.

He said a total of 970 hectares have been earmarked for the take off of the project which would last till Dec. 31st 2017, with cassava production as the states comparative advantage.

He said the cassava farms were scattered in Akpabuyo, Yala, Bekwara and Obudu Local Government Areas of the state.

NAN reports that stakeholders in agriculture sector in the state attended the event. (NAN)
BEN/CEO/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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