Blog

NAN-S-1
Sports
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Edited By Ewedapo Akintunde
Abakaliki, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) Dr Emeka Onwe, Chief Medical Director, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, on Sunday urged Nigerians to embrace sporting activities to mitigate the effect of the nation’s current economic recession.

Onwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that engaging in sporting activities was ‘indispensable’ in people’s lives.

According to him, sporting activities will make individuals ‘active-minded’ and psychologically cushion the effects of the current economic realities in the country.

“When people engage in sporting activities, they forget their burdens and are psychologically ‘tuned’ to face challenges confronting them.

“Exercises make individuals to be complete, physically and mentally, and fit to positively tackle their problems,” he said.

The director noted that sporting activities fostered love and harmonious relationship among people, which were currently lacking due to several social and economic factors.

“Individuals cannot harm those they train and engage in sporting activities with; I relish memories of the past when I meet my school compatriots in sporting activities.

“There are several instances of people securing jobs and other favours because they support the same club with those who offered the assistance, especially European clubs,” he said.

He urged relevant authorities in the country to revamp sports, with emphasis on school sports and grassroots sports development.

“The sporting activities conducted in our primary and secondary school days for instance, appear to be missing in the current school curriculum.

“I was a good sprinter in my school days; we ensured that we did not miss school on days slated for sporting activities.

“We did all we could to impress our teachers to offer us opportunities of participating actively in sporting events.

“When the abundant talents in schools and grassroots are discovered and appropriately harnessed, the nation would rediscover its glorious days in sports, especially in football.

“I can assure that Clemens Westerhof’s golden era would be rekindled,” he said.

He said that sports and medicine were inseparable, assuring that the hospital would continue in its efforts of promoting sporting activities for healthy living of citizens. (NAN)
RCO/EWE/ASH
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NAN-ND-1
Flood
Godwin Odok
Calabar, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) Mr John Inaku, the Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency,  says the agency is spending N800 million to address issues of  flood in the state during the year.

Inaku made the disclosure s to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday.

He said that the government set aside the amount, following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)’s prediction of possible flooding in 11 states, including Cross River, during the year.

NAN recalls that NIMET had predicted that there would be flood in Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara states.

“We have bought mattresses and toiletries; provisions have been made for foodstuff and other necessities of comfort.

“We know that if measures are not taken to address the situation, the effect of the flood will be very devastating and will cost the state so much,’’ Inaku  said.

He said part of the amount would be spent on building a permanent camp for flood victims in the state.

The director-general said that an estimated 216,000 people would be severely affected by flood in 10 local government areas of the state if the flood occurred as predicted.

He listed the local government areas as Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Odukpani, Biase, Obubra, Ikom, Abi, Etung, Bakassi and Yala.

He said that five persons had died while property worth millions of naira had been lost to flood in the state between January and August.

“Following NIMET’s prediction, the state government has earmarked about N800 million to intensify the fight against flooding in the state.

“This money will be used to build a permanent camp for 216,000 people that are likely to be severely affected by the flood.

“We have identified where the camp would be erected. The governor has given directives to the Ministry of Lands and Survey to partner with us in this direction.

“Part of the amount will also be used to hire boats to move some people in the riverine areas to safer places and provide water and healthcare for them.

“Yam farms in some communities have been washed away by flood. We also need to relocate these farmers to a permanent site,” Inaku said.

He said that the agency had sustained its awareness campaign on the need for people to stop building houses along the waterways and take other measures to prevent flooding. (NAN)

GNO/EMO/JCE
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(Edited by Ejike Obeta/Chukwudi Ekezie)

NAN-H-16

Prostitution

By Abiodun Azi

Asaba, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Asaba, the Delta capital, have decried the increase in commercial sex activities in the city, in spite of the warning by health officials on the consequences of the vice.

The residents expressed their concerns about the high rate of the menace in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday.

They advised the women involved in the act to have a change of heart considering the health, religious and other consequences of prostitution and called for appropriate measures to curb the trend.

One of the residents, Mr Nnamdi Nkenor, told NAN that commercial sex workers often lurked around Texas Plaza and Stephen Keshi Stadium, both located along the popular Nnebisi Road at night, looking for patronage.

Nkenor reminded the women, who he said were in their teens, and some not above 35 years, that they were prone to contracting and spreading HIV and AIDs and other sexually-transmitted diseases.

He said also that such women could easily fall victims of ritual killing that had become rampant in the society.

“Times are hard but these girls have forgotten the consequences of what they are indulging in. Apart from the health implications, some of them could be used for rituals.’’

He called on the appropriate authorities to check the menace as was done in 2014, advising that such measures should be sustained.

On his part, Mr Emmanuel Okpara, said that the sex workers were also found around Ibusa Road junction, Coker Junction, Jesus Saves Road and other strategic areas in the city.

“These women of easy virtues have thrown caution to the wind in spite of the sensitisation on the dreaded HIV and AIDS.

“Some of them can get missing and their colleagues will just think that they have simply relocated to other places.

“Prostitution is wrong; it is against Christianity and parents should bring up their children to be responsible members of the society,” Okpara said.

He also called on government to provide jobs for the youths, saying that the high rate of the vice and others was largely due to unemployment. (NAN)

AGE/EMO/OPI

(Edited by Ejike Obeta and Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-H-9

Loan

By Mamman Mohammed.

Damaturu, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Government has threatened to adopt harsh measures, including legal options, to recover outstanding Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) loans from defaulting beneficiaries.

Chairman of the loan recovery committee in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Mustapha, gave the threat in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Sunday.

He said the committee had met with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ascertain the level of recovery and the unpaid loans by the beneficiaries.

“The committee observed with utter dismay the slow pace of repayment of the loans by the beneficiaries.

“The committee also had reservations with the manner in which funds recovered by the respective ministries, departments and agencies were handled,” he said.

Mustapha, who is the Commissioner for Justice in the state, said that a dedicated account for remittance of all funds recovered by the MDAs had been created under the Ministry of Finance.

“In view of the foregoing, the committee is therefore urging all stakeholders including the loan beneficiaries, MDAs and their guarantors to ensure payment and remittance of the funds into the dedicated account.

“Failure to comply with these directives will leave the committee with no option than to take all necessary measures to recover such loans” he warned.

NAN recalls that Yobe Government gave out vehicles, tricycles and grinding machines under the SURE-P loan revolving scheme to persons in the 17 local government areas in the state.

The MDAs involved in distribution of the loan include Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Small Scale Industries. (NAN)

MM/OPI/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)

Association hails Gov. Ganduje for payment of N8bn to indigenous contractors

NAN-H-6
Liability
By Masanawa Muntari
Kano, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Indegenous Contractors in Kano State, has lauded, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, for paying eight billion naira to its 500 members as part of outstanding liability owed by the contractors.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Auduwa Maitangaran, made the commendation when he briefed newsmen in Kano on Sunday.

He said Ganduje deserved to be commended for the singular act as no governor in the country had made such a giant strides in settling outstanding liability.

Maitangaran said some of the contractors had spent over eight years after executing the work without payment from the former administration of Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso.

“We felt constrained to tell the whole world that despite the current economic recession, Gov. Ganduje has been able to pay contractors N8 billion out of the outstanding liabilities.

“With this, no fewer than 500 companies or contractors, were paid by the state government.

“Some of our members have died between 2009 and 2016, but the governor out of magnanimity and benevolence, paid the families of the deceased contractors”, he said.

He, therefore, called on other governors in the country to emulate Ganduje to reduce the suffering being experienced by Indegenous contractors as a result of the non-payment of outstanding liabilities.

“I am using this opportunity to call on other governors to borrow a leaf from Gov. Ganduje so as to offset the outstanding debts in their respective states.

He said it was only through patronising indigenous contractors that government could reduce poverty in the country as the contractors have many people working under them. (NAN).
MTM/OFN
(Edited by Felix Nwadioha)

NAN-H-5

Checks

By Yinusa Ishola

Omu-Aran (Kwara), Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) A Consultant Physician, Dr Sam Onuh, on Sunday advised pregnant women to undergo dental examination to prevent mother-to-child transmission of bacteria and infections during pregnancy.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Kwara, that such procedure was necessary, especially at the early stage of pregnancy to ensure good health of mother and child.

Onuh, who is attached to Omu-Aran General Hospital, said the clinical check would also help to prevent mother-to-child harmful and complicated issues, including premature labour.

He emphasised the need for pregnant women to avoid some procedures such as “whitening’’ and ensure that they had regular medical check-ups to guard against bacterial infections.

“One possible reason is that oral bacteria harbours prostaglandin, a labour inducing hormone.

“Fluctuating hormone can cause expecting mothers to develop pregnancy gingitivitis (swollen, bleeding gum).

“This, if left untreated, can lead to periodontal diseases, which in turn, can raise the risk for low birth weight and premature delivery.

“If you reduce the bacteria in the mouth, you reduce the low-level infections that could cause preterm labour.

“So, pregnant women are advised to undertake clinical examination and cleaning of their teeth at least once, to have a clean bill of health,” he said.

The medical expert also said that it was necessary for pregnant women to cultivate good eating habit to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

He disagreed with the belief that eating plenty of food would produce healthier and stronger babies.

Onuh said that heavier mothers, especially those who were over-weight when they conceived and gained a more weight during pregnancy were at greater risk for gestational diabetes and hypertension.

According to him, their babies tend to be larger in the process and can cause serious difficulties during delivery.

He advised mothers against over-weight and urged them to do a lot of exercise to keep fit.

“You don’t need to gain a great deal of weight to have a healthier baby.

“A foetus generally requires only an extra 100 calories a day in the first timester and 300 calories in the third timester,” Onuh said. (NAN)
ISHO/CIA/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-HE-1
Forex
Lagos, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc., Mr Dallas Peavey, said on Sunday that accessing Foreign Exchange (Forex) remained a major challenge to importing equipment for the company’s operations.

Peavey made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against the backdrop of the company’s inability to expansion its plant for further electricity generation.

According to him, the power plant cannot continue to import equipment and effect rehabilitation because of forex challenges.

“The years since the electricity companies were acquired are fraught with difficulties as we faced several hurdles in importation of electrical equipment.

“We are still not free from difficulties as access to forex remains a huge challenge.

“Most of the equipment used on the 37-year-old plant are not manufactured in Nigeria or Korea. We have to go to Japan because the machines are made there.

“Scarcity of dollars has grossly contributed to the poor development of the plant because sourcing for dollars remains a mirage,’’ he said.

Peavey said that the electricity firms were already facing difficulties in servicing the over N402 billion loans which they collectively took to purchase the plants when they were privatised in 2013.

He said that currently, Egbin Power was indebted to banks to about 320 million dollars.

He said that the money was borrowed to rehabilitate the plant and purchase equipment to put the plant in good shape to generate at capacity level.

The Egbin boss said that when the power generating companies took loans from local and international banks to acquire the electricity plants, the foreign exchange rate was about N157 to one dollar.

He said that currently, it was difficult to pay back as the rate had risen to over N320 to one dollar.

He appealed to Federal Government to assist power generating companies toward accessing low exchange rate as high rates impacted negatively on their operations.

According to him, with the high forex rate, the cost of yearly maintenance has also doubled.

“What this means is that we will be paying two times that amount for maintenance alone.

“Our plant is largely run with offshore equipment, spares and tools and these spares can only be procured in dollars.

“Invariably, there is a need for a special allocation if we are to get the entire mix right.

“Otherwise, the tariff structure will not be affordable to be able to assist in the industrialisation vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,’’ Peavey said.

He noted that the huge debts owed generation companies have put them in a cash liquidity crisis that had reduced their ability to pay for gas supplies.

He added that the development was threatening to completely undermine the electricity value chain and ability to continue to serve customers.

He urged the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Traders (NBET) to make all collections from consumers more visible and accessible to all stakeholders in the energy business.

Peavey lamented that they had been at the receiving end of the deficiencies in the Nigerian power sector, as well as the seemingly insurmountable challenges of operating in the sector.

“The fact is that Electricity Generating Companies (GENCOs) have been and remain far more vulnerable than any other player in the electricity supply value chain.

“For whatever reason, very little has been put in place to give the GENCOs a legitimate chance of survival based on the realities on ground.

“While the GENCOs have been carrying the burden of ensuring that the power sector remains functional, and hoping that the obvious gaps, deficiencies and threat to their existence will be addressed.

“We are currently cringing under the excruciating pains of carrying this burden,’’ he lamented.

Peavey explained that since takeover of the power generation assets, availability of good quality gas had always been a major issue.

He said that the situation had taken a turn for the worse in the last six months due to the rising cases of pipeline vandalism and insecurity around gas producing and transportation assets.

The development, he noted, had further diminished the supply of gas to generation plants, thereby crippling the system.

Peavey said that there was a need for the government to significantly invest in the transmission sector to ensure an equal level growth across the industry.

He also said that the generating sector was already witnessing some crises due to inadequate transmission infrastructure. (NAN)
YO/PDE
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(Edited and Controlled by Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-4

Polio

Dutse, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) Authorities of Sule-Tankarkar Local Government Area said the World Health Organization (WHO) had organized a Nigeria/Niger Republic boarder meeting for health personnel ahead of forthcoming polio immunization in the country.

Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Daudu Sulaiman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Dutse that the meeting was held on Saturday at the border community.

Sulaiman said that Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Malam Jafar Muhammad, at the meeting, assured that the council would provide financial support to ensure the success of the exercise in the area.

He explained that the forum was to share experiences and idea among the participants “and reach a consensus for effective joint coverage during the exercise along the border villages and towns’’.

According to him, the WHO consultant in charge of Sule-Tankarkar and Babura Local Government Areas, Dr Aminu Gadama, explained that the meeting was organized to discuss critical issues, challenges and review previous exercises.

The council spokesperson added that the participants were drawn from Sule-Tankarkar and Maigatari Local Government Areas in Jigawa and Baure and Zango Local Government Areas in Kastina state.

From Niger Republic, he said, participants were drawn from Magarya and Matamaye communities.

NAN reports that the next round of polio immunization would begin across the 27 local government areas of Jigawa on Sept. 17. (NAN)

MNB/OPI/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-H-3

Security

Dutse, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Police in Jigawa on Sunday assured people in the state of adequate security during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdu Jinjiri, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

Jinjiri said the command had taken proactive measures to ensure a hitch-free and peaceful sallah celebration in the state.

He explained that the command increased its patrol teams on major roads in order that law and order were maintained during the period.

He added that adequate personnel would be stationed at strategic locations such as prayer grounds, children parks, recreational centres, Emirs’ palaces, Durbar routes and other suspected crime spots.

According to Jingiri, some personnel will be stationed in some areas to help in the control of crowd, and we also have enough officers on standby in case of eventualities.

He, therefore, advised people to cooperate with all security personnel for peaceful celebration.

He also urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements to the nearest security formation within their localities. (NAN)

MNB/OPI/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)