Blog

Council of Imams/Ulama in Kaduna elects new chairman

Council

By Aisha Gambo

Kaduna, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna state on Thursday elected Sheik Ibrahim Nakaka, as its new chairman follwing the demise of its former chairman, Sheik Usman Baban-Tine.

This was made known in a statement by the council’s Secretary-General, Malam-Yusuf Yakubu, in Kaduna.

Yakubu also stated that the council which used to have two vice chairmen had made an addition of a third vice chairman.

“Dr Muhammad Aliyu, the Chief Imam of Zaria Lowcost Mosque is now the 1st Vice Chairman, while Sheik Muhammad Hassan, the Chief Imam of Yahaya Road mosque becomes the 2nd Vice Chairman.

“And Mallam Muhammad-Kabir Qasim, the acting Chief Imam of Kafanchan now becomes the 3rd Vice Chairman.”

He urged members of the council to be steadfast and join hands to work for the progress of Islam and Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Nakaka’s predecessor,  died on Sept. 10 after a brief illness at A.B.U teaching Hospital Shika, Zaria. (NAN)

AMG/JTJ/MZA

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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Maharazu Ahmed

Inducement
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) The growing trend of voters’ inducement ahead of Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun is worrisome.

An election observer and monitoring group, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA Africa), made the assertion on Thursday in Osogbo.

The group Project Director, Cynthia Mbamalu, spoke at a media briefing on its pre-election observation findings and election observation.

Mbamalu said that the group, in its pre-election findings, observed that voters’ inducement through the distribution of money and gifts was visible in the state.

She said that there was urgent need for all electoral actors to intensify campaign to discourage the act of voter bribery before and during the election.

Mbamalu, however, said that political parties have the most role to play in curbing the trend of voters’ inducement and vote-buying.

She also urged political parties and their candidates to act within the ambits of the law and promote a positive political culture that would enhance peaceful election.

While urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to sustain voter education, Mbamalu urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to invest in voter education as part of its mandate.

She advised electorate who have yet to collect their permanent voter cards to do so to enable them to perform their civil duty on the day of the election.

Besides, Mbamalu said the group, as a way of promoting electoral integrity, had trained 60 trainers and would be deployed to all the 30 local government areas of the state.

She said that the trainers would in turn train 500 Watching the Vote Polling Units observers and 32 roving observers.

Mbamalu said the group’s Watching the Vote Project would deployed the parallel Vote Tabulation methodology, which uses statistical principles, Information and Communication Technologies to provide systematic data on the quality of election day processes. (NAN)
VE/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Rainstorm destroys 4,000 houses in Katsina State – SEMA

Rainstorm

By Zubairu Idris

Katsina, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says 4,000 houses have been destroyed by rainstorms in some parts of the state during this year’s rainy season.

The SEMA Executive Secretary, Alhaji Haruna Musa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Katsina on Thursday, said two persons have also died in building collapse during the season.

Musa said that several others sustained various degrees of injuries, while a number of the houses were completely destroyed.

He said that Baure, Daura, Jibiya, Malumfashi, Kusada and Musawa Local Governments were among the worst affected areas.

“We receive reports of rainstorm on daily basis from different parts of the state,’’ he said.

He said the agency had assessed the incidents, with a view to assisting the victims, adding that after the assessment, the state government provided relief materials to alleviate the suffering of the victims.

In a related development, The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North-West zone, has organised a stakeholders meeting in the state.

The meeting was aimed at ascertaining the level of the state’s preparedness and collaboration in disaster management.

The Zonal Coordinator, Mr Ishaya Isah, stressed the need for all stakeholders in disaster management to work together to evolve a culture of preparedness, prevention, resilience and response to disaster.

”This is with a view to proffering solutions towards efficient and effective disaster management.

”Let me at this juncture warn that unless disaster management and risk reduction are effectively driven at all levels, their impacts will be extremely difficult and costly to address,” he said. (NAN)

ZI/OFN/EMO

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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ejike Obeta

Mimiko declares for president, promises security, restructuring, youth empowerment

Mimiko

By Angela Atabo

Abuja, Sept.13, 2018 (NAN) Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo on Thursday declared his intention to run for President in 2019 on the platform of the Labour Party.

Mimiko, 63 years old,  made the declaration at an event held at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

He expressed concern over the  killings in  the Middle Belt and  some other parts of the country.

The aspirant said that the excruciating economic pains and the unprecedented level of division, and distrust at individual and communal levels, were of great concern.

Mimiko said that the ability to envision great ideas, and demonstrable track record, rather than place and circumstances of birth, should be the most compelling basis for investing candidates with power.

“This is, therefore, not the time to cheapen the dialogue by engaging in argument on whose turn it is to run the country.

“Rather, it is time to insist that only the best is good for Nigeria; it is time to all march out and recall our past, take charge of the present, and launch out into greatness, as one inclusive, cohesive family,

“There comes a moment in the life of a nation when every patriot must stand up to be counted.

“At such a moment, no person worthy of a place in history can afford to remain ensconced in their comfort zone.

“ When the totality of our being and the very essence of our humanity are in violation, patriots must advance to recapture the present; and commit to re-defining the future.

“I have found it compelling to declare my intention to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“ For our country, Nigeria, the moment is now! The truth, however, is that bad as these times are, they will not pass away, if we choose to remain on this same old path.

“I am running because I believe that working together, we can restructure and redesign our country in such a way that it would mean for all of us,’’ Mimiko said.

Mimiko said that regardless of young and old, male and female, North and South, Christians and Muslims, farmers and herders, a golden door to lasting individual and collective prosperity had been opened.

He said that he was poised to look into the dismal performance of Nigeria’s economy within the wider context of quality leadership, corruption, and a skewed world economic order.

The presidential aspirant said that in doing this, he would not fall into the temptation of administering selective justice.

Mimiko said that he would also not seek the vacation of rule of law because selective justice was injustice; and doubtlessly, some form of corruption too.

“ Rather, we shall frontally attack corruption in all its ramifications, by strengthening existing institutions, deploying technology tools, and deepening relevant policies on cashless society, while proactively leveraging global frameworks for anti-corruption.

“For us, election finance reforms shall occupy a special place in our determined effort to take on corruption, as this constitutes, for all time, and in more ways than one, not just an enabler, but indeed, the very bedrock of corruption in our political system,’’ he said.

Mimiko also said adequate, affordable, qualitative public educational and health services, as well as a robust social housing scheme, are prerequisites to mitigating corruption.

He said that as governor of Ondo for eight years, he restructured the state, empowered youths and transformed the education and health sectors among others.

Mimiko promised to  mobilise the youths of Nigeria for education, providing opportunities for them to be productively engaged, and elevating them into leadership through a careful process of acculturation.

He called on Nigerians to support his ambition for a better Nigeria.

Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, the  Chairman of Labour Party congratulated Mimiko for his declaration.

Abdulsalam said that the party decided to support and give him nomination form based on his track record as governor of Ondo.

He said that the party would go all the way to make him win. (NAN)

ATAB/FF/

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Edited by Fela Fashoro

By AbdulFatai Beki
Hajj
Ilorin Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Thursday said all its 1,600 pilgrims and 10 officials that travelled for the 2018 Hajj exercise came back without any record of casualty.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Ilorin International Airport.

Tunde-Jimoh said that the board did not record any casualty at both Makkah and Madinah during and after the pilgrimage.

“The last batch of 500 pilgrims from the state arrived the Ilorin International Airport at about 5.30a.m today, and they were met on arrival by their relations who have been waiting anxiously for hours.

“I humbly express my gratitude to God that all the 1,600 pilgrims and 10 officials came back alive without any record of casualty at the Holy Land,” he said.

Tunde-Jimoh thanked the state government for creating the enabling environment and necessary logistics that brought about the successful conduct of the 2018 Hajj in the state. (NAN)
BEKl/KOLE/GOK
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Olagoke Olatoye

NYSC

By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) A former director with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has advised serving corps members to adhere strictly to the scheme’s dress code.

Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe, a former director, NYSC Press and Public Relations, gave the advice on Thursday while  speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Ogun.

She said that those found wanting might risk their service years being extended by the NYSC management.

Aderibigbe, who recently retired from the NYSC, was invited by the NYSC to give a motivational-talk to the Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members currently undergoing their orientation.

She pleaded with the NYSC management to re-orientate corps members so that they could always project positively the image of the scheme through maximum dedication and discipline.

Aderibigbe said that the NYSC should consider stiffer penalties such as suspensions and extended service tenures for indecent and improper dressing by corps members.

She acknowledged that though the NYSC Act at present did not stipulate any specific sanction for improper dressing.

She said that it was incumbent on corps members to dress appropriately depending on the occasion.

“The standard uniform every corps members is supposed to wear is the green khaki with the corresponding white t-shirt and the cap.

“They are also expected to wear the crested vest alongside the jungle boots or white sneakers depending on the occasion.

“Corps members are supposed to wear their NYSC uniforms on the days of their Community Development Service (CDS), biometrics or when going for anything official concerning the scheme.

“But what you see these days are corps members wearing their khakis with different shades of t-shirts, shoes or even alter the shade of khaki entirely from what is approved by the NYSC,” Aderibigbe said.

She said such flagrant abuse was a contravention of the law regulating dress code for all corps members as stipulated in Section 3, subsection (h) of the scheme’s 2012 bye-laws.

Aderibigbe said that corps members should not abuse the dress code out of spite for the uniform.

She said that corps members should rather see the uniform as a thing of pride in national service.

“Indecent and improper dressing, in the name of fashion or whatever, is really frowned at by the NYSC. You cannot be in the military and dress anyhow.

“Stiffer penalties for those in the habit of breaking the dressing code will help to engender more discipline amongst corps members.”

Aderibigbe also advised the corps members and youths in general to take pride in hard-work.

She said they should not cut corners or find an easy way to acquire wealth through falsehood.

“Improvement can be done in some areas. The NYSC needs to intensify how it is monitoring the corps members because many of them do not want to do anything but they want free money.

“Many of them look to cutting corners even during their service year by not being committed in their places of primary assignments.

“Hopefully, interventions will put a stop to these type of issues.

“Our children must refrain from the notorious internet fraud; popularly known as ‘yahoo, yahoo’, looking for free money they did not work for.

“Money that you did not work for, you will not get the reward for it.

“Likewise, you will not be prudent in spending it. When you work for money, you get reward for it,” she said. (NAN)

TDS/AAB/PAD
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Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Peter Dada

UTI causes life-threatening complications, doctors warn

By Hauwa Amali
Infections
Abuja, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Some medical practitioners have warned that Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) could lead to potentially life-threatening complications, if left untreated.

The experts made this known in an interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

UTI is an infection in any part of human urinary tract system, including the kidney, ureters, bladder and urethra.

Dr Egbete Chimaobi, the Managing Director, Ternopil State Medical University, Ukraine, said: “When UTIs are left untreated, it can lead to Sepsis and Abscess, which is an extensive and more serious form of any infection, especially in women.

“UTIs can lead to major infertility as women who are pregnant would experience premature labour and miscarriages.

“UTIs could also lead to kidney failure and cancer of the bladder,” he said.

The medical practitioner said women were likely to develop a UTI than men.

“Women are most likely to have UTIs because they have wider openings. And women have shorter urethra which means the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.

“These bacteria reach the bladder and causes problems.

“Another reason is the use of diaphragms as birth control methods which increases the risk of UTIs,” Chimaobi said.

Dr Olorunsogo Ayodeji, General Hospital Keffi, Nasarawa state, however said “there are preventive measures to curb UTIs’’.

Ayodeji told NAN that: “UTIs don’t always cause sign and symptoms, but when they do, it may include strong,
persistent urge to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, strong -smelling urine.

“Others are passing small amount of urine, urine that appears cloudy, urine that appears red, cola colored blood in the urine and pelvic pain, and in women centre of pelvis and around the pubic bone area.”

Another medical practitioner, Dr Iorwuese Charles, Police Hospital, Ado, Ekiti State, told NAN that rain could be a contributor to UTIs.

“Rains and humidity make for a perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth, leading to infection.

“Rains and humidity encourages the growth of micro organisms. Also during the rainy season clothing are different.

“People tend to wear tight cloths which provide damp environments for micro organisms with increased risks, the moisture during this season encourages the proliferation of bacteria thereby contributing
to UTIs,” he said.

Charlse therefore advised people to practice good personal hygiene, wearing under wears made of breathable fabrics and hydrating adequately. (NAN)
AUH/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Conflict

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja, Sept. 13, 2018(NAN) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)  has scaled up its humanitarian response by providing food security and livelihood initiative in violence affected communities in the country.

Mrs Aleksandra Mosimann, Communications Coordinator, ICRC, disclosed this in a statement, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Mosimann, ICRC in partnership with Nigeria Red Cross (NRCS) has helped to increase its emergency response capability, training, and equipping volunteers to provide aid to victims and displaced persons.

She said the association was concerned on the heightened communal violence that eclipsed states like Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba between January and June.

“Civilians were injured, killed and thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes, now living in host communities and makeshift camps.

“The violence have also disrupted their ability to farm and earn a living, while herders lost many of their livestock to violence leaving many to depend on humanitarian assistance.

“In the north-east where armed conflict is now in its ninth year, violence continues to claim civilian lives and destroy properties, displaced persons still live in crowded camps depending on humanitarian assistance,’’ she said.

Mosimann noted that ICRC in partnership with NRCS provided emergency assistance and means to strengthen their coping mechanism, restore livelihoods and family links broken by conflict.

She highlighted some of the interventions to include, providing emergency relief aid and restoring livelihood, facilitating access to clean water and shelter, enabling access to healthcare, restoring family links among others.

“ 490,000 persons in the north-east and north-central received food rations, out of which 288,000 persons received improved seeds to enhance their farm yields.

“180,000 persons in the north-east, north central and southern regions were assisted with cash or commodity voucher donations to help cover their multipurpose household needs and to resume food production.

“310,000 displaced, returnees and host communities in the north-east region received improved seeds, irrigation machinery and tools to assist with farming activities, among others,’’  Mosimann said.

She said with continued displacement in the north-east, north-central and southern states, poor hygiene and lack of clean water could lead to breakout of deadly diseases if the needed intervention was not taken.

Mosimann explained that about 213,000 displaced persons improved their access to clean water through installation of water supply system, including solar systems and hand pumps.

She also said 93,000 people in north-east received support to improve the hygiene and sanitation of their persons and environment, while 20,000 people in Borno and Yobe received materials to rebuild their houses.

According to her, protracted armed conflict has made access to healthcare difficult in various parts of the north-east with many healthcare facilities destroyed as health workers also fled for safety.

She said ICRC provided infrastructure rehabilitation, systematic supply of medicines, provided expertise and technical support for the identification and treatment of diseases with expanded community based nutrition and reproductive health.

“No fewer than 243,000 patients attended 21 ICRC supported primary health care centres with two mobile clinics serving the displaced, returnees and residence in north-east, north-central and southern states.

“11,600 children were delivered in ICRC supported clinics, about 5,370 children less than five years treated of acute malnutrition, over 3,070 surgical procedures were performed by ICRC surgical teams.

“4,000 people were provided with mental health and psychological support while 9,720 causalities were treated and evacuated by the NRCS emergency first aid teams among others,’’ she said.

Mosimann said the ICRC disseminates International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and principles aimed at preserving humanity and reducing the impact of armed conflict on persons affected.

She said 2,820 officers of armed forces, police and security forces were trained on the principles IHL in 11 states.

Mosimann added that no fewer than 700 teachers and students of IHL received information and support for teaching, research and study of IHL in institutions of higher education across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that ICRC is an independent and neutral organisation ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence.

It also takes action in response to emergencies and at the same time promotes respect for international humanitarian law and its implementation in national law. (NAN)

TIM/OMO/SH

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edited by Martins Odeh/Sadiya Hamza

Agreement

By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has signed a multi-million dollar agreement with aircraft manufacturers, The Boeing Company, for the purchase of 10 brand new B737 Max aircraft.

The agreement was signed on Thursday at the United States Consulate in Lagos by the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema and Boeing Sales Director for West and Central Africa, Mr Larry Tolliver.

Speaking at the ceremony, Onyema said each of the Max B737 aircraft cost $113 million, but Boeing was gracious to reduce it to an undisclosed amount for Air Peace following series of negotiations.

He said the procurement of the aircraft, which is the latest by Boeing, was being financed by Fidelity Bank and they would be deployed for Air Peace international operations.

According to him, the addition of the new planes, which will be delivered soon by Boeing, will increase Air Peace fleet to 37 aircraft in less than four years of operation.

Onyema said :” We have just signed an order for 10 B737 aircraft from Boeing. We are interested in creating employment for our people because one of the aircraft can create 500 jobs.

“We are trying to curb insecurity by creating job opportunities for our people. Air Peace currently has about 3,000 employees, and I believe that is part of our contribution to national development.”

He thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the support given to Nigerian airlines, noting that the anti-corruption campaign of the government had improved the confidence of the international community in Nigerian businesses.

Onyema, however, appealed to the government to find ways of establishing local refineries in order to reduce the high cost of aviation fuel which was affecting the operations of airlines in the country.

Also, the US Consul General, Mr John Bray, said the agreement between both companies would further deepen the relationship between Nigeria and the US.

Bray said it was a win-win situation for both countries because the deal would create about 3,000 jobs in Nigeria while about 5,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector would be created in the US.

On his part, Tolliver said the B373 Max aircraft was the fastest aircraft manufactured by Boeing and consumes about 40 per cent less fuel than other Boeing aircraft currently being used by Air Peace.

He said the aircraft also had passenger appeal because of the modern facilities on-board, stressing that Boeing would be supporting Air Peace with training and maintenance spares as part of the agreement.

Speaking on the financing of the procurement, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said Air Peace had proven its integrity in previous loans given to the airline by the bank.

He said :” We are proud to have Air Peace as a customer because the airline has integrity and has always paid ahead of time in previous aircraft purchases financed by Fidelity Bank.

“I know some airlines have gone down in the past due to huge indebtedness to banks, but I can tell you that Air Peace is not owing anybody, and this is because of the prudence of the airline’s management. ”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government has granted approval to Air Peace to begin flights to six international destinations which are London, Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg in the next few months. (NAN)

WAC/ASO/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Cup
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Minister of Youths and Sports Solomon Dalung on Thursday, advised the D’Tigress to compete “clean and fair“ at the 2018 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Dalung gave the advice in Abuja at a farewell reception in honour of the D’Tigress, as the team prepares to depart for Turkey for friendly matches ahead of the World Cup in Spain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NANN reports that the Nigerian senior women’s national team, D’Tigress will play in Group B along side with Australia, Argentina and Turkey as the competition dunks off in Sept. 22.

According to Dalung, the team is one of the teams the country is hopeful and satisfied with their outing and performance.

“It is a compact team and patriotic and determines at every time to make the country proud at every time.

“So as they move out from their trainings and the unity amongst them, the organisational capacity, we are indeed hopeful that the team will go a long way in their outing in Spain.
“This administration has a principle and that is, that we believe that anything that we are going to gain should be very clean.

“Meaning that there should be no cutting of corners, as young people, they need to be guided right.
“We need to make them resist the temptation of thinking that in their zeal to make their country proud, they can take prohibited substances.

“That will at the end of the day not only destroy them as individuals, but the integrity of the country.

“So if we are losing, we should lose gallantly and clean, free and fair but if we must win, it should not be tinted, we will not welcome any tinted troupe in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Dalung also pledged the Federal Government continued support for the team.

Early, Head Coach of D’Tigress, Otis Hughley said his target for the team was a gold medal.
He said that team was strong enough to with stand other counterparts in Spain.

“Our target is to get gold medal. Nigeria is a very strong in strength and very intelligent and we have to build on that and take the advantage of it.

“We are going to be a team to reckon with in Spain and at the end of the World Cup, people’s will have a different perception of Nigeria’s basketball,’’ he said.(NAN)
DE/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed