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Demographic Dividend: Sultan advocates training for community leaders
By Mustapha Sumaila
Training
Abuja, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for training of community leaders on Demographic Dividend (DD) to properly educate the populace on the agenda.
Abubakar made the appeal at a conference tagged “Harnessing DD for sustainable development in Nigeria: The role of Muslim religious leaders’’, by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Represented by the Emir of Shonga, Alhaji Haliru Yahaya, the Sultan explained that the capacity of community leaders must be built and empower them with the right information to disseminate to their subjects on DD.
He said that there was need to pass the right information to people in achieving DD or else would be difficult to attain.
“The engagement of community leaders is important and such leaders must be convinced in what the Demographic Dividend is all about.
“They must be empowered with the right information that DD programme is not meant to reduce the population of Islamic nations.
“When they are equipped with such right information, they will carry out sermons on Sundays and Fridays in ensuring the attainment of DD,” he said.
He stated that Islam encouraged having children, but it was a sin to have children that you could not cater for in terms of providing them with basic needs of life.
The sultan emphasised on the need to make concerted effort to ensure education, health and empowerment of women and young people were put in proper perspective in achieving DD in the country.
He urged religious leaders to preach to people to give birth to children they could cater for not children that would be thrown out on the street as “Almajiris”.
Abubakar noted that attention must also be paid to the reproductive health of women and well being of the young people.
“If there is a healthy family in every home, the country will be better for it,” he said.
The Sultan, who expressed happiness on the conference and selection of Imams and other religious leaders, pledged to support the achievement of DD in the country. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Speaker
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Sept.12, 2018 (NAN) A group, Kwara Front Foundation, says the aspiration of Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad, to become the next state governor would entrench good governance.

The group’s President-General and Coordinator, Prophet Christopher Owolabi and Mr Isaac Babalola, respectfully, spoke on Wednesday in Omu-Aran.

“Ahmad’s recent declaration to contest for the governorship position is by popular demand capable of bringing an end to poverty and youth unemployment, if it becomes a reality,’’ they said in a joint statement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmad had few days ago obtained the governorship and expression of interest forms to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 general elections.

They described Ahmad as the most qualified contender for the exotic seat based on his imposing career and political background spanning more than a decade.

Owolabi and Babalola said that the state would benefit immensely from Ahmad’s wealth of political and administrative experiences if voted as the next governor of the state.

According to them, his exemplary leadership qualities remained a critical factor for the cordial relationship that existed among the state executive, judiciary and the legislative arms.

“Ahmad is a legal luminary of high repute, a former member of House of Representatives and presently Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

“Ahmad personally brought his experiences to bear as former member of the House of Representatives to ensure that peace, unity and tranquility continue to flourish in the state.

“These sterling qualities are enough to propel the state toward the desired socio-economic growth, progress and development.

“Ahmad’s pragmatism in combining official assignment with impacting on people of his constituency deserved adequate recognition and commendation.

“For over five years running, the speaker has never failed in extending his hands of assistance, especially to the less privileged in the society.

“This, he executed in form of empowerment, through donations of food items, motorcycles and various cash donations, particularly during festive periods, irrespective of ethno-religion or political background,” the duo said.

They said that the gesture was not limited to his local government constituency, but cut across the three senatorial districts in the state.

The group, however, described the present leadership in the state assembly as “people oriented, purposeful and unprecedented in the history of the state”. (NAN)
ISHO/ESAN/GOK
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Olagoke Olatoye

By Kelechi Ogunleye

Station

Abuja, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Comptroller-General, Federal Fire Service (FFS), Joseph Anebi, on Wednesday inaugurated the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Fire Station in the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new fire station was equipped with a 10,000 litre capacity dual purpose water tanker with firefighting capability, firefighting consumables and firefighters to man the station.

The inauguration ceremony took place at the NIS Headquarters in Sauka.

Anebi in his remarks noted that the collaboration between the FFS and NIS had yielded a lot of positive results.

“Today’s event is quite unique as it epitomises the high point of collaboration between the Fire Service and fire sector stakeholders.

“FFS’s collaboration with NIS has yielded a fire post equipped with 10,000 litre capacity dual purpose water tender, 10,000 litre capacity water tanker with firefighting capability, firefighting consumables and a full complement of firefighters to man the stations.

“Let it be known that firefighting is everybody’s business.

“All levels of government, private organisations, traditional and religious institutions and individuals respectively have roles to play in ensuring that fire outbreak and the mitigation of its effect in the event of its occurrence are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

The FFS helmsman also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the service.

“The president amply demonstrated this role when he approved the budget for procurement of over 40 high calibre modern firefighting vehicles for the FFS in the 2016 budgetary allocation.

“The firefighting trucks you are seeing here today came from the batch of equipment the FFS procured through the 2016 budgetary allocation.

“Also, some of the procured equipment were deployed to the six geo-political zones to complement the State Government’s firefighting efforts.

“It is pertinent to state that provisions were made in 2017 and 2018 budgetary allocations for the procurement of more firefighting trucks,” he said.

He also commended the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, saying that his uncommon determination to transform the services had not gone unnoticed.

The NIS Controller-General, Muhammad Babandede, expressed gratitude to the FFS for the gesture, adding that he would ensure that the equipment was well utilised.

“We look forward to greater collaboration with the FFS and assure you that when there is fire outbreak anywhere in Sauka or its environs, we will respond to the situation promptly,” Babandede said. (NAN)

KAYC/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Coronation
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Kwara State Government has fixed Sept. 22 for the coronation Oba Raheem Adeoti as the Olomu of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

The date for the coronation was made public via a statement issued on Wednesday in Omu-Aran by Chief Bisi Adeyemi, the President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA).

Adeoti’s nomination by the kingmakers as the next Olomu of Omu-Aran was recently approved by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara.

The letter conveying the approval was signed by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Saidu Abeeb last Friday.

Abeeb had earlier presented certificate of appointment to Adeoti as the Olomu-elect in his office in Ilorin.

The appointment comes barely nine months after the demise of Oba Charles Ibitoye, who joined his ancestors on Nov. 30, 2017, after a brief illness.

Adeyemi said that the coronation would be preceded by the traditional rites of seven days seclusion by the new monarch to commence on Sept. 15 by 2.00p.m.

He said that the Olomu-elect would be received by the Olomu-in-council after his convoy of vehicles passes through some designated places within the metropolis including his Ijoko family quarters.

According to him, the Kabiyesi’s entourage will move through Aperan Road (Oja Ojomu), Olomu Way (Aganoru market) to Taiwo Road then to his Ijoko Royal Family House where he will be received by the Olomu-in Council.

He disclosed that the coronation proper would take place at the Olomu’s palace while the official presentation of staff of office by the state government would come up at a later date.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that it was part of the custom for a new Olomu to undergo the traditional seclusion in the house of the Eesa, a high chief in the community, who will in turn officially present the former to the community.

Chief Jide Adebayo, a former Executive Director, Marketing in NAN was recently installed the Eesa of Omu-Aran and he is expected to host the Olomu-elect.

Adebayo’s installation followed the death of Prof. Samuel Abogunrin, the previous Eesa of Omu-Aran.

The statement enjoined sons and daughters of the community both home and in Diaspora, including other well wishers to come out in large numbers to give Adeoti a befitting welcome.

Adebayo told NAN that all arrangements had been put in place for a successful seclusion rite to herald the historical coronation. (NAN)
ISHO/AOS/GY
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Grace Yussuf

Abortion

By Yashim Katurak

Abuja, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) Mr Offiom Nyong, Country Director, Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria (MSION), says the organisation has averted 10,000 unsafe abortions in Nigeria in the last 10 years through Family Planning (FP).

Nyong said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The country director who advocated for safe abortion said unsafe abortion continued to claim thousands of lives every year.

 Cue in audio (Nyong)

“As at the end of 2017, we had reached about 1.5 million women with FP method.

“If we calculate that using the measurement system, we would have averted just about 10,000 unsafe abortions if people had not taken up FP and prevented close to 4,000 maternal deaths, not to talk about the savings that this would have cost the country.

“We put that at close to 12 million pounds. Children should be by choice and not chance.

“The week marker study that just came out shows that 1.25 million unsafe abortions are done in this country every year, when they did the study before, it was 600,000

“40,000 women die from unsafe abortion every year. We in Nigeria advocate e for FP to prevent the huge maternal death rate in this country.

“Around 15 per cent to 23 per cent of women would not have died if there was FP and in Nigeria its 836 for every 100,000 women which is one of the worst indices in the world.

“We in Nigeria do not advocate for abortion, we say safe abortion must be considered. The law says that abortion is only permitted if a doctor makes the call and the life of a woman is threatened.

“We do not think it is right; rape can be a reason why someone should seek abortion, should we deny that right?

“Health concerns, mental balance can be a reason.”

 Cue out audio

He said choosing one form of FP method was essential to prevent unplanned pregnancies by sexually active people.

The country director said that there were short and long term family planning methods that could suit every individual and that these can be accessed in any Marie Stopes or government facility.

Marie Stopes International (MSI) is a global organisation providing personal contraception and reproductive health services to women and girls.

MSION, an affiliate of MSI was established in 2009 to increase access to affordable and high-quality modern contraceptives and confidential reproductive health services for both married and single.

The organisation is currently in 34 states of the federation and some of its services include counselling and support on FP, child spacing, contraception, pregnancy planning and painful periods.

Some of its services also include diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer screening. (NAN)

KRY/DOR/YEE

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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim

Tariff

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja,Sept12,2018(NAN) The Association of  Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) has called on  Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to address the widening  tariff gap hindering effective performance of DisCos  in the power sector.

ANED Chief Executive Officer Mr Azu Obiaya in a statement  on Wednesday said the widening tariff gap was due to the freezing of Residential tariff  (R2) in 2015 for 18 months by NERC.

He said the removal of electricity collection loses in 2015 and non implementation of five tariff reviews by NERC were also responsible for the wide tariff gap in the sector.

Obiaya said N435.7 billion of under-recovered revenue in the sector among others were the regulatory responsibilities NERC should focus on.

According to him, ANED is fully interested in the urgent reset of the sector with the implementation of the Power Sector Reform Program (PSRP).

This he said would stop the sector from bleeding and promote investment drive, critical for injecting efficiency and provide electricity to relief customers from the current difficulties affecting electricity supply.

Obiaya also said that ANED had the legal backing to protect the interest of the DisCos, like other associations in the power sector.

NERC had in a recent communiqué said ANED activities were discouraged and that the association should not interfere with policy directives or regulatory pronouncements made by the Minister of Power or the Commission.

The communique said  NERC had barred ANED from making any unwarranted remark against the minister and NERC Commissioners.

Obiaya, however, said ANED activities are guaranteed by Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the right of association.

He said, “The DisCos with their formation and membership of ANED are exercising this right, not different from similar entities in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) value chain

“The associations are: Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC), Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) among others.”

According to him, ANED represents the DisCos with a principal mandate of advocacy to protect the interest of its member companies, directly and indirectly.

He said the investors who had sunk more than 1.4 billion dollars in the acquisition and operations of the DisCos to date needed to be protected.

According electricity consumers customers who sought to enjoy the benefits of the best practices that resulted from the interaction of our members under the ANED umbrella must also be protected.

Obiaya said ANED’s  expression or promotion of a viewpoint perceived as  contrary to a policy should not be misconstrued as “interference“ in what the regulator was doing.

He said this particular in the context of the workings of an industry with multiple stakeholder interests. (NAN)

KC/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Finance

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, Sept 12, 2018 (NAN) Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, has called on heads of African countries to formulate and adopt workable continental approach in the recovery of illicit funds stashed in developed countries.

Nnadozie, an economist and development expert, who is also the Executive Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said it was difficult for individual nations to recover the monies taken away illegitimately to foreign countries without a collective framework.

Cue in audio (Nnadozie)

“Since a lot leaves the continent every year, the continent is bleeding, what will happen is to put together some sort  of continental arrangement, that will be championed by certain heads of states so that they can effectively engage with the destination countries where the funds are taken to.

“ If you leave African countries to individually engage the strong and more developed country, it becomes difficult them to recover the illicit outflows.

“So having some coordinated efforts, working under the African Union I think would be the best.

 “A country like Nigeria had been successful, but it was difficult. Egypt has not been able to recover a lot of the money that their former President took outside.”

Cue out audio

Former President Thabo Mbeki of South-Africa, had in February 2015 presented a report on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) from Africa to other developed nations to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

According to the report had found that Africa losses on average, 50 billion dollars annually through IFF, and commercial activities by the private sector contributed largely to IFF, followed by organised crime, and then the public sector.

Nnadozie maintained that the best approach to curbing IFF from the continent was for all African governments to also have workable a policy that would prevent money from leaving illicitly.

“ I was supporting the secretariat that was providing support to the panel that was working on the IFF.

“We had a slogan; track, stop it, recover it.’’

“So we believe very strongly that the best policy is to prevent the money from leaving illicitly in the first place illicitly.’’

On fears that the monies recovered will not be transparently utilised for developmental purposes, the Don said;

“Weather it is money that is recovered or money that is raised as revenue within a country, if it is not properly managed and accountability is not maintained, chances are that the money  will not be properly invested or utilised to promote development.“

He said it was important for the accountability organs of every African country, particularly the parliament, to be proactive in carrying out its oversight functions.

This, he said would ensure proper and prudent utilisation of the revenue recovered or raised for developmental purposes.

He also advised others such as the media, civil society groups and anti corruption agencies to play their roles checkmate those saddled with the responsibility of utilising the funds. (NAN)

KC/DOR/YEE

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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim

Approval
By Lilian Okoro
Lagos, Sept.12, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) says it targets issuance of over 7,000 building approval plans to homeowners before the end of 2018.

Mr Olufunmilayo Osifuye, the General Manager, LASPPPA, made this known on Wednesday at a sensitisation in Ebute-Meta and Oyingbo Areas of the state.

Osifuye said that about 6,000 permits had been issued from the beginning of the year till date.

He said that the sensitisation was aimed at informing every owner/developer in the state whose property was not covered by a planning permit to regularise the property with the agency.

According to him, LASPPPA, in conjunction with the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has embarked on the Joint Post Construction Audit of all existing structures in the state.

Osifuye said that the audit exercise would ascertain the structural stability and legitimacy of all existing buildings in the state.

He said that the essence of the exercise was to match-up structural stability and legitimacy of building with necessary infrastructure development.

The general manager said that this would help to achieve a sustainable and well-planned environment toward attainment of a zero per cent tolerance for building collapse in the state.

He disclosed that a total of 150 buildings without an approval plan were identified during the exercise and served planning permit and post-construction notices.

“It is not until a building collapses before provision will be made for remedies, preventive measures and solutions.

“The rate of building collapse has reduced to a great extent, but the agency will not relent until a zero per cent building collapse is achieved in Lagos State,’’ the general manager said.

He appreciated the efforts of many residents who heeded to the call by identifying with the agency to regularise their buildings.

Osifuye said that the audit/sensitisation had covered the Ikeja, Opebi-Allen, Yaba, Ojodu-Berger areas of Lagos metropolis.

“We appreciate the efforts of some homeowners who have completed or started processing the building approval plan of their structures.

“However, many have turned deaf ears to the call. After the audit and sensitisation, LASPPPA will start complete sealing of the identified buildings.

“Lagos residents should not see us as deterrent to their state of living. We are not trying to make life unbearable for them.

“The motive of the whole exercise is to ensure a conducive and well-planned livable environment for all,’’ he said.

Osifuye said that the Building Permit/Building Plan Approval certification, not only added value to the property, but also enhanced proper planning of the environment to save lives.

The general manager urged prospective homeowners and landlords to ensure they obtained building approval plan before starting their construction.

Osifuye noted that flooding was an aftermath of constructing buildings without adherence to an approval plan, which allows for erection of buildings along waterways. (NAN)
LUC/COF/GOK
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Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Olagoke Olatoye

Award
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) A former Chief of Army Staff, Retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma was on Wednesday awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAP) at the 2018 Investiture, Academy and Luncheon.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Danjuma, now an astute businessman, is currently the Chairman of the leading drug manufacturing company, May and Baker Nigeria Plc.

Other recipient of NAP Award is a seasoned pharmacist, Chief Olu Akinkugbe, who bagged Lifetime Achievement Award.

Akinkugbe was in 1972 the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and also the founder of Vitalink Pharmaceutical Industry, a company responsible for producing Over the Counter (OTC) medicines.

The 2018 Investiture, Academy Lecture and Luncheon was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, Ikeja.

In his remarks, the President of NAP, Chief Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said that the academy owed the society a debt in providing safer and more convenient affordable medicines to Nigerians.

“NAP owes the society a duty to help unravel better, safer, more convenient and more affordable medicines and treatment regimens for diseases that afflicts mankind.

“It is for this reason that research is central to our operations, one of the major reasons that the academy came into being. We want to complement local and international efforts that support scientific research.

“Much of the work we have done in this regard has been in the area of advocacy in engaging government and policy makers on the essence of scientific research.

“That is the reason it is critical to provide better funding and other moral support to scientific research-focussed institutions as well as individual researches,’’ he said.

Adelusi-Adeluyi said that it was time for the country to rise up to the occasion of proper research into the indigenous production of local drugs.

“I think it is time we do more than talking about indigenous drugs, and make sure we put it into action by engaging in a proper research at ensuring that we reach our destination.

“We need adequate support to showcase what we have here and funding through our institution in ensuring that our pharmaceutical industries are developed to cater for the needs of Nigerians.

“We have also thought about leadership striven to bring these issues to the fore of public consciousness as a way of shoring up interest by the public and systematically pressurising government to avail scientific research.

“We remain proud of the Academy’s work in other areas, especially with regards to its ongoing effort at facilitating inter-professional collaboration among Nigerian health workers,’’ he said. (NAN)
KOJE/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye
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UNFPA tasks religious leaders on demographic dividend
By Mustapha Sumaila
Demography
Abuja, Sept. 12, (NAN) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday says community leaders must be the driving force for Nigeria to attain Demographic Dividend (DD).
The UNFPA’s Regional Director, West and Central Africa Regional office, Dr Mabingue Ngom, said this in Abuja at a conference tagged: ‘Harnessing DD for sustainable development in Nigeria: The role of religious leaders.’
Ngom explained that for a successful demographic dividend in Nigeria, religious and traditional rulers must lead the change, adding that sustainable change happened at local level.
He said that no one could effect any change on DD without the leadership drive of community leaders.
“The religious and traditional leaders lead the community, therefore, they must lead this change and henceforth we want to see it at the community level.
“Nigeria has taken a bold step by launching the DD, but most importantly the change will happen at the local level.
“UNFPA values this partnership. This gathering is important because of the need to work with local communities and their leaders,” he said.
The regional director also underscored the need to create space for young people for the achievement of DD in Nigeria.
According to him, it is not enough to say that the youth will be given space, but must be backed by action.
“Put young people first; not only saying it, but by acting it and giving them space and place to operate.
“There must be the presence of the youth in the budget and policies, as well as in decision making.
“There is need to create space for the girl-child to be part of the force.
“Therefore, we must invest in the girls and give them chance to grow or else it will be difficult to see the growth we envisage,” he said.
He added that it was time for Africa to invest on young people, stressing that action must be taken to protect African youths from involving in irregular migration and violence.
“We can’t have a better Africa without Nigeria and cannot have a better world without Africa,” Ngom said. (NAN)
MS/KTO/MST
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola