Blog

Youth
By David Adeoye
Ajebo (Ogun ), Sept.  7, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, the Oyo State Director of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), has called on women to provide effective parental care in order to promote youth development.

Dosunmu made the call on Friday while delivering a lecture at the National Biennial Conference of Pastors Wives Ministers Fellowship organised by Foursquare Gospel Church, Ajebo, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the theme of the lecture was: “ The Role of Women of Wisdom in Youth Development.’’

Dosunmu said that inadequate parental care topped the list of problems confronting youths in the country.

”This underscores the fact that a woman, who is the first parent a child recognises, occupies a critical position in the development of the child.

” Provision for the needs of children, education, protection, discipline, modelling and training–both spiritual, moral and home training– are the basic duties of mothers in the development of the youth, ” she said.

Dosunmu urged mothers to monitor their children ’s behaviour and deal decisively with any form of deviant behaviour.

She also admonished women to steer clear of immorality as children often emulate them.

”Restrain your children from associating with children of questionable character and teach them to do the right thing regardless of what other people may be doing.

”Find time for your children regardless of tight schedules and discipline them whenever they do or say anything bad.

`’Do your best to supply the basic needs of your children even if their father is incapacitated,’’ she added.

Mrs Olubisi Meduoye, the wife of the General  Overseer of  Foursquare Gospel Church,  said the conference was an avenue to sensitise women on the need to play their maternal roles effectively.

Meduoye said that youth development was a prerequisite for the growth of every nation.

No fewer than 3,000 women from the 36 states of the federation  attended the conference. (NAN)
DAK/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Conference

By Aisha Cole

Lagos,  Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria is set to host nine African countries for the 2018 regional conference of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) on Sept. 17 in Abuja.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Usman, said in Lagos on Friday that the theme of the conference was “African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity.”

She said that IAPH was established 61 years ago to promote the global interest of ports worldwide and build strong member relationships where ideas on international best practices would be shared.

Usman, who is vice president of the association, said she saw her election as an opportunity to offer quality representation to the continent and reposition the maritime sector for better efficiency.

She said in a statement that President Muhammadu Buhari would declare the conference open while a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) would chair the conference.

Among the participating African port authorities were Lagos (Nigeria), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Durban (South Africa), Mombasa (Kenya) and Douala (Cameroon).

“Other participants expected at the conference are Cotonou Ports Authority (Benin), Dakar Ports Authority (Senegal), Target Med Port (Morocco), Port of Alexandria (Egypt),” Usman said.

She added that ports of Antwerp (Belgium) and Guangzhou (China) would attend the three-day conference to share experience and insight on how to improve ports operations and attain better efficiency.

“They will be joined by experts from World Trade Organisation (WTO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and African Development Bank AfDB).

“At the end of the conference, we hope to produce a document which can form the basis of policies that would guide our government in the important task of improving service delivery at African ports,” Usman said.

She said that the conference would enable African ports to attain their potential on the deployment of multimodal means of transportation and ensuring that cargoes were moved without delay. (NAN)

AIC/WOJ

Edited by Wale Ojetimi

=================

Killings

By Martha Nyam Azi

Jos, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) As more rural communities in Plateau come under severe attacks, Mr Istifanus Gyang, a member of the House of Representatives, has called for stringent measures to check the trend.

Gyang, who represents Riyom/Barkin-Ladi federal constituency, told newsmen on Friday in Jos that his constituency was worst hit by the violence and challenged security agencies to be more proactive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gyang was reacting to the Thursday attack on Nding Village in Barkin Ladi, where two people were killed on their farms.

NAN also reports that the Thursday attacks followed two other incidents in Ropp and Guratopp villages in Barkin Ladi and Jos South Local Government, where five and 12 people were killed on Wednesday.

The Police Command in Plateau, while confirming the attacks, had described them as unfortunate, and called on members of the public to assist the security agencies with information that would enable them tackle the trend.

The command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Terna Tyopev, had indicated that investigation had commenced toward apprehending the gunmen.

Gyang, who decried the attacks on his constituents, attributed them to “failed governance`’.

“It is very unfortunate that Plateau is going through this; I am particularly disturbed because my constituency is worst hit.

“Just few months ago, precisely in June, we lost more than 200 people. Things seem to get even worse.

“I have raised the matter at the National Assembly and we have rightly classified it as genocide. That is our official position. We cannot continue like this.

“Government must step up efforts and arrest some suspects to serve as a deterrent to others, otherwise these routine killings will continue,” he said.

Gyang urged leaders to place high premium on human life, saying that government must work hard to meet its main obligation of securing life and property.

He called for a sincere approach to tackling the killings, and cautioned against a resort to emotions that could worsen an already bad situation.

Gyang declared his faith in the security agencies’ capacity to stop the killings, but urged their leaders to purge the system of bad eggs whose attitude was “threatening to compromise and polarise them”. (NAN)

ADY/NNO/ETS

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Edited by Nick Nicholas/Ephraims Sheyin

Extension

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, Sept.7, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended the deadline for the sale and submission of Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly forms to Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC National Publicity Secretary announced the extension in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the previous deadline was Monday, Sept. 10.

“All aspirants for the listed positions are to submit their duly completed forms to the APC national secretariat,“ Nabena said.

He urged those for the state House of Assembly election to do so at the party state secretariat on or before the close of work of the new deadline.

NAN reports that the party national secretariat has become a beehive of activities since it commenced the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to aspirants on Sept.5.

This, is especially so, as aspirants from all states of the federation and their supporters troop to the secretariat to obtain the forms.

Traders have also taken advantage of the large turnout of party members and supporters at the secretariat, located at Blantyre Street in Wuse zone two, to do brisk business.

While some traders take the opportunity to display various souvenirs, others were seen selling the party Constitution to members.

Commercial photographers also struggled to get the attention of party members who may want to take photographs for posterity.

A drive through the street has, however, become a herculean task due to heavy human and vehicular traffic, as security operatives attached to the party were seen ensuring orderliness.

However, the two hotels located on the street, Valencia and Barcelona, continued to record high patronage.

Mr Ade Omole, leader of the APC United Kingdom chapter, while speaking on the large crowd of party members, told NAN that it was a testimony that Nigerians still believed in the party, contrary to the opposition’s claim.

“It shows that Nigerians still believe in the party and that good will always prevails over bad and evil.

“The erroneous perception created by fake news has been shattered by the reality of Nigerians flooding APC national headquarters to pick forms to contest elective positions in 2019,” he said. (NAN)

EEM/KTO/DUA

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Dada Ahmed

Metering

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja,Sept 7,2018(NAN)The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says 58 per cent  registered electricity consumers in the country paid  tariff via the  estimated billing methodology.

The percentage represents the template provided by NERC for customers who are yet to be provided with pre-paid.

NERC made the disclosure in its 2018 first quarter report published on its website.

According to NERC, out of the 8,135,730 registered electricity customers in the DisCos’s network, 3,434,003 representing 42 per cent have been metered.

NERC said with the exception of Port Harcourt and Benin DisCos, none of the remaining DisCo has metered half of their registered customers.

It also said that with the percentage of registered customers metered by each DisCo as at March, only Benin and Port-Harcourt DisCos had metered up to 50 per cent  of their registered customers.

It listed the percentage level of  metered  electricity customers by the DisCos to include :Port-Harcourt  78 per  cent, Benin 64 per  cent, Enugu 46 per cent,  Eko 46  per cent,  Ibadan 41 per cent ,Abuja 38 per cent,  Jos 35 per cent .

Others are Ikeja 34 per cent, Kaduna 28 per cent, Kano 25 per  cent  and  Yola 21 per cent  respectively.

It said in overall, three in every five registered electricity consumers were still ununmetered.

NERC, however, promised to continue to enforce the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulations, designed to accelerate metering of consumers and close the metering gap as soon as possible (NAN).

KC/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

UK Foundation trains 271 corps members on voter registration
By Yashim Katurak
Training
Abuja, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), a United Kingdom (UK) Non-Departmental public body dedicated to supporting democracy, has trained 271 NYSC corps members on Civic Voter Education.
The WFD Country Director, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said this at the one-day training on Friday in Abuja at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Kubwa, FCT,
Olrunmola said the training was part of the organisation’s “#OurVoteCountsNGProject”.
He said that the project was being carried out in partnership with the NYSC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Olorunmola said that the organisation was also being supported by the European Union-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).
The country director said that the project involved the recruitment and training of corps members to carry out voter education dissemination through the Voters’ Education Community Development Service (CDS) Group set up by the WFD.
According to Olorunmola, the Voters’ Education CDS group was set up as a sub-group under the NYSC Education CDS group and is first of its kind in Nigeria.
“Youths are often engaged by politicians and political parties and used as foot soldiers, thugs, to snatch ballot boxes, intimidate opposition candidates or parties as opposed to encouraging them to conduct their civic right of participating in the electoral process.
“The project will therefore support democratic governance in Nigeria by using targeted peer to peer civic and voter education to encourage youth participation in the electoral process.
“Youth participation in the electoral process is very crucial and important hence, the project’s target is to increase their interest and commitment to the process.
`This project is being funded by EU-SDGN and will be implemented by WFD and INEC.
“In line with the objectives of EU-SDGN and WFD, the project will support sustainable democratic growth through citizen participation.
“It will also strengthen the various institutions capable of accountable governance, while the Voters’ Education CDS group will set the foundation for a more responsible, participatory and engaged youth who can later constitute members of parliament,” Olorunmola said.
The country director said that the project would be replicated in Osun and Imo states, respectively.
Mr Bello Ballama, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, noted that youths in Nigeria constitute 63 per cent of eligible voting population, urging them to join hands to ensure that their votes count.
Ballama described the NYSC as a programme centred on building national unity and supporting the development of skills among youths to enable them actualise their full potential.
The coordinator lauded EU-SDGN and WFD for identifying the potentials of youths and their resolve to help strengthen democracy in the country.
Established in 1992, WFD provides expertise to countries around the world on how to develop parliaments, political party structures and civil society organisations; the key institutions that make up a functioning democracy.
It is sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK. (NAN)
KRY/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Deforestation
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Conservation  Foundation (NCF) is partnering with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, on tree planting in order to tackle the problem of forest degradation in the country.

The NCF President, Izoma Asiodu, at a tree-planting event in Ibadan on Friday, decried what he called the negative attitude of Nigerians toward tree-felling without replacement.

He said that the effects of this were currently responsible for climate change in Nigeria.

Asiodu said that NCF had adopted an immediate priority to help the Nigerian  government on green recovery initiative by planting more indigenous trees.

He said that indigenous trees were more protective of the Nigerian soil, adding that they enrich the soil, unlike most imported trees which come with certain diseases.

Asiodu said that planting of trees would help address forest degradation and the effects of climate change in a few years.

The Deputy Director of  IITA, Mrs Hilde Koper-Limbourg, said she was delighted that NCF had interest in the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife in Nigeria.

She described IITA as a non-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty and natural resource degradation.

Koper-Limbourg said though forest conservation work was not IITA ’s main mandate,  it was aware of its importance to the environment.

According to her,  IITA  recognises the importance of forests and appreciates the support offered by NCF and other partners.

“We promise to keep working on responsible agriculture and conservation,’’ she said.

Prof. Busoye Agbeja, the Chairman of  Commonwealth Forestry Association, called on federal and state governments to address the challenges of forest reserves so as to prevent degradation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also present at the event were the Director-General of  NCF, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano and  Chief Ede Dafinone, the Chairman of  Green Recovery Nigeria Initiatives. (NAN)
SYS/JTJ/OJO
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(Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Ojo Mufutau)

Infection
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) A General Practitioner with a Private Hospital in Abuja, Dr Victor Fayomi, on Friday said adequate care of the umbilical cord stump would reduce the risks of neo-natal infection and jaundice in newborns.

Fayomi made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“Good care of the umbilical stump is needed to prevent neo-natal infection and events that may lead to jaundice.

“As against the application of substances like toothpaste and animal dung on the stump, use of methylated spirit applied with clean cotton wool at regular intervals, every three hours, until some two days after the stump has fallen off, is okay.

“The use of chlorhexidine ointment once or twice daily is now rapidly replacing the use of methylated spirit,” he said.

Fayomi said using camphor to keep cockroaches away from cloths in the house should be discontinued weeks before the arrival of the baby, saying “it’s a major cause of neo-natal jaundice”.

He said that the umbilical stump should not be covered with diaper, while dressing the baby up. Baby’s urine and faeces may touch and infect it.

“The stump and surrounding skin should be kept clean and dry at all times.

“Report all concerns about your baby’s cord to the doctor and avoid self-medication,” Fayomi advised. (NAN)
OEO/AAB/GOK

Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Safety

By Lilian Okoro

Lagos, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relationship, Mr Seye Oladejo, says incessant building collapsed was due to negligence and reckless omissions by professionals and artisans.

Oladejo made the remarks on Friday at a workshop organised by the Building Collapsed Prevention Guild (BCPG), in collaboration with the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), on ”Construction Safety Measures” in Lagos.

The workshop was themed: “Artisans and Site Personnel on Building Safety: Measures and Applications on Building Construction Site.”

Oladejo, represented by Mr Tunde Oluwabiyi, a Secretary in the ministry, said that incapability of operators in the building industry, particularly the artisans should be addressed to end the issue of building collapse.

He reiterated the commitment of the state government to attend a zero per cent tolerance of building collapsed in Lagos, stressing that all stakeholders in the industry had a role to play.

“In adherence to construction codes and conducts, attention should be given to construction safety measures at sites,” Oladejo said.

Contributing, Mr Ajani Olalekan, the acting General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, said that the quality of materials and workmanship need to be given adequate attention to avert collapse.

Speaking on “Imperative Material Testing in the Prevention of Building Collapse”, Olalekan said that there were tests to be performed before, during and after building construction.

According to him, the soil test is very important and needs to be conducted first before starting building construction, adding that concrete mix, water, sand and other required materials should also be tested.

“The 90 per cent cause of building collapse are traced by human errors.

“No building will collapse if all necessary tests are conducted and all stakeholders in the industry adhere strictly to construction codes and specifications,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Yinka Ogunseye, BCPG Chairman, Lagos Branch, enjoined the building artisans to be more conscious of construction site safety measures.

According to him, many artisans had lost their lives as a result of carelessness and negligence of construction site safety measures.

“Rarely do professionals like architects, surveyors or engineers die on site, but artisans are most vulnerable to site accidents.

“Many of them pay deaf-ears to safety tips like wearing helmets, boots and safety jackets in the course of delivering their services,” he said.

Also, Mr Hakeem Dickson, the Director-General of LSSC, assured the artisans of the commission’s commitment to continue training on the construction safety tips and applications.

Dickson said that the training would come in phases, adding that the different stages would be unfolding as time progresses. (NAN)
LUC/GOK

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

National devt: NCWS tasks women on unity
By Dorcas Jonah
Women
Abuja, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs Gloria Shoda, on Friday advised Nigerian women to be united for the development of the country.
Shoda gave the advised in Abuja at the 60th Anniversary of the council and National Summit on Sustainable Development Goals with the theme: The change Leadership and Gender Balance.
“Let me remind Nigerian women that the cloud of slur and neglect of implementation of gender affirmative agreements and treaties are disruptive war fares made to dis-empower and entrap us perpetually on the disadvantage end.
“We must use whatever positions we find ourselves to refine our positive acumen, heritage of skills, tenacity and ability to recreate the obvious image of servitude in every woman.
“We must, very strongly desist from showing scant regard for each other and conspiring against ourselves,’’ she said.
Shoda said that the council would continue to speak loud on issues of conflict resolution among women.
She said the council was also calling for a bill for an act to amend the Federal Character Commission to give married women the option choice of preferred indigeneship.
Earlier, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sustainable Development Goals said Nigeria was committed to gender concerns.
She said concerted efforts must be made to ensure gender equality and women empowerment are at the centre stage of development in order to advance the Agenda 2030. (NAN)
DE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola