Blog

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, Sep. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Thursday issued a Sept. 30 deadline for the Federal Government to reconstitute the board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The President of the NMA, Dr Francis Faduyile, gave the deadline at a news conference in Abuja.

Faduyile said that the association’s call for reconstitution of the board was part of the resolutions reached at the just-concluded National Executive Council (NEC)’s meeting of the body at Osogbo in Osun.

He said the NEC had expressed its displeasure over the Federal Government’s inability to reconstitute MDCN, in spite of repeated appeals by the NMA.

Faduyile said that the body found it disheartening that three years after government dissolved the board, it had not deemed it fit to reconstitute a new board.

He said that the Act setting up the MDCN clearly stated that “the council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession.

“We call on the Federal Government to immediately reconstitute the council to ensure smooth operation of medical practice in Nigeria.

“We have directed the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) to approach the court of law, to seek interpretation of the statement ‘the council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession as stated in MDCN’s Act Cap. M8’.

“The NOC is further directed to take all necessary actions to ensure that the Federal Government sets up the MDCN council on or before Sept. 30, 2018.

“It is now 10 weeks since President Muhammadu Buhari promised to constitute the council.”

He described the development as worrisome especially at a period when medical practice had become highly unregulated without a functional MDCN.

Faduyile, however, noted that the association had applauded government for launching Nigeria’s first Patients’ Bill of Rights to protect vulnerable Nigerians.

He assured that the NMA would ensure full implementation of the bill, urging government to also consider the introduction of the Health Care Workers’ Bill of Rights. (NAN)
MS/KOO/SN
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Silas Nwoha

NFF presidential aspirant faults LMC over abrupt conclusion of NPFL

NFF

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) Mr Chinedu Okoye, the proprietor of Bimo FC of Lafia, has faulted the decision of League Management Company (LMC) to end the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season with about 13 matches to play.

Okoye who is aspiring to become the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stated this on Thursday in Abuja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Okoye also unfolded his six-point agenda, ahead of the forthcoming board election.

NAN recalls that an emergency joint consultative meeting of the 20 NPFL clubs and the LMC met in Abuja in August and declared the 2017/2018 league season concluded after 24 matches.

The meeting said that the decision was against the backdrop of the adverse circumstances in the administration of football in the country, which resulted in the indefinite suspension of league, leading to huge fixture congestion for both league and cup competitions.

The decision meant that none of the 20 NPFL Clubs would be relegated to the lower league, while four would be promoted from the Nigeria National League (NNL) to bring the number of the NPFL Clubs for the 2018/19 season to 24.

But Okoye said that the termination of the NPFL with 13 games still remaining, while teams were separated from each other with just few points, can best be described as `match fixing.’

“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria football where the league was concluded with 13 matches to go.

“Four people just sat down and decided to award Lobi Stars FC the NPFL title.

“We all know that we have a problem; it is only in Nigeria that you know the winner of the league from the beginning of the season. We have to stop this,” Okoye said.

According to Okoye, time has come when Nigerians should find out how football especially the leagues are run in the country.

Okoye said if elected president, he would tell Nigerians what the football secretariat got from sponsors annually.

“There is sponsorship money from coca cola and other big companies; you cannot run NFF like a cabal or your father’s property because it has a mandate to develop football in Nigeria.

“NFF collects 4.3 million dollars every year from FIFA for the development of football in Nigeria including the payment of state Football Associations, as well as female football but unfortunately, these monies get into individual pockets.

“Is that the way to grow? No. We don’t need NFF president that will go and watch Arsenal when his national team is playing a friendly game; that is what we have currently in Nigeria, but it has to stop.

“I am talking about transparency and accountability in the NFF and I will be ready to answer anybody that will come to me to know  how much comes into NFF and how much goes out.

“In this current administration, you dare not ask because if you do, you are pushed out the following day,” Okoye added.

The NFF presidential aspirant noted that the annual financial grant from FIFA was basically meant for the development of football at the grassroots with FA chairmen taking the driving seats and not to be spent on frivolities.

He said: “There is no facility and there is no age grade competition in Nigeria. Children from age eight to 18 don’t have any competition.

“Again the issue of doping in our games has to stop. If I become the NFF President, the people that dope will have no place in our sport.

NAN reports that election into the executive committee of the NFF is scheduled to hold on Sept. 20, according to the amended timetable of the Sani Katu-led electoral committee. (NAN)

EMAF/OU

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Edited Obike Ukoh

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Court dismisses suit seeking Adamawa APC congresses nullification

By Yakubu Uba

Yola, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) A Yola High Court presided over by Justice Abdul-Azeez Waziri has dismissed a suit filed by some aggrieved APC members, challenging the conduct of the party’s ward, council and state congresses.

The plaintiffs, led by Mr Dimas Ezra and three others went to court, seeking a declaration that the party’s congresses never held in the state.

Joined in the suit are the APC and the newly-elected state executive of the party in the state.

Waziri in his judgment, ruled that the plaintiffs, failed to observe necessary guidelines for the congresses, particularly their failure to return their nomination forms to the party and could, therefore, not claim to be denied participation in the congresses.

“It is my view that purchasing nomination form is one aspect of the election, returning same is another aspect all together that can qualify a participant.

“I am afraid, the plaintiffs here in all purposes and intent never made themselves available, having failed to return their nomination forms.

“Having failed to participate in the election, they cannot make claims to have been denied participation.

“Consequently, and legally, all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs failed like a pack of cards,” the court ruled.

Commenting on the judgment, one of the plaintiffs, Alhaji Usman Ibrahim said they would consult with their counsel with a view to appealing the judgment.

“We are consulting with our legal representation to consider the option of going to appeal.

“As you know, cases of this nature do not stop at lower level. We are gearing ourselves towards appealing,” Ibrahim said.

Also commenting, the Adamawa State Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, who said he was happy with the judgment, urged members to keep aside grievances and unite to face the upcoming general elections.

“I am totally overwhelmed by the judgment. There is need for us as party members to unite and work for the interest of the party so that we face 2019 as one family,” Abdullahi said. (NAN)
YMU/SN

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Edited by Silas Nwoha

Centre
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NISPGHAN), on Thursday urged the Federal Government to establish liver transplantation centre to ease   the sufferings of Nigerians.

The President of the Society, Prof. Philip Abiodun, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Abiodun said that the cost implications of liver transplantation abroad should necessitate the establishment of the centre to ease the sufferings of many people.

“We don’t do liver transplantation here because it costs millions; we do send them to the developed countries; and not many of them can afford the transportation fare,’’ he said.

The society president called for the training of the doctors to carry out the exercise aside the call for establishment of a liver transplantation centre.

“I think it depends on government seeing the importance of something; we may need to do more advocacy so that government will know how many children that really die of some of these conditions.

“When liver diseases like hepatitis and liver cancer affect adults, government will think of what to do, they will think of liver transplantation, but they don’t think same for children.

“This has always been the major problem because they have not seen the necessity; but because we are involved, we see what every child that dies means to us,’’ Abiodun said.

He expressed regret that children with these diseases were brought to the hospitals by their family members at a stage when liver transplantation was the only way out.

According to him, provision of more laboratories, creation of an enabling environment to support the trained doctors and availability of right drugs at affordable rate are imperative for quality healthcare delivery.

He also advocated the establishment of more kidney transplantation centres to augment the already few existing ones.

Abiodun, who is a Consultant in Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, also said that most hospitals in Nigeria did not have endoscopy machines suitable to meet the needs of children.

According to him, Endoscopy machine is a machine that is used to look inside the human body.

“Challenges in making diagnosis as well as managing disorders affecting children, especially in the examination of neonates, infants, in the first few days of life, have been a problem for us in Nigeria.

“Again, it is a matter of seeing the importance of children’s care; the adults endoscopes are available everywhere, but that of children cannot be found everywhere.

“Only few hospitals have it and this has led to the death of many of our future elders.

“What doctors do is to adapt adults’ endoscopes for the bigger children so as to save lives.

“This is another serious challenge in paediatrics that governments need to look into and address,’’ he said.

The consultant said dearth of child healthcare facilities showed that the authorities were more concerned about things that affected the adults than children. (NAN)
LED/OSA/GOK
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Olagoke Olatoye
 

34 ships carrying various products expected at Lagos ports
Ships
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it is expecting 34 ships to bring petroleum products, food and other goods from Sept. 6 to 22 at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 11 of the 34 ships will sail in with petrol and diesel.
The other 23 ships are carrying buckwheat, frozen fish, general cargo, base oil, bulk fertiliser and containers conveying different goods.
According to the NPA, 12 ships have arrived at the ports and are waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, buckwheat, soya beans, container and petrol. (NAN)
AIC/SA
Edited by Salif Atojoko
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NYSC
By Awayi Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged corps members to avoid night party and unnecessary journey in order to save their lives.

Brig.- Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director General of the NYSC, made the plea on Thursday in Keffi during his visit to the 2018 Batch ‘B’  Stream 11 corps members deployed to Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,864 corps members were duly registered from Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau States.

Kazaure said that he was at the camp to inspect facilities.

“The scheme demands commitment and we will continue to initiate good policies and programmes that will improve the lives of staff and the corps members.

“I advise corps members to always avoid night party, unnecessary journey and indecent dressing.

“Ensure you conduct yourself very well and be security conscious for your safety and in the interest of development of our nation,’’ the director general said.

Kazaure urged the corps members to take advantage of the various skills acquisition programmes by the scheme to enable them become self reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.

“NYSC is all about unity and national integration. I have seen the cultural display by you and it means we are doing well.

“You must be patriotic and dedicated to service to realise the aims and objectives of the scheme.

“We have a lot of programmes and you are all aware that it is no longer news that white collar jobs are difficult to get.

“Take opportunities of the programmes provided by the scheme to empower yourselves with necessary skills in order to become self reliant and to contribute your quota to national development,’’ he said.

Kazaure advised the corps members to be good ambassadors of their families and Nigeria at large by obeying rules and regulations guiding the scheme.

He urged the corps members to initiate and execute projects that would enhance the welfare of their host communities.

“My advice to all the corps members is that they should take their orientation course serious and ensure they work hard. Remember that there is no short cut to success, ’’ Kazaure said.

Mrs Zainab Isah, the state NYSC Coordinator, said that the Orientation course started on Tuesday, Aug. 28 as directed and the registration closed by 12:00 midnight on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

“I thank you most sincerely for the complete renovation of the camp’s multipurpose hall for the comfort of staff and corps members as well.

“I also wish to humbly report to the director general that this batch of corps members has been exceptionally good,” Isah said. (NAN)
AKW/VOE/AJA
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Edited by Vivian Emoni/Adeleye Ajayi

National ID card registration will promote planning, growth – NOA
Collaboration
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday said the on-going National Identity Card registration exercise would promote national planning and socio-economic growth.
Mr Adeyemi Olusegun, the Kwara State Director of NOA, made the assertion during a sensitisation seminar in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Omu-Aran, Kwara.
He said the collaboration was informed by the need to enlighten Nigerians on the importance of the registration exercise toward nation building.
Olusegun also disclosed that the registration for the national identity card had been made compulsory for children of two years and above.
He expressed optimism that the sensitisation would spread information on the exercise at grassroots level.
The NOA boss urged those who had registered and were awaiting their permanent cards to exercise patience, saying the cards would be made available in due course.
He said the card, apart from being used for administrative purposes, could also be used to make financial transactions, especially the automated Teller Machine.
Mrs Comfort Ajibade, NOA Assistant Director, Irepodun Local Government, in a remark, expressed satisfaction with the level of registration in the area.
She said the collaboration was in line with the mandate of the agency of keeping the society informed toward the nation’s growth, progress and development.
Ajibade said the collaboration was a directive from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja as a way of boosting NIMC national assignment, especially at the grassroots.
Mr Tope Jimoh, the council’s NIMC Supervisor, while enumerating the importance of the registration exercise, said its usage transcended all critical sectors.
He described the collaboration with NOA as unprecedented, encouraging and timely.
Alhaji Issa Abdulsalam, a community leader in Omu-Aran, pledged for the support of the community toward achieving the desired objectives of the exercise. (NAN)
ISHO/SA
Edited by Salif Atojoko
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Malaria
By Muhammad Auwal
Yola, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Adamawa Government says it has significantly reduced the scourge of malaria infection in the state through sensitisation, distribution of treated mosquito nets and surveillance.

Dr Isaac Kadala, the Director, Malaria Control in the State Ministry of Health, made the assertion on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

Kadala said: “Adamawa Government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO), has significantly achieved a lot in malaria control.

“Reports from 21 local government areas of the state and made available to us show that malaria infections had dropped sharply,” he said.

Kadala, who did not give statistics of the decrease, said that with the support of the Federal Government and WHO, over 2.5 million treated mosquito nets were distributed in the state in 2017.

The director told NAN that the ministry had commenced assessment of about 25 Internally Displaced Persons camps (IDPs) across the state for the distribution of another batch of the treated nets.

He said that most of the IDPs had been displaced by floods, urging the government to make necessary arrangements to prevent any outbreak of diseases in the camps. (NAN)
AMA/AOS/GOK
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Olagoke Olatoye

Laptops
By Deborah Akpede

Ikeja, Sept.6, 2018(NAN) For allegedly stealing two laptops valued at N1.2million, a 40-year-old businessman, Nurudeen Abdulraman, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Abdulraman, a resident of Badagry, Lagos State, is being tried for stealing.
The accused committed the offence on July 30 at Victoria Island, the Police prosecutor, Sgt. Dada Wasiu, told the court.
He said that the accused stole two laptops, property of Brainwave Technology Nigeria Ltd.
“The accused stole one apple laptop valued at N900,000 and a N300,000 HP laptop, totalling N1.2 million.”
Wasiu said that the management resumed work on Monday to discover that the two laptops in the chairman’s office were missing.
“The company discovered that two laptops have been stolen, but the door and key to the office were not tampered with or damaged.
“They later detected that the aluminum and wood partitioning their office with the accused’s office has been tampered with.
“It was based on the discovery that the accused was arrested and handed over to the police,” the prosecutor said.
The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which prescribes three-year jail term for stealing.
The accused denied committing the offence and was admitted to bail of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.K Dosunmu, said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidences of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Further hearing has been fixed for Sept. 20. (NAN)
DOA/BOLA/TA
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Tajudeen Atitebi