Blog

By Douglas Okoro

Ebonyi, Sept. 1, 2018 (NAN) Chief Mathias Adum, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Ebonyi, is to run for the Senatorial seat in the Ebonyi North Senatorial District in 2019 general elections.

Adum, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made this declaration at a rally on Saturday in Ndioke, Ishieke community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the politician represented the old Abakaliki Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during the Third Republic.

He said that he possessed the needed executive and legislative experiences to effectively represent his people at the upper legislative chamber.

“As a former local government council chairman, former member of the House of Representatives and two-time commissioner in the state, I have the capacity to effectively represent my people.

“I will sponsor bills that will radically transform and enhance the welfare and well-being of our people in the zone through infrastructure development, job creation for women and youths.

“I have been in this business of governance for a long time and it was during my time as a House of Representatives member that I successfully secured the creation of Ebonyi Local Government Area in 1991.

“My declaration follows the call by my constituents, who know my track record of  political achievements and I have chosen to answer that call to run for the office of the Senate in the 2019 general elections,” Adum said.

He said that he would use his position if elected to ensure that the boundary disputes among communities in the senatorial district and other communities in Cross River and Benue are addressed and permanently resolved.

Adum said that he would use his position to attract federal projects and jobs for the unemployed graduates from the zone as well as contribute to the of deepening legislative processes if elected .

The former commissioner urged the people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in order to participate actively in the election of their representatives.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has three key issues to pursue, and these include, security challenges, improvement of the economy and fight against corruption, in which he has  done very well so far.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted dignitaries, politicians, party supporters from the four Local Government Areas that make the senatorial district and beyond.

NAN also reports that the district is made up of Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu and Izzi Local Government Areas. (NAN)

ODO/AO/YEMI

Auditorium
By Aminu Garko
Minna, Sept. 1, 2018 (NAN) The Niger Government says it has spent N290 million to construct an auditorium at the College of Nursing Science Kontagora.

Dr Makum Sidi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Niger, announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Minna.

He explained that part of the funds went on furniture for the school library and classrooms and noted that the state government would always provide qualified manpower for effective healthcare delivery.

He explained further that N149 million was spent on the construction of auditorium, while N46 million was used to buy furniture for the project.

“N16 million was spent on the procurements of library furniture and books, while N55 million was committed on the procurement of furniture for classrooms.

“Similarly, N24 million was used to furnish the administrative block of the college,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary reiterated the commitment of the government in meeting the needs of the institution for optimal performance.

He said that the college served as a training ground for qualified manpower and that state government would support it at always.(NAN)
AAG/AZA/KAY
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Edited by Polycarp Auta/Kayode Olaitan

‎Lack of safe water affects children’s learning, says community leader

Learning ‎
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
‎Azare (Bauchi), Sept. 1, 2018 (NAN) A Community leader inJama’are Local Government area of Bauchi State, Alhaji Lawal Mohammed, says lack of safe water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene facilities affect children’s learning processes.
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Mohammed said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Azare, Katagum Local Government headquarters on Saturday.

“We lack safe water in our communities, schools and the health facilities which affects learning process of children.”

According to him, water scarcity in communities prevents many young children, especially girls, from attending school and receiving education.
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“They are expected not only to assist their mothers to fetch water, but also to help with household chores that are made more time-intensive because of the lack of readily available water.
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“Furthermore, the lack of clean water means the absence of sanitary facilities and latrines in schools, and so once puberty hits, this has a more serious impact on female children.
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“In terms of lost educational opportunity, school attendance drops or children skip class attendance day by day.”
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According to him, inadequate safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities affect the education, health, safety, and quality of life of children as children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoea.
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“Children in our communities go to schools which have no drinking water or clean latrines — basic things that many of us take for granted.
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“Every child has the right to be in a school that offers safe water, healthy sanitation and hygiene education.”
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Mohammed stressed that providing quality water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in schools would reduce hygiene-related diseases and could help curb the schools days missed daily due to fatigue occasioned by search for water.

According to him, girls are reluctant to continue their schooling when toilets and washing facilities are not private, safe, clean, or simply not available.
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The community leader, therefore, urged government, policy makers, school administrators, communities and parents to ensure that all children go to a school with child-friendly water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
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He also urged decision-makers and key stakeholders to increase investment for WASH in schools, with the participation of communities, civil society, the media, students and children themselves.
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He said providing WASH facilities in schools would improve access to primary education, reduce child mortality and halve the proportion of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation.
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Mohammed commended the Network for Civil Society Organisations in Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) and WaterAid Nigeria for launching the vote4WASH campaign, adding that it would go a long way in the quest for the provision of WASH facilities in the communities. (NAN)
MAK/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

Reforms

By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) on Thursday called for a sustainable reforms in the oil and gas industry to ensure responsible petroleum exploration.

Aishatu Umar, NSE chairman, Giri chapter, Abuja made the call at the 3rd Engineering Week and Annual Lecture.

Umar said such reforms would also enhance production activities, influence economic development in oil producing host communities and preserve human and environmental health.

The theme of this year’s lecture was “Environmental Issues in the Oil and Gas Industry’’.

Umar noted that advances in the development of petroleum resources had contributed greatly to the global energy demand and economic development over the past decades.

She said these advances equally left profound negative impacts on the natural environment as well as adverse human health effects in most oil producing host communities around the world.

Umar said that the Niger Delta region over the years had also experienced a wide range of environmental pollution, degradation, human health risks and socio-economic problems due to activities of petroleum exploration and production.

The chairman observed that the degradation of the Niger Delta region over the years had been compounded by a variety of issues.

She listed the inability of the political elite to effectively manage petroleum-derived revenue and loss of petroleum resource revenues to corruption among the issues.

Umar also blamed ineffective government’s petroleum development policies for the level of degradation in the Niger Delta.

She maintained that effective environmental legislation and implementation of international environmental principles were also critical for sustainable development, good environmental governance, and effective environmental management and protection in the Niger Delta region.

The chairman said that there was also the need to implement effective environmental legislative and institutional framework to improve petroleum industry regulations in Nigeria.

She called for the review of relevant statutory laws and the 1999 Constitution for effective framework for regulation, sustainable objectives and environmental enforcement. (NAN)
SET/AOM/EEE
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Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Ese E. Ekama

Redeployment: DPO reads riot act to criminals in Warri
Redeployment
Warri (Delta), Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The newly deployed Divisional Police Officer (DPO) B Division, Warri, Superintendant of Police (SP) Ebi Orubiri, has warned criminals to steer clear of Warri.
Orubiri, who assumed duty on Thursday, promised to sustain the existing fight against criminal activities in the city.
The DPO also said that he would ensure the continuation of the developmental projects embarked upon by his predecessor, CSP Eyoh Anietie.
Orubiri, who was redeployed from B Division, Asaba, to Warri, was once an Operational Officer at A Division, Warri Area Command.
“I will want to strongly advise that I am not a soft person. When it comes to crime and criminality, I will fight it headlong.
“I won’t tolerate criminality and illegality and so everybody should do things according to the law.
“I have worked as operational officer in Warri. I had visited very volatile areas in the creeks to curtail excesses and crisis.
“If I was able to succeed within Warri metropolis, we shall fight crime the way Anietie had fought it and also improve on it.
“My operations and policing will be professional and with a human face. We shall focus on criminal matters and not civil or commercial matters.”
He gave an assurance that public complaints would be addressed the way they should, without compromise.
Orubiri commended his predecessor for the developmental stride at the division.
He urged the people to be calm, shun social vices and also be willing to offer useful information that would help in Police operations.
The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anietie, who was redeployed to B Division, Asaba, had also assumed duty. (NAN)
EDI/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

Community stages heroic reception for Gov Ahmed’s ex-aide for staying in APC

Reception
By Usman Aliyu
Kaiama (Kwara), Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) A mammoth crowd trooped out on Thursday in Kaiama, Kaiama Local Ggovernment Area of Kwara for a heroic reception for Malam Abdullahi Danbaba, an aide of Gov. Abdullahi Ahmed, who resigned to his appointment to remain in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Scores of the residents joined Danbaba to rally round the community chanting anti-People Democratic Partys (PDP) and anti-Saraki songs.

Some of the residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the community had suffered protracted neglect in infrastructural development, particularly road construction.

Alhaji Ahmed Usman, the Chairman, Kaiama Development Association, explained that the community had been die-hard Saraki dynasty loyalists but without any development to show for it.

“We have suffered a lot. We have been pushed to the wall due to lack of infrastructure; that is why the people of Kaiama are saying `enough is enough’.

“For more than 30 years now, the late father of Bukola Saraki, Olusola Saraki would come here and campaign that if we vote for him, he would do Kishi-Kaiama road.

“So, Bukola spent eight years without doing the road; Bukola Saraki brought Abdulfatah and this is almost his eight years, the road is yet to be done.”

Usman added that there could not be any development without road, particularly noting that Kaiama is the food basket of the North-West, South-West and North-Central in term of yam, yam flour, maize, guinea corn and soya beans, among others.

According to him, people were frustrated to go and buy yam because of the bad road.

He added that all the three roads linking the community with the neighbourhood were in deplorable condition.

Also speaking, a youth, Abubakar Kakagida, said that the people had been so patient to have followed Saraki this far.

“We, the community, are the ones that asked Danbaba to resign and come to back to APC because we could not achieve our aspiration on Saraki’s platform.

Meanwhile, Danbaba expressed delight over the warm and heroic reception, saying his resignation had been justified by the turnout of the people. (NAN)
AUO/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

NEMA
By Adekunle Williams
Lagos, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has received a batch of 164 assisted voluntary returnees from Libya who were stranded in failed attempts to reach different European countries.

The Agency’s Spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at 8:50p.m. on Thursday night.

Farinloye said the returnees comprised of 61 adult females including seven pregnant women, 96 adult males, two children and five infants, adding that 17 of the returnees had medical cases.

He said that they were brought back through the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) aboard a Libyan Airline flight with registration number 5A-DMG.

The spokesman said the Nigeria Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Refugees Commission, the Police and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officials were on ground for profiling and documentation of the returnees.

Similarly, the Director General, NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihajja had therefore called on faith and community based organisations to join government in efforts at discouraging irregular migration and the get-rich-quick syndrome in the society.

Maihajja, represented by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, appealed to religious and community based organisations in leading attitudinal change towards discouraging irregular migration.

“When these organisations embrace the governments’ efforts at curbing the menace of irregular emigration that has led to the death of several youths and rendered many incapacitated, the surge of irregular migrations will be minimised.

“As much as these bodies can cause positive change, which the government is aware of, some of them are culpable in misleading the youths based on revelations of some of the returnees,” he said. (NAN)
WAC/CHOM/IS
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Aid
By Tope Pole
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The UK Government has said it is supporting the growth of solar technology companies to help more than 11 million people across Africa have access to solar electricity.

A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja noted that the UK Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, made the announcement on Wednesday.

Baldwin, who accompanied Prime Minister Theresa May to Nigeria, said that supporting such companies to provide clean energy to off-grid households in Africa would improve the livelihoods of people.

“Africa’s solar industry is vibrant and exciting, full of potential to transform the lives of millions of people who are still living off the grid.

“By sharing British expertise we’re allowing this industry to flourish, helping the poorest to access clean, sustainable energy, while also opening up opportunities for UK business and investment.

“This is a win for African countries and a win for the UK,” she said.

The high commission, in the statement, mentioned that the UK aid through the Department for International Development (DFID) was helping to boost opportunities for early stage businesses in Africa.

It stated that the opportunities were made available through the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) and a new round of the fund was being launched in five sub-Saharan African countries.

The countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Senegal and Ethiopia.

“A new round of the AECF, £16 million, is being launched, providing grants, loans and business development support to small businesses creating innovative household solar products and appliances.”

“This programme will help up to 1.5 million poor people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2022 access clean, affordable modern energy, with a focus on women and children.”

It added that the UK aid would also help governments reduce the barriers in the growth of solar companies in Africa and “lay the groundwork” for 14 partner sub-Saharan African countries in clean energy.

“Support to DFID’s Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility (£15.5 million) will work across 14 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria and Kenya.”

It pointed out that the UK aid would increase its support to the Energise Africa impact investment platform to help 1500 new UK small investors provide the necessary finance needed.

It added that the platform would connect 125,000 more people to affordable solar energy, allowing the programme to reach a total of 325,000 people.

“Energise Africa to date has raised £4.8 million from 1000 investors to help more than 195,000 access affordable solar energy.

“Strengthening the solar market in Africa is opening up opportunities for the UK’s own pioneering solar industry to access the untapped potential offered by African markets.” (NAN)
TOP/IS
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Implementation

By Lucy Nwachukwu

Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to implement the various strategies in the Economic Recovery and Growth plan (ERGP).

Udoma said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr James Akpandem on Thursday in Abuja.

Udoma spoke while addressing the Joint Planning Board/National Council on development Planning (JPB/NCDP) meeting in Abeokuta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the strategies in the ERGP aims to address  the issues of macroeconomic stabilisation,  agriculture and food security, transportation, energy and industrialisation in the country.

NAN also reports that JPB/NCDP meetings are platforms for State Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss with each other about the Nigerian economy.

It is also an avenue for stakeholders to keep abreast of developments by hearing from development experts on topical economic issues.

The theme for this year’s meeting was “Accelerating Implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan: the Role of Stakeholders.”

According to the minister, a faithful implementation of the plan will help government deliver a resilient and more prosperous economy where we grow what we eat and consume what we make.

He said in spite of the concerns expressed in the implementation of the plan, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led-administration was committed toward ensuring its implementation.

“The ERGP is conceived as a comprehensive medium term plan to address the fundamental problems of the country and place the economy on the path of diversified, sustainable and inclusive growth.

“And many innovations are already being introduced to achieve faster results.’’

The minister expressed the hope that the JPB/NCDP meeting would generate more and new ideas that would help implementation of the Plan.

He expressed delight that implementation of the ERGP was already yielding positive results, while stating that there was an urgent need to intensify work on the plan to achieve Nigeria’s dream.

Udoma noted that since the adoption of the ERGP, the JPB/NCDP had been utilised to examine ways of facilitating the delivery of its objectives.

He urged further commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that the Plan achieved its set goals and targets.

The statement also quoted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as saying “the realisation of the goals of the ERGP would require the active participation of the sub-national governments.’’

The statement said Osinbajo was represented by the Minster of Budget and National Planning.

The Vice President commended states that had already adopted a number of the initiatives being promoted in the Plan.

He called on other states that had not done so to key into the implementation of the Plan, saying, “it is the only way we can together guarantee a better future.

“At the Federal level, our commitment is never in doubt, we will definitely not relent until the majority of the citizens feel the impact of our efforts.’’ (NAN)

LCN/EEE

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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

Saraki

By Angela Atabo

Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) The Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement on Thursday disowned affiliation with President of the Senate, Dr  Bukola Saraki’s declaration for the presidency in 2019 election.

In a statement signed by one of the Converners of the group, Mr Samson Itodo, it said that it was displeased with the use of its platform by Saraki to declare his ambition without prior consultation.

“The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Senator Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership, to advance his political ambition.

“We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociate ourselves from this political move.

“As noted earlier, the movement reaffirms its identity as a non-partisan citizen-led movement dedicated to the defense of democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership.

“The movement restates its commitment to sustain its engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and democratic primaries by the parties.”

The group said that as part of efforts to promote youth candidacy and democratic primaries, it had commenced series of public town hall meetings with the leadership of political parties and young aspirants.

According to it, this is to address the challenges faced by young aspirants in securing party tickets.

It said that the movement had scheduled three town hall meetings with the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties.

It stated that while one of the town hall meetings was going on in Abuja, Saraki declared his intention to run for the office of the President in the 2019 elections.

It restated its commitment to sustain engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and democratic primaries by political parties.

It said that the first dialogue held on Friday in Abuja with the leadership of the PDP, adding that the event was attended by Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, Saraki and National Youth Leader of the party, Mr Udeh Okoye.

The group disclosed that young aspirants advocated for reduction in the cost of parties’ nomination forms, and requested PDP to uphold internal democracy in the conduct of its primaries. (NAN)

ATAB/OPI