The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Babachir David Lawal

  • Footballing world mourns Keshi

    Footballing world mourns Keshi

    Football lovers, fans and umpires around the world on Wednesday mourn the shocking death of former Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, popularly known as the Big Boss.

    Following the announcement of Keshi’s death, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) said: “His influence on the pitch cannot be underestimated. He enjoyed a successful club career in his home continent before exporting his talents to Europe, starring in cup and league-winning Anderlecht sides and endearing himself to Strasbourg fans in France with a stunning long range goal against Rennes that helped promote Le Racing to Ligue 1.

    Throughout his stellar playing and managerial career, ‘Big Boss’ certainly allowed fans, team-mates and his own players themselves to dream. Tributes from around the footballing world have poured in for Keshi, after his tragic and sudden passing at the age of 54.

    Chelsea Football Club of England acknowledged the coaching impact of late Keshi in making great players like Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, both football players at Chelsea FC. The English club took to its social media platform to say: “All at CFC are saddened to hear of former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi’s death. He worked with Mikel & Victor Moses

    Similarly, Fatima Samoura, first female FIFA’s Secretary General appointed on 13 May 2016, expressed her great shock at the news when she posted on her social media handle saying:

    Brown Ideye, Nigeria’s central striker who plays his football with Greek club Olympiacos FC was not left out as he laments the tragic departure of  Big Boss from planet earth. Ideye in his social media post said: “This is one of the saddest days of my life?. I will never forget the happy days, you coached me. RIP Big boss?? pic.twitter.com/mqNhFhFzK3

    Other football bodies and individuals around the world as follow:

     

    FIFA further said in its article that it is Keshi’s international career that will perhaps evoke the strongest memories though. As well as playing his part in that memorable AFCON title in 1994, he helped guide the Super Eagles to their first FIFA World Cup™, playing five games on the road to the USA before featuring just once at the finals (as captain) due to injury.

    “With many African countries looking for coaching experience from outside the continent to lead their countries at major tournaments, Keshi was a beacon of hope for coaches from the mother continent. Not only was he the first Nigerian to lead his country to the AFCON title, he was the first African coach to lead a team to the Round of 16 at a World Cup, achieving that feat at Brazil 2014,” the world football governing body noted.

    The social media is agog with messages of condolence after news of Keshi’s death stunned the global footballing community.

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  • FG vows to shelve doctors’ strike

    FG vows to shelve doctors’ strike

    The Federal Government on Thursday said that everything will be done to prevent the impending strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD).

     

    The NARD had on Monday given the Federal Government a 21-day notice to meet their demands or face an indefinite strike.

     

    Their demands include payment of members’ salaries till date and appropriate placement of members in states and federal tertiary hospitals across the nation, reversal of sacked members in some hospitals and appropriate funding of residency training programme.‎

     

    NARD’s President Dr. Muhammad Askira, had told newsmen in Abuja, that the ultimatum took effect from April 4.

     

    But speaking at the commemoration of the 2016 World Health Day and the flag off of diabetics screening exercise organized by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, gave assurance that there will be no strike.

     

    The focus of 2016 World Health Day campaign is on Diabetes with the theme “Beat Diabetes”.

     

    Adewole said: “I am assuring Nigerians that there will be no strike. We have received the ultimatum, we have talked and will be meeting again on Monday.”

     

    He said that with Nigeria’s sustained efforts and support from development partners, the spread of the wild polio-virus was halted and Nigeria was dropped off the infamous list of countries where the virus is still endemic.

     

    The Minister also commended Nigeria’s capabilities of meeting the health needs of a greater proportion of her population and her ability to withstand challenges of epidemic like HIV, infectious disease outbreaks as demonstrated by her response to recent Ebola virus epidemic.

     

    Quoting Wealth Health Organization recent ‎report, he said that 24 per cent of illness related deaths in the country is caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), with diabetes accounting for two per cent of that figure.

     

    He said: “Diabetes is increasingly becoming an epidemic especially among adolescents and young adults, partly due to the rapid socio-cultural change being experienced, and the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles and risky behaviours”.

     

    His ministry, he said, has mapped out six critical action areas to tackle the disease.

     

    He said that the action areas included adoption of the global monitoring framework for NCDs, development of a National Diabetes Plan and Policy, ‎increased monitoring and surveillance systems, engagement and rights, improved access to care and sustainable financing for management of diabetes.

     

    The Minister also urged Nigerians to be actively involved in the campaign, stressing that people must learn to identify their risk factors and take steps to avoid them.

     

    He said that some of the steps included maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy, being physically active, avoiding harmful habit like alcohol intake and tobacco use.

     

    He urged those already diagnosed with diabetes to follow up on doctor’s advice as well as be consistent with doctor’s appointment.

     

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, warned that except Nigerians follow experts’ advice and adopt healthy lifestyle, the current adult population with the diabetes disease will increase.

     

    According to him, ‎diabetes is a disease that could be managed medically if detected early.

     

    He said that it can also be avoided if Nigerians take adequate interest in what they eat.

  • “Ocholi’s driver had no license”

    “Ocholi’s driver had no license”

    The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, on Wednesday disclosed that the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi died as a result of over speeding.

    The Corps Marshal said this while presenting the accident’s Road Traffic Crash Investigation Interim Report to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday at the meeting of the body at the presidential villa in Abuja.

    Oyeyemi stated that the Corps could not find the details of Ocholi’s driver on its database and thus declared that the driver had no license.

    Members of the Federal executive Council (FEC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari are expected to visit the family of the late minister after the meeting.

    President Buhari and some selected ministers paid glowing tributes to their fallen colleagues, just as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal said Ocholi’s burial may hold between 16th and 18th of March, 2016.

  • Over speeding caused Ocholi’s death – FRSC

    Over speeding caused Ocholi’s death – FRSC

    The death of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. James Ocholi has been majorly attributed to over speeding.

    Ocholi died alongside his wife and son on Sunday in an auto crash on Kaduna-Abuja road.

    The verdict was given by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi while presenting the accident’s Road Traffic Crash Investigation Interim Report to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also said that the investigation revealed that the impact of the accident was more on Ocholi and his family members who were seated at the rear seats because they were not using seat belts.

    According to him, the driver of the vehicle was unlicensed

    Six ministers from the geopolitical zones on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Ocholi.

    All cabinet members will also visit Ocholi’s family immediately after FEC meeting.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal gave the tentative burial arrangement for 16th to 18th of March, 2015.

  • Buhari swears- in SGF, NSA, media aide

    Buhari swears- in SGF, NSA, media aide

    We won’t fail Nigeria – SGF

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sworn-in the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal, National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

    Adesina was appointed on May 31, while Monguno got the President’s nod on July 13.

    Lawal was named the SGF on August 27.

    At a brief ceremony held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Lawal, who spoke on behalf of others, promised that they will not let the country down.

    He said: “We want to thank God for granting President the vision, wisdom, kindness and boldness to consider us worthy for positions of responsibilities.

    “We did not have to pass any examination to get appointed into these positions, not because of our tribes, or our faiths, or our political groups that we were considered worthy for these positions.

    “If it is such, I am sure none of us would have been considered worthy of these appointments. We appreciate the President and we appreciate God that he has blessed us with these privileged appointments.

    “It is a privilege to serve Nigerians in these capacities at this point in time. Nigeria is at the threshold of achieving greatness and it is our honour and privilege to be senior members of the team that will propel the country to this greatness.

    “We have in you and the vice president leaders that lead by examples, leaders that are focused, whose goal is to build a Nigeria where there is liberty, security, economic prosperity and the rule of law.

    “We are grateful that we are part of the team to deliver this goal. Accept our assurances that by the grace of God, we will not fail you, we will not fail our country. Also, we will not fail ourselves, our families and our friends. By the grace of God, we will not fail you either. We will strive at all times to serve our country and to serve you with excellence, hardwork and integrity.”

     

     

  • Buhari names SGF, Chief of Staff, others

    Buhari names SGF, Chief of Staff, others

    President  Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appointed Engr. Babachir David Lawal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also announced the appointment of  Alhaji Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff to the President, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) as Comptroller-General, of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi  as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    Other appointments include Senator Ita S.J. Enang as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu   –  SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).

    The appointments, the statement said, are with effect from today, August 27, 2015.

    It reads: “Engr. Lawal, the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation hails from Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

    “He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja,  Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990.

    “He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the  Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

    “Alhaji Abba Kyari, the new Chief of Staff to the President holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick in Law and Sociology.

    “He has worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years.

    “The new Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Ali holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Criminology. He was  military administrator of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998.

    “The new Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr. Abeshi hails from Nasarawa State.

    “He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller. His educational qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration.” It stated