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Tag: Federal government

  • FG tasks CSOs, others on nutrition budget tracking

    FG tasks CSOs, others on nutrition budget tracking

    The Federal Government has urged civil society groups and other nutrition stakeholders to prioritize tracking of resources allocated to nutrition in various tiers of government to ensure appropriate implementation.

    Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, Head of Nutrition Federal Ministry of Health, made the call at a dissemination meeting for budget analysis for health and nutrition on Saturday in Abuja.

    The meeting was organized by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria a coalition under the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health.

    Isokpunwu, who identified malnutrition as a public health issue, emphasized the existence of a strategic plan of action on nutrition that demanded adequate budgetary allocation by all tiers of government.

    He noted that although some states and the Federal Government had allocated resources in this year’s budget to implement the plan thereby cushioning the effect of malnutrition in the country, the only way to achieve this goal was through resource tracking.

    “The only way to implement this action plan was through resource allocation, release and follow up the amount release to ensure it meet the intended goals,’’ he said.

    Isokpunwu noted that budget tracking was not a witch-hunt exercise but to promote transparency and accountability in governance.

    He described appropriating money as a step towards addressing the nation’s nutrition challenge and that the release and how it was utilized would determine if actually we could curtail the menace.

    Isokpunwu who expressed concern that close to a million less than five years of age children died annually in Nigeria said malnutrition caused most of the deaths.

    He said addressing the scourge required multi-sectoral approach through resource allocation and actual implementation.

    He also noted that the problem in the country was not allocation of resources but channeling or utilization of such allocation in the right direction.

    “For money to be released, you need also to track if it is actually expended for nutrition which entails budget tracking which helps in advocacy to ensure the money release meet the desired goals.

    “The onus lies on all of us both the civil society organisations to call on government to account for the monies that have been giving to curb malnutrition, because if we do not stamp out malnutrition in Nigeria, malnutrition will address us.

    “It is time for us to stand, act both at the local, state and national levels and be committed to the need of our people to avoid been held responsible by our children in future for destroying their future,’’ Isokpunwu said.

    Similarly, Mrs Beatrice Eluaka, Director, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, said the meeting was aimed at sharing findings of budget analysis conducted by the organisation in conjunction with states nutrition officers in Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna State.

    Eluaka, who lauded the three states for allocating resources for implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition, said although the money was not enough but a right steps in the right direction.

    “It is important for us to know what government is spending when it comes to implementation of activities.

    “The purpose of this exercise is for us to develop a scorecard on how states have progressed from no budget line on nutrition to probably now having budget line.

    “It is for them to see what the situation is and understand why there is need for them to put money to address the problem of malnutrition,’’ Eluaka said.

     

  • Group faults FG’s plan to build more prisons

    Group faults FG’s plan to build more prisons

    …Seek eradication of causes of congestion

     

    A group, Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE-Nigeria) has faulted plan by the Federal Government to build new prisons to address congestion and decapitated prison structures.

    It argued that such option was wrong where everyone, including the Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau know that majority of those in existing prisons were awaiting trial inmates, kept behind bars owing to the inability of the criminal justice system to promptly process their cases.

    In a statement Monday, CURE-Nigeria’s Executive Director, Sylvester Uhaa commended the Minister for visiting the Kano prison during the the Eid-el-Fitr and the Kano State Government for donating a large piece of land for the building of a 3,000 capacity prison.

    Uhaa said though he is aware that majority of the country’s prisons are old and debilitated and the building of modern prisons is necessary, prison decongestion and justice reforms should precede the building of new prisons, not to do so will be a huge mistake to make.

    Uhaa said: “We cannot decongest the prisons by simply building new prisons.

    “We should decongest the prisons my ensuring that only those who are convicted are sent to prison to serve their jail terms, reduce the over reliance on incarceration as the only form of punishment and by reforming the criminal justice system.

    “It is only then that it will make sense to build new prisons.

    “If we build new prisons now without first addressing the root causes of the rising crime rate in Nigeria addressing the failure of the criminal justice system to process and send to prisons only those who are found guilty of crimes, we will still fill up the new prisons with people awaiting trial, most of whom are innocent.

    “This is why we have always been against the construction of new prisons at this moment, and I call on the FG to put off the plans to build new prisons until it is the right time to do so.

    “But, if the FG must go ahead with the building of new prisons, we advise that the new prisons should be the same capacity as the old prisons and that the new prisons should replace the old prisons, not add to them to avoid prison expansion and mass incarceration.

    “It sounds strange, though that at a time countries around the world are closing down their prisons, Nigeria is planning to build new prisons when 70% of prisoners are awaiting trial.

    “What we should be doing now is investing our scarce and limited resources in creating jobs and reviving our educational system, building infrastructure, fighting poverty, not building prisons,” Uhaa said.

    CURE-Nigeria had, in 2012 launched a campaign against the planned construction of prisons across the country, and wrote a letter to then President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter.

     

  • Edi-el-Fitr: Civil servants hail FG for early payment of salary

    A cross section of civil servants in the FCT, have applauded the Federal Government for early payment of June salary as Muslim faithful  prepare for Eid-El-Fitr celebration.

    Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, they said the salary came as surprise to them and also described it as “big relief.’’

    Some of the workers, who are Muslims, contended that the recession in the country, had made the fasting period “more difficult’’ as many of them do not have what to eat in the morning before the commencement of fasting.

    Mr Saleh Adamu, a father of three, told NAN that it was not easy for him and his family during the period of fasting.

    He said that the early payment of salary was a surprise to him, adding that it would enable him and his family have a good meal during the Sallah celebration.

    “Even though I will not be able to travel, we can now cook good food after the long days of fasting with little to eat at the end of each day.

    “I thank the Federal Government for paying salary at this period of celebration,” he said.

    Another parent, Mrs Joy Godwin, said that though the Sallah festival was for Muslim faithful, the early payment of salary would enable non-Muslims, enjoy the Sallah break.

    “Yesterday, I was just thinking about how to cope during the Sallah break because I did not have money on me.

    “I was very excited when I switched on my cell phone this morning and saw salary alert.

    “We thank the Federal Government for the early payment of the salary and I hope it will continue like this, even when Christians are celebrating.

    “However, even with the early payment of salary, the costs of food stuffs in the market have increased compared to what it was the previous month.

    “Food sellers have taken advantage of the celebration to increase the prices of foodstuffs and make things difficult for the people,” Godwin said.

    A market survey conducted by NAN in some markets in the FCT showed that the prices of food items, vegetables and fruits, had gone up when compared to what they were before the fasting period.

    At the popular Friday Gosa Market along Airport Road, the prices of food items ranging from tomatoes, pepper, cabbage, carrot and livestock had sky rocketed.

    For instance, the price of a basket of tomatoes which sold for between N1, 800 and N2, 200, had increased to between N2,800 and N3000, while the price of a basket of pepper had increased fromN1,200 to N1,800.

    Mr Zakari Yusuf, who sells tomatoes in Gosa Market, attributed the high cost to the Sallah festival and the rainy season.

    He said that the prices of some commodities would come down after the celebration as foodstuffs sellers were fond of increasing prices of food items during celebrations.

    Malam Isa Yakubu, a livestock dealer, said that the cost of livestock such as chicken and turkey had also increased.

    He attributed the high cost to increase in demand.

  • Saraki to FG: I’m not perturbed by your appeal suit

    Saraki to FG: I’m not perturbed by your appeal suit

    Senate President Bukola Saraki boasted Friday that the appeal filed by the Federal Government challenging his acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) will go the way of his original trial for false declaration of assets.

    Saraki,in his first reaction to the filing of the appeal by the federal government said he was “confident that the verdict at the appellate court would not be different from that of the tribunal as the facts of the case remain the same and the grounds on which the decision of the CCT was based remain unassailable.”

    He spoke in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

    “Anybody who has been following the proceedings and the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses during examination in chief and cross examination would know that if presented before any court of Justice and law, the same outcome as in the CCT would be arrived at,” Olaniyonu said.

    “Those who are running commentary on the ruling by the Tribunal and criticizing it are those who are not even familiar with the case and the details coming out of the trial.

    “That is why Dr. Saraki continues to wonder how desperate some people in government and their collaborators outside have become to pull him down at all cost and by all means up to the point that they do not care if they destroy the institution of the judiciary in the process.

    “That is why they sponsored stories of allegation of bribery in an online publication against the Tribunal judges.

    “The Senate President seizes this opportunity to call on security agencies to immediately commence investigation on this bribery allegation.”

    Saraki wants those who made the allegation to be invited to substantiate their claims.

    He cited the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay as one of such people.

    Continuing, Olaniyonu said: “Corruption is not just about giving or diverting money. When an official interferes with the judicial process with a view to achieving personal objectives, which is corruption.

    “We hear the same desperate people say there was so much evidence they are surprised at the verdict of the tribunal. But they forget to mention that this was a case that the prosecution counsel amended charges thrice.

    “If as it is being portrayed to the public it was a straight forward case following investigation how come every time their case was dismantled during the process they went back to amend charges just in desperation to get a conviction?

    “The Senate President notes that another sign of desperation by those who want to get him convicted at all cost was the failed antics of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob who in collusion with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought to manipulate evidence at the tribunal.

    “On realizing the fundamental flaw in its case as it did not invite the defendant to make any statement at any point in the investigation, the prosecution brought in an agent of the EFCC to tender old statements Saraki made in a totally different and unrelated matter that had nothing to do with false asset declaration. The prosecution forgot that the letter inviting Saraki to make the tendered statements explicitly mentioned the matter being investigated. However, the tribunal, as it is obvious in its ruling, saw through the dirty trick. It therefore disregarded that piece of evidence and described it as irrelevant and of no value to the case,” he said.

    He said that all the evidence provided during the trial by CCT were all EFCC evidence adding that the CB chief prosecutor testified that he got his instruction to investigate the case orally.

    “He made his report from the investigation orally. Even the directive to ‘collaborate with EFCC’ on the investigation was given orally, a development the tribunal found strange and unknown to law. ‎

    “All these antics aimed at perverting the course of justice were obvious throughout the period of the tribunal’s sitting. Though, one is conscious of the fact that the anti- graft agency and its ally bodies are frantically looking for a poster-case to sell its anti-corruption campaign and there is the hunger for conviction in a celebrated case to advertise in the international arena government’s determination to pursue the anti-graft campaign, we implore them to achieve this aim by allowing Justice to take its normal course.

    “This Appeal against the CCT ruling is nothing but another attempt to grandstand and embark on another media trial without any substance. This is why the Senate President is sure it will be another exercise in futility.”

    Dr. Saraki has demonstrated his unflinching belief in and respect for the judicial process and its ability to resolve issues relating to fundamental rights of Nigerians. That belief in the judiciary is the basis for his assurance that the position of the CCT that he is not guilty of the charges preferred against him would be  sustained in the higher courts.

     

  • Eid el-Fitr: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holiday

    Eid el-Fitr: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holiday

    The Federal Government has declared Monday, June 26 and Tuesday, June 27 as Public Holiday to mark Eid el Fitr.

    Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau made the annnouncement on behalf of the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja.
    ‎
    He‎ enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of the celebration for sober reflection and pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation in its march to nationhood.

    ‎Dambazau urged all Nigerians to shun hate speeches and divisive tendencies and join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria.

    He assured of a Nigeria, ‎which guarantees fundamental freedoms, including the right of residence in any part of the country, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    ‎The minister reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to protect all lives and property of Nigerians.
    ‎
    He warned hoodlums not to test the will of the administration.

    The minister said the government has the capability to deploy security agencies to deal with any individual or group that may threaten the corporate existence of the nation, as well as the peaceful co-existence of the people.

    He ‎further assured Nigerians of the government’s resolve to be just and fair to all.
    ‎
    The minister wished Nigerians a peaceful and rewarding celebration.

  • 2018 Budget: FG considers special intervention fund for NAPTIP – Minister

    2018 Budget: FG considers special intervention fund for NAPTIP – Minister

    Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister Budget and National Planning, says the Federal Government is considering providing special intervention funds for  victims of human trafficking in the 2018 budget.

    Udoma said this when he received the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ms Julie Donli, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The minister said the visit was timely as the ministry had begun the preparation for the 2018 budget and the ministry would consider the request of the agency in providing special intervention funds for it.

    “We can now reflect some of your requirements in the 2018 budget, but I think you should work closely with your supervising ministry (Ministry of Justice).

    “You need to work with your ministry to get your needs included in the budget when submitting to the Budget Office,’’ he said.

    Udoma, however, assured the agency of the ministry’s support to address its challenges.

    The minister said the priority of the administration was to invest in Nigerians, adding that it is the reason the government inaugurated the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    “Investing in our people is not just Nigerians here, it is for Nigerians everywhere because we have a responsibility for the welfare of every Nigerian.’’

    He commended the agency for living up to its responsibility in addressing issues of trafficking in the country.

    Earlier, Donli spoke on the challenges hindering the agency to perform its mandate effectively.

    “Our challenges are enormous; our funding is inadequate for this kind of job we are expected to do.

    “The envelope system cannot work for us. We need to be classified as a proper security agency because our job is similar to that of EFCC.

    “ There is no absolute difference between the and NAPTIP in terms of operations and job description,’’ she said.

    According to her, NAPTIP has nine zonal commands in the 36 states of the federation and it requires a lot of funding.

    Donli expressed worry over the state of the agency’s operational vehicles, adding that they were donated to the agency by donor agencies over 10 years.

    “There was Presidential order in 2014 to sort it out and over N309 million was approved and it was supposed to spread over the 2015 and 2016 budget.

    “We have not really had our own vehicles, the ones we have are old and rickety and our officials are using their own vehicles to work.’’

    Besides, the director-general decried lack of funds in rehabilitating and repatriation of victims as well as prosecuting those involved in the act.

    “There is need to provide special intervention funds for us to facilitate the rescue and repatriation of traffickers victims from various parts of the world, especially Africa.

    “We have no fewer than 5,000 victims awaiting rescue from Mali alone; every day we get people coming from Libya, Spain, Italy; every day they come in their hundreds and we are at dilemma.

    “Coming to prosecution, we ought to have more cases of conviction.

    “Right now, we can only boost of 323 cases, over the years, we have rescued 10,685 victims, we cannot prosecute them,’’ she lamented.

    She solicited the support of all stakeholders in achieving the mandate of NAPTIP.

    “Also, we encourage people to report cases of human trafficking just to help us trace assets of traffickers as well.

    “The law gives us the power to trace and seize the assets of traffickers through the court for the benefit of the victims of trafficking,’’ Donli said.

  • FG, Germany sign 10m Euros polio aid agreement

    FG, Germany sign 10m Euros polio aid agreement

    The Federal Government and the Government of Germany on Wednesday signed a 10 million Euros aid agreement to eradicate polio in Nigeria.

    The agreement was signed in Abuja between Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and the German Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Bernhard Schlagheck.

    Onyeama said that the 10 million Euros grant would facilitate Nigeria’s quest to totally eradicate polio in the country.

    He noted with concern that government’s efforts had some setbacks due to the activities of terrorism in the North Eastern part of the country.

    “I just have to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the government of Germany for this support.

    “As you know we have come very close to eradicating polio in the world, but you know there are still one or two issues.

    “The problem we have in the north east has exacerbate the situation and made it more difficult to eradicate” he said.

    The German ambassador expressed optimism that the grant would go a long way in achieving the desired goal.

    Schlagheck said: “Germany is to support Nigeria with 10 million naira to eradicate polio in Nigeria.

    “We have engaged with the government of Nigeria for some time mostly under the assistance of the WHO and we want to continue with our engagement`.

    “As I said together with government of Nigeria we had achieve some remarkable successes here in Nigeria, on some outstanding issues.

    “We want to increase and consolidate our engagement and that is actually what we just did, I hope very much that polio will be removed from the country before long”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony was witnessed by representative of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA).

    The Director of Logistics, PHCDA, Iyabo Dara Dara in her remarks expressed the belief that Nigeria would soon be declared polio free.

    “I think in the next two to three years we should be polio free because we are spending almost one year now without any case of polio again.

    “I think this will go a long way in helping in activities that we have planned,” she said.

    NAN reports that on Sept. 25, 2015, the WHO declared Nigeria polio–free and was officially removed from polio endemic list.

     

     

  • Shun act capable of polarising Nigeria – Archbishop Martins

    Shun act capable of polarising Nigeria – Archbishop Martins

    The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, on Tuesday urged Nigerians to live together peacefully and shun every act capable of polarising the country.

    According to a statement in Lagos, Martins expressed deep concern about the discordant tunes and calls for disintegration by some youths in the country.

    He urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to find a lasting solution to genuine agitations of the various ethnic groups in order to give everyone a sense of belonging.

    “This country needs to be more united now than ever before.

    “We must not trade the unity of this country for selfish motives, because we have much more binding us together than those that divide us.

    “I believe that the genuine agitations by the various ethnic groups can be looked into by the Federal Government,’’ he said.

    Martins said that this could be done with the intention of resolving the agitations amicably, without necessarily resorting to secession or blood-letting.

    The archbishop also urged all Nigerians to be vigilant and pray for continued peace in the country.

  • ‎CRK still in curriculum of schools -FG

    ‎CRK still in curriculum of schools -FG

    The Federal Government has denied removing Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) from the new curriculum of schools.

    The government also denied introducing Islamic Arabic Studies/French subjects in the new curriculum and that students would study either of the two subjects.

    Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Professor Ismail Junaidu, made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education.

    The statement said claims that Christian Students would be left with no option than to study Islamic Arabic Studies since French teachers are more or less non-existent in schools was also untrue.

    According to the statement, the Basic Education Curriculum which includes the Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Studies Curricula was approved in 2013 by the National Council on Education which is the apex policy making body in education in Nigeria, made up of all the 36 States Commissioners of Education and the FCT under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Education.

    The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the last review of the curriculum was approved in 2013 and implementation commenced in September, 2014.

    “In both instances, neither the Christian Religious Knowledge nor Islamic Studies was removed from the curriculum. In fact, at the commencement of the present administration, the Hon. Minister of Education sought and obtained the approval of the National Council on Education to make Christian Religious Knowledge compulsory for all Christian students and Islamic Studies compulsory for their Muslim counterparts.

    “The claims peddled on social media platforms and a national daily are to say the least speculative, false and unfounded. Specifically as regards the Religion and National Values Curriculum.

    “It is obvious after perusing these claims, that while some of the peddlers operate from the oblivious side of information, many resort to this out of mischief needless of being extended into the critical sector of education.

    “The Management of NERDC hereby reiterates categorically and unequivocally to all Nigerians that the subject offerings (Civic Education, Social Studies, Christian Religious Knowledge, Islamic Studies and Security Education) under the Religion and National Values Curriculum are distinct, as listed and taught separately on the time table.

    “In this Curriculum, no child should be coerced or compelled to learn or be taught in school any religious studies subject  but only one (out of the two) that restrictively relates to the belief system professed by the child and his/her parents.

    “Teachers had been trained in the six Geopolitical Zones to be able to teach these distinct subjects. They are well aware of the mode of teaching the Religion and National Values Curriculum as distinct subjects on the time table.

    “In view of the claims therefore, NERDC hereby states that: CRK is still taught in schools; as a separate distinct subject with the accompanying Teachers’ Guide.

    “CRK is not a theme in Civic Education. Civic Education is a distinct subject on its own which teaches the rudiments of good citizenship.

    “There is no subject in the Nigerian School Curriculum called Islamic Arabic Studies nor anywhere in the world as being speculated.

    “French is a compulsory subject from Primary 4 as dictated by the National Policy on Education Section  2 sub-section 23.7p 13.

    “Efforts are in top gear to print the Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Studies Curriculum separately in order to maintain their characteristics and distinctiveness.

    “As a Regional Centre of Curriculum Excellence, we are very receptive to good suggestions from all critical stakeholders especially ideas that are policy driven and within the scope of our mandate.

    “Indeed, we sincerely appreciate the organizations, institutions and individuals that considered it wise to contact us on this matter.

    “NERDC stands for integrity and excellence in educational research and development. The management stands for education for human dignity, economic reconstruction and value reorientation.

    “We therefore sincerely appeal to politicians and fifth columnist to desist from dragging education into the political melee capable of destabilising the education sector and mortgaging the future of upcoming generation of Nigerians.”

     

  • HIV: FG introduces new guidelines to curtail spread

    HIV: FG introduces new guidelines to curtail spread

    The Federal Government on Tuesday said it was set to implement new guidelines for  HIV prevention, treatment and care to consolidate previous efforts in tackling the scourge.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, stated this at the opening of a two-day North-West Zonal Dissemination of 2016 National Guidelines for HIV prevention, Treatment and Care in Kaduna.

    Represented by Mr Segilola Araoye, his Special Adviser, Adewole said the guideline would ensure that those affected by HIV receive free health service at all levels in both public and private health institutions.

    “From this day hence, everyone who tests positive to HIV is automatically eligible for treatment and this applies to everyone with equal emphasis, child, man and women, pregnant or not.

    “From today onward we are duty bound to offer antiretroviral drugs as prevention to all persons who are at high risk of contracting HIV infection.

    “From today forward all persons on treatment are entitled to at least one viral load test per year.

    “From today hence, we will place greater emphasis on differentiated systems of care that are adjustable to the individual needs of the patient,’’ the minister said.

    Adewole noted that the recommendations in the 2016 guidelines by current standard were audacious, unambiguous and unapologetically pro-patient.

    The minister, however, appealed to state governments and other stakeholders to efficiently implement the recommendations of the guidelines to the later in an effort to tackle the menace.

    “For this to happen, we must change course a bit and find the courage to depart from the strategies that have not worked well.

    “The guidelines could not have come at a less opportune moment, as they will serve as the necessary catalyst for attainment of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 initiative.

    “And today, we hopefully bring to end the argument over deeply divisive option B and option B+ saga if our guidelines have been careful, to avoid the terms perhaps, it is time we stopped using them all together,“ the minister said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes available statistics showing that no fewer than 3.4 million people are currently affected by the HIV and AIDS scourge.

    However, the health minister said, with the 2016 guidelines things would be better, as there were already 860,000 patients on Anti-retro-viral treatment (ART) in some 1000 comprehensive HIV treatment centres.

    According to him, that has led to the decline morbity and mortality associated with HIV and AIDS in the country.

    “I simply cannot accept that our collective hard work against HIV and AIDS in Nigeria is wasted effort.

    “I accept that things can be done better but even at that we have achieved tremendous success in our battle against HIV.

    “And I am strengthened in this belief by the change in public perception from the fear, panic hysteria and horror of 2000 to the calm (Please be careful HIV is still out there) attitude that is the prevailing public sentiment about HIV and AIDS today,’’ he said.

    Adewole said these guidelines would work because they were acceptable to the vast majority of stakeholders.

    “They are acceptable because they are the product of huge and representative stakeholders consensus, with over 170 people contributed to the development of this document.’’

    He commended the various stakeholders for contributing to the development of the document and advised non-governmental organisations supporting the health sector and HIV interventions to work closely with the ministry.

    Adewole while thanking the states governments for their active role the fight against HIV and AIDS, appealed to People PLHIVs to come on board as stakeholders in the effort to eradicate the scourge.

    NAN reports that officials from eight states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara Zamfara and Jigawa are attending the two-day event.

    The event, being organised by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and the Management Sciences for Health, is also being attended by and other HIV control implementing partners.