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Tag: Nigeria News

  • 4500 for Medic West Africa exhibition

    THE Eighth Medic West Africa Conference and Exhibition will hold at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre in Victoria, Lagos, from October 9 to 11.

    Expected at the event, the organisers Informa Markets said, are over 45000 participants and 280 exhibitors from 25 countries.

    Medic West Africa’s Exhibition Director, Ryan Sanderson, said: “Informa Markets is thrilled to usher in this year’s conference and exhibition in our host city, Lagos. As a leader in Africa’s healthcare sector, we are charged with the responsibility of discovering promising innovations and solutions that cater to the many facets of the healthcare value chain in Nigeria and beyond.

    ‘’All our exhibitors and guest speakers are passionately committed to the future of healthcare and registered attendees will hear from key thought-leaders from across the region on how to continuously drive quality healthcare services, not only in Nigeria but across the West African region.”

    He said state-of-the-art imaging equipment, from disposables to those in surgery would be on display..

    He added that three-day event aims to keep participants engaged by displaying the latest innovations that will drive positive transformation in the region’s healthcare sector. Education and knowledge-sharing are some of the core principles of Medic West Africa, he added.

    Participants would benefit from its masterclasses and leadership, business and educational conferences. They would get an opportunity to network, discuss and deliberate with leaders from West African ministries, authorities, healthcare providers, distributors and solution providers.

     

     

  • Bricklayer ‘rapes’ girl, 15

    Officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) have arrested a bricklayer identified as Fatai Kehinde, 41, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.

    The incident occurred at Olisa/Arogundade Street, in Iju Ishaga.

    It was gathered that the suspect allegedly hypnotised the teenager and took advantage of her in his house.

    She was said to be going to work when the incident occurred and had narrated her experience to her colleagues in the office who came for the man almost immediately.

    According to a source, a mob soon gathered and descended on the man following alarm raised by the girl’s colleague who came to his house with her.

    Read Also: Visitor ‘rapes’ host’s daughter

    “They were about to lynch him when LNSC officials arrived the scene. It was around past 11am. They moved in and took the man and the young girl away.

    “But before they got there, people questioned the girl and she said she was going to work when the man touched her and said she was being spiritually monitored by her father’s family.

    “She said after the touch, she did not know what was happening to her again. That the man asked her to go and by egg and salt which she did and followed him inside his house.

    “He told her to take off her clothes and she complied. He raped her and she ordered her to wear her dress and leave.

    “She said she was on her way to the factory she works at when she regained herself and promptly narrated her experience to her colleagues.

    “They followed her to the place and accosted the man. He confessed he slept with the girl and they started beating him,” he said.

    But the suspect told LNSC officials that it was inside his brother’s shop that he raped the girl, adding that he gave her N1,500 after the act.

    He said: “She told me to help her collect money from her boyfriend. From there I took her inside my brother’s shop and slept with her on the floor. After that I gave her N1500. She told me she will come back in the evening and she left.”

    Confirming the arrest, the Public Affairs Officer of LNSC Adewale Afolabi said the suspect, his brother and the victim were handed over to policemen at Isokoko Division.

    He said the man’s house was searched and it was discovered he had three shrines which he and his brother used for alleged fraudulent practices.

  • IPOB threatens protest against Buhari at UNGA

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to stage a peaceful protest against President Mohammadu and his government at the United Nations General Assembly in the United States of America.

    It said the demonstration was to prove its resoluteness and determination for the actualisation of Biafra republic and Buhari’s tyrant style of leadership.

    The group, in statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said its members in the US had perfected arrangement necessary for the protest.

    It noted that it was aware Buhari departed Abuja for New York with three governors and seven ministers to attend the General Assembly.

    The statement partly reads: “IPOB family worldwide especially our great family members in the US are on ground waiting for Buhari to appear in the United Nations General Assembly this week, the General assembly is scheduled to start deliberation from 25th of September 2019 in the city of New York.

    “Our people in the US perfected every arrangement necessary to protest against Buhari and his government in Nigeria during the summit to prove our resoluteness and determination for the coming of Biafra and how tyrant Buhari has become.

    “The world must understand why Biafrans need outright freedom from unworkable system of Nigeria without much delay.

    Read Also; IPOB takes independence agitation to UN

    “Buhari and his Fulani government in Nigeria have totally destroyed this country and we must let the world know what transpired between Biafra and Nigeria since 1945 till date.

    “IPOB is going to stage a powerful and unprecedented protest against him in US for the purpose of continued and incessant killing, arrest, destruction of properties and secret abduction of Biafrans both men, women and children every day and night in Biafraland.

    “The plans by Fulani government of Nigeria to stop IPOB from demanding their right for free state and independent nation of Biafra will not work.

    “The whole world must see IPOB right in front of UN headquarters in New York.”

  • Forum to provide synergy between APC governors, lawmakers

    The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a Legislative Programme Steering Committee to ensure seamless synergy of engagements between APC governors and lawmakers across the country.

    The Deputy Chairman of PGF, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, said this at the inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaseki is the chairman of the committee while Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State is co-chairman.

    Obaseki said that the committee was inaugurated to primarily provide PGF members with clear and concise contextual recommendations in terms of legal framework governing government processes and decisions.

    According to him, the committee should monitor ongoing government operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information and recommend course of action to PGF.

    “It is also expected to promote and advocate the interest of the PGF member states regarding laws, regulations, socio-economic policies and other developments that may affect our states and the APC as a whole.

    “Further to this, is our recognition of the fact that the Legislature is the backbone of any democracy. No democracy can flourish except, and until its legislature is strong and progressively active.

    READ ALSO: Progressive Governors Forum will support Buhari’s drive for investment – Obaseki

    “Part of the objectives of the PGF Legislative programmes therefore, is to ensure cordial relations between our legislatures and those of us operating in the executive arm,” Obaseki said.

    According to him, our goal is to develop a good framework of engagement through initiating activities that would enable us to review emerging challenges regularly.

    “It will also seek to manage and regulate all emerging differences such that conflicts between the executive and the legislature at all levels where APC rules are minimised.

    “That does not mean that there would be no disagreements or conflicts any more in the future, because conflicts are inevitable outcomes of politics and political activities.

    “But through the regular engagement and interactions between the Executive and the legislature, we will take steps to ensure that all emerging conflicts are resolved,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Accidents: FRSC urges states to establish traffic management agencies

    Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has urged states yet to establish traffic management agencies to do so to enhance national safety and security.

    Oyeyemi made the call at a conference of Heads of State Traffic Management Agencies held in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The theme of the conference was “Sustaining Inter-Agency Collaboration toward Improved Road Safety Culture management in Nigeria”.

    He said that the positive multiplier effect of such agencies would include enhanced safety and security.

    Oyeyemi said that the meeting was an intentional approach toward sustainability in inter-agency relationship in the true value of team spirit approach for the betterment of national development.

    The corps marshal, while noting that only 18 states had established the traffic management agencies, said that the corps would synergise with those yet to establish to do so to enhance safer roads.

    Read Also: Six disasters to watch out for in the ‘ember months’

    He said: “The FRSC as the lead agency cannot do it alone. That is why you have the policy evolution encouraging the states to set up the traffic management agencies.

    “We look at the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety 2011-2020. The pillar one of the action is on road safety management which encourages member states to set up the lead agencies on traffic management..

    Oyeyemi said that the corps was encouraging states to set up these traffic management agencies due to “the chaotic and worrisome urban traffic”.

    He said this would enable the corps to pull out from the state roads and focus more on the federal roads with about 36, 000km of total road network.

    “The federal roads are where most of the traffic crashes occur. We will continue to encourage the states.

    “It is in the policy document of the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy and we will make sure before the end of next year, almost all the states must have complied,” he said.

    According to Oyeyemi, it is not enough to set up the agencies but such agencies have to be well funded.

    “And they must be made professional the way FRSC is. That is why we are availing the states of the services of our academy and the training school so that we can all be at par,” he Oyeyemi said.

    He also called for synergy between the various management agencies to harmonise operations and the database for the good of the country.

    “For the states that have their agencies in place, I also appeal to the respective governors to fund the agencies well so as to ease their achievement of set goals.

    “This is important because underfunding will simply result in money down the drain without any meaningful return to the expectant members of the communities.”

    He said that Nigeria was the 10th nation globally to endorse all the six UN Conventions on Road Traffic following President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Geneva Convention on Road Signs and Signals in 2018.

    Mr Isaac Adetimiro, Deputy General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, said that the agency was managing the high level of traffic in the state.

    “With the support of the federal and state governments, we are able to manage traffic perfectly in Lagos, especially in Apapa.”

    Adetimiro appealed to motorists, especially tanker and truck drivers, to ensure the maintenance of their vehicles to reduce accidents and high volume of traffic on the road.

    Retired Col. Abdulkadir Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer, Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority, said that the traffic situation in the state was a little bit difficult because of the influx of commuters.

    He, however, said that the government was doing its best on road expansion under the rural renewal project.

    (NAN)

  • $9.6b: International criminals plotting to cheat Nigeria, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday warned international criminal groups to desist from their plots to cheat Nigeria of billions of dollars.

    According to him, Nigeria is giving notice to the international criminal groups by the vigorous prosecution of the Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) scam attempting to cheat Nigeria of billions of dollars.

    A UK court had recently awarded a private company, P&ID a $9.6 billion judgment debt against Nigeria.

    Buhari spoke in New York during the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

    He had presented Nigeria’s National Statement as the fifth speaker on the first day of the General Debate.

    The President also declared his administration is facing the challenges of corruption head-on.

    He called on major tech companies to be alive to their responsibilities over social media outlets responsible for fuelling major crimes such as mass killings.
    He said “They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.

    READ ALSO: ‘NCS Act 2019: Bold step towards international standards’

    “No threat is more potent than poverty and exclusion,” noting that, “They are the foul source from which common criminality, insurgency, cross-border crimes, human trafficking and its terrible consequences draw their inspiration.”

    Describing poverty “as one of the greatest challenges facing our world,” President Buhari noted that, “Its eradication is an indispensable requirement for achieving sustainable development,” while highlighting his administration’s efforts to overcome the challenge.

    On the 2019 presidential elections, he said “our people backed the politics of tolerance, inclusion and community over the politics of protest and division.”

    President Buhari also reaffirmed Nigeria’s position on other issues which impinge on global peace, security, progress, democracy and development.

    Reflecting on the theme of the current General Assembly, “Galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion”, Buhari said they are the prime areas calling for collective action which will benefit national and global interests.

  • Makinde appoints UI don as Economic Adviser

    Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the appointment of Dr. Musibau Babatunde, an Economist from the University of Ibadan, as his Chief Economic Adviser.

    Mr Taiwo Adisa, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, said in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan that the appointment was with “immediate effect”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor’s 4-point Development Agenda is aimed at expanding the economic frontiers of the state.

    Adisa said that the governor’s appointment of an economic adviser, was to enhance the successes already achieved and help to turn around the economy of the state.

    Read Also: Makinde, wife to receive special recognition award

    The statement indicated that the new adviser earned a doctorate degree in Economics at the University of Ibadan.

    It further read: ”Babatunde emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student in the Masters of Science Degree in Economics at the University of Ibadan and became a recipient of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Nairobi, Collaborative PhD Scholarship Award for African Scholars.

    ”He was a recipient of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doctoral Internship Visiting Scholar Support Award, Geneva, Switzerland, in September 2005,

    ”He had equally served as Consultant to the National Factsheet on the Impact of Economic Partnership Agreement on Selected Sectors of the Nigerian Economy; Export Supply Response Capacity Constraints In Nigeria; Output Market Initiatives.

    ”He also worked  as Chief Consultant on Niger State Economic Development Strategy in December 2008; Coordinating Consultant on Niger State Vision 3:2020 Document and Niger State Local Governments Vision 3:2020 Document in March 2010.

    ”He is currently, a Senior Lecturer in the Economics Department of University of Ibadan and is being assessed for the rank of Professor.”

    (NAN)

  • Google celebrates Nigerian food culture

    Google is celebrating Nigerian food culture with the world through its project ‘Come Chop Bellefull: A Taste of Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was launched in collaboration with the Centenary Project on Tuesday at the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos.

    The Centenary Project had since its inception in 2014 focused on digitally capturing and showcasing the cultural and historical expressions of the Nigerian nation.

    Google Spokesman for West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said Nigeria demonstrated a unique ability to combine culinary innovation with cultural knowledge through food.

    “If you live in Nigeria or visit Nigeria regularly, then you will understand that Nigerians do not mess around when it comes to food.

    Read Also: Food as human right

    “Regardless of where you’re from, you will have a favourite dish that drives an eagerness to find and taste more.

    “In recognition of this, Google Arts and Culture has paid tribute to Nigeria’s vibrant and diverse food culture with the “Come Chop Bellefull: A Taste of Nigeria’’ project,” Kola-Ogunlade said.

    He said that the project was a way to inform and educate the world about the wealth of creativity and human resources the country had.

    The Google spokesman said that the project was opening the doors to foodies and lovers of culture from across the globe and helping them experience Nigerian cooking culture for themselves.

    “A Taste of Nigeria” boasts 2,000 high-resolution images and 30 stories that represent iconic local dishes and unforgettable flavours for which Nigeria is known.

    “A few of the local cuisine recipes showcased on the Taste of Nigeria site include Jollof Rice which is must in order to be truly Nigerian.

    Another Nigerian meal that is undeniably sought after across all geographical regions is made from raw groundnuts and rice, Kunun Gyada. It is a light porridge that can be enjoyed alone or accompanied with kosai (bean cake), masa (rice cake) or fried meat,” he said.

    He said that soups form a staple part of any Nigerian diet, adding that the starch and Banga Soup from the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria is made by extracting the juice from the seeds of raw palm kernel fruit.

    “Interestingly, the Efik/Ibibios call it Abak Atama and the Yoruba’s call theirs Obe Eyin Ikpogiri.

    “Banga is best served with catfish and fresh fish and is a meal that is seen as fit for kings, no matter where it is being served.

    “Snack lovers would want to order one of Nigeria’s favourite deep fried snacks, akara, which is a popular breakfast meal made with brown or black-eyed beans and spices, it is just one of many snack type meals available.

    “Suya is probably the most popular street food in Nigeria, sold on street corners almost everywhere in Lagos and elsewhere.

    “It is skewered meat that is roasted and served with spices, which gives it a unique aroma and taste,” he said.

    According to him, visitors would be hard pressed to find a reason to shut their browsers once they start exploring Come Chop Bellefull: A Taste of Nigeria.

    He encouraged visitors to find the project online at https://g.co/arts/BrEendr24cgttjWQ9

    (NAN)

  • Bayelsa guber: APC not ready for election, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was preparing to unleash mayhem and manipulate the outcome of the November 16 governorship poll in the state.

    Speaking in a live media chat in Yenagoa, Dickson claimed the APC lacked the requirements to win any elections under a peaceful and democratic atmosphere in the state.

    Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, maintained that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would beat its major opposition to retain political control in Bayelsa in the election.

    He said that the PDP Candidate, Senator Douye Diri, had a robust history of productive public service driven by his passion and love for Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

    He said the outcome of the APC controversial governorship primaries reflected the pitiable credentials of the party, and its level of unpreparedness in terms of engaging the PDP in a free, fair and credible political contest.

    Describing the APC governorship candidate as unsellable, the governor called on the media to provide a platform for all the governorship candidates to debate on issues bordering on their party manifestoes, the polity and development of the state.

    Read Also; Plots to retain running mate tear Bayelsa PDP

    He said: “This election is a very important election where you will either vote for stability or instability, security or insecurity, development or retrogression. But knowing the kind of people you are, I know the party you will cast your votes for.

    “The candidates are all there. As a party, we are preparing to kick-start our campaigns. I know the other side (the APC) is not prepared for election. They are preparing to kill and maim. They are preparing for a fight and intimidation of our people.

    “As usual, they are also preparing to write and announce fake results. But my party will be going out to all the nooks and crannies to talk to you the people.

    “I urge you all to shun violence. Say no to those young men who are carrying arms and driving their fellow brothers and sisters from their communities because of partisan differences.

    “Let me use this opportunity to again call on security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. I also call on the leaders of these communities to rise to the occasion because communities are bigger than political parties. The historical, cultural and even the blood we share are more important than any partisan differences.”

    Dickson said his administration raised the standard of governance for the people to make an informed choice that would sustain the prevailing peace, stability and development in the state.

    He dismissed the allegation of hobnobbing with the APC, stressing that as a politician of conviction, he would continue to play opposition politics for as long as possible.

    Dickson, however, pointed out that he acted in the best interest of the state and the Ijaw nation when he congratulated some APC chieftains of Bayelsa extraction on their appointments at the federal level.

    He specifically mentioned the ministerial appointments of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva who is the leader of the APC in Bayelsa.

    According to the governor, his political liberality and maturity also culminated in the appointments of other APC stalwarts, including the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the immediate past Managing Director of the NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    Dickson who decried what he described as pettiness in Nigerian politics, urged politicians, particularly in the South-South to turn a new leaf to enhance the political and economic development of the region.

    The Governor explained that, although, he was opposed to Chief Sylva’s brand of politics, kicking against his nomination as a minister would have done a great disservice to the state.

    He, however, called on Chief Sylva to work with the state government as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, to ensure the actualization of the Nembe-Brass Road, Brass Natural Liquefied Gas and Fertilizer Company projects.

    Governor Dickson expressed his desire to collaborate with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and other patriotic stakeholders to ensure that, such critical development and economically viable projects are brought to the State.

  • Bayelsa guber: Dickson, PDP begin reconciliation

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday inaugurated a 10-member Peace and Reconciliation Committee to address grievances arising from the just-concluded primaries of the party for the state governorship election.

    Inaugurating the Senator Inatimi Spiff-led committee in Government House, Yenagoa, the governor described disagreements and grievances as normal in any political contest.

    Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, however, said the way and manner such grievances were managed was important for the PDP.

    He said the PDP family under his watch always demonstrated maturity, love and resilience in handling their differences with a view to promoting the greater good of the party.

    He harped on the need for all aggrieved aspirants and their followers to join hands with the PDP leadership to work for the success of the party in the November 16 gubernatorial polls.

    Dickson, who expressed optimism over the victory of the party, assured those embittered by the outcome of the primaries that their interests could only be better protected in the PDP than elsewhere.

    He noted that the people of Bayelsa would not make the mistake of ceding their state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use its land for rural grazing.

    He said: “Let me say that reconciliation and persuasion are the core of the political service; politics is about reconciling and managing conflicting interests,ambitions and perspectives and sometimes even reconciling clash of egos

    “The way we are in this state, everyone knows that Bayelsa is PDP stronghold.

    In the last National Assembly and state House of Assembly Elections, we displayed that again even with the presence of security forces and abuse of security and the collation process we won convincingly. So there is no doubt that this is a PDP stronghold.

    “We have just come out of a hotly contested gubernatorial primaries and as it is in life, there are always people who will have one or two grievances about their government, the flag bearer and even about the running mate that he has on his own nominated, all of these are normal things, which we must deal with at this time.

    “And because we know we want to keep every PDP leader, every aspirant and every supporter in the PDP family, we have set up this committee. That’s the only way we can remain strong and big and maintain our position as the foremost election-winning party in this part of our country.

    Read Also; Bayelsa guber: APC not ready for election, says Dickson

    “This is a committee of very respectable elders and leaders known across the state and even beyond who will undertake a special assignment at this very important period, the responsibility of reconciling and bringing to the fold those who have grievances including those who feel maybe they should try some other pastures which certainly we know are not greener.

    “I am talking about those who entice people, we all know what happened 2015 in my re-election. By this time over 150 to 200 key leaders of our party decamped openly and I gave them the stadium and in broad day light, appointees were leaving everyday, saying lots of things but yet we defeated the APC even with their federal back up.

    “We don’t want one single well-meaning PDP leader to leave to APC because this state has no room for APC to use it for RUGA. This land is completely PDP and so our leaders have been assembly to do what they have the experience in doing all this year promoting reconciliation and peace”.

    Responding, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State PDP Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Senator Inatimi Spiff, thanked Dickson for counting members of the Committee worthy to carry out the reconciliation assignment.

    Senator Spiff noted that although some party faithful were aggrieved including members of the Committee who worked for their favoured aspirants, the reconciliation process would help to strengthen and reposition the PDP for victory.

    Senator Emmanuel Diffa is the Vice Chairman of the Committee while former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gideon Ekeuwei is the Secretary.

    Other members are Solomon Aguanana, Chief George Okrinya, Chief Israel Igbori, Chief Million Asangba, Chief (Mrs) Apretari Ogugu, Chief Darius Obiene and Chief Bright Ereware-Igbeta