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41m children under five are obese – WHO

An estimated 41 million children under five worldwide are obese or overweight, the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has said.

The UN health agency experts on Wednesday issued the warning at the launch of new guidelines to tackle what they called a global epidemic.

WHO said it was faced with evidence indicating that the problem affected rich and poor countries alike.

The UN health agency released details on how trained professionals could better identify youngsters in need of help.

The just-published obesity guidelines included counselling and dieting, an assessment of eating habits along with the more usual weight and height measurements.

WHO said the prevalence of obesity in children reflected changing patterns towards unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

“Urbanisation, increased incomes, availability of fast foods, educational demands, television viewing and gaming have led to a rise in the consumption of foods high in fats, sugar and salt and lower levels of physical activity.

“While there have been major public health interventions to promote improved diet and patterns of physical activity in adults, the contribution of antenatal and young-child interventions to reducing the risk of obesity in later life have not been significantly reviewed.”

NAN

October 5, 2017
Late Mohammed: I have lost a colleague in war and peace – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep pain and sorrow over the death of the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, retired Air Vice Marshal Mukhtar Mohammed.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the president made his feelings known in a letter he wrote to the governments of Jigawa and Kano States.

He said the letter was handed to Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa by a Federal Government delegation on Thursday.

In the letter, President Buhari revealed the intimate nature of the relationship between him and the deceased military top brass, saying he had lost a friend in peace and in war.

“The delegation, which was led by the Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Abba Kyari with four ministers and three presidential aides, was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital where a similar letter of condolence signed by the President was handed over to the Emir, Dr Muhammadu Sunusi,’’ the statement said.

The presidential aide said the team was also in Kano where they met both the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II before participating in the funeral prayers which took place at night due to the late arrival of the body from United Kingdom.

President Buhari’s condolence letter said, “Late Mukhtar was my friend in war and in peace. He was a brilliant Air Force officer, a good administrator and a patriot.

“All those who came in contact with him have recognized him as a brave man of vision and energy. These qualities he brought to bear in his service to Nigeria.

““In politics, he was dogged and determined to enthrone a good government, to clean up government business and establish democracy and rule of law.

“The late Waziri was a highly intelligent person and very brave in the face of challenges. He was prepared, and did leave his post on a point of honor and principle. He was a worthy and a true son of Nigeria.’’

The two state Governors and the Emirs praised the the exemplary qualities the late military officer and thanked the President for standing by their people in their hour of trial.

The federal government delegation included the Ministers of Interior, retired Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau; Defence, retired Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali; Education, Adamu Adamu and the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

Others were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadiq, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, that of Special Duties, Ya’u Darazo, Sha’aban Sharada and Musa Daura, a nephew of the President.

Late Muhammad, who was the Wazirin Dutse in Jigawa, died on Sunday in a London hospital after a protracted illness.

NAN

October 5, 2017
Nigerians united to defeat Boko Haram – FG

The Federal Government says Nigerians from are united in their resolve to defeat the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Amb. Hussein Abdullahi, former Under-Secretary, Regions and International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated this while delivering Nigeria’s statement on ‘Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism’ at the UN headquarters, New York.

Abdullahi regretted that Nigeria was confronted with the challenge of terrorism as manifested in the brutality of Boko Haram activities against the population.

He said, however, the Nigerian Government introduced many measures to fight the terrorist group from different fronts and in compliance with human rights obligations in the fight against terrorism.

“In August, 2016 President Muhammadu Buhari launched the revised National Counter Terrorism Strategy ( NACTEST ) and urged Nigerians to team up to win the psychological battle against terrorism.

“The President called for multi-sectoral collaboration and urged all government establishments to cue into NACTEST for maximum achievements.

“The revised strategy was meant to confront the dynamism of the perpetrators and involve all stakeholders in the battle by encouraging Nigerians to unite against terror in spite of their religious, tribal and political leanings.

“Since the president’s launch of this revised National Counter Terrorism Strategy, Nigerians have equipped themselves psychologically to win the war against the terrorist group.

“The strategy succeeded in uniting Nigerians from all walks of life towards defeating Boko Haram.

“It also encourages religious leaders to use their various places of worship to enlighten their followers through change of mindset to embrace morality and love of God,” he said.

Abdullahi said with the measures taken by Nigerians and the Federal Government in confronting the Boko Haram terrorist organisation head-on, their activities had been completely degraded.

“Nigerian forces have been able to clear Boko Haram out of many areas in the northeast by reclaiming territories captured by the organisation and restoring peace and stability in the affected states.

“Today, residents in the North-Eastern states now move about their daily businesses in relative safety,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria has trained and equipped the military forces in counterterrorism and counter-insurgency on subjects ranging from urban patrol to unarmed combat and humanitarian law.

He said the Special Forces of the Nigerian military had been training a mobile strike team of some officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps and the Nigerian Police.

“As additional measure, Nigeria has developed huge capacity for the prompt and timely prosecution of Boko Haram suspects.

“This has been made possible by the establishment of a Complex Case Group to specifically address all terrorist-related matters.

“The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force of the UN has successfully trained many government officials in the areas of human rights, rule of law and counter-terrorism,” he said.

The Nigerian official also said that there was a programme for de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, reorientation and re-integration for repentant Boko Haram suspects.

“In order to assist the victims of Boko Haram, government initiated a Victims Support Fund and the Presidential Initiative for the North East as well as the Safe Schools Initiative.

“These initiatives have facilitated the provision of humanitarian relief, socio-economic stabilisation and resettlement of persons displaced by the terror organization.

“It is remarkable to note that Nigeria has indeed recorded significant progress in the fight against terrorism through international cooperation from some friendly countries around the world,” Abdullahi said.

He pointed out the closer cooperation Nigeria enjoyed with its neighbours, Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and Benin Republic, within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to form a Multinational Joint Task Force ( MNJTF ).

“Consistent with our faith in the need for a collective fight against terrorism, I like to re-affirm Nigeria’s commitment to work closely with all UN counter-terrorism entities.

“These include the United Nations Centre for Counter Terrorism as well as the Centre and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force,” Abdullahi said.

NAN

October 5, 2017
Bayelsa investigates suspected outbreak of monkeypox virus

The Bayelsa Government is investigating suspected cases of monkeypox outbreak in its communities, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, has said.

Etebu spoke in Yenagoa on Wednesday following reports that some 11 persons, including a medical doctor, had been placed on surveillance in Yenagoa.

Those with the suspected cases had been quarantined at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital ( NDUTH ) , Okolobiri, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The centre was established by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ) and the epidemiological team of the state Ministry of Health to control the spread of the virus.

NAN also learnt that NCDC and the epidemiological team were tracing 49 persons, who were in contact with persons suspected to have been infected.

Etebu said that samples of the virus had been sent to the World Health Organisation laboratory in Dakar for confirmation.

He described monkeypox as a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chickenpox and smallpox.

The commissioner said the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequent outbreaks in West Africa.

He said the virus had the Central African and the West African types but that the West African type was milder and had no records of mortality.

“Recently in Bayelsa, we noticed a suspected outbreak of monkeypox.

“It has not been confirmed. We have sent samples to the World Health Organisation reference laboratory in Dakar.

“When that comes out we will be sure that it is confirmed. But from all indications, it points towards it.

“As the name implies, the virus was first seen in monkeys but can also be found in all bush animals, such as rats, squirrels and antelopes.

“The source is usually all animals. It was first seen in monkeys and that is why it is called monkey pox.

“But every bush animal, such as rats, squirrels, antelopes are involved. So, the secretions from particularly dead animals are highly contagious.. Etebu said.

He listed the symptoms of monkeypox as severe headache, fever, back pain, among others.

Etebu said that most worrisome of all the signs were rashes bigger than those caused by chickenpox.

The commissioner said the rashes were usually very discomforting and spread to the whole body of an infected person.

“We noticed the first index case from Agbura where somebody was purported to have killed and eaten a monkey and after that the people who are neighbours and families started developing the rashes.

“We have seen cases from as far as Biseni. We invited the NCDC together with our own epidemiological team from the Bayelsa Ministry of Health.

“We have been able to trace most of the people who have come in contact with the patients.

“So far, we have 10 patients and we have created an isolation centre at the NDUTH and most of them are on admission and we are following up the 49 cases that we are suspecting might come down with the illness.

“As a state we are taking care of all the expenses of all the isolated cases.

“The disease has an incubation period and it is also self-limiting in the sense that within two to four weeks, you get healed and it confers you with immunity for life.

“We have mobilised virtually every arsenal at our disposal in terms of sensitising the general public and making them aware by radio programmes, jingles and fliers.

“So the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has mobilised fully to Bayelsa State. We are on top the situation.” Etebu said.

NAN

October 5, 2017
NDLEA destroys 16 hectares of hemp farm in Osun

The Osun State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) on Wednesday announced that 16.8 hectares of Indian hemp ( Cannabis Sativa ) farm located in Ikoyi community in the state had been destroyed.

The Commandant, Mr Samuel Egbeola, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on the achievements of the agency in Osun.

He said that the farm was destroyed on Sept. 26.

The commandant said that the farm was discovered and destroyed by the NDLEA, following a tip-off by an intelligence source.

He said that during the operation, 25 kilogrammes of already harvested hemp were found on the farm.

The NDLEA chief said, however, that no arrest was made during the operation because nobody was found on the farm.

Egbeola re-assured people of the state that the agency would not rest on its oars until those involved in illicit drug operations were apprehended.

He called on members of the public to cooperate with the agency by always giving useful information that would lead to the arrest of anyone involved in India hemp plantations.

“We are appealing to the people of the state to always relate information on plantations, especially cannabis plantations to the NDLEA.

“Our office is always open, so people with useful information are always welcome at anytime so we can all work together in ensuring a drug free state.

“It is our mandate to rid the state of illicit drugs and this can only be made possible with the support and cooperation of the people.

“We also use this medium to solicit for the support of the press”, he said.

NAN

October 4, 2017
One Corner Dance- The darling of parties, events

Dance forms a very important aspect of our identity as a people. It most times is at the epi-centre of our culture and tradition.

We communicate and share our essence with global audiences when we dance, especially our traditional dances.

Although, to be a good dancer you need a lot of practice and training and would be easier if the talent is inborn.

However, when dance loses its rhythm and essence, it not only becomes a ‘demonstration of craze’, but reduces man to states of bestial tendencies; more or less like a macabre dance.

Social media have been set ablaze with the trending song called ‘one corner dance’. This song by Patapaa Amisty, a Ghanian musician, requires some level of craziness to flow with it.

The winning strategy for this song was the introduction of a dance competition online; this meant that the winner carts away with a huge sum of money.

The dance competition made the song more popular (or should we say – notorious?), because both the old, young, celebrity and ordinary person danced enthusiastically and posts it on their various social media platforms.

This song has spread like wildfire such that it has become the darling of wedding parties and youth events, not just in its place of origin (Ghana), but also in our beloved country – Nigeria.

The question that readily comes to mind is – Is there a possessive spirit behind this song or is it an avenue for people to escape from the harsh economic and social realities that continues to stare them in the face like a one-eyed monster?

Can we say that those who dance to this song in weird manners do so without any sense of reasoning? Please before you start to throw tantrums on the writer…HOLD UP!

This should be an appropriate point for our regulatory bodies like the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ) to step up and take charge of the airwaves because apart from the fact that this ‘alien’ song has been surreptitiously introduced into our country, this song is gradually eating deep into the comportment and perceived sanity, especially among our youths and teenagers who have too much energy to burn.

The One Corner song is powered by merriment dance, which is hilarious in its notion. It is a sexualized dance movement in the sense that you move your waist in a sexual form.

Obviously, we (the youths) are already drowning in the ocean of ignorance and have thrown caution to the wind when it comes to ‘dancing.’

Although culture (dance inclusive) can be a viable source of revenue for the country, however, it is also very expedient that we tell the narrative of our rich tradition in the right way.

In Conclusion, Nigerians especially the youths should be more innovative and creative, and stop waiting for the chance to feed on another man’s creativity, especially when it is bereft of cultural ideals.

October 4, 2017
Court docks man for alleged theft

A 20-year-old, Akeem Alhassan, who allegedly stole his girlfriend’s mobile tablet valued at N45,000 and sold it, on Wednesday appeared in a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of stealing to which he pleaded not guilty.

According to Police Prosecutor Akpan Ikem, the accused committed the offence on Sept. 18 at J5 area of Seme border between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Ikem said the accused’s girlfriend, Beatrice Agbor, gave him the tablet for safekeeping when she was travelling.

“The accused sold off the tablet and used the money to buy some cartons of biscuits.”

Ikem said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The section provides three years imprisonment for offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Jimoh Adefioye granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Oct. 25 for mention.

NAN

October 4, 2017
Stakeholders drum support for Umahi ahead of 2019

Stakeholders in Ebonyi have pledged their support for Gov. David Umahi, ahead of 2019 for the governor to continue his transformation agenda in the state.

The stakeholders, comprising women, made this known on Wednesday at the inauguration of “Rachael Umahi’s Women for Akubaraoha 2019’’ at Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state.

The Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government, Mr Ogbonnia Enyim, commended the Governor’s Wife, Rachael, for her transformation programmes in uplifting women and children in the state.

He said that through the first lady’s pet project, “Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation’’, there had been abolition of harmful cultural practices against widows.

According to the chairman, women have been empowered and poverty reduced through her skills acquisition programme, among others.

Enyim said that more women from the local government were occupying strategic positions in government.

“You can count on 100 per cent support from the entire people of Afikpo North come 2019, ‘’ he said.

A member representing Afikpo North/South Federal Constituency, Rep. Idu Igariwey, said that the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in the area was one strong family that would vote enmasse in the 2019 general elections.

The lawmaker commended the first lady for carrying everyone along in the state.

He said that the quality of leadership displayed by the present administration would attract its return.

“PDP is one family in Afikpo and our votes are going to be larger, come 2019, ‘’ Igariwey said.

The Director-General, Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation ( EBBC ), Mr Timothy Nwachi said that the number of youths, women and men at the occasion showed the level support for the governor come 2019.

“Afikpo North is one and will support the present administration, ‘’ Nwachi said.

The governor’s wife advised women to encourage and promote one another other rather than creating hatred.

The governor’s wife urged women to carry out door-to-door campaign for the governor to attract more women into politics; more positions in government and empowerment.

Top government officials and officials of local governments attended the occasion.

The event also featured inauguration of some facilities for the down-trodden and indigent persons in the area.

NAN

October 4, 2017
Sen. Sodangi backs Nasarawa on sale of assets

A three- term senator, Abubakar Sodangi, on Wednesday backed the decision of the Nasarawa State Government to sale some of its assets.

Criticisms had trailed the approval by the state Assembly, on Sept.25, allowing Gov.Tanko Almakura to dispose some of the government assets in Lagos, Jos and Kaduna.

Sodangi, who represented Nasarawa West in the Senate from 1999 to 2011, said that the decision to sell off the properties was in the best interest of the state.

He however said that the proceeds should be invested in areas that would have positive impact on the lives of the people.

“I want to start by saying that whatever you see a governor or government of a state is planning on doing, they must have reasons for them.

“From what I heard, the reason for the sale of these assets was due to total wastage, dilapidation and deteriorating condition of these properties.

“If keeping and maintaining these properties is waste and the best thing a government think is to sell the properties and reinvest the money in prosperous and viable venture to better the lives of the people of the state, so it be.

“Some other people may have their own different views. If you are running any business at a loss, I believe that the best thing is to do away with it; that is my own personal thinking,” he said.

Sodangi urged people of the state to support the government, so as to succeed.

He urged Nigerians especially the youths to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities and engage in meaningful ventures that would make them self reliant.

NAN

October 4, 2017
Dijkhoff named Netherlands defense minister

Klaas Dijkhoff was named the Netherlands’ new minister of defense on Wednesday, following the resignation of his party colleague Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert over the deaths of two Dutch soldiers.

Dijkhoff was previously a state secretary in the ministry of justice.

His predecessor Hennis-Plasschaert resigned on Tuesday, having accepted the ministry’s responsibility for the death of two Dutch soldiers in Mali in 2016.

The two soldiers were killed and another seriously injured when grenades exploded unexpectedly during a military exercise in the West African country.

A resulting investigation commission found the ministry responsible for the accident.

According to the experts’ findings, the ammunition had been damaged, had not been tested and had not been properly stored.

Dijkhoff would likely only hold the post of defense minister for a few weeks, since a new coalition government is set to take power at the end of October.

Coalition talks between prospective governing partners have dragged on for months following parliamentary elections in March.

NAN

October 4, 2017