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  • Edo flags off implementation of EU-NDSP Water, Sanitation projects 

    Edo flags off implementation of EU-NDSP Water, Sanitation projects 

    The Edo State Government has commenced the implementation of the Construction Phase of the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP) -3, to improve access to safe water supply and basic sanitation facilities in the state.

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, launched the programme at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State, noting that, “with the support of suitable technology, improved access to finances and strong commitment, the state government will provide access to safe water in all parts of the state.”

    The NDSP programme is initiated by the Federal Government and the European Union (EU) to improve access to safe water supply in the five Niger Delta states. The project is funded jointly by Edo State Government and the EU.

    The governor, who was represented at the flag-off by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, commended the EU and its partners for supporting the state to improve access to safe water, adding, “The support of the EU will enable the state government drastically reduce challenges with safe water supply, which contributes to many water-borne diseases in rural areas.”

    Representative of the EU, Albert Achten, said that the EU adopted a strategy to involve beneficiaries of water schemes in the programme design so that they can own the projects, noting “There are hundreds of water schemes in the Niger Delta region that have been abandoned or not functioning effectively due to lack of maintenance culture. The sustainability of the project by the benefiting communities would attract more investments and funding from donor and international agencies.”

    Assistant Director, International Cooperation, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Ileuma Ahonsi, said contractors for the project have been mobilised to site to commence the construction work.

    Ahonsi said: “The objective of the NDSP is to assist the state reduce poverty in rural areas and sub-urban communities and improve access to water supply.”

    He added that technical issues affecting the proposed Uromi Water Supply Reticulation Scheme have been resolved and the contract for the project will be signed before the end of March.

    The Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, said that 10 communities in Ovia South West and Estako West Local Government Areas of the state have benefitted from the NDSP project which started in 2014.

  • Two killed in fresh Fulani attack in Benue

    Two killed in fresh Fulani attack in Benue

    Two persons have been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Waku village, Guma Local Government area in Benue state.

    Waku village is the country home of Senator Joseph Waku, chairman Governing council of Federal University Akure.

    In a joint press conference by the Benue state commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni and chairman of Guma local Government council Hon Antony Shawon held at the state Command headquarters in Makurdi.

    Both Owoseni and Shawon told newsmen that two people were killed and many people sustained serious injuries while several houses were set ablaze in the village.

    CP Owoseni on his part said 15 mobile units from other states have been deployed to Benue state to beef security.

  • Campaign funds: Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe, others

    Campaign funds: Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe, others

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has been commended for investigation the embezzlement of government money by previous administration to fund the 2015 elections.

    The group, Coalition of Youths Congress of Nigeria said what EFCC is doing is instructive as another election year approaches and expressed the hope that those involved in diverting public fund to finance elections must be punished to deter others in future.

    The group, which addressed journalists  Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was reacting to the arraignment of a former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Plateau State, Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau who were dragged to court over allegation of embezzlement of N450 million belonging to the federal government.

    The leader of the group, Mr. John Pam said the anti-corruption stance of the present administration would ensure that such perfidy and use of money meant for the development of the country by politicians at the corridor of power would not happen again.

    The trio would be arraigned on February 13, 2018 at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital on charges of receiving the money from the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy.

    At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe had told trial Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau G.N.S Pwajok.

    The group therefore urged EFCC to leave no stone unturned to make sure that money politics in Nigeria is discouraged and also to ensure that those in the custody of public fund do not deep their hands into the till to serve themselves.

    “We are commending EFCC for taking these people to court so that when found guilty justice will take its cause, which will sound as a warning to others who may want to so corrupt themselves by diverting public funds meant for the provision of social amenities for our citizens. The interest of our group is to ensure corrupt free society and for the first time we have seen a government that is determined to rid this scourge from the country,” Pam said.

  • Kogi: PDP fault alleged planned sale of govt. property

    Kogi: PDP fault alleged planned sale of govt. property

    The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state, has condemned alleged plans by the Governor Yahaya Bello administration to sell some state assets, towards funding the 2018 budget.

    The PDP Monday in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bode Ogunmola, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Lokoja, described the planned sale as not only uncalled for, but wicked, anti-people and retrogressive.

    It read: “The news coming out of Lugard House, the seat of power is a grave foreboding from one faulty step to another. The administration has proceeded in the destruction of our patrimony with the energy of an invader in a foreign territory.

    “We are shocked that the state finance commissioner, Asiru Idris last week during his budget defence at the State House of Assembly confirmed this and went ahead to list these legacy assets/projects.

    “The projects/assets to be sold include the newly constructed Kogi Hotels, Conference Stadium, Confluence Beach Hotel, Commissioners’ quarter, Lokoja International Market, the 12-storey KOGI liaison office in Abuja and Kogi liaison offices in Kaduna and Lagos, among others.

    “We reject this proposal in totality and warns Governor Bello to immediately perish this thought. The plot is devilish, selfish, myopic. It is shameful and the peak of rascality that a government which cannot pay salaries of workers let alone execute projects will now scheme to mortgage our collective future.

    “Our party is not unaware of the grand plan of the government to sell these legacy projects to its officials as a decoy of repositioning the state; we will however strongly resist this evil plan”.

    When contacted, the commissioner of finance said any moment from now the consultant will commence with the sales.

  • Police parades suspected criminals, Child traffickers in Abia

    Police parades suspected criminals, Child traffickers in Abia

    The Abia state Commissioner of Police (CP) Michael Ogbizi has paraded three different gangs of suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and child traffickers who have been terrorizing the state for a long time.

    Speaking while parading the suspects in Umuahia, CP Ogbizi said that one of the gangs led by Stanley Ifeanyi were arrested in Aba with police uniforms, police bullet proof vest, Ak 47 rifle, one single barrel long gun, one locally made pistol among others.

    Ogbizi said that the gang has been terrorizing the people of Aba for a long time and that the police have been on their trail when luck ran against them leading to their arrest.

    He said that the command is out to arrest people of such character and make the state free for people to come in and invest, assuring the residents of the state of their security and their property at all times.

    When The Nation questioned Ifeanyi, he said he bought the police materials from one police man at Uyo in Akwa Ibom state at the cost N20, 000, “I have never robbed with police uniform before but I bought them to use them to rob”.

    The next gang the CP paraded were those who waylaid the family of Bar James Kwubiri Okpara the state commissioner for Housing while on their way back from a trip abroad.

    Ogbizi said that the robbers robbed them of all their valuables, “Since the incident we have been after them as we are determined to ensure that armed robbery and such incidents are completely reduced to the barest minimum in the state”.

    He said that the three man gang who waylaid the commissioner’s family have been terrorizing the people of Abayi and Osisioma areas of Aba, “With the rest of this notorious gang of armed robbers the residents of these areas can now sleep with their two eyes closed”.

    The Abia police boss also paraded a notorious child trafficker known as simply as Nma, who has been under police surveillance for years now, saying that when the police raided her place that 13 under aged pregnant girls were rescued.

    Ogbizi said that the girls were in various stages of pregnancy and were malnourished, stressing that since their were rescued that the state government in conjunction with the police have been taking care of their feeding and medical bills.

    He said that Nma would be charged for murder, child trafficking and kidnapping, “She may have been evading arrest and prosecution for a long time but this time it will no longer be business as usual as she will be made to face the full wrath of the law”.

    In her reaction, Nma said that she has been in the business of running a maternity home at her Isiala Ngwa North council area for the past seven years and denied selling children born in her maternity.

    Nma said that she is a registered nurse and those girls are always brought to her place by those who want to help them, “Whenever they come I always ask them to bring their guardians before they are taken in”.

  • Sen. Bukar trains 400 youths on yoghurt making, poultry production

    Sen. Bukar trains 400 youths on yoghurt making, poultry production

    Sen. Mustafah Bukar ( APC-Katsina North ), has commenced the training of 400 unemployed youths in his Senatorial District on yoghourt making and poultry production for self reliance and economic sustainability.

    Malam Safiyanu Daifa, his Media Secretary, said at the launching of the exercise in Daura on Monday that it would last for 30 days Daifa said that the resource persons were drawn from the  National Research Institute for Chemical Technology  ( NARIC ), Zaria.

    He said that 33 trainees were registered from each of 12 local government areas in the Senatorial District with Daura getting 37 being the Zonal Headquarters.

    READ ALSO: Bukar secures freedom for 60 prisoners

    He called on the trainees to make good use of the opportunity to enable them to reap the lofty objectives of the training.

    “We would after the training provide them with seed capital to enable them to set up their own businesses,” he said.

    The media secretary said Sen. Bukar was determined to make the zone economically viable and independent through innovative projects that would have direct impact on the people.

    According to him, the lawmaker is also determined to completely eradicate indolence, idleness and political thuggery in the area.

    One of the beneficiaries, Zainab Ahmad, from Ingawa Local Government Area, lauded the efforts of the lawmaker for his youth empowerment projects.

    She said Sen. Bukar had made many of them productive and self reliant.

    NAN

  • Gateman narrates how retired US military personnel was killed

    Gateman narrates how retired US military personnel was killed

     

    A 25-year old man, Felix Simon, who worked as a gateman to a retired military personnel has narrated how he led his friends to rob and kill his boss, Mrs. Vivian Rafatu Ajibua aged 61.

    The incident happened at Ugiagbe Street, Off Ogbonmwan Street, Off Ugbor Road, Government Reservation Area.

    Checks showed that other landlords in the area have chased their security guard away after the incident.

    Felix had raised alarm on January 28, 2018 at about 3am that a mysterious fire had engulfed his boss’s apartment.

    Sympathizers rushed to put out the fire and Mrs. Ajibua, a widow was found dead with severe burnt on her body inside her bedroom.

    The neighbours called the police and relatives who took her corpse to a mortuary and luck ran out of Felix when he was seen throwing his belongings and household items of his late boss over the fence to a nearby uncompleted building.

    He was caught as he attempted to flee and handed over to the police.

    It was during interrogations by the police that Felix opened up on how he recruited one Peter Zachariah and eight other gatemen in the area to commit the crime.

    Felix claimed that he hailed from Mada village in Igon local government area of Nasarawa State and was employed seven months ago.

    He said it was one Musa and Isah who are now on the run that killed his boss inside her room.

    The suspect said Musa and Idah worked as gatemen in the building opposite his madam’s house and they usually help his boss with some house work. military

    He stated that they entered the apartment at about 3am after he opened the gate for them adding that he attempted to flee because of fear.

    “When my madam was not in the house they came and told me that they want to rob madam. I told them that madam was not at home. They left and returned in the night.  Musa just slapped my face and told me to sit by the gate as they entered the house.

    “After some minutes they left. Then I saw fire inside the house. I started shouting for help.

    “I didn’t know they will kill her. I don’t know what came over me. This is evil”.

    It was learnt that the gang had earlier cut the burglary proof at the second door to the woman’s apartment while she was away during the day.

    Felix said he told the gang the best time to enter the house was when his late boss was cooking at about 3am because that was the time electricity is supplied to the area

    Police sources said Musa and Isah from Iyibadu in Nasarawa State attacked and killed the woman after which they informed Felix.

    After thinking on how to cover their deed, Felix was said to have told them to use the petrol reserved for generator in the house to burn the woman’s corpse to give the impression that she died from the fire incident.

    State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo said the suspects would be arraigned for robbery murder and arson.

     

     

     

  • Avoid giving birth at home, expert advises pregnant women

    Avoid giving birth at home, expert advises pregnant women

    A public health physician, Dr Shehu Martins, on Monday advised pregnant women to avoid giving birth at home, saying it can lead to serious complications.

    Martins, who works St. Mary’s Hospital, Gwagwalada, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Gwagwalada.

    The physician said that though, every mother has the right to choose where she wants to be delivered of her baby, “it is important to consider the risks associated with home child birth’’.

    According to him, the dangers associated with home delivery are much depending on the presentation as at the time the woman is deliver of her baby.

    “If a woman has high blood pressure, diabetes, among other ailments, the risk could be more.

    “For example, if a woman is hypertensive and she doesn’t know, there can be complication of convulsion and the person attending to her may not know how to handle the situation.

    “In first time pregnancy, complication from obstructed labour to foetal distress cannot be monitored at home and when she continues pushing, it can lead to vaginal fistula.

    “Vaginal fistula is when there is a leakage of urine from the bladder without the woman knowing due to poor management of child labour.

    “This prolong labour can lead to death of the baby before she gets to the hospital,’’ he explained.

    The physician, therefore, advised that every delivery should be monitored in the hospital, saying “a poorly assisted home birth can lead to serious complications’’.

    READ ALSO: Vaccination : Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever

    He said that if a woman prefers to deliver at home, a skilled attendant or medical expert should be involved to handle any emergency situation.

    Martins warned that a traditional birth attendant should not be allowed to handle real complications from child birth.

    NAN

  • Vaccination : Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever

    Vaccination : Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever

    Zamfara Government will vaccinate 3.2 million people during the ongoing yellow fever vaccination campaign, the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Lawal Liman, has said.

    Liman said in an interview with reporters in Gusau on Monday that the vaccination would be conducted in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

    “We have already concluded the first phase of the exercise which covers four local government areas of Anka, Gusau, Maru and Maradun and we have recorded great success.

    “We are now on the second phase which would cover ten local government areas of Bungudu, Birnin-Magaji, Bakura, Bukkuyum, Gummi, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi Talata-Mafara, Tsafe and Zurmi.

    “We started the second phase of this exercise last four days, we have reached about 40 percent coverage now and it would end in the next six days”, he said.

    According to him, the vaccine is for the people from 9 months to 45 years of age.

    READ ALSO: Eight killed in herdsmen-farmers clash in Jos

    The commissioner therefore urged residents to cooperate with the government for the success of the exercise.

    He said that, “the reports we are receiving from our officials on the fields is indicating that the exercise is moving smoothly, our people are participating across the state, we have been enlightening them through jingles, programmes on radio and television.

    “We are still calling on stakeholders to continue enlightening members of the public on the importance of the vaccine so as to achieve the desired objective,” Liman added.

    He assured that measures had been put in by all stakeholders including development partners “to reach out to the targeted number of people or beyond at the end of the exercise.”

    NAN

  • American Singer Rihanna performs African dance routine at the Grammys

    American Singer Rihanna performs African dance routine at the Grammys

    Rihanna, in a sparkly fuchsia gown, complete with a fringed hemline and a hibiscus draped behind her ear on Sunday, performed the South African `gwara gwara’ dance in a song she featured with DJ Khaled.

    She incorporated a popular South African dance in her performance of a song titled,‘wild thoughts’.

    Several international news media had mistaken the dance for an almost similar popular American dance called ‘the stanky legs’.

    However, some Africans on twitter have come out to correct the error by spelling out the name of the dance.

    READ ALSO: Grammys: White roses are the motif, women’s equality the message

    Popular British-Nigerian actress and singer, Cynthia Erivo took to her twitter handle @CynthiaEriVo to join in the correction, saying:

    “This is not the Skanky leg; this is the #GwaraGwara it originates in South Africa.”

    Also, the dance group AVO Boyz took to their instagram handle @official_avoboyz to corroborate the correction.

    They posted a photo of Rihanna doing the dance and captioned it: “Hit the GWARA GWARA @badgirlriri, @ghana_boii, @coco_duduyemii, @djkhaled, @brysontiller.”

    The Barbados singer was taught the dance routine by the dance group Africa’s Very Own (AVO) Boyz, who also joined her on stage for the performance.

    A key member of the dance group, Stephen Ojo thanked the pop star for learning the dance on his Instagram page @papi_ojo.

    He shared a picture of the ceremony and wrote: “God is amazing @badgirlriri, @djkhaled, @brysontiller.

    “Riri, thank you for giving Afrobeats/African dance a chance and letting us teach you. God bless you. You, Bryson and Khaled are all some humble people. God is good.”

    Video excerpts from the dance routine on the awards show surfaced online and have since gone viral.

    Rihanna won her ninth Grammy Award for her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the song ‘Loyalty’.

    NAN