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Police, PCN partner to rid Nasarawa of unlicensed drug dealers

The Police Command in Nasarawa State with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria ( PCN ) and the Nigeria Association of Patent and Proprietary Medical Dealers ( NAPPMED ) has agreed to jointly rid the state of unlicensed drug dealers.

The parties reached the agreement in Lafia on Friday when PCN and NAPPMED members paid a courtesy visit to the Police Commissioner in Nasarawa State, Mr Mohammed Kura.

The delegation was led by Mr Vincent Mamah, Nasarawa State President of NAPPMED , and the State Officer of PCN, Mr Okpalaeke Nwora.

Kura said collaboration among the groups was long overdue because of the need to rid the state of unlicensed drug dealers, who distributed fake and substandard drugs to unsuspecting Nigerians.

“This arrangement is long overdue and I am very happy we will be working closely together.

“As far as I am concerned, the police need you just as you also need the police.

‘’So, let us work together to make our society safer, ‘’ he said.

Kura said to achieve success in ridding the state of unlicensed drug dealers, the police, PCN and NAPPMED must engage in constant intelligence sharing on activities of unlicensed dealers in order to bring them to justice.

“We want to have intelligence reports from you so as to perform our duties and bring them (unlicensed dealers) to face justice.

“If you see any of them and have credible intelligence report of their activities, you need to inform us so that we can do the needful and safeguard innocent Nigerians,’’ he added.

Earlier, Mamah said the visit was for the groups to welcome Kura on as the new Commissioner of Police and seek new ways of fighting unlicensed drug dealers.

“We are here to associate ourselves with you because one way or the other, our work has to do with the police.

“Our job is to oversee the activities of those selling drugs and ensure that they follow the right steps and sell good quality drugs,’’ he said.

Mamah called for a stronger collaboration with the police to rid the state of unlicensed drug dealers.

He gave an assurance that the association would ensure that registered members of the association conformed to the law.

On his part, Nwora said PCN would step up efforts to fight illegal medicine vendors and unregistered drug dealers in Nasarawa State.

He said the effort was aimed at ensuring improvement in the quality of drugs distributed in the state.

“As a government regulatory agency, PCN is concerned about the quality of care given to Nigerians by ensuring that the right things are done by the right people in the right places,’’ he said.

Nwora attributed successes in efforts to regulate activities of illegal medicine vendors to the strong partnership with the state government, security agencies and the traditional institutions.

He, however, decried the high rate of unregistered drug dealers in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and described the area as the ‘den of unregistered medicine charlatans’.

“We are calling for a closer working relationship with the police and other security agencies by providing security cover.

“We also believe that a lot of sensitisation is still needed to enlighten Nigerians on regulations concerning the drugs business,’’ Nwora said.

We recall that PCN has shut 254 illegal pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Nasarawa State in the last three years.

NAN

October 13, 2017
Doctors give 10-day strike notice to UCH management

Barely one month after their nationwide strike, the resident doctors at the University College Hospital ( UCH ), Ibadan, on Friday, gave the hospital management another 10-day strike notice to protest unpaid salaries.

Dr Segun Olaopa, the President of the UCH branch of the National Association of Resident Doctors ( NARD ), disclosed this development at a news briefing.

Olaopa said that the association’s dialogue with the hospital management on many occasions had yet to yield any positive result.

“It has become imperative to draw the attention of the press to the brewing issues in UCH. These issues if not addressed, may impact negatively on the existing industrial harmony at the hospital.

“These issues include: non-payment of our September salary, 28 per cent shortfall in August salary, 2016 shortfalls of 11 months till date and work overload due to management’s refusal to employ new residents.

“Presently, the number of residents stands at 525; this has reduced to 454, as some of them have completed their residency. By this October, 40 among us will also finish the residency.

“The implication of this is that the remaining few residents are given work overload and this should not be; management should employ more residents to make the workload easy and to achieve maximum productivity.

“Resident doctors’ accommodations need to be rehabilitated. The conditions of those flats are nothing to write home about.

“We implore management to do the needful in order to avert another strike,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the association went on a 10-day national industrial strike, which was suspended on Sept. 14.

Part of the outcome of the dialogue, which led to the suspension of the strike was that government would release money to pay the doctors’ backlog of salaries.

NAN

October 13, 2017
FG urges states to reform food programme

The Federal government ( FG ) through the Minister of Health, Mr Isaac Adewole has urged State Governments across the country to accept and reform the ongoing Food Safety Programme for the good health of Nigerians.

Adewole made the call while declaring open a one day awareness creation on National Policy on Food Safety and its implementation Strategy ( NPFSIS ) in Yola, the Adamawa state capital on Friday.

According to him, food is a very vital necessity of life, which deserved safety components for sustainable health and economic growth.

“The Federal Ministry of Health formulated and adopted the National Policy on Food Safety and its Implementation Strategy ( NPFSIS ) in March, 2016.

“The policy is to streamline the activities along the food chain for effective and efficient oriented food safety Programme.

“Therefore, I urge and encourage all State Governments across the country to accept and reform the food safety by setting up their states food safety management committee (SFSMC),’’ Adewole said.

Adewole, who was represented by Mr Fubara Chukwu, a Director in the ministry, regretted the lapses in food safety as reported by the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) leading to daily occurrence of food borne illness.

The Minister said that the current report from the WHO estimated that food borne disease caused illness at the ratio of one to ten persons, especially in children less than five years.

He noted that preventable food borne disease outbreaks such as Cholera, Lassa fever, Diarrhoea, lead and Methanol poisoning had plagued many states with different impact level in recent years.

“These diseases are generally the consequence of poor food safety culture and poor hygiene practices in the country,’’ he said.

In his remark, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa, said that the State Government has directed the state sister agency to reform the food safety department.

Bindow, who was also represented by Alhaji Ahmed Sajo, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said that the State Government would collaborate with the Federal Government ( FG ) to control the menace of poor food safety.

NAN

October 13, 2017
Court jails man four years for raping minor

A Jos Upper Area Court has sentenced a 31–year-old security man, Joseph Vongjen, to four years in prison, for raping a 13-year-old girl.

The judge, Yahaya Mohammed, sentenced Vongjen on Friday, after he pleaded guilty to the crime and begged for mercy.

“You will spend four years in prison for this callous act; there is no option of fine,” Mohammed stated.

He said that the judgement would serve as a deterrent to others.

The prosecutor, Mr. O. Edwin, as telling the court that Vongjen, a resident of Lamingo, in Jos, lured his victim with N500 and forcefully raped her in his room, on Sept. 20.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 183 of the penal code.

NAN

October 13, 2017
Export committee targets $150bn revenue

The National Committee on Export Promotion ( NCEP ) says it is targeting 150 billion dollars revenue through Zero Oil Plan (ZOP) initiative.

Mr Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council ( NEPC ) and member of the committee disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Awolowo said that the revenue would be earned in a period of 10 years and would be used to strengthen the country’s foreign reserve.

He said that the committee had the task to aggregate all issues affecting export in the country and make recommendation to the Federal Government.

“The constitution of the committee seeks to replace oil as the source of foreign exchange earner by growing non-oil exports from present five billion dollars to 30 billion dollars by year 2020.

“The objective of the plan is to further add extra 150 billion dollars (minimum) to Nigeria’s foreign reserves cumulatively from no-oil exports over the next 10 years.

“We will create at least 500, 000 additional jobs annually due to increase in productive and export activities as well as lift at least 10 million Nigerians out of poverty,’’ he said.

According to Awolowo, the committee is expected to submit an initial report on Nov.16, 2017.

He said that the committee’s terms of reference were to aggregate all the issues and recommendations as highlighted in the various initiatives on diversification of Nigeria’s economy.

Others are to consult with the states for their input on the subject and draw up a workable plan to enhance export promotion.

On his part, Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa, who is the Chairman of the committee, said that the committee would work with state governments to actualize it objectives.

According to him, all issues currently facing the country’s export will be adequately addressed.

“Non-oil export growth is the only way forward for a sustainable development,’’ he said.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President and Chairman, National Economic Council ( NEC ), inaugurated the committee a few days ago at the 80th meeting of NEC in Abuja.

NAN

October 13, 2017
El-Rufai presents budget of N216.5bn for 2018

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday presented an Appropriation bill of N216.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

El-Rufai, in the budget tagged, “Budget of Consolidation”, explained that N131 billion was earmarked as capital expenditure, representing 60.5 per cent, while N85 billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure, representing 39.4 per cent.

According to him, capital expenditure is allocated 60 per cent because of the administration’s resolve to spend more and invest in the people.

“Under capital expenditure, the Social Sector received the largest chunk of N51.4 billion; Economic Sector, N38 billion; General Administration, N26 billion; and Real Sector, 14 billion.”

He said that the Social Sector, comprising education, health and social development took the lion share of 39.2 per cent of the budget so as to promote social justice through human capital development.

“We envisage starting the year with an opening balance of N10 billion with internally generated revenue of over N42 billion and statutory allocation from Federation Account of over N34 billion.

“The recurrent expenditure estimate for 2018 are projected to be broken down as, public desk charges, that is payment of loans and other facilities estimated at over N4 billion with consolidated revenue fund charges at over N1 billion.

“Others include, personnel cost, N40 billion; overhead cost, N44 billion; and 10 per cent statutory transfers from the state to local government areas, totaling over N85 billion.

“The breakdown of the capital account for 2018 as projected would be transfers from the recurrent budget surplus of over N2 billion and over N13 billion from value added tax.

“Others are over N800 million as internal loans as well as N89 billion as external loans, internal grant at over N9 billion while external grant stands at over N4 billion.”

He added that the state would raise over N11 billion from sales of government quarters.

Receiving the budget estimates, the Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, assured of the assembly’s commitment to diligently scrutinise the document for the benefits of the people of the state.

Shagali said that legislative arm would support the executive in ensuring peace and social justice in the state.

He added that the House would ensure that the budget meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

The government had earlier proposed N201 billion as 2018 budget, but N15 billion was added after receiving inputs from citizens during a town hall meeting.

NAN

October 13, 2017
NAF partners NASENI on training, maintenance

The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) has completed the training of its 55 personnel in various fields at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure ( NASENI ).

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Adesanya said the training, which took place at the seven centres in NASENI, was aimed at further raising the level of technical manpower in NAF through collaboration with relevant local institutions.

The director added that the personnel were trained in various specialties, such as Lather Milling Operations and General Maintenance, Laser Cutting, Oxyacetylene Welding.

They were also trained in Networking Tools and Techniques, Repairs of Electronics Circuits, Electronics Testing and Diagnostics, Cabling and Looming Techniques.

“The intensive training in the various specialties lasted for various durations, ranging from 14 to 30 days.

“The training has given the personnel the capacity to reproduce some spares locally as well as carrying out more in-depth repairs of electronics items that were hitherto shipped overseas,” he said.

Accordingly, the partnership was expected to enhance the effectiveness of aircraft maintenance in NAF as well as boosting the Research and Development efforts of the Service.

Adesanya explained that the training would have gulped huge resources in foreign currency, if conducted overseas.

He explained further that the collaboration, afforded the service to complete the training of its 55 personnel with less than N6million.

“The training is in tandem with one of the key drivers of the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, which is “Strategic partnerships with MDAs for enhanced Research and Development”.

“The training was completed last week and the trained personnel have been deployed as appropriate,” Adesanya said.

NAN

October 13, 2017
Al-Makura appoints new HoS

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has appointed Mr Abari Aboki as the new Head of Service (HoS) of the state, replacing Mr Thomas Ogiri who retired recently.

The Secretary to the State Government ( SSG ), Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, announced this in statement made available to newsmen in Lafia on Friday.

Before his appointment Abari served as the Permanent Secretary (PS) in various ministries, including the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Abdullahi stated that the new head of service would also double as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Establishment and Industrial Matters.

“The new Head of Service and the Special Adviser would be sworn in by His Excellency, the Governor, on Tuesday 17th October, 2017 at 11am at the Government House, Lafia,” he said.

The SSG said also that Mr Musa Aloko had been appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to take over from Mr Clement Odeh.

He said: “the governor wishes to express his appreciation to the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board for his services and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

NAN

October 13, 2017
Catholic Bishops call for national unity

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria ( CBCN ) has called for the rededication of the country to God to allow for a nation where everyone will live as united people.

Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the President of CBCN and Archbishop of Jos, made the call when he led a delegation of Archbishops and Bishops on a courtesy visit Gov. Godwin Obaseki, in Benin on Thursday.

Kaigama said the bishops were in Edo to mark the centenary of Lady Fatima’s Apparition.

He said the catholic clergy would use the opportunity to seek God’s intervention for the country and pray for leaders in positions of authority.

He said that during the First World War, Lady Fatima appeared and preached a message of peace; hence the Catholic Church would use the event to pray for unity of various religious and ethnic groups in the country.

‘’We are in Benin to pray for peace and the reconsecration of the country; that the north and south will see themselves as one,

“Muslims and Christians will live as brothers and sisters and ethnic groups will live in harmony harmony,” he said.

The cleric urged leaders to always engage in good works, supporting it with prayers in order to excel.

Obaseki commended the church for its pivotal role of reconciliation and stabilising the society.

He also expressed delight that the state was hosting another religious conference as the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria had held theirs earlier in the year.

The governor used the occasion to seek collaboration with the church to strengthen basic education, healthcare and social welfare services in the state.

Obaseki said that with oil prices no longer what it used to be, Nigeria’s future economy would be knowledge-driven hence Edo was keen on collaborating with the church and other groups interested in contributing to society.

The highlight of the visit was presentation of a statue of the Virgin Mary to the governor as well as prayers offered for his administration, the state and the country.

The Catholic Bishops are attending the 1st National Marian Year and 3rd National Marian Congress in Nigeria in Edo.

NAN

October 13, 2017
FG to open privatised power sector to new investment process – Minister

The Federal Government says the privatised power sector will open up for new investment process to enable new investors invest further in the development of the sector.

The Minister of State for National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said this in Abuja.

Ahmed said the plan by government became necessary given the challenges in the sector.

“The power sector has been privatised, but I am sure that every Nigerian will testify that the privatisation has not worked out well.

“What we set to achieve in terms of the development of the power sector has not yet happened.

“We have now come to a point where government, which is a share holder in power sector, and the investors must come together and decide to cede some of their holdings to the fresh investors .

“The ceding of the holding to the fresh investors will enable them to inject new funds and new expertise to enable us to grow the power sector the way that will serve Nigerians.

She said the process would involve government negotiating with the existing owners and deciding the right level of holding that would go for another round of sale.

She said that the opening of the power sector would also entail the review of tariff “to the extent that we said that the power sector will be opened up to a new investments process.

“It is very clear that no new investor will be coming without having a satisfaction of the level of tariff that will be attained in the industry.

“That will be a discussion that will be heard with the new investors; it is very clear to us that the level of tariff that we have now is not sustainable.

“But where the tariff will go will be a subject of negotiation between government, existing investors, the new investors and the consumers; so we try to attain an optimal level, but there will be an impact on the tariff.“

She, however, said that the starting point for the review of the entire process would be the Distribution Companies ( DISCOs ), adding that distribution of electricity was most pressing.

On government borrowing, she said that government did not go and borrow at 21 or 22 per cent.

According to her, the market actually determines the point of government borrowing .

“The point we are making is that because the government is borrowing heavily, the financial sector is now concentrating on borrowing to government, and the private sector gets little or no attention.

“So government must reduce its level of domestic borrowing to free the space so that the financial sector is able to borrow to the private sector.

NAN

October 13, 2017