The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • NSCDC deploys 500 personnel to schools in Borno

    NSCDC deploys 500 personnel to schools in Borno

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Borno Command, on Friday said it had deployed 500 personnel to enhance security in public schools in the state.

    The Commandant of the corps, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this in an interview with the News men in Maiduguri.

    Abdullahi said that the personnel were deployed to seven of the 22 liberated local government areas of the state.

    He explained that the measure was part of efforts to enhance security for pupils and teachers in the schools.

    He also said that the deployment was in line with the directives of the corps’ Commander-General, Mr Abdullahi Gana, that schools in the North-East be provided with security and protected.

    Read Also: Dambazau directs relocation of IGP, NSCDC boss to North-East

    According to him, the command was working in collaboration with other security agencies in order to ensure protection of lives and property.

    He said, “Following the incident of abduction of school girls in Yobe, the Command Headquarters directed immediate deployment of personnel to schools in the state.

    “This include special armed, counter terrorism and anti-riot squad, bomb detection and disposal unit, intelligence, detective as well as rescue and medical teams,” he said.

    NAN

  • NASU is set for nationwide protest

    NASU is set for nationwide protest

     

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU is set for a nationwide protest over the ongoing National strike action embarked upon by the Joint Action committee.

    According to a document obtained by The Nation the protest tagged “Peaceful rally” will hold on March 8 in University of Abuja.

    The non-academic staff union members are protesting against alleged disparity in payment of Earned allowance to workers in Nigerian Universities.

    It should be recalled that the workers went on strike on December 4,2017 but after a meeting with the Federal Government on December 19, nothing has been heard on negotiations with leadership of JAC claiming that it is yet to hear from the Federal government.

  • OSUSTECH matriculates 1,000 fresh students

    OSUSTECH matriculates 1,000 fresh students

    The Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa, is to matriculate 1,000 newly admitted students on March 8.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, told our reporter on Thursday in Okitipupa that the matriculation would hold at the university’s permanent site.

    The university is the third of such state-owned institution established by the Gov. Olusegun Agagu, who hailed from the area.

    The state boasts of Adekunle Ajasin University at Akungba Akoko and the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo.

    He said the institution which hitherto operated only the Faculty of Sciences now has two newly accredited faculties – Engineering and Agriculture.

    “We are fully set for the matriculation of over 1,000 students who passed and are still undergoing the screening exercise and have completed their admission process into the institution.

    “We were running just the Faculty of Sciences now we have two more faculties – Engineering and Agriculture – recently accredited by the National Universities Commission ( NUC ),”  he said.

    NAN

  • Alleged underage voting: INEC investigative committee arrives Kano

    Alleged underage voting: INEC investigative committee arrives Kano

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has inaugurated an eight man committee had yesterday commenced investigations into the alleged cases of voting by under aged persons, during the last Local Government elections held in Kano.

    The investigative committee, chaired by Engr. Abubakar Nahuce was set up by the National chairman of INEC, professor Mahmud Yakubu, with the mandate to unravel if the voters register used during  the conduct of  the Kano Local Government election is  in tandem with the names of registered voters, on INEC’s record.

    According to Nahuce, the aim of the electoral commission is not to pass judgment on the conduct of the LG polls, rather to ascertain, if the voters registered used is that, which was obtained from INEC.

    The committee, which visited the headquarters of Kano Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC located on Sabo Bakin Zuwo road requested the state electoral body to furnish it, with the record of the  voters registration that was used  to conduct the LG elections, in the following areas,  Shahuci area, Kano Municipal Council registration area 21.

    The august body further requested KANSIEC to  avail it,  with the voters register used to conduct the poll, in Gama registration area 2, Nassarawa Local Government registration area 31, and Gezawa registration area 3.

    Nahuce disclosed that members of the committee had arrived Kano on Monday, adding that “ the committee  was tasked to ascertain, if the voter register requested by Kano Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC was actually that, which was used to conduct the Local Government Elections.

    “We are to investigate the widespread report that persons below the statutory age of 18 years voted  using INEC’s register. Engage with stakeholders on issues related to the use of the voters register in the election.” Nahuce further said.

    He disclosed that, the committee is directed to submit it’s findings, to INEC within the span of two weeks.

    The chairman, Kano state Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, professor Garba Sheka in his remarks, said the commission will collaborate with the committee to ensure record success in its assignment.

    According to him, the allegations trailing the Local Government polls has assumed international dimension.

    He note that, the investigative committee  dispatched to the state by INEC will be allowed access to all relevant materials relating to the conduct of the election.

    Professor Sheka though cautioned that, the conduct and the findings of the committee will reflect on the forth coming  2019 General Elections.

    The committee composed by INEC , currently in Kano to conduct findings into the LG polls comprises of the following persons, Engineer Abubakar Nahuce, Chairman,  Barr. (Mrs) May Agbamuche Mbu,  Barr Mike Igini,  Barr. Kassim G. Geidam,  others are Yakubu M. Duku,  Rukayata Bummi,  Bello,  Paul Omokore,  and Jude Chikezie Okwuonu.

  • AEDC requires $150m to install meters for customers – MD

    AEDC requires $150m to install meters for customers – MD

    Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ( AEDC ) says about 150 million dollars is required to finance metering of  electricity customers  in its coverage areas of Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ).

    AEDC’s Managing Director, Mr Ernest Mupwaya, said this while making a presentation to House Committee on  Privatisation, who was on oversight visit to the company.

    Mupwaya said  the huge cost of metering was one of the challenges to mass metering of all the customers.

    He, however, said the company had a target of installing 120,000 meters yearly, adding that 146,000 meters had been installed so far.

    He told the  house committee  members that  AEDC was in the final process of  procuring another 320,000 meters  to accelerate  metering of  residential  customers.

    On Large Power Users (LPU), he said AEDC  had successfully  installed meter for all the 4,000 LPU customers; installed a technology to improve security and tampering detection on the equipment.

    He also said that the technology was designed to help monitor quality of power supply and power flow to the customers.

    According to him, the company has installed network capacity of about 870 MW above 710 MW peak power network received, adding that it has capacity to receive more power across its franchise area.

    He also said AEDC had also reduced its technical and commercial losses from 56 per cent at inception to 44 per cent in Dec 2017.

    Mupwaya further disclosed that the company had replaced and installed 630 faulty distribution transformers, totaling 208 MVA at the cost of N903 million to ensure improved services to its customers.

    He said that the company had consolidated its vending system into three separate systems.

    This, he said,  was designed to ensure increased payment tracking, flexible electronic solutions and convenience vending at any location, irrespective of meter type, brand or location.

    Earlier, House Committee Chairman on Privatisation, Ahmed Yerima, represented by Shadima Mutiu, said the committee was aware of the challenges faced by DISCOS  in the country.

    He, however, said the oversight visit was to ensure that objective of privatising the sector by  Federal Government was being  archived, especially in delivering power to Nigerians.

    Yerima said the visit was to ensure the DISCOS performed their duties and lived up to the terms of  the agreement  reached in the privitasation documents.

    According to him, part of the agreement is that AEDC reduces power theft, either technical or commercial.

    “We expect that you overhaul your obsolete equipment; we expect that you have metered majority of your customers.”

    He said it was important that Nigerians experienced the benefits of privatising the sector.

    He, however, said  the committee members were impressed  with the  level of achievements by AEDC  in its franchise areas.

    He urged AEDC to always present its operational challenges to the House for possible ways of resolving the issues.

    Yerima said the house would collaborate with the company, with the support of the executive, to help resolve challenges like energy theft, debts owed by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through legislation.

    High point of the visit was the inspection of some of the facilities in the company by the committee members.

    NAN

  • NASS has assured us PIB will be passed by June – NNPC

    NASS has assured us PIB will be passed by June – NNPC

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) says the National Assembly has assured that the Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB ) will be passed by June.

    The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, said this at the 2018 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Abuja on Thursday.

    The PIB was split into four parts namely; the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, which had been passed, and the Host Communities, Fiscal Reforms and Downstream Bills, which are awaiting passage.

    Baru, who was represented by the NNPC Chief Operating Officer Upstream, Dr Rabiu Bello, said the Bills must be looked into in order to attract the needed N25 billion year-on-year investments to the industry.

    “In the area of policy, the popular omnibus single petroleum industry bill has been broken into three parts for quick review and passage by the National Assembly.

    “As you aware, the first part of the bill, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was passed by the House recently.

    “When the other sections of the bill are finally passed, it will unlock more than10 billion dollars of investment held up due to uncertainty.

    “The promise we got last week from the National Assembly was that before the end of the second quarter of this year which we see as June 30, they promise the three other bills will also be concluded and passed.

    “So, hopefully, 2018 will see the end of all the discussions around the PIB which started in year 2000,’’ Baru said.

    Baru noted that its planned revamp of four of its refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt, would include an upgrade of their collective refining capacities from their present 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) to one million barrels per day (mbd).

    It said once the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery in Lagos come on-stream, Nigeria would become a net exporter of refined petroleum products.

    Baru said the Federal Government had completed more than 500 km gas pipelines in eight years.

    “We have embarked on one of the most aggressive gas reforms and implementation.

    “Accelerated implementation of gas pipeline infrastructure development, with specific focus on critical pipeline infrastructure to power plants being put in place.

    “Between 2010 and today, almost 500 km of pipelines have been completed, commissioned and now delivering gas,’’ he said.

    He listed some of the completed pipelines to include the Oben-Geregu (196km), Escravos-Warri-Oben (110km), Emuren-Itoki (50km), Itoki-Olorunshogo (31km), Imo River-Alaoji (24km), and Ukanafun-Calabar (128km).

    “In addition, there is ongoing construction of the very strategic East-West OB3 pipeline (127km) scheduled for completion by Q3 2018.

    “The expansion of the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline System is scheduled for completion by Q1 2018.

    “Most recently, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the contract award of the 40-inch by 614 Km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline and associated facilities.

    “This pipeline is expected to supply natural gas to power plants and industries in the northern part of the country.

    “Once completed, the nationwide backbone gas infrastructure will be in place.

    “With the effort in infrastructure development, we would have expanded supply capacity, establishing an integrated gas pipeline infrastructure grid across the entire country,’’ he said.

    The lecture had the theme: “The Nigerian Oil Industry in a world of Changing Energy Supply: Are we prepared?”

    It had panelists from across the sector charting the way forward on gas and renewable energy as oil would soon be phased out with the introduction of electric cars in industrialised countries.

    NAN

  • Ghana records first death from Lassa fever in 2018

    Ghana records first death from Lassa fever in 2018

    The death was recorded at the General Hospital in the port city of Tema, 38 km east of the national capital, a senior official of the Ghana Health Service ( GHS ) confirmed on Thursday.

    Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director-General of the GHS, said all the frontline staff at the hospital that handled the patient before he died are being screened.

    Also, further investigations to trace the background and all contacts of the deceased are being pursued to prevent the spread of the virus.

    He said his outfit has put in place interventions to control the spread of the disease and has maintained high surveillance and issued alerts to all health institutions across the country.

    In February, the GHS cautioned citizens not to create an enabling environment for rats to invade their homes amid a looming threat of an outbreak, ordering all health facilities to be on high alert following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria.

    Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.

    Ghana recorded its first confirmed case of Lassa fever in 2011, with two districts reporting outbreaks.

    Xinhua/NAN

  • NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny, hazy atmosphere on Friday

    NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny, hazy atmosphere on Friday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet ) has predicted partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions over the central States of the country on Friday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Thursday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 31 to 40 and 18 to 28 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that there were chances of isolated thunderstorms over Kogi during the afternoon and evening period.

    The agency predicted that the southern States would experience cloudy morning with chances of localised thunderstorms over Calabar, Porthacourt, Eket and its environs with day and night temperatures be in the range of 32 to 36 and 22 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It also predicted prospects localised thunderstorms over the entire region including Oshogbo, Akure, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Benin, Umuahia, Enugu, Warri, Awka, Owerri, Calabar, Porthacourt and Eket during afternoon and evening hours.

    According to NiMet, northern states will experience sunny and hazy conditions throughout the period of forecast with day and night temperatures in the range of 38 to 41 and 22 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “It will be dry over the North while increased cloudiness with chances of rainfall activities are expected over the south within the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

    NAN

  • 19m babies risk brain damage annually due to lack of iodine – UNICEF

    19m babies risk brain damage annually due to lack of iodine – UNICEF

    According to UNICEF, nearly 19 million babies born globally every year are at risk of permanent yet preventable brain damage and reduced cognitive function due to a lack of iodine in the earliest years of life.

    A UN-backed report released on Thursday said the figure represents 14 per cent of the total global population of children, according to UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) Senior Nutrition Adviser, Roland Kupka.

    The report from UNICEF and its partner, the Global Alliance of Improved Nutrition (GAIN), noted that insufficient iodine during pregnancy and infancy resulted in neurological and psychological deficits, reducing a child’s IQ by eight to 10 points.

    “The nutrients a child receives in the earliest years of life influence their brain development for life, and can make or break their chance of a prosperous future.

    “By protecting and supporting children’s development in early life, we are able to achieve immense results for children throughout their lifespan,” he added.

    The UNICEF official noted that salt iodization was both cost effective and economically beneficial at only 0.02 to 0.05 dollar per child annually.

    According to him, every dollar spent on salt iodization is estimated to return 30 dollars through increased future cognitive ability.

    Titled “Brighter futures: Protecting early brain development through salt iodization,” the report also notes that more than one in four affected children – 4.3 million – lives in South Asia.

    While South Asia is home to the largest proportion of babies at risk globally, the region has the second highest iodized salt coverage rate at 87 per cent of the population, preceded by East Asia and the Pacific at 91 per cent coverage.

    The lowest coverage with iodized salt was seen in Eastern and Southern Africa, where around 25 per cent of the population do not have access to iodized salt, leaving 3.9 million babies every year unprotected against iodine deficiency disorders.

    The earliest moments of life, from conception up to age two, are the most critical for a child’s development, UNICEF said.

    It added that nutrition, along with protection and stimulating activities like play and early learning, during a child’s first 1,000 days shape brain development for life.

    The report outlined urgent steps to reduce the risk of mental impairment to babies’ growing brains.

    This includes the integration of salt iodization into national plans to support children’s nutrition and brain development in early childhood and the establishment of surveillance systems to identify unreached populations.

    NAN

  • FMBN issues 2,724 mortgages worth N20.237bn – Fashola

    FMBN issues 2,724 mortgages worth N20.237bn – Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said that since 2015 to date, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria ( FMBN ) had issued 2,724 mortgages to Nigerians.

    Fashola disclosed this while inaugurating the respective Governing Boards of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and FMBN on Thursday in Abuja.

    The minister noted that the mortgages which were issued under the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme were worth N20.237 billion.

    He said the ministry was piloting a National Housing Programme and constructing houses in 33 states to ensure more Nigerians own homes.

    “We are doing this to validate and test what type of housing design responds to Nigeria’s diverse cultural, climatic and religious needs, so as to ascertain what is acceptable and affordable.

    “We are at different stages of construction in different states, and we have recommended these designs to FHA, without imposing them.

    “Our decision is informed by the evidence of previous housing initiatives that people did not take up resulting in empty houses that still abound in almost every state of Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The minister explained that the untaken houses in spite of housing deficit suggested that they were not affordable or acceptable to the people.

    He urged the newly inaugurated member of the boards to reposition their brands and provide guidance for the Managing Directors and Management teams of the orgaisations.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state that the policy of government is to deliver affordable housing, acceptable to Nigerians.

    “The agencies, whose brands you will now administer are the implementing arms of government for housing delivery and housing financing.

    “You must, therefore, use your positions to affect the lives of millions of people who will partake and benefit of the prosperity that a housing economy can offer,’’ he said.

    In response, the FHA board Chairman, Sen. Lawal Shuaibu promised to employ collective efforts to reposition the housing sector.

    Shuaibu assured that national housing policy would be effectively implemented.

    Also speaking, Mr Adewale Adeeyo, FMBN board Chairman commended the laudable programmes of the ministry aimed at raising the standard of Nigerians.

    Adeeyo pledged that the FMBN board would make a monumental impact through provision of affordable mortgages to Nigerians.

    NAN