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Buhari sends goodwill message to Team Nigeria at Winter Olympics

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his best wishes to Team Nigeria as they begin their epoch-making representation of the country in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

He commended the women’s bobsleigh team made up of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga for making history by being the first African bobsleigh team to participate in the Winter Olympics in that category.

The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also saluted Nigerian Olympian, Simidele Adeagbo who has raised the bar as the first African female to compete in Skeleton at the Games.

He assured the athletes that Nigeria stands with them throughout the competition.

Read Also: Team Nigeria wins 21 medals, leading Africa Wrestling Championship

President Buhari believed that the patriotism, sacrifice, hard work and personal dedication of these Nigerian athletes, who chose to stand with the country and lift its flag high at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in South Korea, will continue to inspire Nigerians, especially our young people.

The President, who had earlier approved the appointment of Chef de Mission to take care of the team, assures the Olympians of the unflinching support of the Federal Government and thanks all who made their participation in the games possible, particularly Corporate Nigeria.

The President wished Team Nigeria, who clearly represents the resilient spirit of the Nigerian -ever ready to endure and prevail- a resounding success at the Winter Olympics.

February 9, 2018
Medical expert challenge govt on funding health sector

An American based urologic pathologist, Prof. Adeboye Osunkoya has called on the government to as a matter of urgency show more commitment to the health care delivery of the people by increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector.

Osunkoya, a 1998 graduate of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan is the current Director, Urologic Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA, USA.

He made the call while delivering an ‘Atunji’ lecture entitled: “Historical Perspectives and Updates on Prostrate Cancer Pathology”, to herald the 70th year anniversary of the Ibadan Medical School, Ibadan.

The event which had in attendance the first generation of teachers, doctors, medical practitioners and scholars in the field of medical research held at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The lecture, which held under the chairmanship of Prof. Abosigun Junaid was also graced by the Chief Medical Director, UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, Provost, College of Medicine, Prof Olapade Olaopa, President Ibadan Medical School Alumni Association, Dr. Habile Olamotoye, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, UCH, Dr. Victor Akinmoladun, Prof. Akinkugbe and a host of others.

Read Also: Dangote, Aig-Imoukhuede seek African Union-Private sector collaboration on health

The guest lecturer who gave a background to the numerous works of medical researchers on prostate cancer maintained that contrary to speculations, the disease is curable provided it was detected early.

Advocating for early screening for men who are 40years and above, Prof. Osunkoya noted that government can encourage people to embrace the screening by supporting the procurement of machines and facilities to be used for the screening.

He lamented that the disease is one of those that could still be around in a long term because it is genetically based. He noted that the government could partner with the UCH College of Medicine to pilot the prostate cancer screening and treatment, even if on a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

The Chairman of the 70th-anniversary planning committee, Prof. Obafunke Denloye said the foremost institution is worth celebrating because of the landmark achievements it has made in human development and service delivery.

Denloye who is the Institution’s deputy Provost noted that the events lined up which including allowing secondary school students to get familiar with the field of medicine and even live with medical students for a period of time, would also showcase some of the products of the School since the time it has started.

She emphasized that the focus of the celebration, however, was to give the institution a kind of rebirth and reminiscence that would make the 70 year old attractive and relevant even in the new age as well as project it for future challenges.

February 9, 2018
NDLEA seize tons of illicit drugs, nab 324 suspects

The Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) said that the agency seized about a ton of illicit drugs in the state. This is even as it said that it arrested 324 drug addicts within the state.

The State Commander of NDLEA, Akingbade Bamidele is a chat with journalists in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state while reviewing the activities of the command in 2017 said that out of the 324 suspects, 304 were males while 20 were females.

According to him, 24 persons underwent rehabilitation in their facility, while they secured 53 convictions, adding that other cases are still ongoing in various High Courts in the state.

He further disclosed that the agency counseled and released 78 drug suspects arrested at various drug joints in the state and later handed over to their family members.

The NDLEA boss who said that the agency was working to secure court order to set ablaze about 6tons of exhibits in the facility whose cases have been concluded stated that they would not be relenting on their oars in nipping the activities of drug merchants and addicts in various notorious drug spots in the state in the bud.

Read Also: NDLEA educates youths against drug abuse in FCT

Akingbade who thanked other sister security agencies especially authorities of the 14Brigade, Ohafia for their support while they raided villages such as Arochukwu, Okonu Ohafia respectively where some drug barons were smashed however, lamented the activities of some youths and village leaders who shield drug dealers in their community from being arrested by its personnel during their raids.

Expressing worries over the high rate of drug abuse among the youths who he accused of combining depressants and stimulants as substitutes for cocaine before committing all manner of crimes including armed robbery, rape, kidnapping etc said that they were going to establish drug-free clubs in schools to ensure that they educate the youths on the dangers of using hard drugs, adding that they would be establishing their outposts at strategic places to ensure that the war on the sale and consumption of illicit drugs in the state was total.

The NDLEA boss who said that the agency would continue to engage patent drug dealers in a roundtable discussion on the need to sell drugs to only the people with drug prescription from qualified and approved physicians warned youths against consuming illegal and prohibited drugs.

He called on the state and federal government to come to their aides, adding that with the provision of adequate logistics, the agency would do more in its fight against illicit drugs.

February 9, 2018
Traders lose millions of naira as fire gut shops

Traders and sympathizers at New Market in Aba, Abia State Line 49, Lagos zone could not hold back their tears as a mysterious fire gutted 14 shops and destroyed goods worth millions of cash in the inferno.

Our correspondent who visited the scene of the inferno on Friday reports that the traders claimed that they couldn’t save a pin from the inferno they said started when they had all gone home after their day’s business.

While the affected traders were seen picking and packing out charred goods from their shops, others who could not hold back their emotions were seen being consoled by sympathizers at the scene.

Some of the traders who spoke anonymously demanded that the security men on duty should be questioned. This is as some of them claimed that the inferno was sponsored.

They wondered how the area that doesn’t have electricity supply over decades or have anyone that sells restaurant got burnt over a night. They also queried the inability of the security men on duty in the area to raise alarm when they spotted an unusual fire or smoke in a place that doesn’t even sell any inflammable material.

One of the traders, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbonna who was still struggling with his emotion but however, summoned courage to speak to our reporter at the scene said that he lost about N2.5m while a neighbour who sells provision lost goods worth about N8m.

According to him, men of the Abia State Fire Service came to attend to the fire, but left when they ran out of water.

Read Also: Traders seek better deal from govt

He said that the fire was later quenched by sympathizers who used water from a nearby borehole operator to attack and stopped the fire from engulfing other shops in the zone.

He appealed to the governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid as they cannot bear the pain and weight of the loss alone.

Okezie Uche, Head Aba Fire Service said that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report, but however stated that it could have been unconnected to the change in temperature.

Uche advised chairmen of various lines in the market and other markets in Aba and its environs to make sure that they have materials that would enable them to quench fire at the early stage before it goes out of hand.

February 9, 2018
‘Senate to deliberate on state police’

The Senate majority leader, Ahmed Lawan on Friday said that the upper legislative chamber will deliberate on the possibilities of the country having state police.

He spoke with State House journalists after observing juma’a at service at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the senate is currently looking towards reviewing the country’s security architecture and will be open to any suggestion that will it achieve the objective.

He commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for suggesting state and community policing, adding that the Senate would bring it on board.

He said “Well, I’m not a legislature as such because I am only one member of the legislature. But as a committee member of the adhoc committee on security and the review of security infrastructure in Nigeria, I believe that the suggestion by the Vice President that we should go the way of state Police and even consider community policing, is very good suggestion and we are going to take it on board in the National Assembly

The senator also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of the former Governor of Lagos state Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to reconcile warring factions within the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Read Also: Senate rejects report linking Fulani herdsmen, Benue militia to killings

While pointing out that the committee is coming late, he said that it is expected to add value to APC which he said is plagued by some internal issues.

“In fact that that committee should have been constituted long time ago because APC is plagued by some internal issues and I believe that these are issues that are surmountable.

“The Tinubu committee will definitely add value into reconciling the warring sides so to speak. Time is against us, we have to really kickstart these process of reconciliation immediately and I believe that as a family we should be able to come out very much much United that we were before.” he said

The Senator also urged Nigerians to be positive and support government’s efforts at sumounting insecurity challenges in the country.

He also commended the recent collaboration between the legislature and the executive particularly, the just concluded national security summit, towards tackling security challenges in the country.

February 9, 2018
Dickson backs call for state police

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Friday threw his weight behind the decision of the Federal Government to pursue establishment of state police.

The governor argued that the prevailing security situation and the need for an effective response to the current crime challenge had made it imperative for states to set up their police unit.

Dickson spoke follow the declaration by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, that the Federal Government was considering state police since it could no longer provide security to the entire country from Abuja.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the governor said that removing the police from the exclusive list and putting its operations under a more effective arrangement at the level of the state would put a stop to the widespread killings and crimes in the country.

He explained that state police would be effective as the personnel would be drawn from the various states and would easily access valuable information required to track crime and criminals.

Read Also: Dickson Obaseki meet for peace, unity in Niger Delta

The governor added that the current federally controlled police had become overstretched due to wide ratio of the police to the rapid increase in population.

He said; “It has become very clear that the decision of the Federal Government to establish state police should be supported. I am of the view that the decision can only tame the growing scourge of crime and criminality in our communities.

“The advantages of having the police at the state level are many. These people will come from the state and I am of the view that their capacity to access the requisite intelligence to fight crime will be stronger.

“So the time to establish state police, as recommended in the report of the 2014 Constitutional Conference and the recent report of the All Progressives Congress, is now.”

Dickson also reiterated his call for the establishment of a multiparty committee on restructuring.

He said that the committee should be entrusted with the responsibility of working out the final details for the executive arm to sponsor the requisite bills to the National Assembly to ensure a sincere implementation of the recommendations of the El Rufai Committee’s report.

The Bayelsa Governor said that the country was in need of a multi party committee to examine, discuss, agree and come up with draft legislation bill to be jointly sponsored at the National Assembly.

He called on the government to commence steps to mobilize national consensus to engage the National Assembly to pursue implementation of the El Rufai Committee’s reports before the 2019 general elections.

February 9, 2018
Calabar ready for CFAN two million man crusade

Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Cross River State, Rev Dr Lawrence Ekwok says all is set for the Great Gospel Crusade by Christ for All Nations (CFAN) with Evangelist Daniel Kolenda in Calabar.

Kolenda, who took over from world renowned Evangelist Reinhard Bonne, will be having his first crusade, tagged Calabar 2018, from February 15 to February 18 at 3.30pm daily, while the fire conference for gospel ministers and church workers will be on the same dates but at 7am daily at the Cross River University of Technology field.

The event which is expected to host over two million, Ekwok said would be the biggest spiritual event of the decade in the state and probably the South-South and South-East regions of the country.

Ekwok, who is also the crusade chairman and chairman of the central working committee said security arrangements have also been put in place with 24 hour security at the venue and other strategic locations.

“We want to take this opportunity to encourage churches that are yet to join the crusade workforce to join the train as fast as possible for the spiritual harvest of the decade in Cross River State.

“Permit me to express the gratitude of the Church in Cross River State to CFAN, the ministry of the world renowned Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke for the love they have demonstrated towards Cross River State, by staging this crusade for a record six times, with total funding from the evangelistic organization.

Read Also: Calabar to get infrastructural facelift, says Ayade

“It is our prayer that God will continue to keep the founder of CFAN, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, in good health, especially as he recently turned 77 years and also his successor, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, in the best of spiritual and physical health to carry out the preaching of this gospel to the ends of the earth with signs and wonders following.

“We are also grateful to God for giving us good fathers in Cross River State, most odd whom constitute the Board of Advisers of this crusade, for their sacrifice and guidance, which have positioned this crusade on the path of total success,” Ekwok told reporters in Calabar.

February 9, 2018
Wike alleges plot by FG to use INEC to rig 2019 elections

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has alleged plot by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to print illegal gubernatorial ballot papers for three South-south states ahead of the 2019 elections.

Wike made the allegation in Port Harcourt, the state capital today when he received a letter of nomination as “Independent Newspapers Political Icon of the Year 2017.

The state he named are Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states.

According to him in the alleged plan, certain newly registered political parties would be deliberately excluded in the illegal ballot papers for the three states to serve as reason to nullify the elections of the three states and schedule a rerun.

Quoting what he described as credible intelligence report available to the State Government said, the indiscriminate registration of new political parties by INEC is for just to serve this purpose.

Wike said, “All the the mass registration of new political parties is a deliberate plan by INEC to manipulate elections in three states.

“Rivers State, Akwa Ibom and Delta States have been earmarked for the printing of ballot papers where some newly registered political parties will be excluded as a ground for the nullification of the elections by the tribunal.

“After the nullification by the tribunal as planned, EFCC will be used by the APC Federal Government to arrest the three governors, so that they will not be around during the repeat elections.”

The governor also alleged that the second strategy of the APC Federal Government is to use security agencies to unleash vicious violence on the day of the governorship elections in the three states to facilitate cancellation by INEC.

Read Also: Wike signs 2018 budget

He noted that the entire struggle to hold the Presidential election ahead of other elections is one of the schemes at rigging the polls.

Governor Wike said that the APC Federal Government has performed woefully, hence they have nothing on ground to campaign with, except to use INEC and Security Agencies to rig.

“APC is not a political party in the true sense of the word. It is a congregation of people who did not want Former President Goodluck Jonathan to continue in office for personal reasons.

“The fight against Jonathan was not in the interest of Nigeria. They have realised their mistakes, but they lack the courage to apologise because of their ego. If you move around, you will see that things are bad.” he said.

He urged journalists to take up the responsibility of explaining to Nigerians the need to elect a credible Federal Government in 2019.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Independent Newspaper, Ade Adigun said that the newspaper nominated the governor as the Political Icon of the Year 2017 because of his commitment to the development of true democracy.

He commended him for his contributions to the revival of PDP as a viable opposition in the country.

February 9, 2018
PDP condemns Obaseki’s ban on night grazing

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP )in Edo State has described the ban in night grazing by Fulani herdsmen by Governor Godwin Obaseki as unimplementable and cosmetic.

It said the pronouncement of the ban was begging the issue and showed clearly that Governor Obaseki was unserious to addressing the serious issue of Fulani herdsmen menace.

A press statement signed by State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said Governor Obaseki has effectively turned Edo State into a cattle colony during the day.

Chief Orbih challenged Governor Obaseki to make his position on cattle colony adding that the main issue was not about night time grazing but about land for cattle colonies.

According to the statement, “This government by this pronouncement has inadvertently given licence to the herdsmen to invade farms and feast on their produce as long as its done in the daytime.

Read Also: Obaseki inaugurates Technical Committee on Privatisation

“Farms and farmers are now exposed to the menace of the rampaging herdsmen and Governor Obaseki’s policy emboldens them. It is a clear demonstration of the Governor’s insensitivity to the plight of Edo people who are now living in fear and danger.

“Why is Governor Obaseki having difficulty in stating his position on the proposed policy of the creation of cattle colonies in Nigeria?”

Reacting, Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said the comments by Chief was frivolous and cautioned him not to trivialise a sensitive subject matter that requires a great deal of expertise to comprehend.

He said, “The ban on night-grazing and armed herdsmen are steps in the right direction in addition to the setting up of two committees that will monitor the activities of herdsmen in all parts of the state.”

“We want to state as we did before that there is no agreement to establish cattle colonies in Edo State. Our decision was based on expert finding after a scientific research on the herdsmen/farmers clashes in the state. The Obaseki administration subjects every issue to critical thinking, wide consultation and research.

February 9, 2018
2019: Buhari will win landslide – Yahaya Bello

Says Tinubu will reconcile APC

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Friday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari will win landslide for a second term in 2019.

Speaking with State House correspondents after observing the ju’mat prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he urged Nigerians to give Buhari chance to complete what he has started.

The governor also believed that the new Presidential All Progressives Congress (APC) reconciliatory committee headed by APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will successfully reconcile all aggrieved members of the party.

Asked to speak on the National Assembly’s rearrangement of the election time-able, he said “I so much appreciate this. I think if you observe critically what happened in the last election where Mr. President was elected along with other members of National Assembly, then we called it Buhari Sunami, where the good, the bad and the ugly were all put together and elected.

“Its either going to be in their interest that the Buhari Sunami will return them or everybody will be on his or her own. Let Buhari return and let Nigerians select the good ones out of the bad ones to return to the National Assembly.

“Which ever order it comes this upcoming general elections I can assure you that Mr. President will win landslide and the good ones will return to the National Assembly.

On whether the lawmakers will be the losers of the proposed table time, he said “They have the choice to make and they have made their choice that the goodwill of Mr. President should not rob on the bad ones. Surely, the good ones on their own account will return to the National Assembly at the appropriate time.”

On Tinubu’s reconciliatory committee, he said “Of course. Whatever Mr. President believes in, his judgement and his wisdom I believe in him. And I believe in his ability to bring all party members together.”

Read Also: Bello appoints panel to probe suspension of LG chairman

According to him, Nigerians who are angry with the government are those involved in crimes, whose criminal activities have been blocked by the Buhari administration.

Speaking on the Catholic Bishops’ submission to the President that Nigerians are angry, he said “Yes. I followed it keenly and one of the key statement there was that Nigerians are angry. Yes, its very true that Nigerians are angry but the question is who are this category of Nigerians who are angry?

“The category of Nigerians that are angry are those who used private jets to cart away Nigeria’s money in dollars out of the country to South Africa. I’m sure you are aware that our money is still locked down there, such money if you bring it into the economy, a lot of youths that are unemployed will surely be employed.

“And of course those that have looted the country dry and normally go to the church and mosque to pay tithe are no longing doing so, of course these are the category of people that are angry.” he added

Nigerians involved in legitimate businesses, he said, are happy with the government.

“If you look at it critically, the farmers, those with real jobs are happy because the economy is improving. In no time we have come out of recession, our foreign reserve is increasing, no more bombing in Sambisa, no more bombing in the country, no more bombing in Emab plaza even as close as Abuja, no more bombing in Suleja and all over the country.

“I think those that are benefiting from these crimes and criminality will be angry and they are Nigerians. So it is important to define the category of people who are angry.

“I want to urge Nigerians to continue to appreciate Mr. President, pray for him so that the good work he has started he will complete it, so that Nigeria will be out of the woods.” he said

On the sale of some Kogi State assets, he said, that there was no need to keep assets in the name of keeping assets when they could be of more value to the people financially.

He said “Well, to them you call it important but to us it is not important. It is not important because they are tying down the capital and good money of the state that would have been used for other developmental projects.

“If you have an important project that is not adding values whatsoever to the lives of the people of Kogi State, and such projects can be converted and used to solve the problems that you are confronted with today. We are in deficit of road infrastructure; schools are in shambles, hospitals and the rest of them. So, why keeping an asset that is not yielding anything of value at all in the name of this is Kogi asset instead of use it for what will benefit the people more and add value to the system.

“You see, this is politics playing out but we will not be deterred by some uninformed so called elites that are here in Abuja making noise. Let them come to Kogi State and compare two years of my stewardship with previous administration, then they will know that they are completely off the track. I think the people of Kogi State are with me and appreciate the much we are doing.” he stated

February 9, 2018