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  • NMA wants more research on HIV, AlDS

    NMA wants more research on HIV, AlDS

    The Nigeria Medical Association ( NMA ), Kwara state chapter, has solicited the support of the Federal and state governments for more research to curb the HIV and AlDS scourge in the country.

    The Chairman of NMA, Dr Kunle Olawepo made the call in llorin, on Friday in a statement to commemorate the 2017 world HlV and AlDS day.

    Olawepo who expressed delight that there was remarkable reduction on the outbreak of the disease, noted that more support was needed for the research to further improve on the current available treatment plans.

    The Chairman added that more research on the causes of the disease would assist in the prevention, treatment and control activities.

    He appealed for the provision of free and affordable treatment for all infected persons in the country.

    Olawepo also urged governments to further ‘strengthen the health sector, to enable it cope with the ever increasing challenges.’

    He listed the symptoms of the disease to include, persistent fever, chronic diarrhea, chronic cough, severe weight loss and rashes on the body.

    He said that HIV infection occurs through sexual intercourse (heterosexual and homosexual) with an infected person, transfusion of HIV infected persons.

    Olawepo advised Nigerians to go for regular medical checkup, indulge in physical exercises and avoid the use of unsterilised syringes.
    The theme for 2017 world HIV and AlDS day is, ‘My Health, My Right.’’

    NAN

  • Don charges politicians to shelve differences to salvage Nigeria

    Don charges politicians to shelve differences to salvage Nigeria

    A don at the University of Ibadan, Professor Ademola Aremu has called on political leaders in the country to shelve their political difference to salvage the future of the country.

    He stated this while speaking at the inaugural lecture of Kwankwasiyya Consultative Forum, a political ideology as exemplified in the leadership qualities of the former governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu  Musa Kwankwaso.

    The Forum members who came from all the 33 local government councils in the state, adorned in traditional Forum regalia – white and red cap to fit, with the former Kano state governor red trademark cap.

    The guest lecturer, who was represented by Dr Kunle Odedokun, while delivering a lecture titled “Leadership and its role on national development”, warned that if the country continues as it is going, there might not be any future for the incoming generation, urging the political leaders to come together  and do something meaningful urgently to save the future generation.

    He reasoned that if all the states across the country can take advantage of the natural endowments and resources which abound in them, no state would wait on the federal government for any monthly allocation, which has retarded the growth and development of many states.

    Noting that the challenge with the country is the lack of good leadership, he lamented that many of those parading themselves as leaders are “highly unwilling and unable to rise up to the challenges of leadership in the interest of the people and the country when the occasion arises.”

    Some of the attributes of leadership he gave include, accountability to the electorate, integrity, call to service, transparency, availability for public scrutiny, commitment, selflessness and high level of emotional intelligence.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the event, former governor of Oyo state, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, promised his support to the Forum, affirming his support to the cause of the group.

    The former Governor who was represented by his aide, Alhaji Audu Marafa, commended members of the Forum for coming out to support the political aspiration of the former governor without hesitating any fear.

    In his speech, Honourable Umar Mukhtar Yerima disclosed that “Kwankwasiyya as a socio-political movement was not established because of the coming presidential election. It is a vision beyond 2019, it has come to stay and it has become part of our political culture.

    “It is a vision for those who believe Nigeria can be better for you and me , it is a vision for those who believe the rich will help the poor , it is a vision for those who believe the strong will help the weak ,  it is a vision for those who believe the powerful will help the  powerless, it is a vision for those who believe in equitable distribution of resources and finally it is a vision for those who believe more in human resources as a contributory factor to national development.”

    In her remarks, the state coordinator of the Forum, Honourable Mrs Ayobamidele Adekunle Idowu thanked all stakeholders and guests for their support to make the event a reality. She said that good governance as being championed by the Forum would be a thing of reality but that the onus rests on Nigerians “as good and patriotic citizens to ensure that we join hands without any form of discrimination to elect good leaders.”

    Idowu said the principal of the Forum, Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso is a political enigma who has proved his worth as a leader that be trusted with position of authority without any fear, adding that Senator Kwnakwanso by virtue of his antecedents and  his numerous achievements while serving as the governor of Kano state has transformed the state from a developing state to a developed state,   without any atom of doubt has all the earlier mentioned qualities.

    She enjoined Nigerians not to sit down and fold their arms as the country approaches another season of electioneering, noting that “all our political transformations, agenda and believe will, however, be far from reality without positive actions. It is, therefore, our collective responsibilities as we are going to our different places of abode to ensure we contribute meaningfully to the spread of this glorious gospel wherever we reside.”

     

  • 1,295 Nigerians returned from Libya in November – NEMA

    1,295 Nigerians returned from Libya in November – NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) says a total of 1,295 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya in November after being stranded in the volatile North African country enroute Europe.

    The Nigerians returned in various batches between Nov. 6 and Nov. 30 with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) and the European Union ( EU ).

    The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ), Alhaji Mustapha Maihajja, made the disclosure while receiving a fresh batch of 150 Nigerians who arrived the country on Thursday.

    The returnees were brought back aboard a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with Registration Number: 6A-DMG.

    The aircraft landed at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 9.15pm.

    The returnees comprised of 13 female adults and one teenage girl while the male were 133 adults, two teenage boys and one baby boy.

    They were received on behalf of Maihajja by the South West Zonal coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu .

    Also on ground to welcome the returnees back home were officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service ( NIS ) , the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) and the Police.

    NAN

    Read Also: NEMA hands over relief materials to flood victims in Enugu

  • PTAD to begin verification of NITEL, MTEL pensioners in Jan. 2018

    PTAD to begin verification of NITEL, MTEL pensioners in Jan. 2018

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate ( PTAD ), has announced dates for the verification of pensioners of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited ( NITEL ) and its mobile subsidiary, MTEL under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    Management of PTAD in a statement in Abuja on Thursday announced  that  the verification would begin from January 15  to 26, 2018.

    According to it, the exercise will take place across the six geo-political zones in selected venues that will be announced in January.

    PTAD said the verification exercise was in pursuant to the payment of pension benefits to eligible retirees of the agencies after receiving approval from the Ministry of Finance that appropriate benefits be paid to qualified retirees.

    “Pursuant to PTAD being assigned with the responsibility, the directorate has been working with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to get the nominal roll  and other required information on qualified pensioners of the defunct NITEL.”

    PTAD said qualified retirees are required to come with originals and photocopies of their required documents including their computation sheets issued by their former employer.

    It said  Next-of-Kins (NOK) are also mandated to obtain a Letter of Administration from the High Courts of Justice for the deceased pensioner.

    It further said that affidavit for loss of mandatory documents including letter of retirement will not be accepted for the verification.

    According to PTAD, issue of proxy will not be allowed in the process as  security agencies will  be stationed at the venues to check fraudsters, who will  be immediately prosecuted when apprehended.

    It said the directorate was ready to attend to the sick and infirmed at  their locations, and are therefore advised to send an application for mobile verification.

    It advised that the application must include pensioners’ contact details, photo copies of all documents as listed and certified Doctor’s report for such services.

    For further enquires, it advised concerned persons to contact PTAD on the toll-free line 0800-CALL-PTAD (0800-2255-7823) or email info@ptad.gov.ng.

    NAN

  • Bayelsa wins Gov. Wike National Wrestling Championship

    Bayelsa wins Gov. Wike National Wrestling Championship

    Bayelsa has emerged the overall winner of the just concluded Gov. Wike National Wrestling Championships which was held in Port Harcourt.

    The state contingent clinched 51 medals  comprising  17 gold, 18 silver and 16 bronze.

    Ondo came second with 13 gold, four silver and five bronze medals while Delta came third  with seven gold, nine silver and nine bronze.

    Lagos came fourth with six gold, one silver and three bronze.

    Ondo State coach, Purity Akuh said that he was impressed with his wrestlers’ performance.

    Akuh told our reporter that there was room for improvement by his wards.

    “I’m happy with how they fared.  We will go back to improve on their lapses and I believe next time we would perform better

    “They are all open to corrections and always willing to learn,” he said.

    Twenty-two states and  13 clubs took part in the five-day competition which held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Center with no fewer than 400 wrestlers taking part.

    NAN

  • Ayade inaugurates 2017 Calabar carnival village

    Ayade inaugurates 2017 Calabar carnival village

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River on Friday inaugurated the ‘Calabar Municipal Garden’ which will serve as the 2017 Calabar Carnival village.

    Ayade said the village was chosen because it was central and accessible to residents and tourists.

    The governor, who was represented by Dr Inyang Asibong, the State Commissioner for Health, said the village would serve as venue for funfair and market for Christmas shopping.

    He said that adequate security measures had been taken to safeguard tourists and fun seekers at the village.

    “It is to the glory of God that we have witnessed the first and second dry run of the 2017 Calabar carnival.

    “I wish to declare the 2017 Calabar carnival village open to all. The 2017 carnival will be better and bigger.

    “We have put in place more convenient facilities in this village that would serve the taste of our expected tourists.

    “I wish to assure all those coming in for the carnival of adequate security.

    “Calabar carnival is the largest street party in Africa. It is time for the world to visit Calabar again for that fun fair,’’ he said.

    The governor said that the carnival had promoted unity and created strong relationships between the state and others in Nigeria and the international community.

    The 31-day festival begins on Dec. 1.

    Earlier, Mr Ken Aklah, the Special Adviser on Event Management to Ayade, said that shops in the village had been concessioned to individuals with a view to create wealth.

    “We have segment for food and drinks, recreational centre, Christmas wears and accessories, with good sanitary system and tight security.

    “We also have trash cans in different spots where consumed items can be disposed’’, he said.

    NAN reports that major roundabouts along the carnival routes have been decorated with sparkling colours and lightings, while shops and buildings are being painted with blue and white to reflect the state colours.

    NAN

  • NCC seeks partnership of advocacy groups on toll-free 622 line

    NCC seeks partnership of advocacy groups on toll-free 622 line

    The Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) is seeking the partnership of consumers advocacy groups to increase consumers’ awareness of its 622 toll free line.

    Mr Abdullahi Maikano, its Director (Consumer Affairs Bureau), made the call in Lagos during the Fourth Quarter Meeting/Open Forum of the Industry Consumer Advocacy Forum (ICAF).

    The theme of the forum was ”Telecoms Consumer Dispute Resolution and Redress Mechanism”.

    Maikano said that the 622 toll free line is the number consumers could call to seek redress for their complaints on products and services of telecommunications operators.

    He said that the consumers advocacy groups should help to ensure that consumers were aware and utilise the toll free line to resolve issues.

    According to him, the telecommunications industry is the most regulated in the country where every operator has customer centre to resolve consumers’ issues.

    “NCC is doing what it can to ensure that consumers are aware of the toll free line, 622.

    “The consumers advocacy groups should help to collect complaints from consumers and take them to the operators; if the operators are not resolving them, then they should bring the issues to NCC,” he said.

    Prof. Felicia Monye, the President of ICAF, said that the ability of consumers to seek and obtain redress was the hallmark of any consumer protection system.

    Monye said that for consumers to enjoy their positions as kings, they must arm themselves with the knowledge to enforce their rights.

    “In other words, they must know their rights under the law. They must also know their obligations because rights and obligations are reciprocal.

    “The importance of effective consumer redress cannot be over-emphasised. If there is no effective redress mechanism, there is no consumer protection.

    “In this case, consumer protection will remain within the domain of regulators and suppliers of products and services,” she said.

    According to her, ICAF is set to empower consumers with the knowledge to seek redress and serve as active drivers of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria.

    Mrs Oluwaleke Ogundipe, the Director, Surveillance and Enforcement of the Consumer Protection Council ( CPC ), said that apart from providing redress to aggrieved consumers, the best redress would come from the consumers’ understanding of their rights.

    Ogundipe said that an informed consumer would know his rights, demand them and probably receive redress without recourse to regulatory agencies.

    She said that continuous sensitisation of consumers was necessary in the complaint redress process.

    NAN

  • How To Turn Your Ideas, Hobbies, Skills and Knowledge to Profitable Business In 4 Simple Steps!

    How To Turn Your Ideas, Hobbies, Skills and Knowledge to Profitable Business In 4 Simple Steps!

    Strategies That Brings Cash On Demand and Make You Forget Your Money Worries Forever….

    Register For a FREE Live Training On How To Turn Ideas To Profitable Business Now, CLICK HERE

    If you are a salary earner or you are unemployed….You are Not Happy With Your Current Situation…..No matter How Much you earn or have right now.

    I know this sounds harsh but it’s the truth….

    If you read this short article to the end, I will prove this to you….

    Your Job takes most of your time…8 to 9 every single day and nothing to spend with loved ones, you even work on weekends at times and yet you get peanuts as salary, you only work to enrich the your BOSS pocket or maybe you just hate the feeling of someone bossing you around.

    and  you may find it shocking that the JOB  right now is not even SECURED and you might have even thought of resigning but couldn’t because there is nothing to fall back on!

    According to Punch Newspaper, 3.67 million Nigerians, Lost their JOB in one year.

    Earlier this year, Zenith Bank Sacks Over 1,200 employees – According to Premium Times Newspaper.

    And if you are unemployed yet still searching for a JOB, it’s a no brainer why you still don’t have your desired JOB. Here is why?

    Over 29 Million Nigerians are Jobless according to vanguard newspaper and this has increased in 2017.

    You’ve see the worst in the last 12 months, if you have been in Nigeria since the beginning of this year 2017  you will agree with me on this;  Staff have been laid off by the government and private owned Companies, Teachers, Doctors have been going on Strike for Months, Universities have been shut down for months due to the inability of the government to pay the lecturers or students’ strike.

    Do you Know Why?

    Nigeria’s minimum wage of N18,000 is one of the world’s lowest minimum wage according to Labor and the purchasing power keeps declining due to inflation in the market. If you will agree with me, the amount of money you spend on goods & commodities has now doubled compared to what you spent last 2 years because…

    Things are becoming more and more expensive!

    Salary is fixed, purchasing power is low while some survive on loans to take care of themselves and pay their childrens’ school fees, others Continue to swim in debt, using debt to pay off debts..

    Despite all these problem in Nigeria, Some people are still happily making good money from their business without worrying about JOB security or unemployment or Inflation in the market. Am sure you would have thought of starting your own business, Which is by far the best option you can think of.

    According to Forbes Magazine, the Top Richest Men In The World Are Business Owners or Entrepreneurs.

    But then, some people get it wrong that they barely even see their business through the first year. Of course I didn’t make this up myself. Here are some facts:

    According to Bloomberg, 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within the first 18 months. That’s a whopping 80% crash and about 20 percent survive four or five years business operation.

    There are lots of factors that affect this.

    But then, I will show you what to do now to ensure that you never have to worry about your underpaid/unhappy Job that you hate so much but you just have to keep it to survive or the unemployment saga that’s driving you crazy.

    Not just that, I will also drop on your laps powerful little tips that turns what you already know (ideas, hobbies, Skills or Knowledge) to a Profitable business that brings in Cash On Demand In 30 Days! These little secrets will ensure you build your business in the path of success and be among the 10% that succeed with their business – No matter your current situation.

    Register For a FREE Live Training On How To Turn Ideas To Profitable Business Now, CLICK HERE

    We are about to go HARDCORE

    Stop whatever you are doing and Pay attention.

    After reading what am about to show you… starting from now and you apply every single step on your idea, skills, knowledge or hobbies, you can go as far as building your first Million Naira Per month Business ….even if your bank account is red right now, getting started in 24 hours without office space or huge capital, Using just your Pen and Paper.

    Now, I will have to warn you…..what I’m to reveal to you are dangerously powerful, it is like money ritual because you will be able to generate cash any time you need it. But trust me its 100% Legal!

    That’s Exactly What Happened To Seyi Adeleke (Youth Corper) When he took his measly N19,800 Corpers Alawee and turned it into N30million in just 12 Months.

    And Seyi is not the only one doing this, Do you know that Over 76.2Million Nigerians are online as at 2017( according to statista). Nigeria has been ranked by PayPal inc as the 3rd highest mobile shopping nation worldwide. Nigerians reportedly spent $610 million in 2015 using PayPal, and we are on target for $819 million (about ₦327 billion, at current rates) this year.

    What does this mean to you?

    Nigerians Spend over N327 Billion buying different products online in 2017.

    If you are afraid of BIG NUMBERS… I mean big money or don’t know how to explain to your family members what you are doing to make the kind of money you will be making in the next few days, then I will advise you NOT to read further.

    But if you are not afraid of turning your ideas, hobbies, skills and knowledge to cold hard cash; Then slowly read every word in the next few paragraphs.

    There are 3 Steps to Turning Your Ideas, Hobbies, Skills and Knowledge to Profitable Business That brings in Cash On Demand For You!

     

    Step One – Identify What People Want.

    Step Two – Find The Solution

    Step Three – Package The Solution

    Step Four – Sell The Solution to them

    Step Five – Rinse and Repeat.

    Register For a FREE Live Training On How To Kickstart this business Now, CLICK HERE

    Sounds like a NO BRAINER, doesn’t it?

    Yes. It’s a simple concept. It’s actually the simplicity of the whole thing that makes people not to do it. They cannot imagine such a simple thing can bring in massive money.

    Now let me show you How to use these 5 Steps to turn your ideas, Knowledge, Skills and Hobby into a profitable business in 30 days.

    Step One – Identify what People Want:

    This is a problem for a lot of people. They don’t know how to determine what a lot of people want so they can create products for them. For you, it’s shouldn’t be a problem.

    The fastest way to know what people want is: Identify a problem, once you can identify a problem then you are in money. Let me tell you a short story.

    In year 2008, A lot of Nigerians want to know how to make money from Football Just by predicting matches. A smart Nigerian was in U.K then and Figure out How sport betting works and made few pounds from it. He came back to Nigeria and wrote a step by step PDF Guide titled “How To Make Money Predicting Football Matches”.  He was able to Find what people want and created a solution and packaged it, that’s what step 1, 2 and 3 is all about.

    The next thing he did was to market the PDF guide and priced it for N7,500 He sold hundreds of copies and made millions selling that single digital product. After that, lots of Nigerians were finding it difficult to deposit their money with all these foreign betting site and then he decided to find a solution by taking a step further….

    He Built the First Online Sport Betting Platform In Africa, Nairabet. Yes, That’s exactly how The Famous, Billion Naira Company, NairaBET Was Founded, doubt this, a quick search on google will do.

    But What If I show you how to build your own Million Naira Per Month Business Starting with what you know, little or no capital, your pen and paper.

    You see…these are some very powerful strategies you can start applying now and start making money from it within the next few days.

    Click Here To Attend My FREE LIVE TRAINING, Its 100% FREE Where I Show You Live How This is done.

    Or VISIT HERE

    P.S: This Training is Only For 100 People, So Go Here Now To Reserve Your Seat!

    P.P.S: Also, The Training is Done Online. Imagine…. you don’t have to travel anywhere for the training, only for you to sit down at the comfort of your home with your Phone or computer plus internet to watch me live where I show you How this whole business works.

  • Not Playing with Ronaldo the only Regret – Totti

    Not Playing with Ronaldo the only Regret – Totti

    Former Roma Captain, Francesco Totti has revealed that not playing together with Ronaldo De Lima remains the only regret of his career.

    The 41-year-old hung up his boots in May – putting an end to 25-year playing career with boy hood club, Roma.

    Totti, who hold some tinge of sadness for not playing with the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker believes that he would have made Ronaldo a better player.

    According to the former Roma Captain, Ronaldo Delima would have scored more goals if they had played together.

    Totti, as quoted by as.com: “That would have been a dream for both of us. He scored a lot of goals but with me playing just behind him, I’m sure he would have scored a lot more”,

    “I’ve always said it – the only thing I regret about my career was not having got to play with Ronaldo.

    The former Italy international also described Italy, who are four time Champions of the World Cup absence from the next year’s mundial as a ‘Shock’ to the footballing world and said to watch the mundial next year would be strange.

    He added, “Like every other Italian, I never thought for a second that we might not get through the qualifying rounds.

    “It was a big shock to the world of football. Watching the World Cup on television is going to be very strange.”

    Totti on Ronaldo, Messi and Federeer

    Totti said that out of current stars he prefers Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, and singled out tennis champion Roger Federer as his sporting hero, who “does not even sweat when he plays.”

     

  • Bayelsa owes only five months salary – Commissioner

    Bayelsa owes only five months salary – Commissioner

    The Bayelsa government on Thursday described the impression that it was owing workers between 10 and 16 months salary backlog as inaccurate and insisted that outstanding obligation to its workfore was four-and-a-half months.

    The state government clarified the status of indebtedness to labour in a statement issued by Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Bayelsa Commissioner for Information.

    According to Iworiso-Markson, the arrears of four and half months accumulated in 2016 due to a sharp drop in the revenue profile of the state adding that following improvements in receipts from the federation account the state has no outstanding salary in 2017 fiscal year.

    Bayelsa Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah had on November 7 announced that the state government withheld the October 2017 salary of some 4, 200 workers in the local government system accused of involvement in payroll fraud.

    Messrs John Ndiomu and Tari Dounana, Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress respectively had challenged the state government to provide evidence for its action and prosecute those indicted as the unions would not support illegality.

    The Bayelsa government further said that it had nothing to do with the salary backlog in the councils as the local governments in Bayelsa enjoyed financial autonomy.

    Read also: How much does Dickson owe civil servants in Bayelsa?

    “As a matter of state policy, the Seriake Dickson’s administration does not tamper with local government allocations. This fact must be stressed because of the falsehood being peddled in some quarters that the state is owing local government workers.

    “It is public knowledge that government is waging a war against an endemic payroll fraud in the civil service in Bayelsa.

    “Last week, the state government in a bid to ensure a holistic implementation of the reforms introduced by the governor, withheld the salaries of 4,200 personnel suspected to be involved in the systemic fraud in the state.

    “Also, intensified efforts are being made to sanitize the system that has left the eight local government areas of the state with an unimaginable size of wage bill. The motive of the reforms is to have a wage bill with only genuine workers.

    “However, state owes salary arrears of four and a half months from last year when the economic recession was at its peak.

    “The government was compelled to pay half salaries at the time for six months because of the issue of paucity of funds caused by the recession. Even some of the outstanding arrears have been paid thereby reducing the figure to four and half months,” the statement read in part.

    NAN