The Nation Newspaper

Tag: United States of America

  • Over 40,000 Alimosho residents to benefit from free health mission

    Free surgery inclusive

    Over 40,000 residents of Alimosho will benefit from a 5-day free health mission which commenced on Monday at the Ipaja Mini stadium in Alimosho.

    The health mission which is a yearly affair is put together by the Prince of Hope Turns to Reality Foundation, an intiative of the lawmaker representing the Alimosho 1 constituency at the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Adebisi Yusuff.

    Yusuff said the number of beneficiaries of the programme has kept increasing over the years, “like last year we attended to about 30,000 people with over 300 undergoing surgery and this time we expect over 40,000 people because past beneficiaries have given the programme wide publicity and some of them are even here on their own to testify.

    There was massive turnout of residents who came with different ailments yesterday at the kick-off of the programme in Ipaja.

    Speaking with the press, Yusuff said residents and non residents of Alimosho with various ailments will be attended to and that free surgery would be performed on those with health challenges like : Hernia, Lumpectomy, Ganglion, Keloid among others, while free glasses will be given out including tests and treatment for other ailments like diabetes, typhoid, HBP etc.

    The lawmaker also said that apart from local medical personnel ranging from doctors, pharmacist, nurses, technologists and others, there are also 25 medical personnel from the United States of America on ground as part of the medical team.

    Read Also: Winners emerge in Alimosho Spelling Bee contest

    He disclosed that he is in partnership with both lical and oversea partners like the Vitamin A agent of US “and our brothers who are also in US organise medical instruments/equipment and drugs for me to make the programme a success.

    Decrying the state of medicare in the country, the lawmaker said the federal government was not doing enough, saying “the federal government should do more in health care delivery.

    “There is no doubt that something is wrong with our health care delivery system, look at the massive crowd here with one health issue or the other but no money for treatment even little operation.

    He appealed to well to do individuals in the society to come to the assistance of the less privilege and help take care of their health expenses.

    Adding that the free health mission is his own way of saying thank you to God for giving him good health and for being gracious to him.

    “Right from when I was young, because of the way my mother took care of me and my siblings health wise, I prayed to God that if I ever become somebody in life my first priority will be to render service to humanity and this is one of the ways I am doing that because people come from as far away as Ogun state yearly to benefit from this programme”, Yusuff said.

  • US pledge to help Nigeria eradicate child labour

    The United States of America has pledged support to Nigeria’s efforts in tackling and eradicating incidences of child labour and promoting decent work for workers in the country.

    The International Relations Officer and Africa Adviser in the United States Department of Labour, Olaoluwa “Ola” Abina who made the pledge while on a working visit to the Ministry of Labour and Employment a.so commended the Nigerian government for its efforts at tackling child Labour in the country.

    Olaoluwa said the visit was to boost the revitalization of labour inspection and occupational safety in Nigeria, saying “we want to meet the stakeholders to find out where gap exists, so as to work together to design a better operational approach from our findings.”

    He recalled the strong representation made by the Sen. Ngige for technical assistance at the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Conference organized by the United States Labour Department in September 2016, adding that he was in Nigeria to assess the situation.

    Also speaking, the United States Embassy Labour Attaché in Nigeria, Mirna Torres who accompanied Olaoluwa on the visit, noted that there was a significant decrease in the rate of child labour in Nigeria and commended Sen. Ngige for championing the crusade.

    Responding, Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chirs Ngige said it was a clear administrative policy of the Buhari administration that Decent work cannot be effectively promoted without tackling the scourge of child labour, hence the deliberate modeling of its Social Investment Programme to essentially benefit school children through a Home Grown School Feeding Programme, intended to make school attractive and assist parents who withdraw kids from school out of poverty.

    Read Also: FG moves to end child labour, ensure safety in work place

    The Minister said “We are planning to extend this programme of at least one nutritious feeding a day, to students in junior secondary schools. Don’t forget that under our UBEC Prograeme, education is free up to junior secondary school is free.

    “We are leaving no stone unturned in eliminating child labour as a fundamental step in promoting decent work. You cannot talk of decent work when you have under-aged children dropping out of school and joining the workforce in mining, agriculture and others. Even in agriculture where our tradition permits children to assist parents in the farm, there must be a limit.”

    The Minister said work was in progress on National Child Labour Policy to discourage out-of-school phenomenon and set penalties for defaulting parents, saying “Our labour laws are being amended to be explicit on the age a Nigerian is not eligible to work or be in the work force.

    “This is currently before the National Assembly.  We also have regulations that stimulate occupational safety for workers as well as prohibit discrimination of any form against persons living with HIV aids.”

    He further said that the Ministry of Labour has undergone immense rejuvenation since assuming office in November 2015, setting a drastic departure in terms of infrastructure and manpower base from what he inherited.

    The Minister further reiterated his request at the AGOA conference in September 2016 for the United States to provide technical and possibly, material assistance to Nigeria for an efficient labour inspection, occupational safety and health and in the elimination of child labou.

    “I also made similar appeal when the Labour Attaché at the United States Embassy visited in October 201. I am making it once more and sincerely believe it is high time the U.S acceded to this request which it readily grants to other African countries,” Ngige said.

  • NNPC: Nigeria exits gas flaring in two years

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has announced it would exit gas flaring in two years time.

    Baru made the announcement while delivering the lead paper on a panel session at the ongoing 50th Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), in Houston, United States of America.

    The corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

    Speaking on the theme: “Nigeria’s Gas Flare Commercialisation, Prospects & Opportunities”, Baru explained that in the last decade, gas flaring in Nigeria had reduced significantly from 25% to 10%.

    According to the GMD, the multi-pronged approach taken by the NNPC would ensure a sustainable solution to the historical problem of flaring, thereby turning waste into dollars.

    The three-point strategy championed by NNPC to arrest the growth in gas flares includes ensuring non-submission of Field Development Plans (FDPs) to the Industry Regulator – the Department Petroleum Resources (DPR), without a viable and executable gas utilization plan, a move aimed at ensuring no new gas flare in current and future projects.

    The other two strategies, Baru added, were a steady reduction of existing flares through a combination of targeted policy interventions in the Gas Master-plan as well as the re-invigoration of the flare penalty through the 2016 Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialization Programme (NGFCP) and through legislation, that is, ban on gas flaring via the recent Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations 2018.

    This development, Baru added, would not only see Nigeria dropping from being the second highest gas flaring nation in the world to seventh, it would also signify a major milestone in its gas commercialization prospects.

    “Total flares have significantly reduced to current levels of about 800mmscfd and in the next 1-2 years we would have completely ensured zero routine flares from all the gas producers,” the GMD stated.

    According to him, NNPC has embarked on the most aggressive expansion of the gas infrastructure network aimed at creating access to the market.

    “Today, we have completed and commissioned almost 600km of new gas pipelines thereby connecting all existing power plants to permanent gas supply pipeline. We are also currently completing the construction of the strategic 127km Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline – “OB 3” connecting the Eastern supply to the Western demand centres,” he added.

    Dr. Baru further noted that aside looping Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS 2) gas pipeline projects to increase gas volume capacity to at least 2Bcf/day, the corporation has recently signed the contracts to kick off the 614Km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, which on completion, would deliver gas to the ongoing power plants in the areas and revive the manufacturing industries in the northern part of the country.

    He assured that there was evidence that the interventions undertaken by the corporation were working as gas supply to the domestic market is growing at an encouraging rate, having tripled from 500mmcf/d in 2010 to about 1500mmcf/d currently.

    Baru informed that the aggressive development of gas infrastructure (pipelines and processing plant) between supply sources and the market would also create a sustainable evacuation route for currently flared gas and other gas sources.

    Earlier, speaking at a panel session on New Oil & Gas Horizons and Procurement Procurements in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Baru had maintained that huge opportunities abound in Nigeria’s Gas Sector, with the country expecting over $25 billion investments anticipated over the next 10 years.

    He described the Nigerian Petroleum Industry as the largest and the most vibrant in Sub-Saharan Africa with lots of potentials, especially in the deep water and untapped gas resources.

    Noting that Nigeria offers unique opportunities for investment in exploration, refining, storage, transportation, power, distribution and marketing of petroleum products, Dr. Baru further observed that the nation’s Gas Reform was anchored on a robust strategic framework that is focused on maximum economic impact through gas.

  • Senate sets up special panel to probe invasion of chamber

    The Senate on Tuesday said that it has concluded arrangements to constitute a special investigative panel to probe the April 18 invasion of its chamber by armed thugs.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, announced Senate’s resolve to set up the panel after about three hour Executive Session.

    Saraki was away in the United States of America attending the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring summit when the incident happened.

    He noted that the National Assembly would constitute a joint Senate and House of Representatives committee to investigate the invasion.

    Senate said that the committee would also be charged with the task of coming up with recommendations that would ensure that such security breaches did not reoccur in the Senate or the House.

    Saraki said that they also resolved to direct head of security agencies, including the Inspector General of Police, to articulate ways and means to strengthen security of the National Assembly to prevent occurrences that might be injurious to democracy.

    Saraki said, “The Senate in a closed session, deliberated on issues bothering the workings of the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general and resolved as follows:

    “The distinguished Senators will like to use this opportunity to thank the chamber staff for their gallantry, courageous actions that they took during the invasion of the Senate chamber on Wednesday, April, 18, 2018.

    “We want to particularly thank two of your colleagues, Chucks and Sandra who had to be admitted and we are happy to see that they are recovering. We wish them speedy recovery.

    “We thank the team of the Sergeant-at-Arms for the work they did not only as individuals but as an institution also for the country.

    “This legislature is a true representation of democracy and as long as we defend this legislature, we defend democracy in this country,

    “We also resolved the need to tighten the security at the National Assembly and I’m calling on all members of the public to please cooperate with us.

    “Clearly, there are some loopholes here and we need to tighten them.

    “A constitution of a joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives also resolved to investigate the incidence of the 18th of April, to look at the factors leading to it and to ensure that such never happens again at the National Assembly.

    ”We also directed our committee on Security, Intelligence and Police to engage with the Director of the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police to look at how to strengthen the security of the National Assembly to ensure that these security lapses will not reoccur.

    The upper chamber adjourned plenary immediately after Saraki’s announcement.

     

  • Trump agrees to meet North Korea’s Kim

    Trump agrees to meet North Korea’s Kim

    President Donald Trump of the United States of America (USA) is set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a man he once dismissed as “Little Rocket Man”.

    The high level talks are  scheduled for  May as part of the effort  to  free the  Korean peninsula of nuclear arms, a South Korean official said outside the White House on Thursday.

    It would be the first face-to-face meeting in history between a U.S. president and a North Korean leader.

    The opening came through shuttle diplomacy by a South Korean delegation that arrived in Washington on Thursday. Trump heralded the development as a “major announcement” after speaking with the South Korean president.

    Read Also: Trump and North Korea leader to hold ‘milestone’ meeting

    “I told President Trump that in our meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he’s committed to denuclearization. He pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests,” South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong told reporters after meeting with Trump at the White House.

    Chung met with Kim earlier this week, and came to Washington on Thursday to relay the message from the North Korean leader.

    “I explained to President Trump that his leadership, and his maximum pressure policy, along with international solidarity, brought us to this juncture,” he said.

    The Trump administration has rallied the United Nations to impose ever-tightening sanctions against North Korea following a battery of missile tests.

     

  • Reps seeks US’ support in repatriating stolen funds 

    Reps seeks US’ support in repatriating stolen funds 

    The government of the United States of America should assist Nigeria in the repatriation of stolen funds stashed in foreign countries by corrupt public officials over the years, the House of Representatives said Tuesday.

    Hon Ehiozuwa Johnson Agboniayima, Chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria-US Friendship Group/ Inter-parliamentary Relations  requested for  the cooperation while hosting a delegation of military officers of the US Air War College in Abuja .

    The lawmaker informed the military delegation while requesting for the assistance that as accomplished officers who would soon would be involved in policy formation in the United States, they should assist in the repatriation of the nation’s stolen wealth kept in America by corrupt Nigerian citizens.

    The funds are proceeds of crime, he said, adding that the funds should be returned back for the development of Nigeria.

    The lawmaker said Nigeria appreciates the US for supporting the country’s fight on health, economic and security issues,

    He further sought the support of America to assist in the deepening and strengthening democracy by ensuring a successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    He said: “the National Assembly is committed to good governance, social security, due process and transparency especially in the fight against corruption and the desire to build institutions to tackle corruption

    “The US and Nigeria has over the years been consistently close allies, sharing stronger ties in peace keeping within the African continent and around the globe. As future key actors in the Pentagon and Washington, your role in global peace cannot be over emphasized

    “There is a need for peaceful coexistence and world peace and Nigeria is a key nation in promoting global peace especially within Africa

    “Nigeria continually seeks the support of the US and other friendly nations in overcoming the challenges we face. Majority of our people yearn for one united country devoid of sectionalism and nepotism, built on equity and justice, a country of security and prosperity”.

    The leader of the US military delegation, Lt. Col. Stacy Kihara of the US Air Force while responding told the committee that the visit had enabled the delegation members study the political, economic and social dynamics of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Ensure smooth repatriation of stolen funds, FG tells countries involved

  • Monkeys have been successfully cloned in China

    Monkeys have been successfully cloned in China

    By Moses Emorinken

    Just when we thought we had seen the heights of innovations in science and technology, scientists in China have successfully cloned two monkeys.

    China, in its aggressive bid to become the leader in science and technological innovation, have resurfaced with another groundbreaking creation – the cloning of monkeys in methods similar to the first cloned animal by scientists in Scotland in 1996 – Dolly the sheep.

    The genetically identical long-tailed macaques born in Shanghai last month, called Zhong Zhong (8 weeks old) and Hua Hua (6 weeks old), are the first primate clones produced.

    In times past, there have been scattered successes in the cloning of mammals like mice, sheep and cattle; however, the cloning of monkeys which is the closest primate to human had proven unsuccessful. Most of the failed experiments produced poorly formed monkeys or cloned monkeys that died moments after their birth.

    The cloning of these identical monkeys, which is the biggest breakthrough in science at the moment have generated a groundswell of public opinions, praises and condemnation in every quarters.

    We are tempted to reason that the implication of this scientific success is that human cloning is now theoretically possible; one that might be perfected in few years to come.

    For the open-minded and science enthusiasts, it is a welcomed development; for the cultural and religious, it means crossing the line in the limits of God’s expectations for man. To them, man has begun to play God, which is a very sad development.

    According to Muming Poo, a co-author, who directs the Institute of Neuroscience at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, “the technical barrier is now broken. In principle [this method] can be applied to humans”.

    Although the reason behind the monkey cloning program might not sit well with many in the scientific community who have raised concerns about animal ethics, Muming Poo however said that the cloned animals are to produce animal models useful for medicine, for human health; there is no intention to apply this method to humans.

    According to him, the ultimate goal is to clone monkeys on a large scale for use as test subjects because of their similarities to humans. These monkeys will be given specific diseases before they are born; this way, they can be used to test various treatments.

    It is not surprising that China is becoming a forerunner in science and technology, as it has almost doubled the number of its local universities in ten years and is heavy on state-funded research incentive programmes.

    China is poised to overtake the US and Europe in innovations in science and technology. Its aim is to become the number one innovator by 2030 and the undisputed leader in global science and technology by 2049.

  • Reps halt new exploitative Nigerian Visa Policy in US

    Reps halt new exploitative Nigerian Visa Policy in US

    The House of Representatives Thursday began probe into the alleged new exploitative visa policy for Nigerians in the United States of America wishing to come home.

    The policy requires Nigerians to pay $90 per applicant for biometrics to a company (OIS) assigned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, after paying a visa fee of $180.

    To this end, the House has mandated its committee on Diaspora to ascertain to liase with the Nigerian Immigration Service to ascertain the truthfulness of the allegation in a bid to “quell the uprising that is going on right now.”

    The Green Chamber also further mandated its committee on foreign Affairs and Diaspora to investigate the issue immediately in a bid to save the image of the country in the USA and every other part of the world.

    The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior has also been urged to stop the proposed scheme till the outcome, of the investigation while the committee on Legislative Complaince ensures Compliance.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion of urgent National Importance by a member, Rita Orji

    The lawmaker in the motion noted the alleged new  Nigeria visa  policy came into effect in the United States of America in October 16, 2017 ” to fleece Nigerians in Diaspora by whatever means.”

    According to her, two companies: Innovate 1 Services Inc. and Integrated Solutions ( OIS) jointly owned by a Nigerian are based in the USA with six centers/ offices in the entire 50 states in the US.

    “Aware that anyone wishing to obtain a Nigerian visa is required to first go and complete a biometric process of finger printing and capturing with this business concern.

    “Further aware that this company charges each applicant a fee of twenty dollars ($20) for visa and twelve dollar ($12) for passport.

    ” The new visa process in logically flawed in that not only are applicants requires to pay an additional $90 to the same group of owners, the OIS has just six centers/offices in New Jersey, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.”

    She expressed concern that Nigerians in Diaspora bear the financial burden of transportation, accommodation and feeding just to obtain visa to come home.

    The lawmaker said it was this same business concern that “first started with BVN registration which they charged every Nigeria in Diaspora who wishes to maintain their bank accounts in Nigeria.”

    When the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Yussuff Lasun called for a voice vote on the motion, it passed with majority support.

  • Nigerians studying in USA now 11,710 – Report

    Nigerians studying in USA now 11,710 – Report

    There are no fewer than 11,710 Nigerian students currently studying in the United States of America, a recent report of the International Educational Exchange data released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) has revealed.

    The latest figure also showed an increase of 9.7 percent over the previous year.

    Overall, the number of African students in the United States climbed to 37,735, an increase of 6.7% from 2015/2016.  Fifty six percent are pursuing undergraduate degrees and 28.7 % are involved in graduate studies.

    Nigeria accounts for 31% of Africa’s students in the United States and ranks 12th in the world, having improved its standing from 14th a year ago.

    Nigeria therefore retained its top ranking as the number one source of African students studying in the United States, according to the 2017 Open Doors Report released on Monday, November 13.

    The country according to the report is followed closely by Kenya with a total of 3189 students and Ghana comes in third with 3111 students.

    Nigerians are enrolled in more than 1,000 institutions in 51 U.S. states and territories.  Eighteen percent of Nigeria’s students in the U.S. are studying in Texas.  Other states with a large number of Nigerian students include New York, Florida, Massachusetts and Maryland.

    In a statement issued by the US Embassy, Abuja, “This year alone, Nigerian students using EducationUSA services recorded $9 million in scholarships and financial aid awarded to newly admitted students.  EducationUSA is a network of over 425 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries.  The centers at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos annually advise more than 60,000 prospective students at outreach presentations, weekly orientations, and college fairs.”

    The report also said the overall number of international students in the United States increased by three percent over the previous year.

    This marks the eleventh consecutive year of continued expansion of the total number of international students in U.S. higher education.  During the 2016/2017 academic session, U.S. colleges and universities hosted a record high of 1.08 million international students.

  • Climate change: Aregbesola cautions Donald Trump

    Climate change: Aregbesola cautions Donald Trump

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Tuesday urged the United States of America to seriously consider its stand concerning climate change, as whatever decision America takes will seriously affect many countries of the world negatively.

    This was even as the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington described the social protection programmes of Osun Government as the dividend of democracy and good governance.

    The American envoy also lauded the State Government for running an impactful and people-oriented government in spite of the present economic challenges facing Nigeria.‎

    ‎Governor Aregbesola, while playing host to the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Syminton who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s office in Osogbo said the United States of America had over the years evolved to be a major factor in what happens to the other parts of the world.

    He added that when an entity becomes powerful as America in the world, such a nation needs to consider other nations before taking major decisions.

    The governor noted that the position of America in the world is so strategic to the extent that major decisions of the United States have a direct bearing on other nations of the world.

    According to Aregbesola, America is so important and significant that issues like climate change can not be taken for granted.

    He said: “America has evolved to be a major factor in world growth and development to the extent that whatever decision the country takes on any burning issue shakes the world.

    “When an entity is as powerful as America, such entity needs to be very careful about every major decision it takes because of other countries.

    “An entity whose decision can affect other nations of the world must be very careful.

    “America’s human and international relations must not be taken for granted, if you love America it is to your own benefit and if you hate America it is to your own disadvantage,” The Governor stated.

    The Osun governor also made it clear to the ambassador that his administration came into government with a clear objective of how to tackle its responsibilities to the people of the state.

    He said the coming into power of the administration was to revive the peace, progress, and prosperity of the state and the nation at large.

     Aregbesola maintained that his administration focused on the six-point integral action plan which has over the years made his government focus on social security areas through schemes such as the O-YES, O-MEALS, O-AMBULANCE the welfare scheme for the aged among others.

    “We came into government with a clear objective, it is to stimulate the growth and development of the Osun people and to leave them better than the way we met them.

    “From the onset, our goal for the people of the state was clear to us. As part of our efforts to take our people out of poverty, we re-energised the school feeding programme which we met on ground.

    “The OMEAL programme of our state has turned subsistence farming into a commercial venture in Osun. It has boosted the sales of agricultural products in the state tremendously” Aregbesola stated.

    Speaking earlier, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Symington who commended the efforts of the state government in road infrastructure likened road development to human development.

    The envoy also applauded various social intervention programmes of Ogbeni Aregbesola through job and wealth creation, saying that is why people are always interested in coming to the state to learn.

    Describing democracy as the best form of government in the world, Syminton noted that the policies adopted by the Osun state government in stimulating her economy and advancing the well-being of her citizens remain the major characteristics of democracy in the world.

    “The state is on a steady growth, I so much appreciate good roads. This state is investing so much in roads infrastructure and it’s very good for the future and overall development of the state.

    “Another good area is your various social intervention programmes, you are helping in creating jobs and wealth, no wonder people always come to your state to learn,” The American envoy noted.