Issues in restoration of Port Concession Agreement By Tokunboh Tare-Johnson On Monday’ November 16, 2015, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) advertised shame. On this day, a memo with the inscription “Handling of Oil and Gas Cargo at Julius Berger Terminal, Warri” sprang from the office of the General Manager, Marine and Operations. It was signed by a certain AA Goje. Goje, with Ref: HQ/ED/M&O/OP /226, on behalf of the Executive Director, Directorate of Marines and Operations. The lie peddled by this memo was that “the federal government was losing revenues on ‘oil and gas cargo’ handling in some terminals. According to the memo, whereas a multi-purpose terminal may handle ‘oil and gas’ related cargo and charge the lower rate of $1.12 per tonne for general cargo, the same cargo meant for the lOCs and handled in a designated oil and gas terminal will attract$5.82 per tonne. The object of this piece is not to interrogate cargo charges at the ports. However it is not difficult for anyone with a lame knowledge of the ports and terminals to know that NPA’s claim is a fallacy. This cost of handling cargo and the dubious issue of contrasting charges will be the subject of another article to come. The focus of this piece, however, is the cryptic and dubious oil and gas cargo and oil and gas terminal lingo invented by NPA. President Muhammadu Buhari in a recent policy exposed the ill-repute of ‘past management of NPA when he endorsed the unfettered right of importers to choose terminals or ports of their choice for the discharge of good and services. In a triumphant headline that heralded a new dawn for the maritime industry, a national newsspaper appeared to captive the huge relief in the heat-oppressed minds of the terminal owners and importers . With the assertive title, “PG Ends Intels Dominance of Oil and Port Logistics Services”, with the rider, “Onne Free Zone designated Oil and Gas Multi-Purpose Terminal.”In a very clear directive, President Buhari conveyed the new policy to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi on April 21, 2017. Designation of terminal/ports operations into three broad categories The president in a succinct, lucid language stated that “the federal government remains guided by the general global practice in the designation of terminal/ports operations into three broad categorisations of Bulk Cargo, Container Cargo and Multi-Purpose Cargo. The FGN rejects the categorisation of oil and gas multi-purpose cargo terminal as this is alien to the relevant concession agreements and inconsistent with global shipping practices”. The question then is: From which book of infamy were the past management of NPA and their parties reeling out the retrogressive directives that held terminal owners economically hostage in their fatherland? Where did they get the phrase ‘Oil and Gas Designated Terminal’ that benefitted only lNTELS, a largely foreign company? But make no mistake about it. NPA’s memo of November 16, 2015 was only a morphing of the obnoxious policy of former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Indeed on April 27, 2015, NPA sent out a purported presidential directive that stirred the soul of the ports/terminal operators. The letter stated that all oil and gas related cargo must be handled at designated terminals at Onne, Warri and Calabar ports. These three terminals are exclusively controlled by Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited (INTELS). What is clear from this is the simple fact that between INI’ELS and NPA, there seemed to be a confluence of corruption. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Transportation rather than asserting its authority by checking violations of the 2006 concession agreement and other malpractices at the ports appeared to be adding a thickener that solidified a company seeming strangulating grip and dominance of the ports. Unable to continue with Jonathan’s incongruous and monopoly-inspired directive, the Chief Executive of Ports and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL) the operators of the multi-purpose Terminal A, in Port Harcourt, Lizzie Obvude, a woman of iron-cast conviction, went to court to challenge not only the directive but to stop NPA’s diversion of vessels meant for her terminal to INTEI.S ports. About 10 other concessionaires including LADOL, Nigerdock and Simco Free Zone, operators of Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, also went to court to seek how to erase Jonathan stamp of approval to a ritual of illegality and glaring economic sabotage. Ovbude, in an earlier letter to the Attorney General of the Federation had decried what she called “the wrongful, illegal and discriminatory implementation of the concession agreement by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and NPA by the diversion of vessels to a particular company”. Having written to both the Senate and the House of Representatives to intervene on the excesses of the Ministry of Transportation, NPA and this company, without the desired outcome, the ports/terminal operators went to various courts to obtain varying injunctions stopping the implementation of Jonathan’s strange directive given in the dying days of his administration. Smoggy policy This dim climate sparked by a smoggy policy was still pervasive-at the ports when Hadiza Bala Usman was appointed Managing Director of NPA by President Buhari. Bala Usman’s mission from the very start was therefore seen by the ports operators to be messianic. By her antecedents, she was perceived as The economic messiah to straighten a serpentine NPA and reconstruct the convoluted operations of the maritime industry. In her speech on July 18, 2016, she promised to listen to their “suggestions and concerns”, promising “we will listen to our customers, importers, exporters, and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation”. Then she added the clincher: ‘We will work hard with integrity and with zero tolerance for corruption”. This daughter of a renowned academic and activist, Professor Bala Usman, took time to peruse loads of documents, the Ports Concession Agreement and also consulted unbiased sound authorities on the ports, terminal and cargo issues. President Buhari’s verdict is a reflection of the recommendation of this intellective, courageous and patriotic lady. With the dissonance over the categorisation of cargoes now history, the long oppressed concessionaires, (25 out of 26 of them) will now confidently invest more in their terminals. They will employ more Nigerians and they will become more efficient. They will earn more money because vessels carrying their cargoes would no longer be diverted to Onne, Warri or Calabar ports. And importantly, they will be paying all the fees and taxes due to government without hindrance, thus helping to grow the nation’s economy. But it must be stated without any equivocation here that the oil and gas cargo cartel spread across NPA, Ministry of Transportation and Intels is robust and formidable. From the Obasanjo tenure through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua brief era to the Goodluck Jona than’s time, they have remained irrepressible, rising after each admonition for violation of the concession agreement. Will Buhari’s policy then be the end of this cyclic oil and gas cargo lingo and indeed tango? Will it be the anti-toxin to obliterate the strange oil and gas terminal patois from the lexicon of NPA and ultimately put a final nail on the coffin of this impunity? Tare-Johnson wrote from Port Harrourt. The post Issues in restoration of Port Concession Agreement appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Tokunboh Tare-Johnson

On Monday’ November 16, 2015, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) advertised shame. On this day, a memo with the inscription “Handling of Oil and Gas Cargo at Julius Berger Terminal, Warri” sprang from the office of the General Manager, Marine and Operations. It was signed by a certain AA Goje. Goje, with Ref: HQ/ED/M&O/OP /226, on behalf of the Executive Director, Directorate of Marines and Operations.

The lie peddled by this memo was that “the federal government was losing revenues on ‘oil and gas cargo’ handling in some terminals. According to the memo, whereas a multi-purpose terminal may handle ‘oil and gas’ related cargo and charge the lower rate of $1.12 per tonne for general cargo, the same cargo meant for the lOCs and handled in a designated oil and gas terminal will attract$5.82 per tonne.

The object of this piece is not to interrogate cargo charges at the ports. However it is not difficult for anyone with a lame knowledge of the ports and terminals to know that NPA’s claim is a fallacy. This cost of handling cargo and the dubious issue of contrasting charges will be the subject of another article to come. The focus of this piece, however, is the cryptic and dubious oil and gas cargo and oil and gas terminal lingo invented by NPA.

President Muhammadu Buhari in a recent policy exposed the ill-repute of ‘past management of NPA when he endorsed the unfettered right of importers to choose terminals or ports of their choice for the discharge of good and services. In a triumphant headline that heralded a new dawn for the maritime industry, a national newsspaper appeared to captive the huge relief in the heat-oppressed minds of the terminal owners and importers .

With the assertive title, “PG Ends Intels Dominance of Oil and Port Logistics Services”, with the rider, “Onne Free Zone designated Oil and Gas Multi-Purpose Terminal.”In a very clear directive, President Buhari conveyed the new policy to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi on April 21, 2017.

Designation of  terminal/ports operations into three broad categories

The president in a succinct, lucid language stated that “the federal government remains guided by the general global practice in the designation of terminal/ports operations into three broad categorisations of Bulk Cargo, Container Cargo and Multi-Purpose Cargo.

The FGN rejects the categorisation of oil and gas multi-purpose cargo terminal as this is alien to the relevant concession agreements and inconsistent with global shipping practices”.

The question then is: From which book of infamy were the past management of NPA and their parties reeling out the retrogressive directives that held terminal owners economically hostage in their fatherland? Where did they get the phrase ‘Oil and Gas Designated Terminal’ that benefitted only lNTELS, a largely foreign company?

But make no mistake about it. NPA’s  memo of November 16, 2015 was only a morphing of the obnoxious policy of former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Indeed on April 27, 2015, NPA sent out a purported presidential directive that stirred the soul of the ports/terminal operators. The letter stated that all oil and gas related cargo must be handled at designated terminals at Onne, Warri and Calabar ports. These three terminals are exclusively controlled by Integrated Logistics Services Nigeria Limited (INTELS).

What is clear from this is the simple fact that between INI’ELS and NPA, there seemed to be a confluence of corruption. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Transportation rather than asserting its authority by checking violations of the 2006 concession agreement and other malpractices at the ports appeared to be adding a thickener that solidified a company seeming strangulating grip and dominance of the ports.

Unable to continue with Jonathan’s incongruous and monopoly-inspired directive, the Chief Executive of Ports and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL) the operators of the multi-purpose Terminal A, in Port Harcourt, Lizzie Obvude, a woman of iron-cast conviction, went to court to challenge not only the directive but to stop NPA’s diversion of vessels meant for her terminal to INTEI.S ports. About 10 other concessionaires including LADOL, Nigerdock and Simco Free Zone, operators of Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, also went to court to seek how to erase Jonathan stamp of approval to a ritual of illegality and glaring economic sabotage.

Ovbude, in an earlier letter to the Attorney General of the Federation had decried what she called “the wrongful, illegal and discriminatory implementation of the concession agreement by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and NPA by the diversion of vessels to a particular company”. Having written to both the Senate and the House of Representatives to intervene on the excesses of the Ministry of Transportation, NPA and this company, without the desired outcome, the ports/terminal operators went to various courts to obtain varying injunctions stopping the implementation of Jonathan’s strange directive given in the dying days of his administration.

Smoggy policy

This dim climate sparked by a smoggy policy was still pervasive-at the ports when Hadiza Bala Usman was appointed Managing Director of NPA by President Buhari. Bala Usman’s mission from the very start was therefore seen by the ports operators to be messianic. By her antecedents, she was perceived as The economic messiah to straighten a serpentine NPA and reconstruct the convoluted operations of the maritime industry.

In her speech on July 18, 2016, she promised to listen to their “suggestions and concerns”, promising “we will listen to our customers, importers, exporters, and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation”. Then she added the clincher: ‘We will work hard with integrity and with zero tolerance for corruption”.

This daughter of a renowned academic and activist, Professor Bala Usman, took time to peruse loads of documents, the Ports Concession Agreement and also consulted unbiased sound authorities on the ports, terminal and cargo issues. President Buhari’s verdict is a reflection of the  recommendation of this intellective, courageous and patriotic lady.

With the dissonance over the categorisation of cargoes now history, the long oppressed concessionaires, (25 out of 26 of them) will now confidently invest more in their terminals. They will employ more Nigerians and they will become more efficient. They will earn more money because vessels carrying their cargoes would no longer be diverted to Onne, Warri or Calabar ports. And importantly, they will be paying all the fees and taxes due to government without hindrance, thus helping to grow the nation’s economy.

But it must be stated without any equivocation here that the oil and gas cargo cartel spread across NPA, Ministry of Transportation and Intels is robust and formidable. From the Obasanjo tenure through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua brief era to the Goodluck Jona than’s time, they have remained irrepressible, rising after each admonition for violation of the concession agreement.

Will Buhari’s policy then be the end of this cyclic oil and gas cargo lingo and indeed tango? Will it be the anti-toxin to obliterate the strange oil and gas terminal patois from the lexicon of NPA and ultimately put a final nail on the coffin of this impunity?

Tare-Johnson wrote from Port Harrourt.

 

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For More details click the green link
via Naijapounds

FG pledges additional $4.3m for procurement of contraceptives By Sola Ogundipe A modern contraceptive rate of 27 per cent among all women by 2017 has been announced just as Nigeria pledges additional $4.3 million for procurement of contraceptives. At least 37 country governments, 16 private companies and 11 partner organizations, including civil society and private foundations, will announce commitments to accelerate progress on rights-based family planning programmes today at the Family Planning Summit. Today, leaders from around the world, including Nigeria, convened at the Family Planning Summit in London, United Kingdom, to make bold commitments that will help expand access to family planning to millions of women and girls worldwide. At the Summit, more than 60 governments and partners pledged commitments of at least $2.5 billion USD by 2020, with the majority of the funding ($1.5 billion USD) committed by countries in Asia and Africa. Nigeria’s Commitment: At the Summit, Federal Minister of Health, The Honourable Professor Isaac Adewole pledged in collaboration with its partners and the private sector to achieve a modern contraceptive rate of 27% among all women by 2020. Nigeria committed increasing its annual allocation for contraceptives to $4 million USD and to ensure total disbursement of $56 million to the states through its participating in the Global Financing Facility and via international development assistance loans. Nigeria will expand the implementation of its task-shifting policy to include patent medicine vendors and community volunteers to improve access to family planning services in difficult-to-reach areas and among disadvantaged populations. Nigeria will use its Minimal Initial Service Package for sexual reproductive health to provide family planning supplies within its national crisis preparedness and response. Nigeria pledged to remove regulatory barriers and to scale up access to new contraceptive methods such as sub-cutaneous Depo Medroxyprogesterone Acetate injections (Sayana Press). To transform its last-mile distribution of health and family planning commodities, Nigeria will use a push-model system, and collaborate with the private sector to optimally transport, store and track commodities using an electronic logistics management system. A new tracking and accountability system will report annually and real-time, expenditures for family planning at national and state levels. The government will increase the number of health facilities providing family planning services in each of its states and federal territory to 20,000 and leverage its 10,000 functional primary health care facilities to raise awareness about family planning. In this vein, Nigeria will partner with stakeholders and gatekeepers to reduce socio-cultural barriers for family planning services, including by collaborating with line ministries to ensure the provision of age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information to youth through the Family Life Health Education Curriculum and youth-friendly services in health facilities and other outlets. To address financial barriers, the government will collaborate with states, The post FG pledges additional $4.3m for procurement of contraceptives appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Sola Ogundipe

A modern contraceptive rate of 27 per cent among all women by 2017 has been announced just as Nigeria pledges  additional $4.3 million for procurement of contraceptives.

At least 37 country governments, 16 private companies and 11 partner organizations, including civil society and private foundations, will announce commitments to accelerate progress on rights-based family planning programmes today at the Family Planning Summit.

Today, leaders from around the world, including Nigeria, convened at the Family Planning Summit in London, United Kingdom, to make bold commitments that will help expand access to family planning to millions of women and girls worldwide. At the Summit, more than 60 governments and partners pledged commitments of at least $2.5 billion USD by 2020, with the majority of the funding ($1.5 billion USD) committed by countries in Asia and Africa.

Nigeria’s Commitment: At the Summit, Federal Minister of Health, The Honourable Professor Isaac Adewole pledged in collaboration with its partners and the private sector to achieve a modern contraceptive rate of 27% among all women by 2020. Nigeria committed increasing its annual allocation for contraceptives to $4 million USD and to ensure total disbursement of $56 million to the states through its participating in the Global Financing Facility and via international development assistance loans. Nigeria will expand the implementation of its task-shifting policy to include patent medicine vendors and community volunteers to improve access to family planning services in difficult-to-reach areas and among disadvantaged populations.

Nigeria will use its Minimal Initial Service Package for sexual reproductive health to provide family planning supplies within its national crisis preparedness and response. Nigeria pledged to remove regulatory barriers and to scale up access to new contraceptive methods such as sub-cutaneous Depo Medroxyprogesterone Acetate injections (Sayana Press). To transform its last-mile distribution of health and family planning commodities, Nigeria will use a push-model system, and collaborate with the private sector to optimally transport, store and track commodities using an electronic logistics management system.

A new tracking and accountability system will report annually and real-time, expenditures for family planning at national and state levels. The government will increase the number of health facilities providing family planning services in each of its states and federal territory to 20,000 and leverage its 10,000 functional primary health care facilities to raise awareness about family planning. In this vein, Nigeria will partner with stakeholders and gatekeepers to reduce socio-cultural barriers for family planning services, including by collaborating with line ministries to ensure the provision of age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information to youth through the Family Life Health Education Curriculum and youth-friendly services in health facilities and other outlets. To address financial barriers, the government will collaborate with states,

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Nigeria’ll be self sufficient in rice production by Nov – Ogbeh By Ola Ajayi & Adeola Badru Ibadan—Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that the country will be self sufficient in rice production by November, which he said will force a reduction in the price of the commodity. He frowned on what he called the people’s unbridled penchant and taste for foreign foods, most of which, he said, were not as healthy and nutritious as those produced locally. The minister bared his mind while addressing a town hall meeting on sustainable agriculture, which was attended by farmers, youths, women and other stakeholders in agriculture, held at the Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday. The dialogue, which featured question and answer session, was hosted by the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi. Audu Ogbeh The meeting, which was called to chart a new path for agriculture rebirth, climaxed a two-day working visit by the minister to agricultural facilities, including farms, dams, farm settlements and others across the state. He lamented what he called the culture of wastages and abandonment in the country, which, he said, accounted for decaying facilities and monuments dotting the landscape. Ogbeh said, “By November we will be self sufficient in rice production. We will no longer need to import rice. And let me tell you, our rice is safer, tastier and healthier than the foreign ones. “Patronize our farmers, eat healthy. Eat Nigerian rice. Another cheering news is that we will soon bring down the price of rice. Nigerians should embrace local products and stop importation of useless things. In his remarks, Ajimobi commended the FG for its commitment to the survival of the country through initiatives such as the latest agriculture renaissance. The governor recalled that many monuments located in Ibadan, which were mostly the first of their kind in Africa, such as the Liberty Stadium, Cocoa House, University of Ibadan, the Nigerian Television Authority and others were built with proceeds from agriculture. He appealed to the people to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, which he said was paramount to the economic survival of the country. He appealed to the people to change their mentality that are inimical to the growth of agriculture, which he “We are a country that has penchant for importation without exporting anything. In fact, some people will even order for pizza from London for delivery by British Airways. They will tell you London pizza tastes better. “We import champagnes, cookies, toilet papers and even toothpicks. We have this taste for foreign products. This is killing us, it is killing our economy.” The minister, who disclosed that Oyo State topped the list of cashew producers in the country, said that a cashew processing plant would be established in the state within the next six months. While urging the governor to prevail on land owners to surrender them for agricultural purposes, he said that the FG was prepared to join hands with the state government on its agric revolution. He expressed regret that over-dependence of the country on accruals from oil production had robbed it of the development of other sectors, especially agriculture, which he said was once the nation’s cash cow. Ogbeh said, “For instance, I was almost in tears when I got to Ikere Gorge Dam yesterday (Monday) and saw the magnitude of waste and what Nigeria is losing from its abandonment since 1982. It is pathetic. This dam has the capacity to irrigate 12,000 hectares of farm land. The post Nigeria’ll be self sufficient in rice production by Nov – Ogbeh appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

Crisis looms in Warri, environs over threat on Ijaw, IOCs — WIPMG By Emma Amaize WARRI—THE Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, WIPMG, Warri, Delta State, yesterday, said that crisis was looming in Warri and environs in the state, following alleged threat on the Ijaw and International Oil Companies, IOCs, by the Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC. In a statement by its chairman, Chief Patrick Bigha, the group said: “It has come to our notice that trouble is brewing in Warri and environs as a result of a declaration of war on the Ijaw and IOCs by Itsekiri National Youth Council. “We wish to let the Itsekiri know that the era of violent agitation is over. They should follow the steps of the Ijaw, who have been advocating development of the Niger Delta region peacefully. “The Ijaw have attracted projects meant to open up the region in recent time. They do not have cause to worry as the Ijaw will continue to be magnanimous and liberal to them as in the past. “Even when Ijaw lands were given to them by the colonial masters when they migrated from Ode in present day Ogun State and Benin in Edo State to Warri and its environs, as attested to by their son and leader, Chief Dore Numa in 1923 and contained in the Warri Intelligence Report, the Ijaw did not make trouble with them. Maybe it is because of the peaceful disposition of the Ijaw that had led to the continuous land grabbing attitude of the Itsekiris.” On the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, the Ijaw group stated: “It was an Itsekiri son, the then governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, that revoked and published the revocation notice in a national daily (Vanguard newspapers) and the Delta State-owned newspaper, The Pointer, in September 25, 2013, for the information of the general public that whoever has a claim to make should do so within six working weeks. “The name used was Okerenkoko. It was only the Okerenkoko people, the rightful owners of the said land, that made claims and they were paid for economic trees and fish ponds destroyed in the process of acquisition. “Let the Itsekiri drop this attitude of working against development in our region. It is a known truth in Delta State that the Itsekiri have not supported anything good coming to the area as it has been their attitude to oppose good things that come to the area. “The same way they opposed the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is the same way they opposed the location of the capital of Delta State in Warri, and it was cited at far away Asaba to the detriment of the core Delta people. Now, it takes three to four hours to travel to our state capital.” “The Ijaws have always initiated peaceful means to resolve issues with the Itsekiris over the years. We have even entered a consent judgment of 1983 with them (Itsekiri) for peace to reign where we have both enjoyed patronage from International Oil Companies as they pay royalties to the Ijaws too.” The post Crisis looms in Warri, environs over threat on Ijaw, IOCs — WIPMG appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Emma Amaize

WARRI—THE Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, WIPMG, Warri, Delta State, yesterday, said that crisis was looming in Warri and environs in the state, following alleged threat on the Ijaw and International Oil Companies, IOCs, by the Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC.

In a statement by its chairman, Chief Patrick Bigha, the group said: “It has come to our notice that trouble is brewing in Warri and environs as a result of a declaration of war on the Ijaw and IOCs  by Itsekiri National Youth Council.

“We wish to let the Itsekiri know that the era of violent agitation is over. They should follow the steps of the Ijaw, who have been advocating development of the Niger Delta region peacefully.

“The Ijaw have attracted projects meant to open up the region in recent time. They do not have cause to worry as the Ijaw will continue to be magnanimous and liberal to them as in the past.

“Even when Ijaw lands were given to them by the colonial masters when they migrated from Ode in present day Ogun State and Benin in Edo State to Warri and its environs, as attested to by their son and leader, Chief Dore Numa in 1923 and contained in the Warri Intelligence Report, the Ijaw did not make trouble with them. Maybe it is because of the peaceful disposition of the Ijaw that had led to the continuous land grabbing attitude of the Itsekiris.”

On the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, the Ijaw group  stated: “It was an Itsekiri son, the then governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, that revoked and published the revocation notice in a national daily (Vanguard newspapers) and the Delta State-owned newspaper, The Pointer, in September 25, 2013, for the information of the general public that whoever has a claim to make should do so within six working weeks.

“The name used was Okerenkoko. It was only the Okerenkoko people, the rightful owners of the said land, that made claims and they were paid for economic trees and fish ponds destroyed in the process of acquisition.

“Let the Itsekiri drop this attitude of working against development in our region. It is a known truth in Delta State that the Itsekiri have not supported anything good coming to the area as it has been their attitude to oppose good things that come to the area.

“The same way they opposed the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is the same way they opposed the location of the capital of Delta State in Warri, and it was cited at far away Asaba to the detriment of the core Delta people. Now, it takes three to four hours to travel to our state capital.”

“The Ijaws have always initiated peaceful means to resolve issues with the Itsekiris over the years. We have even entered a consent judgment of 1983 with them (Itsekiri) for peace to reign where we have both enjoyed patronage from International Oil Companies as they pay royalties to the Ijaws too.”

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Algeria to take Eagles to Constantine Algerian north-eastern city of Constantine could well become the new slaughter slab where the country’s national team hope to take their guests to, in a bid to relaunch their quest for the 2018 World Cup ticket. Already, the country’s football authorities have announced their intention to move their 2018 World Cup qualifying home game against Zambia on September 5 to the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine. Super Eagles last group match could as well be taken to Constantine. That comes up on November 8, 2017 when the temperature could be as low as between -3.9 to egrees celsius The Fennec Foxes and Chipololo will meet in a double header in Group B in the next two rounds of 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, with the teams first clash in Lusaka at the National Heroes Stadium on September 2. Three days later they will meet in the return game in Constantine, rather than the expected venue of Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida. Kheireddine Zetchi of the Algerian FA confirmed the development in a press conference last weekend: “We will play the first leg against Zambia on September 2 in Lusaka and three days later we will face same team here in Algeria. “We plan to organise the meeting in Constantine. This is a decision we made after a first delegation visited the city. I can even tell you that the report was very positive.” Zetchi added, “Even the players are not against the idea of playing the encounter of Zambia in Constantine. “Indeed, they want to discover new cities and perform in towns in the interior of the country.” That’s why we opted for the Constantine Stadium.” It was also confirmed that 32,000 tickets will be sold for the match against Zambia at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. During Roman times it was called Cirta and was renamed “Constantina” in honour of emperor Constantine the Great The post Algeria to take Eagles to Constantine appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

Algerian north-eastern city of Constantine could well become the new slaughter slab where the country’s national team hope to take their guests to, in a bid to relaunch their quest for the 2018 World Cup ticket.

Already, the country’s football authorities have announced their intention to move their 2018 World Cup qualifying home game against Zambia on September 5 to the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine. Super Eagles last group match could as well be taken to Constantine. That comes up on November 8, 2017 when the temperature could be as low as between -3.9 to egrees celsius

The Fennec Foxes and Chipololo will meet in a double header in Group B in the next two rounds of 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, with the teams first clash in Lusaka at the National Heroes Stadium on September 2.

Three days later they will meet in the return game in Constantine, rather than the expected venue of Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida.

Kheireddine Zetchi of the Algerian FA confirmed the development in a press conference  last weekend: “We will play the first leg against Zambia on September 2 in Lusaka and three days later we will face same team here in Algeria.

“We plan to organise the meeting in Constantine. This is a decision we made after a first delegation visited the city. I can even tell you that the report was very positive.”

Zetchi added, “Even the players are not against the idea of playing the encounter of Zambia in Constantine.

“Indeed, they want to discover new cities and perform in towns in the interior of the country.”

That’s why we opted for the Constantine Stadium.”

It was also confirmed that 32,000 tickets will be sold for the match against Zambia at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium

Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. During Roman times it was called Cirta and was renamed “Constantina” in honour of emperor Constantine the Great

 

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Lagos flood as a failure of governance By Rotimi Fasan THE rains are again here and Lagos, Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence and City of Aquatic Splendour is in the firm but cold embrace of flood. It’s been water everywhere even when there has been very little of it to drink or use for other important purposes. The city is once more going through the annual ritual of heavy flood and the last few days, especially this past weekend, has been nightmarish for many residents of Nigeria’s number one city. While Lagos is not new to flood the severity of the floods seems to have increased dangerously in the last few years. This is happening even as the state gravitates towards its much talked-about megacity status, signposted by the dreamscape Eko Atlantic City. But whether the annual menace of flood and the decaying infrastructure that accompanies it accords with the status of the smart city Lagos is projected to become is another story. Moreover, it is remarkable that a state with a relatively solid revenue base should suffer in the manner Lagos does, owing to a myriad of natural and man-made disasters, including a grievous lack of political will and bad choices occasioned by Nigeria’s skewed federalism. I’ll return to this point shortly. But first to the floods. The heavy rains of last weekend are responsible for the latest floods. While many parts of Lagos from the island to the mainland are affected, the worst hit areas are the so-called affluent communities of millionaires and billionaires, and the middle or upper middle class people who pretend to wealth they do not have. From Ikoyi, Lekki to Victoria Garden City, Badore and Ajah to Banana Island, the whole Island was under lockdown. Images of vehicles stalled in heavy floods, people stranded at bus stops or swimming in the flood were all over the print, broadcast and social media. The pain was beyond words and the loss of property as people were forced out of their homes will not be known for a while. Which then begs the question of what type of mega city Lagos is growing into and what hopes are there for a so-called Eko Atlantic City if the surrounding neigbourhoods show all the signs of a city out of joint? Yet this cannot be because the Lagos State government under its present or previous leadership has been sleeping. If anything the present governor has been praised, like his predecessors, for the rapid manner he has brought development to different parts of the State. But the question persists as to whether a state that makes so much revenue from internally generated sources is doing enough to provide needed infrastructure and ensuring the integrity of the master plan that guides development within it. What could be responsible for the shame of a megacity that finds itself floating on water following just two days of nonstop rainfall? For one, the heavy floods point in the direction of a major change in weather pattern that has been reported in other parts of the world. The Nigerian government has not been known to take a clear position on the issue of global warming even when it appears to pay lip service to it. It accepts global warming as a fact of contemporary life even while it does next to nothing to address it. Each year Nigerians are warned to expect heavy rains and the most government does about this is to embark on drainage clearance. Beyond this perfunctory ritual nothing more appears to show the Nigerian government’s belief in global warming. But even if our government or people do not believe in it, effects of heavy rains in recent years should alert us to the dangers. There is also no doubt that certain parts of Lagos are overpopulated with more people moving into such areas and embarking on infrastructural developments in apparently unauthorised manner. Those who have the means, at least to compromise urban planning regulations, may have been erecting structures in the wrong places at a rate that is harmful to the environment and the security of all. Evidently there is massive environmental degradation in which the people and government are implicated. Land filling and reclamation on the Island especially with regards to developments of Eko Atlantic City is something that should be looked at closely. There is every possibility that activities directed at establishing Eko Atlantic might be having adverse effects in other parts of Lagos. The massive reclamation of land that accompanies this could have truly devastating effect if not done with care. There is a limit to how far man can interfere with nature without consequences. And a lot of what is going on in Lagos particularly on the Island seems to have little regard for the natural order of things. Given its status as Nigeria’s major and most metropolitan state, Lagos deserves special consideration. The city is home to Nigerians from all parts of the country and the rate of infrastructural decay in the state owes a lot to the massive inflow of people into it. Yes, Lagos makes so much from internally generated revenue, but it has to be supported to be able to continue to provide the kind of service if provides to other parts of the country. But there appears to be a conspiracy of silence if not a gang-up against Lagos by those who ought to take the lead in ensuring the state meets national expectations. The ongoing spat between the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Raji Fashola and the National Assembly is a pointer to the kind of bellyaching that many get into on account of what they misperceive as the special treatment of Lagos. Fashola, the immediate past governor of Lagos, should and does have a sense of what Lagos means to Nigeria. But our lawmakers appear to be too fixated on taking care of their personal needs and engaging in turf wars to appreciate this. Otherwise, there would be no justification in diverting funds meant for the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road into the construction of boreholes and what-not in other parts of the country. The development of Lagos is for some people a zero-sum affair. For them Lagos is being developed at the expense of other places. Yet its people like our legislators in Abuja own the choice estates that violate urban regulations which results in the environmental chaos that is Lagos. The Apapa-Tin Can Island Road begs for rehabilitation in spite of the billions of naira it brings Nigeria. Why should this be so? The aborted metroline project is another indicator of how Nigeria’s federalism has badly served Lagos. These are some of the reasons Nigerian federalism has to be reconsidered and reworked for the good of all. The time for that is now. 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By Rotimi Fasan

THE rains are again here and Lagos, Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence and City of Aquatic Splendour is in the firm but cold embrace of flood. It’s been water everywhere even when there has been very little of it to drink or use for other important purposes. The city is once more going through the annual ritual of heavy flood and the last few days, especially this past weekend, has been nightmarish for many residents of Nigeria’s number one city. While Lagos is not new to flood the severity of the floods seems to have increased dangerously in the last few years. This is happening even as the state gravitates towards its much talked-about megacity status, signposted by the dreamscape Eko Atlantic City. But whether the annual menace of flood and the decaying infrastructure that accompanies it accords with the status of the smart city Lagos is projected to become is another story. Moreover, it is remarkable that a state with a relatively solid revenue base should suffer in the manner Lagos does, owing to a myriad of natural and man-made disasters, including a grievous lack of political will and bad choices occasioned by Nigeria’s skewed federalism. I’ll return to this point shortly. But first to the floods.

The heavy rains of last weekend are responsible for the latest floods. While many parts of Lagos from the island to the mainland are affected, the worst hit areas are the so-called affluent communities of millionaires and billionaires, and the middle or upper middle class people who pretend to wealth they do not have.  From Ikoyi, Lekki to Victoria Garden City, Badore and Ajah to Banana Island, the whole Island was under lockdown. Images of vehicles stalled in heavy floods, people stranded at bus stops or swimming in the flood were all over the print, broadcast and social media. The pain was beyond words and the loss of property as people were forced out of their homes will not be known for a while. Which then begs the question of what type of mega city Lagos is growing into and what hopes are there for a so-called Eko Atlantic City if the surrounding neigbourhoods show all the signs of a city out of joint?

Yet this cannot be because the Lagos State government under its present or previous leadership has been sleeping. If anything the present governor has been praised, like his predecessors, for the rapid manner he has brought development to different parts of the State. But the question persists as to whether a state that makes so much revenue from internally generated sources is doing enough to provide needed infrastructure and ensuring the integrity of the master plan that guides development within it. What could be responsible for the shame of a megacity that finds itself floating on water following just two days of nonstop rainfall?

For one, the heavy floods point in the direction of a major change in weather pattern that has been reported in other parts of the world. The Nigerian government has not been known to take a clear position on the issue of global warming even when it appears to pay lip service to it. It accepts global warming as a fact of contemporary life even while it does next to nothing to address it. Each year Nigerians are warned to expect heavy rains and the most government does about this is to embark on drainage clearance. Beyond this perfunctory ritual nothing more appears to show the Nigerian government’s belief in global warming. But even if our government or people do not believe in it, effects of heavy rains in recent years should alert us to the dangers. There is also no doubt that certain parts of Lagos are overpopulated with more people moving into such areas and embarking on infrastructural developments in apparently unauthorised manner.

Those who have the means, at least to compromise urban planning regulations, may have been erecting structures in the wrong places at a rate that is harmful to the environment and the security of all. Evidently there is massive environmental degradation in which the people and government are implicated. Land filling and reclamation on the Island especially with regards to developments of Eko Atlantic City is something that should be looked at closely. There is every possibility that activities directed at establishing Eko Atlantic might be having adverse effects in other parts of Lagos. The massive reclamation of land that accompanies this could have truly devastating effect if not done with care. There is a limit to how far man can interfere with nature without consequences. And a lot of what is going on in Lagos particularly on the Island seems to have little regard for the natural order of things.

Given its status as Nigeria’s major and most metropolitan state, Lagos deserves special consideration. The city is home to Nigerians from all parts of the country and the rate of infrastructural decay in the state owes a lot to the massive inflow of people into it. Yes, Lagos makes so much from internally generated revenue, but it has to be supported to be able to continue to provide the kind of service if provides to other parts of the country. But there appears to be a conspiracy of silence if not a gang-up against Lagos by those who ought to take the lead in ensuring the state meets national expectations. The ongoing spat between the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Raji Fashola and the National Assembly is a pointer to the kind of bellyaching that many get into on account of what they misperceive as the special treatment of Lagos. Fashola, the immediate past governor of Lagos, should and does have a sense of what Lagos means to Nigeria. But our lawmakers appear to be too fixated on taking care of their personal needs and engaging in turf wars to appreciate this.

Otherwise, there would be no justification in diverting funds meant for the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road into the construction of boreholes and what-not in other parts of the country. The development of Lagos is for some people a zero-sum affair. For them Lagos is being developed at the expense of other places. Yet its people like our legislators in Abuja own the choice estates that violate urban regulations which results in the environmental chaos that is Lagos. The Apapa-Tin Can Island Road begs for rehabilitation in spite of the billions of naira it brings Nigeria. Why should this be so? The aborted metroline project is another indicator of how Nigeria’s federalism has badly served Lagos. These are some of the reasons Nigerian federalism has to be reconsidered and reworked for the good of all. The time for that is now.

 

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Love for adventure, tradition key to my triumph — Nwoko CALL him a man of many parts you will not be faulted. He is a prince, lawyer of international repute, entrepreneur, politician, environmentalist and Proprietor/Chancellor, Stars University of Nigeria among others. He reveals how he has been able to distinguish himself in these pursuits. Prince Ned Nwoko APART from academic knowledge, what other things made it possible for you to become who you are today? I am a Prince of Idumuje Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. I am a lawyer by training, a businessman. I was a member of the House of Representatives for four years. I was born on December 21,1960 in Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North LGA, Delta State. My life generally has been influenced by my tradition, especially my background as a member of a royal family. While growing up all I saw around me were traditional activities. I took this in my character as I grew up. My being abroad for my studies did not adversely affect my appreciation of our rich culture and tradition. It will also not negatively affect my children. I think that it has enhanced my appreciation of our deep cultural heritage. It has also increased my appreciation of my culture because I have seen how they have promoted and preserved theirs. I think my education also shaped me and my world view. While growing up, I could remember that I loved adventure. I was passionate about nature and natural habitat, the interaction between man and other creatures, sports as well as service to humanity. These are the influences that have shaped my life and my worldview. I have been trying to inculcate some of these values in my children. When they come to Nigeria, they don’t always want to be in Abuja or in Lagos. They often want to be in my village because they love our tradition, culture and what they see there. They spend more time in the village when they come from the UK. Even my children, who are in Abuja, prefer to be in Udumuje Ugboko than the Federal Capital Territory. I will describe these as the core values that are part of me such as hard work, sincerity, honesty, dedication and service to humanity. The United Kingdom is a conservative environment which bequeathed Nigeria its legal system, to set up a legal practice in such an historic environment and made a success in it is a remarkable accomplishment. I worked as Legal Assistance, Kumar’s Solicitors, Crown Persecution Service, London; Solicitor and Partner, Pascalides & Co., and Principal Partner, Ned Nwoko Solicitors. This came at an early stage of my life and we are not letting go. This left me with the lesson that hard work pays regardless of the environment, set your goals, focus on them and be determined to succeed. On responsibility as adults We have a responsibility as adults to encourage our children to appreciate our culture and traditions. I have always been fascinated by the history of arts and over time, I have come to realise that individually and collectively, we can help to sustain and promote our culture. I have also come to appreciate the fact that in most countries of the world, if not in all, people do appreciate the arts and cultures of others. As a matter of fact, there is no country in the world today even in Nigeria, where tourism is not principally linked to arts and culture of a people. It has become the hub and most important source of earning for most countries. From Britain to France, Thailand, Brazil and the US, tourism has suddenly become the number one source of revenue. On academic pursuits I attended the University of Keele (England), where I obtained a BA (Hons) Law and History with subsidiary Subject of Biology and American Studies. I went to Kings College, University of London, LLM, where I majored in Insurance, Maritime, Company and Commercial Law, after which I went to the prestigious Inn of Court School of Law-BL (Barrister at Law of Lincoln’s Inn. London). I also attended the College of Law – London got the QLTT (Solicitor of the supreme court of England and Wales) and the Commonwealth University College, Belize, where I bagged the D.LITT (Doctor of Letters).I served as; Ex-legal adviser to Nigeria Liberal Party, Europe; Visiting Advisor, Citizens Advice Bureau, London; Member of the Society of Black Lawyers, United Kingdom; Elected member of Law Society, England and Wales and Ex- Secretary General, Nigeria Legal Practitioners, United Kingdom, amongst other positions. On career My career experience includes the following; working as Legal Assistance, Kumar’s Solicitors, Ealing London; Crown Persecution Service, London; Solicitor and Partner, Pascalides & Co, London and Principal Partner, Ned Nwoko Solicitors, Eailing, London W53EA. My areas of specialization are Civil and Criminal Litigation, including insurance, personal Injury, international conflict of laws, Immigration, Matrimonial law, wills and Probate, Commercial and Domestic Conveyance, Company Commercials including matters. I can’t say I have had professional regrets. However, I will leave that for posterity to judge but I feel pained by the death of my son in the heat of the primaries for governorship election in 2015. He was a second year law student in UK where he died on December 9, 2014. Education tourism We need the media to publicise what we are doing. We need to develop domestic tourism first. We need Nigerians to know what we have and what they have and be able to appreciate it. For instance, in my place, how many people are aware of its existence? So we need to help government and government also needs to help the private sector in a symbiotic relationship. It has to work. There must be well thought out government policy or policies that could drive these projects. We must encourage Education tourism. We expect ministries of education to include tourism in education curriculum by ensuring that apart from the theoretical aspect of it, there are practical visits to palaces, festivals, tourist sites and infrastructure to catch them young, promote the culture of holidaying and what tourism is all about. This will entail schools visiting tourism sites and locations. There must be education of how Nigerians should be able to appreciate what we have. We can begin to do this from the primary schools; inculcating into our kids the idea that it is not only in France that they have to go and see Eiffel tower, London Bridge in London, Mausoleum in Italy or Disney World in Florida or the Taj Mahal in India or the Pyramids in Egypt. Through the development of Tourism education curriculum, school children will travel from place to place within and outside the states on sightseeing. The private sector and schools will have to work out plans on how to provide vehicles and make adequate security arrangements for such visits. We are blessed with so many resources. I believe that I can in my own little way help to spearhead this inevitable revolution. It will happen. It has happened in other countries. We have all that it takes to make it a reality. We just need to organise ourselves and sustain the tempo when it eventually becomes a reality. Your country home in Ugboko has been described by the authorities as a tourism site, what inspired the construction of such an edifice in a village? Our vision is to use it to promote tourism in Idumuje Ugboko. Some visitors have described it as a fortress of peace, with its enchanting sight, which you only approach through a 9-hole metre golf course. Its architectural design is a blend of Arabian and Western design having a royal traditional look given to it by the alluring designs and most notably the fences and building made with local bricks. Inside it is a castle with its most notable and intriguing feature being the finishing, its elaborate and beautiful plaster works and handmade ceilings imported from Morocco makes it to have the look of a palace. It also boast of a tunnel being one of my favorite places in its environment with wall engravings describing some of the cultural acts in Nigeria locally designed by one of the residents in the locality. The setup of this tunnel is so wonderful that it exhibits the property of a good location in film making. The mansion has a combination of Arabian and Western design spiced up with rich African royal traditional designs. The architectural master piece has been described as one of the most fascinating tourism destinations in the country. Apart from the main building, other features are beautifully mowed garden found nowhere else in the state and perfect for family camping and relaxations. The place has a zoo with many species of animals including crocodiles, ostriches, horses, sea eagles, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits and others. Another section of the land has fish ponds that have about 50 thousand cat fish and other species in them. Apart from these, the land also has a poultry section with about five thousand chickens, while another part is filled with thousands of palm trees. Just behind the main castle is an Olympic size swimming pool and a lawn tennis court, with a standard table tennis board adjacent it. Award on promotion of human rights I will say that since I left the House of Representatives in 2003, I have received so many awards from groups, institutions, communities etc. Recognition, Appreciation and rewards for our work are sources of encouragement when earned and when deserved. It means that people are still appreciative of my contributions to governance as a lawyer and a law maker at the parliament. When you realise that we live in a culture where people lobby for awards and honours from traditional institutions and the academia, then you will know that being recognized by the people you don’t know about or sponsored to get ego peddling awards is not a mean feat. The award is in the area of promotion of Good Governance through law making and promotion of human rights. Of course you now that I left the House of Representatives in 2003, but the awards have continued to come in recognition of the work I did during that period. I was able to sponsor over 20 bills including those which impacted on some very key sectors like: A Bill for the establishment of a National Information Network Centre; A bill for an Act establishing a National Disability allowance; National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reform bill (2000); A bill for the establishment of a National minimum wages council; A Bill for an Act for the Protection of Nigerians Abroad; A Bill for the Amendment of the Firearms Act; A Bill for the Prohibition of Expensive Burial Rites in Nigeria; A Bill for an Act for Community Legal Service; A Bill for an for The Convening of National Conference and A Bill for an Act for Establishing A National Sports University, amongst others. The post Love for adventure, tradition key to my triumph — Nwoko appeared first on Vanguard News. 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Kida backs Ikeme, calls for support Newly elected President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Musa Ahmadu Kida, has made out a solidarity message for the Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Kida is backing the shot stopper to recover and return fully to work. Kida Kida said what Ikeme needs now is support from Nigerians and friends across the world through prayers and goodwill messages. Kida said, “Any news that is not helpful to any federation in Nigeria touches us all and indeed this one on Ikeme touches not on Nigerians but truly across humanity. The world is still battling to have a permanent cure for cancer and so we are very emotional when a loved one is hit by it. “But I say this believing that Carl will come out of this stronger. We have seen some other people survive cancer and so we in the world of Nigeria basketball are backing him to come out well and return to very active life again. We join hands with the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and the other members of the Nigeria football family to wish Carl victory in this very crucial battle.” Pinnick was one of those who sent early goodwill messages to the Nigerian. Sports minister Solomon Dalung has also sent his message stating how devastated he was. Nigerian players and their colleagues from across the world have also sent goodwill thoughts on Ikeme. On Friday Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea posted on his Twitter handle, “All goalkeepers and the football family are with you!” Ikeme is responding positively to the get-well messages. On Monday he sent message via Twitter handle, “Thank you all for your kindness and love. The start of a new chapter and ready to give it my all.” The post Kida backs Ikeme, calls for support appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

Start-ups, SMEs major beneficiaries of FG’s two new laws — AppZone By Tare Youdeowei EXECUTIVE Director Business Operations, AppZone Limited, Mr. Emeka Emetarom, has said that the two new laws signed by Acting President, Yomi Osinbajo, have the potential to revitalise the ailing operations of Small and Medium Enterprises, occasioned by difficulties in accessing loans. Emetarom said the two laws – The Collateral Registry Act and the Credit Reporting Act – are a step in the right direction and according to him, “Each of them has the potential to increase access to loans for SMEs.” He said that the Collateral Registry Act will make it possible for small businesses to provide previously unacceptable assets to financial institutions as they apply for loans, adding that such assets which were hitherto invalid will now be accepted by banks as collateral, hence reducing the barrier to lending for financial institutions. “The Credit Reporting Act compliments this in the sense that, with sharing of credit history across credit bureaus and financial institutions based on BVN, it becomes possible for accurate credit ratings to be developed by the credit bureaus and applied during loan request appraisals. “The impact of this is two-fold: Firstly, it will engender a culture of accountability and timely loan repayments amongst borrowers, and the society at large. This is likely to happen as bad debtors find that their credit ratings prevent them from accessing more loans from any financial institution in the country. The second positive impact of the Credit Reporting Act is that with the harmonized data on borrowers across the banking industry, predictive analytics techniques can then be used to identify would-be good borrowers and loans can be disbursed to them more easily and at lower interest rates.” He argued that based on that brief analysis one can see that the mid to long term impact of the two laws will be better access to credit for small businesses, as well as lower interest rates. However, he identified grey areas that could take the shine off the impact created by the two laws. He said: “Unfortunately, while the two laws go a long way to support SMEs, and the present administration should be commended for this initiative, other challenges persist. Businesses can only grow to the extent that there is demand. Don’t get me wrong; credit on its own can lead to some measure of growth. And this can happen where a loan is applied in a way that brings about economies of scale of operation such that the business has higher margins even though sales volumes do not grow. It can also happen in a case where the cost savings from such economies of scale are transferred to customers, thereby making the product or service more affordable and consequently increasing sales volumes. However, there’s a limit to how much extra demand can be created through price reduction, especially in a country where the price of goods and services are already low, relative to developed economies. “To optimize the impact of the two laws, deliberate steps need to be taken to boost the productivity of the working class and the adult population in general. With higher productivity and output will come higher earnings, more disposable income overall, and increased aggregate demand within the economy.” At this point, the sky will be the limit for SME’s as they will be able to maximize on the opportunities provided by the improved access to credit. The post Start-ups, SMEs major beneficiaries of FG’s two new laws — AppZone appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Tare Youdeowei

EXECUTIVE Director Business Operations, AppZone Limited, Mr. Emeka Emetarom, has said that the two new laws signed by Acting President, Yomi Osinbajo, have the potential to revitalise the ailing operations of Small and Medium Enterprises, occasioned by difficulties in accessing loans.

Emetarom said the two laws – The Collateral Registry Act and the Credit Reporting Act – are a step in the right direction and according to him, “Each of them has the potential to increase access to loans for SMEs.”

He said that the Collateral Registry Act will make it possible for small businesses to provide previously unacceptable assets to financial institutions as they apply for loans, adding that such assets which were hitherto invalid will now be accepted by banks as collateral, hence reducing the barrier to lending for financial institutions.

“The Credit Reporting Act compliments this in the sense that, with sharing of credit history across credit bureaus and financial institutions based on BVN, it becomes possible for accurate credit ratings to be developed by the credit bureaus and applied during loan request appraisals.

“The impact of this is two-fold: Firstly, it will engender a culture of accountability and timely loan repayments amongst borrowers, and the society at large. This is likely to happen as bad debtors find that their credit ratings prevent them from accessing more loans from any financial institution in the country. The second positive impact of the Credit Reporting Act is that with the harmonized data on borrowers across the banking industry, predictive analytics techniques can then be used to identify would-be good borrowers and loans can be disbursed to them more easily and at lower interest rates.”

He argued that based on that brief analysis one can see that the mid to long term impact of the two laws will be better access to credit for small businesses, as well as lower interest rates.

However, he  identified grey areas that could take the shine off the impact created by the two laws. He said: “Unfortunately, while the two laws go a long way to support SMEs, and the present administration should be commended for this initiative, other challenges persist. Businesses can only grow to the extent that there is demand. Don’t get me wrong; credit on its own can lead to some measure of growth. And this can happen where a loan is applied in a way that brings about economies of scale of operation such that the business has higher margins even though sales volumes do not grow.

It can also happen in a case where the cost savings from such economies of scale are transferred to customers, thereby making the product or service more affordable and consequently increasing sales volumes. However, there’s a limit to how much extra demand can be created through price reduction, especially in a country where the price of goods and services are already low, relative to developed economies.

“To optimize the impact of the two laws, deliberate steps need to be taken to boost the productivity of the working class and the adult population in general. With higher productivity and output will come higher earnings, more disposable income overall, and increased aggregate demand within the economy.” At this point, the sky will be the limit for SME’s as they will be able to maximize on the opportunities provided by the improved access to credit.

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Oral powder reduces sickle cell disease crises By Sola Ogundipe THERE is good news for persons living with Sickle Cell Disease, SCD, a rare, inherited blood disorder that causes crippling pain and shortened lifespans. A new powder formulation known as Endari (L-glutamine oral powder) for treatment of the debilitating disorder has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The new formulation is approved for patients aged 5 years and older to reduce severe complications associated with the blood disorder. Sickle cell disease affects millions of people across the world, especially those of African descent and Nigeria has the largest number of persons living with the disease in the world. About 25 per cent of adults throughout the country have the sickle cell trait, AS, while an estimated 150,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria every year. A person with sickle cell disease has red blood cells that are hard, sticky, and sickle-shaped. These cells clog smaller blood vessels resulting in pain as well as increased risk for infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. Painful crises are a common feature of sickle cell disease and Endari (L-glutamine) has been shown to reduce the number of crises in patients. Several treatments have been mooted in the past for sickle cell disease, including an experimental gene therapy that is offering hope to those who suffering from the disorder. Dr Richard Pazdur, the Acting Director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Centre for Drug The post Oral powder reduces sickle cell disease crises appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Sola Ogundipe

THERE is good news for persons living with Sickle Cell Disease, SCD, a rare, inherited blood disorder that causes crippling pain and shortened lifespans.

A new powder formulation known as Endari (L-glutamine oral powder)  for    treatment of the debilitating disorder has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The new formulation is  approved for patients aged 5 years and older to reduce severe complications associated with the blood disorder.

Sickle cell disease affects millions of people across the world, especially those of African descent and Nigeria has the largest number of persons living with the disease in the world.

About 25 per cent of adults throughout the country have the sickle cell trait, AS, while an estimated 150,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria every year.

A person with sickle cell disease has red blood cells that are hard, sticky, and sickle-shaped. These cells clog smaller blood vessels resulting in pain as well as increased risk for infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.

Painful crises are a common feature of sickle cell disease and Endari (L-glutamine) has been shown to reduce the number of crises in patients.

Several treatments have been mooted in the past for sickle cell disease, including an experimental gene therapy that is offering hope to those who suffering from the disorder.

Dr Richard Pazdur, the Acting Director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Centre for Drug

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Okagbare, Amusan others storm Ozoro for Warri Relays Top Nigerian athletes including Blessing Okagbare, Tobi Amusa, Ese Brume, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and others are ready to grace the 2017 Warri Relays and CAA Grand Prix billed for July 18 in Ozoro, Delta State. Blessing Okagbare The event will afford Nigerian athletes who are yet to make the IAAF World Championships standard the opportunity to rake up qualifying performances. Also Okagbare will be looking to continue her come back to form after she clocked her season’s best 10.99 seconds last week at the Diamond League meet in London. Amusa with her 12.57 second personal best will run in front of the home crowd for the first time since acquiring her world class status. The Delta State Government, as well as Solid Works, will be sponsoring the 2017 Warri Relays & CAA Grand Prix which over the years has attracted top athletes from across the world to the oil-rich and sports loving State. Chief Solomon Ogba, CEO, Solid Works, revealed that outside of the elite cast of athletes, the High School and Inter-Collegiate Category is also gathering much momentum as students in and around Delta State are looking forward to the July 18th Meet with keen interest. Ogba highlighted the need to continually provide platforms for youngsters to exhibit their skills and get discovered. The post Okagbare, Amusan others storm Ozoro for Warri Relays appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

OAU EX-VC’s trial: Protest forces judge to amend detention order By Gbenga Olarinoye Osogbo—There was violent reactions from students and staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, yesterday, as an Osun State High Court, sitting in Ede remanded the former Vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Anthony Elujoba. OAU staffers barricading the exit of Ede High court to prevent the former Acting VC of the institution from being taking to prison custody Elujoba is standing trial for alleged financial impropriety. The presiding judge, justice David Oladimeji had earlier ordered Elujoba to be remanded in Ilesa prison, pending a ruling on his bail application. Oladimeji adjourned the hearing on Elujoba’s bail application till July 19, after listening to the two-sided argument on the merit of the application. Violent protest, however, followed the position of the court immediately, with students and staff from the university descending on perceived Elujoba’s enemies in the court premises. They barricaded all entries to the court premises, an action that charged the atmosphere around the court. The protesters claimed in their remarks that Elujoba was being persecuted by some cabal within the university community, saying he was innocent of all the charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. They expressed readiness to stand with the former Vice Chancellor to the end, with a promise to fight any attempt aimed at tarnishing Elujoba’s image. The resilience of the protesting students and staff eventually paid off as the court was forced to reverse itself and adjusted its ruling. Justuce Oladimeji adjusted Elujoba’s bail application, by setting the delivery date to Friday, July 15 and ordered him to be remanded at EFCC custody, instead of prison as earlier ruled. The development doused tension within the court premises, as all barricades were opened and the protest stopped. The post OAU EX-VC’s trial: Protest forces judge to amend detention order appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

IPC tasks stakeholders on life of journalists By Bartholomew Madukwe LAGOS—Following the weekend murder of a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Mr. Lawrence Okojie, in Benin City, Edo State, the International Press Centre, IPC, in Lagos has called on media stakeholders to meet and brainstorm on measures to safeguard the life of journalists and other media professionals in the country. Condemning the murder of the NTA reporter, Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the killing of Okojie was shocking, unfortunate and, therefore, deserving of urgent investigation. He stated: “The death of Okojie has again reinforced the need for media stakeholders to meet and brainstorm on measures to safeguard the life of journalists and other media professionals while putting up a stout defence of media freedom in Nigeria.” According to him, it was one killing too many and very sad that journalists are still being murdered in cold blood with no one so far prosecuted and convicted for the acts. He urged the Police to make the case of journalist Okojie a turning point. It will be recalled that Okojie was killed by gunmen on Saturday night July 8, 2017 in Benin City, Edo State. It was gathered that the deceased was dropped off by NTA staff bus at Ogunola Junction in Benin City around 8p.m., on Saturday and thereafter, called to inform his wife that he was on his way home. However, several hours later his wife could not reach him, leading to apprehension and search that led to the discovery of his corpse in a morgue in the city on Sunday night. The post IPC tasks stakeholders on life of journalists appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Bartholomew Madukwe

LAGOS—Following the weekend murder of a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Mr. Lawrence Okojie, in Benin City, Edo State, the International Press Centre,  IPC,  in Lagos has called on media stakeholders to meet and brainstorm on measures to safeguard the life of journalists and other media professionals in the country.

Condemning the murder of the NTA reporter, Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the killing of Okojie was shocking, unfortunate and, therefore, deserving of urgent investigation.

He stated:  “The death of Okojie has again reinforced the need for media stakeholders to meet and brainstorm on measures to safeguard the life of journalists and other media professionals while putting up a stout defence of media freedom in Nigeria.”

According to him, it was one killing too many and very sad that journalists are still being murdered in cold blood with no one so far prosecuted and convicted for the acts.

He urged the Police to make the case of journalist Okojie a turning point.

It will  be recalled that Okojie was killed by gunmen on Saturday night July 8, 2017 in Benin City, Edo State.

It was gathered that  the deceased was dropped off by NTA staff bus at Ogunola Junction in Benin City around 8p.m., on Saturday and thereafter, called to inform his wife that he was on his way home.

However, several hours later his wife could not reach him, leading to apprehension and search that led to the discovery of his corpse in a morgue in the city on Sunday night.

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Ikeme: Wolves donate gate-takings to treatment Wolves will donate ten percent of their gate-takings in their season opener on August 5 against Middlesbrough to the treatment of diagnosed leukaemia patient Carl Ikeme. Carl Ikeme Also profits from the sale of replica shirts branded “Ikeme 1” will also be donated, while Wolves will name the stricken goalkeeper their number one for the rest of the 2018 season. The donations will be made to the Birmingham-based charity Cure Leukaemia, as will profits from the sale of goalkeeper replica shirts printed with ‘Ikeme 1’. It was revealed that Ikeme has began immediate treatment with the hope that the 31-year-old Super Eagles first choice keeper will be fit again. Routine test during Wolves pre-season preparations revealed leukaemia in the blood levels of the the goalkeeper. “Wolves can confirm that Carl Ikeme will remain listed as the club’s number one for the 2017-18 season,” a club statement read. Wolves have also announced a number of initiatives to support Ikeme in what could be a long fight against the condition. A large banner, flags and messages of support for Ikeme on the electronic boards are among the club’s other initiatives. Ikeme has been a Wolves player throughout his 14-year professional career. He has been out on numerous loans but featured regularly for Wolves in recent years. The post Ikeme: Wolves donate gate-takings to treatment appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

Detergent manufacturers bow to consumers’ demand By Princewill Ekwujuru PRESSURES on consumers’ disposable income as well as their quest for additional value on products may have forced leading brands in the detergent market into dynamic product changes. This development has heightened competition and quest for market shares among the major producers such as Unilever Nigeria Plc, makers of Sunlight detergent, Procter & Gamble (P&G), producers of Ariel and PZ Nigeria Plc, manufacturers of Canoe. Coupled with this is the challenge posed by new entrants into the detergent product line and are now making huge impact in the market such as Eko Supreme Resources Nigeria Limited, makers of SoKline and Mama Gold, Nasco Industries, producers of Bonus, and Limex Global, manufacturers of Miss Bimbo. Investigations by Vanguard Companies & Markets (C&M) show that the market leaders have considerably altered the composition of the inputs, including perfumery to gain consumers’ interest. They have also resorted to re-packaging, re-designing and reducing grammages to be more pocket-friendly with the reduced purchasing power of consumers. In some other cases the manufacturers are infusing new washing technology or chemicals for added value such as stain removers. From leaders to laggards C&M findings also show that as a result of these market and competition dynamics some market leaders have been pushed into laggards’ list. Before now, detergent brands like Surf and Omo, both from the stable of Unilever, as well as Elephant detergent produced by PZ, had ruled the market, but faded out as a result of inability to adjust to the emerging market situation. PZ had tried to re-launch the Elephant brand back to the market but failed in the mission as the realities of the new market order weighed down on their plans, which invariably impaired their re-entry. The laundry soap product line in Nigeria consists of two major categories: hand-wash and the machine-wash categories. Powder detergents and bar detergents form a major portion of the hand-wash segment. In the machine-wash segment, powder detergents and liquid detergents are the main types. The powder soap category is the most popular in Nigeria. However, consumers’ insight into activities of the manufacturers to scoop more market share was what a consumer, Madam Paulina Obieze, described as manufacturer’s sensitivity to consumers’ pressure on detergent owners to produce a more satisfying product type that fit their (consumers) pocket while delivering promises of good quality. Another consumer, owner of a dry cleaning outfit, Mr. Appolos Igwe, said, most of the detergent brands are doing well in the market, basically because consumers want more for little amount, elegant designs and perfume input. “Some have gone ahead to infuse other washing ingredients and technology into their brand to enhance their acceptance in the market,” he stated. According to him, “most times I use two of these brands, SoKline and Sunlight. SoKline for its stain magnet and colour guard technology and Sunlight for its freshness and perfume.” A mother, Mrs. Josiah Anuolapo, said, “what attracts me to the brands is that they all have cleaning power, unlike in those days you have to scrub and scrub before you get result, the detergents have all improved greatly,” she stated. A look into the price list of the brands and offerings show a differentiated price war. For example, 90gram and 190 gram of Sokline sells for N70 and N130, but was between N50 and N100 late 2016, while both detergent offered consumers the privilege of colour guard, stain magnet technology and concentrated 30 percent detergent. The 200gram of Gold mama from the same company sells for N120, offering consumers extra cleaning power/ improved formula for washing, according to a roadside store owner, who claimed that the pricing difference is because Sokine is more popular and has been in the market before Gold mama. On the market leadership, a distributor of the detergent products at Balogun Business Area, trade fair complex, Lagos, Chief Austin Omengboji, said: “The limitations of traditional bar soaps have led to the development of synthetic detergents that are superior in performance.” He said most of the brands are doing well, but noted that Sunlight, Ariel and SoKline are major contenders in the leadership position in the market, but that the odd favours Sunlight and Ariel. Mazi Bonnyface Obigwe, Managing Director, Josh Enterprises, said, “from what I observed the battle line is being drawn by the detergent manufacturers, sometimes you are confused as to who is the market leader, but from my ledger here, Sunlight, Ariel and SoKline sell most.” “In fact, the brands are tearing the market apart with their cross section appeals like re-packaging , fragrance inclusion and design which is repositioning the brands, while keeping their promises,” said Moses Unong of Matrix Marketing. Women, according to him “love the Sunlight yellow and purple colours,” which he said attracts consumers to it. The annual consumption of detergents in Nigeria is in the magnitude of hundreds of thousands of tonnes. The formal sector, with its increasing ability to influence consumers through advertisements, is rapidly expanding its market share, according to C&M’s chat with an experiential marketing expert, Johanson Igbarowe of Oracle campaign. Brand Development and Activation Director of PZ Cussons, Christos Giouras, denied the claims by some market operators that PZ’s Canoe brand is not visible in the market, stating that Canoe soap remains Nigeria’s number one laundry soap and is available pan Nigeria across all channels. According to him, “based on the most recent market share data that we have, both detergent and bar soap have either maintained or grown their share.” The post Detergent manufacturers bow to consumers’ demand appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Princewill Ekwujuru

PRESSURES on consumers’ disposable income as well as their quest for additional value on products may have forced leading brands in the detergent market into dynamic product changes.

This development has heightened competition and quest for market shares among the major producers such as Unilever Nigeria Plc, makers of Sunlight  detergent, Procter & Gamble (P&G), producers of  Ariel and PZ Nigeria Plc, manufacturers of  Canoe.

Coupled with this is the challenge posed by new entrants into the detergent product line and are now making huge impact in the market such as Eko Supreme Resources  Nigeria Limited, makers of  SoKline  and  Mama Gold, Nasco Industries, producers of Bonus,  and Limex Global, manufacturers of   Miss Bimbo.

Investigations by Vanguard Companies & Markets (C&M) show that the market leaders have considerably altered the composition of the inputs, including perfumery to gain consumers’ interest.

They have also resorted to re-packaging, re-designing and reducing grammages to be more pocket-friendly with the reduced purchasing power of consumers.

In some other cases the manufacturers are infusing new washing technology or chemicals for added value such as stain removers.

From leaders to laggards

C&M findings also show that as a result of these market and competition dynamics some market leaders have been pushed into laggards’ list.

Before now, detergent brands like  Surf and Omo, both from the stable of Unilever, as well as Elephant  detergent produced by PZ, had ruled the market, but faded out as a result of inability to adjust to the emerging market situation. PZ had tried to re-launch the Elephant brand back to the market  but failed in the mission as the realities of the new market order weighed down on their plans, which invariably impaired their re-entry.

The laundry soap product line in Nigeria consists of two major categories: hand-wash and the machine-wash categories. Powder detergents and bar detergents form a major portion of the hand-wash segment. In the machine-wash segment, powder detergents and liquid detergents are the main types. The powder soap category is the most popular in Nigeria.

However, consumers’ insight into activities of the manufacturers to scoop more market share was what a consumer, Madam Paulina Obieze, described as manufacturer’s sensitivity to consumers’ pressure on detergent owners to produce a more satisfying product type that fit their (consumers) pocket while delivering promises of good quality.

Another consumer, owner of a dry cleaning outfit, Mr. Appolos Igwe, said, most of the detergent brands are doing well in the market, basically because consumers want more for little amount, elegant designs and perfume input.

“Some have gone ahead to infuse other washing ingredients and technology into their brand to enhance their acceptance in the market,” he stated.

According to him,  “most times I use two of these brands,    SoKline  and  Sunlight. SoKline  for its stain magnet and colour guard technology and Sunlight for its freshness and perfume.”

A mother, Mrs. Josiah Anuolapo, said,   “what attracts me to the brands is that they all have cleaning power, unlike in those days you have to scrub and scrub before you get result, the detergents have all improved greatly,” she stated.

A look into the price list of the brands and offerings show a differentiated price war. For example, 90gram and 190 gram of  Sokline  sells for N70 and N130, but was between N50 and N100 late 2016, while both detergent offered consumers the privilege of colour guard, stain magnet technology and concentrated 30 percent detergent.

The 200gram of Gold mama from the same company sells for N120, offering consumers extra cleaning power/ improved formula for washing, according to a roadside store owner, who claimed that the pricing difference is because Sokine is more popular and has been in the market before Gold mama.

On the market leadership, a distributor of the detergent products at Balogun Business Area, trade fair complex, Lagos, Chief Austin Omengboji, said: “The limitations of traditional bar soaps have led to the development of synthetic detergents that are superior in performance.”   He said most of the brands are doing well, but noted that Sunlight, Ariel and SoKline are major contenders in the leadership position in the market, but that the odd favours Sunlight and Ariel.

Mazi Bonnyface Obigwe, Managing Director, Josh Enterprises, said, “from what I observed the battle line is being drawn by the detergent manufacturers, sometimes you are confused as to who is the market leader, but from my ledger here,  Sunlight, Ariel  and  SoKline  sell most.”

“In fact, the brands are tearing the market apart with their cross section appeals like re-packaging , fragrance inclusion and   design which is repositioning the brands, while keeping their promises,” said Moses Unong of Matrix Marketing. Women, according to him “love the  Sunlight  yellow and purple colours,” which he said attracts consumers to it.   The annual consumption of detergents in Nigeria is in the magnitude of hundreds of thousands of tonnes. The formal sector, with its increasing ability to influence consumers through advertisements, is rapidly expanding its market share, according to  C&M’s  chat with an experiential marketing expert, Johanson   Igbarowe of Oracle campaign.

Brand Development and Activation Director of PZ Cussons, Christos Giouras, denied the claims by some market operators that PZ’s Canoe brand is not visible in the market, stating that Canoe  soap remains Nigeria’s number one laundry soap and is available pan Nigeria across all channels.

According to him, “based on the most recent market share data that we have, both detergent and bar soap have either maintained or grown their share.”

 

 

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US commits $4.3b to tackle HIV in Nigeria By Victoria Ojeme The US government support for HIV/AIDS programmes in Nigeria totalled $4.3 billion between 2014 and 2016 with more than 700,000 patients treated in 2016 alone. Charge D Affairs U.S Mission in Nigeria, Mr David Young who disclosed this in Abuja, said the US Young who made the call at the commissioning and official handing over of Jikoko Community Health Centre project supported by U.S. Ambassador’s small Grant Programme in Bwari Local Council Area, Abuja, said over $23 million is contributed annually to immunisation activities in Nigeria. The envoy said the US through the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, made annual contribution of $7.35 million to support Nigeria polio programme.” “In addition to the annual contribution the polio programme also received an additional seven million dollars at the national level in 2016 and provided technical assistance in Bauchi, Katsina and Sokoto States. “The U.S. Government is appreciated of our work with the National Primary Health Development Agency, the UN agencies, state governments as well as National Stop Transmission of Polio programme and GAVI alliance. “We urged them to strengthen this work to kick out polio out of Nigeria. Nigeria is the only country in Africa that is still on the endemic list of polio.” He said health workers are encouraged to continue to make the provision and demand for immunisation a priority, and that health of children is the future of the family, community and the country in general. The envoy said U.S. always cooperates with other partners and government to make a difference in Nigeria.He expressed confident that the commissioning of the health centre in the community would contribute towards the goal to kick out polio. “The commissioning of the clinic was an indication that “health is one of the priority areas of U.S. development assistance in Nigeria.” The post US commits $4.3b to tackle HIV in Nigeria appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

By Victoria Ojeme

The US government support for HIV/AIDS programmes in Nigeria totalled $4.3 billion between 2014 and 2016 with more than 700,000 patients treated in 2016 alone.

Charge D Affairs U.S Mission in Nigeria, Mr David Young who disclosed this in Abuja, said the US

Young who made the call at the commissioning and official handing over of Jikoko Community Health Centre project supported by U.S. Ambassador’s small Grant Programme in Bwari Local Council Area, Abuja, said over $23 million  is contributed annually to immunisation activities in Nigeria.

The envoy  said the US through the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, made annual contribution of  $7.35 million  to support Nigeria polio programme.”

“In addition to the annual contribution the polio programme also received an additional  seven million dollars at the national level in 2016 and provided technical assistance in Bauchi, Katsina and Sokoto States.

“The U.S. Government is appreciated of our work with the National Primary Health Development Agency, the UN agencies, state governments as well as National Stop Transmission of Polio programme and GAVI alliance.

“We urged them to strengthen this work to kick out polio out of Nigeria. Nigeria is the only country in Africa that is still on the endemic list of polio.”

He said health workers are encouraged to continue to make the provision and demand for immunisation a priority, and that health of children is the future of the family, community and the country in general.

The envoy said U.S. always cooperates with other partners and government to make a difference in Nigeria.He expressed confident that the commissioning of the health centre in the community would contribute towards the goal to kick out polio.

“The commissioning of the clinic was an indication that “health is one of the priority areas of U.S. development assistance in Nigeria.”

 

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Agbo leaves Granada for Standard Leige Nigeria international defender, Uche Agbo has left Spanish club, Granada CF for Belgian club, Standard Liege. Agbo Agbo joined Granada in 2014 on loan from Watford and went on to make 37 league appearances for the senior team of the club. Last season, he made 31 appearances for the club but was powerless to prevent the side from getting relegated from Spain’s top flight. The defender who can also play in midfield will now play his football for the Belgian top division club. The news has officially been ratified by the club’s official website, www.standard.be. “Uche is a young midfielder with an important game volume and a good ball recuperation. “A major part of last season he was a champion in the Spanish league. “He is ready for a new challenge and will offer more options for our midfield. “Standard de Liège welcomes Uche Henry Agbo and the best in our colours,” the statement read. Agbo has previously played for FC Taraba, Juth, Enyimba and Udinese in Italy. The post Agbo leaves Granada for Standard Leige appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

Dino Melaye: Kogi government blasts Ekweremadu The Kogi State government, yesterday, described as mischievous a statement credited to the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, suggesting that it is behind Senator Dino Melaye’s recall process. The State noted that Ekweremadu’s remark that Melaye’s recall process by the people of Kogi West senatorial district was an exercise in futility was an indication that […] Dino Melaye: Kogi government blasts Ekweremadu

The Kogi State government, yesterday, described as mischievous a statement credited to the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, suggesting that it is behind Senator Dino Melaye’s recall process. The State noted that Ekweremadu’s remark that Melaye’s recall process by the people of Kogi West senatorial district was an exercise in futility was an indication that […]

Dino Melaye: Kogi government blasts Ekweremadu

BusinessDay’s states competitiveness awards hold tomorrow BUSINESSDAY announced, yesterday, its States Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards 2017, will hold tomorrow in Abuja. In a statement, the organiser said the awards, which are targeted at the governors of the 36 states including Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will have Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in attendance as the special guest of honour. According to the statement, the awards categories range from ‘Most Improved in Housing Development, to Most Improved in Educational Development and Best State promoting Made in Nigeria Goods/SME development. Other categories of the awards are “states with the most improved security, fastest growing state economy; ease of doing business including transparency in governance; most improved in agricultural development, and governor of the year.” The post BusinessDay’s states competitiveness awards hold tomorrow appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds

BUSINESSDAY announced, yesterday, its States Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards 2017, will hold tomorrow in Abuja.

In a statement, the organiser said the awards, which are targeted at the governors of the 36 states including Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will have Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in attendance as the special guest of honour.

According to the statement, the awards categories range from ‘Most Improved in Housing Development, to Most Improved in Educational Development and Best State promoting Made in Nigeria Goods/SME development.

Other categories of the awards are “states with the most improved security, fastest growing state economy; ease of doing business including transparency in governance; most improved in agricultural development, and governor of the year.”

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NPC charges Sultan, Emir others to preach family planning By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO—The National Population Commission, NPC, yesterday, charged the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II; fiery Islamic cleric, Malam Abubakar Gumi, and other eminent traditional and religious leaders in the North to champion the spread of family planning gospel in the region. The Commission’s Chairman, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, while celebrating this year’s World Population Day in Kano, said their involvement was for the sake of building a healthy and prosperous society. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano Duruiheoma, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the state Director, Sank Sa’adu Usman, said “having a large army of uncatered-for children because the mothers are denied access to family planning services, is not in the interest of any community either in the short or long term.” He explained that Nigeria’s population remained its greatest asset in the quest for sustainable development. He, however, stressed that the health status and general wellbeing of women and the girl-child had the capacity to influence development process but that “this capacity was being undermined by their continued exposure to preventable phenomena of maternal mortality, unsafe abortion and early pregnancy, which deny them the pursuit of educational and economic opportunities, all occasioned by lack of access to family planning services. “All the massive investments in building social and physical infrastructure, healthcare, education and other critical sectors of our national life will not yield maximum benefits unless the women and girl-child have unfettered access to sexual and reproductive information and services.” The post NPC charges Sultan, Emir others to preach family planning appeared first on Vanguard News. For More details click the green link via Naijapounds