A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Lionel Messi scored twice on his return from suspension as Barcelona piled the pressure on Real Madrid on Wednesday by moving top of La Liga with a 3-0 win over Sevilla.File: Lionel Messi
Messi was banned for his last two outings for club and country but looked rested rather than rusty as he took his tally for the season to 43 goals in 41 games.
The Argentine also played his part in setting up Luis Suarez’s stunning overhead kick to open the scoring.
Barca lead Real by a point, but Zinedine Zidane’s men have two games in hand, starting at Leganes later Wednesday.
Madrid, though, will have to do without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale after they were rested by Zidane.
Defeat continues Sevilla’s slump and a sixth straight game without a win sees them remain three points behind Atletico Madrid in the battle for third place.
A visit to the Camp Nou offered Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli a final chance to make his case for the Barca job at the end of the season.
Sampaoli was one of the leading candidates when Luis Enrique announced his decision to step down at the end of the season last month.
However, Sampaoli was left to rue another night of missed chances as a three-goal blitz in eight first-half minutes secured the three points for the hosts before half time.
Messi fired an early warning as he blasted a shot off the underside of the bar from outside the area after just three minutes.
Sevilla had two glorious chances to open the scoring as Steven N’Zonzi fired too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen when clean through before Vitolo headed over when unmarked inside the area.
Suarez made no such mistake as he caught Messi’s deflected cross flush with an overhead kick to break the deadlock with his 31st goal of the season.
Barca’s star front three were all involved for their second on the counter-attack as Suarez turned Neymar’s cross back into Messi’s path to slot low past Sergio Rico.
Messi doubled his tally for the night six minutes later when he volleyed home a loose ball inside the Sevilla area.
The five-time World Player of the Year then passed up a huge chance for his hat-trick just after the break when he didn’t get enough loft on an attempted chip to beat Rico.
Sevilla had a series of chances to at least claim a consolation as Pablo Sarabia twice tested Ter Stegen with fierce efforts.
Barca could afford the luxury of replacing Suarez, Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic in the final half hour to keep them fresh for a huge month with both legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Juventus and a trip to Real Madrid to come in the next 18 days.
Sevilla’s misery was complete when Spanish international Vitolo was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after chopping down Neymar.
Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, Wednesday, denied attributing the outbreak of the deadly Cerebral Spinal Meningitis to God's punishment arising from fornication and other forms of disobedience to God.
Rather, the governor said he actually lamented the paucity of appropriate vaccines to confront the outbreak of the fatal disease in his state and called for urgent assistance from relevant government agencies to contain the ailment.
Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari
The Governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, pointed out that he merely asked Nigerians to move closer to God and plead for his mercy to avert further infectious diseases and other health crises in the state and Nigeria since God has answers to all challenges.
The statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja, said, "The Governor noted that the situation was unfortunate because the state does not have enough vaccines yet for the Type C Meningitis.
"The governor thereafter enjoined all Nigerians to embrace prayers, as God who is aware of the outbreak of the ailment surely has antidote for it.
"The Governor specially appealed to Nigerians to make deliberate effort to be closer to God by shunning sins of fornication and other forms of disobedience so as to receive his divine health and other blessings, as he is closer to those who obey him and distant themselves from sins.
"No doubt, as a God-fearing man, and a Muslim, the governor believes in the powers of Allah to inflict whatever punishment He decides on the human race. However, the governor who spoke in Hausa had a particular audience in mind when he spoke to the BBC Hausa reporter.
"The governor added for example, that fornication "should not spread so much in society that it becomes common place and if that happens, Allah promises to inflict, on its perpetrators (people) a sickness that would have no cure."
"Let it be known too that the governor still insists that all diseases come from Allah and that at no point in his interaction with the reporters did he insinuate that Allah was punishing Nigerians but instead drew from the teachings of great Islamic traditions to buttress the point he was trying to convey.
"This is exactly what the Governor said. But because some people are out there to ridicule him at the slightest opportunity and make a mountain out of a molehill with a view to tarnishing his rising reputation, the innocuous statement was misinterpreted and quoted out of context for reasons best known to the authors.
"We therefore use this medium to appeal to all well meaning Nigerians to ignore the story making the round and condemn the act of unethical practice by those disseminating the deceptive story.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Zamfara State Government in conjunction with relevant federal government agencies is making frantic effort to contain the outbreak of meningitis in the state by taking immediate steps to secure appropriate vaccines for the latest health challenge.
"Let it be on record that the state under the leadership of Governor, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari will not abandon the wellbeing of the people, who elected him to pilot the affairs of the state for any other thing.
"As the saying goes, health is wealth, and the administration will not settle for anything apart from vigorously pursuing the overall well being of Zamfara people," he said.
The driver of a sales van belonging to Euro Mega Atlantic Company, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday escaped death when his vehicle fell on its side on the Ijora/Orile overhead bridge, close to the National Theatre, Iganmu.
Newsmen report that the accident caused traffic jam, compelling vehicles to drive against the traffic.
Newsmen report that the driver of the van was dragged out of the van by policemen who were attempted to extort money from him.
The policemen, however, ran away from the scene when the uncontrolled vehicle rolled down the bridge and fell on its side, spilling the oil in the engine, while some of its parts were damaged.
Mr Folarin Omolola, the driver of the Isuzu van with registration number SMK 852 XN, told newsmen that he was suddenly stopped by a policeman wearing a name tag "Sunday Ayemi''.
Omolola said that the policeman immediately forced him out of vehicle that the engine was running as he demanded for N5,000 for no reason.
The driver noted that it was at this point that the vehicles started rolling down the bridge, while policeman and his colleagues disappeared from the scene.
An accident scene on the Orile Iganmu bridge
"Immediately, I started to run after the moving vehicle but could not do much until the vehicle fell on the bridge. It was God that saved me, the vehicle would have fallen off the bridge if not for the Kerb.
"We were on our way going back to our office and the policeman said because we have taken one way I must come down to pay N5,000 if not, the van would be impounded.
"I didn't have N5,000; so as I was negotiating with him somebody alerted me that the van was moving and as I ran down to stop the vehicle, I could not because of the slope.
"I did my best but it was too late, the tyres climbed the kerbs and the van tumbled, it is God that saved my life,'' he said.
His partner, who was panting and gasping for breath simply said: "I can't talk now, it is the Police; Ah!, thank God. Talk to the driver''.
Some miscreants popularly called "Area Boys'', who gathered at the scene to sympathise with the salesmen cursed the police force.
A Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps official, who did not want to be mentioned, told newsmen the Police officer in question ran away after the incident.
The official explained that the police made the turn toward Orile illegal for only those coming from Orile and exempted those coming from Apapa.
"The one way is not legal, if you are coming from Orile, they placed an illegal no `U turn' sign there to extort motorists,'' the official said.
Meanwhile, motorists using the bridge said the activities of policemen and officers of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) along the route had become worrisome.
The motorists, who spoke to NAN said the security officers on the route were corrupt and there activities were synonymous to that of miscreants.
Mr Niyi Olabisi, a car owner and user of the route described his experience with a police officer on the bridge as embarrassing to the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria as a country.
"I was passing through the National Theatre Bridge, heading to Ijora and at the junction, I saw a LASTMA officer and confirmed from him if I could pass through, and he said yes.
"As I negotiated to the other side of the road linking Ijora, a police officer stopped me that the road was one way and that I have committed an offence.
"I tried to explain to him that I was directed by the LASTMA official on the other side but before I knew it, he hopped into the car on motion.
"He claimed that I did not want to stop; the policeman started struggling over the wheels with me to an extent that we almost had an accident before others intervened when I raised an alarm,'' he said.
Olabisi said his car developed some technical fault as a result of the action by the policeman and he had to spend so much money to fix it.
He said he was surprised to hear that the route was one-way because he had been passing through there before the ugly experience.
According to him, there was need for a sign post notifying motorists of one-way routes, among other road signs so that they would not be cheated by security officials.
Another road user, Mr Samuel Adeniyi, said that when he was stopped on the road by LASTMA officers who claimed he passed through one-way, the officers demanded for N20,000 as fine.
Adeniyi said that it was after much plea and an hour delay that he had to give them N3,000 just to let him go.
"From my investigation, other motorist say they now use the route to make money for themselves by arresting vehicles for offences they did not commit.
"If the road is actually one-way, then the officers should arrest an offender and lead him or her to their office to pay the fine,'' he said.
A commercial driver, Mr Sylvanus Gabriel, narrating his ordeal on the route, said he was arrested and molested by LASTMA officers for no reason.
Gabriel called on the heads of the two security agencies to as a matter of urgency change the officers stationed on the route and also checkmate their activities through patrol or monitoring teams.
"They may end up hurting someone or even cause death if they are not cautioned on time against threatening people with arms,'' he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party has asked Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State to resign for attributing the outbreak of meningitis to God's punishment.
The party made this known in a statement signed by Prince Dayo Adeyeye the party’s National Publicity Secretary.
Recalled that Governor Abdulaziz Yari has said that the outbreak of Type C Cerebrospinal Meningitis in the country was a direct punishment from God to the people of Nigeria for their various sinful acts.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/god-sent-type-c-meningitis-punish-nigerians-sins-gov-yari/
THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: "Like attracts like. What you give out, you receive back. Whatever you give out in life is what you receive back in life. Whatever you give is exactly what you attract back to yourself."
THE LAW OF LOVE: The law of attraction or the law of love…they are one and the same."
CHARLES HAANEL. Life is yelling! "There is a banquet of abundance of everything you need to live a fulfilled life. Are you ready to be a partaker of this banquet?" Yes! There is more than enough for everyone but you must be ready. Life does not engage in the game of luck and chance but only those who are prepared will partake of the bounties of life. Life's banquet includes unlimited wealth, health, happiness, fulfilling relationships, growth, peace, security, freedom, opportunity and so much more. In order to access and claim these bounties you must purchase the ticket for the banquet at the cost of love. The force of love is your access ticket to purchase these vaults of valuables from life. Yes! Your preparation to be a partaker of the banquet entails flooding your thoughts and feelings with love.
Your life is shaped by what you love and by your lack of love. Every thought and feeling given out returns to its source which is you. As the writer of the script of your life; whatever story lines you choose to put down will direct and become your life episodes.
When a co-worker gets the promotion and the raise we've been longing for; are we genuinely excited for him or her? Are we truly excited about the success, progress and happiness of others? Or do we pretend to be happy when the individual is there but feel "sick in the stomach" as a result of their progress? Do we judge and criticize people out of envy and jealousy? Do we talk people down and make them look small so that we can look "big"? Here's the catch, "What you feel about another person, what you think or say about another person, what you do to another person- you do to YOU" this is a law.
That's the reason when you think you are hurting another person, in essence you are hurting your own destiny and life. Whenever we give out negative thoughts and feelings, we attract into our life negativity. However, when our thoughts and feelings are full of love, we attract positive and good things into our lives. Therefore, when next you see someone possess the things or qualities you desire to have; get excited and feel good about it and you will attract the same into your life. Resentment, guilt, depression, criticism and the like represent a lack of love in your thoughts and feelings and these will bring all sorts of negativity into your life through people, circumstances and events. Make a decision and get into the habit of emitting love into the universe and life will beckon and lavish on you its abundance.
THE ECHOES OF LIFE A boy and his father are walking in the mountains. Suddenly the son falls, hurts himself, and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Curious, he yells:"Who are you?" He receives the answer: "Who are you!" Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!" He receives the answer: "Coward!" He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?" The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!" Again the man screams: "You are a champion!" The voice retorts: "You are a champion!' The boy is surprised but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really, this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. Life will give you back everything you have given to it" Anonymous.
Here lies the key: life does not happen to you rather life responds to you. Life echoes back into your life the thoughts, feelings, words and actions you give out towards others and yourself. Yes! Life responds to the thoughts and feelings you give out not just towards others but also to you. Therefore, let go of the hurt and pains of the past and the miseries of the present and hold on to the joy of the future. If you think lowly of yourself, life will respond by bringing lowly circumstance your way. If you think you do not deserve the great things in life, life will deny you its riches.
Therefore, rewrite the script of your life and life will play back the story lines in to your life. Emit love into the universe towards others and life itself and you will experience life's amazing abundance of all good things. Remember, life does not happen to you rather life responds to you.
Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Kayode Aderanti, has resumed duty as the 19th Assistant Inspector General of Police in- charge of Zone 1, Kano.
AIG Kayode Aderanti
Aderanti, who was redeployed from Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos and takes over from AIG Adamu Ibrahim, who has since been redeployed to Zone 2.
With his new appointment, Aderanti, supervises activities of the Nigeria Police in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa State.
The Osun state-born cop who studied Sociology at the University of Ibadan , joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1984.
He has served in different capacities as Deputy Defence Adviser (Police) Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations; Head Interpol Abuja; Director of Peace Keeping Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja; CP Ports Authority Police (PAP) Western Ports; CP Lagos Command among others.
AIG Aderanti, was also a member of Senior Executive Course 38, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange Plc has approved the listing of Mixta Real Estate Plc N30 billion bond for trading on its platform.
The listing of Mixtra bonds will mark the first real estate bond to be listed on the FMDQ this year.
Mixta Real Estate Plc is a real estate developer that provides advisory services and takes on special medium to large scale development projects.
Having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, NMRC, Plc, towards bridging the housing gap in Nigeria through the DCM, the listing of the Mixta bond on FMDQ, is therefore a welcome development, and paving way for other issuers in the real estate sector, with a view to fully maximising the potential of the Debt Capital Market, DCM, in supporting economic growth and development, FMDQ said.
"By listing on FMDQ, the Mixta bond enjoys exceptional benefits which includes, but are not limited to, enhanced investor confidence in the Mixta bond, transparent information disclosure, effective price formation and global visibility from the FMDQ-Bloomberg E-Bond Trading and Surveillance System, the FMDQ website and FMDQ e-Markets Portal," the OTC Exchange added..
THE Legal Sector has birthed a new addition with a firm of leading lawyers led by Olasupo Shasore SAN. Olasupo Shasore is among five prominent lawyers who have left their respective law firms to start USL, which stands for Ukiri, Shasore and Lijadu. USL has its headquarters at 8, Kasunmu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Shasore and two others, Ovie Ukiri and Olufemi Lijadu recently left Nigerian law firm, Ajumogobia & Okeke where they had been partners. Oyinkan Badejo-Okunsanya, a former civil servant with the Lagos State Government and Folashade Alli, a principal solicitor with Vatad Solicitors are the two others that make up the five-person strong partnership.
Described on the company's website (www.usl-law.com) as 'Nigeria's first truly African Law Firm', the company also claims to have been "deliberately designed and evolved over decades of practice" and has named all the aforementioned lawyers as partners.
It is expected that the new law firm will contribute to solving Nigeria's infamous issue of unemployment, while contributing its quota to upholding the integrity of the legal system and the country's judiciary.
Abuja – The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday charged government appointees to stop making statements that could further worsen the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.
Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary, gave the advice in a statement issued in Abuja, saying that such utterances could derail the party's effort to make peace between both arms of government.
Abdullahi said the party was making concerted efforts to resolve the lingering rift between the Executive and the National Assembly and called on appointees to do same.Prof. Itse Sagay
The party specifically urged Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) to exercise restraint in his comments.
According to him, the party also charged him to desist from making utterances that may be misconstrued as an attack on the institution of the National Assembly.
"We believe the comments attributed to Prof. Sagay are uncalled for, regrettable and could further complicate the relationship between these vital arms of government.
"The party wishes to reiterate its earlier position admonishing all elected or appointed government officials to desist from utterances that may ruin efforts to build a harmonious relationship between the two arms of government.
"Prof. Sagay should not operate outside this admonition.
"Our expectation would be that as a Law Professor of repute, Prof. Sagay would appreciate the need not to denigrate the institutions of democracy, be it the executive, legislature or judiciary,'' he said.
Abdullahi said the party objected to the Professor's call on the Senate to withdraw invitation extended to him.
This, he said, was unacceptable and potentially injurious to the peace efforts by the party, especially on the background that he was appointed by the APC government.
He said the party acknowledged the fatherly role being played by President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve outstanding issues with the National Assembly by setting up a committee led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
He further charged government appointees to help the Vice President makes friends that would make his job easier.
Abdullahi expressed happiness with its recent meeting with the Senate caucus and confidence that all the issues raised would be addressed.
He also urged the National Assembly to further intensify its efforts to ensure timely passage of the 2017 national budget.
Sagay had earlier referred to the confirmation of presidential nominees by the Senate as a mere exercise.
The Senate, in a unanimous decision, had on March 28, stood down the confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for two weeks following the statement.
Most lawmakers saw Sagay`s comments on the senate's power to confirm nominees of the president as disrespectful, uncouth and a lack of recognition, coming from a Professor of Law.
The constitution had clearly stated that heads of agencies and some officers must be confirmed by the Senate before appointment.
The Federal Government has cleared pension arrears amounting N54 billion for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun who disclosed this in Abuja, Wednesday, said that N41. 5 has been paid National Pension Commission (PENCOM) for onward payment to the retirees, who retired under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
She also announced that the sum of N12.5 billion being outstanding for January, February and March 2017 has been settled based on 2016 appropriation.
“Despite conflicting demands for available cash, President Muhammadu Buhari has always expressed concern about the plight of workers and pensioners. Consistent with this, we have released N41.5 billion which clears the arrears inherited from the previous administration relating to the period 2013-15 and underpayments in 2016. This will bring relief to thousands of our elders who have served and deserve to be paid their entitlements promptly and fully," Mrs. Adeosun said.
She added, "the amount we paid includes arrears and the impact is that those who retired as far back as 2013, who had been unable to access pension under the contributory scheme due to non payment, will now be paid."
To avoid future accumulation of pension arrears, Mrs. Adeosun assured that henceforth "the monthly allocation to the PENCOM based on the appropriation of 2017 will regularly be paid along with monthly salaries of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)."
By Emma ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief The Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has granted a N1.2 billion loan to Alibert Products Nigeria Limited, a furniture manufacturing company, with a pledge to fund other Nigerian companies target export.
According to the Acting Managing Director of NEXIM, Bashir Ali, who spoke at Alibert factory in Abuja, during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currencies said that his team would take necessary steps to encourage Nigerian firms to earn hard currency by exporting their products. Bashir Ali
He said that remained the most viabl;e means of solving the challenges of foreign exchange, which currently faces the nation.
He said, “This is the type of intervention that we believe will not only bring employment but improve Nigeria’s non-oil foreign exchange earnings. NEXIM funded Albert with equipment, finance and working capital and the end result of that funding is what you are seeing here."
In his remarks, Alibert’s Managing Director, Mr. Taan Taan, explained that despite the economic challenges facing the country , the company has increased its production in the last 6 months by 30 per cent and expected to increase it by 60 per cent before the end of the year.
According to him, the company's products were being exported to West African countries such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Cote d’ Ivoire, as well as, Senegal.. He said there were to expand to the European market.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Jones Onyeri said the committee was going to take it up with the CBN to know why the manufacturing sector was not accessing the forex from the interbank market in spite of the interventions by the apex bank.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said on Wednesday that 800,000 candidates have registered since the sales of UTME form began on March 20.
The board's Head of Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, told newsmen in Lagos that the introduction of the remit mode of payment has improved the process of acquiring registration documents.
Newsmen report that prospective candidates for the 2017 all Computer Based Testing (CBT) had urged the board to consider extending the registration period due to the multiple challenges accompanying the process.
They described the process as cumbersome, stressful and frustrating and as such, that there was need to extend the deadline in order to capture all.
FILE: CANDIDATES WRITING UTME IN ABUJA
However, Benjamin said that the introduction of the remita mode of payment had mitigated the challenges faced by the candidates in acquiring the e-pins.
He told journalists that the new remita mode allowed anyone to make payment and get the e-pins from the comfort of their homes.
"This measure has doubled the rate of the registration as over 800,000 candidates have registered.
"I want to assure all candidates that are desirous of registering for this examination, will not be left out.
"We are working hard to ensure that no Nigerian child is denied of his or her right of advancing in education.
"What we are doing currently is for the benefit of not only these candidates, but for the entire Nigerians.
"We do not intend to extend the registration deadline as we are sure that all of the candidates will be duly registered,'' he told newsmen.
Benjamin said that reports had also indicated that many registration centre owners were happy with the way the exercise was going.
He said the centre owners had not complained of any form of challenges as they were well briefed, and the centres, well screened before the registration began.
Newsmen report that the registration for the UTME started on March 20 and is scheduled to end on April 19.
The computer based testing of the UTME has been scheduled to begin on May 6
Academic activities were paralysed on Wednesday at the University of Ibadan (UI) as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced its one week warning strike. The strike forced most students to stay indoors at their halls of residence, as the strike monitoring committee put in place by the union led by the Chairman of the ASUU in the Branch, Dr Deji Omole monitored development.
Omole, who moved round the faculties to monitor compliance, described the strike as successful and urged members to continue to defend their interests.
"The congress of ASUU, UI branch, at its meeting of April 4, received permission from the national body of the union, declaring one week warning strike beginning from Wednesday, April 5 to Tuesday, April 11," he said.
He said the warning strike was to compel the university administration to address pending welfare matters affecting the members.
He identified some of the issues to include, shortfall and fractional payment of salary of members, illegal pension deductions, non-payment of postgraduate supervision allowance and non-payment of promotion arrears.
"During the strike period our members are not to be involved in teaching, supervision, or attend to statutory and ad hoc meetings," Omole said.
He advised members to remain resolute and await further directives from the leadership of the union at the branch level.
Nigerian health sector received a boost recently with the introduction of mHealth Insuarance Wallet by PharmAccess Foundation. mHealth is a healthcare payments platform that connects payers, patients and healthcare providers.
The mHealth Insurance Wallet delivers funds from public and private healthcare funders directly to patients and providers through a “health wallet” located on their mobile phone.
At a demonstration ceremony held at Adefemi hospital in Ikeja Lagos, Country Director PharmAccess Nigeria, Mrs. Njide Ndili said that the use of these funds will be restricted to conditional spending at the selected healthcare providers within defined geographic areas in the country.
The mHealth Wallet was launched by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris.
Leveraging on the experiences implementing mhealth initiatives in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria, PharmAccess Foundation and its partners realized the need for a solid, back-end infrastructure to facilitate health payments and support a network of clinics where patients can utilize their health wallets for treatment. This platform can integrate with any prevalent digital payment system in a country, including banks, online payment systems and mobile money operators.
She explained that the platform would boosts demand by connecting patients to health savings schemes, benefits, and risk pooling opportunities at very low costs.
“It stimulates supply by strengthening the cost-efficiency of health providers’ service delivery through mechanisms like joint procurement systems, access to finance or capacity building. The increased transparency and reduced risk and transaction costs make it more attractive to invest in health for various health funders and payers, who receive proof that their money is used for healthcare only,” she noted.
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested members of a notorious syndicate of fraudsters made of four Nigerians and one Nigerien who specialises in duping innocent persons of their hard earned monies. Fake dollars Those arrested are Salisu Rabiu, a.k.a Maimagani; Ibrahim Idris, a.k.a Dankano; Magaji Musa (Nigerien) a.k.a Maishayi; Haruna Abdullahi,a.k.a Balogun and Abubakar Umar ,a.k.a Fulani.
The suspects were arrested in a bush along Sabon Gari, Kurmin Kogi, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna state. A search of their hideout which is suspected to be a kidnappers' den led to the startling discovery of a sum of fake $570,000 and some charms.
The five-man gang met their Waterloo when they conspired among themselves to lure an unsuspecting victim into believing that some unclaimed boxes containing huge amount of US Dollars were kept with some herdsmen believed to be accomplices of an unidentified politician.
Doubtful of the story, the would-be victim contacted the EFCC.
The operatives of the anti-graft agency upon receipt of the intelligence swung into action and arrested the gang members in their hideouts.
All the suspects are in custody while investigation continues.
The Commission wishes to use this opportunity to warn members of the public to be wary of any get-rich-quick offer in order not to be a victim of scam. However, those who had fallen victim to the nefarious activities of this syndicate are enjoined to report to the Commission's office located at No.4 Wurno Road Kaduna State. Wilson Uwujaren
*As Bill to establish a Universal Postal Service Fund scales second Reading
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- THE move by the senate to put in place a law to restrict the use of Arms in certain internal Security Operations by the Armed Forces yesterday got a boost as the bill scaled second reading.
The bill provides for an effective legal framework for the use of armed forces in internal security operations as well as ensure the observance of the rules of engagement and international conventions on the use of force and fire arms by the armed forces during internal operations.
In his lead debate yesterday, Senator David Umaru, APC, Niger East, sponsor of the Bill titled, ” Armed Forces( Restriction on Use in Certain Internal Security Operations, etc) Bill, 2017″, A bill for an Act to regulate the use of the armed forces of the Federation in internal security operation and for this purpose prescribe the conditions and procedure for its deployment in aid to civil security authorities to suppress domestic emergencies such as insurrection, civil disturbances, ethno- religious clashes, interdiction of Narcotics, drug and controlled substances; joint military and police anti-robbery patrol; and for related matters, said that the Bill would promote information sharing and effective collaboration between the armed forces and the Civil Security authorities in the interest of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign.
According to him, it will also stipulate conditions, procedure and other safeguards in the use of the armed forces in internal security operations, adding that it would also ensure that the military capability of the armed forces to discharge its primary constitutional duty is not undermined and the statutory responsibilities of the civil security authorities is not unintentionally stultified.
He said that the Bill would stipulate punitive measures against arbitrary use of the armed forces as well as promote accountability regarding the use of the armed forces in aid to civil security authorities.
Senator Umaru said that the Armed Forces of the Federation as contained in the Bill would include the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air-force, the Nigeria Navy and such other branches of the armed forces of the federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided over yesterday’s plenary, referred the Bill to the Committee on Defence, with four weeks to report back.
By Vincent Ujumadu Awka – THE director of the Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi Wednesday in Awka blamed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the economic recession in the country, arguing that those attributing the recession to fall in oil price were bad mangers. President Muhammadu Buhari during the Federal Executive Council Meeting held at the Council Chamber State House Abuja. Utomi, who spoke as guest lecturer at the maiden edition of Dr Emmanuel Egbogah budget round-table organized by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School, Awka, said the Buhari government should have foreseen the situation, had it been that it was futuristic in budget planning and management of resources.
His lecture titled: "Budget Processes In Nigeria: Challenges And Implications For National Development", blamed the situation in the country on lack foresight, adding that a good national budget ought to have preempted the situation.
According to him, a good budget should contain what the people want and envisage the implications of future economic changes and challenges.
He said: “Our major problem is that we lack planning and if there is no discipline, then budgeting is a waste of time.
“Budgeting process must be matched with where the people are going, but beyond revenue and expenditure, budget has to do with discipline and execution.
"Those blaming fall in oil price are just bad mangers because fall in oil price is not the cause of this recession."
Utomi also lamented the prevailing backwardness in the country, stating that the sad situation was basically thrown up by the events of 1966, when, he said, a gang of military boys hijacked the leadership of the country.
According to him, the same characters had remained in power since then in different guises.
In his keynote address, the deputy chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Chris Azubuogu listed factors that hindered the actualization of national budget to include poor funding of budget, lopsided budgeting, deficit budget and high domestic debt profile which he said was in trillions of naira.
In his address, the director of the school, Prof Austin Nonyelu said the conference was necessitated by the challenges and problems that bedeviled Nigeria's budget process at all levels of governance, which he noted, had impacted negatively on service delivery.
He said Nigeria budget process at all levels of governance was bedeviled by myriad challenges and problems which impact negatively on service delivery.
“The common narrative in Nigeria is that federal and state budgets are rarely implemented with consequential negative effects.
“The newly established Unizik Business School in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is committed to unraveling these issues, and hopes to provide the roadmap that will direct, and reorient the entire mechanisms and processes involved in budget development and implementation," he said.
…As we need to borrow to implement our important project
The Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, yesterday spoke live on her Facebook page about few things that has happened within the Ministry and initiatives introduced to boost the Nigerian economy.
The essences of the live video on Facebook she said was to unravel the state of the economy to Nigerians who have the right to know about the happenings in the economy.
Her appearance on facebook yesterday attracted questions and answers from people who are eager to know the ministry’s achievements and the state of economy.
Read her opines:
“The ministry has been fairy busy since last year or so, believe me it is a difficult time for the country” Our main source of revenue really eroded, creating a very painful adjustment into the economy which we are working through.’ But the good news is that we are working through the issues one by one and we are trying to ensure as we rebuild the economy, we get away from the booming base of the past’.
Furthermore, she said that when the price of a commodity sold in Nigeria is high, it's quite a miserable moment to be a Nigerian. “So we are working assiduously to building an economy when price is high or low, there will be a sustainable growth for all Nigerians. To do that we need to adopt a change of focus, invest in infrastructure that is needed to get the Nigeria economy going” she said.
Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, also said investing in infrastructure will break barriers Nigerians are facing in their businesses. “Nigerians have various barriers in growing their businesses such as; provision of good water, great road, power generation and having a good transport network.”
Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi ADEOSUN
“What the government is doing is to adjust those barriers that is holding us back, get those infrastructures in place so that businesses can thrive”. We are trying to change their paradigm for Nigeria businesses to be competitive, so that they can create jobs and enabling environment for everybody”.
Similarly, Nigeria has no enough money to place her infrastructure the way she wants it. In other words, she needs to borrow money to invest, Kemi said. “Since Nigeria has poor road network, one of our initiatives is to help and build a good rail way that will link all the South East zones and give them all they need to improve their businesses”. This is going to cost over trillion Naira, perhaps a huge sum of money and needs to be borrowed either from China or any con-sectional lenders and other countries that has good international relationship with Nigeria. “Nigeria has not borrowed internationally since 2013 and the need to borrow is here to implement her important infrastructure and enabling environment for her citizen”.
“Our second initiative is the whistle blower, which the president approved. It is all about recovering the money, its about deterrents. When money got missing people know about it. ‘It is either they are afraid to talk. The good thing about the whistle blower is that if any one knows what am doing, and finds out am not doing it right, she blows the whistle, perhaps will get me back to track” This will make people stop and think of what they are doing (evaluation). We have a unit here that are full time on the whistle blower work. They go out to investigate some tips we receive and recover, example, siphoned government money,misapplied government fund, stolen money in wheels, diversion of money and stolen money in freezes.”
“Development Bank of Nigeria is a very interesting initiative flagged off last week with license. It is very important for the SME’s. SME’s is very important because the majority of jobless Nigerians depend on the SME’s for their various businesses. They get loans from Micro finance bank which CBN lend to those micro finance banks. This will make the conditions for accessing funds easy for business people” she said.
“Finally, the last initiative is the efficiency in cutting the cost of the government, discount from airlines, restricting what people can spend like launch and other things that can be wasted, we ensure we cut them.” ‘However, we have removed dead people from payroll, even forgery persons have been removed from payroll. This is to make sure that the money available is used judiciously to implement the necessary thing and important project we have at hand. Another, to make sure that projects we need to fund, there is money to fund them”. she said.
The Federal Executive Council has approved a 1.3 billion dollars loan credit facility for the commencement of the Development Bank of Nigeria.
The approval came on the heels of a memo submitted by the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun seeking council's ratification on the loan's request.
Adeosun, who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of FEC meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, said 500 million dollars of the amount would come from the World Bank.
According to the minister, another 450 million dollars is expected from the African Development Bank, and 200 million dollars from KFW, a financial corporation.
Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi ADEOSUN
Adeosun said another 130 million dollars would come from the French Development Agency to make up the 1.3 billion dollars earmarked for the commencement of the bank.
"As you know, the Development Bank of Nigeria recently received its licence and is being funded by some long term loans from some of our development partners.
"So the World Bank had given us 500 million dollars repayable over 21 years and all of this is at a concessional rate.
"The African Development Bank is giving us 450 million dollars and KFW are giving us 200 million dollars and the French Development Agency are giving us 130 million dollars.
"To access this money, we are ready to disburse but there are two requirements that we need to make and one of them is the legal opinion by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the other is the National Assembly approval.
"Before it goes to the National Assembly, it needs to be approved by FEC and the FEC simply approved today that these loan requests should go to the National Assembly for approval.
"So we can access this money and the Development Bank of Nigeria can take off fully as it is expected to transform Financing of our MSMEs sector.
"The council enthusiastically approved these facilities which are on long term, meaning that the DBN will be able to lend to our MSMEs over much longer periods and at much lower rates.
"So the impact on the SMEs will be quite considerable.'
According to her, the loans are also concessionary with interest rates of less than two per cent and have very long repayment period of up to 21 years.
The loans are aimed at allowing the bank to lend to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for a longer period with interest rate lower than in commercial banks.
Adeosun also said that the council approved N550 million contracts to hire project managers and verification consultants for the integration of the military's payroll into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
She said that 200,000 military personnel would be integrated into IPPIS.
If, as expected, Thibaut Courtois plays in tonight's big game against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian will make his 100th Chelsea appearance.
Thibaut Courtois
The Blues goalkeeper, an ever-present in the Premier League this season, has taken just over two-and-a-half seasons to reach the milestone, and in terms of an occasion on which to join the 100-match club, they don't come much bigger.
Courtois made his Chelsea debut in the opening game of the 2014/15 campaign, away at Burnley and he ended his first season at the club having helped the club win both the Premier League title and League Cup. With the team in a strong position to achieve further success over the next couple of months, the 24-year-old is pleased with the way in which his time at the club has gone up until now.
'I would have maybe expected to reach 100 games a bit earlier but obviously last season I missed almost three months, and around 20 matches, so I probably would have got there sooner without injury,' he tells the official Chelsea website. 'But I'm really proud to reach that milestone for a great club like Chelsea and I hope to achieve many more.
'When I came back here the goal was to win trophies with a very competitive team, so to achieve that in my first season was fantastic.
'Obviously last season wasn't a great one because I was injured and the team had some disappointing results. It wasn't a nice experience but to fight back this season and be top of the league, as well as in the semi-final of the FA Cup, is really good. I'm happy with how my time here has gone and I hope to add more silverware in the future.'
Pep Guardiola will be the man in the opposing dugout as the Blues attempt to overcome Man City, and the Spaniard's arrival in the Premier League has led to discussion about the importance of modern-day goalkeepers being able to instigate attacks with their ability on the ball.
'It all depends on what type of football your manager wants you to play,' says Courtois. 'Antonio likes us to play out from the back so we need a goalkeeper who has the ability to pass the ball, and is not afraid to receive the ball and open the game up. It's important for our game and probably even more so for Man City, who go maybe one step further.
'In general, most goalkeepers of the new generation will be brought up being able to produce good passes, but ultimately what's most important is to save balls. It's nice to have a goalkeeper who is very strong with his feet but in the end you want him to make saves which help you win the game.
'The hand capacity, and the saves you make, are always more important than your feet, but these days both are important.'
Tonight's match, which pits first against fourth, takes on added significance for the Blues following the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Prior to the weekend reverse, Chelsea’s last Premier League defeat came against Tottenham in early January, and the Stamford Bridge side responded well to that particular setback by winning their next four games.
'It would be good if we can do that again,' Courtois says. 'Obviously it's a big game and in matches like this anything can happen so it's difficult to say whether you will win, lose or draw. The result can depend on small details but let's see what we can do. I hope we can win the game and bounce back from Saturday.
'I don't think we played a bad game against Crystal Palace, we were just a bit unlucky. Maybe defensively the two goals were given away but after that we were a bit unfortunate not to score a second goal because I think if we had, we would have gone on to beat them. We just have to remain calm, we're still seven points ahead and we need to stay focused and relaxed.
'Our victory at the Etihad earlier in the season maybe helps us feel a bit more confident about tonight's game. We know what to expect. The away game was very tough but the small details were in our favour that day. Hopefully we can get a similar result this time.'
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