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
By Festus Ahon ASABA-AGAINST recent media report, the Chairman, Project Monitoring Team of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Asaba branch, Mr Matthew Badaiki Monday said that the Federal Government did not flagged off distribution of agricultural inputs to rice farmers under the apex bank Anchor Borrowers Programme in Delta state.
Chatting with the Vanguard in his office, Badaiki, disclosed that he did not flag off the programme, explaining that he does not have the power to do so as reported.
According to him, “the monitoring team only commenced verification and distribution of 60 kg rice seedling inputs to 24 certified farmers in Ugiliamai, Ndokwa West Local Government Area with a proviso of repayment in six months upon harvest.
“The 60kg rice seedling was supplied by the inputs supplier Raymos Guanah farms to members of Ike Neli farmers' multipurpose cooperative society after a strenuous verification exercise by the team.
“The clarification exercise of farmers is to ensure that the beneficiaries of the program are genuine farmers and those who are not farmers should desist from participating as their signatures and photographs will be used to track everyone who benefits from the programme”.
While urging the beneficiaries to embrace the programme with all seriousness, he said that ” the programme should not be seen as political settlement. Inputs expected to be supplied are rice seedlings, fertilizers and chemicals”.
By Chief E.K. Clark, OFR, CON IT was the famous William Shakespeare who said all the world is a stage, and all men and women merely players. They have their entrances and their exits. And so for my Boss, my Oga, my Mentor, my Bosom Friend, the man whom God used to implement my destiny, he has acted his part and has exited the stage. The curtain is closed for him.
Samuel Ogbemudia
The passing on of His Excellency, Brig.-Gen Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia on March 9, 2017, came to me as a rude shock. This is because only two days before his demise, I had spoken to his eldest daughter, Mrs. Dele George, and I informed her that I will be going to visit her father now that I am in Lagos. Little did I know that this plan will not materialize as my bosom friend and mentor will go to rest with the Lord; true meaning of "Man proposes, God disposes."
Truly, the activities of man are directed by Almighty God to the utter ignorance of man. It now dawns on me why just five months ago precisely in November, 2016, he personally, in a hand written letter, wrote to me inviting me to a ceremony at his residence at No. 3, Ihieya Street, Benin City. He said he wanted me to be present at the ceremony when the first set of students of the University of Benin, under the auspices of the University of Benin Alumni Association, class 1970, will be honouring him with an award of Grand Patron of the University of Benin Alumni Association, at a Luncheon.
Patron of the Association
The Association made up of the students who graduated about 46 years ago, also wrote to me that he would like me to be present at the occasion, as it will also honour me as Patron of the Association on that day.
I attended the ceremony with a large team and live band to celebrate him at the occasion because nobody deserves such an award more than His Excellency, Brig. Gen Samuel Osaigbovo Ogemudia. During the occasion, he traced the history of how he founded the University of Benin and how he made me a One-Man Council by Edict, to carry out the setting up of the University of Benin. About 85 Alumni out of the 174 students admitted in September, 1970, at the takeoff of the University, were present. Indeed it was an occasion for him to recount how the institution was founded.
Looking back now, I think that occasion was destined by the Almighty for honour and for forgiveness. Because on that day, the former Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomwhole, did what I had advised him to do in 2009 for the action he took then, when he asked that the car bought for Brig-Gen S. O. Ogbemudia, during the tenure of His Excellency, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as Governor, be returned. I felt that it was an inappropriate action, and in an Open Letter addressed to Governor Adams Oshiomwhole dated March 12, 2009, I advised the Governor to apologise to Brig-Gen Samuel Ogbemudia, the builder of modern Midwest; that rather than asking him to return a car, when Governors today are getting jumbo pension packages, he should be honoured.
On that day during the occasion, which was also his last day in Office as Governor, having served two terms, Governor Oshiomwhole openly rendered unreserved apologies to Brig-Gen S. O. Ogbemudia. He recalled that I had advised him to do so, and was, therefore, happy that I was present on the day he was rendering the apology. That was the last day I saw this great man, my friend and mentor, who had so much trust and confidence in me as Governor of the State and I as his Commissioner, that people called me the "Deputy Governor."
It was, therefore, a great occasion to be with the man who made me Commissioner of Education, One-Man Council for the Establishment of the University of Benin by Edict, Commissioner for Finance and Establishment, first Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Benin, Chairman of Armel Transport, Chairman of Delta Boatyard and many others. In addition, one certain evening, he invited me to his private residence at No. 3, Ihieya Street, Benin City and asked me whether I will like to serve under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the then Head of State. I replied that the decision was his. He said that I deserved it, that I should go. That was how I became the Federal Commissioner (Minister) of Information. I never knew it will be the last time I will be seeing him. I thank God that I was able to honour his invitation and personally attended the occasion on that day in November, 2016. It would have been a big regret for me.
Military Officers of Ibo extraction
Brig-Gen. S. O. Ogbemudia was a great soldier, who escaped Benin City on the eve of Nigerian Civil War and joined Gen. David Ejoor's team where there were nine Military Officers of Ibo extraction with just three others as non-Ibos, namely himself a Major at the time, late Major Ndiomu and Capt. Sunny Tuoyo. He headed the troop that liberated the Midwest area which was occupied by the rebel soldiers. He was later made the Military Administrator by the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed who was the General Officer Commanding. He participated fully in the execution of the War in January, 1967, in order to protect lives and property and consolidate the unity of Nigeria.
At the end of the War, because of the atrocities committed by the Military Officers of Ibo extraction during the occupation of Midwest State by them, Midwesterners of non-Ibo extraction were no longer ready to live together with their Ibo counterparts, and threatened to build a Berlin kind of wall in Agbor to wall off the Eastern part. But Col. Ogbemudia, as he then was, who believed so much in the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria as propagated by the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, sought for a peaceful resolution of the matter.
In order to douse the tension which was building up in the State, he appointed the Justice Omo Eboh Attrocities Commission to probe the invasion and atrocities committed against the people of Midwest. Thereafter, he again summoned the Elders and Leaders of Midwest State to a meeting at Uromi on November 2, 1967, where the people spoke frankly on the accusations and counter accusations, during the Civil War when the Midwest was over ran by the rebel troops who declared it the Republic of Benin.
The meeting lasted all night and at the end, peace was restored as the people agreed to bury their differences. Ogbemudia defused the tension and the idea of building a wall across Agbor was dropped.
Reprisal killings
The following morning we all, in buses, drove to Asaba to see for ourselves what was going on. But we could not get to our destination and had to return back because of the shootings by the Biafran soldiers from across the River Niger. He saw to it that reprisal killings against the Ibos who were living in the Midwest region stopped.
When the War ended and peace was restored, it was time to work. I accompanied Col. Ogbemudia to Lagos to congratulate the Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on the successful execution of the War at the Dodan Barracks. At that meeting, Gen. Gowon in a military tone ordered him to immediately commence the implementation of the 3R policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and the policy of No Victor, No Vanquished of the government. When we returned to Benin, Ogbemudia summoned all civil servants to a meeting explaining to them what the Head of State had said.
He told them to forgive and embrace peace. And in that spirit, he appealed to them to make sacrifices by donating five per cent of their salaries for the rehabilitation of the Ibos. This appeal was, however, not received well by many people, who were still feeling the pains of the loss of loved ones and property inflicted during the occupation of the Midwest. Although some heeded the appeal, there were those who said they were not going to make any contributions. He also directed that Primary and Secondary School Teachers from East Central State, who have come from across the Niger, be given teaching jobs and other kinds of jobs. They were so integrated.
Ogbemudia and I felt that the bitterness expressed by the youths could be doused by taking some of the students from our State to East Central State to visit their counterparts and see what they were going through. I led the visit. In the first batch of the visit, I took over 100 students with me.
Sitting on bare floor
As we journeyed, one of the most devastated towns that we passed through is a town called Abagana in present day Anambra State. We noticed the extent of destruction in the town. When we arrived Enugu, all the students were quartered at Queens School, Enugu, which was very ravaged too, with broken roofs.
Luckily, it was not raining season. The pupils were sitting on bare floor, using old stoves as desks and seats. There were no windows and no doors. The following morning, the Civilian Administrator of East Central State, Dr. Ukpabi Asika, joined us in the School Hall and a prayer assembly was conducted, after which the people were addressed. We sang the Nigerian National Anthem. It will be the first time the students of the East Central State will sing the Anthem after the War.
At the end of it, both the students I traveled with and their Eastern colleagues embraced themselves. Tears flowed freely. The Permanent Secretary in my Ministry who was on my entourage, who had earlier sworn not to make any contributions wept like a child and resolved there and then that he will make his own contributions and more.
Somali militants on Monday recaptured Elbur town in central Somalia after Somali Government and the African Union peacekeeping (AMISOM), forces pulled out.
Al-Shabaab
Elbur District Commissioner Nur Hassan Gutale said that the joint forces withdrew from the town on Monday morning, allowing the heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters to return.
"Ethiopian troops under AMISOM and Somali National Army (SNA) withdrew from their bases in Elbur town, a strategic town in Galgudud region today.
"The withdrawal was made by AMISOM first, and then government forces as they could not stay there alone because they were not prepared", Gutale said.
He accused AMISOM troops of not informing them of the pullout from the town which allowed the insurgents to enter without any resistance.
The reason for the troops' withdrawal from the town was not clear.
"They did not inform us that they are leaving and this is a sudden decision. Al-Shabaab militants recaptured the town and our forces are in an area west of the town", the government official said.
Gutale added that Galmudug State Administration would take action against the militants in the coming week.
"The enemy group (Al-Shabaab) will target civilians, therefore, we are working to flush them out of the town and liberate the town'', he added.
Local residents said the militants who have waged near-daily attacks against government and AU bases in Somalia hoisted their black banner on the top buildings to alert the locals about their return to the town.
The residents said the allied forces backed by tanks and armoured vehicles were seen heading to Dhusamareb, the regional capital of Galgaduud region.
The allied forces have been in Elbur town since 2014 after several residents had fled the town due to fear inflicted by the insurgents.
FRAYED nerves were soothed when rescue workers finally announced the recovery of the body of the late Dr. Allwell Orji, the medical doctor, who jumped into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.
Generally speaking, suicide is often carried out as a result of despair; frequently attributed to mental disorders and stress factors such as financial difficulties, unemployment and problems pertaining to interpersonal relationships, among others. The growing cases of suicide in the country should worry every Nigerian. It should be stated that while some cases were reported, investigations have revealed that many suicide cases are never reported. Some reported cases in the media in the last few months would be analysed.
A former Secretary of the Mbiabong Village Council of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Ekanem Edet, was said to have committed suicide and left a note whereby he allegedly blamed his action on harsh economic conditions. One Chinonso also reportedly committed suicide after ingesting a substance suspected to be poison in Kubwa; a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory, having left a note stating his wish 'to go and rest'. Similarly, one Dayo was found dead in the Oke-Aro area of Akure, Ondo State because he felt he was not capable enough to fend for his family.
An albino, Ugochukwu Ekwe, was said to have equally committed suicide in Lagos, over the colour of his skin while one Busari was said to have hung himself over his indebtedness to a bank. Another Ekanem Edet reportedly hung himself in Akwa Ibom State and was said to have cited inability to meet his financial obligations before dying, one Mrs. Omolola Atejioye took her life in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State under similar circumstances while a man in Mgbaleze Isu Community of Ebonyi State, Chijioke Ani killed himself in his farm. One Jane was found to have committed suicide when her fiancé allegedly jilted her, as another ex-NEPA (Defunct National Electric Power Authority) staff, Mr. Popoola Adepoju, was reported to have committed suicide in Idi-Ose, Ibadan, Oyo State after losing his job. The list goes on.
But what could have precipitated the suicide cases? Many factors have been attributed to the unfortunate situation but most of the cases have to do with the harsh economic situation in the country. Hence, the need for the government to do something to abate the trend without further delay. The reality today is that many people often find it difficult to meet basic needs of life. Good government policies, decisions and actions should be judged on their ability to provide the kind of environment for citizens to showcase their productive potentials and make available the necessary capacity to provide jobs and other economic benefits to the people.
Many people cannot eat and afford ordinary things that make life comfortable and worth living. Areas of urgent attention include the provision of employment to the very many young and able-bodied men and women who daily roam the streets doing nothing. Such people easily become vulnerable to suicide when societal problems mount on them. Apart from the jobless, many working class citizens continue to live poorly because of the very high inflation and cost of commodities prevailing in the nation. I have had the opportunity to speak with a cross-section of Nigerian workers who complain bitterly about the current fuel price in the country. By the time an average worker buys fuel for his car and some for the generator because of the poor and epileptic power supply in the country, nothing is left to take home.
Workers are reputed to result to all manners of loans just to survive because majority of the income would have gone into fuel purchase and transportation to work. Little wonder, Nigeria has been ranked the 103rd happiest nation in the world and 6th in Sub-Saharan Africa in the World Happiness Report. The World Happiness Report 2016 update ranks 157 countries by their happiness levels in which Nigeria dropped from its 78th position in the world and 2nd in Africa in the previous year’s happiness ranking.
Buttressing unpleasant working condition of Nigerian workers is Dr. Essien Attah, a colleague of the medical doctor, who committed suicide by jumping into the Lagos lagoon, Dr. Orji, who gave possible reasons why the doctor took his own life. Attah, in a Facebook post, stated that the unsatisfactory work conditions had driven many in the medical profession to a state of despondency. He explained further that the drop in job satisfaction, the barrage of dependents, who seek doctors out for financial support and the 'recalcitrant nature of government has left many doctors on half pay, irregular pay or no pay at all', poor working facilities and these could have driven the doctor to commit suicide. In a curious manner, the Lagos State Police Command rescued a woman, Taiwo Momoh while attempting to jump into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge, while fishermen also rescued another, Mrs. Abigail Ogunyinka, at the Ebute-Ero end of the Lagos lagoon. Ogunyinka was said to have jumped already but was rescued by nearby fishermen. Both women said they are heavily indebted.
Therefore, the government should reconsider a reduction in the pump price of fuel without delay. Salaries should be remitted to workers as at when due while pensioners should be timely paid . Furthermore, relatives and friends should be more vigilant and sensitive to the behaviours of people around them. Many cases of suicide could have been averted if people had been more conscious of happenings around them.
What should we watch out for? Has anyone recently withdrawn from friends and relatives? Has a friend, colleague or companion become unnecessarily moody of recent? Is there any negative comment to suggest that someone is actually fed up with life? A positive timely word or conduct could save a life!
Such vulnerable persons should be appropriately counselled and prevented from avoid committing suicide. On a final note, while the emergency services of some state governments are up and doing, many others are terribly inactive and moribund due to poor funding and mismanagement. There is the need to ensure that such vital public offices are made ready and equipped to respond to critical situations, whenever they arise.
Mr. Adewale Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agric., Abeokuta, Ogun State.
When President Muhammadu Buhari delegated the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to inaugurate the 24-man Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform headed by Senator Ken Nnamani early in October 2016, huge question marks trailed the exercise.
Questions were raised as to the need for yet another such panel in this economic recession when the Federal and State governments rely heavily on borrowings to fund the cost of governance. What is the need to further increase the size of government which the panel implies?
Again, why is it that a Federal Government under a brand new ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which promised "change" continue along the wasteful attitudes of past regimes, which it spared no venom in referring to?
All the three presidents who ruled this country under the PDP banner – Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar' Adua and Goodluck Jonathan – set up similar committees ranging from national conferences to electoral review panels which gulped huge sums of money and turned out documents which were subsequently abandoned.
What can the Nnamani-led Committee accomplish that national conferences set up by Obasanjo and Jonathan could not? Why was the widely acclaimed fantastic job on electoral reforms by the Muhammadu Uwais Committee set up by the late Yar'Adua consigned to the dustbin when it innovatively prescribed a method of appointing the Chairman and Board of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a manner that would guarantee the electoral umpire's independence?
The APC, as the main opposition party, had officially boycotted the National Conference empanelled by former President Jonathan in March 2014, describing it as "deceptive". Why would it, as a ruling party, embark on a similar venture when there already exist comprehensive ideas waiting to be implemented?
Another shadow of doubt about the real interest of the Federal Government in the Nnamani Committee was the fact that the job of setting it up was delegated to a minister, a major departure from the President personally inaugurating it to show how apparently seriously government took the programme. Besides, the Committee has overshot its 16-week period to complete its work by more than two extra months.
Meanwhile, Nnamani, who rose to the exalted post of Senate President under PDP has defected to the ruling APC, and has since been named an arrowhead of the party's quest to make inroads in the South East zone, thus portraying the panel as a mere partisan political gambit. We call on the political class to put an end to such duplicitous, unnecessary and wasteful use of public funds when many areas that impact on the life on the ordinary Nigerian, such as education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, power and energy supplies are yearning for adequate funding.
A UNITED Kingdom-based organisation, Almond Careers would hold a two-day project management training for Nigerians in line with its goal of making participants more equipped for employment anywhere in the world. In a chat yesterday the Founder of Almond Careers, Mr. Henry Mbadiwe said the workshop is scheduled to hold from April 8 to 9, 2017 in Lagos.
His words: "Our idea is to train all the people who are going to come On Saturday and Sunday. We are giving them all the knowledge of business management. We are looking at the theory part of it. After the training of the 50 participants, we will put them into teams and will link them with our teams in the UK. They will work collaboratively on a project from start to finish. Although we have thought them whatever they need to learn, it is not enough.
''We will make sure that we get one of our real projects and combine them with our team members in the UK so that they will have experience of working in an international company, working across borders, and working with people that live in a different country using the methodologies that we thought them. When they finish with the training, it is not just the knowledge but they will get work experience from a British company and network with people.
'' Now that the individual has been able to deliver a project from start to finish, the person will have the references to proof it on his CV and recommendations from the companies. We will now have to help the people to look for jobs in Nigeria; and all across the world. International companies hire people from India and bring them to work in other countries. I want them to start taking people from Nigeria. When a Nigerian who lives in Nigeria has delivered a project for a British company, the same company will give a recommendation to the person to get another job in the UK and other parts of the world. This training is going to change participants and make them more equipped.''
The Nigerian Navy (NN) said it had released the list of candidates who were successful in the aptitude test for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 24 held on Dec. 17, 2016.
A statement by its acting Director of Information, Capt. Suleman Dahun, issued on Monday in Abuja, said applicants were hereby notified to check www.joinnigeriannavy.com or www.navy.mil.ng for the list.
Dahun said Successful candidates were to report at the NN Secondary School Ojo, Lagos State, for further screening commencing from April 10.
He said the exercise would involve the screening of academic certificates/credentials, medical test, physical fitness test, written and oral examinations.
Dahun also said candidates should come along with the Originals and photocopies of their academic certificates/credentials.
He said they were to also come with their Statement of Results, testimonial for Primary and Secondary Schools attended with scratch cards for verification of O'Level results.
"They should also come along with birth certificate/declaration of age, NYSC discharge/exemption certificate and four recent colour Passport Photographs.
" And three pairs of white (unmarked) vests and navy blue shorts, a pair of white canvas/trainers, two bed sheets and pillow cases, a set of cutleries and toiletries," he said. He said candidates who failed to report on the stated date stood to be disqualified.
"Please, note that the NN Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) 24 Selection Board will only attend to candidates whose names appear on www.joinnigeriannavy.com or www.navy.mil.ng based on the DSSC guidelines," Dahun said.
By Clifford Ndujihe NATIONAL Chairman of the United Progressives Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has picked holes in comments by Presidential Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, that President Muhammadu Buhari will win if he presents himself for another election.
Muhammadu Buhari
In a chat with Vanguard, Okorie said that Adesina did not read the mood of the nation well because Nigerians are disappointed and despondent over the performance of the All Progressives Congress, APC government and the best option for President Buhari is to bow out honourably in 2019 after his first term or be humiliated at the polls.
His words: ”Mr Adesina is not reading the mood of the nation correctly. What he said is a disservice to President Buhari and his administration. The mood of most Nigerians is that of despondency and disappointment. Half way into President Buhari’s four-year term, there is nothing to show that the change they voted for will happen before 2019.
”Nigerians are very commpassionate people by nature. They have been praying for good health for the president. The last thing they will expect is for a president with health challenge, who has been struggling to perform his duties, to present himself for election for a second mandate.
”The best option for President Buhari is to bow out after his first tenure like Dr Nelson Mandela did in South Africa. If he re-presents himself for election, he will be humiliated at the ballot box.”
Unless there is urgent intervention, Jude Ikegwuonu, a broadcaster, who was involved in a ghastly car accident in July, 2013 may not practice again. The accident affected his spinal cord (c5/c6), rendering him paralysed on all four limbs (quadriplegia).
Jude Ikegwuonu
Doctors handling his case say he requires $50, 000 (N25,000.00) to get his life back.
Accepting his fate as a quadriplegic, bedridden with excruciating pains, the ace broadcaster, is in need of Nigerians assistance to raise the money to enable him acquire mobility aids such as stairs-climbing wheelchair, mobile ramps, and wheel chair van.
Ikegwuonu who is full of hopes to practice again, also requires physiotherapy as he is going through severe pains in his spinal cord.
Driven by his passion for broadcasting and believing that his paralysed state is not an obstacle to achieving greater heights, Ikegwuonu has recorded many inspirational videos that have touched many lives and he also does part time broadcasting job to make ends meet.
Ikegwuonu who worked with Nigeria Info FM 92.3 Port Harcourt, Channels Television among others until his accident, said, "I need the support of Nigerians to enable me live a productive life again. I don't believe that I cannot function even in this condition. I believe that even in my condition, I still have the ability to function optimally like every other person; touch lives and make impact in the society.
"There are certain therapy I should be undergoing, such as MRI, medical check up in my spine and brain, but because there is no money, I have not gone for the tests. My doctor said therapy is essential in my condition, just like the one I underwent when I was transferred to India in 2015 where I underwent occupational therapy sessions for seven months, which helped me in moving my hands, even though my fingers are not working. I trust God to touch the heart of all those that would read my story and support me in any way they can.
"If I get these mobility aids, I can go back to work, earn a living and get other needs. Please you can donate to Jude Ikegwuonu, Guaranty Trust Bank, , Account number: 0016988982 or call 08028294451.
The Akwa Ibom State Government in partnership with FHI 360 under the Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services (SIDHAS) project is set to conduct the first ever Akwa Ibom State AIDS Indicator Survey (AKAIS).
The survey, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development ,is aimed at generating precise data to describe the HIV epidemic in Akwa Ibom as well as estimate the unmet need for HIV interventions in the state. The survey outcome will also help the government and its stakeholders to plan how best to address and find solutions to the problem of HIV & AIDS in communities, LGAs and in the state generally.
Akwa Ibom was chosen by The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in conjunction with FMOH and Akwa Ibom State authorities as one of its focus states for scaling up HIV prevention and control strategies. However, data that could be used to guide this scale up had significant gaps and was limited for planning purposes. The survey is therefore intended to fill these gaps and provide a sound evidence base to guide and inform specific strategies for scaling up HIV prevention and control interventions in Akwa Ibom state.
In press statement released by FHI 369, the survey activities have been scheduled to start on April 1, 2017 and run for a period of about one month in all the 31 LGAs of the state. The activities of the survey will involve HIV counselling and testing. It testing will be conducted under strict confidentiality. For the testing, blood samples will be collected by trained personnel from members of households. A representative sample of 3,257 households and 16,936 individuals including 7,791 children will be interviewed across all 31 LGAs. The sampled households have been previously mapped based on National Population Commission's enumeration areas in each LGA.
To successfully drive this initiative, an effective survey management structure made up of highly competent personnel and experts has been put in place by the government and its stakeholders. The state survey management committee is led by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and is responsible for providing overall administrative oversight in the process. This committee will receive technical support from the Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (AKSACA), FHI 360 and relevant civil society organization (CSO) networks including the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN)
This survey is a shared responsibility and everyone has a part to play to ensure the success of the process. It is therefore expected that everyone in the state actively participates in and encourages other community members to accept and participate in the activities of AKAIS.
MINERS under the auspices of Miners Association of Nigerian, MAN, have expressed frustration over high cost of mining equipment due to recession and high exchange rates.
Mining
The National President, MAN, Alhaji Sani Shehu, made the disclosure while appraising performance of miners in 2016 and projections of mining activities for 2017 in line with global practices.
Shehu said that the prices of various mining equipment, which include bulldozers, excavators, spare parts and others have doubled by 50 per cent, therefore making it expensive for operators to acquire them for business.
He stated: "The price on mining equipment doubled by 50 per cent. Brand new bulldozer which used to be about N60 million before the recession is now N125 million, a fairly used excavator, which used to be N20 million is now N45 million and on a whole their prices doubled by over 100 per cent. This is because of high exchange rate and most operators in the sector could not afford it.
"Those who have this equipment already could not replace parts of their equipment due to the high cost."
He further stated that the mechanisation plan to increase production capacity in the sector has suffered setback due to inflation and as a result impacted negatively on their business performance.
"The mechanisation plan to double production has been frustrated by the impact of the recession. It has also slowed down productivity in the sector", he stated.
While expressing optimism about the sector in 2017, the miners' boss urged government to implement intervention policies, which include equipment leasing centres, duty free on mining equipment, mineral buying centres, equipping the geosciences laboratory, and others.
Some customers of the free-to-air digital television in Abuja are complaining of the challenges they are facing using the television set-top boxes or decoders.
The customers, who spoke with newsmen in separate interviews, said they were not enjoying the television device because it was simply not functioning as expected.
Miss Anita Ebogbe, a civil servant living along Airport Road, said since she bought the decoder, she had problems installing the antenna because it did not come with an antenna.
Ebogbe said that even when she bought an antenna and installed it, the channels were still not stable as it was going off and on.
She listed other challenges as lack of many channels as advertised and most would not receive any signals, adding out of the 30 channels in her decoder, only four were working.
She said that the television did not have international channels such as BBC, CNN, Super Sports, among others as expected by users.
Anita called on the Federal Government to ensure that the new free-to-air television had wide range of channels so that it could compete with foreign satellite televisions such as GOtv, DSTv, and the Startimes.
Mr Smaila Ape, a businessman living in Karu, told NAN that when he bought the free-to-are television, it worked well for only one month but after that it stopped working.
"My brother, I bought the free decoder for N1, 500, I was told that I will not recharge it until one year.
"And I was very happy that this will be a relief to me because as I am also using the DSTv that I am recharging with N5000 every month.
"So when I bought the free–to-air-television, my joy knew no bounds because I thought will no more pay money to recharge my television until after one year.
"But now I am disappointed about the way the television is working and I had to revert to my former DSTv,'' he said.
Mrs Agnes Okoro, a resident of Kubwa, a satellite town in the FCT, said when she bought the box and installed it in her television, it worked for sometime but later stopped working.
Okoro said that since then she abandoned the device and reverted to her former Startimes subscription due to challenges with the decoder.
"Some of the challenges I experienced in using the free television are break in signals as sometimes some channels will be talking but it will not be audible and some the of the channels sometimes are just not stable,'' she said.
Mr Danladi Abubakar, a teacher living in Mpape area of FCT, also said that he experienced similar challenges while using his free- to- air-television.
Abubakar said that sometimes when he switched his decoder, all the channels would go blank not showing any pictures.
"When it doesn't go blank, it will say something like my subscription has expired and list some cell phone numbers I should contact to restore my signal.''
He called on the Federal Government to make the television work well so that it could be able to compete with the foreign ones in the country.
Mr Emmanuel Segun, a civil servant who resides in Jikwoyi, however, said that he had never had signals in his area.
"I had used different types of antennas, yet the problem persisted,'' he said.
He however said that a neighbour of his had been using his decoder successfully even within the same area.
"My advice to the operators of the television decoder is to establish booster stations in different locations in the FCT in order to boost their signals,'' he said.
Newsmen report that on Dec. 22, 2016, Alhaji lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture launched the Digital Switch Over, which signaled the commencement of the full roll-out of digital broadcasting across the FCT.
Mohammed had described the launch as revolutionary in the Nigerian broadcasting ecosystem.
He said that 30 free channels would be available for Abuja residents upon, while over 450, 000 set-top boxes (decoders) had been provided for the take-off.
"Our objective is not just to move Nigerians from analogue to digital in a simple technical sense but to ensure a total overhaul of the whole TV watching experience and the economy,'' Mohammed said.
Some members of the APC in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State on Monday protested alleged lopsidedness in the appointments made by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.
Newsmen report that the protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, were from the 10 local government areas in the zone.
The protesters took their case to the Governor's Office at Agodi, Ibadan.
A party chieftain from the zone, Alhaji Ahmed Ayinla, said the protest was to express displeasure at happenings in the APC.
"We worked together and assiduously as a team to deliver nine out of the 10 local government councils to the governor for another term.
"The governor requested and collected lists for SUBEB Secretaries, Electoral Officers and Caretaker Committee Chairmen positions from the party across the 33 local governments.
APC
"We submitted the lists, but they were not honoured in spite of the governor's pledge to always consult the party before making any appointment.
"Many of our members suffered injuries during the election and are yet to be compensated.
" Most of these people appointed are not members of our party," he said.
Alhaji Kareem Adebayo, a party leader from Saki West Local Government Area, also said the alleged imposition of caretaker chairmen was an embarrassment to the party
Adebayo said that it was wrong for the governor to pick the chairmen without consulting the party, adding that party supremacy must be respected.
But addressing the protesters, Dr Morounkola Thomas, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, pleaded for understanding.
Thomas stated that the governor had constituted an elders council in the party to foster unity, adding there was no way some people would not be aggrieved.
He, however, pledged that the governor would look into their grievances.
Thomas assured party members that the local government election would be conducted and there would be credible primaries.
"The governor has inaugurated a committee to look into how a credible primary election in accordance with the constitution of the party will be conducted to pick the party's candidates," he said.
By Michael Eboh Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD, branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural gas Workers, NUPENG, Monday, suspended their strike action to allow for further dialogue with the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
At a meeting in Abuja, called at the instance of the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, the Federal Government also kick-started the process for a hike in the prices of petroleum products, with the products likely to sell between N147 and N150 per litre.
Specifically, to satisfy the yearnings of the aggrieved tanker drivers for an increase in transporters' margin, sources among the officials of the PTD and NUPENG told Vanguard that Baru promised to increase the Bridging Claims for the tanker drivers from the present N4 per litre, thereby setting machinery in motion for a possible hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
The Bridging Claim is the amount paid to distributors of petroleum products across the country, and was introduced to ensure uniformity in the price of petroleum products across the country.
In May 2016, the Federal Government had approved a price range of N135 and N145 for a litre of PMS. Today, all the petrol stations in the country are selling at the highest point of N145 per litre. Any further hike in the cost of the commodity would likely bring about a hike in the retail price of the product at the petrol stations.
Spokesperson for the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, who confirmed the suspension of the strike to Vanguard Newspaper, however, refused to respond to enquiries of a likely increase in the price of fuel. However, National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, said the strike action had to be suspended in the interest of the country and also to allow for further negotiations and discussions.
Rep. Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP) has urged petroleum tanker drivers to shelve the nationwide strike to save Nigerians from its attendant economic hardship.
In an interview with the Newsmen on Monday in Abuja the petroleum sector and all it arms are critical on the lives of Nigerians.
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"I advise the tanker drivers to (engage in) dialogue and interface with the appropriate executive agencies that require to carry out their template which they are demanding for.
"I believe that is the only way to solve that problem; I don't advocate for strike.
"And I am using this medium to call on the tanker drivers to be able to shelve their strike and engage the appropriate government authority to address the seeming problems.
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Ossai said that people should separate their organisational interest from the interest of the entire country.
"When embarking on issues of strike people should look at Nigerians that are suffering at this period of recession.
"The three arms of government have seen that and they are also taking steps in making sure that the plight of the masses are addressed, so you cannot compound it.
The Petroleum Tanker Drivers arm of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) commenced an indefinite strike on Monday.
NAN reports that a communiqué by NUPENG's President, Mr Igwe Achese, said the strike was to press home the group's demands on unresolved issues bordering on workers' welfare.
"They issues included bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and alleged excesses of some security agencies.''
A man, who was engaged in a fight with his neighbour in Isaba-Ekiti, allegedly chopped off the left wrist of a pregnant woman, Aisha Adam, with a cutlass.
Newsmen who visited the pregnant woman and mother of four on her hospital bed on Monday, reports that the left hand of the victim was cut off from the wrist.
The victim's husband, Mr Mohammed Admams, told newsmen that there was a quarrel between him and his neighbour, resulting in the chopping off of his wife's hand.
" My wife, the victim, reported to me that our neighbour had fought with her while I was away.
" I challenged him and in the process, both of us started fighting.
"My neighbour rushed inside his room, brought out a cutlass and I also brought out a cutlass in defence.
"When the man came out, my wife tried to intervene and he slashed her with the cutlass.
" Her wrist immediately fell-off her hand," the husband said.
Confirming the incident, a Police Officer, who only identified himself as DSP Peter, told newsmen that a case of a man cutting off a woman's hand was reported at Ikole Police Division.
He said a suspect had been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at the State Police Command Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti.
Newsmen reports that the victim is still receiving treatment at an hospital in Ikole-Ekiti.
Newsmen also reports that the hand that was cut-off had been deposited at the mortuary.
The naira on Monday depreciated further at the black market in spite of the commitment of the CBN to boost liquidity in the market, newsmen report.
The naira lost two points to exchange at N395 to the dollar from N393 recorded on Friday, while the pound sterling and the Euro closed at N480 and N415, respectively.
At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the naira was sold for N362 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N483 and N430, respectively.
Naira-Dollar
Trading at the interbank market saw the naira closed at N306.3 to the dollar.
Traders at the market expressed optimism that the naira would bounce back as the CBN continued to boost liquidity at the interbank market and the BDC sector in the week.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) said that the apex bank had reduced the time lag between the funding of their accounts and the disbursement of foreign exchange.
Gwadabe said that with more liquidity at the BDC window and effective distribution of foreign exchange, the naira was well positioned to bounce back.
The Chief of Staff to Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Mr Taiwo Akerele, has urged medical doctors to do all in their capacity to save five-year old Martins Denisson from dying of severe burns.
Akerele made the call in Benin on Monday when he visited the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where the boy is receiving treatment.
"We must do all to ensure the survival of this child. The victim was rescued from fire about a week ago while the parents were out of the house.
Akerele said the Obaseki-led government placed high premium on the life of every citizen.
He said it was based on this that the government decided to offer financial support for the treatment of the victim.
Dr Philip Osho, one of the medical doctors treating the victim, identified financial constraint as the major challenge against proper medical care of the boy.
He said the child has missed some doses of the anti-biotic treatment he had been placed on over inability of the parents to pay.
Mrs Sofia Denisson, the boy's mother, appreciated the kind gesture of the Edo Government. She said she had lost one child to the fire.
The incident occurred at Ijorbgo Street in Upper Sokponba Road, Benin penultimate Sunday.
This followed an inferno that razed down a bungalow in which Denisson's elder brother died.
The victim was said to have been locked inside a room with his elder brother by their father who was said to have gone out.
Mrs Denisson, a pap seller, was said to have gone to a nearby market to buy corn for the next day's business.
She was said to have gone out with her five months old girl, leaving the boys in the care of their father.
The price of cooking gas, otherwise known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG has risen by 25 percent in the domestic market between the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2016 and the first quarter (January to March) 2017.
The rise in price was attributed to inconsistent supply and rising demand. But the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas LNG limited which supplies the product to the domestic market said it is committed to delivering 250,000 tonnes of LPG annually.
The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has urged its members to remain calm over the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court which annulled the constitution adopted at its Annual General Meeting in August 2015.
The association made the call in a statement made available to the Newsmen on Monday in Abuja by Mr Isiaka Olagunju, NBA's General Secretary.
Olagunju said that the association was yet to receive a copy of the judgment.
He assured that NBA has constituted a team comprising very senior and capable legal practitioners to represent it and if necessary to join the appeal against the decision.
"The Nigerian Bar Association has not received a full copy of the judgment. However, we have been briefed by the counsel that represented the defendants in the suit, the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association," he said.
Olagunju also maintained that neither the NBA nor any of its officers was a party to the suit in question, adding that the counsel to the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA had already appealed the decision.
"The NBA will like to reiterate that neither the NBA President, nor any of the national officers or indeed any of the leadership of the 125 Branches nationwide that were elected into office under the 2015 Constitution was a party to these proceedings.
"None of them has been served with any order of court affecting the conduct of any office of the NBA.
"In the absence of this, the NBA directs all its officers across the 125 branches nationwide and all other officers at the national level to continue to discharge their responsibilities."
NAN reports that a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on March 30 by Justice John Tsoho annulled the Constitution of the Association passed at its Annual General Meeting in August 2015.
The court similarly annulled the association's two previous constitutions.
The suit was instituted by one Olasupo Ojo against the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association.
