(FLOWERBUD NEWS)Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, on Wednesday in Asaba, stressed the need for the Federal Government to resuscitate Warri Port.
Okowa, who gave the charge when the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli I, visited him at the Government House, said Warri Port remained a key factor in the economic development of the state and the country at large.
He said that with the congestion in Lagos ports, reviving the port would ease traffic and boost the country’s economic activities at the ports.
“There is no doubt that the Warri Port is a key economical factor for our state and the nation; the earlier we get it working, the better for us.
“It is in the best interest of this nation to expand, create and develop port facilities because Lagos ports are already congested and more ports mean higher boost to our economy,” he said.
Okowa assured the monarch of his administration’s commitment to meeting the yearnings of the people through projects that would impact positively on them.
“I want to thank you for the partnership that exists between your kingdom and the state government.
“This partnership has helped the traditional council to grow and work together with the state government and it has made our state a very peaceful state.
“I have made it very clear that political appointees must go back home to pay their loyalties to their traditional rulers and work with them.
“Because they cannot work from Asaba and not liaise with traditional rulers and the kingdoms.
“This is very important to our commitment to execute projects in consultation with the monarchs and constituents.
“We are also committed to the construction of Ogheye floating market. We have gotten the Ministry of Works and Housing to do a complete assessment and budget breakdown, so that work can commence as quickly as possible on the market.
“Trans-Warri road is a project that is very dear to me and we will do the best we can to achieve it.
“The contractors have been to site, but there is not much that can be done during the rainy season.
“So, we will utilise the dry season and ensure that work commences,” Okowa said.
Earlier, the monarch had congratulated the governor on his election victory and thanked him for appointing Itsekiri sons and daughters into his administration.
The Olu assured the governor that he would ensure that peace reigned in Itsekiri kingdom for accelerated development.
Delta State Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa with Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli I as he tasks FG on resuscitation of Warri Port
(FLOWEBUD NEWS) Federal government is to effectively tackle kidnapping, rural area bank robbery etc with NISPSAS in collaboration with NEMA , NAMA and other relevant agencies, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Barr Georgina Ehuriah has said.
Ehuriah who gave the hint while speaking on the importance of the Nigeria Internal Security and Public Safety Alert System (NISPSAS), urged all agencies involved in public security and safety to key into NISPSAS system to curb crime and boost national response to emergencies including flooding.
Ehuriah who was answering questions from newsmen on Wednesday in Ilorin said that NISPSAS, is now fully functional and required the collaborations of all emergency response and Management stakeholders for maximum impact.
She noted that effective collaboration on NISPSAS by relevant agencies would drastically enhance national response to emergencies like flooding, banditry and other heinous crimes and thereby help to safe more lives.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the alert mobile application, available for free download by members of the public enables anyone in any form of distress to alert emergency and security agencies for prompt response by the nearest ones.
“Anyone in distress is to click on the designated icon for the various emergencies for the nearest response agency to respond, ‘’ she explained, reiterating that the use of NISPSAS Mobile App “will ensure quick response to flood disaster and robbery on Nigerians roads,’’
She added that collaboration on NISPSAS APP by all relevant agencies would enhance effective joint Coordination of response to emergencies, adding that the system is also “aimed at monitoring agencies level of preparedness, as well as the degree of responsiveness to emergency distress from the public’’.
Commenting on the Permanent Secretary’s call for relevant Agencies to collaborate on NISPSAS, Senior Coordinator, Mr. Benson Olatunji recalled that two recent emergencies which resulted in loss of lives could have been avoided, if required collaboration had been implemented on the NISPSAS APP.
“Firstly is the drowning of a very senior Government officer in FCT after holding to scrub for over an hour without rescue. This would have been averted if NEMA had incorporated NISPSAS Monitoring Facility which would have enabled the public to use NISPSAS to send both distress and visual site image for prompt response.
“In similar emergency, Clergies and Passengers were kidnapped and many robbed of their possessions in a recent multiple vehicle robbery incident.
He noted that “these emergencies can be reduced if there is availability of Unman Area Vehicle (UAV) a.k.a Drone, which would have received distress from any of the intending victims and automatically deploy to the location and lock-on to the criminals,
The NISPSAS Senior Coordinator said that ‘’the crime would have been voided by the police or the Nigerian Airforce Helicopter, as they would have been able to use NISPSAS drone in locating the criminals.
Olatunji said ‘’another scenario of such emergency is bank bullion van hijack by armed robbers, same drone deployment and NISPSAS alert system can prevent bank bullion van hijack
“Rural areas in Nigeria are currently faced with difficulties in accessing banks in their locality due to closure of many banks as a result of constant attacks and robbery by criminals. To these effect, integration of NISPSAS to drone technology will help in reducing incidences of robbery on banks and restoring rural public access to banking facility.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Barr Georgina Ehuriah
Olatunji also stressed that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),which is responsible for the regulation and deployment of drone is a critical partner in the success of eradicating kidnapping and controlling of banditry with drone when fully integrated to NISPSAS facility.
He added that “without going through further rigorous policy formulations and regulations, the present mandate of both National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as well as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) provides for seamless integration of NISPSAS to drone and flood response as well as Bank armed robbery prevention”.
Our correspondent confirmed at NISPSAS technical centre that various platform for integration is been worked on in line with the Permanent Secretary’s directives of all inclusive and combine stakeholders implementation of NISPSAS.
Olatunji also urged all relevant agencies “to as a matter of National urgency, approach the Directorate of Joint Services in the Ministry of Interior for NISPSAS Integration to enhance general service delivery.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Barr Georgina Ehuriah
Federal government is to effectively tackle kidnapping, rural area bank robbery etc with NISPSAS in collaboration with NEMA , NAMA and other relevant agencies, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Barr Georgina Ehuriah has said.
Ehuriah who gave the hint while speaking on the importance of the Nigeria Internal Security and Public Safety Alert System (NISPSAS), urged all agencies involved in public security and safety to key into NISPSAS system to curb crime and boost national response to emergencies including flooding.
Ehuriah who was answering questions from newsmen on Wednesday in Ilorin said that NISPSAS, is now fully functional and required the collaborations of all emergency response and Management stakeholders for maximum impact.
She noted that effective collaboration on NISPSAS by relevant agencies would drastically enhance national response to emergencies like flooding, banditry and other heinous crimes and thereby help to safe more lives.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the alert mobile application, available for free download by members of the public enables anyone in any form of distress to alert emergency and security agencies for prompt response by the nearest ones.
“Anyone in distress is to click on the designated icon for the various emergencies for the nearest response agency to respond, ‘’ she explained, reiterating that the use of NISPSAS Mobile App “will ensure quick response to flood disaster and robbery on Nigerians roads,’’
She added that collaboration on NISPSAS APP by all relevant agencies would enhance effective joint Coordination of response to emergencies, adding that the system is also “aimed at monitoring agencies level of preparedness, as well as the degree of responsiveness to emergency distress from the public’’.
Commenting on the Permanent Secretary’s call for relevant Agencies to collaborate on NISPSAS, Senior Coordinator, Mr. Benson Olatunji recalled that two recent emergencies which resulted in loss of lives could have been avoided, if required collaboration had been implemented on the NISPSAS APP.
“Firstly is the drowning of a very senior Government officer in FCT after holding to scrub for over an hour without rescue. This would have been averted if NEMA had incorporated NISPSAS Monitoring Facility which would have enabled the public to use NISPSAS to send both distress and visual site image for prompt response.
“In similar emergency, Clergies and Passengers were kidnapped and many robbed of their possessions in a recent multiple vehicle robbery incident.
He noted that “these emergencies can be reduced if there is availability of Unman Area Vehicle (UAV) a.k.a Drone, which would have received distress from any of the intending victims and automatically deploy to the location and lock-on to the criminals,
The NISPSAS Senior Coordinator said that ‘’the crime would have been voided by the police or the Nigerian Airforce Helicopter, as they would have been able to use NISPSAS drone in locating the criminals.
Olatunji said ‘’another scenario of such emergency is bank bullion van hijack by armed robbers, same drone deployment and NISPSAS alert system can prevent bank bullion van hijack
“Rural areas in Nigeria are currently faced with difficulties in accessing banks in their locality due to closure of many banks as a result of constant attacks and robbery by criminals. To these effect, integration of NISPSAS to drone technology will help in reducing incidences of robbery on banks and restoring rural public access to banking facility.
Olatunji also stressed that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),which is responsible for the regulation and deployment of drone is a critical partner in the success of eradicating kidnapping and controlling of banditry with drone when fully integrated to NISPSAS facility.
He added that “without going through further rigorous policy formulations and regulations, the present mandate of both National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as well as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) provides for seamless integration of NISPSAS to drone and flood response as well as Bank armed robbery prevention”.
Our correspondent confirmed at NISPSAS technical centre that various platform for integration is been worked on in line with the Permanent Secretary’s directives of all inclusive and combine stakeholders implementation of NISPSAS.
Olatunji also urged all relevant agencies “to as a matter of National urgency, approach the Directorate of Joint Services in the Ministry of Interior for NISPSAS Integration to enhance general service delivery.
(FLOWERBUD NEWS) The chairman, Mathias Amuta of the Orozo Mass Housing Scheme Landlords’ Association, has called on the security agencies and Nasarawa state government to beef up security in the estate.
Amuta made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He appealed to the Inspector General of Police, the Nasarawa State Governor, the Emir of Karshi, Ordinary President, Ahmed Isah to intervene and restore sanity to the area and prevent the loss of lives and property.
According to him, in recent time it has become a regular incidence to record cases of thuggery, harassment, and criminal trespass and invasion of private residences.
“A day ago, thugs invaded residences in the Estate and physically assaulted the occupants including the wives, children and relatives, while destroying property which value cannot be ascertained at the moment.
“Some of the residents, who were seriously injured, had been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, and Asokoro General Hospital to receive treatments.
“These incidences are in addition to daily harassment, intimidation, and denial of entry into the estate by these thugs in spite of a valid court order,” he added.
The director of the company managing the estate, Pastor Andrew Akogwu, after collecting hundreds of millions of money from residents, disappeared into thin air without the infrastructural development of the estate.
“Suddenly, a new set of people appeared demanding for more money. The other faction of the company has written to residents not to make payment nor deal with the new management.
“Disturbed by this infighting and the lack of accountability, residents demanded that the company should first put its house in order, account for the money so far collected before demanding for more.
“Moreover, thugs chased away the officials of the state government who came to intervene to restore peace and sanity to the estate.
“As it is, the estate is fast turning into a slum, yet the company carries on like a quasi government of its own with series of complaints made at the New Karshi Divisional Police Station not attended to,” he said.
Meanwhile, some police officers who came to arrest two of the thugs refused to grant interview to newsmen and denied the allegation that the police were not doing anything about the situation. (NAN)
(FLOWERBUD NEWS) Access Bank has introduced a financing scheme for procurement of phones for more Nigerians to get connected to more businesses online and deepen financial inclusion.
Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Retail Banking, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos that the loan would provide more Nigerians with access to credit under its Device Finance scheme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Device Finance scheme is designed to provide customers on salary income with the opportunity to purchase smartphones of their choice and pay over a period of 12 months.
“Access Bank has taken the initiative to lead the digitization of lending in Nigeria and wants every customer to benefit from the modern connected lifestyle.
“Through our revolutionary and ground-breaking credit schemes such as Device Finance, we will see more Nigerians get connected to do more business online and enjoy social lifestyle of their choice,” he said.
Etuokwu said that the financing scheme currently includes smartphone devices with prices ranging from N12,500 to N325,000, at competitive market prices, spread across a 12-month repayment period. (NAN)
(FLOWERBUD NEWS) An Abuja based dietitian, Mr Paul Okoh has advised persons living with haemophilia condition to stay away from Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger.
Okoh, who gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, said ginger has varied ingredients in many dishes.
Haemophilia is a rare disorder in which a patient’s blood does not clot normally because it lacks sufficient blood-clotting proteins.
He said persons with haemophilia condition may have bleeding problems and should stay away from ginger.
According to him, haemophilia is not one disease, but rather one of a group of inherited bleeding disorders that cause abnormal or exaggerated bleeding and poor blood clotting.
H said that certain blood disorders such as haemophilia could make the use of ginger a risky proposition.
This is because ginger acts as a blood thinner, which can prevent the blood from clotting.
Okoh said the use of ginger can be very helpful for those with high blood pressure, or those who are prone to vessel blockages and other trouble in their circulatory system.
“But for persons with haemophilia conditions, this can be incredibly dangerous, given that haemophilia already have trouble recovering from open wounds due to the inability of their blood to clot.
“Ginger’s blood thinning properties can exacerbate the problem, causing hemorrhaging that could easily become fatal,” he said.
Okoh said that the part of ginger that is commonly used is called the rhizome; “most people think of ginger as a root, but this is somewhat inaccurate.
“The rhizome is a stem, not a root. Rhizome is packed with powerful nutrients, enzymes, and various compounds that altogether makes ginger an herb.
“Medicinally speaking, most often, ginger serves to relieve nausea, dizziness, vertigo, or to facilitate digestion; in the latter case, this is because ginger promotes the production of saliva, and its fiber content makes bowel movements easier,” he said.
He stated that ginger have a lot of benefits to the human body in a number of ways, and there are on-going researches to see how else it could help humans in various ways.
In addition to the uses of ginger, he said there was a research that suggested ginger had some promise as a painkiller, as a cleanser of cellulite and minor skin blemishes.
Ginger also acts as a soothing agent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as a means to lower triglycerides or blood sugar, and even a tool to fight certain kinds of cancer.
According to him, using ginger as a remedy for these conditions and others had received mixed returns from various research studies.
He noted that while ginger was a great spice and natural remedy, Nigerians should keep in mind that taking it in excess, or if they were affected by certain conditions, could actually end up causing them more harm than good.
He, however, advised Nigerians that if any of the following situations apply to them, they should consult a medical professional to discuss their options before taking high levels of ginger or ginger supplements.
(FLAWERBUD NEWS) Worried by the increasing security challenges in the country, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Anambra Chapter, on Friday expressed willingness to partner with security agencies to stem the rising insecurity in the state.The State Chairman, NYCN,
Mr Samuel Egwuatu, made the pledge at a youth security summit organised by the council in collaboration with Directorate of Security Service (DSS) and other security agencies in Awka.The Summit had the theme, “Securing Lives and Property: The Role of Youth Leaders for Sustainable Security in Anambra”.“Security is about life and property and it requires pragmatic approach.
“Like the saying, the youth are the security of any nation. Also, about 60 per cent of our security personnel are youths. Which means we have a critical role to play in ensuring stability in our state and country.“This is why we are holding this submit with security stakeholders to brainstorm and proffer solutions that will make us enjoy sustainable peace in the state,” he said.Also, Mr Afam Mbanefo, State Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, said that ensuring safety of lives and property was the major priority of the Gov.
Willie Obiano led-administration.
“Security is prime to this administration. With security, we can attract more investors to boost our economy and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).“The youth can assist security agents with information gathering to make Anambra the most secured state in the country,” he said.In his keynote address, retired Air Vice-Marshal Ben Chiobi, lamented that the underused resources that could address security problems in the country were the youth.“In spite of government’s huge budgetary allocation to security, our insecurity challenges remain unresolved.
“Nigeria is a country with large youth population, and if funds go to youth empowerment or even engaging them at the decision making level, they can be change agents in our society.“We have high rates of crime today because our youth are not duly recognised and empowered.“Youths as tomorrow’s leaders have much to offer in advancing peace and changing the society while they are still young,” Chiobi said. (NAN)
By Peter Okolie
The South East APC Young Progressives Forum has described the attack on former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as shameful.
Ekweremadu claimed that members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) attacked him in Nuremberg, Germany on Aug. 17.
Mr Paschal Otimkpu, Chairman of the group who made this known in a statement to newsmen on Monday in Onitsha, also described the assault as “an embarrassment to the Igbo nation and Nigeria.
“It is also shamefully pathetic that an event, which was nobly put together by the Ndi-Igbo community which members make up the majority of Nigerians living in Germany, ended up in such a disgraceful manner.
“Obviously, this is not how to pay a man who has contributed his quota to the development of Igbo land and Nigeria at large.
“Most worrisome and inconceivable was that the attackers chose a great occasion for celebrating and showcasing our rich culture heritage` Iri-ji` –New Yam Festival — to exhibit such unbecoming conduct in the name of agitation.
“We urge our fellow youths of South-East extraction and every right thinking Nigerian to join in the condemnation.’’
The group noted that the country was currently going through challenges, including terrorism and kidnappings which required collective responsibility of all.
It, therefore, said that resorting to mob action and venting the spleen on leaders will rather create more problems and a vacuum that would leave Igbo and by extension, Nigerian leaders helpless.
“Irrespective of political difference, Sen. Ekweremadu is an outstanding and unpretentious Igbo leader, who deserves better treatment than he received,” the group said.(NAN)
Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspects involved in a clash between area boys and scavengers at Oke-Odo Market.
The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday, that the clash was triggered by a misunderstanding when a scavenger reportedly pushed an area boy, who had goods on his head, by mistake.
Elkanah said: “On Aug. 18, at 10.00 a.m., one Alh. Adekunle Habib, of Ilepo market, reported at Oke Ode Police Station that there was a misunderstanding between a Hausa scavenger and an area boy from the Yoruba ethnic group.
“The area boy was carrying some goods on his head and was pushed by the Hausa boy in error and the goods fell down. Arguments ensued between the two which led to exchange of blows.
“Friends of the two joined the fight in solidarity and other miscreants took advantage of the moment to steal and loot.
“They blocked Lagos/Abeokuta Express way. What started as a fight between two miscreants almost snowballed into ethnic crisis, if not for the timely intervention of the police.
“Police teams from Oke-Odo Division were the initial responders. The command sent reinforcements from the Operations Department, Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce, Tactical Units and Police Mobile Force.
“Divisions within the area command equally sent reinforcements, the situation was brought under control and traffic was cleared.
“No death was recorded, but four persons sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
“Five suspects namely, Kabiru Mohammed, Kabiru Adamu, Bashiru Mohammed, Saliu Madu and Yusuf Amuda, were arrested in connection with the breach of peace.” he said.
Elkana added that normalcy had been restored and patrols were ongoing in the affected areas, while the suspects would be charged to Court.
