Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • Bago felicitates new NUJ executives

    Bago felicitates new NUJ executives

    By Mohammed Baba Busu

    Gov. Umaru Bago has congratulated the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger Council, Mr Abu Nmodu and other officials on their reelection to pilot the affairs of the union.

    The Governor’s congratulatory message was sent through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim , issued on Sunday in Minna.

    According to Bago, the reelection of Abu Nmodu and his colleagues depicted an exceptional team work and collective vision of the executive members for continued growth and development of the union.

    He observed that the union has experienced unprecedented progress and development in the first tenure of the Nmodu-led administration.

    The governor enjoined new officials to redouble their efforts in serving the members of the union

    He said, ”This is to enable them to consolidate on the gains, while also taking deliberate steps to eliminate quacks among them to further address the challenges of fake news.”

    Bago reminded both the executives and the members of the council of their roles in the society.

    He stressed the need for them to be objective in their reportage
    as they were critical stakeholders in his administration’s ‘New Niger Agenda’.

    Bago reassured his administration’s unflinching support to the leadership and members of the union

    He promised that the already existing cordial relationship between the state government and the union would be strengthened for more mutually-beneficial outcomes.

    NAN

  • Tragedy as man jumps into iron melting pot in Lagos – Police

    Tragedy as man jumps into iron melting pot in Lagos – Police

    Flowerbud News

    The Police Command in Lagos State says a 25-year old contract staff, whose name was not mentioned, has allegedly jumped into an iron melting pot of his company and died.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

    The image maker said that the safety officer of the company, whose name also was not mentioned, reported the case to the Sagamu Road Police Division on Aug. 3, at about 6.00 p.m.

    Hundeyin said that the company was located at the Industrial Scheme of Odogunyan area in Ikorodu of Lagos State.

    He said that the safety officer reported that on the same date, at about 3.15 p.m., the contract staff attached to the AOD Section of the company allegedly ran to the iron melting pot, which was out of bound to all the staff during operation.

    “He jumped into it and all efforts made by his colleagues to stop him proved abortive, while his body was completely melted.

    “Detectives from the station visited the scene of the crime. The family of the deceased has since been contacted, while investigation is ongoing, ” Hundeyin said.

    NAN

  • Lagos Blue Line upscales to 72 trips per day Monday

    Lagos Blue Line upscales to 72 trips per day Monday

    Flowerbud News

    The Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line will from Monday upscale the number of trips from 54 to 72 per day.

    Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Akinajo said the current schedule for Sunday operations remained unchanged.

    “The Blue Line train riders will now travel between Marina and Mile 2 in just about 18 minutes from the previous travel time of 25 minutes.

    “The implication is that there will be a train every 18 minutes both ways, thus allowing commuters to plan their trips,” she said.

    She also announced a 25 per cent discount fare for commuters travelling within the off-peak period set at 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. daily.

    “The new train schedule is potentially expected to reduce journey times, encourage more riders to use the train system off-peak periods and reduce transport spending.

    “The new timetables are available on LAMATA website, stations and our social media handles,” she said.

    The Blue Line which commenced passenger operation on Sept. 4, 2023, has moved close to two million passengers.

    NAN

  • NUJ gets new executives in Niger

    NUJ gets new executives in Niger

    Flowerbud News

    The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger Council, on Saturday elected new executives to run its affairs for the next three years.

    Those elected included: Abu Nmodu of the Leadership Newspaper as Chairman, Urea Gana of the Newsline as the Vice-Chairman, Usman and Mohammad Chiji of Niger Radio as the Secretary.

    Others elected were: Abubakar Kuta of the State Ministry for Information as the Assistant Secretary and Habiba Etsu of the same ministry as the Treasurer.

    Also elected were: Zakari Lambata of the Niger Television Authority as the Financial Secretary and Ndanusa Abdullahi of the Federal Information as the Auditor.

    The National President of NUJ, Mr Christ Isiguzo, who inaugurated the new executives, commended the council for
    unanimously agreeing to return the former executives unopposed.

    Isiguzo, represented by Chris Asaka, Vice President, Zone D, advised the new executives to continue to work as a team for the betterment of all the members.

    “I want to commend the Niger council for the matured and peaceful manner in which you conducted your election.

    “Niger and Edo councils are now leading by example for the manner in which they conducted their elections and affairs peacefully” he said.

    In his goodwill message, Amb. Zubairu Dada, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, advised the new executives to sustain the confidence reposed in them by working to ensure welfare of all the members.

    He said that the media remained the confidence of the nation owing to the onerous task as the watchdog of the society.

    Dada urged media practitioners to continue to work within the confines of the law, adding that the society was always looking up to them.

    Nmodu, in his acceptance speech on behalf of the executives, commended the members of the union for having confidence in their leadership by re-electing them for a second tenure.

    He assured that the new leadership of the union would work to prioritise the welfare of the members to further justify the confidence reposed in them.

    Nmodu pledged a smooth working relationship with all the members of the union and promised to come up with sustainable initiatives for journalists especially after their retirement from service.

    NAN

  • IRCE-IHVN Set to Host Symposium on Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease

    IRCE-IHVN Set to Host Symposium on Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease

    Abuja – The International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) is set to host its 2nd Annual Scientific Symposium on “Characteristics Disease (SCD) and Cancer Research” from August 14th to 15th at the IHVN Campus in Abuja.

    The two-day event will feature extensive presentations and discussions on health research in sickle cell disease and cancer and will include the diagnosis, care, treatment, and innovative applied research.
    The two-day symposium will bring together local and international experts such as the Dean of the University
    of Maryland School of Medicine (UMB-SOM), Prof. Mark T. Gladwin, and Executive Director of the
    University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC),
    Prof. Taofeek K. Owonikoko, who are accompanied by several senior faculty from UMB-SOM already involved in research activities in Nigeria.
    Nigerian experts such as Dr. Obi Adigwe DG NIPRD, Prof Obigelli Nnodu and Dr. Paul Jibrin from AUTH, Dr Tola Adewole  from NSIA, and several representatives from pharma and industry will also
    participate as speakers. Industrial partners will also have exhibitions booths.
    Special Guest at the symposium, Dean Gladwin is an expert in pulmonary hypertension and sickle cell
    disease (SCD), Prof Gladwin’s research identified a novel disease mechanism, named hemolysis-associated endothelial dysfunction that brought attention to the resistance to nitric oxide in patients with diseases like sickle cell and, malaria.
    His studies on hemolysis associated endothelial dysfunction have
    enabled the clinical and epidemiological characterization of a human disease syndrome known as
    hemolysis-associated pulmonary hypertension which poses a significant risk to patients with sickle cell
    anemia.
    He is currently heading a Phase II clinical trial, conducted across 22 sites in France,Brazil, and the U.S which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel blood transfusion technique that utilizes the patient’s blood to improve outcomes and extend survival in patients with sickle cell disease.
    Nigerian-born Prof. Taofeek K. Owonikoko is a distinguished physician and scientist with a specialty in
    thoracic oncology and translational research.
    Prof. Owonikoko is the lead oncologist for the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
    IHVN CEO, Dr. Patrick Dakum pointed out that “this year also marks a significant milestone for IHVN as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
    Over the past two decades, IHVN has made remarkable strides in HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria through its two centers, the Center for Public Health Implementation (CPHI) and IRCE; and through strategic collaborations with the government of Nigeria, UMB-SOM and Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Baltimore-IHVN’s initial parent institution, and other institutions.
    We are excited to continue to extend such fruitful partnership to other key public health diseases such as SCD and Cancer.”
    IRCE Executive Director, Prof. Alash’le Abimiku said that since 2016, IRCE has leveraged on CPHI’s extensive programmatic experience and infrastructure to advance IHVN’s research agenda.
    It’s state of the artcore laboratories, biorepository, clinical trial unit, and core of well-trained research staff have facilitated the conduct of ethically and culturally acceptable high-quality research, thus enabling the

    institution to provide data and evidence required to improve healthcare and ensure pandemic preparedness.
    IRCE is one of the centers at IHVN. It was established in 2015 to promote public/private partnerships for
    qualityresearchwithcapacitybuilding.IRCEhasbeenpivotalinpioneeringinnovativeresearchtoward improving healthcare services and building research capacity among young Nigerian investigators.
    The Center is implementing more than 40 funded research grants in infectious and non-infectious diseases in Nigeria to address local and global health challenges.
    According to Prof Abimiku, “This second IRCE symposium builds on the first which was held last year, focused on ‘Addressing Local Health Challenges through Quality Research and Partnerships’ by extending collaboration to two important health challenges that targets the black population–SCD and
    Cancers.
    The symposium will beheld yearly as an avenue to promote research on issues of public health relevance to Nigeria and the world and will continue to involve the government, research institutions, and our private and industry partners,”.
    For PR/Media inquiries please contact:
    Uzoma Nwofor
    Snr Communications Manager
    Institute of Human Virology Nig
    info@ihvnnigeria.org
  • I have no murder case on my neck, Doguwa tells Jibrin

    I have no murder case on my neck, Doguwa tells Jibrin

    Flowerbud News

    Rep. Alhassan Doguwa (APC-Kano) said on Thursday in Abuja that there was no  murder case hanging on his neck.

    While reacting to Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin’s (NNPP-Kano) murder allegation against him Doguwa said the court dismissed the charges and set him.

    Doguwa said: “Let me say categorically that as of today. I, Doguwa, am not standing before any court of law in Nigeria for an alleged murder, a culpable homicide.”

    He added that there was equally no case against him for any politically instigated violence as being speculated in some quarters.

    “I went through virtually all criminal investigations and judicial considerations at various levels and came out clean and victoriously innocent.

    According to him, copies of such rigorous police investigations conducted by the highest police investigation authority in the land, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, are available for public scrutiny.

    He claimed that his political enemies, within and outside his constituency, had failed in their machinations to get him indicted for what he had not committed.

    “For the information of Jibrin and his partners, it was based on the police clearance that the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Kano State acted and issued advice that exonerated me.

    “I was exonerated from the alleged criminal charges,” he said.

    Doguwa said that the crisis in his constituency was  fabricated to throw a spanner in the works of what was perceived to be his political ambition.

    He claimed that their aim was to stop him from being the Speaker of the House of Representatives, adding that there was nothing wrong with aspiring for what one feels he could aspire for in life.

    It would be recalled that Jibrin, in a statement, alleged knowledge that Doguwa never won a free and fair election but rather his victory was characterised by rigging and violence.

    This, according to him, left behind sorrow, tears, and blood in his constituency, adding that Doguwa had always represented his people with force, dictatorship, and an iron fist.

    NAN

  • Troops nab notorious gunrunner in N/West

    Troops nab notorious gunrunner in N/West

    Flowerbud News

    The Nigerian Army says its troops have successfully dismantled a gun-running syndicate that has been supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups operating in the North-West.

    The army, in a post on its official X Handle on Thursday, said the troops also apprehended a notorious kidnapping syndicate and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.

    It said that troops working in coordination with other security agencies had on Wednesday seized a notorious gunrunner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim.

    The post said the suspect was nabbed at Babinga Kudaru village of  Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    According to the post, the arrest followed an earlier apprehension of another syndicate member on July 31, by the troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jos.

    “Among the items recovered are an AK-47 rifle, AK-47 rifle magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and 49 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition,’’ it said.

    In Katsina State, the Nigerian army said its troops laid an ambush and neutralised a terrorist at Anguwa Boka in Faskari Local Government Area.

    It added that the troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 Magazine, three Rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, a mobile phone and assorted items.

    The Nigerian army also said that its troops had, in a separate operation, tracked and apprehended one Abubakar Shehu (25) in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun.

    “Shehu is a member of a kidnap syndicate responsible for the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    “Following preliminary investigation, the suspect led troops to Okoka forest in Itesiwaju Local Government Area.

    “They recovered four AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, eight magazines, one cartridge, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

    “The troops are continuing their pursuit of other members of the kidnap syndicate,’’ it added.

    The Nigerian army urged the public to relentlessly support the troops with credible information to further enhance on-going operations.

    NAN

  • NASRDA highlights moon’s importance to astronomy study

    NASRDA highlights moon’s importance to astronomy study

    Flowerbud News

    Dr Bonaventure Okere, Director, Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy (CBSSA-NASRDA), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    Okere explained that the moon’s interaction with the Earth made it an important part of the solar system.

    “The moon plays several important roles such as stabilising the tilt of the orbit, causing seasonal changes, influencing tides and aiding nocturnal animal navigation.

    “Studying the moon helps Astronomers understand the processes that shape planetary bodies, which is essential for understanding the formation and evolution of other planets.

    “The moon’s phases depend on its position. It is the second-densest known natural satellite after Jupiter’s moon, and it orbits the Earth at an average speed of 2,288 miles per hour,’’ he said.

    Okere said that the moon had about 1/6th of the Earth’s gravity, with diameter of about one-fourth of the Earth’s diameter and took about 27 days to travel round the Earth.

    According to him, there have been diverse ethnic myths about the moon, moonlight tales which are not scientifically proven, with more than 140 missions launched to the moon.

    Okere recalled that CBSSA in collaboration with International Astronomical Union (IAU) celebrated International Moon Day recently at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.

    He said the event, which was marked with an outreach and moon gazing, aimed at raising awareness on the importance of the moon to the study of astronomy.

    “By celebrating the moon, astronomers acknowledge its importance as a scientific and cultural icon, while making reference to it as a tool for enhancing the understanding of the universe.’’

    Mr Peter Okagu, the Team Lead of the outreach, said that the Moon Day celebration also targeted increasing the engagement of participants in Astrophotography and Deep Sky Survey.

    Okagu explained astrophotography as a type of photography that involved capturing astronomical images such as the moon, planets, stars, star clusters and galaxies.

    According to him, both academics and amateurs engage in this type of photography for various purposes, including research and personal gratification.

    Deep sky survey, he said, was an astronomical survey aimed at cataloguing and analysing celestial objects within or outside the solar system.

    He added that the objective of the surveys were always to collect comprehensive data that could be used to study the structure, evolution and properties of the universe.

    Okagu said: “The outreach explored how facts about the moon has impacted astronomy studies and space science technology.

    “It also raises awareness among students on the impact of astrophotography in astronomy and space science research.”

    He, however, stated that they were committed to raising more awareness on the need for students, undergraduates to explore studying astronomy.

    NAN

  • Protests: Kano sex workers decry poor patronage, urges dialogue

    Protests: Kano sex workers decry poor patronage, urges dialogue

    Flowerbud News

    Commercial sex workers in Kano have appealed to organisers of the nationwide hunger protests to engage the Federal Government in dialogue.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the protests had crippled social-economic activities, leaving them without customers and struggling to survive.

    Monica James, who operates on France Road, said that dialogue was the only option to address the grievances of the protesters.

    “I have not eaten for two days because of the curfew; our customers are nowhere to be found,” she said.

    She urged the organisers to shelve their protests and negotiate with the government to end the demonstrations.

    Deborah Iliya,   a sex worker on Yoruba Road, who rechoed James’ sentiments, described the situation as horrible, as she has not been able to find customers.

    Hannatu Ibrahim, of Weather head area, also called for an end to the protests, joining the growing calls for a return of normalcy.

    Caroline James, a sex worker operating from a brothel on Enugu street in Sabon Gari, said that the infiltration of hoodlums and subsequent violence “spoilt our business.”

    She said that she had booked clients who were willing to pay between N30, 000 and N40,000, but they were unable to keep their appointments due to the tension and curfew.

    A sex worker, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that some of her colleagues were forced to share rooms due to the lack of customers during the protest.

    She appealed to the authorities to relax the curfew, stating that it had severely impacted their ability to conduct business.

    Moses John, a bar attendant,  told NAN that the curfew had severely impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, with hotels and bars hardly selling due to the absence of customers.

    Kenneth John, a dealer in Esi Ewu ( goat head) on Aitken Road, told NAN that the curfew had negatively impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, lamenting that he had lost several heads of goats due to lack of power supply.

    NAN