Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • 19m children not registered in Nigeria

    By Abbas Bamalli
    Kano, Aug. 26, 2019 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday said no fewer than 19 million children are unregistered during and after birth in Nigeria.

    The Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, Sharon Oladiji, said this in Kano at a 2-day media dialogue organised by UNICEF for stakeholders, media and health personals across the 19 Northern states.

    According to her, among the 10 countries, with the largest number of unregistered children, India has the most by a wide margin of 71 million while Nigeria follow with 17 million.

    “10 countries will also contribute massively to the region’s immense population increase in absolute terms between 2015 and 2050. Nigeria is expected to contribute at least 257 million additional inhabitants.

    “Kenya and Niger will contribute plus 50 million and Sudan with plus 38 million.

    “The possible consequence of a weak birth registration system is planning blindly, incapacity to generate relevant public health data and national estimate and population planning,’’ she said.

    Oladiji described poor demand factors as a primary cause for non-registration and low level of public awareness on the importance of birth registration.

    The UNICEF specialist explained that the issue of unregistered children during birth in Nigeria was worrisome as it has a lot of implications in the country.

    Oladiji said that in all Local Government Areas across the country, there should be an officer responsible for the registration of children immediately after birth.

    She called on the participants to start the campaign by ensuring the registration of at least 10 to 20 children daily in their communities.

    Oladiji advised media personnel to introduce special programmes, jingles and news sections aimed at educating, enlightening and informing the public, especially at the rural areas on the importance of birth registration.

    “The waiver of fees was made in Nigeria as a result of low birth registration. Introducing fees will further limit the already low level of birth registration coverage,’’ she said.

    Oladiji said that most children affected by low registration are mostly those of the poor parents, uneducated and leaving in slums, very rural and hard to reach communities.

    According to her, these children will never be registered, counted or accounted for to access social services.

    She added that children of single mothers, teenage mothers and out of school and uneducated girls have such challenges.

  • Kano Hisbah arrests 146 beggars

    The Kano State Hisbah Board on Monday said 146 beggars had been arrested in Kano metropolis for allegedly contravening the state’s law on street begging and roaming about at odd hours.

    The Acting Director-General of the board, Dr Aliyu Musa, disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing in Kano.

    Musa announced that the number arrested comprised of 114 adults and 52 children, adding that they were arrested during different raids across the city.

    He said that the arrests were carried out between 12.00 am and 4.00 am at various locations including Bata Bridge, Kanti Kwari market, Railway station, Wambai Market among others.

    “Out of the 146 beggars, 77 are from Kano while 69 are from Abia, Adamawa, Borno, Ekiti, Jigawa, Gombe, Zamfara, Niger Republic, among others.

    “Among those arrested, some are street urchins, street beggars and three women are mentally challenged.

    “The board will properly screen them, counsel and thereafter release those who are first-time offenders while those who have been caught more than two times will be charged to court,” Musa said.

    He pleaded with the beggars to use their hands for productive ventures in order to make their lives better.

    The Director-General also advised parents to watch over their wards, take good care of them and desist from street begging noting that the practise could endanger their lives.

    NAN

  • ITF trains 180 staff on digital technology

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is training 180 of its staff on digital technology.

    Mr Joseph Ari, its Director General, said this at its 51st Human Resources Development (HRD) seminar on Monday in Jos.

    He also said that the organisation was working to automate the processes of its Students’ Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

    He said the automation was in line with the Fund’s efforts to be in tune with current technological advancement and improve the performance of its staff in line with global best practices.

    “We are in an era of innovation and transformation which is powered by information technology.

    “The seminar will enable us remain competitive and at the fore front of the HRD sector in Nigeria.

    “We have recorded tremendous achievements in automation and digitisation of some of our activities. Our management meetings are paperless, remittance of training contribution and financial transactions now are fully automated, ” he said.

    The ITF boss said that the seminar would help in charting a road map that would entrench holistic development of digital human resource in ITF with a view to enhancing organisational excellence.

    Earlier in his remarks, Mr Zachariah Piwuna, the Director, Research and Curriculum Development in ITF, said that the theme of the seminar was apt and inline with the global changes in technology.

    He urged the participants to ensure that the knowledge and skills gained were properly used in the discharge of their duties.

    In his paper presentation, Mr Dele Aloko, the General Manager, South Atlantic Petroleum, Lagos, said that human resource helped workers to understand, control and set realistic and achievable targets.

    He said ITF was responsible for creating an enabling environment for the future of technology to strive through its policies and human resources development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, tagged “Digital Technologies and Human Resource Analytics: Tools for Organisational Excellence”, had participants from the Jos Area office and the headquarters of the Fund.

    NAN

  • Court summons AGF, EFCC over ex-Gov Yari’s property Summon

    By Taiye Agbaje

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to appear before it over plans to seize the property of the immediate-past Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara.

    Justice Nkeonye Maha, who gave the order after listening to the arguments canvassed in a motion exparte by counsel to Yari, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, adjourned the matter until Aug. 30.

    Yari, in the motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/948/2019, was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution and Order 4 Rule 3 and 4, of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AGF, who is also the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is the 1st respondent while the EFCC is the 2nd respondent in the suit.

    The former governor had attributed his travails in the hands of the respondents to the fallout of the 2019 elections in the state.

    He described the actions of the respondents against him as politically motivated to witch-hunt him.

    Yari in a 17-paragraph affidavit in support of his motion, further stated that “the 1st and 2nd respondents are determined on a follow up attack upon him and his family by the use of allegations of wrongdoing which had been concocted against him in 2019 as an excuse to arrest him and his wife and to arraign them on trumped up charges.”

    The affidavit, deposed to by Malam Affis Matanmi, traced the genesis of the case against Yari to the political events within the Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that eventually led to the party losing out the leadership of the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the judgment of the Supreme Court.

    It read: “that after the decision of the Supreme Court, some aggrieved individuals who are very powerful decided to use agents of the 1st and 2nd respondents against the applicant.

    “These individuals thus decided to carry out a vendetta and revenge against the applicant including instigating the respondents against the applicant upon their spurious conclusion without evidence that he was guilty of corrupt practices as former governor of Zamfara and was in breach of the Code of Conduct Act.

    “This witch-hunt, is clearly politically motivated, baseless, and has been designed only to discredit and humiliate the applicant in a bid to decimate him politically.

    “That the agents of the 2nd respondents invaded the applicant private residence without court order in Talata Marafa, off Sokoto road, Zamfara and nothing incriminating was ever found against the applicant despite the several investigations carried out by the respondents.”

    Magaji further informed the court that his client’s residence in Talafa Marafa, off Sokoto road, Zamfara, was on Aug. 5 invaded by the EFCC for five hours without any court order, in its bid to effect his arrest.

    He said that during the said invasion, the “agents forcefully did not allow the family members of the applicant who was away in Saudi Arabia for Haji, to go out and come in from the residence.

    “The action of the EFCC has made it impossible for applicant to exercise his right or his freedom of movement without fear of being arrested and intimidated by commission,” he said.

    The lawyer further stated that Yari had dully declared all his assets in accordance with the Code of Conduct for public officers prior to assuming office as a governor and that he had not committed any offence to warrant the threats of seizure of his assets and property most of which were acquired even before he became governor of the state.

    According to him, in the motion exparte dated and filed Aug. 20, the former governor sought, among others: “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from seizing, impounding, taking over, confiscating or otherwise forfeiting his assets and property wherever they may be located within Nigeria or anywhere in the world pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from unlawfully interfering with his rights to sections 34, 35, 41 and 43 of the 1999 constitution until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the agents of the respondents from freezing his bank accounts in Nigeria and or confiscating his immovable property anywhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

    Justice Maha, therefore, gave the order that the respondents should come and show cause why they would not be restrained from, among other actions, freezing the bank accounts and or confiscating Yari’s immovable property anywhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    She equally ordered that the respondents be served with the court processes within 48 hours before she adjourned further proceedings till Aug. 30. (NAN)

  • Buhari restates commitment to rule of law, declares open NBA conference

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday reiterated his administration’s commitment to the ‘Rule of Law and Justice.’

    The President said this while declaring open the 59th edition of the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC) in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the opening of the 2019 NBA-AGC was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos with the theme: “Facing the Future”.

    The President, who was represented by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), reiterated his administration’s commitment to the ‘Rule of Law and Justice’.

    While noting that the conference represents the largest gathering of lawyers, he expressed the desire that it would assist in nation building.

    “The theme of the conference, is a reflection of the NBA as a critical stakeholder in the affairs of the nation,” he said.

    Buhari urged delegates to take advantage of the conference to harness legal practice.

    On behalf of the President, Malami consequently, declared the 2019 Conference open.

    In his Goodwill message to delegates, Gov. Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that the State remains committed to the maintenance of law and order.

    Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat, welcomed all delegates to the Centre of Excellence, adding that the NBA is properly placed to direct the affairs of legal practitioners.

    “It is my privilege to welcome you all to the 2019 Annual General conference of the NBA, which is held in the most preferred location of Lagos State.

    “We have full assurance that this year’s conference will record unprecedented success.

    “Giving its status in Africa, the Nigerian Bar Association is looked upon to lead the rest of the country to face the future.

    “This administration has restated its commitment to social development, Justice dispensation and the maintenance of law and order,” he said

    He said that the state would continue to collaborate with major stakeholders to ensure a realisation of its goals.

    Earlier in his opening remark, NBA President, Mr Paul Usoro, welcomed all delegates and said that the purpose of such annual conferences is to afford lawyers the opportunity to place contemporary issues on national agenda.

    He said that the Conference also affords legal practitioners an opportunity to review the framework within which they operate.

    According to him, apart from renewing friendships during such annual conferences, lawyers are also properly disposed in ensuring a protection, promotion, and preservation of the rule of law.

    “The essence of being lawyers is to ensure that the rule of law is preserved as lawyers represent the voice of the oppressed,” he said.

    Usoro said that the rule of law ensures access to justice, protection of the weak and strong, and independence of the judiciary, adding that it has no preference for tribe or political groups.

    He urged delegates to make good use of the conference, which he described as, “Agenda setting”.

    In his key note address, President of the International Bar Association , Mr Horatio Neto, emphasised on the need for legal practice to be based on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    According to him, as part of efforts in realising the theme for the 2019 conference, “facing the future” the Bar must now look forward to adapting itself to the reality of new technology.

    “There is the need for technology to infiltrate every aspect of legal practice including filing of processes as well as assignment of these processes,” he said.

    Neto said that young lawyers are more eager to work in a technology environment, adding that he is optimistic that the legal profession will attain the technological height of creating robots to execute legal works.

    NAN reports that the ceremony had in attendance, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, Chief Judges, Judges of the Appeal and Supreme Courts, High Court Judges, Magistrates as well as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

    NAN

  • Saudi-backed Yemeni gov’t declares cease-fire with separatist southern forces

    The Saudi-backed Yemeni government on Monday declared a cease-fire with the separatist forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the country’s southern regions.

    The Yemeni Defense Ministry ordered all the government’s military units positioned in the South-Eastern province of Shabwa and in the southern provinces of Abyan and Aden to immediately stop fighting.

    A statement from the Ministry said the declaration of the cease-fire came in response to a call of the Joint Forces Command of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition.

    According to the statement, Saudi-led coalition involved in a war in Yemen announced the formation of a Saudi Arabia-UAE joint committee.

    The coalition said the joint committee would commence work from Monday to stabilise the cease-fire in Shabwa and Abyan.

    Spokesman for the coalition, Turki Al Maliki, highlighted the necessity for a commitment by all parties in Shabwa to upholding the cease-fire and maintaining calm.

    Meanwhile, the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia and the UAE issued a joint statement calling for engagement in the dialogue that Saudi Arabia called to address the problems in some southern Yemeni provinces.

    On Aug. 26, the STC forces announced the launch of a large-scale military operation to seize the strategic province of Shabwa after four days of sporadic battles with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.

    This was over the control of a number of key military bases in the province.

    The STC is a part of the Saudi-led Arab coalition to fight Iran-backed Houthi militias in northern Yemen in a war that has rekindled old strains between the north and south of Yemen.

    The impoverished Arab country had been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces including the capital Sanaa.

  • Israeli combat aircraft hits Hamas sites in Gaza

    An Israeli combat aircraft on Monday hit the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip after rockets were fired from the territory of the enclave.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that militants from the Gaza Strip fired three rockets toward southern Israel, intercepting two by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system and the other hit a road in the vicinity of the coastal Palestinian enclave.

    According to the IDF, in response, it’s combat aircraft attacked a number of targets at the Hamas military base in the northern Gaza Strip, including the office of a Hamas battalion commander.

    Meanwhile, several Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli counter-attacks and airstrikes against Hamas sites had occurred in the last few weeks.

    Israel has been imposing a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas took over the enclave in 2007.

    According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Hamas had intensified its campaign against the blockade with weekly rallies near the fence between Gaza and Israel, killing more than 200 Palestinians since the rallies began in March 2018.

  • Embattled Oyo-Ita in Presidential Villa

    The Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was reported to be on medical leave, on Wednesday was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to witness the swearing-in of Ministers-designate.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Head of Service, who was also reported to have submitted her resignation letter to the Presidency over alleged contract scam, was seen seated on her `traditional’ position at the Council Chamber of the presidential villa.

    NAN gathered that the head of service, who arrived the presidential villa shortly before the commencement of the inauguration of the ministers by the president, was seen heading towards the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari

    NAN, however, observed that Oyo-Ita, who was listed as one of the speakers at the just concluded presidential retreat held between Aug. 19 and Aug. 20, was conspicuously absent at the venue of the event.

    Oyo-Ita was reported to be on medical leave after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) quizzed her over an alleged contract scam to the tune of N3 billion.

    NAN reports that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who was earlier reappointed by the president, first took his oath of office during the inauguration of the Miniters.

    NAN reports that the inauguration of the ministers-designate was ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

  • Hashimoto’s disease deprives human body of hormones for healthy function – Endocrinologist

    By Abujah Racheal
    Dr Ikechukwu Henry, an Abuja based endocrinologist, says Hashimoto disease is depriving the human body of the necessary hormones for healthy function.

    Henry told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that neglecting to treat this condition could lead to a number of complications.

    Hashimoto’s disease, also called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland.

    The endocrinologist explained that the disease was named after a Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto, who discovered it.

    The endocrinologist said Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis was the most common cause of hypothyroidism, or decreased activity of the thyroid gland.

    According to him, hypothyroidism can cause a goitre “an inflamed and swollen thyroid gland”, which can affect human ability to swallow food or to breathe.

    Other possible complications are heart disease, depression and birth defects, said the expert.

    He said that myxedema was the name for severe, untreated hypothyroidism, noting that it can result in a medical crisis known as myxedema coma, in which the patient may lose consciousness as organ functions slow or shut down.

    Henry said that the symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease were related to the effects of low levels of thyroid hormones.

    “You may notice a swelling of the throat beneath your Adam’s apple as the thyroid gland becomes inflamed and enlarged. Hashimoto’s disease may cause mood changes, fatigue, memory problems and depression.

    “Pale skin, sensitivity to cold, a puffy face and brittle nails can also be signs of this disease.

    “Additionally, unexpected weight gain, muscles aches and joint pain can signal this disorder. Women may notice unusually heavy menstrual bleeding,” he explained.

    According to him, Hashimoto’s disease is more likely to affect women than men.

    “While this disease can appear at any age, it is most likely to set in during the middle age years,’’ Henry said.

    He said that people were at greater risk of developing this disease if a family member had the disease or if they already suffer from another autoimmune disorder.

    Henry explained that autoimmune disorders were diseases in which a body’s immune system goes awry and begins attacking healthy body organs or tissues as if they were foreign substances.

    In Hashimoto’s disease, he said, it affects organ in the thyroid, stating that the thyroid gland is a small gland located just below the Adam’s apple.

    “This gland produces and releases thyroid hormones into your bloodstream. Thyroid hormones regulate body functions such as metabolism, heart function, muscle control, brain development and mood.

    “When the thyroid is attacked by your immune system, it is no longer able to produce the hormones needed for these necessary functions,” he said.

    He, however, added that exposure to radiation increases chances of developing the disease.

    The endocrinologist said that there were two types of blood tests used for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, stating that the first is to test a person’s blood for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).

    “TSH levels become high in the blood when the thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormones. The pituitary gland of the brain then produces more TSH in an attempt to stimulate the production of T3 and T4,” he explained.

    He stated that the second test was to determine the presence of antibodies against the enzyme Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO).

    “The immune system is attacking TPO, then these antibodies will be present,” he added. NAN