Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • Cholera: FCTA caution residents against open defecation

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday warned residents in the territory to desist from open defecation to prevent cholera.

    Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director, Public Health, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, gave the warning during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    NAN reports that seven deaths have so far been recorded from cholera outbreak in four communities of Sauka, Mpape, Kubwa village and Ushafa.

    Okoroukwu explained that open defecation was one of the causes that predispose some residents to cholera which affected some communities in the territory.

    “People should stop defecating in open places, especially around the river banks to prevent infectious diseases like cholera.

    “Residents are advised to have toilets in their homes and those who cannot afford Water Closet should endeavour to have pit latrines to avoid outbreak of cholera,” he said.

    The director said that cholera outbreak was common during the rainy season, and stressed the need for residents to take necessary precautions.

    He said that cholera outbreak occurred mainly in rural communities that had no access to potable water.
    Okoroukwu also enjoined FCT residents to treat their drinkable water and ensure that it was free of any contamination.

    He advised residents to take sick persons with symptoms of cholera immediately to nearby healthcare facility or hospital, pointing out that timeliness is of essence. (NAN)

    Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

  • Nigeria controls 70 % of cargo traffic of W/Central Africa, says Ports’ Council

    The Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Chief Kunle Folarin, says Nigeria controls 70 per cent of cargo traffic of West and Central Africa.

    Folarin made this known on Friday in Lagos during the 3rd Annual Maritime Conference in honour of Dr Taiwo Afolabi,the Chief Executive and Vice Chairman, Sifax Group.

    The Theme of the conference was:” Port Costs and Ports Charges: A Recurring Decimal under Port Reform Regime”, held on Friday in Lagos.

    According to the maritime economist, the percentage is far from the formal trade alone and will.certainly be bigger if we consider the informal trade aspects of cargo movements.

    He said that the traffic into Nigeria by latest data was over 5,307 ships per annum.

    “The potential is certainly bigger when we consider the capacity of cargo traffic to Nigeria’s landlocked neighbours such as Niger Republic and Chad.

    “In real terms, over 85 per cent of all the goods and services that entered Nigeria came through the seaports.

    “The current aggregate value exceeds $15 billion dollars a year through normal imports.

    “Nigeria also imports over two million tonnes of non-oil cargo yearly.

    “It is therefore, no doubt that the maritime sector’s performance is indeed a major contributor to the economy and must be given attention when discussing port costs and port charges.

    “In 1970, following the end of civil war in Nigeria, government adopted a policy that focused on the need to reconstruct the infrastructure and superstructure of areas that were crucial to the commercial and industrial sectors of the country.

    “In order to give effect to the implementation of the policy, importation of building materials was done by about 600 vessels, most of which arrived at the same time and created port congestion,” Folarin said.

    He recalled that the available port infrastructure at that time could not handle more than 12 vessels at a time in Apapa Port Complex, which resulted to long queue of ships waiting to berth.

    Folarin said that consequently, ship owners incurred huge running costs and this led to demurage as a result of penalties put in place by the chartered parties.

    He said that the port cost and charges reform policy of the Federal Government started in 1993 by the Federal Ministry of Finance apparently to address the issue of rising costs in the delivery of port services and several others.

    The NPCC boss said that the port concessioning started in 2006 by transfering operations of public sector activities to private sector to improve productivity and achieve competiveness at the ports.

    He said that there was need for port industry to be truly productive, competitive and earn a hub status in the region, adding that otherwise, Nigerian ports would continue to perform at best a little above average.

    In a keynote address, Afolabi, who was represented by his daughter, Mirian Afolabi, recalled that the exchange rate of Naira to dollar in 2006 was between N125 and N131.

    “Many obligations of terminal operators are expected to be discharged in dollars and how much naira will be enough today to purchase the required dollars,” he asked.

    Afolabi said that 12 years after the historical concession, the value of naira had changed.

    “By what percentage will the cost of service be adjusted upward to reflect the astronomical change in foreign exchange regime?

    “So many questions seeking answers.

    “These are matters of immediate and practical concern to every Nigerian and the regulatory authorities,” Afolabi said.

    He commended the organisers of the Maritime Forum, who were students of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, for the steadfastness and diligence they demonstrated in sustaining the yearly event.

    In his opening remarks, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Adebayo Sarumi, said that government should not run port operations, adding that it was indeed a business for the private sector.

    Sarumi said that port concessioning was a business venture that concerned both the consumers and the producers of shipping services.

    “Up to the time I returned to NPA in 2003, NPA was using the tariffs that we got from the Price Income and Productivity Board, approved in 1993.

    “It was so surprising to see that a tariff of 1993 was still being used in 2004. There is no way you could do that business gainfully.

    “More worrisome was the quality of service NPA was giving. Low turnaround time of ships and shallow channels,” Sarumi said.

    He, however, urged government to ensure that port infrastructure were in good shape.

    Sarumi recalled that immediately the concession started, APM Terminals invested heavily on infrastructure and bought 11 cranes.

    He said that the concession regime had increased cargo throughput (imports and exports)

    A former President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said that there was need to look for lasting solutions to the continuous problem of rising port costs.

    Shittu said that things could only change positively in the industry if all the operators were ready to positively change their attitude.

    Also speaking, the Executive Director, SIFAX Group, retired Maj Henry Ajetunmobi, said that terminal operators invested a lot of funds on additional port infrastructure.

    The Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Mrs Obiageli Obi, said that there was need to bring down the high costs to encourage port business.

    A Maritime Lawyer, Mr Victor Onyegbado, said that there was need to have an econnomic regulator as well as the enactment of the Port and Harbour Bill.

    Another Maritime Lawyer,Mr Ademola Afun, said that there was also need for availability of the political will to enable all porr operators to work harmoniously to improve operations and increase government revenue. (NAN)

  • Centre partners Roche Group to reduce cost of kidney medication

    Centre partners Roche Group to reduce cost of kidney medication

    Zenith Medicals and Kidney Centre says it is partnering with Roche Group on drugs and diagnostic equipment to reduce cost of renal treatment and medical tourism.

    Dr Olalekan Olatishe, the Medical Director of the centre, made this known while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Roche Group on the partnership in Abuja.

    Olatishe said that the partnership would reduce the cost of kidney medication and treatment by about 30 per cent.
    He explained that the facility has the largest number of kidney transplant and dialysis in the country.

    “Patients who undergo kidney transplant in other facilities can also access the medication at the facility and its outlets.

    “In the area of medication there will be a crash in the cost because there would not be a middleman between the Roche Group and Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre.

    “Zenith would be able to fix cost of the drugs and medication for the patient and with that you will find out the cost will reduce drastically,’’ he said.

    According to him, the partnership will also reduce medical tourism because it would avail Nigerians the right medication for kidney and renal complications at an affordable cost.

    He noted that it was on record that several Nigerians went to India and other countries to buy same drugs Roche provided to Zenith.

    The medical director added that the availability of such medication in the country would reduce the number at which people travel out to procure the kidney transplant drugs.

    He said that in terms of diagnostics equipment, the facility would get PCR machine, chemistry auto analyser, amino acid machines from the group.

    Olatishe added that these are basic equipment used in the lab and they were top notch all over the world, pointing out that the equipment would solve a lot of problems with diagnosis of renal diseases in Nigeria.

    He noted that the partnership would provide an unlimited access to drugs and medications which could go a long way in solving a lot of problems of patients of kidney related complications.

    Dr Severin Schwar, the Chief Executive Officer, Roche Group, said the private sector was part of the solution to address the problem of patients.

    “We are very proud to help your business to be successful and if your business is successful you will have the possibility to reach more people.

    “If the health care industry have more entrepreneurs like you, it will be good for the country and the country will grow and have more resources to deliver better health care services,” he said. (NAN)

  • DPR tasks depot owners on need for fire fighting trucks

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Thursday said fire fighting truck would henceforth be part of the prerequisites for the renewal of the operational licences of depot owners.

    Mrs Ijeoma Onyeri, the Deputy Director and Head, Downstream Monitoring and Regulations, made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting with the depot owners at the DPR Warri Zonal office.

    Onyeri, who led other management team of the regulatory agency, said that the development would help to address outbreak of fire incident in the depots.

    She said that the visit was to enable them to ascertain the challenges and how the depots were fairing specifically in terms of safety compliance.

    The deputy director said that the DPR was very much concerned about the issue of safety of personnel and facilities.

    She advised the depot owners to ensure their security providers were trained by accredited DPR consultants.

    Onyeri said that DPR was proposing a programme called “Minimum Safety Industry Training for Downstream”, adding that the details would be communicated to them soon.

    According to her, every depot must key into the proposed training programme, saying that it would also form part of the requirements for renewing their operational licences.

    “Every depot must have fire truck to handle fire outbreak, and must be stationed at the depot; this will now form part of the renewal of your operational licences.

    “DPR takes safety and security very seriously to ensure that facilities and personnel are safe; so, you are to train and retrain your personnel by DPR accredited consultants.

    “It is mandatory requirements that depot must have safety case and Oil Spill Contingency Plan Documents which must be displayed for DPR officials to see during inspections,” she said.

    Onyeri advised the depot owners to maintain the ex-depot price, shun diversion and hoarding of products, adding that hoarding of product was an infraction that attracts serious penalty.

    The DPR officials had visited AYM Shafa Oil Depot, Pinnacle Oil and Gas and Matrix Energy Ltd. to inspect their facilities.

    “I am impressed with what I have seen on ground in these three Tank Farms; the level of safety compliance is very impressive, they have met most of the DPR guidelines.

    “In Matrix, everything is automated; if there is any emergency, they have a control room where they can shutdown, I am really impressed,” she said.

    Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of Matrix, Mr Luqman Salam-Alada, said that the Escravos channel was the major source of their landing point, hoping that when it was dredged, it would help the company a lot.

    Also, Federick Olomoro, the Group Head, Health and Safety Environment of Matrix, said that inspection audit by the regulators always give the company an opportunity to improve.

    “It is also an opportunity to tell our regulators how we are relating with our host communities, cordial relationship with the host communities is our top priority,” Olomoro said. (NAN)

  • NBS says price of 5kg cooking gas decreased in July

    NBS says price of 5kg cooking gas decreased in July

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the average price for refilling of a five kilogramme cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) decreased to N2,010.45 in July from N2,034.93 in June.
    The NBS disclosed this in its “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch’’ released on Wednesday.
    The report indicated that the price paid by consumers for a five kilogramme cooking gas decreased by -1.20per cent month-on-month and -9.69 per cent year-on-year.
    It named the states with the highest average price for refilling of a five kilogramme cylinder for cooking gas to include Bauchi, N2,500.00; Borno, N2,401.43; and Gombe, N2,314.29.
    It said states with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas were Edo, N1,731.25; Abuja, N1,730.00; and Ebonyi, N1,700.00.

    “Similarly, average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas decreased by -0.81 per cent month-on-month and -2.97 per cent year-on-year to N4,244.35 in July 2018 from N4,278.95 in June 2018.
    “States with the highest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas were Benue, N4,775.00; Kaduna, N4,716.67; and Akwa Ibom, N4,660.00.
    “Also, states with the lowest average price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder for Liquefied Petroleum Gas were Oyo, N3,855.63; Ogun, N3,849.09; and Lagos, N3,615.38.
    The bureau’s “Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch’’ revealed that the average price paid by consumers for petrol decreased to N146.80 in July from N148.10 in June.

    It said the price of petrol declined by -0.09 per cent year-on-year and -0.9 per cent month on month.
    According to the report, states with the highest average price of petrol are Borno, N155.00; Taraba; N151.82; and Bayelsa, N151.67.
    It said states with the lowest average price of petrol were Oyo, N144.72; Katsina, N144.06; and Gombe, N142.79. (NAN)
    LCN/OFN/SA

  • Estu Nupe lauds INEC for extending the deadline for continuous voter registration

    Estu Nupe lauds INEC for extending the deadline for continuous voter registration

    The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, on Thursday lauded  the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), for extending the Continuous Voter Registration(CVR) exercise to Aug. 31 in response to the demand of Nigerians.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had earlier given Aug. 17 as the deadline for CVR but due to the complaints of eligible voters across the country the commission deemed it necessary to announce a new deadline for the exercise.

    According to INEC, the registered voters can collect the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the designated centres up to the early part of 2019.

    Yahaya told newsmen in his palace in Bida that he had already directed ward and district heads to mobilise eligible voters, to take the advantage of the two weeks extension  for the exercise.

    He said that it was imperative for eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in order to exercise their civic rights in the general elections slated to begin in February 2019.

    The royal father noted that the people would only be eligible to participate in the elections if they were registered and given their PVCs.

    He explained that traditional rulers in Niger State would not relent in sensitising their subjects to the extension of the deadline by INEC, to enable them collect their PVCs, after being duly registered.

    “ We will also mobilise those who had earlier registered and have not collected their PVCs to  come forward for collection in the commission’s offices across the 25 local government areas of the state,” he said.

    “ I urge media organisations to deploy all sustainable and effective mass media strategies to mobilise eligible voters to participate actively in the exercise.

    He stressed the need for eligible voters to be educated on the importance of obtaining PVCs, saying that  it would allow them the opportunity to vote in the elections.(NAN)

  • We are concentrating on completing projects to deliver value to Nigerians – Fashola

    We are concentrating on completing projects to deliver value to Nigerians – Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Friday said that the Buhari administration was focusing on completing road,  power and housing projects to deliver value to Nigerians.

    Fashola during an interactive session with 10 social clubs to give account of achievements of the Buhari administration at Lagos City Hall, said that due to completion of some road projects, the construction economy had bounced back and  promoting growth of businesses.

    He said that previous governments had reports of uncompleted projects and stressed that, uncompleted infrastructure could not be used and would not deliver values to Nigerians.

    He said that people voted for change and there was no need repeating the old system that did not deliver real value to citizens of the nation.

    He explained that in the 2015 budget, N19 billion was earmarked for road projects out of which only nine billion naira was released leaving a huge deficient that made several contractors to abandon site.

    Fashola said that the trend coupled with huge debts owed contractors affected businesses which in turn impacted the economy negatively.

    “And because of dwindling oil revenue, we had to do more with less money,’’ he said.

    He said the government decided to prioritize the roads for repair based on six main categories, which included roads that carried heaviest vehicles, those that led to the ports, roads critical to agriculture, ones that required counterpart funding and the Sukuk bonds.

    “There is no state where we are not constructing one road or the other,“ he said.

    On housing delivery, the minister said the Buhari regime was also completing housing projects started by previous administrations.

    “Is it a crime to govern sensibly to reduce waste?“ he queried.

    He said that only completed projects were useful to citizens of the nation and urged Nigerians to speak up in favour of the good gesture to complete projects.

    He said that pilot schemes were still on-going for new housing projects as there were no empirical evidence of what kind of homes people could afford or their taste preferences.

    The minister said that apart from the Shehu Shagari administration, this was the second time the Federal Government was embarking on mass housing initiatives across the country.

    He said that there was need to get the product formulation, packaging and delivery right, adding that, there were several unoccupied buildings across the country either because they were not affordable or did not meet the taste of consumers.

    “If you don’t sample correctly, the product would fail. When we say we are planning, people think we are joking,’’ the minister said.

    He said that the government through the Federal Mortgage Bank was removing impediments to access to loans and was at the same time expanding the scope to capture more beneficiaries.

    Speaking on Power, he said that power generation and distribution had improved because government was able to resolve some complex issues that came with the privatisation of power by previous government.

    He said that the various power plants across the country were being upgraded to deliver at more optimal capacity, adding that, the problems of estimated billing would be resolved with time.

    “Clearly, it is getting better, let us honestly admit,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Kawu explains why NBC sanctioned Jay FM Jos

    By Mustapha Sumaila

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said that the fine imposed on Jay FM, Jos, was due to its continuous airing of vulgar and indecent music lyrics, in spite of verbal and written warnings to the station.

    The Head, Public Affairs of NBC, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, gave the explanation in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Jimada quoted the Director-General of the commission, Malam Is’haq Kawu as saying that the commission had been very proactive and responsive in its efforts at regulating the broadcast industry, especially as regards ensuring the citizens’ right to quality broadcasting.

    “The attention of the NBC has been drawn to comments and observations in the media space regarding the fine imposed on Jay FM Jos for continuous airing of vulgar and indecent music lyrics in spite of verbal and written warnings to the station.

    “The Act establishing the NBC empowered the commission, to among other mandates in Section 2.1(h), to “establish and disseminate a National Broadcasting Code and set standards with regard to the content and quality of materials for broadcast.

    “This, the commission has done and because of the revolutionary nature of broadcasting, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is reviewed every four years in a stakeholders’ participatory process.

    “Information about the review of the code is disseminated widely and participation is open to all relevant and interested members of the public.

    “Consequently, the code is a document which has the input of a wide variety of stakeholders.

    “ In addition, the code is available on the NBC website and media pages and at our various offices located across the country,’’ he explained.

    According to him, by Industry standards, broadcast stations are mandated by law, to adhere strictly to the dictates of the code and where they falter, the commission initiates the sanction process.

    The director-general explained that all actions of the commission were strictly informed by and carried out according to the dictates of the law and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    Kawu, therefore, enjoined all artistes to produce broadcast versions of their works to enable broadcast stations to use them without contravening the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    “In addition, the Nigerian artiste has a responsibility to the country. Today, popular songs of leading Nigerian musicians garner millions of views on YouTube.

    “This indicates the level of influence they exert upon the young people who make up the majority of our country’s population. We believe our artistes should offer a positive influence on this young population.

    “Broadcasting is a creative medium characterised by professionalism, choice and innovation to serve the interest of the general public.

    “And it is expected to influence society positively by setting the agenda for the social, cultural, economic, political and technological development of the nation for the public good.’’

    He assured Nigerians that the commission would continue to execute its responsibilities without fear or favour and would apply the relevant sanctions on erring stations whenever they violate the code. (NAN)
    MS/GOM/NKO
    ==========
    Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Nkechi Okoronkwo

     Posted in General news |

    News Agency of Nigeria
    Powered by Metric Internet

    NAN

  • NLNG: FG committed to commencement of Train-7 –Finance Minister

    NLNG: FG committed to commencement of Train-7 –Finance Minister

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, says the Federal Government is committed to supporting the commencement of the Train-7 initiative of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant.

    Adeosun stated this on Sunday during a visit to the NLNG plant  in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers.

    She said the most important critical need from the government as a shareholder was the support for the investment to commence.

    “That has been very critical and we have been for that approval,  and with the support for commencement, it signals that the government has been committed to Train-7.

    “It’s very important to note that the government has done many things that signal its commitment to sustaining this investment in the NLNG and being part of its success story,” she said.

    Adeosun said she was in Bonny to inspect the NLNG facility that had been generating huge revenue in taxes and dividends to the government.

    Describing the facility as  impressive and a modern hi-tech plant, the minister said:

    “We saw the old Trains 1 to 6, and the space for the incoming Train-7 which has the potential of creating 10,000 jobs in the next nine months.

    “The jobs to be created will be sustainable for the next five to six years  and this is extremely exciting because the multiplier effects will be huge.’’

    She also described the trip to the plant as very revealing, adding that more people would build houses and land value would go up.

    The minister said that the Federal Government had made fiscal changes to enhance the competitive position of the NLNG by removing the disparity in VAT in tax treatment between imported and local Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

    ” That will give an additional market share to NLNG-produced LPG, and of course it is a major objective that the management has campaigned for and the Federal Executive Council has approved it.

    “So, we expect greater market share to the NLNG;  of course, that has knock-on effects, it stops people from using firewood to cook, it stops deforestation.

    “It has a lot of environmental benefits as well as more revenue to the NLNG,” she said.

    Mr Tony Attah, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of  NLNG,  commended the minister for visiting the plant.

    Attah said that the NLNG model was working effectively as the organisation had been positioned as a global brand.

    Mr Tayo Oginni, General Manager, Production, stated that the delay in investing in Train-7 would drop Nigeria to Number 10 from Number four in gas production by 2025.

    Oginni, however,  said that Train-7 would increase NLNG’s production capacity by 35 percent and take the country to number three position in the world.

    He also stated that the global energy landscape was changing and Nigeria must lead the transition or lose if nothing was done.(NAN)