Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • Kaduna completes N1.2 bn MDGs projects

    Princess Adejoke Adefulire,
    Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), on Thursday inaugurated N1.2 billion Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects in Kaduna State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects, numbering 124, covered upgrade and construction of primary health centres, perimeter fencing, toilets facilities, staff quarters, solar powered boreholes and procurement of hospital equipment.

    The ceremony was performed at one of the new Primary Health Care Centres at Bakin Kasuwa, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking at the event, Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai, represented by his Deputy, Barnabas Bantex, said that the projects were located in the six local government areas with highest number of maternal and infant mortality in the state.

    He identified the local government areas as Chikun, Kaura, Kachia, Igabi, Kubau and Ikara.

    He thanked the SDGs Office for supporting Kaduna state in its quest to improve the quality of life of citizens through the provision of quality health care.

    “We will continue to welcome such support and make budgetary provisions to match whatever amount the Federal Government supports us with for people oriented projects, ” he said.

    Inaugurating the projects, Adefulire said that they were executed to increase access to quality health care services, particularly to pregnant women and nursing mothers.

    The presidential aide said that the projects were implemented under the MDGs 2014/2015 Conditional Grant Scheme.

    She commended the state government for the timely completion of the projects and pledged to continue working with the state in providing more health facilities in rural communities.

    “We cannot talk about ending maternal and infant deaths when rural population do not have access to health car services.

    “We are working with Kaduna state and other states across the country to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians through various intervention in economic, social, and environmental lives of the people, ” she added.

    Earlier, Muhammad Abdullahi, Commissioner, Planning and Budget in the state, explained that the projects were executed with N600 million from the SDG office and N600 million from the state government as matching grant.

    Abdullahi said that the projects became necessary after a survey in 2016 which indicated that 70 per cent of pregnant women in the state deliver at home.

    He said that situation led to a high level of maternal and infant mortality in the state particularly in local government areas where the projects were sited.

    According to him, the health facilities would significantly improve the health outcome of the state through increase access to quality health care services.

    “The state will continue to make necessary budgetary provision to ensure that no one is left behind in health care service delivery.” (NAN)

  • Osinbajo storms Katsina, declares war on evil

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday received a rousing welcome to the Kangiwa square, Katsina, where he declared that “Nigeria is going through a battle between good and evil’’.

    Osinbajo was in President Muhammadu Buhari’s state to flag off the Katsina North Senatorial rally of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Presenting Alhaji Ahmed Baba Kaita as APC candidate for the senatorial election, Osinbajo said that President Buhari was voted into power to stop the massive stealing and looting in Nigeria.

    “Those who stole and looted are trying to come back to steal. But we say no way.

    “As long as honest people like President Buhari are in the saddle, we will always have peace and progress.’’

    He recounted President Buhari’s record in the revival of moribund and abandoned projects.

    He said that the Mambilla power project abandoned 40 years ago has been revived, so also many other projects, including rail lines.

    “In the interest of the common man, we must continue to vote for APC,’’ he pleaded.

    Osinbajo urged the Katsina people to vote for APC to enable the party continue to have majority members in the senate.

    “Politics is a game of number. We must be in majority in the senate.’’

    Aside being the constituency of President Buhari, APC should retain the seat of Katsina North in memory of the departed late Sen. Bukar Madakidaya.

    “A vote for APC in the constituency is a vote for President Buhari. So vote the right way,’’ he advised.

    Osinbajo with Emir of Daura

    Before storming the campaign venue, the Acting President paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness Farouk Umar Farouk.

    Osinbajo told the Emir the work APC started since 2015 was on course and Nigeria would never remain the same.

    He said that the purpose of the APC and President Buhari is to give hope to the common man, adding that the government was doing more with 60 per cent less earnings than previous administrations.

    The Emir said the people of Daura were 100 per cent behind the President Buhari.

    He praised Osinbajo for his actions and for being “a very loyal and effective deputy to President Buhari’’.

    Senator Mustapha Bukar, senator representing Katsina north, died on April 4at the age of 63.

    Until his death, Bukar was the chairman senate committee on capital market.

    He was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

    He was a first time lawmaker.

    Born December 31, 1954, the senator obtained an engineering degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1978.

    Video of Osinbajo’s arrival in Katsina

    ?

    Prof Yemi Osinbajo@VPOsinbajo

    I am now in Daura, in my Oga’s home state Katsina.

  • 2019: Saraki hints at Presidency, dismisses Akpabio’s defection

    By Ifeanyi Nwoko

    The President of the Senate Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki may be nursing a Presidential ambition for 2019.

    He gave the hint during the question and answer session at a press conference following the blockade of the gates of the National Assembly by operatives of the DSS.

    Saraki who was asked by a representative of a foreign media if he would be vying for the highest office in the land, did not deny having such ambition.

    He however said that today was a day to talk about democracy, adding that he would answer the question on another day.

    “We are here today about the democracy of this country, and that is what is important to me and to all of us that are here.

    “I think when the time is right I will talk on your issue but today, we are talking about democracy in Nigeria, to defend the rule of law,” he said.

    On whether or not he would relinquish the position of Senate Presidency which he was ‘given’ under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Saraki stressed that he was not given the position but was elected by members.

    He said that the Constitution allows any member of the Senate to stand for election as the President of the Senate irrespective of the party the person belongs to.

    “I was not given the position as senate president, I was elected by members.

    “According to our constitution, it says a member of the National Assembly who so wishes….. it doesn’t say you have to belong to any political party,” he said.

    On the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio to PDP, Saraki said that it is not an worthy of comment at the time.

    He said that the press conference was called to discuss important National issues and  Akpabio’s defection was not part of it.

    “This happens from time to time, so I do not think it is a national issue for me to comment on,” he said.

  • Information Panacea to economic development – C-G National Parks

    The Conservator-General of National Parks Service, Ibrahim Goni, says accurate information is the backbone for national economic development and growth.

    Goni said this in Abuja during the reconstitution of the service’s nine man Editorial Magazine Board to showcase the abundant potential in the country’s tourism industry.

    The C-G said that proper information about the service to the public was necessary to gain national and international recognition.

    He said the absence of the magazine had created huge gap in the dissemination of information on the activities of the national park.

    “I want to draw your attention to the challenges posed by social media in contemporary reportage.

    “You must rise to the occasion by ensuring that where facts are distorted on social media and similar platform, you should swiftly correct the misinformation.

    He advised the members to bring in creative ideas and innovation that would enrich the quality of the publication.

    “You must endeavour to showcase the abundant potential and hidden treasures of our national parks to improve tourist arrivals and revenue generation through the quality of your publications.

    “Your publications should dwell more on issues that have direct bearing with the promotion of our corporate image and put information about the service in proper perspectives.

    In an address of welcome, Alhaji Suleiman Yahaya, Assistant Conservator-General, Human Resource Management, emphasised that information was important to the organisation to showcase its activities.

    According to him, information is power, information leads to formation, so lack of effective communication will lead to misinformation.

    “This is why the board is inaugurated to set the ball rolling in putting the right information about the service to the public.

    Chairman of the Editorial Board, Conservator of Park, Zanna Lawan, pledged that the board would justify the confidence reposed in them by being prompt and objective in their reportage.

    Other members of the board are; DCP Yakubu Zull, DCP Maria Mamman, ACP George Kargong, CPW Ikpeme Rebecca, APW 1 Williams Rail, SP1 Alex Bwala, SPI Ibrahim Abdulfatai and CPWU Mathias Enaberue, who is Secretary.(NAN)

  • Mass defection: APC flushing out bad eggs -Doguwa

    SHAMSU ABUBAKAR, Kano

    Member of House of Representatives for Doguwa/ Tudun Wada constituency of Kano State, Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has described defections as conventional and tradition. (more…)

  • Virement request: Reps’ll reconvene Tuesday tentatively – Lasun **Don’t use DSS blockade to malign APC- Gbajabiamilla

    Virement request: Reps’ll reconvene Tuesday tentatively – Lasun **Don’t use DSS blockade to malign APC- Gbajabiamilla

    JONAS EZIEKE, Abuja

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yusuff Lasun has said that the House would reconvene either Tuesday or Wednesday next week to consider the virement request of N242 billon sent by President Muhammad Buhari to the National Assembly for the conduct of the 2019 general elections. (more…)

  • Bafarawa warns against politics of self-aggrandisement

    Former Gov. Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State has warned politicians in the country against the unbridled quest to amass wealth that should be channelled into the nation’s development.

    Flowerbud News reports that Bafarawa gave the warning on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen on the current political developments in the country.

    He expressed concern that some politicians were interested in personal aggrandisement rather than service to the people.

    “The politics of Nigeria today is not like that of yesterday. In the past, people joined politics to contribute their quota to the nation’s development but that has changed.

    “Many politicians see politics as a small-scale industry, where people can be making money out.”

    He said that more than 90 per cent of Nigerian politicians were “political office seekers, hence our democracy has continued to move back and forth”.

    The former governor, therefore, admonished politicians and political parties in the country to uphold the principles of democracy.

    He expressed regret that the nation’s political class and the parties had no respect for the principles and tenets of democracy.

    He said that in every democracy, political parties remained supreme and above the political office holders.

    He said that the cardinal principle of every political party in a democracy was usually embedded in its manifesto, which clearly spelt out its programmes and policies.

    He said that the manifesto serves as a yardstick for measuring the performance of the office holders.

    “This is so that even when the tenure of the governor or president ends, the next government will continue with the party manifesto in order to ensure continuity,” Bafarawa said.

  • Adeosun implores Nigerians to embrace insurance

    Adeosun implores Nigerians to embrace insurance

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has urged  Nigerians to embrace insurance to protect themselves against the eventualities of life and also enhance the sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Adeosun made the appeal at the 2018 National Conference of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) held in Lagos on Thursday.

    She said insurance, which remained the greatest panacea to poverty alleviation, had been neglected by many Nigerians.

    She, however, said life without insurance was equal to building a house on a shallow ground.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of 2018 conference is: “The Role of Stakeholders in Developing Insurance & Pension Sectors.”

    According to the Finance Minister, insurance also remained the key to wise financial planning among all Nigerians, including grassroot dwellers.

    She urged citizens to key into the various economic developmental initiatives of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to develop a solid financial plan.

    Adeosun, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Finance and Administration, NAICOM, Mr George Onekhena, said excuses of non-payment of claims used by Nigerians to avoid insurance policies amounted to “self deceit.”

    The minister advised citizens to make enquiries on insurance policies before subscribing to them.

    She said anyone in doubt could engage the services of insurance brokers for professional advise.

    “Moreover, nobody knows the day of his or her death and it woukd be disastrous for anyone to leave dependents without benefits.

    “Insurance is the foundation for every wise financial planning,”she said.

    She also said the greatest challenge facing the insurance sector, which was common to the pension sector, was that many people hardly inform others when they benefited from the sector.

    “A clear example is the quantum of retirement benefits paid on monthly basis by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to retirees and the quantum of claims paid yearly by insurance firms.

    “For instance over N76 billion insurance claims were paid in 2014, close to N90 billion  claims were paid in 2015 and over N105 billion claims paid  in 2016.

    “Rather people react when claims or benefits are not paid,” she said. (NAN)

  • Saraki replies APC over allegations of incompetence

    Saraki replies APC over allegations of incompetence

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has described as baseless accusation by All Progressives Congress(APC) that he was the worst president the National Assembly had produced in the country.

    Saraki said in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Thursday, that the comments by the APC was prompted by alleged plans by the party to “subvert democracy”.

    He said “we can’t descend into the gutter with these characters. Apparently, they have not recovered from the shock of their Tuesday’s failed attempt to subvert democracy.”

    The APC had in earlier in a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena,
    said that Saraki was not fit for office of president of the senate.

    The party said, “In every democratic country, the position of the Senate President is one of the highest political offices one can attain.

    “It is a position reserved for the best of the best, experienced and exemplary politicians who by their character and conduct in public offices, the younger generation look up to as role models.”

    It alleged that in terms of exemplary personage, the reverse is the case in respect of Saraki who had been involved in one controversy or the other, including budget-padding, filibustering and legislative rascality. (NAN)