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  • Buba Acknowledges Exceptional Performance of 13 TAC Medics in Guinea Bissau, Assures them of Further DTAC Support

    Buba Acknowledges Exceptional Performance of 13 TAC Medics in Guinea Bissau, Assures them of Further DTAC Support

    Lauds President Tinubu’s 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative as Needful, Timely

    By Biola Lawal
    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): Director-General, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has lauded the 4-D Foreign Policy initiative of President Bola Tinubu for manifesting capacity to change the foreign policy narrative of Nigeria in the comity of nations.

    Buba, stated this in Abuja on Friday at the certificate-presentation and debriefing exercise in honour of returning TAC Volunteers from Guinea Bissau, a statement by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the DG of NTAC disclosed.

    (Team Leader, Dr. Adama , as he fields questions with pressmen during the event)

    The DTAC DG acknowledged the sterling performance of the thirteen Medical Doctors, who participated in the programme for two years in Guinea Bissau.

    While commending them for doing the nation proud in their place of service, the TAC boss assured that the Corps would do everything in its powers to support them in their next endeavours.

    ” I welcome you back with joy. As parents, whey you send your children out and they go and conquer, like you have done, you cannot help but be proud of such children.

    (3.One of the Volunteers as he receives his Certificate of Participation in the TAC Scheme from the Agency ‘s DG, Rt. Hon. Buba)

    ”On behalf of Mr President and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, we commend you for your exceptional performance in Guinea Bissau and assure you of our support in your next service to our nation.” he said.

    Earlier speaking,the Director of Programmes at DTAC, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed congratulated the Volunteers on the successful completion of the programme.

    Amb. Muhammad informed them that the certificate-presentation and debriefing exercise, which had been a rare event for sometime at the Agency, had now become the third in the series since late November this year.

    (The Volunteers while meeting with the NTAC Management staff during the Certification-presentation and Debriefing Exercise)

    Also speaking on the occasion, Amb. Alexander Tope Ajayi, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lauded the giant strides the TAC Scheme has continued to make as an instrument of the nation’s Foreign Policy conduct since its inception.

    He said the Ministry was proud of the strings of successes made at the Agency.

    (A group photograph of the Volunteers with the Management staff of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC);)

    Among the Volunteers who received their Certificates of Participation was Dr. Adama Samuel John, a Consultant Pediatrician and Team Leader of the group.Dr.Adama,who thanked the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps and its Management for their care for the group,

    He also informed that the medical professionals gave nothing short of their best in all the departments where they served in Guinea Bissau, while stressing that the group was pressed upon by the recipient country to continue at their job after the two-year service.(Flowerbudnews)

     

  • A Corruption-free Regulatory Framework Crucial for achievement of NAFDAC mandate – DG, Prof Adeyeye

    A Corruption-free Regulatory Framework Crucial for achievement of NAFDAC mandate – DG, Prof Adeyeye

    By Biola Lawal
    Lagos (Flowerbudnews):  The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye has declared that a corruption-free regulatory framework was crucial for the accomplishment of NAFDAC’s task of protecting public health.

    Prof. Adeyeye made the asserssion at a recent three-day training programme on Anti-corruption, Leadership in the 21st Century, and Ethical Value in the Workplace for all the directors of the Agency, a statement by Sayo Akintola, Resident Media Consultant disclosed.

    Prof. Adeyeye noted that without transparency, activities of the Agency would be compromised, which puts the health of the populace at risk, stressing that I dont separate trade from regulation.

    ” if you have a good product, people will rush and buy irrespective of wherever you are; and if you dont have a good product, people will not buy it. Thats what our business is all about in NAFDAC, ” She stated.

    According to the NAFDAC boss, whether its food, drug, medical devices or cosmetics, if we dont do our job well, we will have bad products, we will allow bad products to come into the country and put the lives of our people in danger.

    Describing the training as apt, Prof. Adeyeye said that the goal of the training was to address issues of leadership and governance, adding that the training would place a strong emphasis on current issues of anti-corruption and ethical values in the workplace, as well as organizational leadership.

    Undoubtedly, one of the most important and essential duties of management is to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud, she said, noting that the training would serve as a forum discussion, sharing of experience, providing guidance, and developing strategy for good leadership.

    The DG noted that the training aligns with the World Health Organization Global Benchmarking Tool (ISO 19004) for which the Agency was audited, and which culminated in her attainment of the WHO ML3 status, and recognition as a stable and well-functioning Regulatory Agency.

    Based on continuous quality monitoring, Prof Adeyeye enthused that it is what will lead the Agency to Maturity Level 4 and World Listed Authority status.

    She added that the goal is to place the consumers at an advantage health wise, and the stakeholders (large businesses and MSMEs) at a vantage point economically.

    Without transparency, our regulatory activities will be compromised, therefore, the training becomes a reference point for all staff in how to place a premium on the health and business of the customer and building integrity into the Agency regulatory framework, she said.

    She disclosed that management and all other personnel are expected to reflect on their leadership practices and the challenges of managing change, pointing out that staff training and capacity development have been prioritized at the Agency, as is typical of her administration, in other to improve staff expertise on the job.

    She noted that the training was for experienced leaders who are responsible for thinking strategically about the future of the organisation
    .
    The NAFDAC boss recalled that she had in recent times initiated and nurtured bilateral relations between the Denmark Veterinary and Food Administration and NAFDAC, which opened windows of training for the Agencys administrators and planners in various organizational change management, behaviourer changes and conflict management abilities

    She said the training in anti-corruption, financial fraud, integrity, accountability, and transparency, all leadership attributes, was for directors, but all NAFDAC officers would be trained, expressing the hope that all the discussions and information shared during the training would be applied effectively in the Agencys various formations.

    Speaking at the end of the three-day training program, the facilitator/consultant, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Gusau, urged the directors to take advantage of the training to enhance their capacities on the job and help to improve the wide-ranging abilities of the Agency to accomplish its mandate.

    The issues of financial fraud, integrity accountability and transparency were addressed in the training. The consultant elucidated how to mitigate risk, limit liability, protect organization and promote transparency in the Agencys operations.

    The U.S-based executive management consultant urged the top hierarchy of the Agency to work as a unit, warning that when one department is deficient, the entire system cannot function optimally to achieve the mandate of the Agency.

    Going philosophical, Dr. Gusau warned that after the training exercise, if you see anything going wrong in the Agency and you keep quiet, God may not forgive you. Do not wait until theres a problem before you start to talk. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Tinubu taking measures against reforms’ challenges – Onanuga

    Tinubu taking measures against reforms’ challenges – Onanuga

     

    By Ismail Abdulaziz

    Abuja:  President Bola Tinubu is already taking measures to address the challenges brought about by the bold reforms introduced by the administration in all sectors of the economy.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, adding that more of such measures would be taken in 2024.

    He said Tinubu had never shied away from acknowledging the temporary pains triggered by the reforms, stressing that proactive measures would continue to be taken.

    ‘’Many of these measures are already being taken and, in the New Year, we expect the silver linings, that are at present understated, to blossom into rays of sunshine to be experienced by all Nigerians.

    ‘’The removal of fuel subsidy and the move to merge foreign exchange rates, two headline reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration since late May, caused problems such as high fuel prices and the depreciation of the Naira, two monstrosities which combined to cause a general spike in costs of services and goods,’’ Onanuga said noted.

    He said that the latest NBS report put Nigeria’s inflation at 26.7 per cent in September, which rose to 28.2 per cent in November from 27.33 per cent in October, adding that food inflation remained untamed.

    He noted, however, that the new policies alone were not solely responsible for the economic problems Nigera is facing today.

    “We were destined for the tough and rough patch, where we are today, because of the prevailing conditions before Tinubu took over on May 29.

    ‘’As at June 2023, budget deficit was N10.8 trillion. Actual debt service was 98.95 per cent of revenue, far higher than the projected 59.37 per cent. Inflow into the country’s foreign reserve came in trickles.

    ‘’And so bad was the state of affairs that Nigeria could not remit about $800 million fund of foreign airlines. JP Morgan exposed our near insolvency by claiming in a report that our net foreign reserve was just about $3.7 billion, not the $33 billion plus flaunted by Emefiele’s CBN.

    nation, nationality, nigeria, Federal Republic of Nigeria, nigerian, Lagos, abuja, hausa, igbo, patriotism, support, tree, blue sky, nurture, positive, happy, growth, nature, environment, government, country, flag, hand, painted, natural, citizenship, peace, world, united, culture, identity, one person, creative, concept, vote, elections, charity, hand sign, symbol,

    ‘’President Tinubu, who promised during the campaign to take hard and difficult decisions, moved to tackle the economic problems from Day One, by first dispensing with the wasteful fuel subsidy that was billed to consume about N7 trillion this year, five times more than what was provisioned for capital spending.’’

    Onanuga said that the situation was, however, taking a positive turn with the NBS report of the third quarter of 2023, adding that the president was focussed on turning the economy round for growth, development and prosperity.

    ‘’In its third quarter report for the year, the NBS reported that GDP grew by 2.54 per cent. In a similar period in 2022, GDP recorded a growth of 2.25%.

    “To demonstrate that the sun may be shining on us again, the 2.54% GDP growth recorded in Q3, was also higher than the 2.51% recorded in Q2.

    ‘’The service sector, made up of information and communication, financial and insurance, was responsible for the growth witnessed in Q3. It had a 3.99% growth, contributing 52.7% of the aggregate GDP. The agriculture sector declined from 1.34% growth in Q2 to 1.3% in Q3.

    ‘’Growth was also recorded in construction and real estate, metal ores (69.76%), coal mining (58.03%), chemical and pharmaceutical products (6.77%), cement (4.2%) and construction (3.89%).

    ‘’Oil reported a negative growth of 0.85%, a major improvement to the negative 22.67% recorded at the same period last year. It was 13.43% in Q2 of 2022.

    ‘’The improvement in the oil sector and its contribution to GDP has been attributed to the improvement in the security of oil infrastructure and operations, leading to increased production.’’

    He said that there was a big jump in the volume of trade from N12.16 trillion in Q2 to N18.8 trillion, adding that trade volume in the Q2 of 2022 was N12.28 trillion

    ‘’We also recorded a trade surplus of N1.89trillion in Q3, an increase from the N708.8 billion in Q2 2023. In Q3 in 2022, we recorded trade deficit of N409.39 billion.

    ‘’Value of exports in the third quarter was N10.35 trillion, far higher by 60.78 per cent than the N6.44 trillion posted in Q2 2023. Crude oil dominated the export, accounting for 82.5 per cent, a confirmation that our country is pumping out more oil for export unlike the previous years,” he pointed out. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • NAN’ll witness greater efficiency–MD

    NAN’ll witness greater efficiency–MD

    Group photograph of the Management staff of NAN and the MD ,Malam Ali Muhammad Ali

    By Aisha Gambo
    Kaduna:  Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, newly appointed Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN,, says the agency will witness greater efficiency in the coming years.

    Ali spoke on Saturday at the closing of the three-day ” Strategic Foresight Management Retreat” for NAN in collaboration with Paragon Linkulting held in Kaduna.

    “The last three days we spent here, we are looking at the history of NAN, vision and mission and the reason? Why NAN is in business and the challenges, impediments.

    “We realized that we need to have new revenue streams for the agency; What we have been taught is that for us to make headway, we must have two things, impact and revenue,” he said.

    Ali said that the agency had impacted over the years but had challenges with revenue, adding that the management was looking to diversify ways of generating revenue.

    The managing director explained that the retreat had enlightened the management on the importance of cross- collaboration between various departments of the agency, adding that they were not competitors.

    He stated that the management hoped to expand the strategic retreat for the entire agency at the top, to the zones and to the districts in the first quarter of next year.

    Ali added, “We are going to look into some of the revenues unexploited and leverage on technology; We are going to have the right training and the right attitude.”

    He also appreciated the uncommon commitment of the participants, saying, ” this is much commendable at this critical time with a deluge of end-of-year activities.

    Ali said, ”We have brainstormed on how to take the agency forward. We want to see a reborn NAN. I appreciate the support of the management and the members of the agency.

    ” I must also commend the show of solidarity and mutual respect. Together, there is nothing that we cannot achieve, but it is difficult if we are alone.”

    Speaking earlier, the Editor-in- Chief, Mr. Ephraims Sheyin said, “The tide has changed in NAN’, ‘ adding that the editorial department would be working closely with other departments to achieve the set goals.

    ”We have to work very closely practically with all the units of the agency. We have been fully prepared for the arduous task ahead.

    ”We have to set targets and do everything humanly possible to ensure that they are diligently met. We will also intensify internal communication.

    ”’We will all change. I will cascade the knowledge acquired here and we spoke as adults and professionals,” Sheyin added. .

    Also speaking, the Director, Admin/ Human Resources, Malam Khalil Abdulhadi, assured Ali that all the knowledge learnt during the retreat would be put to proper use, urging the staff to work together as a team.

    He said,”The only way we can thank the managing director is by giving assurance of putting to use what we have learnt here.

    ”We are leaving here as a bonded group un;ike how we came in. We will go back and pursue the targets and goals we set for ourselves.”

    Other management staff at the retreat appreciated the managing director for the gesture, saying that it had given them a new approach to the work.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng/ Flowerbudnews

  • Penile erection above 30 minutes is harmful to men, Unilorin don warns

    Penile erection above 30 minutes is harmful to men, Unilorin don warns

     

    By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

    Ilorin:. Prof. Ademola Popoola of Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has warned that penile erection after 30 minutes in sexual intercourse is purposeless, dangerous and harmful to men.

    Popoola raised the alarm in Ilorin during his paper presentation at the 250th Inaugural Lecture of the university, entitled: “That All May Pee in Peace”.

    According to him, ”a person who has more than 30 minutes of erection should report immediately to the hospital”.

    He stated that the erection must be aborted as soon as possible by a competent doctor in order to preserve penile erection subsequently.

    The expert, who observed that the penis need to be turgid or erect for satisfactory sexual intercourse, however, said the erected penis often fractures or breaks.

    “Research shows that the right side of the penis ruptures more than the left side,” he said.

    Similarly, Popoola stated that in a person’s lifetime urination, which is supposed to be fun and relieving may become a problem and sometimes if intervention is not made on time, it could lead to the demise of the individual.

    The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences of Unilorin, observed the various causes of challenges with urination in women.

    “They include abnormal shifting of the uterus, urethrocele and other uncommon causes such as perforation ovarian teratoma and anteverted uterus,” he said.

    The expert warned that blood in the urine should cause great concern and peace-less urination.

    This, he said, may signify underlying disorders that need to be investigated, adding that the cause of blood in urine should be identified within a week or two of presentation to the hospital and a deadline of treatment set out.

    He therefore, called for comprehensive care of the patients with urological malignancies, which should be covered by the National Health Insurance Authourity.

    A man’s hand shows a zucchini on a light green background.

    Popoola also advised the Federal Government to make available research funding to support genitourinary problems, including kidney failure. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • INEC Fixes Re-Run, Bye-Elections For February 2024

    INEC Fixes Re-Run, Bye-Elections For February 2024

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved a timetable for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

     

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved a timetable for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

     

    The electoral empire in a statement on Friday said both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

     

    The vacancies were declared by the Presiding Officers, the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, according to INEC.

     

     

     

    It stated that the vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies spanning nine States of the Federation.

     

    Furthermore, the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. Currently, 35 Constituencies are affected by these Court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few Polling Units,” the statement said.

     

    It added that “the Timetable for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data (i.e. registration areas, polling unit names, the number of registered voters and PVCs collected), has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information.

     

    The Commission urged parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections.

  • CBN lifts ban on cryptocurrency transactions

    CBN lifts ban on cryptocurrency transactions

    The Central Bank of Nigeria has changed its stance on crypto assets in the country and asked banks to disregard its earlier ban on crypto transactions.

     

    This is according to a circular dated December 22, 2023, with reference number FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/002/003, and signed by the apex bank’s Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustafa.

     

    The circular is titled ‘Circular to all Banks and other Financial Institutions Guidelines on Operations of Bank Accounts for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPS).’

     

    The apex bank stated that current trends globally have shown the need for crypto regulation.

     

    It said, “The CBN, in February 2021 issued a circular restricting banks and other financial institutions from operating accounts for cryptocurrency service providers in view of the money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) risks and vulnerabilities inherent in their operations as well as the absence of regulations and consumer protection measures.

     

    “However, current trends globally have shown that there is a need to regulate the activities of virtual assets service providers (VASPs) which include cryptocurrencies and crypto assets. Following this development, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2018 also updated its Recommendation 15 to require VASPS to be regulated to prevent misuse of virtual assets for ML/TF/PF.

     

    “Furthermore, Section 30 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 recognises VASPs as part of the definition of a financial institution.

     

    In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission in May 2022 issued Rules on Issuance, Offering and Custody of Digital Assets and VASPs to provide a regulatory framework for their operations in Nigeria.

     

    “In view of the foregoing, the CBN hereby issues this guideline to provide guidance to financial institutions under its regulatory purview in respect of their banking relationship with VASPs in Nigeria. “

     

    The apex bank noted that this new guideline supersedes its old ones referenced FPR/DIR/GEN/CIR/06/010 of January 12, 2017, and BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/014/001 of February 5, 2021 on the subject.

     

    It also affirmed that banks and other financial institutions are still prohibited from holding, trading and/or transacting in virtual currencies on their own account.

     

    It added all banks and other financial institutions are required to immediately comply with its new guideline.

     

    In its circular with reference number BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/014/001, dated February 5, 2021, the apex bank reminded banks that dealing in crypto currencies or facilitating payments for cryptocurrency exchanges was prohibited.

     

    At the time, it asked banks to identify persons or entities transacting in or operating crypto currency exchanges within their systems and ensure that their accounts were closed.

  • FG declares holidays to mark Christmas, New Year celebrations

    FG declares holidays to mark Christmas, New Year celebrations

    The Federal Government has declared holidays to mark the Christmas, New Year celebrations.

     

    The Federal Government declared Monday, and Tuesday, December, 25 and 26 2023, and Monday, January 1, 2024, as public holidays to mark Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations, respectively.

    The Hon. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Friday.

    The Minister also felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

     

    Dr Tunji-Ojo enjoined Christians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ in his practice and teachings of humility, service, compassion, and patience.

     

    He stressed that peace and security are critical prerequisites for economic development and prosperity.

     

    The minister assured that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to put in place effective measures for the security of lives and property.

     

    He urged Nigerians to be security conscious, and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agencies.

     

    Tunji-Ojo noted that the Yuletide season calls for discipline to protect the lives and property of everyone in their respective communities and the nation as a whole.

     

    The Minister urged all citizens to remain focused that, the year 2024 will be a better year with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President.

     

     

     

  • Bello presents 40 SUV cars, 25 ambulances to lawmakers, Judges, LGAs

    Bello presents 40 SUV cars, 25 ambulances to lawmakers, Judges, LGAs

     

    By Thompson Yamput

    Lokoja:.  Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello on Friday presented 40 SUV cars and four Hilux vans to the state’s lawmakers and judges.

    He also presented 25 ambulances to local governments.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also presented three brand new fire fighting vans to the state’s Fire Service in Lokoja.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Umar Yusuf, got a Jeep and two supporting cars while his deputy, majority and other 22 members got one each in different classes and brands.

    Nine of the cars went to the Judiciary for distribution to the benefitting judges of the state.

    Presenting the vehicles in a colourful ceremony at the Muhammadu Buhari Square, Lokoja on Friday, Bello described the gesture as his own way of stimulating performance and rewarding hard work.

    Bello tasked the beneficiaries to see the gesture as part of encouragement to them to serve the state better towards its growth and development.

    The governor said that out of the 25 ambulances, each of the 21 LGAs would have one for their Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) while three would go to the three Referral Hospitals in the three senatorial districts as well as one to Kogi Specialist Hospital.

    Earlier, the Speaker, Yusuf, commended the governor for the show of love and better welfare of the legislators towards enhancing productivity for the growth and development of the state.

    “With this demonstration of love and concern towards our wellbeing, we are assuring you that we won’t relent in serving our constituents and the entire people of Kogi, ” he said.

    Dr. Usman Zakari, the Health Commissioner, thanked the governor for the ambulances, which he said would go a long way in enhancing the wellbeing of the citizens of the state.

    Zakari said: ” These ambulances will make it easy for referral purposes; moving patients from one hospital to the other for the desired medical attention and treatment.”

    He said that the governor had done a lot for the state’s health sector, which he claimed had no equal in the country, considering the facilities provided in most of the hospitals.

    The Chief Judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Josiah Mejabi, thanked the governor for considering the welfare of judges as paramount towards enhanced judicial service to the people of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)