Flowerbud News

Blog

  • PDP Convention: 5 persons hospitalised due to rush to enter venue

    PDP Convention: 5 persons hospitalised due to rush to enter venue

    Five persons have been rushed to Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium clinic due to rush for entry into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention venue, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the health cases arose from the rush at the entry /exit point of the convention arena.
    The security personnel had a Herculean task preventing hoodlums from taking advantage of the over crowdedness at venue, to enter into the arena.
    The hoodlums unwittingly made things difficult for the genuine delegates to gain entry into the venue and this led to rush every now and then.

    Reacting, Dr Malcolm Brisibe, SA to Gov. Siriake Dickson on Public Health and State Emergency who is at the venue with his medical team, said that out of the cases, some were treated at the clinic and discharged.

    Brisibe said that the serious ones with complications were referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for further medical attention.
    Brisibe, who declined mentioning how many patients were referred to UPTH,said that his primary function was to take care of Bayelsa delegates.

    ”I came here (convention) to take care of the Bayelsa delegates but when the health challenges escalates, I opted to assist in the medical sub-committee’s work at the convention.

    ”Definitely in a gathering like this, there is bound to be casualties because of the presence of people with different health challenges
     ”But our primary function is to take care of the any health issue of delegates from Bayelsa,” he said.
    NAN reports that many ambulances were positioned at strategic points at the venue of the convention in case of emergency.(NAN)

  • Ambode retraces step, congratulates Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday afternoon retraced his step by congratulating the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. (more…)

  • EFCC arraigns Saraki’s aide, others, over N3.5 bn fraud

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the remand in custody, of Gbenga Makanjuola, an aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki, over alleged N3.5 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred an 11 count charge against Makanjuola, Obiorah Amobi and a company, Melrose General Services Ltd, bordering on fraud allegations.

    They however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Following their arraignment, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, asked that the accused be remanded in prison, and also sought for a trial date.

    Responding, Makanjuola’s lawyer, Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN) drew the court’s attention to a bail application on behalf of the first accused.

    He said that the application has been served on the prosecution and sought the court’s permission to move it.

    Similar request was also made by other defence lawyer.

    Arguing his application, Erokoro said that the accused was a former member of the House of Representatives and as such prepared to face trial.

    “My client is a full-time staff at the Senate and is not a flight risk.

    “He was a member of the House of Representatives; I urge the court to grant him bail to prepare for his trial”, he said.

    Other defence counsel also pleaded with the court to admit the other accused to bail on liberal terms.

    Meanwhile, in his response, EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho, urged the court to dismiss the bail applications on the grounds that the accused constitutes flight risks.

    “One of the defendants have absconded; the chances that the other defendants will abscond are now higher with their arraignment.

    “We urge the court to refuse the defence requests for bail,” he said.

    After listening to the submissions of counsel in the matter, Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case until Oct 9. for ruling on the bail applications.

    He, however, ordered that the accused be remanded until determination of their bails.

    In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence in December 2016.

    They were said to have conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the sum of N3.5 billion paid into the account of Melrose.

    According to the prosecution, the accused took control of the sum which was transferred from the Nigeria’s Governors Forum account, into an Access Bank account operated by Melrose.

    The prosecution said that the accused ought to have known that the sum represented proceeds of unlawful activities.

    The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 15, 15 (2), 15(3), 18, and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2011. (NAN)

  • NAN@40: Agency celebrates professionalism, news dissemination via modern technology

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday expressed its commitment to professionalism in performing its fundamental role of disseminating information.

    The Chairman of NAN 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee, Mr Joe Bankole, made this known in Abuja, while highlighting the success recorded by the agency since it began operations in 1978.

    According to Bankole, the agency will on Oct. 9, in Abuja celebrate commitment to professionalism because it has remained the most committed news organisation in the media industry in Africa.

    He said that the agency had successfully achieved its mandate of being a primary news content provider for Nigeria’s newspapers, electronic media and bloggers.

    “That is why the agency is still relevant because if the our  subscribers feel that what we put out is not truthful, they would have left us, particularly at this hard times when it is difficult for them to pay our subscription.

    “However, they still stick to our stories and that means we are doing something to add value to news reporting,’’ said.

    Bankole said that the agency would be celebrating some other giant strides it had recorded in dissemination of information via modern technology.

    “The agency started by distributing news bulletins in printed copies and we went on to become computerised and since then we have grown.

    “Today, we are multimedia and we are sending out news in not just text but audio and visuals so that is a lot of progress from where we started.

    “We are celebrating hard core professionalism and advancement in the use of technology to disseminate news.

    “The greatest achievement of NAN is the coverage of Nigeria because the agency has the greatest reach.

    “We go down to the local government area and we have offices in some remote parts of Nigeria.

    “We have been able to cover Nigeria well and that is why we have the slogans “No one knows Nigeria like NAN’’, “Talk to NAN Talk to All’’.

    While listing some of the challenges confronting the agency over the period, Bankole pointed out that inadequate funding remained the major setback to carry out its operations.

    He said that the agency needed to maintain its offices across the country to function at optimum level.

    “This boils down to funds. Before now we have internet services in all our offices but we can no longer cope except for Lagos and Abuja.

    “This is most biting challenge that NAN has to contend with over the years unfortunately this is not peculiar to the agency because almost all agencies of government are feeling the same impact of low cash availability.

    “This is because government too does not have the money and that is why government keeps asking people to look inwards for other means of funding themselves.

    “It has not been all easy for NAN to go out there and be doing this because it has to invest heavily in equipment, in staff and so on.

    “We can grow from there but as it is the funding for NAN has dwindled over the years,’’ he said.

    Bankole added that staff training was crucial in enabling the agency achieve its fundamental role of disseminating news objectively.

    “You cannot train them without having the money to back it up.

    “However, to get around it, NAN got training agreement with Reuters and Xinhua News Agencies, but they are not forthcoming as they used to be.

    “This year, I don’t think anybody has benefited from any serious training programme outside NAN and since that doesn’t happen, we have been doing internal training and orientation for new intakes,’’ he said.

    NAN was established by the Federal Government via Decree 19 in 1976 and became operational on Oct. 2, 1978, providing general news service to subscribers.

    With the introduction of satellite technology in 1998, the agency began to transmit stories to its clients simultaneously all over the country and some capitals in the world.

    With substantial reach and mobility across the 36 states of Nigeria, and with 501 editorial staff nationwide and correspondent in New York, the agency produces more than 200 stories daily. (NAN)

  • 2019 guber race: Sanwo-Olu unfit to rule Lagos –Ambode .’Check Gbagada Gen. Hospital for records’

    . Osinbajo declares neutrality in APC Lagos governorship bid

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday said his closest challenger, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was not fit to contest the governorship election  on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), saying  Sanwo-Olu was  once a rehabilitated man. (more…)

  • Sokoto Deputy governor emerges APC governorship flag bearer

    Sokoto Deputy governor emerges APC governorship flag bearer

    The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, has emerged flag-bearer of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 governorship election.
    Announcing the result on Monday in Sokoto, the Chairman, APC Gubernatorial Primary Election in the state, Alhaji Sulaiman Abubakar, said the election was contested by four aspirants.
    Abubakar said that a total of 3,606 votes were cast out of the 4,600 votes during the primary election.
    He said that Aliyu scored 2,282 votes to bit his closest rival, Alhaji Faruk Yabo, who scored 837 votes during the election.
    Abubakar said that Alhaji Abubakar Gumbi, got 70 votes, while Sen. Abubakar Gada, had 20 votes.
    The Chairman added that 397 votes were invalid.
    In his acceptance speech, Aliyu thanked the delegates for electing him as the candidate for 2019 election.
    He assured delegates that he would work to ensure unity among party members for the progress of APC.
    Aliyu also urged those who lost in the contest to support his candidacy in order to ensure APC victory in the 2019 general elections.
    Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Isa Achida, called on all party members to always protect party interest above any candidate’s to ensure victory for the party.
    “Our commitment today is to ensure a free, fair and credible primary election and such will remain because a as progressive party we always do for others to follow.
    “As such we will continue to sustain such effort toward ensuring the success of APC and electoral process in the country,” Achida said. (NAN)

  • Masari urges Nigerians to give President Buhari another chance to develop Nigeria

    Masari urges Nigerians to give President Buhari another chance to develop Nigeria

    Gov Aminu Masari of Katsina State has called on Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 to consolidate on the foundation he laid to place Nigeria on the path of total recovery and development.
    Masari made the call on Monday in Katsina in his 58th Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Alhaji Abdu Labaran.
    “Nigerians should close ranks and re-elect Buhari in 2019 for him to consolidate on his achievements, evidenced in so many meaningful interventions across the country.
    “Buhari has laid the solid foundation to place Nigeria on the path of total recovery and development.
    “His sterling performances had shamed and proved the doubters wrong that Nigeria can make a progress,” he said.
    The governor said those opposing President Buhari were only doing so because of what he described as “Buhari has exposed and stopped their rent collecting activities”.
    Masari, then urged Nigerians to always pray for the country and its leaders to enable it continue to prosper.(NAN)
  • Stakeholders demand aviation infrastructure upgrade

    Stakeholders demand aviation infrastructure upgrade

    Stakeholders in the aviation industry on Monday called for upgrade of airport facilities across the country in order to boost the contribution of the sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    The stakeholders made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos while appraising the performance of the industry as Nigeria marks her 58th Independence Anniversary.

    Mr Ikechi Uko, a travel and tourism expert, said aviation remains an integral part of the economy that should be harnessed for the development of the country.

    He said: “For me, I want to look at the performance of aviation on two fronts. The first is how our domestic airlines are doing which I can said is very good for now.

    “At present, a single Nigeria carrier (Air Peace) has more aircraft than even more than five or six West African carriers which is very good for our industry and it means we are beginning to get it right.

    “However, in terms of infrastructure, we are still far behind compared to even countries like Ghana, Senegal and Togo.

    “We need to upgrade our airports and equip them with modern facilities that would improve passenger facilitation and experience like our contemporaries are doing,’’ Uko, the promoter of the Akwaaba African Travel and Tourism, market said.

    Also, the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said aviation had the capacity to create jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths, adding that Air Peace has employed over 3,000 workers in less than four years of operation.

    Onyema urged the Federal Government to continue to support Nigerian carriers and prioritise their interests and survival above foreign airlines operating in the country.

    Onyema said: “This present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been supportive of domestic airlines and has put in place policies like removal of Value Added Tax and waiver on importation of aircraft spares.

    “We also believe a lot can still be done to encourage the industry especially in the area of airport infrastructure.

    “Airlines don’t create hubs, infrastructure does. People want to pass through your airport because of the facilities that are readily available and Ghana and other some African countries are making their airports hubs and are leaving Nigeria behind.”

    According to him, the best option for bridging the aviation infrastructure gap is to urgently concession the airports to Nigerian investors who are ready to invest in the sector.

    Similarly, Mr Frances Akinjole, the Deputy General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), said addressing the infrastructural deficit would help to secure the industry’s future.

    “The government should strengthen safety and security infrastructure at the terminal and upgrading of runway facilities should be addressed for safe landing of aircraft at the major international airports, starting with Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.

    “The government needs to fund the maintenance and upgrading of airfield equipment, including navigational aids, airfield lighting, approach facilities, communications and radar equipment.
    “These are basic infrastructure needed for safe flight operations,” Akinjole noted.

    He added that there was also need to upgrade meteorological equipment and research laboratories because weather report was very critical for safe flight operation.

    On his part, Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), said aviation was the face of any economy in the world.

    Abioye said: “It will be recalled that the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had a road map and if they can be implemented then the aviation industry will be in a better position.i

    “The major road map include the establishment of maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, establishment of a national carrier which had been started but strategically suspended now and the establishment of an aircraft leasing company.

    “If these three things alone are followed thoroughly, transparently and inclusively then the Nigeria aviation industry will ever be the same again.

    “But by and large we have not done badly because the Lagos and Abuja airports recently got their certifications and we also got recertification of our airports by the Federal Airport Administration (FAA) of the United States.”

    He also advised government to improve in the area of security at the airports which was in consonance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 17. (NAN)

  • APC National Secretary emerges Yobe guber candidate

    APC National Secretary emerges Yobe guber candidate

    The National Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Maimala Buni, has emerged the party’s governorship candidate in Yobe after defeating three others in the party’s primary in Damaturu.
    Alhaji Umar Kareto, the Returning Officer of the election, announced the results on Monday.
    Kareto said Buni polled 2,797 votes to defeat Rep. Sidi Karasuwa who scored 23 votes, Alhaji Umar Ali eight votes and Aji Kolo who netted four votes.
    The election, which lasted for about 13 hours, was conducted peacefully with delegates from the 17 local government areas of the state.
    The returning officer commended the governorship aspirants and their supporters for their cooperation during the primary and acceptance of the result.
    Karasuwa, a serving member of the House of Representatives, conceded defeat and pledged to work for the success of the candidate and party in the 2019 general elections.
    Similarly, Alhaji Umar Ali said the primary was a family affair and pledged to commit his political structure to ensure the victory of the party in the 2019 polls.
    In his acceptance speech, Buni commended delegates of the party for the confidence reposed in him, saying it is a collective victory for all the contestants and the APC.
    He assured that he would run an all inclusive administration that would carry everyone on board to enhance the development of the state.
    Dr Ahmed Lawan, the Leader of the Senate, congratulated the candidate, other aspirants and party supporters for the hitch-free conduct of the election.
    He said members of the party had exhibited uncommon unity and passion for the party’s growth and development of the state.
    The senate leader also commended the three other aspirants for conceding defeat, describing them as compatriots with the spirit of sportsmanship. (NAN)