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  • Federal Fire Service introduces mobile app to aid firefighting August 16, 2018 3:52 pm by kelechi ogunleye – Nigeria –

    By Kelechi Ogunleye

    The Federal Fire Service has unveiled Fire Alert System Application (FASAPP), a mobile app, to reduce the response time of firefighters to fire outbreaks in the country.

    The Controller-General of the Service, Mr Joseph Anebi, disclosed this during a workshop and enlightenment programme on ‘Enforcement of Fire Alarms and Extinguishing Equipment Regulation’ on Thursday in Abuja.

    Anebi said when fire outbreak occurs, the mobile App has the capability to inform the Fire Service and the owner of the building simultaneously.

    “With SmokeCom, an innovative feature of this App, buildings will be registered and fire detectors installed such that when there is fire outbreak, the Fire Service and the owner of the building will be automatically contacted.

    “FASAPP also provides the general public with emergency ambulance services and fire educational enlightenment notifications.

    “It also helps to control the use of fire extinguishers for Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), drug trafficking, proliferation of arms, prevents structural fire and attracts foreign investment,” he said.

    He said the new app had helped to regulate the sale of fire extinguishers.
    “All fire extinguisher vendors will be mandated to register and will be closely monitored for quality assurance and tracking for security purposes,” he said.

    According to him, the Service had been blamed for the late turn out to emergency scenes and the circulation of fake extinguishers in the country.

    He said FASAPP could be downloaded from all APP stores by simply dialing *737*3*300#.
    Anebi said the introduction of FASAPP to the agency had repositioned it to serve Nigerians better.
    “This no doubt shows our continuous efforts to ensure the safety of lives, properties and the environment,” he said. (NAN)

  • Breastfeeding reduces poverty – Secretary

    By Felicia Imohimi
    Mrs Amanda Pam, the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said on Friday that breastfeeding contributes to poverty reduction.

    Pam also said breastfeeding promotes nutrition and food security that were fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    She said this at a ‘Baby Show’ organised by the FCT Primary Health Care Board in Abuja, to commemorate the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week.

    The theme of the event is “Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life”.
    According to her, breastfeeding is the foundation that ensures infants and young children get it right in the issues of preventing irreversible conditions that will affect their developmental milestones within the first 1,000 days.

    She described the exercise as the gold start and the smartest investment for child survival, growth and development especially with the potential to increase natural immunity and ability of the body, to withstand infections.

    According to her, as the first nutrient component to ensure nutrition security, human capital development, thereby contributing to national socio-economic development.

    “The theme for this year’s celebration highlights the importance of breastfeeding as a foundation of lifelong good health for babies and mothers even in time of poverty and crises and as a low cost way of feeding babies.
    “Breastfeeding is biological, nutritional, physiological, immunological, psychological, emotional and lots more,” she said.

    Earlier, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, described baby show as a good way of practically passing the message on the importance of breastfeeding and to drive attention to promote, protect and support its practice.

    He said world breastfeeding celebrated from Aug. 1 to 7 annually was aimed at deepening public awareness on the importance of breastfeeding as well as ensuring commitment of government, policy makers and other nutrition stakeholders.

    Mohammed, who decried the poor exclusive breastfeeding rate in the country, however urged government and private organisations to provide creches in their various establishments to encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children from 0 to six months.

    “The theme of the year provide mothers, everybody opportunities to discuss the how, when and where’ of breastfeeding.

    “Breast milk is God’s natural gift to women for nurturing their babies,’’ Mohammed said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report the high point of the baby show was the presentation of gift to three best exclusively breastfed babies. (NAN)

    Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

  • Fed Fire Service Unveils “ FASAPP,” Fire Alert System Mobile Application

    By Ugo Huan Sandra

    Minister of Interior Lt.-Gen.  Abdulrahman  Dambazau (Rtd) has commissioned a Fire Alert System Mobile Application (FASAPP) app to enhance operations of the nation’s Federal Fire service, flowerbud news reports

    Performing the unveiling ceremony during the workshop and enlightenment program on enforcement of fire alarm and extinguishing equipment regulations in Abuja, Dambazau said the FASAPP app development  was a testimony  to the Federal Government’s determination to improve and modernise the operation of Fire Service

    “unveiling of FASAPP is another testament of a determination of the Government in ensuring Zero tolerance to poor fire safety management in Nigeria,” the Minister stated

    Dambazau,  who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent secretary, announced that the Fire Alert System Mobile Application could be downloaded using the code *735*3*300# or from Google play store.

    The Minister itemised the  capabilities of the Application as follows:  “Public can press the reported fire button to alert the nearest fire service;  It will send fire prevention tips to the public at fire critical time such as in the morning; It will enable Government turn out private fire engine nearest to the distress call location,

    Others are;   It will assist the public to buy genuine fire extinguisher,  It will assist Government to enforce quality and prevent fire device from being use for criminal purposes; It will assist Government to block economic loopholes in Fire service.”

    The Minister also stated that the SMOKCOMM,  a device that detect smoke and automatically called the nearest Fire Service, has been revamped  and its sales and supply opened up to break monopoly and encourage healthy competition.

    The Controller General Eng. Joseph Garba Anebi,  noted that the app achievement was made possible by the upgrading of the National Fire Data Repository Center (NFDRC) which was established to store data, where FASAPP is domiciled.

    The CG also informed the public that the upgrading of the NFDRC was in line with the Federal Government Policy on Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    He further said this infrastructure has the capability of (1)creating over 20,000 job opportunity ranging from vendor, refiller, repairer and shipping dispatch etc, ( 2) creating over 10,000 jobs for Youth employment in Fire Service for policy enforcement (3) increasing Internally Generated Revenue by over 10 Billion Naira annually for both States and Federal Government (4) Attracting 10 Billion US Dollars foreign direct investment.

    Mr Benson Olatunji  the Chief Executive Officer of 2TOC Solution who are the technical partners in FASAPP and SMOKCOMM revamping, gave assurance on  the effectiveness and reliability of the Application as well as the continual support of his company.

    Enlightenment on fire regulations was also to encourage  youth employment and boost internally generated revenue. The event was attended  State Fire Service Directors, MDAs, Security Agencies, Fire equipment vendors and importers and other stake holders.

    Flowerbudnews.ng

  • UN remembers victims of Baghdad, Abuja UN building bombings

    Victims of the UN building bombings in Baghdad, Abuja and others cities around the world have been remembered by the United Nations to commemorate the 2018 World Humanitarian Day.

    Remembering 22 colleagues killed by the “horrific terrorist attack” on the UN headquarters in Baghdad 15 years ago, Secretary-General António Guterres called on all staff to pay tribute to the fallen by “continuing their mission,” and going to “dangerous places with the aim of making them safer”.

    In a wreath-laying ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres reminded the people of the UN core commitment to stand “with those who are suffering, to bring them the relief they need”.

    The UN chief  said the attack, which was the first time the UN was deliberately targeted on a massive scale, “was traumatising for the whole organisation, and we learned some very difficult lessons”.

    “Before and since that day, United Nations staff have been targeted by those who would like to weaken us and make us afraid to do our jobs. From Algiers to Kabul to Mogadishu, Abuja and beyond, terrorists have attempted to silence and to banish us,” Guterres said.

    The Abuja UN building was attacked with a car bomb  on Aug. 26, 2011. Twenty one people were killed  and 60 wounded.  Boko Haram  claimed responsibility.

    The car  broke through two security barriers, and its driver detonated the bomb after crashing it into the reception area, causing devastation to the building’s lower floors.

    Then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, said: “This is not an attack on Nigeria but on the global community. An attack on the world”, while then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the attack as an “assault on those who devote themselves to helping others”.

    In September 2011, the Nigerian Department of State Security alleged that Mamman Nur was the mastermind behind the attack and offered a 26 million naira bounty, while  four men appeared in an Abuja magistrates’ court charged with organising the bombing.

    After observing a minute’s silence, Guterres  said the fallen UN staff had “made the ultimate sacrifice for the values and the Charter of the UN.

    Addressing the audience, which included families and colleagues of the deceased, he said “this was a huge personal loss to so many of us. And an even greater blow to the families of those who were killed”.

    However, Guterres regretted that “the mechanisms in place to look after survivors and the families of victims were inadequate, and it has taken too many years to improve them”.

    While restating that the work of the UN “will never be free from risk,” the Secretary-General stressed that he was “committed to improving security for all United Nations staff”.

    “The blue flag of the United Nations flies high because of the brave women and men who carry it to the farthest corners of the world,” he said, adding that “the legacy of the humanitarian workers, the peacekeepers, the military and civilian staff who have given their lives is lasting and will be ever-present in our hearts”.

    The Nigerian Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative, Amb. Samson Itegboje, represented Nigeria at the event, while some victims of the bombings from Nigeria and other countries, some of whom preferred their identities to be protected, were present at the event.

    Itegboje, who regretted the unfortunate bombing, however, noted that Boko Haram terrorists had been driven out of Nigeria’s territory since 2015 when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came on board,  and were now restricted to carrying out suicide bombings on unsuspecting citizens.

    The Nigerian envoy said credit must be given to Buhari for providing leadership in ensuring that the terrorist group, which hitherto held territories and hoisted flags in many local government areas across three Northeast States, and frequently attacked cities including Abuja, had been largely decimated.

  • 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)

  • Court orders U.S. company to pay $500m in damages for dumping cancer causing chemicals in Taiwan

    Taiwan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a U.S. electronic company to pay 500 million dollars in damages to 486 workers and families for  dumping cancer-causing chemical solvents at factory sites in Taiwan.

    In October 2017, the Taiwan High Court ruled that U.S. electronics firm RCA and its successor companies must pay 718.4 million Taiwan dollars in damages to 486 workers and their families.

    RCA’s successor companies include Technicolor S.A., Thomson Consumer Electronics (Burmuda) and General Electric.

    The Supreme Court upheld the court’s decision but asked it to examine the claims of 246 plaintiffs to clarify the association between their symptoms and past exposure to toxic solvents.

    “We don’t think we lost the battle,” Joseph Lin, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told a news conference outside the court, vowing to continue to help those plaintiffs.
    According to Joseph, it is meaningful that Taiwan’s Supreme Court upheld liability of RCA and its successor companies.

    With dozens of affected workers and their supporters, Liu Ho-yun, who heads a self-help group organised by former RCA employees, said they had been fighting for justice for two decades.

    “We won’t stop until the last plaintiff wins,” she said.

    At factory sites in Taoyuan and Chupei in northern Taiwan, run by RCA from the late 1960s to 1992, untreated solvents were discharged into secret wells and polluted the groundwater.

    According to the self-help group, more than 200 former RCA workers have died of liver and lung cancer since the 1990s.

    The case has been described as the worst-ever work-related health incident in Taiwan. (dpa/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)

  • 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)