Flowerbud News

Blog

  • Buratai reiterates army’s commitment to Nigeria’s unity

    Buratai reiterates army’s commitment to Nigeria’s unity

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai on Saturday, assured Nigerians of Nigerian Army’s commitment toward unity and indivisibility of the country.

    He made this known at the 60th Passing Out Parade (POP) of the Nigeria Military School (NMS) held in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    Represented by the Commandant, Depot, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Victor Okwudili-Ezugwu, the army boss said that the Nigerian Army was doing its best to restore normalcy in crisis areas across the country.

    He said “let me use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that the Army is committed to the unity and indivisibility of this country.

    “We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that no part of this country is occupied by criminal elements or insurgents.

    “We will also continue to support the civil authorities in ensuring that citizens are safe and protected in the course of pursuing their legitimate activities.”

    The army chief said that the security of the country was of great concern to the Federal Government and Nigerians, saying that the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies was
    able to recover areas from the hands of terrorists and insurgents.

    Buratai added that economic activities in affected areas were gradually taking shape and that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were returning to their ancestral homes and farmers back to the land.

    He also assured that efforts were actively on to ensure that clashes between herders and farmers were brought to complete halt.

    He said “the Nigerian Army have the constitutional right to support other security agencies to ensure the security and safety of Nigerians.

    “This is an obligation that we must undertake in line with our oath of allegiance to the nation. I will like to recognise the role of our galant troops in all ongoing operations across the country.

    “Accordingly, the emotional and spiritual support of the family members and relations at large for the troops is highly appreciable.”

    The chief of army staff, who expressed concern over the well-being of students of army school,
    assured that their educational and medical facilities had been upgraded.

    He particularly congratulated the graduating boys and applauded their determination and discipline during their stay in the school and urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution and the Nigerian Army.

    He charged them to always exhibit high sense of discipline, commitment, patriotism and dedication wherever they found themselves.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 149 boys graduated during the 2017/2018 academic session. (NAN)

  • WHO warns 10m deaths may be recorded globally from Antimicrobial resistance by 2050

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that 10 million deaths might be recorded per year globally from Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) effective from 2050, if not checked.

    The WHO Country Representative, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu gave the warning in a paper he presented at 2nd National Summit in Abuja on Thursday.

    The summit has as its theme: ‘Antimicrobial resistance; a global health challenge in the fight for sustainable health system.’

    AMR occurs when micro organism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections ineffective.

    Represented by Mr Omotayo Hamza, WHO, Head of Health Technical and Innovation, Alemu said that most of the deaths would be recorded in Africa and Asia.

    He said that four million of this estimated figure would occur in Africa while another four million would be recorded in Asia.

    He added that the rest countries of the world would share the remaining two million deaths.

    According to him, the problem of this AMR is huge in Nigeria based on the various survey conducted so far.

    The WHO representative said that ineffective regulations of all aspects of the health services are responsible for AMR.

    He explained that quackery in all health professions were the main contributor to the problem that had resulted to AMR.

    “We have quacks around cities; we have quack doctors, quack medical laboratory scientists and fake pharmacists.

    “If there is a wrong diagnosis from lab scientists, the doctor will prescribe wrong medication and the pharmacists dispense wrong drugs” he said. (NAN)

  • Buhari addresses UN General Assembly Sept. 25

    President Muhammadu Buhari will address the 73rd Session of the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

    Buhari would deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on the first day of the general debate of the General Assembly high-level events.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian leader has been placed as the number 20 on the list of the speakers out of the 193 world leaders that would address the Assembly.

    NAN also reports that he would deliver the address to the Assembly during the afternoon session on the first day between 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. Nigerian time).

    The President of Brazil would be the first world leader to present his address to the 73rd session followed by the U.S. President, Donald Trump, the traditional second speaker, being the host country.

    Recall that during the 2017 Session of the General Debate of the Assembly, Buhari was the eighth speaker out of the 193 world leaders who addressed the Assembly.

    His address made it one of any Nigerian leader’s earliest address at the annual general debate of the intergovernmental organisation.

    The 2018 General Assembly would be Buhari’s fourth outing at the annual general debate of the Assembly since becoming president in 2015.

    The Nigerian leader’s address during his first outing in 2015, in part, outlined his three cardinal agenda – security, economy and anti-corruption.

    His two subsequent addresses in his outings in 2016 and 2017 also highlighted some of his achievements so far in these areas.

    The 73rd session of the Assembly would open on Sept. 18, 2018, till Oct. 5, while the General Debate would commence on Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

    The session would be presided over by Ms María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés of Ecuador.

    The theme of the general debate would be, “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”.

    In accordance with rule 1 of the rules of procedure, the General Assembly shall meet every year in regular session commencing on the Tuesday of the third week in September, counting from the first week that contains at least one working day. (NAN)

  • INEC chairman appeals against court order for his arrest

    The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has filed an appeal challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    In the appeal, Yakubu is challenging the validity of the arrest warrant that was issued against him by the court.

    The appeal filed by Mr Adegbeoyega Awomolo (SAN), Counsel to the appellant, was made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    The INEC boss maintained that he could not be arrested on the basis of a bench warrant that was legally defective.

    He urged the Court of Appeal to invoke its powers and void the arrest order  made by Justice Stephen Pam.

    Pam had in a bench ruling on Wednesday ordered the Police to arrest and produce Yakubu in court on Aug. 8 to face contempt charges.

    The order followed Yakubu’s  failure to honour a summons the court issued for him to appear in respect of a suit involving the Anambra chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The INEC chairman had between July 5 and July 10 allegedly failed to honour the court’s summons to defend a contempt proceeding.

    The case was initiated against him by Mr Ejike Oguebego, the Chairman of PDP, and Mr Chuks Okoye, the Legal Adviser of the party, in Anambra.

    The High Court had ordered him to appear to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for refusing to recognise the Oguebego-led faction of the party in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court.

    The applicants had prayed the court to jail the chairman for disregarding the judgment.

    Yakubu, however, denied disobeying any order of court, adding that he was denied fair hearing by the trial court.

    The INEC boss said there was no evidence that any court summons was enrolled and served him.

    He argued that the lower court erred in law when it ordered that he should be arrested for allegedly disobeying its order.

    He urged the appellate court to hold that the conditions necessary to warrant the issuance of bench warrant had not been satisfied.(NAN)

  • China asks Sweden to extradite wanted man

    China asks Sweden to extradite wanted man

    China has asked Sweden to extradite a man who is being held near Stockholm on suspicion of gross fraud and embezzlement, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said on Friday.

    The authority’s spokeswoman Karin Rosander declined to name the man sought by China but said police arrested him on June 25 and he was being detained in the town of Huddinge.

    In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he was unaware of the case and did not say much about it.

    Rosander said the Swedish National Anti-Corruption Unit has opened an investigation to verify the accusations against the man and determine whether there are grounds for extradition.

    When asked whether he would be sent home, she said: “It depends on what accusations and the conditions in China and several other considerations.”

    Swedish law prevents the authorities from extraditing someone to a country where they would face the death penalty.

    Rosander said this, along with the fact that charges against the individual had not yet been verified, were considerations in the prosecutor’s deliberations.

    A spokesperson for the Swedish Foreign Office did not immediately have a comment on the matter. (Reuters/NAN)

  • ‘Silence does not earn you any respect’, UN rights chief Al-Hussein says

    ‘Silence does not earn you any respect’, UN rights chief Al-Hussein says

    “Silence does not earn you any respect – none,” UN human rights chief Zeid  Al-Hussein said,  defending his reputation for frank criticism in his role weeks before he is due to depart.

    Jordanian prince and diplomat Al-Hussein, who has provoked outrage from world leaders for comments including saying Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte needs a “psychiatric evaluation” and calling Poland and Hungary’s leaders “xenophobes and racists,” spoke to reporters in New York.

    He said the role of the UN’s human rights office is to hold up a mirror to governments’ actions, which requires speaking up.

    “We do not bring shame on governments – they shame themselves,” Al-Hussein added.

    “They shame themselves when they deprive their people of the basic necessities for a dignified life, they shame themselves when they discriminate against parts of their communities, they shame themselves when they stoke fear and make people fear that they have to bend to the will of government or face consequences,” he said.

    Al-Hussein acknowledged that he has burned some bridges with his sharp tongue, but said he has no regrets.

    “If I’m going to make a mistake, I would rather make a mistake speaking out – and not regretting that I didn’t say anything when I should have said something,” he said.

    Al-Hussein will leave his post at the end of August.

    His replacement has not yet been announced.(dpa/NAN)

  • 643 Nigerians voluntarily return from Libya in 5 weeks – NEMA

    643 Nigerians voluntarily return from Libya in 5 weeks – NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday said no fewer than 643 Nigerians  voluntarily returned from Libya in the last five weeks.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Maihajja, made the disclosure while receiving a new batch of 166 returnees who arrived in Lagos on Thursday night.

    Maihajja, represented by the South West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, said the Nigerians were assisted back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

    According to him, the returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 10.50 p.m. on Thursday night aboard a Libyan airline with registration number 5A-DMG.

    “After profiling, the returnees were 66 female adults including three pregnant women, five female children and one female infant along with 83 male adults, six male children and five male infants,” Maihajja added.

    Maihajja advised parents and guardians to desist from encouraging their children and wards from embarking on journey that will end up derailed the promising futures of the victims of trafficking.

    The NEMA boss said the appeal was due to the testimonies and confessions of the returnees and confirmations by most of the families that the victims came from.

    Maihajja pointed out that the intended countries of destinations were no longer ready to accommodate migrants due to several socio-economic and security factors.

    “There are unconfirmed reports of emerging trends of alleged human organ harvesting from irregular migrants who are alleged to be sold to harvesters.

    “If this developments are real, then we must discourage irregular migrations in whatever forms,” he said.

    Maihajja emphasised that discouraging irregular migration and human smuggling could only be achieved by government and development partners with full cooperation of the parents and guardians.

    According to him, there is also the need to continuously create awareness and sensitise youths on dangers and and evils of human trafficking.

    He reiterated that Federal Government would not relent in its efforts at creating conducive environment for every Nigerian to maximise his or her potentials in the progress and development of the nation. (NAN)

  • Adetola, female shoemaker shines at MSME Award

    Miss Adetola Agbeniyi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Princesstol Creative World, maker of leather goods and accessories, was one of the outstanding entrepreneurs at the maiden edition of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Award.

    Agbeniyi won the SMEDAN Excellence Awards on Leather Works at the dinner event held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

    The CEO told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the award that her company produced leather goods such as shoes, bags, gifts wallets, orthopedic shoes and lunch packs, among others.

    The Osun State born entrepreneur said she started training in leather works when she was a corps member in 2014 and later proceeded for advanced training.

    “I saw one made in Nigeria shoe online and was surprised it was actually made in Nigeria, very good shoes.

    “I had to trace the maker and when I saw his products I was impressed and told myself, I can equally make it because I always had in mind to do something for myself; improve the economy and employ people.

    “My business is just one year and within that period, I have employed 10 persons and trained 6 apprentices.

    “We are making sales; in a month, our turnover is about N400,000.’’

    She said that owning a business was the way out of the `no jobs mantra’ in Nigeria as it would enable one to become an employer of labour.

    Agbeniyi said she attended the Osun MSME Clinic, adding that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was very impressed by her products.

    “I am highly pleased with the award,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that 11 other MSMEs also received awards in various categories. (NAN)

  • Police arraign man, 41, over alleged N400, 000 fraud

    A 41-year-old businessman, Amos Abraham, was on Friday brought before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State over an alleged N400, 000 fraud.

    Abraham, who resides at No. 8, Isagamu Road in Ikorodu, is facing a charge of fraud before Magistrate E.O. Ogunkanmi.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Police Prosecutor, Adegesin Famuyiwa, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 31 at 1:00 p.m. at Isagamu Road, beside Total Filling Station, Ikorodu.

    Famuyiwa said the accused collected the money from the complainant, Mr Femi Efuwape, to help him purchase a vehicle.

    “He failed to purchase the vehicle and all efforts made by the complainant to retrieve his money from the accused failed,’’ he said.

    The offence contravened Section 314 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,  2015.

    The Chief Magistrate admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until Sept. 6, for mention. (NAN)