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  • FRSC sets to recruit 4,650 personnel, procure additional patrol vehicles

    Recruitment
    By Kazeem Akande/Augusta Uchediunor
    Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says the corps will recruit additional 4,650 officers and procure new logistics vehicles to improve road safety management in the country.

    Oyeyemi disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

    According to him, the corps will employ the best in road safety management in the second part of the year.

    ““For the second part of the year, we are going to put in our best, deploy more resources and logistics as we know that budget has been signed by the president.

    ““We have commenced the processes, for us to inject more vehicles, patrol van, ambulances and bikes that will enable us work more and strengthen our operations.

    “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari, for the additional fund allocated to the corps.
    “He has displayed his passion to improve on road safety management in the country within the last three years.

    “In the next few months we should be able to procure all these items and we are also injecting additional personnel of about 4,650 to the system.

    “This is unprecedented in the history of the corps and we appreciate this from the president,” he said.

    The corps marshal said that FRSC was ready to justify what the government had done adding that the corps would work hard to achieve its mandate.

    The FRSC boss said that the corps was working towards having zero fatalities on the road which was the primary goal of the agency.

    “We are still working towards having zero fatality, which is our goal and we need to improve on the records we have now, so that at the end of the year we will have a positive report,” Oyeyemi added.

    NAN reports that FRSC currently has 20,320 staff strength and planned to recruit more for effective road safety management.(NAN)
    AKA/ANU/LAB/MTM
    =================
    Edited by Lydia Beshel/Tukur Muntari.

  • 72,000 cancer patients die annually in Nigeria-Expert

    By Ibrahim Bello

    Former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja,Kogi, Prof. Abdulmumini Rafindadi says out of 102,000 cases of cancer recorded annually, 72,000 die.

    Rafindadi, a Professor of pathology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, made the disclosure at the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAM) in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

    He attributed the main causes of cancer to tobacco smoking, drinking of alcohol among others and for the fact that many cases of cancer were reported in the hospitals when they had reached 75 per cent to 80 percentage.

    “Cancer causes dreaded mortality, emotional disturbances and loss of loved ones.

    “Our habit, environment, diet, lifestyles, behavioural and economic factors cause cancer.

    “Today, we have recorded about 102,000 cases of cancer annually while 72,000 patients die annually. We have 50 per cent of these figure to be breasts and cervical cancer ,” he said.

    The professor expressed concern over lack of medical equipment in few hospitals that specialised on treatment of cancer in the country.

    “Nigeria has nine radiotherapy equipment while countries like Japan, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have enough equipment to combat the dreaded disease.”

    In his remark, the National President of IMAM, Dr Salish Ismail, said the association had provided free medical outreach to the less privilege communities in the country, especially the Internally Displayed Persons, (IDPs).

    The said the outreach were; free surgery in cataract and Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) patients among others.

    Earlier, the Kebbi State Chairman of IMAM, Dr Umar Kangiwa, noted that cancer had eaten deep into the “fabric of societies.’’

    “I, therefore, call on all stakeholders in the health sector, policy makers and members of general society to work together toward addressing healthcare challenges in Nigeria generally.

    “I also appeal to all our members to remain resolute and be dedicated to professionalism, ethical practice, sacrifices and commitment to the health of our people and the larger family, ” he urged. (NAN).

    IBI/DUA

    Edited by Dada Ahmed

  • CPC boss urges youths to refrain from cyber crimes

    CPC boss urges youths to refrain from cyber crimes

    Mr Babatunde Irukera, Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), on Saturday urged Nigerian youths to refrain from cyber crimes and deploy their creative energy to productive ventures.

    Irukera made the call while delivering a keynote address at the maiden edition of the Progressive Minds Forum in Lagos.

    “Never in our history were fraud or any form of criminal activity celebrated as they are being daily celebrated today.

    “It is no longer a secret that the preponderance of Nigerian youths think that the quickest and easiest route to wealth today is the infamous ‘yahoo yahoo’,” Irukera added.

    The CPC boss urged the youth to seek to explore their talents in the best possible ways they could rather than blaming all the problems on the environment.

    Irukera said that the forum, comprising a group of professionals, discovered that the myriad challenges facing the country began with negative mindsets that people had from young age.

    According to him, the only way to tackle the problem is to attack them from the root cause, hence the training of youths towards positive mindsets.

    He called on youths to develop their talents for the benefit of the society positively.

    “Mindset is what would determine how far you go; talent is just a piece of what brings success; your attitude and approach are what will ultimately determine how successful you are,” he said.

    The CPC boss urged youths to shun inglorious acts such as cyber crimes and be positively engaged and productively involved in order to be successful in life, saying “there is no short cut to success”.

    He pointed out that a country’s approach to innovations and creativity would determine how far it could grow, adding that the right mindset to such growth was to think through the nation’s talents.

    Mrs Omotayo Gbajabiamila-Olamona, Chief Coordinator, Progressive Minds Forum, said that the country would get quality delivery from youths when they were prodded in the right direction.

    Gbajabiamila-Olamona said that investment in infrastructure, without same in human capacity, would not make the country to get expected successful result.

    “The mind is a very powerful organ, it directs most of the activities rendered by any human being. If the mind is properly tuned, activities will be positively delivered.

    “For instance, if youths have a mind of success, they will work hard towards the goal and ensure it is attained,” she said.

    She urged the people of Lagos State to be ambassadors of peace and be determined to sustain all the progressive developments recorded by the state government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Forum is a non-profit organisation that works in conjunction with government and corporate bodies as well as individuals to bring about a better society.

  • Freight forwarders’ regulator gets new governing council

    Freight forwarders’ regulator gets new governing council

    A 15-member Governing Council was on Saturday in Lagos elected into the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria (CRFFN).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly-elected CRFFN officials, drawn from five registered freight forwarding associations, would be joined by 17 government appointees into the council.

    The five registered associations are; National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarding(NAGAFF), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA).

    Others are National Association of Air Freight Forwarding and Consolidation (NAAFFC) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (ARFFN).

    NAN reports that the 15 newly elected officials comprised of six each from ÑAGAFF and ANLCA and one each from ARFFN, NCMDLCA and NAAFFC.

    CRFFN had been operating without governing council for more than five-year. The new governing council was elected for four years tenure.

    Speaking after the election, the Registrar of CRFFN, Mr Mike Jukwe, urged the freight forwarders collaborate in order to speedily take the profession to greater heights.

    “Our mandate is to regulate and control freight forwarding in Nigeria; now that we have governing council, policies will be made for the management to execute.

    “The policies are geared towards taking the freight forwarding sub sector from where it is to a higher level of best international norms and practices,” Jukwe said.

    The CRFFN registrar said that the 32-member governing council would elect its chairman and vice chairman among themselves after their retreat in Abuja on July 12.

    Also speaking after the election, NAGAFF Founder, Chief Boniface Aniebonam, expressed optimism that the new governing council would sustain and meet up with its mandate.

    “This is the first time all the five registered associations are speaking with one voice which would also have positive impact on the council.

    “I see the need for all the associations to collaborate because the cooperation led to the peaceful election conducted into the council,” he said.

    He urged the newly elected council members to regulate the industry in line with international standards and train operators on the rudiments ot freight forwarding practice.

    Henry Njoku, who spoke on behalf of the elected officials, said the governing council would look into the challenges facing the industry and tackle them.

    Njoku said that the new council would ensure smooth operations that would enhance the success of Federal Government’s mandate on Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian ports.

  • Croatia end Russia’s World Cup dream at shooting range

    Croatia ended Russia’s unlikely 2018 FIFA World Cup dream when they won 4-3 on penalty kicks to eliminate the gallant hosts, after a dramatic quarter-final which ended 2-2 in extra time.

    In Sochi city’s Fisht Olympic Stadium on Saturday, Ivan Rakitic scored the winning penalty kick to send Croatia into a semi-final duel against England on Wednesday in Moscow.

    It was a night of unremitting tension, ending the remarkable campaign of Russia, a team ranked 70th in the world.

    Fyodor Smolov saw Russia’s first penalty kick saved by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and, although Russia goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, saved Mateo Kovacic’s kick, the hosts’ fate was sealed a moment later.

    The Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes fired completely wide from their third attempt.

    In the previous 120 minutes, Denis Cheryshev had rifled Russia in front with a long-range thunderbolt, his fourth goal of the tournament, in the 31st minute.

    Andrej Kramaric then headed Croatia level six minutes before halftime.

    Croatia went ahead with a soft header in extra time’s 11th minute, but Fernandes headed the host level with five minutes of play remaining to send the game to penalty kicks.

    Russia had already surpassed expectations by reaching the last eight, ousting Spain on the way, and there was therefore no fear of going to the shooting range.

    After a lively opening, the game dropped off, but it was Russia’s more rustic approach which paid off first as they went ahead surprisingly.

    Cheryshev collected the ball near the halfway line, exchanged passes with Artem Dzyuba and curled a 25-metre shot pass Subasic.

    But slack defending allowed Croatia to level eight minutes later.

    Mario Mandzukic ran unchallenged into the penalty area and chipped a low ball back into the centre where unmarked Kramaric scored with a glancing header.

    Croatia were agonisingly close to scoring on the hour when Russia’s defence failed to clear the ball.

    Ivan Perisic’s shot hit the inside of the post but rebounded harmlessly across the face of the goal.

    Croatia appeared to have the tie in the bag after Vida’s extra-time goal.

    But that was not until Fernandes rose to head in a free-kick and sent both teams to their respective second penalty kicks shootout at the tournament.

    Croatia will now face England, while Russia will watch the tournament they are hosting from the sidelines.

  • Security: Be on red alert, I-G orders CPs, AIGs

    Security: Be on red alert, I-G orders CPs, AIGs

    The Inspector-General of Police ( I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has directed Commissioners of Police in state commands and their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to be on red alert.

    Force Spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, and said that the directive was to enable all police formations to prevent crimes and criminalities in the country.

    “This directive from the I-G is consequent on the recent attack and killing of seven policemen at Galadimawa Roundabout in Abuja on July 2 by armed robbers and bandits,” he said.

    Moshood said that the AIGs and CPs were under strict instruction to re-jig their crime prevention and control strategies and carryout massive deployment of police personnel and logistics.

    He said that they are also to pay attention to places of worship, schools, markets, venues of recreation and other public spaces to forestall any untoward incident.

    “The ongoing raids of criminal hideouts and black spots will be sustained throughout the country. Show of Force exercise and confidence-building patrols will also be embarked upon,” he said.

    The spokesman implored the public to cooperate with the policemen deployed in their localities.

    He said that the renewed commitment of the force to sustain the tempo of the fight against violent crimes and other criminalities in the country remained unequivocal and unwavering.

  • Body weight contributes to infertility – Physician

    An Abuja based physician, Dr Okezie Emenike, on Saturday said being over weight or under weight could cause infertility.

    Emenike told the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that it was important to understand that both underweight and overweight women and men suffered from a higher incidence of infertility.

    He added that severe obesity in men had been shown to alter fertility often due to imbalances in hormone regulation tied to sperm production.

    He also noted that in many cases, overweight or underweight women would have hormonal disorders, which could cause them to ovulate infrequently or not at all.

    “Being underweight or overweight can have negative effects on a man’s sperm, and it can kill a couple’s sex life because weight problems can affect a man’s libido and performance.

    “Generally, underweight patients can be encouraged to gain more weight, and this alone often increases their fertility significantly or makes hormonal therapy more successful.

    “Many studies have shown a clear and consistent decrease in infertility with increasing female weight.

    “Overweight patients who undergo significant weight loss may ovulate without the need for fertility medications,” he said.

    He advised patients to maintain an ideal body weight, saying it resulted in the best outcome for fertility therapy.

  • Untitled post 15883

    Adoption of NIN to promote socio-economic, political development

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that the adoption of the National Identity Number (NIN) would promote socio-economic and political development in the country.

    The Director General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu, Aziz said on Saturday in Lagos that NIN would also facilitate interaction between citizens and government.

    “Like most modern economies where the national identity number is a national token that gives citizens access to government social interventions, the NIN will also grant citizens certain rights.

    “The social security number that comes with NIN will facilitate interactions between citizens, the government and private sector institutions, thereby promoting socio-economic and political development.

    “With the one-person-one-identity for life, the NIN will enhance citizens participation in the political process, enable citizens to exercise their rights, facilitate management of subsidies and safety net payments.

    “It will also lead to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) management and facilitate service delivery in ministries, departments and agencies.

    “Enhancing the work of law enforcement agencies, like public safety, policing, national security and border protection, and eliminating ghost and multiple identities and others, are all gains of NIN,’’ Aziz said in a statement.

    According to him, NIMC is concluding plan of harmonising of data that will see all government agencies and some licensed private sector companies collecting data and sending to the NIMC as the sole repository of biometric data.

    He said that it would shoot up the record in the NIMC database by a huge percentage and also a good source of database for the Independent National Electoral Commission to leverage upon for electoral purposes.

    He said that pursuant to Section 27 (1) and (2) of the NIMC Act 2007, transactions including, applications for, and issuance of an International Passport; opening of individual and/or group bank accounts, all consumer credits; purchase of insurance policies would be done with NIN.

    Others, he said, were the purchase, transfer and registration of land by individuals, National Health Insurance Scheme, registration of voters, payment of taxes, and pensions, and other transactions that have social security implications.

    He said that with the recent gazette and publication of the mandatory use of the NIN Regulations, 2017, the commission would on a later date begin enforcement of the NIN for the transactions and more.

    He urged Nigerians to enroll for NIN before its enforcing its deployment to avoid congestion.

    “The government has provided the opportunity, the platform for enrolling into the National Identity Database to make life better in a modern, well managed and planned manner; the NIN gives the citizens that assurance,’’ he stressed.

  • Security meeting: Gov. Masari expresses disappointment over colleagues’ absence Meeting

    Security meeting: Gov. Masari expresses disappointment over colleagues’ absence Meeting

    The Katsina State Governir, Aminu Masari on Saturday expressed disappointment with the non attendance of governors of the North West to a meeting on the security of the sub region held in Kaduna.

    Masari who is the Chairman of the security committee inaugurated by the Northern Governors Forum, said the governors must separate politics with the issue of security that affects the generality of the people.

    The meeting attended by the Deputy Governors of Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna states also had in attendance Secretaries to the State Governments of the two states, and that of Katsina, as well as various consultants on security.

    “The issue of security is more important than politics as it affects life,” Masari said at the opening of the meeting which later went into closed door session.

    He said it was important to evolve ways of sustaining attendance not only by the governors, but also their Deputies and SSGs.

    “It will not however hinder the discussions or delay the meeting; we must devise means of continuing with the meeting even when the Governors are not in attendance,” he said.

    Masari added: “Before we leave, we should have a programme that we can brief our governors, we should not allow this laudable initiative rely only on the availability of governors.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting will also discuss regional integration and economic cooperation among the seven states in the North West.