Flowerbud News

Blog

  • Insurgency: Borno Speaker commends Nigerian Army for restoring peace to Borno

    The Speaker, Borno House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawan, has commended the Nigerian Army for the successes so far recorded in the war against Boko Haram and restoration of peace to the North-East.

    Lawan, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Guzamala on Sunday, also thanked the military for celebrating the 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) in the town.

    NAN reports that the Nigerian Army had initiated ‘Operation Last Hold’ designed to clear remnant of Boko Haram insurgents in order to facilitate return of displaced persons to their homes in the Northeast.

    Gudunbali, headquarters of Guzamala Local Government Council of the state is one of the liberated towns from the insurgents designated for resettlement.

    Lawan said that the feat achieved by the military in the counter-insurgency campaign had re-awakened the hope of the people in the region.

    The speaker, who was among hundreds of returnees to the area, noted that the feat achieved would promote agriculture as well as social and economic activities.

    He assured of government’s readiness to support the returnees to resettle in their ancestral homes.

    Lawan also called on the people to support the military and other security agencies to end insurgency as well as the peace building process.

    Aisha Garba, one of the returnees commended the gesture, adding that she was happy to return home.

    Garba, a mother of three, said that she returned to the area with her husband and had begun clearing of their farmland.

    Another returnee, Hauwa Bukar, called on government and humanitarian organisations to provide them with shelter, food, and schools in the area.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, had earlier conducted environmental sanitation at Gudunbali.

    Buratai said the exercise was part of activities lined up to commemorate  (NADCEL) designed to clear waste and enhance sanitation in the town.

    He reiterated the commitment of the military to end insurgency and other security challenges in the country. (NAN)

  • Sultan task journalists on professionalism, patriotism

    Sultan task journalists on professionalism, patriotism

     The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has admonished journalists to exhibit professionalism and patriotism in their duties to save the country from collapse and the ills of bad journalism.

    The Sultan made the call on Saturday in Sokoto when national officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.

    He said the peaceful coexistence of the nation had continued to dwindle largely due to bad reports largely as a result of the work of evil journalists.

    “We have always tried to discuss better ways to maintain the peace and progress of this country but these are issues that we do not have to go public,’’ he said.

    He noted that family values and politics of money have also contributed to the current situation where some wicked politicians use the children of the poor to perpetrate trouble while they, the leaders remained protected.

    He advised the media to be more resolute and responsible in the defence of the unity and progress of the country.
    “We must preach peace and demand for justice by seeing to it that justice is applied on all, then it will be easier to govern,’’ the Sultan said.

    The National President of the NUJ, Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile, who led a delegation of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union, had earlier said they were at the palace to seek the blessing of his eminence to the meeting and journalism practice in the country.

    The president, who urged the Sultan to use his position as the President General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and as a traditional leader, also called on the government and traditional rulers to work towards the improvement of peaceful coexistence in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NEC meeting is one of the regular meetings organised by the union to address issues affecting journalists, journalism practice and the nation.

  • Singer Wizkid booked till 2021

    Singer Wizkid booked till 2021

    The Nigerian singer Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has revealed that he has been booked for shows for the next three years.

    The ‘Soco’ crooner made the announcement on his Twitter handle @wizkidayo, where he wrote, “booked for three years”.

    Wizkid has released several hit tracks this year including ‘Soco’, ‘Fake Love’, ‘Manya’ and ‘Nowo’.

    ‘Soco’, in which he featured Ceeza Mili, Spotless and Terri, is a fast-paced Afro-beat tune that has grown to become the most favourite song for the ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance.

    In February 2014, Wizkid became the first ever Nigerian musician to have over 1 million followers on Twitter.

    He went on to become the first Afro-beat artiste to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records, for his contribution to Drake’s hit song ‘One Dance’.

    The 27-year- old recently sold out the O2 hall in London; and is set to release a much anticipated album later in 2018.

  • INEC to release full report of its investigation on alleged underage voting

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would soon release the full report of its investigation into  alleged under-aged voting in the Kano election report.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during  an interaction with political editors of media organisations on Saturday in Lagos.

    Yakubu recalled that the commission had earlier in Abuja disclosed that its voter register was not used by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the February local government poll.

    He, however, said that based on the demand by some stakeholders, the commission would soon release the report submitted by the committee set up to investigate the allegations.

    ““INEC committee conducted investigation, submitted its report and we addressed the press on the matter that there was no connection between INEC voter register and the incidence of underage voting in Kano.

    “In fact in many voting units they did not even use voter register to accredit anyone.

    “Having said so, there is a demand that we should release the report of our investigation. I assure you we will soon release the full report of that investigation.’’

    Yakubu, speaking on the clean-up of the voter register, said that the commission would continue to strengthen the register.

    He said while the commission had been working on the clean-up of the register, no single Nigerian had officially complained to INEC about the inclusion of ineligible persons.

    Yakubu said as part of measures to clean up the register, the commission pasted the details of new registrants nationwide as well as given each registered political party a copy of the register for claims and objections.

    ““As we speak the commission has  not officially received any complain of the registration of ineligible persons.”

    Only last week in Ekiti we made it available to 35 political parties contesting in the state elections, we have not also receive a single complaint.’’

    Yakubu said that when the Kano investigation was conducted, the commission agreed to  give the register to civil society organisations and the media.

    He said that would be done without infringing on the right of Nigerians to apply for the register once they paid to the commission the relevant fee stipulated by the law.

    “I want to assure you that we will continue to do whatever we can to improve the voter register as we approach 2019 general elections.’’

    Yakubu added that one of the innovations INEC had brought into the registration process was that registered voters could now check the status of their registration online.

    Answering another question on allegation that officers of the commission demanded for money before they register voters, Yakubu said that the registration and collection of cards was free.

    He urged Nigerians to report to the commission if any of its staff demanded for money. (NAN)

  • INEC still awaits formal notification of vacancies in NASS – Yakubu

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during an interaction with political editors of media organisations on Saturday in Lagos.

    Yakubu said that the commission had five bye-elections to conduct, to fill the existing vacancies, but it was still awaiting official communication  from the National Assembly to declare the seats vacant.

    He said while the law compelled INEC to conduct bye-elections within stipulated time, it was the presiding officers of the National Assembly or State House of Assemblies that could declare any seat vacant.“

    “We have no any power to declare the  seat of any lawmaker vacant”.

    “The moment the returning officers make announcement declaring a candidate winner, only the court of law can reverse it.

    ““We cannot declare vacancy and conduct bye-election unless there is a formal communication from the presiding officers of that Assembly.
    “So this is not a matter under the control of the commission”.

    Yakubu also disclosed that the commission had slightly redesigned its voter register to take care of incidence where the smart card readers could not read the fingerprints of the owner.

    Answering a question on the challenge of insecurity and registration of voters, Yakubu said despite the security situation the commission had high number of register voters in some states with security challenge including Benue and Borno.

    He said that was possible as it was easier to register people in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps than to register people who go individually to various registration units”.

    “Most interesting for me is that Benue has also recorded one of the highest numbers of registrants in the on-going CVR”.

    “What I find most reassuring in Benue is that in spite of the security challenge people are still interesting in voting.’’

    Speaking on INEC preparation for Ekiti governorship election scheduled for the July 14, Yakubu said that the commission was working with security agencies  to have peaceful election.

    Yakubu also disclosed that a new design voter register with a provision for a column to take care of cases where the smart card reads could not read finger prints of the owner would be deployed for the election.

    This according the Yakubu would speed up the voting process, compared to old system where people have to queue to fill a form, thereby  delaying the process.

    The chairman pledged that he would do whatever it takes to improve on the electoral process of the country to protect his name and reputation.

    “If there is anything I am going to leave INEC with is my reputation as academic. I am going back to my academic profession where I came from”.

    “So, whatever it takes to earn a good name for this country, for myself and my family I will do so”.

    “The only thing we have is our values and we work very hard to ensure that we leave with our values intact.’’ (NAN)

  • IHVN launches Community Pharmacy Initiative in Kano and Katsina

    Institute launches Community Pharmacy Initiative in Kano, Katsina States

    More than 2,000 people living with HIV in Kano and Katsina States are expected to benefit from an initiative by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) in collaboration with the Association of Community Pharmacists in Nigeria (ACPN) to ease access to HIV medications.

    The IHVN Assistant Director, Pharmacy, Mr Yohanna Avong stated this at the launch of the project in Kano on Thursday.

    He said with the initiative, adult patients who are stable on HIV medications and not pregnant, could be referred from hospitals to get drug refills from trained community pharmacists of their choice in their communities instead of frequent trips to overcrowded health facilities for drug pick-up.

    “Public hospitals that are providing antiretroviral therapy are consistently being congested or they have a high volume of patients.

    “The World Health Organization has recommended the use of structures within the community to provide HIV medications.

    “Some patients travel very long distances to the hospital and this affects their adherence to treatment and overall well-being,” he said.

    Avong explained that over 3, 000 people living with HIV in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa States took part in the initiative with great success prompting an extension of the program.

    “We have discovered that because we are removing the hardship that people go through in order to get drugs at the hospital level, they are doing very well with low viral load.”

    Assistant Director of Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and Head of Kano Branch, S.S Chiroma said that the project was novel one and would benefit both patients and community pharmacists.

    “For the patient, the access will increase while for the caregiver, it also gives him the opportunity to have experience in antiretroviral therapy which will lead to better service to the patient.”

    Earlier in a welcome address, Director of Public Relations of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, Peter Illya expressed his joy with the initiative saying that the goal was to deliver a HIV free generation to Nigerians.

    A Community Pharmacist from Geral-Jo-Calene Pharmacy in Sabon Gari, Kano, Mrs. Agatha Nwachukwu said that the initiative was a welcome development.

    “We are happy that community pharmacists are being incorporated into the HIV program. We have now been trained such that a lot of things that we did not know, we now know,” she said.

    Abbas Musa from Kainuwa Best Global Pharmacy in Funtua said that he looked forward to the challenge that the job entailed and the opportunity to help people living with HIV in the community.

    “It will bring job satisfaction for myself, help impact the patient positively and the community in general.”

    NAN reports that the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria was established in 2004 as a local organisation to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Nigeria through the development of infrastructure, care, prevention, and support for people living with and those affected by the disease. (NAN)

  • Tramadol has ruined lives of promising youths – Prof. Moji Adeyeye

     

    By Vivian Ihechu
    “Tramadol has ruined the lives of many promising youths who should have been the future and asset of our beloved country,” Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General  of NAFDAC has said.

    Adeyeye, made the assertion on Friday during the destruction of banned and unregistered Tramadol, other counterfeit medicines and unwholesome sugar at the Okediya Dump Site, Sagamu, Ogun.

    The total street value of the products destroyed were estimated to be N3.6 billion and the street value of the Tramadol is estimated to be at N1.8 billion.

    She said: “We wish to emphasise that only 50mg and 100mg of Tramadol are approved for use in Nigeria.

    “NAFDAC’s Inspection, Investigation and Enforcement activities have, however, exposed a cartel that specialises in the importation of banned strengths of Tramadol, strengths above 100mg).

    “The banned strengths have deleterious effects on vital organs of the body, including the brain.

    “It has ruined the lives of many promising youths who should have been the future and asset of our beloved country, the director-general said.

    Some of the items destroyed by NAFDAC at the Okediya Dump Site,
    Sagamu, Ogun, June 30, 2018 (NAN)

    “Today’s destruction is a testimony to NAFDAC’s zero tolerance for Narcotics, Substandard and Falsified, as well as other unsafe and unwholesome NAFDAC Regulated Products into circulation in Nigeria,” she said.

    “The products being destroyed today are made up of Tramadol, Codeine, illegally imported unwholesome sugar and counterfeit medicines.

    “Also included are damaged and expired NAFDAC Regulated products which were voluntarily submitted to the agency by compliant companies.

    “So far, 13 containers of banned and unregistered Tramadol and Diclofenac released to the agency by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are scheduled for destruction today (Friday).”

    Some of the items destroyed by NAFDAC at the Okediya Dump Site,
    Sagamu, Ogun, June 30, 2018 (NAN)

    The director-general thanked the NCS, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their collaboration and cooperation, and urged them not to relent in their efforts.

    Adeyeye solicited public and corporate support to eradicate the menace of drug abuse and importation of unregulated drugs and food products.

    Also, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, wife of the Governor of Ogun, said that abuse of drugs and substances by youths had become worrisome.

    She called for collective efforts to curb the rising menace.

    Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, the Commissioner for Environment, Ogun, commended the efforts of NAFDAC in checking banned, counterfeit, expired and unwholesome medicines, foods and products in the country.

    According to him, the agency should also increase awareness on the effects and dangers of using Tramadol.

    “I am glad that NAFDAC is committed and involved in this fight.

    “I urge NAFDAC to heighten awareness on Tramadol, sensitise people, especially the youth on the dangers and effects; also collaborate with entertainment icons and people they reckon with to drive home the message,” Oyeleye advised.

    The Ogun commissioner for environment appealed to NAFDAC to come up with more environment-friendlier ways of destroying related seized products.

    Mr Kingsley Ejiofor, Director, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, said: The agency is committed to ensuring that the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of medical products and foods are effectively controlled.

    “This is to ensure that the prescribed standards of identity, safety, quality and efficacy are met.

    “We will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to monitor, investigate, prosecute offenders where necessary and ensure that the required and acceptable standards are met.

    “All hands must be on deck to achieve this,” Ejiofor said. (NAN)
    (Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

  • ICPC blames civil servants for endemic corruption

    ICPC blames civil servants for endemic corruption

    Acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Musa Abubakar, gave the position at an event to mark the 2018 Africa Public Service Day hosted by the ICPC in Abuja on Thursday.

    The theme of the celebration is “Combating Corruption in Public Service Institutions through Stakeholder Participation and Promotion of Ethical Leadership to Realise the Objectives of Agenda 2063 and SDGs’’.

    Abubakar, represented by the ICPC Head of Administration, Mr Nathan Bako, said that contrary to popular perception, civil servants were more to blame for the menace than politicians.

    “There is trading of blame between the civil service and the political class as to who is more responsible for corruption.
    “The fact is that if the politicians are strangers to the service, they won’t succeed if we don’t cooperate with them.

    “Every single act of corruption will involve one civil servant or the other, and that is the fact, either by way of facilitating the act of corruption or by keeping quiet.’’

    Abubakar called on all civil and public servants to live above board in their dealings, adhere to the ethics of integrity and join the fight against corruption.

    The ICPC boss decried public apathy in the fight against corruption, noting that the campaign would fail without the active participation of the citizens.

    According to him, most Nigerians look the other way when corruption is perpetrated in their presence, only to turn around and accuse anti-graft agencies of doing nothing.

    He noted that it was the constitutional responsibility of every citizen not only to report crime, but also to arrest and hand over criminals to law enforcement agents.

    “This is why we use this opportunity to invite everyone to join the war against corruption.

    “It is very important everybody plays a role, otherwise when we measure the fight against corruption, its failure is going to be mainly because of public apathy,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, lauded the ICPC for its commitment in the anti-corruption fight.

    Represented by Mr Olowofoye Olusonji, the Director of Special Duties in her office, Oyo-Ita said the commission’s efforts had yielded results and brought about a turnaround in both public and private mindset.

    A senior officer at the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Mr Friday Adejor, called for stronger collaboration between other anti-graft agencies and the commission.

    Adejor noted that with offices in every state and Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country, the PCC was strategic in taking the anti-corruption campaign to the grassroots.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured a road walk involving representatives of various ministries, departments and agencies.(NAN)

     

    Defence/Security

  • NNPC justifies N147bn June remittance to FAAC

    The  Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said in a statement that  the June remittance was in line with the terms of agreement it reached with governors on the matter.

    Ughamadu explained that the agreement NNPC had with the governors was that the corporation would make a monthly remittance of N112 billion to FAAC.

    “This will be subject to sufficient funds from sales of domestic crude allocation for the corresponding month after meeting cash call obligations on Joint Ventures, (JV) deductions of petrol, cost under recovery and pipeline maintenance.“

    He said NNPC was able to surpass the terms of agreement with the governors on the monthly remittance for June by N35 billion by taking from the fund meant for settling cash call obligations.

    The NNPC spokesperson said the corporation ”regrets the governors’ additional request of N40 billion,” saying, it is unfortunate, given the fact that the corporation is set to exit the cash call phenomenon. (NAN)