News Agency of Nigeria
Politics

National Dermatology Hospital Bill passes 2nd reading

By Naomi Sharang

The National Dermatology (Specialist) Hospital Bill, on Wednesday scaled 2nd reading at the Senate.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Aishatu Dahiru (APC-Adamawa) was aimed at establishing Specialist Hospital that would specifically focus on the treatment of leprosy, skin cancer and other skin related diseases.

Leading debate on the Bill, the lawmaker recalled that as far back as 1929, an International Hospital was established for Garkida Agricultural Leper Colony by the Church of the Brethren Mission (USA).

“It was an ambitious effort located on 2, 500 acres of land designed for treatment of leprosy and other illnesses.It was also an isolation centre and for training of lepers in craft and improved agricultural methods.

“It was a reputable hospital with 12, 507 leprosy patients admitted between 1929 and 2002 with reasonable number of patients coming from neighbouring countries.

“With the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s and the use of dapsone to treat leprosy, the role of the hospital changed.

“Dr Roy Pfaltzgraff the Medical Superintendent (1954-1982), transformed the hospital to an internationally welI-known center for developmental work in surgical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, protective footwear, prostheses and training,” she said.

She said that the hospital would allow specialty care providers focus on particular areas of care in which they had extensive training and education.

“The tears and frustration expressed by patients with pigmentary disorders and the psychological impact of these disorders will be effectively handled by the hospital,” Dahiru said.

The Bill was referred by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Heath for further legislative action to report back in four weeks.(NAN)

Economy/Business

AfCFTA can transform Africa’s food system, says FAO

By Temitope Ponle

 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a unique opportunity for the transformation of the continent’s food system.

FAO’s Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said the AFCFTA would address the continent’s hunger issues.

A statement from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Wednesday said Haile-Gabriel made the remark at the ongoing Seventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Brazzaville, Congo.

The meeting was co-organised by the ECA and the World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the government of Congo.

Haile-Gabriel said Africa was not on track to achieve zero hunger by 2030 but, however, emphasised the importance of the political will and commitment of African governments at the highest level.

“The results remain unsatisfactory and there are many challenges due to climate change, the poor economic situation and the negative impacts of COVID -19 as well as the lack of public investments,” he said.

He added that national and local level actions and investments were also critical to addressing the issues of hunger in Africa.

He said there was an urgent need for the continent to build back and forward better after the COVID-19 pandemic, with governments being called on to invest in social protection measures to save the most vulnerable in society.

“The transformation of the African food system is crucial to help end hunger,” he said.

Haile-Gabriel added that the adoption of holistic multi sectoral approach was needed.

A representative of WFP, Chris Toe, said African countries needed to prioritise and scale up investments in rural transformation, sustainable infrastructure and human capital development as they worked toward eliminating hunger and food insecurity.

Toe noted that the approach would assist in Africa’s quest to achieve zero hunger as espoused in the SDGs and Africa’s 2025 commitment to end hunger and Agenda 2063 aspirations.

The Congolese Agriculture Minister, Mr Joseph-Antoine Kasongo, said the new administration was determined to accelerate the development of agriculture to end hunger.

A Congolese government official, Mukena Bantu, an adviser in charge of cooperation and projects, spoke on behalf of the minister.

“We have declared that the soil must take over the subsoil. There is political will to carry out all the actions necessary to achieve food security,” said Bantu.

The side event provided a platform for member states to reflect and share on transformative actions and investments that would facilitate the building of Africa’s food systems better.

The actions were toward meeting the aspirations and goals of the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. (NAN)

Defence/Security

NSCDC restates commitment to protect schools, farmers

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has reiterated its commitment to the protection of schools and farming communities against banditry and criminal activities in Kano State.

The state Commandant of the corps, Mr Abu Abdu-Tambuwal, said this while addressing personnel of the corps as part of activities to mark the 2021 International Civil Defence Day on Wednesday in Kano.

Abdu-Tambuwal said the corps was mandated to provide security to schools, colleges and tertiary institutions of learning, to create safe and secured learning environment.

“The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has directed the corps to protect schools and colleges as part of our mandate to defend the defenseless.

“We must protect our students from bandits and criminals in addition to the protection of national assets from vandalism.

“We must stand firm to defend the defenseless and critical national assets to make Nigeria great,” he said.

According to him, the corps has deployed Agro Rangers to communities to mediate and resolve farmers/pastoral clashes.

He added that the team recorded significant successes in enhancing peace building and conflict resolution in the society.

Abdu-Tambuwal explained that Agro Rangers were deployed to the Danshoshiya Forest Reserve while plans had reached advance stage to deploy additional rangers to two other reserves across the state.

“Agro Rangers are specially trained to protect and safeguard farmers to enable them to cultivate their farmlands to achieve food security,” he said.

While calling on the personnel to be dedicated in the discharge of their duties, Abdu-Tambuwal reiterated the corps commitment to the protection of lives and property.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC has decorated officers and men of the corps who excelled in various sport competitions in the past one year.

The commandant said the officers and men of the corps participated and won gold medals in various sporting events organised for security agencies in the country.

“Their performances are glory and pride to the command,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three players were decorated with gold medals while many others were awarded certificates. (NAN)

General News

Shippers’ council mourns justice Kafarati

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Board, Management and Staff of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, (NSC) have expressed sadness over the sudden passing of the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Abdul Kafarati.

The Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, in a condolence statement in Lagos on Wednesday, commiserated with his family, friends, the Judiciary and the country for this loss.

Bello said that late Kafarati had been of immense support to the council in his life time

“During Kafarati’s time as the Chairman of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges Organising Committee, a flagship programme of NSC, he brought energy, enthusiasm and dynamism to the seminar series for which the council remains indebted to him.

“Many people will miss the late Justice Kafarati for his erudite judicial scholarship

“And, we at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council will particularly miss his wise counsel, depth of humility and vast network of Judicial connection which greatly lessened our burdened, and broaden the impact of the seminar,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kafarat died on Thursday, Feb. 25, in Abuja.

Bello prayed that God would give the bereaved the fortitude to bear the loss.

“We pray to Allah to forgive all his short comings and admit him into Aljannat Firdaus. Ameen,” he said. (NAN)

Politics

PDP optimistic of victory in Delta LG poll

By Ifeanyi Olannye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed optimism of a landslide victory at the March 6 Delta local government councils poll.

Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Wednesday.

“The PDP is fully confident of achieving a landslide victory in the March 6 council poll.

“We have campaigned vigorously and comprehensively with visible and verifiable achievements in all the Local Government Areas (LGAs).

“We want to assure the people that the administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa still has much more democracy dividends to deliver once our vibrant and result-oriented candidates take charge once again at the local councils.

“Our campaigns were colourful, robust and issues based as our candidates showcased PDP’s achievements in every LGA with the pledge to consolidate on what has already been accomplished.

“The APC on the other hand has nothing to showcase or campaign with as it has failed people of Delta woefully,” he said.

He, however, cautioned the electorate to endeavour to observe all COVID-19 protocols and observe strict guidelines during the election. (NAN).

General News

Artificial petrol scarcity : Labour threatens to picket filling stations

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to picket filling stations across the country over hoarding and creation of artificial petrol scarcity.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, gave the warning at end of an emergency (virtual) meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the congress on Tuesday in Abuja.

Wabba said NEC had condemned the current hoarding and artificial scarcity of petrol by marketers in major cities.

He said that NEC lamented the great hardship the situation was imposing on an already suffering and traumatised Nigerian workforce and people.

Wabba said that Nigerians were being punished and impoverished to satisfy the greed of a few marketers of refined petroleum products.

“NEC called on relevant regulatory agencies of government to rise up to the protection of the interests of the majority of Nigerians from the exploitative hands of market forces.

“These market forces are bent on making maximal profits from the sufferings of fellow citizens.

“The NEC also warned that should the current artificial scarcity persist that the various leadership structures of the NLC should picket petrol stations found to be inflicting pains on Nigerians,” he said.

Wabba also said the attention of the entire working class in Nigeria had been drawn to a bill which was listed in the House of Representatives as HB 950.

He said the bill, which was sponsored by Mr Garba Datti of Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, Kaduna State had passed the first and second reading in February.

He noted that the NEC considered Datti as only a hireling in the plot by his sponsors to disorient, injure, and exterminate Nigeria’s working class.

“Any attempt to move the National Minimum Wage from Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List will make Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

“NEC resolved that if the National Assembly give credence to a Bill seeking movement of the minimum wage from the Executive Legislative list, to Concurrent Legislative list, workers may embark on strike,” he said.

Wabba noted that any attempt to move the minimum wage was an attempt to plunge the country into chaos and make Nigeria a laughing stock in the international community, as minimum wage was a global standard.

He added that the major reason behind the call to move the minimum wage to the Concurrent Legislative list was to enable states negotiate and fix their minimum wage.

He said that the National Minimum Wage was a global standard adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) through Convention 26 which was ratified by Nigeria on June 16, 1961.

He, therefore, said that Nigeria as a Sovereign gave effect to the National Minimum Wage by putting it in the Exclusive Legislative List.

He also said the NEC called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow fifth columnists masquerading as politicians to derail his government by railroading the legislature into removing national minimum wage from the exclusive to the concurrent list.

Wabba also said NEC rejected in its totality, a bill with the number HB. 1062 sponsored by Mr Abbas Tajudeen representing Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.

The bill he said was seeking a constitutional amendment to allow for establishment of State Judicial Councils.

“The NEC submitted that the passage of the bill would occasion a further exacerbation of the institutional crisis in our country, constitute an existential threat to our democratic experience and greatly imperil the corporate existence of Nigeria.

“The NEC also reasoned that given the heterogenous nature of Nigeria in terms of culture, religion, and ethnicity, it would be difficult if not impossible to manage the fallout from the decentralisation of our judiciary,” he said.

He added that NEC after a careful consideration of the issues on their implications to the working-class, decided that there will be a national protest.

He said the action would commence from the March 10 in the Federal Capital Territory to the National Assembly.

“The protest is to make a strong statement that Nigerian workers would not lie low and watch hard fought rights which are of global standards bastardised by opportunistic and narrow thinking politicians.

“The NEC resolved that the national protest action will be concurrently held in all the 36 states of the federation and to the different State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria,” he said.

NEC resolved that all the resolutions and decisions adopted at the emergency meeting should be pursued in collaboration with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the overall interest of all Nigerian workers,” he said (NAN)

Education

OAU begins Post UTME online screening March 15

By Dorcas Elusogbon

The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun, has fixed March 15 to March 19 as the new dates for its 2020 post UTME online screening.

Mr Olarewaju Abiodun, the university Public Relations Officer, made this known on Tuesday in a statement in Ile-Ife.

Abiodun said, “all candidates that registered for the 2020 OAU Post UTME screening are hereby notified that the exercise will now hold online.”

According to him, it will start from March 15 to March 19.

He said that the screening details in respect of guidelines, date and schedule for each candidate would be available on the university admission’s portal (https://admissions.oauife.edu.ng) from March 9.

“Candidates are advised to update their contact details on the university admission’s portal by providing valid and active email addresses and phone numbers, as the details will also be sent to the email addresses provided.

“Candidates should note that registration for this exercise closes midnight Thursday March 4, 2021,” Abiodun said. (NAN)

Education

Abia NUT suspends 6-week-old strike over unpaid salary arrears

By Ihechi Chigemere-Uwom
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Abia has announced the suspension of its six-week-old strike embarked upon to demand the payment of arrears of teachers’ salaries.
The suspension was contained in a statement jointly issued in Umuahia on Tuesday by Mr Kizito Kalu and Mrs Nnenna Okonkwo, the State Chairman and Secretary.
The union stated that the resolve to suspend the action was “based on the intervention and extensive deliberation on the plight of Abia teachers” by its national leadership.
It said that during the union’s deliberations with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on Monday, it was resolved that “the government will make teachers’ salaries top priority”.
It was further stated that “the state government has agreed to liquidate all the outstanding arrears of salaries owed to both Senior and Junior Secondary School teachers in the state before the end of 2021.
Other agreements reached at the meeting included that government would also pay N10,000 flat to the teachers, being the addition to workers’ salary in the state.
It was also stated that government had directed that the check-off dues and Teachers’ Retirement Contributions should be paid to the teachers along with every salary payment.
The statement added that it was agreed that “the issues on policy matters will also be addressed, when the whole documentations on promotion implementation, leave grants and others are made available”.
“Based on the understanding reached with the NUT leadership, we have been directed to inform you that the strike is hereby suspended.
“Teachers are by this notice directed to go back to classes on Wednesday, March 3.
The state NUT expressed profound gratitutde to its national leadership for its solidarity, unity, support and cooperation to the Abia struggle.
It hoped “that those offices involved in the implementation of all the resolutions will do the needful”. (NAN)
General News

NGF felicitates with Zamfara Govt over return of abducted students

By Abubakar Ahmed
 The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated the government and people of Zamfara over Tuesday’s successful return of the 279 female students abducted from GGSS, Jangebe, last Friday.
The Chairman of the forum and Gov. of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, conveyed the felicitation during a visit to Gov. Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday in Gusau.
Fayemi was accompanied to the state by the governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Bagudu Abubakar, and Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Daniya.
He commended the effort of Matawalle and security agencies in rescuing the victims without loss of life.
The NGF chairman said all state governors should come together and support President Muhammadu Buhari with one voice to fight banditry in the country.
He said bandit activities in the northern states and in Zamfara in particular had become a serious source of worry to the country, which calls for support from all in order to bring an end to criminality in the region.
Responding, Matawalle thanked the delegation for their support and concern.
Matawalle, who commended Tuesday’s Federal Security Council decision declaring Zamfara a ‘no-fly zone’, prayed that the move would be followed with vigour and action.
He urged the NGF chairman to urgently convene a meeting with all the governors in personal attendance “so that we can tell ourselves the home truth to genuinely come up with the best practicable approach to fight armed banditry in our nation”. (NAN)
Politics

INEC solicits NASS support on conversion of voting points to polling units

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has solicited the National Assembly’s support to convert existing voting points in the country to polling units.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal on Tuesday during a presentation on the state of voter access to Pulling Units (PUs)  in Nigeria, to the National Assembly  Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, in Abuja.

He said that some of the voting points when converted to polling units would be relocated to underserved areas.

Yakubu also urged the lawmakers and stakeholders to help de-politicise issues around the intention of the commission saying  that the situation affected all parts of the country.

He said the voter access to polling units across the country was presently in a state of crisis as the existing 119,973 polling units was established by the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) 25 years ago.

He noted that the existing PUs were projected to serve 50 million registered voters, which increased to over 84 million in 2019 and still expected to increase before the next general elections.

Yakubu  said  the existing number of polling units were not only inadequate but not conducive for voters to exercise their rights to vote fairly, especially in the context of COVID-19.

He added that it had not also been suitable for INEC to properly manage election and ensure that rules and regulations were strictly adhered to.

The INEC boss said the commission had made several efforts in the past to address the problem but it was misunderstood by Nigerians due to lack of proper sensitisation and the decisions were made closed to elections.

According to Yakubu, some of the  efforts by the commission to address the problem included the creation of baby units in 2007, voting points in 2011 and voting points settlements in FCT in 2016.

He said  the commission believed that by converting the existing voting points  in use since 2011 to polling units and relocating some of them to underserved areas, majority of the challenges faced by voters and INEC would be addressed.

Yakubu said apart from starting early this time around, the commission decided to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the lingering  problem was addressed.

He disclosed that already, the commission had received no fewer than 9,000 requests from communities and individuals for the creation of new polling units across the country.

“We received 5,747 requests in Oct. 2020 to establish new polling units. The commission did not tell citizens to apply or to request for the creation or whatever units.

“As at last week, Feb. 23, the number of requests has increased to 9,092, which is additional 4,300 requests since over a period of four months and the number keeps increasing,” he said.

He assured that in converting the voting points to polling units, the commission would take into consideration the number of registered voters in the polling units as well as the distance, to ensure that justice was done and the problem adequately addressed.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, pledged the support of the National Assembly to INEC to provide better voting environment for Nigerians through creation of more polling units.

“I want to assure the chairman of INEC and indeed Nigerians that the National Assembly will support INEC fully, completely and wholly in ensuring that we provide a better voting environment for our citizens.

“We will do whatever it takes, because democracy is about participation and voting is probably the most important thing,” Lawan said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu was accompanied by national commissioners and some of the management staff of the commission.(NAN)

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