Salisu Sani Idris - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Salisu Sani Idris
Jan, Fri, 2024

Metro

RTEAN launches automobile safety kits to promote safe driving

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in collaboration with the West Africa Automobile Services L.td., have launched Automobile Safety kits to promote safe driving practices in the country.

The Executive National President of RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Maitakobi, while launching the initiative on Thursday in Abuja, reiterated the commitment of the association to fostering a safe environment for all motorists.

He was represented by the association’s Deputy National President Administration, Amb. Mohammed Abubakar.

Maitakobi said the aims of the initiative was to encourage car owners and drivers to equip their vehicles with comprehensive safety kits.

He said that the association was determined to educate individuals about the essential components that contribute to a well equipped safety kits.

Maitakobi also said that the initiative was expected to promote safe driving practices, and responsible ownership by emphasising the importance of preventive measures.

He called on the public to join hands with the association in making a difference by ensuring that every vehicle on the road has a well-equipped safety kits.

” We can minimise the impact of unforeseen circumstances and accidents, ultimately leading to a safer community and a brighter future for all.

” The launch of this initiative is a significant milestone for us. We are confident that by making these safety kits easily accessible to all vehicles owners, both private, state and Federal Government.

” We can make a substantial impact on protecting lives and enhancing the overall safety kit consist of essential items.

” The items are reflective vests, traffic cones, safety helmet and warning triangles to increase visibility and alert other drivers in case of breakdown of accidents.

” First aid supplies, including bandage, antiseptics and wound dressing items to provide immediate care in case of injury.”

He emphasised that the primary mission of the association was to ensure the safety and well-being of its community members.

” This is in line with the United Nations and government policies in prevention and taking care of accident victims.

” The safety kits will be available in all our branches across the state, local as well as our chapels at a cheaper and affordable price.”

In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer, West Africa Automobile Services Ltd., Ahmed Hafez said that safely was not a privilege but fundamental rights.

” Every individual boarding a vehicle should have the assurance that their journey will be safe.

” Our cooperation with RTEAN marked a significant strive toward ensuring the safety of their 16 million members spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Malam Ahmed Habib commended the association for the initiative.

” I want to behalf of NEMA commend the organizers of this safety initiative. I look at you from the disaster management point of view as being very proactive.

” Some injuries are preventable during accidents if we used the right safety kits. This initiative will go a long way to reduce the severity of injuries and death arising from road crashes accidents,” he said.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, stressed the need for every motorist to have automobile safety kits.

Represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ahmed Alhassan, Egbetokun said ” We will partner with the association to ensure that every motorist have safety kits.

” We will deepen partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) and other relevant agencies to ensure that every motorist maintain this safety kits.” (NAN)(www.nannews)

Edited By Joseph Edeh

Salisu Sani Idris
Jan, Thu, 2024

Defence/Security

Navy launches new strategy to combat oil theft

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By Edeki Igafe

The Nigerian Navy has lunched “OPERATIONS DELTA SANITY” to further combat crude oil theft and other criminalities in the nation’s maritime space.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla flagged-off the Operation on Wednesday at the NPA Jetty, Warri, Delta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that “Operation DELTA SANITY” replaces Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO.

The CNS said that Operation Delta Sanity was timely, considering the renewed effort of the Federal Government toward attaining sustainable development of Blue Economy.

He said that Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was launched in April 2022 to stern the tide of crude oil theft.

Ogalla said that the
menace of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering had constituted a substantial threat to the nation’s economic prosperity.

“As at December 2021, Nigeria’s crude oil production had fallen from 1.579 million barrels in 2020 to 1.197 million barrels.

“This loss was attributed to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and operation of Illegal Refining Sites (IRS).

“Accordingly, no effort should be spared in combatting oil theft which constitutes a grave national security threat,” he said.

The naval chief said that it was on this premise that the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was launched.

He said that during the operation, the Navy engaged in kinetic and non-kinetic initiatives across the Niger Delta.

The Naval chief said this led to arrest of several vessels and crude oil and refined products.

“These include the landmark arrest of MT HEROIC IDUN in Aug. 22, which prevented the theft of about three million barrels of crude oil.

‘”A total value of over N105 billion worth of crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products were seized during the operation.

“As a result of the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO, as at September 2023, Nigeria’s crude oil output rose to 1.35 million barrels per day, from about 1 million barrels per day.

“It peaked at 1.57 million barrels per day in October 2023.

“It is my singular honour and privilege to terminate Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO and Flag-off Operation DELTA SANITY.

“I wish all the officers and ratings of participating units fair winds and following seas,” he said.

The CNS said that the blue economy initiative of President Bola Tinubu sought to maximise the nation’s potential by deriving optimal benefits from Nigerian maritime environment for economic prosperity.

He said that the initiative beholds on the Navy to rejig the ongoing anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering and related operations.

Ogalla said that the navy conducts its military, policing and diplomatic roles in line with its constitutional mandate.

He said that the navy policing role encompassed enforcing and assisting in coordinating the enforcement of anti-bunkering laws of Nigeria.

The naval chief stressed the need to ensure greater integration of Maritime Domain Awareness facilities,and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to enhance situational awareness of the area of Operations.

He said renewed strategy on environmentally sustainable handling of seized products, and arrested vessels had been reconstituted under Operation DELTA SANITY.

“The operation will incorporate complimentary kinetic and non-kinetic measures to consolidate the successes of the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO in the Niger Delta area.”

He urged all participating commands, units and establishments to strive towards realising the desired operational objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY.

“I seek the support of concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as maritime stakeholders to ensure the success of this Operation.

“I believe that all hands will be on deck towards achieving the desired objectives of this Operation.

“This would foster the much-desired economic recovery and development of our great nation,” he said.

The naval chief thanked Tinubu for his continuous support to the Nigerian Navy.

Also Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta thanked the Navy for the new initiative and promised to offer support.

The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu.

In a remark, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) thanked the navy for ridding Nigeria’s maritime environment of crimes.

He said that the navy made giant strides in its maritime policing efforts in line with its constitutional mandate, especially through prevention of oil theft and others.

He urged all participating units and formations to vigorously, and sincerely pursue the desired operational objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY.

“I equally solicit the support of all stakeholders and partners to the navy, so that we can derive optimal benefits from this noble initiative,” he said.

The CNS also inaugurated a building project at the premises of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta.

In attendance were Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, Commander, Joint TaskForce (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) and the Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle represented by Director of Navy, Dr Raji Ogunsola.

Others are Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Chindo Yahaya, Mr Austin Oruoye, member representing Warri South Constituency, representatives of other military and para-military among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Salisu Sani Idris
Jan, Sun, 2024

Education

Foundation lobbies UK Parliament to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school challenges

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The officials of IA Foundation, an international charity, are to meet lawmakers in the UK Parliament to lobby them towards getting the UK Government to intervene in Nigeria’s out-of-school problem.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Adeagbo said the visit by the foundation to the UK parliament had been slated for March 19.

She said that IA-Foundation was registered in the UK and had been active in Nigeria over the years, campaigning to ensure mass literacy in the West African country.

According to her, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation has been contending with out-of-school crisis that has seen some 20.2 million children not attending school.

She said that the visit was the latest initiative of the foundation to draw the attention of the international community to the crisis plaguing the education sector in Nigeria.

Adeagbo said that Nigerians of goodwill should join hands with the Federal Government to tackle problems in the country’s education sector to guarantee a better future.

“On March 18 2023, IA-Foundation staged a charity show in London to raise funds and global awareness on the out-of-school crisis in Nigeria.

“Nigeria should seek the support and assistance of international agencies and governments to ensure that every Nigerian child gets basic education,” she said.

Adeagbo said that it was unthinkable that any Nigerian child could be out of school at this time in the country’s development.

She, therefore, urged President Bola Tinubu to tackle problems in the education sector decisively.

She said that the foundation would stage a fund-raising event in Lagos on March 2, to generate funds to assist millions of out-of-school children nationwide.

“ We had earlier scheduled to hold a special evening with the Mayor of Southwark, Mr Michael Situ, on the out-of-school challenge in Nigeria.”

She said IA-Foundation, established in 2019, has been active in South Western Nigeria, campaigning to ensure that kids are disallowed from roaming the streets, instead of being in the classroom.

“Lingering insecurity in parts of Nigeria, especially the Boko Haram insurgency, has forced millions of children to shun going to school in many states in Northern Nigeria.

“Boko Haram insurgents have been fighting since 2009 to enthrone an unpopular Islamic code in Northern Nigeria, forcing thousands of people out of their homes.

“But the insurgents and bandits have resorted to kidnapping people and demanding huge ransoms, to sustain their deadly activities,” she added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Salisu Sani Idris
Jan, Thu, 2024

General News

NAN MD condoles with Bauchi ZM over wife’s death

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By Muhammad Nur Tijani

The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alhaji Ali M. Ali, on Thursday condoled with the Bauchi Zonal Manager of the agency, Rabiu Sani-Ali, over the death of his wife.

The managing director was represented by a delegation led by the agency’s Director of Administration and Human Resources Management, Alhaji Abdulhadi Khaliel.

He was accompanied by the Kaduna Zonal Manager, Bashir Rabe-Mani, the Kano State Correspondent, Alhaji Aminu Garko and other members of staff.

Ali prayed Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings and to grant her Al-Jannatul Firdausi.

He also prayed to God to give the family the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

Ali described death as an inevitable end of all mortals, saying,”nobody can escape it as we must all die at one time or the other.”

“We are however consoled with the fact that the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation by all,” he said.

Responding, Sani-Ali, who received the delegation, thanked the management for the visit.

Nafisa Habibu passed on Monday at the age of 32, after child birth.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Salisu Sani Idris
Dec, Sat, 2023

Politics

Liberia’s Elections Commission honours INEC Chairman

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By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has honoured Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his contributions to the development of the country’s electoral processes.

Madam Davidetta Lansanah, the Chairperson, NEC, presented Yakubu with the award at an event to mark the commission’s dedication of a workspace for its staff in Liberia.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

Lansanah acknowledged the technical support rendered by Yakubu in establishing the workspace and bolstering the electoral process in Liberia.

She expressed the country’s gratitude for what she described as the indispensable contributions made by Yakubu and INEC Nigeria in sustaining Liberia’s democratic journey.

Recalling Yakubu’s role as President of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), Lansanah highlighted his advocacy for resource-sharing among regional Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs).

She commended his influential efforts, resulting in Liberia’s election as the First Vice-President of ECONEC in 2021.

She thanked Yakubu for his steadfast backing of NEC-Liberia in various regional endeavours.

Responding, Yakubu expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed upon him in dedicating the workspace to staff.

Yakubu emphasised the value of the resource in enhancing the operational capabilities of staff, particularly through Information and Technology (IT) facilities.

Reflecting on past collaborations, Yakubu recalled INEC Nigeria’s assistance during Liberia’s 2017 Presidential election, highlighting the joint efforts of IT experts from INEC and NEC-Liberia in addressing stakeholders’ concerns regarding the voters’ register.

He also acknowledged INEC’s technical support ahead of subsequent special elections, the 2020 referendum facilitated by ECOWAS, and the implementation of the biometric register in the recent general election.

Emphasising the significance of inter-EMB collaboration, Yakubu underscored the complexity of election management and urged prioritising peer support amid limited resources and escalating election costs.

Some personalities at the occasion included the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Christine Umutoni; Charge d’ Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia, Mr Manir Ibrahim and the Representative of the Liberian Bar Association.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Salisu Sani Idris
Dec, Sat, 2023

Defence/Security

2023: NSCDC arrests 571 suspected vandals, destroys 71 illegal refineries

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By Kelechi Ogunleye

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday said it arrested 571 suspected vandals and destroyed 71 illegal refineries nationwide within the last 12 months.

NSCDC’s Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Audi said of the 571 arrested vandals, 512 were being prosecuted while 121 had been convicted and were serving various jail terms in various Correctional Centres in the country.

He said the result recorded by the Corps was part of the NSCDC’s commitment toward ensuring pipelines were adequately protected against criminal acts.

He, however, said the growing trend of illegal refineries and re-emergence of already destroyed ones was a major concern to the Federal Government.

“What is disturbing is the issue of illegal refineries; you destroy one today, tomorrow you will see another one. In fact, the one you had destroyed reincarnates in about a week.

“However, the Corps has put in place both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to provide safety and security for our oil installations and other critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

“So far, we have seen that what we have adopted is working, so next year we will try to work seriously on the non-kinetic approach of cautioning Nigerians, engaging in advocacy, discussions with communities, youth, traditional rulers p, amongst others.

“We realised that oil theft is a syndicated crime. So, we will attack the root cause, we have written advising state governments on how to adopt some form of non-kinetic approaches to provide solutions to this menace.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Salif Atojoko

Salisu Sani Idris
Dec, Wed, 2023

Defence/Security

NSCDC licences 93 private guard companies in 2023 – CG

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By Kelechi Ogunleye

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has issued operational licences to 93 Private Guard Companies (PGCs) in 2023, as part of efforts to strengthen national security.

The NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Corps Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Audi, from the total number of 1,412 PGCs registered by the Corps, 92 were sealed across the country due to several operational violations.

He, however, said that 24 of the defaulting PGCs were later unsealed in the course of the year under review.

“After the sealing they were instructed to comply and rectify the reasons for which they were sanctioned for and after satisfying some conditions stipulated by law, we unsealed 24.”

He noted that licencing, supervision, training and monitoring of PGCs operations was one of NSCDC major mandate of which the Corps has been able to carve a niche for itself in this regard.

Audi said that PGCs have been able to live up to expectations in complementing security efforts due to its wide spread across the nooks and crannies of the country.

” Hence, the leverage by security operatives on them for grassroot intelligence gathering.

“We have tremendously recorded some progress as they have been very helpful and we have also been receiving useful security information from them which has helped us secure the country better.”

The CG said that before the Corps was saddled to regulate the operations of PGCs in Nigeria, the sector was operated by quacks.

” But with the involvement of the NSCDC, a high level of sanity had been restored in the industry.

“We have removed quackery in the profession and now have ex-service men including those from the intelligence security community who have now joined the industry to make it more professional and robust.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Salisu Sani Idris
Dec, Wed, 2023

General News

Miyetti Allah condemns Plateau killing

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the resurgent violence and bloodbath in Bakkos Local Government Area of Plateau state, which claimed many lives.

The National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma condemned the killings in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The intolerance that is fanning this circle of violence must be stopped by the Federal and Plateau State Governments.

” This act of barbarism by the actors must be condemned by all, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation,” he said.

Othman-Ngelzarma said the association supported President Bola Tinubu in his directives to the security agencies to fish out the culprits and bring them to book.

He also thanked the President for his directive that relief materials be distributed to the victims.

Othman-Ngelzarma enjoined the Plateau State Government to consider and include pastoralists among the beneficiaries of the relief materials

According to him, pastoralists were the greater victims of the calamity.

“As a responsible association, we call on the leadership of both the antagonist and protagonist in the area to embrace peace.

” Leaders from all sides must understand that continuous spilling of innocent citizens’ blood will only bring misery and not peace.

” It is clear that all these years, where violence had been the order of the day, people had gained nothing either as victors or losers,” he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that President Tinubu strongly condemned the heinous and brutal attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, which resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.

In a statement by Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale on Tuesday in Abuja, Tinubu directed security agencies to immediately move in, scout every stretch of the zone, and apprehend the culprits.

The President also directed the immediate mobilisation of relief resources for surviving victims of the attacks as well as medical treatment for the wounded. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Salisu Sani Idris
Dec, Mon, 2023

Metro

N-SIPA to harmonise database of beneficiaries – Official

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By Ahmed Ubandoma

The National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA) says it is working assiduously to integrate and harmonise the data of all beneficiaries of its programme.

The agency’s National Coordinator, Halima Shehu, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Shehu made the clarification when she paid a courtesy call on the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, in Abuja.

She sought the partnership of NIMC to effectively administer the process of data harmonisation.

This, she said, would help the agency in its quest to commence the nationwide social investment programme latest by January 2024.

Shehu stated that the meeting was aimed at exploring the potential areas of collaboration between the two agencies.

She said the collaboration would ensure accountability in the distribution of funds by leveraging on the rich national database compiled by NIMC.

” We are hopeful that this meeting will streamline and enhance the implementation of NSIPA’s social intervention programmes.

“My mission is to have a strategic collaboration with NIMC in harnessing data-driven methodologies to ensure effective delivery of social intervention across the country.

”I am optimistic that this collaboration will strengthen NSIPA’s commitment to leverage on the resources provided by NIMC to create impactful initiatives that uplift communities and individuals.”

Responding, Coker-Odusote expressed readiness to support N-SIPA in its drive to ensure effective delivery of social investment across the country.

The D-G said NIMC was determined to work with N-SIPA in the area of data utilisation to ensure accuracy and efficiency to meet the desired target, especially in having precise identification.

” This will ensure better coverage of beneficiaries across various socio-economic segments.

”It is worthy to note that the National Social Investment Programme Agency is the face of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and a tool to eradicate poverty in Nigeria.” (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Rabiu Sani-Ali

Salisu Sani Idris
Dec, Sat, 2023

Health

Drugs: Minister tasks research institute on local production

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By Folasade Akpan

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, says with the capacity of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), the country’s pharmaceutical gap should be bridged.

He said this on Friday in Abuja when he made a working visit to the institute, adding that with NIPRD, the nation should not be battling counterfeit drugs.

Alausa said he was impressed with the institute, after seeing what it could develop and produce.

” The institute just needs more clinical trial to get its products to the public for the use and to unlock the value chain for people to begin to gain jobs.

“I am very impressed with the portfolio product and I have been working with the institute to see how we can quickly get some of these into clinical trials and then some of them into the market.

“ We have discussed how we can begin to restructure the process as well as help design modular pharmaceutical plants that will begin to also produce some of the generic drugs that I think that the counterfeits are being imported into the country.

“Once we start producing drugs that we have certified and we can regulate, those plants will make the business of importation of counterfeit drugs financially unattractive.

Alausa appealed to drug counterfeiters to stop the act, saying “there are lots of legitimate businesses that can be done in this country.

” We have a population of 220 million people and that’s a big market.

“People can do a lot of legal things instead of bringing counterfeit drugs into the country.”

He, however, said “government has a responsibility to fight back through legislation and also do things to protect the pharmaceutical industry to protect the health of the people.”

On the issue of budgetary allocation to the institute, the minister said that the President is committed to funding healthcare delivery in the country.

According to him, the President is committed to not just increasing the budget for healthcare delivery, but to ensure that the budget is cash backed.

He added that going from 2024, government is determined to cash back almost the entirety of the budgeted amount.

“So, hopefully the budgetary allocation and cash release will get better and I’m going to be meeting with the Director-General again to see how we can get some research money from the Ministry of Health to support this institution.”

Alausa gave the institute a mandate to begin a postdoctoral fellowship with 100 fellows.

According to him, with experience, better and more training, the institute could be useful to the industry and the academic sector too.

“So, we will start that in 2024 and we are also expanding our research ecosystem, we are trying to bring more international funding and grant into our system to expand and that’s also going to build our capacity.”

Earlier, the institute’s Director-General, Dr Obi Adigwe, had updated the minister about the status of the institute.

He revealed that the institute had developed the second NIPRD Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

He said that the institute had also developed and commercialised NIPRISAN, a drug for sickle cell which later metamorphosed into NICLOVIX.

Adigwe, however, said that the research and development activities of the institute were limited by various factors, especially funding, lack of working equipment and low morale of staff.

He appealed to the minister to help the institute reach its full capacity by ensuring that it got the needed support from the Federal Government and other partners. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu