Salisu Sani Idris - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Tue, 2023

FIDA donates to Suleja female inmates

113 total views today

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja Branch, on Tuesday donated food items and toiletries to female inmates in Suleja Correctional Services Centre.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items includes provisions, sanitary pads, bags of rice, toilet rolls, detergents, izals and toothpastes, among others.

The visit was with a release order of a female inmate, whose fine was paid by the Abuja FIDA branch, with support from Mrs Sarah Dejo, as part of activities to celebrate her 50th birthday.

The Chairperson, FIDA Correctional Service Centre Committee, Dr Rosemary Chikwendu, said the visit was made out of love and to celebrate Dejo’s 50th birthday.

Chikwendu said one of such mandate was to protect, promote and preserve the rights of vulnerable women and children in the society.

“We have a list of those expected to pay for compensation and fine, we are going to reach out to those who can support in the payment of the fines.

“Reaching the Court, part of the compensation will be paid, but as inmates, you must be of good behaviour so that we can recommend you like the person that was recommended today,” she said.

Chikwendu advised the inmates to ensure they learn the various skills being taught in the Correctional Centre as it could be useful to them in life.

The Chairperson of FIDA, Abuja Branch, Chibuzo Nwosu, said their members who came to support them were from three branches which includes FIDA Gwagwalada, Niger and Abuja chapters.

She however advised governments and NGOs to continue to support by ensuring that the Correctional Service Centres were in proper conditions.

The Chairperson of FIDA Gwagwalada, Prof. Josephine Agbonika SAN, said good behaviour count as it helps in the release of the inmates from the Centre.

She however advised the inmates to abide by the rules of the centre, saying it is not the end of world.

Responding on behalf other female inmates, Nene Odinze, appreciated the women lawyers for the donation and appealed for their support by providing educational materials like textbooks and notebooks as some of them are enrolling in WAEC and JAMB.

NAN also reports that two female inmates regained their freedom during the visit. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Tue, 2023

Metro

FCTA begins prosecution of illegal estate developers

142 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) on Tuesday in Abuja announced that it would start prosecuting defaulting and illegal Estate Developers at the Urban and Regional Tribunal.

The Director, Department of Development Control of FCTA, Malam Mukhtar Galadima, made the disclosure when he led management staff of the department to demolish illegal structures built on water channels, around Kukwaba District.

Galadima also disclosed that the department had concluded arrangements to drag illegal developers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for causing both government and off takers economic losses.

The director, who also toured Katampe District to monitor and inspect the area, noted that the actions of many of the developers amounted to economic crimes, which the EFCC could beam further searchlight on.

He stated that apart from the losses they incurred, each time their illegal structures were demolished, both off takers who subscribed to their property and the government also suffered economic losses.

He said the resources being committed into the demolition was enormous that it could not be allowed to go just like that.

Director, Department of Development Control FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima during the demolition on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the case of the developers in Kukwaba demonstrates how responsible citizens ought not to handle economic activities.

He disclosed that the developers knew that the area they encroached upon was a reserved green area, because it was located on water channels, yet they were illegally selling to off takers and also building on it. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Tue, 2023

Foreign

Chinese gov’t not involved in any form of terror – Embassy

124 total views today

By Temitope Ponle

The People’s Republic of China says it is not ”and will never be involved in funding terrorism”.

The Chinese government’s position is contained in a statement released by its mission in Abuja, Nigeria on its official Twitter handle, @china_emb_ng on Monday.

The statement was released in response to a report by a British national daily, The Times, which alleged that Chinese nationals in the mining sector were funding terrorist groups in parts of Nigeria to secure access to the country’s mineral reserves.

According to The Times, it shared its research with a Lagos-based analytical group.

“Our attention has been drawn to a media report titled “Chinese ‘bribed Nigerian militants for access to vast mineral reserves”, published by the The Times of the U.K. on April 15, 2023.

“This report, claiming that “Beijing could be indirectly funding terror” in Nigeria, is based on unverified, unclear and unproven information, to which we have to express our strong dissatisfaction and objection.

“The Chinese government, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, have always encouraged and urged the Chinese companies and nationals in Nigeria to abide by the laws and regulations of Nigeria, and to implement the local rules and guidance on labour, environment, health and safety, among others, and would continue their efforts in this regard.

“The Chinese government was and would never be involved in any form of funding terrorism. The allegations contained in the report were totally irresponsible and unethical, and the intention of the report is seriously questioned.”

It also stated that the bilateral cooperation between China and Nigeria had brought tangible benefits to bilateral ties and well-being of both countries.

“We will continue to work with the Nigerian government to promote development and address security issues.

“We welcome international partners to join our efforts in good faith, but would reject any intention or action that would smear our cooperation.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Emmanuel Yashim

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Mon, 2023

Politics

Cleric tasks incoming administration on justice, fairness

145 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Dr Huseyn Zakaria, the Chief Missioner, Uthman Bin Affan Mosque, Wuse II, Abuja, has called on the incoming administration of the President-elect, Sen Bola Tinubu, to ensure justice and fairness to all Nigerians.

The cleric made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the closing ceremony of the 2023 Annual Ramadan Tafsir of the mosque, on Sunday, in Abuja.

Zakaria also stressed the need for all elected officials to respect their conveanant with the almighty Allah by fulfilling all their campaign promises.

“For our new incoming leaders at various levels of administration and governance in this country, they should remember that the position they have asked for and they were voted for are all trust given to them by the Almighty Allah.

“And when you enter into a conveanant with Allah to help the advancement of this country at all levels, then it is a strong issue. Anything that is against justice, fairness and fair play should not be assisted by you and should not be part of your programmes.

“Politics has ended now, and what is important is that all elected officials are leaders of all Nigerians and all Nigerians are their subjects. So, no more party politics after election. Therefore, they should carry along with them everybody despite the differences in political affiliations.

“They should give everybody their rights and give people whatever they have promised them during the electioneering campaigns. When they do that, Allah will help them come back again, otherwise Allah will change them with a better people in the next elections.”

Zakaria explained that the theme of this year’s Ramadan Tafsir centred on the protection of the rights of the weak, the orphans, girl-child, and the women folk with respect to distribution of their inheritance.

He emphasised the need for all stakeholders to stand with them in making sure that their rights were accorded to them as contained in the holy Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

“Unfortunately, we are facing so many challenges with regards to the restoration of the rights of the weak at all levels. Our courts and judges are actually not doing enough and our security operatives are actually not doing enough.

“So we need to actually stand against any persecution and any wrong from wherever actually it emanates so that we will have a society that actually stands on justice and fairness.

“If that happens, we will have a society that is helped and assisted by the Almighty Allah,” Zakaria said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Mon, 2023

Politics

Musa Mubarak emerges winner of NNPP’s governorship primary election in Kogi

179 total views today

By Stephen Adeleye

Alhaji Musa Mubarak has emerged winner of Sunday’s governorship primary election of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kogi.

Mubarak, popularly known as “Emperor’’ scored 607 votes to defeat his closet rival, Pastor Felix Oni, who scored 44 votes, while the second runner-up, Alhaji Hassan Bawa scored three votes.

Three other aspirants, Sen Adbulrahman Abubakar, Alhaji Aliyu Ali and Mr Kamaldeen Yakubu, stepped down from the race and supported Mubarak.

The election was witnessed by INEC officials.

Committee Chairman of Kogi NNPP Primary governorship election, Henry Francis, declaring the election result on Sunday in Lokoja

The primary election committee chairman, Comrade Henry Francis, who announced the results, said 717 delegates from the 21 local government areas of Kogi were accredited to vote in consonance with the party’s Constitution

The party’s chairman in Kogi, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar, congratulated Mubarak and the entire NNPP family for the successful and hitch-free primary election, describing it as “a day of history’’.

He described Mubarak as a humane philanthropist that would turn around the fortunes of Kogi for the betterment of the people.

“As from today, we shall expect a new dawn of political activities in Kogi.

“’This is the only governorship primary election that was free, fair, transparent and credible. Today is a new beginning for the people of Kogi both at home and in the diaspora,’’ Abubakar said.

In his acceptance speech, Mubarak commended other aspirants for their sportsmanship, and promised to make the state proud.

“I have emerged as the governorship flag bearer of the NNPP in Kogi and by the grace of God, I am going to emerge as the governor,’’ Mubarak said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Alli Hakeem

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Sun, 2023

Health

FCT: Centre offers free medical care to 700 indigent women, children

113 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) has offered free medical treatment to over 700 indigent women, children and the elderly in Karmo, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre is the custodian of Al-Noor Mosque, Abuja.

Addressing newsman during the exercise, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, Chairman of the Medical Outreach Committee, said most of the beneficiaries have illnesses that are easily treatable, but lack access to healthcare.

“We have been doing this free medical outreach regularly until the time when we had the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and we had to slow down.

“During this month of ramadan this is our second outing. This is a community which deserves medical care, a lot of them have illnesses that are easily treatable, but unfortunately they have no access to healthcare.

“We are here to help where we can and people have come out in large numbers and our volunteer doctors, nurses and others are ready to help.

“We are going to be here until we see everyone who has a complain,” he added.

Ibrahim, who is also a member of the Advisory Board of ICICE, said those with serious medical challenges would be referred to appropriate health facilities under the sponsorship of the centre.

“It is very important for communities and organisations like ours to go out to help people in need, to complement government efforts,” he added.

The centre’s Director-General, Dr Kabir Kabo-Usman, said the over 700 people who turned up included persons with disabilities.

He explained that Karmo was chosen based on need assessment earlier conducted by the centre, in line with its mandate of offering assistance in the areas of poverty reduction and healthcare.

“These people don’t have adequate drinking water, they don’t have good roads and they don’t have good schools.

“We are doing our best to give them all the necessary medical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and relevant medication and medicaments that they require.

“Not only that, we also make sure that they are referred to general hospitals, and those that are tremendously urgent, the centre takes care of that; that is part of our responsibility,” Kabo-Usman added.

Head of the Medical Team, Dr Amina Kumaliya, said most of those attended to were hypertensive and diabetic, while some have malaria, peptic ulcer, respiratory tract infection and diarrhea.

“We saw one patient that has hernia. So we intend to help the patient to do follow up and if there is any need of surgery.

“We also saw one that has breast tumor which we will also inform the management of the ICICE so that we can follow up the patient to a tertiary hospital to take care of it,” she said.

The Head of Hausa community in Karmo, Malam Bashir Musa, expressed gratitude to the ICICE for the gesture.

“The free medical assistance to the community is the first of its kind, we have never received this kind of medical assistance, that is why you see the large turn out of people,” Musa said. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Sun, 2023

Economy/Business

PS tasks accountants managing Nigeria’s wealth to prevent leakages

121 total views today

By Ruth Oketunde

Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has called on accounting professionals to manage the country’s wealth effectively and prevent leakages.

He said this at the 2023 Annual Dinner and District Award ceremony, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Nyanya-Mararaba and District Society, in Abuja.

Ogunbiyi, who was the chairman of the occasion, said accountants are custodians of public trust and should endeavour to uphold the ethics of their profession as they carry out their duties.

“Accountants are supposed to be trustworthy because they hold and control the liquid asset of the organisation and as such they are meant to be trustworthy, honest, manage wealth and prevent leakages in the affairs of government.

“So accountants should be officers in the service who can be relied upon and be able to identify areas of inappropriate spending and support government and make sure that leakages are blocked,” he said.

Also, Malam Tijjani Isa, 58th ICAN President, represented by Dr Oyemolu Akinsulire, ICAN Council member, said that the institute would continue to support its members in their various endeavours.

He,however,called on accounting professionals to abide by the ethics of profession and ensure that they carry out their duties with integrity and accountability.

“By our training, we are utility managers, we fit in anywhere and we perform, we get our colleagues and ask questions.

“That is why when you see us anywhere, we go the needed mileage and achieve the needed result.

“My advice to our members is to continue to keep the flag of the institute flying higher,” he said.

Mr Adewale Adeagbo, Chairman, ICAN Nyanya-Mararaba and District Society, said the event was aimed at recognizing and appreciating persons who had contributed to the growth of the district and the ICAN brand.

Adeagbo also called on members of the district to ensure they make the institute proud by being good examples in their places of work and in the society at large.

“My advice to members of the district society is to keep the flag flying, even though the district is barely two years, we are doing things as though we have been in existence before now.

“We don’t want to crawl, we want to fly and with God on our side, we believe that we will make the institute proud.

“To the incoming executives, I urge them to continue from where we stopped, though the previous excos laid the foundation, we tried to build on but we stopped at a certain stage, so we advice them to continue from there,” he said.

Dr Salisu Saad, Deputy Director at the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and the guest lecturer at the event called on Nigerians to pay their taxes as it was their civic responsibility.

Saad who spoke on the topic, “The Nigerian Tax System – Implications on Revenue Generation for the Country”, said that tax evasion had continued to impact the drive for infrastructural development in the country.

“There is a high level of tax evasion and tax avoidance, this is related to the way government spends the money because there is a perception by some Nigerians that there is corruption in the country.

“They believe that when they pay taxes, the revenue would go to other pocket that is why some individuals try to evade it, but that is not an excuse, we need to pay taxes as part of our civic responsibility,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the bestowment of awards on 12 distinguished personalities for their contributions to the growth of the district and the accounting profession in Nigeria.

NAN also reports that the highpoint of the event was the decoration of Mr Joshua Basiru as the Patron of the district society.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Sun, 2023

Economy/Business

NG-CARES: FG releases N45.3b reimbursement to states, FCT – Obaje

129 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Government has approved the release of N45.3 billion as reimbursement to States and the FCT for the implementation of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG CARES) Programme.

The National Coordinator of NG-CARES Programme, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, made the disclosure in a statement by Mr Suleiman Odapu, Information and Communication Officer, NG-CARES, on Sunday in Abuja.

Obaje explained that the funds, disbursed on Thursday, April 13, were based on Results each State and FCT earned after a rigorous result verification exercise conducted by an independent Consultant.

He stated that the results earned by the States and the FCT show significant progress towards achieving the set objectives and targets of the NG-CARES Programme.

“To facilitate the smooth take-off of the programme, the Federal Government disbursed a one-off recoverable advance of N35.3 billion to all the 36 States and the FCT in March 2022, and in less than one year, States and FCT have produced results valued at N77.2 billion, impacting over 2 million direct beneficiaries.”

“The Federal Government on Thursday reimbursed the 29 States and FCT to the tune of N45.3 billion after recovery of the one-off advance. The top three best performing States in this round of reimbursement are Zamfara State, with N5,273,150,000.00, Bauchi State N4,232,200,000.00 and Ondo State N3,838,233,411.00.

“This is a milestone in the efforts at reducing poverty in the country,” Obaje noted.

The National Coordinator appealed to States and the FCT to use the funds released in line with the Financing Agreement and the “Funds Release Policy” which all the States and FCT signed.

Obaje commended key stakeholders in the programme, notably, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, for providing the needed leadership at the federal level to coordinate the implementation at the States and FCT, State Governors, and the World Bank for providing the credit and technical support.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NG-CARES Programme is a Federal Government initiative and supported by the World Bank implemented in all 36 States and FCT.

The Programme aims to expand access to livelihood support and food security services and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Sat, 2023

Religious

Don tasks men on welfare of widows, orphans

136 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

An academic, Prof. Rafatu Abdulhamid of the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Abuja has enjoined men to accord priority attention to the welfare and well-being of widows and orphans.

She made the call on Saturday in Abuja at a Ramadan lecture she delivered on: “Divorce and Widowhood’’ organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society.

She cited several verses of the Glorious Quran, where Prophet Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, encouraged men to be sympathetic and be kind and supportive of widows.

“My advice to men is that they should emulate Prophet Muhammad’s gesture to widows. In Islamic history, many of the prophet’s wives were widows; but today we see a different thing.

“Today, wealthy men are not ready to take widows as wives and sometimes when the widows have children, the men run away from them because they don’t want added responsibilities.

“Those men forget that such responsibility is what will earn them paradise.

“For them to earn paradise, they have to take care of widows and orphans as Prophet Muhammad and verses of Qur’an has encouraged us,’’ she said.

Abdulhamid also expressed concern at the alarming rate of divorce in the society due to insincerity and misconception about marriage, saying: “nowadays marriage is not taken as an act of worship.’’

The lecturer noted that in Islam, every couple is expected to make good intention to marry so as to serve God.

“Once we have that sincerity of intention, everything will go smoothly, but insincerity is one of the major causes of divorce.

“Intending couples must ask themselves at the beginning why they want to come together.

“Is it about serving God so that we can earn His pleasure or looking at materialism? And this is why we make a lot of selections and some of these selections are very bad.

“At the end of the day, we pay the price of insincerity because we are not looking at the real concept of marriage from the Islamic perspective,’’ Abdulhamid noted.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Ramadan lecture, Dr Bilkisu Magoro explained that it centred on the rights of women as widows and divorcees with a view to educating women more on what Islam is all about.

Magoro, who stated that Islam has a guide and rights for divorcees, urged Muslims to always abide by the teachings of Islam in whatever they did.

Similarly, the National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, enjoined all Muslim women to continue to maximise the spiritual benefits of the month of Ramadan.

“In a nation where women are conscious of God, we shall have a nation that is conscious of God because women control all aspects of human endeavour, including their children and husbands,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.com)

Edited by Collins Yakubu-Hammer/Alli Hakeem

Salisu Sani Idris
Apr, Sat, 2023

Health

Ngwodo advocates stakeholders collaboration to tackle substance abuse

186 total views today

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Director-General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), Mr Chris Ngwodo, has urged stakeholders to collaborate in addressing challenges of substance abuse before it becomes a full-blown crisis.

Ngwodo made this call during a roundtable policy dialogue and technical workshop organised by OSPRE in collaboration with At-Risk-Children’s Project (Arc-P), Police Reform and Transformation Office (PORTO) and Milestones Foundation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop’s theme was: “The Breaking Bad Summit: Hybrid Strategies for the Multi-Dimensional Challenges of Substance Abuse in Nigeria”.

“Substance abuse is a clear and present danger to the well-being, development and peace of this country.

“It has a corollary impact on crime, violence, insecurity and conflict.

“We are all aware of individuals or communities dealing with this challenge,” Ngwodo said.

He stated that the purpose of the event was to forge a coalition of key actors to advance collective strategies for tackling substance abuse in the country.

The Lead presenter, Dr Jude Oboh, briefed on the transnational dimensions of the substance abuse challenge, highlighting the activities of organised crime rings dealing in the international drugs trade.

A Senior Project Officer of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, in his presentation, highlighted the need for more substance abuse treatment centres to cater for the huge demand.

The Executive Director of the Milestones Foundation, Dr William Ebiti, commended the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its impressive successes in securing the convictions of drug traffickers.

He said there was need for stakeholders to deepen their collaboration, especially in the sharing of information.

The stakeholders present also resolved to share data on their activities in the areas of drug demand and supply reduction, enjoining OSPRE to serve as a hub to facilitate this exchange.

NAN reports that OSPRE, also known as the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanisms, was established in June 2022 with the signing of Executive Order 12 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was created in pursuant to Article 58 of the treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Also, it was formed on the basis of Article 16 of the 1999 Protocol on the Mechanism relating to conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security.

The centre is mandated to address threats to human security and to build the preparedness and resilience of institutions and communities.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu and Olawale Alabi