By Adeleye Adeyemi

The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, on Wednesday reassured members of better days ahead, calling for dialogue and understanding.

Ponle made the appeal at a meeting he held with management and members of staff of the agency at its Lagos office, to mark the beginning of the New Year.

Ponle urged them not to rely on misinformation, disinformation and rumour going on about staff welfare.

“If there are challenges now, there were more challenges before, but we weathered the storm, and they were surmounted.

“So, whatever we have is not a new thing, infact they cannot be compared with what we have overcome.

“We still have expectations but when money is not enough, there is not much we can do.

“Let us resolve our challenges internally. It happens everywhere. Please come to me and let us dialogue until we resolve them.

“We believe it is going to be better in the coming days. We are ready to serve you but do your own part,” he said.

Seeking understanding of members of staff, Ponle said that the agency remained one of the least funded agencies, hence there was need to use the little available judiciously.

He said that the management had been able to give the office some facelift and purchased few workstations.

Ponle, who urged the staff members to support the agency, also said management appreciated the efforts most members of staff were putting in.

“If you don’t understand, you can ask genuine questions. We are ready to provide answers.

He said that the management would provide more facilities to ease the operation of the agency.

“We cannot meet all our expectations at once, let us remain appreciative of what we have.

“We are here to serve the common purpose and contribute our quota to the development of our country.

The managing director also said that things that were affecting the career progression were being addressed.

He said that the agency had been doing a lot on regular promotion of staffers and ensure career progression, while also consulting regularly on how to improve staff welfare.

“We have expanded the zonal structure from six to 12 with effect from Jan. 1. These are part of efforts to ensure staff progression.

“Those who are also being stagnated will have the opportunity of growth. Apart from that, it will increase our visibility and provide administrative convenience, ” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the appointment and redeployment of new Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service and NAF Institutions.

It also approved the appointment of a new spokesperson and other senior officers.

Group Capt. Joel Abioye of the Directorate of Public Relations and Information, NAF, stated that the new postings and the redeployment were part of a routine aimed to ensure operational efficiency and effective service delivery.

Abioye added that the appointments were approved by the Chief Air of Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.

Former Chief of Policy and Plans, AVM Jackson Yusuf, was appointed as Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), while the erstwhile Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos, AVM Idi Lubo, took over as Chief of Policy and Plans.

AVM Mohammed Yakubu, immediate past Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology is now Chief of Aircraft Engineering, while AVM Ayoola Jolasinmi, former CDPP, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), is now the Chief of Defence Space Administration.

“The erstwhile Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, AVM Anthony Tuwase, is now the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), DHQ.

“In the same vein, AVM Paul Masiyer is now the Chief of Logistics, HQ NAF; AVM Ibikunle Daramola, the erstwhile Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command, Enugu is appointed the Chief of Communications Information Systems.

“AVM Samuel Chinda now takes over as Chief of Air Intelligence, NAF, while AVM Anthony Ndace is now the Air Secretary, NAF.

“Also affected by the new appointments is AVM Emmanuel Wonah, former Chief of Aircraft Engineering who is now the Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

“AVM Charles Ohwo, former CDTI has now been appointed as the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos, AVM Paul Jemitola, the immediate past Air Secretary is now the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna.

“AVM Abraham Adole is the new Commandant, Air Force War College, Makurdi,’’ Abioye stated.

Other new appointments are those of AVM Sayo Olatunde, former Commandant Air Force War College who is now the AOC, Ground Training Command, Enugu and AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe now the AOC Mobility Command, Yenagoa.

Abioye added that the former Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, was appointed Commander 551 NAF Station, Jos, while Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida is now the new NAF spokesman.

“Air Commodore Olayinka Oyesola takes over as the Air Component Commander (Joint Task Force North East) `Operation Hadin Kai’.

“Air Marshal Amao charged the officers to bring their professional experiences to bear and to continually explore new methods of proffering workable solutions and renewed strategies to resolving the security challenges in the country.

“The newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to assume their offices on or before Friday, Jan. 6,” Abioye added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Alli Hakeem

By Cecilia Ijuo 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has commiserated with the President,  African Development Bank(AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina over the demise of his mother, Mrs Eunice Adesina.

The former President in a  letter addressed to Adesina, said late Eunice was a hardworking personality, who dedicated her life to her family and the church of Christ.

He further said the deceased, who passed away on Dec. 22, 2022 at the age of 92, lived a fulfilled life, adding that her impact on her family was evident in the achievements of her children.

“It is with sadness I read the passing on to glory of Mama, Chief, Mrs Eunice Adesina.

“On behalf of my family please accept our profound condolences and prayers as you go through the permanence of her absence.

“The loss of a mother is never an easy moment to bear, you should however, be consoled as she lived a life of lessons, hardwork and dedication,”he said.

Obasanjo said the grace of God, which Eunice enjoyed with her late husband, Mr Roland Adesina, led to the impact they made before their demise.

While urging the bereaved to take solace in the fact that she had contributed her quota to human development, the former President said, “mama was one in a million.

“The evidence of her motherhood is well reflected on her children and daughters-in-law. 

“I can attest to the fact that her children and you in particular  are men of strong character and great achievements in their respective rights.

“Those of you she left behind should be comforted even as you celebrate her time on earth.”

Obasanjo said, while all mankind would take same path someday, it was important to be prepared for what one would be remembered for.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams 

By Okon Okon

The Director-General of National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, has lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari for remarkable achievements made so far in addressing issues concerning older persons in the country.

Omokaro gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The government of President Buhari is the first administration in the history of Nigeria that has done so well for older persons in terms of policy, legal framework, institutional and architectural procedures mechanism.

“This is the government that is walking the talk. So we can rightly say that older people, through NSCC have been really mainstreamed into development endeavours of the country.

“Currently, the Centre is working with the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), to have a separate Social Register strictly for older people. Also older people would be extracted from the general social register and add to the one for them.

“This is to ensure that a larger percentage of older people benefit for the various policies of the Federal Government, donor agencies and International Non Governmental Organisations and others.

“It is also worthy to note that the revised Social Safety Protection Policy left out older people, but now it has included them. This means that there is a positive hope for older people across the country,” Omokaro said.

The NSCC boss explained that the agency’s mandates cut across all other government Ministries, Department and Agencies, thus, collaboration became a fundamental necessity for the ultimate actualisation of the Centre’s mandates.

She said the centre was serious in addressing issues of healthcare, income, security and financial independence, intergenerational exchange and mentorship, abuse of older people, justice for older people and many more.

“We also have a programme called ‘Grand Mother Arise’. But please note that it is not only for women, because we are also sentimental about grandfathers.

“You know, there are a lot of stereotypes against Grand Mothers, some see them as witches and the father wizards, but if you observe closely, these people are doing a lot for their community but have not been acknowledged.

“The programme is aimed at acknowledging the roles of grandmothers and fathers in the communities and also adds value to their farm produce through partnership and collaboration with private sector and other stakeholders.

“We are getting the buy-in of royal fathers and even religious leaders to ensure that the Grand Mother Arise programme achieved its desired goals for the older persons in the various communities across the country,” Omokaro explained.

According to Omokaro, “all these are made possible by the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nathan Nwakamma/Vincent Obi

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Newly appointed Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Biu, has assured Nigerians of adequate logistics during the 2023 general elections.

Biu gave the assurance during his decoration by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Corps Marshal said the FRSC had always supported the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during elections.

He assured that the year 2023 election would not be an exception as the Corps was prepared to ensure free and fair elections nationwide.

Biu said a fleet of vehicles would be deployed to assist INEC to move equipment and ballot papers.

According to him, the Corps normally supports INEC during elections in terms of crowd control and management of the election process.

“We also participate in training drivers of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other unions who are usually engaged by INEC to work for them.

“We train them and certify their vehicles before they can move the vehicles or even participate in the election.

“All these should be expected from us as we have two committees in INEC. We have the standing committee and the logistics committee and our officers are part of the process.

“We have vehicles that we will deploy so that materials can get to the polling booths on time and we also have men that will man the polling booths,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Biu was decorated by Mustapha on Tuesday in Abuja. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Salif Atojoko

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will support Republic of Burundi in diverse ways as necessary, saying this will be in the spirit of African solidarity and brotherliness,

The president stated this on Tuesday at State House, Abuja, when he hosted the Special Envoy of President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who came with a message.

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning of Burundi, Mr Audace Niyonzima said his President sent goodwill for the New Year to Nigerians and President Buhari.

He also wished the country well in general elections scheduled for February and March, this year.

“We pray that the polls would be peaceful and successful, so that Nigeria would maintain her reputation as a bastion of peace and stability,” the Special Envoy said.

On request for assistance in the area of energy provision, particularly fuel, by the Burundi leader, President Buhari said he knows what it feels like for a country to suffer from energy shortage.

He, therefore, promised that he would get the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to look into the request.

Buhari said he was looking forward to the polls, and retirement, since he had satisfied the constitutionally required two terms to be in office. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Prevention Control (NCDC), has said that recent experiences in the country with the arrival of the COVID-19 omicron variants showed that travel restrictions did not have any public health benefits but were disruptive for persons and businesses.

Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General, NCDC, said this on his official Twitter handle while addressing Nigerians who raised concern over the rising COVID-19 cases in China, the UK, U.S.A and other countries.

He said that COVID-19 has and continues to follow a different course (epidemiology) in Nigeria and most of African nations.

“Other omicron progeny that was associated with increases in cases, admissions and deaths elsewhere did not cause the same in Nigeria as confirmed by our genomics surveillance.

“Our population is significantly protected from a combination of natural infection and vaccination,” he explained.

Adetifa said that the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) met on Dec. 31, 2022, noting that going forward, they would continue to review the ongoing COVID-19 situation over the coming week.

“At the next review and if deemed necessary, a range of actions, not limited to enhanced surveillance of travellers at airports, may be implemented,” he said.

The NCDC boss said that the agency follows global COVID-19 epidemiology, including genomics data, as part of the ongoing pandemic response.

Adetifa said that the NCDC COVID-19 EOC continues to function at level two alertness – including weekly risk assessments to inform the need for action.

“Our COVID-19 EOC is tracking COVID-19 trends in China, the US, UK, South Africa, India and other destinations with high volume traffic to and from Nigeria,” he said.

The NCDC boss said that the COVID-19 resurgence in China was not surprising, given their recent transition from a zero COVID-19 strategy.

He said that this was against a backdrop of a population that neither has high levels of natural immunity nor high levels of coverage with vaccines with the greatest impact against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death.

“Cases, admissions and deaths in England and the US have increased significantly.

Government agency data show 28.8 per cent, 36.3 per cent and 1.6 per cent increases in cases, admissions and deaths as of Dec. 22, 2022, compared to the previous period.

“The Centre for Disease Control reports 57.0 per cent, 23.2 per cent and 66.0 per cent increases in cases, admissions and deaths as of Dec. 22, 2022, compared to Nov. 20, 2022.

“The National Department of Health in South Africa data shows fewer admissions in Dec 2023 vs Nov 2022 (as of 21/12/22),” he explained.

Adetifa said that before the current uptick in cases seen in China, the US, the UK and elsewhere, genomic surveillance continued to show the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant and its lineage continued to predominate in infections worldwide.

According to him, in Nigeria, the NCDC continues with genomic surveillance. The omicron variant was first detected in Dec. 2021 and has since become the dominant strain.

He said that BQ.1/BQ.1.1 and related sublineages were first seen in Nigeria in July 2022 and BQ.1 became dominant in Aug 2022.

“BQ.1.1 took over in Sept 2022 and persisted since then. None of these was associated with any increases in case numbers, admissions or deaths. We have not detected BF.7 or XBB.1.5 in the country yet (sequencing updates for Dec. 2022 are in progress),” he said.

He said that the Nigerian COVID-19 response continues to be executed via four pillars – continued surveillance, genomics surveillance, capacity for surge testing and vaccination.

He said that regardless of SARS-CoV-2 variants in different parts of the world, there continues to be an excess of cases of severe disease, admissions and deaths among the under or unvaccinated and those with established risk factors – old age, cardiovascular and endocrine co-morbidity, immune suppressive states (disease and/or treatments), and so on.

“We advise Nigerians to make use of every opportunity the Federal Government has provided via the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to get vaccinated, that is receive your primary vaccination which can be two or a single vaccine dose. If you have received two vaccine doses already, go get your booster.

“If you have received one booster dose already, please go get your second booster dose. If you belong to any of the high-risk categories, including old age, kindly ensure you adhere to recommended public health safety measures – mask use, hand hygiene and avoiding crowded spaces,” he advised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that China is experiencing a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic.

Other countries, including the US, UK, India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher measures on travellers from China amid concerns over a lack of data on infections in China and fears of the possibility that new variants may emerge.

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Aderogba George
The Management and Editorial Board of Flowerbudnews have felicitated Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on her re-appointment as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

A statement by the Publisher of the news outlet, Alhaji Biola Lawal in Abuja on Tuesday stated that the re-appointment of Adeyeye was a well-deserved gesture.

The statement reported flowerbudnews management as urging the NAFDAC D-G to redouble efforts to surpass her first term tenure in office.

According to the statement, the re-appointment is a great testimony to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to bestow a legacy of excellence in service delivery to the country.

It stated that the re-appointment showed the President’s faithful appreciation of excellence and dedicated performance by his political appointees.

The statement disclosed that the appointment would definitely encourage more Nigerians to work hard for the country and would strengthen dedicated political office holders to give their best in nation-building.

It said the re-appointment would bring the best for the country, not minding intrigues and run-him-down syndrome often displayed by some unpatriotic Nigerians.

“Your incredible achievements in the past five years raised hope of a bright future for our country.

“It signals that with dedication, love for Nigeria and unyielding resolve to do it right, our country can, and will be great, through indelible examples of achievements and performance like you have set in NAFDAC in the past five years.

“As Media Professionals, we noted your all-round achievements to include the return of NAFDAC operatives to the nation’s ports of entry after years of absence, an absence which was logically heavily detrimental to public health.

“Your moving Nigeria high up in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ranking, earning the nation the enviable status of a vaccine production capable nation and others have been remarkable.

“We urge you to redouble your efforts in strengthening NAFDAC’s ability, capacity and resolve to protect the health of Nigerians.

“We wish you a successful and remarkable second tenure. May God continue to be with you ma,” the statement said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Abdul Hassan

National Coordinator and Special Envoy of Ecology and Marine International Human Rights Organisation, Alhaji Musa Saidu, has cautioned against inference in the ongoing investigations of alleged fraud by the CBN Governor, Dr Godwin Emefiele.

Saidu told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja that the recent criticism against DSS investigations of N70 trillion alleged looted funds and hidden in banks by some eminent Nigerians was uncalled for.

“ DSS is doing its job and as ordered by the President without partiality, so why should they be condemned by elites?,’’ he asked.

According to him, the CBN governor is like any other public officer entrusted with the public property as such he can be investigated, if the need arises.

Saidu said there were series of allegations against Emefiele by some Nigerians which include alleged fraud and the reported diversion of revenue funds, diversion of agricultural loans as well as some fraudulent practices in Forex transactions.

“ The DSS investigation on the CBN governor is lawful and should be cherished by any patriotic Nigerian not condemning the act,’’ he said.

Saidu said that it was unpatriotic for any Nigerian to launch a campaign against any security outfit that strives to establish law and order in the country particularly, the Department of State Security (DSS).

“We should see the ongoing investigation of Emefiele and others as a step towards ensuring justice, fairness and respect for the law and order in the country.

‘` We shall also see the DSS investigations into the alleged financial criminal offences as a giant stride of the Buhari administration,’ he said.

The activist however, condemned the sponsored campaign against DSS in the social media by some so called Non- Governmental Organisations on the Emefiele investigation, saying, “that is a sabotage and subversive to the state affairs.

“As a Human Rights activist, I believe in the rule of law, as such, security organisations should arrest whoever is found wanting in government’’ he said.

Sa’idu pledged his organisation’s support to the security outfits to the fight against crimes in the country.

He vowed: ‘` We are ready to unite with DSS, police, military and all security agencies towards maintaining law and order in Nigeria.’’ (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani