NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Politics

Group takes steps to safeguard electoral participation, fight voter apathy

133 total views today

By Philomina Attah

Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI), an NGO, says it is taking steps to safeguard participation of Nigerians in elections and fight voter apathy.

Executive Director of SOAI, Kenneth Eze, said this on Thursday in Abuja, while unveiling the “Nigeria VoteBeat survey.

According to Eze, the survey is in line with SOAI’s commitment to ensuring the credibility and sanctity of the 2023 general elections, including gubernatorial and state Houses Assembly elections.

“The SOAI has launched a survey after the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and the intricacies that followed it, including ongoing court cases

“The survey is to gauge the “votebeat” of Nigerians with regards to their voting behavior and likely participation for the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

“This is expedient because the way and manner an election is conducted, and the events which follow, have huge direct impact on voters’ participation,” he said.
He said that the group was committed to safeguarding the participation of voters in all elections.
“To us, whatever that will create voter apathy is an enemy to democracy and should be confronted headlong.
“The Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on Feb. 25 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are widely adjudged as controversial by available reports from both local and international observers.
“Unfortunately, this was supposed to be the freest, fairest, most credible and most acceptable election in the history of our dear country, considering the huge investment that it attracted.
“Irregularities, logistics lapses, inadequate trained Ad-hoc staff as well as perceived breach of trust on the part of INEC is at the center of discussion,” he said.
The executive director said that the overall effect of the development was likely to have serious impact on the voter participation in future elections.
“The CSOs have labored so much to make the Nigerian voter repose confidence on INEC.
“This must not be eroded, hence, we launched the “Nigeria VoteBeat Survey (NVS)” to gauge, identify, diagnose and address possible electoral deficits.
“For emphasis, the two key parameters and drivers for this survey will be process and participation, and would never have anything to do with election outcome.
“This is because for any election, a winner will merge but the process by which the outcome is determined is more key to the survival of any democracy.
“Incidentally, process and participation are interwoven and form the basis for election democracy,” he said.
Eze said that the survey was for citizens to appraise INEC’s conduct, and adherence to its own guidelines.
He called on INEC to rebuild its integrity and trust, and close all the lapses identified in the last presidential and national assembly elections. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Isaac Aregbesola

Politics

Kogi Senator-elect, Sadiku-Ohere assures constituents of quality representation

156 total views today

By Naomi Sharang

The Kogi Central Senator-elect, Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured the people of his constituency of quality representation.

Sadiku-Ohere  gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sadiku-Ohere was one of the 98 senators-elect who were presented with their certificates of return by the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Ohere said that he would focus on bills and motions that would be of direct benefit to the constituents.

“We campaigned on our manifesto from 2016 till date and we have never deviated.

“Our mantra is to perform creditably well. With this next level, we are going to do more in terms of legislation that will help our people especially to improve the welfare of our people.

“I will give top priority to agriculture and also ensure that I come up with motions that would see to the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company,”he said.

He also expressed gratitude to the people of Kogi central for the support pledging that he would not fail them.

“I’m honoured by the support and I appreciate our party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). I’m indeed overwhelmed,” he said.

He added: “I’m going to do better and I promise that they will see a change in representation.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sadiku-Ohere of the APC was on Feb. 25, declared winner of the National Assembly election for Kogi Central Senatorial district.

Sadiku-Ohere defeated Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to emerge winner of the keenly contested election.

He garnered 52,132 votes against Natasha’s 51,763 votes to clinch the seat, a difference of 369 votes between them.

A biography of Sadiku-Ohere shows that in 2016, he paused his civil service career to serve Kogi State Government under Gov. Yahaya Bello from Jan. 2016 to August 2019.

He served as a Special Adviser overseeing the affairs of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

In 2019, he was appointed Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

While in Jan. 2020, Sadiku-Ohere was appointed again as Commissioner for Works and Housing, a position he voluntarily resigned from on April 16, 2022.

This was in pursuant of the aspirations and desire of the people to contest as senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the Federal Legislature. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Sadiya Hamza

 

 

Politics

I’ll give agriculture top priority – Umaru, Reps member-elect

204 total views today

Mr Jeremiah Umaru

 

By Naomi Sharang

 

Mr Jeremiah Umaru, the House of Representatives Member-elect for Wamba/Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, says he will give top priority to agriculture in his constituency.

 

He gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday.

 

Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stated this after he received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

He said, “Nasarawa State and by extension, Wamba/Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency is endowed with natural resources which l will explore for the economic development of the zone.

 

“Nasarawa state is an agrarian society. We will encourage farmers and young ones to go into farming.

 

“My desire is to lobby to see how farmers and the youths will get grants to support them in farming activities basically.

 

“We will also encourage our farmers and even the young people to go into mechanised farming and of course train the farmers and upport them in terms of seedlings and fertilisers.”

 

The incoming lawmaker also said that he would ensure youths in his constituency are empowered through skills acquisition to reduce over-expectation from white collar jobs.

 

“In terms of human capital development, I will lobby for federal presence,” Umaru said.

 

He further said that among his other priorities would be to empower women economically.

 

“For the women, my desire is to see that we empower them as well because we have so many women in our zone who are trying their best to sustain their families with little resources,” he said.

 

NAN reports that Umaru during the Feb. 25 National Assembly Elections, defeated the incumbent member representing the constituency, Alhaji Abdulkarim Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

Umaru scored 38, 430 votes to defeat Usman who got 19, 681 votes.(NAN)

(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Julius Toba-Jegede

Foreign

Envoy seeks ways to boost Nigeria-Bangladesh bilateral trade

184 total views today

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Mr Masudur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria has called for more comprehensive ways to boost the growing trade relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Rahman made the call on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the trade volume between both countries currently stands at about $70 million dollars with prospects of solidifying and tapping into other areas of mutual interest.

“The bilateral trade between Nigeria and Bangladesh currently stands at a modest $70 million dollars, with Bangladesh only contributing $20 million as export to Nigeria.

“Previously the bilateral trade was even much insignificant but it is picking up,

“So we are working on all fronts to deepen the bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, technical training exchanges, pharmaceuticals, ICT, software, textile/garments, and so on,” he said.

The envoy said Bangladesh was willing to deepen trade with Nigeria in the Oil/gas sector and agricultural sector with products like cotton, soya beans, ginger, millet, etc.

He, however, stressed the need to smoothen all bottlenecks associated with international trade and banking, especially in Nigeria, so as to have more seamless trade and investment.

“There are a lot of challenges in deepening the trade and investment, particularly in the way the banking sector could work to enhance the trading.

“In order to improve international trade, it is important for both countries to smoothen the transactions which are used through Letters of Credit opening and other banking tools.

“We also need to work on the areas of smooth handling, of course, of the goods and products and services that are offered,” he said.

The high commissioner said Bangladesh was looking forward to engaging more with Nigeria in areas like textile/garments, pharmaceuticals, and software which Bangladesh exports to the tune of $1.4 billion dollars.

Rahman recalled that Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy had in January led a 17-member delegation to Bangladesh to deepen bilateral cooperation between both countries.

He, therefore, advocated for more such engagements which were facilitated by the Nigeria-Bangladesh Business and Technology Forum.

He said the high commission would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the cordial bilateral relations between both strategic countries. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Health

Geriatrician urges FG to make hearing aid affordable to older persons

128 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Dr Ogugua Osi-ogbu, a Consultant, Geriatrician and Head, Geriatric Unit, National Hospital, Abuja, has called on the Federal Government to make hearing aids affordable to the older persons in the country.

Osi-ogbu, who is the Co-chair 1, National Senior Citizens Centre, FCT Stakeholders Consultative Forum, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.

She said that wax impaction was one of the commonest causes of hearing loss or impairment in older adults.

Osi-ogbu also said that hearing loss was one of the risk factors for social isolation, adding that people who suffered from hearing loss condition easily developed depression.

“And we don’t want our older adults to suffer from such condition. That is why we collaborate very closely with the Ears, Noise and Throat (ENT) Doctors team to examine our patients, see the wax impact and deal with it.

“For some of them, that takes care of the problem, but for others, they may have to come to have the dissolved wax stringe and evacuated from the ear canal.

”It is a very simple procedure and hearing is restored after that,” she said.

Osi-ogbu debunked the wrong perception that old age was synonymous with hearing loss, visual impairment, adding that wax impaction could easily be treated, ”but only if the patient goes to the hospital.

She added: ”Everybody has the right to accept healthcare both the young and older adults.

” But in a situation where we look at older people as being entitled to have visual and hearing impairment and as such we don’t give them access to healthcare.

” For example, a woman who has wax impaction at the age of 80, her family might just say she is 80, so she is entitled to hearing loss.

” However, the second commonest thing that we find in our older people that is age-related is sensorineural hearing loss.”

The geriatrician, therefore, urged people who were developing some impediments with hearing to quickly visit the ENT clinic for audiometric test to find out the severity of the hearing loss.

She said; “And there are those we can actually help with the use of hearing aids and our major concern now with the hearing aid is the affordability.

” So, our campaign to government and charitable organisations is that they should step in to try and make hearing aids available to our older adults.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

General News

Atunluse inaugurates 18 LG coordinators in Ondo

150 total views today

By Segun Giwa

A socio cultural organisation, Atunluse Initiative, has inaugurated local government coordinators across the 18 LGAs of Ondo State.

This is as the Chairman of the Organisation, Otunba Akinsola Akinbobola, charged coordinators and members of the organisation to dream big ahead of the coming projects.

Akinbobola stated this on Thursday in Akure, during the inauguration of the coordinators.

He explained that the inauguration would have taken place in the last quarter of 2022 but was postponed till after the general elections.

Akinbobola, who was a former Special Adviser on Political and Mobilisation to the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, urged the coordinators to see the task ahead as a personal assignment and a test of their capacity.

He said that the task ahead was beyond the current political schemes, saying “with hard work and prayers, it’s achievable “.

“Let us dream big and work towards achieving the dream in line with the mission and vision of Atunluse Initiatives.”

“Our mission is to ensure a better life for everybody, a society where affordable and quality education, good health care, good roads, constant electricity with safety of life and property will be available for all.

“It’s important for you to take into cognisance that while you’re building Atunluse, you are also building yourself through the big Atunluse platform,” he said.

Also, the Director General of the Organisation, Elder Sikiru Adetona, while congratulating the coordinators, charged them to be hard working and remain focused in the face of challenges.

“See yourselves as God chosen and endeavour not to disappoint yourselves and the organisation; you are our ambassador in your respective local government areas; I therefore urge you to work assiduously to achieve the set goals.

“Many are called, but few are chosen; once again, I congratulate you all for being among the few that were chosen,” he said.

The Co-ordinator of Atunluse Initiatives, Mr Shalom Olaseni, enjoined others to spread the gospel of Atunluse Initiatives in every nook and cranny of the state.

Olaseni urged them not to hesitate in contacting and intimating him periodically on the progress of their assignment.

“I urged you all to work in unity with other grassroots leaders in your local government areas, to make Atunluse great, urging them to do the job like their personal job.

Akure South LG Co-ordinator, Mr Alaba Asekunowo, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, promised to work hard and spread the gospel of Atunluse Initiatives across local governments.

“We are ready to take the organisation to the nooks and crannies and we are also ready to work for ourselves; we will take this responsibility beyond the expectations of the leadership of group,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

General News

2 travel agents bag 4 years in jail each for visa fraud

113 total views today

By Patience Yakubu

Two travel agents, Clement Ekhueorohan, 30, and Courage Chinonso, 38, were on Thursday sentenced to four years imprisonment each by a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for visa fraud.

The duo, both residents of Kabala Coastain, Kaduna, were charged with conspiracy, fraud and theft.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel held that both Ekhurorohan and Chinoso were guilty of defrauding Philip Adetutu and five other victims of N11. 6 million.

The magistrate did not give the convicts an option of fine.

He also ordered the convicts to restitute N2.1million each as compensation to the victims.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the convicts between March and Oct. 2022, in Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna, obtained N2.1million each from Adetutu and 5 other victims to procure a French, Australian and Malta visa/ tickets for them.

Leo said that after fraudulently collecting the money from the victims, the duo failed to fulfil their own part of the bargain and all efforts made to collect the money from them failed.

The offence, he said, contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Sports

IWD 2023: Fame Foundation calls for equality, better welfare for female athletes

124 total views today

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, the Executive Director of Fame Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Wednesday in Abuja called for equality and better welfare for women athletes in the country.

Ogunleye-Bello made the call during the annual football tournament organised by the foundation as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s event was tagged “Embrace Equity”.

Ogunleye-Bello urged Nigerians, especially the incoming administration, to look into the welfare of female athletes.

“As at today, female athletes do not get the support their male athletes get. It is sad and I think it is something that the incoming government or administration should look at.

“They should work together with relevant national sports federations to ensure that there is equality, and the welfare of female athletes is given top-notch attention,’’ she said.

The FAME Executive Director also pointed out that sports were an effective tool being used by the foundation to empower women.

“As we know, Nigeria is heterogenous in nature and the only thing that brings us together is sports.

“We have been Organising this annual tournament for the past five years and the idea is to bring women together to empower them, talk to them on issues surrounding sexual-based violence, leadership and more,’’ she said.

A total of eight teams took part in the competition, namely Team Bet9ja, Team Canada, Team FAME/AMAC, Team USA, Team East Africa, Team ASHWAN, Team ANFS and Team NAWOJ.

NAN reports that Team NAWOJ, which is from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, emerged winners of the competition after a series of matches played from 9 a.m. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=========
Edited by Olawale Alabi

Judiciary

Court remands 2 men for allegedly killing 2 brothers

148 total views today

By  Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan on Thursday ordered that two men,  Tedon Abdulraman, 30 and Umoru Amodu, 30, be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly killing two brothers.

The duo whose residential addresses were not provided were charged with conspiracy, murder and attempt to murder.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. A Enilolobo did not take the plea of the defendants for want in jurisdiction.

She directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

She adjourned the case until May 8 for mention.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Toyin Ibraheem told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on Feb. 3, at about 11. 00 a.m, at Iwere-Ile district, Ibadan.

Ibraheem alleged that the duo unlawfully killed Shuaibu Usman and his brother, Sheu Usman by shooting them.

He alleged that the defendants and others at large on the same date, time and place attempted to kill  Sani Usman, 35 and Haruna Sani, 30, by shooting them on the right leg and wrist.

He said the offences contravened Sections 516, 319 and 320 of the Criminal laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Joseph Edeh

Sports

IWD 2023: Women are getting more opportunities in sports, Dare says

148 total views today

By lieoma Okigbo

Sunday Dare, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, on Wednesday in Abuja said women in Nigeria are getting more opportunities in sports.

Dare said this during an event to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD), organised by the Fame Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

He said the narrative has since changed as it concerns women and opportunities in sports.

“First, let me congratulate all Nigerian women and young girls on the event of the IWD.

“This day that is set apart by global international organisations to recognise women validates the fact that women have moved up the ladder when it comes to different endeavours in life.

“More so, when it comes to sports, there is no longer any class ceiling and Nigeria is a good case. We went to the Olympics, the two people that brought us medals are female.

“The same was at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Ninety percent of the medals were won by our young girls who went there.

“So, I think that the narrative has since changed. You must pay attention to the women and I think that they are getting a better share.

“They’re getting better opportunities. The doors are opening for them. We just need more women and young girls to walk through that door,” Dare added.

The Minister, however, lauded Fame Foundation for organising the annual football tournament and called on more well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to replicate same for the empowerment of women.

This year’s edition of IWD is tagged “Embrace Equity”.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Olawale Alabi

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email