OCCASION ORGANIZED TO MARK THE ONE YEAR REMEMBRANCE OF FORMER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOR MR. JAMES OCHOYI CENTRED ON DISCUSSION OF ACTIVITIES OF BOKUHARAM INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

Political leaders had been advised to embrace the life of sacrifice and selflessness for the development of the country. This was the submission of the Honorable speaker at an event organized to mark one year remembrance for the former minister of state for labor MR. JAMES OCHOYI in Abuja.

A member representing Igala constituency of Kogi House of Assembly MR. FRIDAY SANI said the sacrificial wife of the late Minister saved the lives of men. According to MR. FRIDAY SANI  who was addressing in the event said that he wants to plead to the chief of the army staff to consider having military information about this BOKUHARAM groups in some part of country where they have operated and executed their plans. He said on a particular note starting from Kogi state, that they are all aware of the activities of these groups, of which the Nigerian Army were involved  in Lokoja making remarkable achievement by arresting some of them and discovered some ammunition like  that of BOKUHARAM Groups. And he said that is why they are pleading on the Chief of the Army staff to have the Army information, particularly in Kafachan, between Kaba and other area, and this is where they have noticed that there are large excess of forest where these Criminals are hiding.

Kogi state governor ALHJI AYA BELLO represented by his chief of Army staff MR. EDWARD OLOJA stated that the state government will receive the delivery of quality services to Kogi people as a commitment to ideas of good governance demonstrated by MR. JAME OCHOYI; according to the representative of the governor of the state ALHJI AYA BELLO stated clearly to them in the occasion that they have seen the activities of the AMESTY international as the one that is collaborating with BOKUHARAM; and as a matter of fact they have resolved as a commission to write to the department of the state security to begin a thorough investigation of any means between AMESTY International and BOKUHARAM Group. And they have noticed that right from the time when these war started, that AMESTY  had been on side of BOKUHARAM and also we have noticed that Nigerian Army had made remarkable efforts and successes that is very clear even to a blind man. And we have not seen AMESTY make a sentence or speech commending the Armed forces.

The occasion was use to launch a book entitled “The Seven Eclipse” while MR. EDWARD OLOJA invited DR.  DAN OGUN Who was in place alien of the late Minister;  DR.  DAN OGUN spoke on his motivation for writing the book. According to him, he said the book is taking remnant on the number of steps of BOKUHARAM Group that is on the run; primarily here that some of them had surrendered while many of them had been captured as well, as we speak, we continue to move them to some remarkable occasion to ensure that they are fished out and arrested. The event was attended by the members of the Federal Executive council, Professional Colleagues, Labor leaders and other well wishers.

NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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CURRENT OIL AND GAS SECTOR EVENTS OF MARINE CRAFT ACCIDENT AND PIPELINE VANDALISM IN NIGERIA

Five passengers had died during an road accident along the River known in Bayelsa state of Nigeria, the accident occurred between Angiama and Okpoma communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government of the state, when a marine Craft in which some oil and gas task force workers were travelling ran into a speed Boat resulting in death of some of the passengers.

The Police Public Relation officer of the Bayelsa state police command, MR. ASSINI BUTWAT confronts the incident. According to the Police Relation Officer who observed the incident identified each of the Craft by saying that the one belonging to the Okpoma Community, the other belonging to Oil and gas and the one with a commercial old diver comprises five persons involving in the accident.

In the same wing a marine craft convene somebody through Casmir escorting some persons capsized at Abroma, Rivers State across a filling station in a Multi-national oil company at the known River killing one person. Some riffles including Machine guns were lost and well known divers in the  area were contracted for the search of the missing military weapons in the river. They also died in the process of the search for the military lost weapons.

Also the National Oil Explore Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have called for concentrated efforts by Civil Society Organizations to stem the tide of pipeline vandalism for a safe of violent in the Niger –Delta region. The Director General of NOESDRA SIR PETER IDAHU made the call by the delegation of the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development visited the agency in Abuja. According to SIR PETER IDAHU, efforts by the federal government in restoring Niger-Delta region should be emulated by chief stakeholders to effective awareness creation. According to SIR PETER IDAHU who said that one of the major occurrence problem in the area is the vandalism of oil pipe lines, and also they are creating an avenue for the oil companies to hide under. If the Pipe lines are not caused by their own faults; they are more relaxed, but if it is by the equipment failure or coercion, they host to queuing because of the liabilities they hold to pay as a result of the damages they caused. So, they have done a very good meeting. So we expect to consolidate the collaboration in the future and even to add more civil society groups so that it would be more effective in the long run.

 The Regime of NOSDRA also noted that the agency and the federal government will continue to work with the interested partners and the PINA OF OGONI LAND to achieve a friendlier environment. The executive Director for the African Centre for leadership Strategy and Development DR. OTIBE IBUZO said that it became necessary for the centre to explore areas of mutual interest with NOSDRA in order to find a lasting solution in the problem of Niger –Delta People. According to DR. OTIBE IBUZO who said that NOSDRA is the key government regulatory agency in the oil and gas sector; they  are particularly happy by the way they receive NOSDRA to see how they can collaborate to ensure that the clean up exercise is successful especially how the Niger-Delta release key to makes sure government does its work of regulation to prevent  reoccurrence to what had led to the clean up.

DR. OTIBE IBUZO also expressed the total commitment of cost in the Niger-Delta in the area and urged the federal government to work seriously to meet the desire of the people in the area.

NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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OVER 5 BILLION NAIRA IS ESTIMATED FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RUN WAYS OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ABUJA NIGERIA.

Over 5 Billion Naira is to be expended for the reconstruction of the Run ways of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. The Minister for state for Aviation ALHJI HADIS LIKA made this known in Abuja as a joint news briefing on the official closure of the Airport on the reconstruction works.

According to the correspondent reporter of the incident who said that the minister of transportation, information and culture as well as the Inspector General of Police was part of the briefing. The minister of state for Aviation ALHJI HADIS LIKA said although as at the time of News briefing; he was not furnished with the exact amount to be expended for the reconstruction of the run ways. Analysis made so far indicated that the project would gulp about 5 Billion Naira or more.

 ALHJI HADIS LIKA said that the reconstruction of the Runways of the Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Airport became necessary because it had been ignored as about 30 years. According to ALHJI HADIS LIKA, he said that it needs proper maintenance.

The Minister of state for Aviation told Journalist that arrangements had been concluded with the Ethiopian Airlines to operate on Kaduna International Airport which would serve as an alternative for the next six weeks; while thugs are in progress with LUFTHANSA and TURKISH Airline.

Also the minister of Transportation MR. ROTIMI AMECHI said the ministry had kept his promise of not going to compromise the safety of the people; also the minister of information and Culture ALHJI LAI MOHAMMED reconfirm the official closing date of the NNAMDI AZIKIWE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, according to him, he said that the Air port will be shut from the midnight of Wednesday 8th March 2017 for the purpose stated earlier; during that time Abuja flight would have been on.

Also For the inspector General of police IBRAHIM IDRIS there is no problem at all for those who are going to travel Abuja - Kaduna Road to catch their flights. According to the inspector general of Police who said that where the ill being excessive order department reach; they have the force animals to be in charge of bus, they have the concentrate rate the city, they have the general police force. They have the air wing who owns the territory complex and all this units of Nigerian Police force are prepared fully on ground. Inspector General of Police appealed to the citizens to ensure fully corporation with the officers and men of the force deployed for this important National Assignment.

NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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CURRENT AVIATION AND POLITICAL EVENTS IN NIGERIA

The Nigerian Air Space Management Agency (NAMA) had sent a message to all air space users around the world that the Kaduna Airport is safe for all types of flight operations out of the calibration of its allegation of facilities in a chat with the port authorities in Lagos, the directors of safety lecturing in Engineering services NAMA MR. FARUK UMAR said the facilities are performing at the optimum capacities and ready for all voluminous flight.

According to the correspondent reporter of the incident who said that ahead of the March Air closure of the Abuja Airport; and in a bit to ensure accuracy and efficiency of facilities at the Kaduna Air port. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has rounded off the routine calibration of the navigation of facilities, calibration which is to ensure the reliabilities of the signals sent to Air craft was handled by the foreign firm sent from the United Kingdom in collaboration with the NAMA Engineers. To this end, the agency had disseminated the information through notice to airmen local and to all airlines both foreign and local of the development. The director safety Electronics and Engineering Services NAMA, MR. FARUK UMAR said that the air Port is ready for use, according to the director who specified that the airport is on full with component and allocation of equipment needed for air services; and now Kaduna is safe for all caliber of flights and all manner of traffic.

Also MR. FARUK UMAR explained that a similar routine exercise would also extend to Kano, Kastina, Sokoto and Bauchi State Air Port in Nigeria. Others include Lagos and Port Harcourt internationals Airport. According to MR. FARUK UMAR who again specified that just as they have finished Kaduna, they still have eight Airports to tackle in Nigeria for the first phase while other Airports will follow later. He said that they look to make sure that the reliability and integrity of their equipments are well maintained at all time in line with Akai and some of the other practices. Some of the facilities commissioned for the exercise include: the instrument Lander system, Distant Measuring Equipment, Very High Omni Directional Radio Range and Non Directional Beacon.

Another issue is in the political arena of Nigeria, the national chairman of the labor party MR. ABDULKADO ABDUL SALLAM had described allegations misappropriation leveled against leadership of the party by some of the aggrieved members as basis unjustified and politically motivated, MR. ABDUL SALLAM stated this in an exclusive interview with Newsmen in Abuja. According to the National Chairman, their due protest was sponsored by a Senator once defect from the party.

MR. ABDUL SALLAM also reports that gaining grounds that he and some of the executive members of the party had been relieved of their positions. He said that their decision was very clear, that they only relieve some of the party by suspending or relieve from office or elevate on no confident by the segregation of a national convention; so person to come and tell that he had been removed by them and there is misappropriation tendency, I am not part of it, he said.

Still on the allegation Misappropriation of Fund, MR. ABDUL SALLAM stressed that the parties that counts on the 2015 had been sent to Auditors to ensure transparency in their dealings. According to MR. ABDUL SALLAM who said that they have the accounts department there, and they have their financial procedure and they are vary in law as well as submitted their Audited financial account on 2015 to Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). Even their Auditors, all the papers of 2016, they are working on them at the moment.

The Labor party Chairman also showed members that the leadership of the party

will continue to make the party more strong and vibrant opposition in the country; also talking polity and National Working Committee (WUC) of the people Democratic Party (PDP); and the party’s National Chairman ALHJI ALIMODU SHERIFF had pledged the commitment to the reconciliation process. Being championed by the former Chairman GOODLUCK JONATHAN; in a statement by the country’s National Secretary PROFFESSOR WALE OLADIKPO, the PDP commenced the party’s governor’s forum for accepting political solution to the leadership crises working the party. The National Working Committee NWC calls on all staff of the national secretariat to resume duties immediately, the National Working Committee NWC also commend the PDP National Chairman ALHJI ALIMODU SHERIFF for the suit renovation of the national secretariat.

On the Other Hand the aggrieved President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Nigeria COMRADE UNDNZE OLADE said that the people of the Niger- Delta must do everything possible to sustain the current peace being enjoyed in the region. Addressing the news in Yeneagoa Bayelsa state Nigeria to mark the end of his three years tenure in the office, MR. OLADE said that the reason positive posture of the federal government and the commitment to the establishment of the Marital University in Okere Nkwoko had built more confident in the people of all rich regions. The Ijaw Youth leaders said the machineries were being put in place for National convention to elect new officers, urged government to recognize the face of the Niger-Delta People in the social economic development of the country. According to MR. OLADE who said that the university had come to stay and other things are following the trend; he said over six months now they have argued of running bombs irremediably and it is as a result of our collective efforts and he said to the IYC President that he wants to see peaceful Niger-Delta, and he said that their people are educated, economically engaged and politically participating. MR. OLADE advised members of IYC to maintain peace during the forth coming National convention and election of new officers for the body.

 NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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CURRENT INFRASTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND HEALTH SECTOR EVENTS TO ERADICATE LASSA FEVER IN EBONYI STATE NIGERIA

A National Housing Mobile to suit the Council and climatic Diversity of the six Geo Political zones in the choice of House files; had been developed by the government. The minister of state for power, works and housing ALHJI MUSTAPHA SHEURI announced to this at the inauguration of the housing project constructed by the Federal Mortgage bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Ebonyi state government .

According to the correspondent reporter of this incident who specified that Ebonyi state government entered into agreement with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 2005 to provide 240 housing units for its work force. The project which was sited at the Amaike eziala mill in  Ezzamgbo local government area of Ebonyi state was a minute at the cost of 422 million Naira, 12 years stand along the line only 72 housing units were to be cost of 411 million Naira, ALHAJI BABA SHEURI explained that the federal ministry of power, works and housing will continue to strive to ensure that the challenge of Housing deficit in Nigeria which stood at the 17 million unit are surmounted, according to ALHAJI BABA SHEURI who said that adherence to the northern Nigerian content in standardization policy which transfers its available housing to Nigerians.

Also Governor DAVID UMAR explained that the completed units had been allocated to some civil and public servants in the state, as owners on five bases and urged the Federal Mortgage bank to fast track the conclusion of the 168 units. Governor DAVID UMAR emphasized that the state government would re-negotiate with the bank on how to settle with the interest rate of the fund injected in to the project, given the time due for some of the units to be completed. He said that they have to give out the days of construction period because if they leave interest for ten years advance, there is no civil servant that can afford it. And all the operators in the project should know that they have 116 million injected and they have to recover the money from the occupants.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the government for it’s posted to hand over the completed housing units. According to one of the beneficiaries who said that at this time of economic recession and high cost of accommodation, she thinks it inevitable for them to afford the demands based on payment rate. Other beneficiaries however called for provision of basic infrastructure such as water, light and power pulled to make life better and more meaningful in the estate.

On the other hand, the Ebonyi state government says that it had recorded the first case of Lassa fever since the virus was discovered in Nigeria in 1969. Briefing the newsmen in Maiduguri the state commissioner for health DR. HALUNA OSHELIA said that the case was confirmed from a 32years old woman in Jeri Local government area of the state. According to DR. HALUNA OSHELIA who said that they took samples to conduct test and make sure that she had not developed accumulative virus disease of which Lassa fever is one; the samples put some kind that they got the result from Lagos that she was suffering from Lassa fever. And luckily for her, the diagnosis that was instituted had worked and she is very ok now. But she is being monitored to make sure that her recovering is complete. DR. HALUNA OSHELIA also said that several Nigerian had been warned to prevent the spread of the disease. He said looking at our relation; all of them are healthy and ok but this disease can take between 2 to 21 days to develop, so we will not stop following them up until it is being disfigured, and whoever the victim had come in contact with we have join hands to monitor and follow them up in order to stop the spread of the virus. The commissioner called on the public to always ensure proper personal and environmental hygiene to get rid of rodents in the houses.

NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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EFFORTS TO TREAT PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS VIRUS IN NIGERIA

Now to help matters, stakeholders in the health sector of Nigerian Economy had converged in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, for the dissemination of the national guidelines for HIV prevention treatment and care. The guidelines focus on persons living with HIV on treatment.

According to the correspondent reporter of the Program who said that the federal government on the December 2016 launched National Guidelines for HIV Prevention Treatment and care to fast track plan of action towards achieving 1990 target as well as curb the spread of the deadly AIDS Virus in the country. At the event, the Chief Executive officer Institute of Human Geology in Nigeria DR. PATRICK DAKU said the dissemination was to ensure availability of the New treatment at all levels. According to DR. PATRICK who specified that in the past once one is to test for HIV, there is need to take your blood for test and once you are positive, there is need to commence treatment immediately. But the science community led by the World Health Organization (WHO), had already discovered over two years ago that we should cast one and find one positive, that there should be commencement of treatment immediately. And he said that this practice reduces the risk of complications as one moves on with the therapy.

Also the national Coordinator, National AIDS and Standard Transmitted Fight control program ministry of health DR. SUNDAY ABODE observed that new guideline will address the issue of the treatment failure. According to DR. SUNDAY ABODE who also said that the HIV Virus is such that mutates often and as it changes, it is developing resistance to the drugs; so in the best of the practice we still have very few percentage of population that would fail therapy and those that will fail therapy second line therapy had not been taken care off in any of their guideline, but in the new guideline, they are being taken care off.

A member Network of persons living with HIV /AIDS in Nigeria MR. TUNDE OBADAKPO expressed concern over the implementation of the guidelines. According to the MR. TUNDE OBADAKPO who said that they cannot handle the logistics, and according to him that means that they cannot do cost and treat at the same time. And that is a big challenge for them in the country. And he said that some thought that  even in small organization like his own he will think for his staff, this is where you see people giving excuses that are not acceptable, why the excuses? Because of the burden of HIV,  MR. TUNDE OBADAKPO also advocated for treatment of persons living with HIV Virus, addressing the issues of the organization and commencing the engagement of the guidelines.

NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

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CURRENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EVENTS IN NIGERIA

Delta State commissioner for information PATRICK UKAH had given an assurance that the permanent secretarial of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) will be ready for inauguration soon. MR. UKAH who stated this when he paid an inspection visit to the project site expressed satisfaction with the pace of work. He commended Governor IFEANYI OKOWA for releasing funds for the conclusion of the project and assured Journalist of continue to work corporation of the government in providing conducive atmosphere for them to perform their duties.

The federal government had alleged the fear over the state of health of PRESIDENT MOHAMMADU BUHARI ; insisting that there is no course for alarm, the Minister for information and culture ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED cleared the air about the president’s health at the town home meeting Umuahia, Abia State in Nigeria organized by his ministry. Answering questions from a participant argued that they should regularly pursue Nigerians about the state of health of the MR. PRESIDENT in London. ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED said that, that would have been necessary if MR. PRESIDENT were in critical situation. According to him He also specified that he can comfortably stay in their midst to declare to them that there is absolutely no course to alarm concerning the issue of MR. PRESIDENT. He also said that MR. PRESIDENT called him at 02:43 pm on Saturday being 27th of February 2017 and he also said that MR. PRESIDENT is neither critically ill nor in the Hospital, that He is saying that with assurance because he spoke with him for hours. The Minister for Information and Culture also urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for the successful vacation of MR. PRESIDENT abroad.

The Minister of Labor and empowerment DR. CHRIS NGIGE, provided an access to the implementation of the earn power program to enhance youths empowerment. According to DR. CHRIS NGIGI who said that the scheme was meant for 500 thousand  persons scheme but as of the moment they are taking 200 thousand persons while there are deficit of 300 thousand persons to supplement the scheme and the empower is the one that had not taking off because they are still harmonizing their relationship with the state governments and federal centers where these people would be taught the skills, according to him  about 50,000 persons are not common to this particular program. And he said that they are doing that as well as getting consumable for their teachings.

The minister for Agriculture CHIEF AWUDU OGBE assured Nigerians that government had wake up modalities to solve the problem between herdsmen and farmers in the country. According to CHIEF OGBE, he said that the president had set up a committee head by GENERAL NZE from Enugu State who is working on the machinery controlling the development and responsibilities of the herdsmen because as a farmer, nothing can be more offensive as arriving at my farm to discover that my crops are being destroyed. So, in the interim and mostly on behalf of the government he apologizes to all who had been victims of the herdsmen and had suffered the ordeal but we had to bring it to a stop. Also according to the correspondent reporter of this incident who also said that five ministers featured at the town hall meeting.

There are plans to reform the public service into a world class institution by the year 2030, the minister of state for budget and national planning HAJIA BELLO AHMED made this know at the one day stakeholder’s Forum on national strategy on public service reform in line with the current administration’s Manifesto. HAJIA BELLO AHMED said the reform host to destroy professionalism in the entire ministry, departmental Agencies by next year. Also a consultant and a facilitator MR. CHARLES OKATA said 13 years is a long time to put things in order, but a public servant had to be carried along in every way possible, according to MR. OKATA who also said that we have degenerated from the various angles including human capital, in politics and it is important the recognition of the problem is the step to the solution; it is good that we have realized that they have decayed. As we are trying to do something, let us be fast about it, 13 years from now is a long time, we can put things together in the next 2,3,4 or 5 years if we are serious about it.  MR. OKATA also expressed that there were chances for the public service to become a valued based and strong institution. According to him, he also said that if re-orientation starts from the civil service and the human resource then believe we need a change, once the political will and willingness is there, than it is very possible to execute the plan, according to him he said that it is a matter of doing things right and doing the right things, that is the different between efficiency and effectiveness. So if we decide on our own as Nigerians that it is time for us to move forward. We would achieve the world class status; there is nothing new under the sun.

The director general of budgets MR.  BEN AKABUEZE said the issue of budget could not be ruled out of the reform process of public service in its implementation stage; according to MR.  BEN AKABUEZE he said that in the processes of implementation stage, we should divide interest 100% in the implementation as part of our pursuit and timely approval, timely measurement; timely reporting ultimately as the budgets emits to an end. We should understand that budget is a critical instrument; it drives social and economic development in the country. MR.  BEN AKABUEZE also said that the National strategy of public service Reform was a responsibility of every Nigerian and not just statistics of the ministry of Budget and National planning of the Bureau of the public service.

NEWS REPORTER: ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD

CONTACT: +2348186388641