Abuja
Nigeria mulls exit from some International organisations – minister
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Godfrey Onyeama, says plans are underway to reduce the number of International Organisations Nigeria belongs to because of paucity of funds. Onyeama made this known while defending the ministry’s 2021 budget at the House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja. He said that the ministry is faced with a challenge of meeting its contribution to those International organisations. “We are owing a lot, and in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), there is a process to rationalise and cut down on the International Organisations we belong to. “This is because we are just owing monies left and right and it is not even good for the image of the country,” he said. Onyeama, who decried the poor funding of the ministry, reeled out the challenges facing the 2021 budget...
Cancer Care: Consultant backs Nigerian government on palliative care, Chemosafe policies
Dr Isreal Kolawole, a Consultant Anesthetic and Palliative Care Clinician, on Tuesday commended the Federal Government’s review of the National Palliative Care and Chemosafe Policies. Kolawale, a consultant at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, told newsmen in Abuja, that the review would eliminate cancer patients’ challenges in Nigeria. Newsmen recall that the Federal Ministry of Health and stakeholders in the health sector reviewed the policies during the Cancer week, which held from Oct. 26 to Oct. 30. Palliative Care Policy has to do with cancer patients in critical conditions, while Chemosafe Policy has to do with the safe administration of medicine to cancer patients. The consultant described the review of the palliative care policy as a welcome development that would aid th...
APC says it won’t trade words with PDP on national security
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will not trade words with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its plot to score selfish and insensitive political gains from issues of national security. Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. The statement is in reaction to recent comments by the PDP on the swift operation by the United States to rescue its citizens held hostage by some bandits in Nigeria. The PDP, in an earlier statement by Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, said that the development confirmed that the APC-led Federal Government could not secure the territorial integrity of the country. He also said that the development further confirms that the Buhari-led admi...
#EndSARS: Groups embark on reconciliatory visit to affected states
African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), an NGO, in Collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Mentoring Corp (NidMeCorp) have began nationwide reconciliatory visits to some states affected by the EndSARS protest. Founder of the foundation, Mr Noah Dallaji made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Dallaji said that the visit was for the sake of nation and collective wellbeing and to avoid further damage to lives and properties. He said the group visited to Lagos State due to the Lekki Tollgate incidents and met with various groups to find a lasting solution to the issues that were played up as aftermath of the #Endsars protest. He also said that the group met with stakeholders in the entertainment industry focusing on social media influencers to with vario...
NiMet predicts hazy, sunny weather activities Monday to Wednesday
Facebook Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted hazy, sunny weather activities from Monday to Wednesday across the country. NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday predicted dust haze conditions over the northern region with a moderate visibility range of 2KM to 5KM throughout the forecast period on Monday. According to it, the North central region is expected to be in sunny and hazy condition throughout the forecast period. “The inland and coastal cities of the South are expected to be in partly cloudy to cloudy condition with slim prospects of thunderstorms over Rivers, Cross River, Eket and Bayelsa in the morning hours. “There are prospects of few thunderstorms over parts of Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta, Awka, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Benin and Lagos state during the a...
Senate faults minister for blaming legislature for bad roads
The Senate has described as, “fallacy of the highest order,” a statement credited to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on the state of Nigerian roads. Fashola, according to the red chamber, had alleged that the National Assembly members should be held responsible for the poor state of the federal roads in Benue State. The upper chamber accused the Minister of trying to incite members of the public against the federal lawmakers by his allegation. The Senate stated this in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, titled, “Senate debunks Minister’s claim on budgetary allocations to road construction,” issued in Abuja on Sunday. The red chamber said it took exception to the statement credited to Fashola, that the National Assembly should be held respon...
Minister condemns destruction of medical equipment in Kogi
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has condemned the destruction by hoodlums of medical equipment worth billions of naira at the Central Medical Store in Kogi. Aliyu, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austine Elemue, on Friday in Abuja, described the hoodlums as “enemies of the state”. She called on the state government to remain resolute and not be deterred by the unfortunate incident. “Government must remain resolute and be focused on repositioning the health sector for efficient service delivery,” she said. While acknowledging that the destruction was enormous, she expressed the hope that the state would bounce back better and stronger. “My heart broke when I saw the wanton destruction on our essential drugs warehouse by hoodlums. “I was particularly p...
Water Resources Bill: Minister decries misinformation of Nigerians
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has said that Nigerians are being misinformed about the Water Resources Control Bill. The minister made the statement while interfacing with the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources in Abuja, following the public outcry that trailed the passage of the bill. Newsmen recall that sequel to a motion of personal explanation by Rep. Benjamin Mzondu (PDP-Benue) the house withdrew the bill which had already been passed on the grounds that it was not gazetted. The minister recalled that the bill was presented in the 8th Assembly and there was a two-day public hearing with Rep. Aliyu Ahman-Pategi as chairman. According to him, there was no issue at all until some unpatriotic Nigerians gave bad and dangerous colouration, and tried t...
NAHCON mourns President of Hajj operators
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed shock over the death of Alhaji Salihu Butu, Acting President, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON). NAHCON Executive Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said this in a statement by the commission’s Head, Public Affairs, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Friday in Abuja. Hassan said that the deceased demonstrated admirable leadership qualities during his life time, adding that NAHCON benefitted much from his wealth of experience. “Butu was always supportive of NAHCON’s policies that were in the best interest of the pilgrims, the nation and tour operators,” he said. The NAHCON boss said that the deceased would be remembered as an astute Hajj manager, who earned numerous awards in the course of his career. ” It is with hea...
NIMASA: Maritime sector can generate $1.6 trillion annually if properly harnessed
The maritime sector has the capacity to generate more than 1.6 trillion dollars annually if properly harnessed, Mr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has said. Jamoh stated this on Wedneday while delivering a lecture on Maritime Security and National Development in Nigeria at the National Defence College, Abuja. “The maritime sector can generate not less than 1.6trillion dollars if we can properly harness all the investment opportunities and have foreign investors come and assist in the development. “Development in the shipping sector requires good planning. This is the right time we have to start planning. “With the estimated revenue per annum in the maritime sector, it can provide 30 times what the oil industry can provide. “That ...
President Buhari, General Danjuma meet at Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met with a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.). The meeting held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, took place after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President. The agenda of the meeting between the two leaders was not made public. Danjuma did not speak with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting. President Muhammadu Buhari meets with former Minister of Defence, Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd) earlier at the State House, Abuja. pic.twitter.com/eCOM8qhqze — Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) October 28, 2020 The Presidency has yet to release a statement on the meeting as of the time of filing this report. The meeting was however held about two days after the National Chri...
FCT minister condemns looting, assures residents of safety
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has condemned the looting of warehouses at the Idu Industrial Layout, Gwagwalada, and other areas within the territory by hoodlums in search of COVID-19 palliatives. He assured the residents of maximum security. Bello gave the assurances when he led the FCT Security Task Force, comprising the FCT Commissioner of Police and heads of various security agencies to assess the level of destructions by hoodlums at Idu Industrial Layout. He also assured of FCT Administration’s commitment to work with relevant stakeholders to provide adequate security, especially at the Idu industrial zone. The minister said, “For the last few hours, we have been going around the Idu Industrial Layout of FCT together with Abuja branch Chairman, Ma...
