NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

All posts by Felix Ajide

Health

Covid-19: VSF to disburse food, drugs worth N1bn to IDPs, vulnerable groups

Covid-19: VSF to disburse food, drugs worth N1bn to IDPs, vulnerable groups

Covid-19

By Justina Auta

Abuja, April 1, 2020 (NAN) Victims Support Fund (VSF), a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), has set up a task forcec on COVID-19 to disburse food and drugs worth N1 billion to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups across the country.

The Chairman of the organisation, Gen. T.Y Danjuma (Rtd), disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Danjuma said the inauguration of the VSF Task Force on COVID-19, was neccessaited by the need to provide palliative measures to IDPs and other vulnerable groups around the country, as part of its contribution to national efforts to fight COVID-19.

“The intervention became necessary in view of the global devastation of the Coronavirus pandemic and the huge human challenges it poses for the country.

“As a country, we must all do what we can to ensure that the spread is curtailed.

“The Taskforce will provide one billion Naira worth of medical supplies, food, water and non-food items for IDPs and others, who will face special challenges at this difficult time,” he said.

According to him, the task force will work closely with all Federal and State government organs and agencies tasked with the responsibility for providing direction and leadership in the fight against COVID-19, including the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and all relevant MDAs.

” I urge the committee to embark on massive sensitisation campaigns amongst vulnerable groups to inform and educate them on the best hygiene and sanitation practices in order to prevent the further spread of the disease.”

He further said that the task force will also extend support to other frontline organisations working to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee will be chaired by Mrs Toyosi-Akerele Ogunsuji, while Dr Bulama Mali Gubio, Mr John Gana, Mr Sunday Oibe, Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir and Prof Sunday Ochoche as members. (NAN)

JAD/AFA

========

Edited by Felix Ajide

 

Metro

NIEEE tasks stakeholders on solution to poor electricity supply

NIEEE tasks stakeholders on solution to poor electricity supply

Electricity
By Jessica Dogo
Abuja, March 14, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, has stressed the need for stakeholders to address electricity challenges holistically from all angles.

The National Chairman, NIEEE, Mr. Kings Adeyemi, said this on Saturday during the Ceremonial Investiture of Mr. Ikechukwu Amalu as the 7th Chairman of the Association, Abuja Chapter.

According to him, the nation’s major challenge was the poor level of electricity supply across the country.

Adeyemi said that the matter needed to be addressed holistically from all angles of the industry.

“From the government point of view, from the regulatory, from operators and even individuals in the industry.

“We are campaigning for people to have solar systems no matter how small it may be, we are taking the matter to the rural area, very soon we are going to meet the Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria.

“We have already submitted our position papers to the governors’ forum, we have made our position known to the National Economic Council on this matter,” he said.

The National Chairman said that one of the greatest achievements the association has made was the Electricity Industry, popularly known as Cab 106, which has been in existence for over 20 years.

“The industry was developed by us, not only that, the creation of these electrical related agencies, we are instrumental to that and we have not given up, ” Adeyemi said.

The Outgoing Chairman of NIEEE, Mr. Felix Olu, said that the association would introduce the need for everybody involved in security management to give a good place for the country’s communication systems.

Olu called on the newly inaugurated executive to look out for the engineering structures within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), so that residents would receive better services.

“We know that with this, we can do better with the security situation in the country.

“If a company has done well we will commend it publicly and if they do not do well, we will take snapshots, get our data and take action.

“If there are things that need maintenance and they are not receiving attention on time, we want to talk about them so that the environment and citizens can be better serviced,” he said.

On his path, the new FCT Chairman, NIEEE, Mr. Amalu, said that one of the key things targeted for engineers was provisional development and welfare of the members of the association.

“We have embarked on a lot of training for our engineers over the years, we conducted at least three local and national trainings every year but for my tenure, I have earmarked that we have four to five trainings every year.

“This will help us to build ourselves. As a professional body we feel the need to build ourselves by giving priority to our own profession. We have a lot of experienced engineers in our team.

“We felicitate with you at all times not only when you are rejoicing. We do a lot of school career talks. We have one coming up soon.

“We use this as an opportunity to make sure that we don’t loose track of those coming after us,” he said.

He said that for the first time, the association would have an international industrial visit coming up in June this year, so that they can leverage on advancement technology as part of its lined up programmes.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the event was a presentation of merit awards for dedication and hardwork to 21 members of the association. (NAN)
JEZ/AFA
=======

Edited by Felix Ajide

 

General news

Emir of Gumel turbans former NDA commandant

Emir of Gumel turbans former NDA commandant

Turbaning
By Nabilu Balarabe
Gumel (Jigawa), March 14, 2020 (NAN) The Emir of Gumel in Jigawa, Alhaji Ahmed Sani, on Saturday turbaned Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Ibrahim (Rtd), a former Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA) Commandant, as the Garkuwa of Gumel.

Speaking at the occasion in Gumel, Sani said the appointment was based on Ibrahim’s meritorious and selfless service to the country.

He, therefore, urged the appointee to sustain his service delivery to humanity and become a good ambassador of Gumel and the state.

He advised Ibrahim to be always loyal to the emirate council and avoid acts capable of tarnishing its good image.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ibrahim was born on October 1, 1961 in Gumel.

He was appointed the 27th Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA) commandant in July 2015 and served the academy in that capacity from Aug. 2015 to Oct. 2017.

He joined the NDA in 1981 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1983.

Ibrahim is currently the Chairman, Mohammed Tasiu Foundation, which provides various educational support to primary schools pupils in Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna state.(NAN)

NB/AFA

======

Edited by Felix Ajide

 

General news

Makinde appoints Special Adviser on Infrastructure

Appointment

By David Adeoye

Ibadan, March 12, 2020(NAN) The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has approved the appointment of Mr Simiyu Adepoju as his Special Adviser on Infrastructure.

This is contained in a statement signed and issued on Thursday in Ibadan by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Mr Moses Alao.

According to the statement, the appointment, which took effect from March 9, was communicated through a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun.

“Prior to his appointment, Adepoju, a corporate member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and registered member of COREN, has built a career for himself in Civil Engineering, with a broad-based experience in structures, drainage, water supply, irrigation, highway, transportation and flood studies.

“He worked as engineer, senior engineer, principal engineer and engineering director as well as consultant in different engineering companies on a wide range of projects across Nigeria.

“Adepoju, a graduate of Civil Engineering from the University of Ibadan, has been involved in several projects, including providing engineering consultancy services on the construction of Igbeti-Ogbomoso Road; Oshodi Transport Interchange; reconstruction/upgrading of Oshodi-Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road; Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and VGC Flood Control Project, among others.

“His career in Civil Engineering has seen him work in different companies and institutions including Prize Engineering Consultants Limited; Intecon Partnership Limited; Allot (Nigeria) Limited, Lagos; Ove Arup and Partners, Nigeria; Oso Associates Consulting Engineers, Ibadan, as well as The Polytechnic, Ibadan, among others.

” Adepoju, who until his appointment, was the Engineering Head of Prize Engineering Consultants Limited, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the infrastructure development drive of Oyo State.” the statement read.(NAN)

DAK/AFA
=======

Edited by Felix Ajide

 

 

Sport

Portugal investigates football money laundering, house of Spain’s Casillas targeted

Portugal investigates football money laundering, house of Spain’s Casillas targeted

Laundering

Lisbon, March 4, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Portuguese authorities searched the house of Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning captain Iker Casillas on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and tax fraud in the world of football.

Public prosecutors said authorities, including nearly 200 police officers, carried out 76 searches across the country at houses, football clubs, lawyers and agents’ offices.

In a statement shared on Twitter, Casillas said he is “absolutely calm” with respect to the investigations and has “full confidence” in the Portuguese justice system.

Casillas wishes that “transparency reaches everyone and every corner of football,” the statement read.

The operation, named Out of Play, is investigating alleged tax avoidance in the football business from 2015 onwards.

According to the prosecutors, those involved allegedly dodged payments of tax owed to the Portuguese state.

Casillas, who led Spain to win Euro 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2010 World Cup, suffered a heart attack in May while training with current club Porto, and has not played since. He returned to training in November.

Portugal’s biggest football clubs, including Porto, have already reacted to the investigation. Porto confirmed the club has been the target of searches and will collaborate with the investigation.

Last month Casillas announced he would run for president of the Spanish Football Federation when elections are called later this year.(Reuters/NAN)

STJ/AFA

=======

Edited by Felix Ajide