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Global confab on investigative journalism opens in Hamburg

By Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Journalism
Hamburg (Germany), Sept. 26, 2019 (NAN) The 11th Edition of Global Investigative  Journalism Conference, tagged GIJC19, has opened in Hamburg, Germany.

Welcoming delegates to the conference,  the Executive Director of Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), Mr David Kaplan, said it was designed to sharpen the skills of more journalists in promoting  accountability and good governance across the world.

Kaplan noted that there was a “growing global backlash against human rights, democracy and an independent press.

“Even in countries where we thought our colleagues were relatively secure, the news media is under serious assault”.

According to him, watchdog reporting is as essential to society as good healthcare, honest cops and a level playing field for businesses to thrive.

He expressed pleasure with the growing popularity of investigative and/or citizen journalism.

The executive director then enjoined the delegates not to be deterred with various threats to their patriotic course.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no less than 1800 journalists from across the world are participating in the 4-day conference, including Africa with Nigeria leading in number.

Other African countries attending the forum are Niger, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Over 400 pitches and proposals as well as 450 fellows from developing and transitioning countries are featuring at the conference.

Similarly, 250 panels, workshops, 14 networking sessions and special events has been mapped out for the delegates. (NAN)
MST/IFY

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Defence/Security

Why we got into trouble in 2019 elections – Army

By Desmond Ejibas
Army
Port Harcourt, June 16, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Army has said that it incurred the anger of policticians becquae it refused to compromise the integrity of the 2019 General Elections due to its belief in the nation’s democracy.

The army said it also acted in the best interest of the country by assisting the police in the elections.

Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Port Harcourt, disclosed this while receiving two individual Awards of Excellence at the divisional headquarters on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two youth groups: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Youth Council, and the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, presented the awards.

According to Sarham, the elections in Rivers offered a unique experience to which the army satisfactorily carried out its responsibilities.

“The 2019 general elections which the division acted in aid of Nigerian police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offered the army a unique experience.

“This is because some subversive elements tried, but failed to cause the division to compromise the integrity of the polls.

“Their failure was due to the resilience and doggedness of our personnel, whom some of them, unfortunately paid the supreme price in defence of our democracy,”  he said.

Sarham said the awards were recognition that some groups and individuals had closely monitored the elections as well as independently verified activities of the army.

“Among the groups are the ECOWAS Youth Council and the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria which are presenting these awards.

“I have been made to understand that there are many more similar organisations that are also processing their request (award) through the Army Headquarters,” he said.

The GOC said the recognition wouldn’t have been possible without the support and guidance of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai,and troops of the division.

He dedicated the awards to soldiers who lost their lives while assisting the police in the elections.

Earlier, the Director of Cabinet, ECOWAS Youth Council, who presented the ECOWAS award, commended the GOC for his professionalism to the nation’s security architecture.

“We also thank you (Sarham) for promoting peace and nation building. We believe that if Nigeria gets it right, Africa will also get it right,” he said.

On his part, Dr Isa Abubakar, President of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, said that Sarham provided effective leadership and contributed positively to the concluded elections in Rivers. (NAN)
DES/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

JAMB sets for 2019 UTME

Examination
By Veronica Dariya
Bwari (Abuja), Feb. 11, 2019 (NAN) The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday said that it was fully prepared for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board made this known in its weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to the report, the board concluded preparation following the Governing Board’s consideration of all items on the checklist of the board in preparation to the 2019 UTME, among others.

This, it said was presented to the Governing Board at its meeting, which held on Feb. 6.

The report quoted the Chairman of the Board, Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe, as saying that: “We have looked at all preliminary procedures and have come to the conclusion that if the board wants to conduct examination today, it can do so successfully without hitches.”

It added that the board analyzed the progress made in the registration exercise, centre accreditation, revalidation and a link test of all the Computer-Based Test Centres (CBT) to ascertain their functionality as claimed by the CBT centre owners.

The Governing Board commended the various organs of the board for the early preparations of the examination, which is scheduled to be conducted in March.

Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Board, had earlier presented the reports of the various committees to the Governing Board which were duly approved after extensive deliberations.

NAN reports that JAMB commenced the 2019 UTME online registration in its CBT centres across the country on Jan. 10 and would end Feb. 21.

The 2019 UTME is scheduled to commence on March 16. (NAN)
DVK/HS/IS
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Edited by Halima Sheji/Ismail Abdulaziz

Politics

2019: Atiku signs Peace Accord

2019: Atiku signs Peace Accord
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Atiku
Abuja, Dec. 12, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, has signed the Peace Accord.
The former Vice President signed the Peace Accord at the Kukah Centre on Wednesday in Abuja.
Atiku used the occassion to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the Electoral Act Amendment Bill ahead of the 2019 general election.
The PDP presidential candidate had earlier said that he could not make it to the signing of the document by the presidential candidates of other political parties on Tuesday because he did not get an invitation for the event.
He, however, expressed delight that Buhari agreed to sign the peace accord alongside other presidential candidates.
“I am delighted that the President has agreed to sign this peace accord, but we want to appeal to him to also sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
“Mr President needs to understand that as long as he refuses to sign this Bill, we will have doubt that this government is truly committed to a true, fair and credible election,” he said.
Atiku maintained that he was not a converted democrat but a real democrat from the beginning who alongside other leaders fought the military to return this country to democracy.
However, he said that the best way to guarantee peace in any election or human interaction was to ensure manifest justice to all concerned.
Earlier, Alhaji Abdusalami Abubakar, former Head of State and Chairman, National Peace Committee, apologised for not having the PDP presidential candidate at the signing of the peace accord held on Tuesday.
He said the news that the PDP boycotted the signing of the accord was completely wrong.
“I must apologies for the omission or commission, that the PDP was not able to attend that ceremony.
“The news that PDP boycotted the signing of the accord yesterday is completely wrong. I spoke to the presidential candidate and the party officials.
“It was not only the PDP that was not there yesterday, one or two parties were also not there,’’ he said.
He stressed that everybody involved in the project cared for peace and wants a peaceful election in 2019.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the political parties and their presidential candidates, especially, are to commit to issue-based campaigns and to avoid hate speech.
According to the peace accord, they are also to publicly speak against provocative utterances and oppose all acts of electoral violence.
They are also expected to support all government institutions including INEC and the security agencies to act and be seen to act with impartiality. (NAN)
EEM/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

2019: SGF urges APC members to bury grievances for better outing

2019: SGF urges APC members to bury grievances for better outing
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
APC
Bauchi, Nov. 25, 2018 (NAN) The Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, has called on All Progressives Congress (APC) members to bury their differences and work for the success of the party in the 2019 general elections.

Mustapha made the appeal at the end of the two days APC North East Zonal meeting in Bauchi on Sunday.

He said grievance is a enemy of progress that does not allow achievements and development within the party and the nation.

“We have to work towards successful outing in forthcoming general election, so we have to forgive and forget,”he said.

The SGF noted that the reconciliation committee set up by the national body of the APC would be the best solution to solve all the crisis bedeviling the party.

Represented by the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Dr Garba Abare, he said the setting up of the committee came at a right time when the 2019 general elections is approaching.

Mustapha underscored the need for all members of the party to leave their differences and unite under one umbrella for the success of APC in the elections.

Earlier, Gov. Muhammad Abubakar, had earlier said the meeting would go a long way towards tackling its internal problems and called on those that have lost during the recent primary elections to cooperate and work in close collaboration with others for the growth and development of their various states.

Abubakar therefore called on all people of the the North East and the entire nation to do their best to ensure the success of President Muhammadu Buhari and APC in the 2019 general elections.

The APC North East Zonal Vice Chairman, Mr Mustapha Salisu, described the meeting as an avenue that would enable all members of the party to share ideas on how to win the 2019 general elections.

In his remarks, Gov. Kashim Shetima of Borno, expressed optimism that the entire people of the North East and other States of the Federation would vote for APC considering the number of developmental  projects executed by the APC administration across the country. (NAN)
MAK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

2019: N/East group drums support for President Buhari

2019: N/East group drums support for President Buhari
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Support
Bauchi, Nov. 17, 2018 (NAN) The North East Development Association (NEDA), a political group, has passed a vote of confidence on the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and called for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
The group made the called in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Messrs Mohammed Bulama and Bitako Umar, and issued to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Saturday.
It said their decision was garnered through consultation with all the stakeholders in every sector of the region, influenced by brain cracking, arguments and counter arguments as well as careful researched efforts which formed the basis that the APC administration led by Buhari qualified for re-election.
“This is because the history of governance in Nigeria, APC under President Buhari has done tremendously well in the sub-region,” it said.
According to the statement, Buhari’s laudable projects had direct bearing on the lives of people in the North East and Nigerians.
It explained that their support was based on the president’s numerous achievements in the areas of security, corruption, agriculture and economy, among others, in the region and the entire country at large.
The group said the need for a second term was in order to also sustain the ongoing war against corruption and effective management of Nigeria’s resources.
“Buhari’s re-election would ensure continuity in the positive affairs of the nation.
“The people of the region must also play their parts in the task of nation-building by supporting President Buhari-led government’s effort at moving the country forward.’’‎
The group reiterated that its decision was based partly in recognition of the laudable achievements of the president and his team in the last three years.‎
“We resolved that the region would remain committed to the unity of the entity called Nigeria, despite we have our son who is jostling for same seat,” the statement said. (NAN)
MAK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

HIV Trust Fund to be functional March 2019 – NACA

HIV Trust Fund to be functional March 2019 – NACA
By Angela Atabo
NACA
Abuja, Nov. 13, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says the Nigerian HIV/AIDS Trust Fund will be functional by March 2019.
The Director-General of NACA, Dr Sani Aliyu, announced this at the 2018 Civil Society Organisations Accountability Forum.
The forum was themed: “Domestic Resource Mobilisation: Increasing Public and Private Sector Investment”, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Aliyu said that the virus could be controlled but the challenge was funding, thus the need for the establishment of the fund.
“The HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria has been adopted by private sector, it is an initiative that would be private sector driven and it would be launched in March 2019.
“Its main function would be to bring funding into HIV treatment, with this trust fund, emphasis would be shifted from just treatment to prevention.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has also directed that the full amount for the HIV/AIDS treatment should be released to fast track results,” he said.
Aliyu said that there was an ongoing Nigeria HIV and AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) to establish the status of people living with the scourge.
He said that the survey would help the government know the number of persons affected with the diseases in the country and to provide adequate treatment and care for the patients.
He said that the outcome of the survey would define Nigeria’s new HIV and AIDS status in terms of prevalence and in terms of incidence.
He added that the data emerging from the survey would change the outlook of HIV in Nigeria and shift the narrative from treatment to prevention.
He commended the CSOs for the initiative, adding that the conference was the first of its kind.
Declaring the conference open, Mrs Pauline Tallen, NACA Board Chairperson, commended the contribution of CSOs in the fight against HIV in Nigeria.
Tallen reiterated government commitment to supporting CSOs in Nigeria, adding: “I assure you that government is fully appreciative of what you are doing.’’
She noted that with the support from CSOs, NACA was reaching the unreached.
She said that NACA’s desire was to put in more effort to ensure that HIV mothers give birth to safe children, adding that so far the statistic is encouraging.
Tallen said that last week NACA visited the clinic in Asokoro and the report was that all mothers living with HIV were having safe children virtually 98 per cent of them.
She said it was an encouraging result and NACA would keep on doing its best to protecting mothers and children against HIV.
Dr Walter Ogwuocha, the Executive Secretary, Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria ( CiSHAN), said that the CSOs had come a long way in advocacy to ensure that the government do the right thing.
Ogwuocha said that CSOs believed that HIV/AIDS national response was the responsibility of the country government as obtainable everywhere else in the world.
He regretted that over the years the Nigerian government had been snagging in ensuring that they commit commensurate resources to fight the virus.
He said that was the narrative CSOs wanted to change through this accountability forum.
“We want to hold government responsible and accountable to their promises, we also want to hold them responsible to the lives of those living with HIV and AIDS.
“We also want to hold them accountable to ensuring that we do enough testing in Nigeria to make sure that everyone joins hands together to ending AIDS in Nigeria in 2030.’’
Ogwuocha said that to achieve this, CSOs would do a holistic engagement with the government at the national level asking them to step up and increase the number of those on treatment on government purse.
He said that a milestone was achieved when the government agreed that every year there would be 50,000 persons that would be put newly on the government treatment programme.
He however said that CSOs would work to see that the 50,000 was not just promise but actual numbers by next year.
He also urged the private sector to as well contribute their resources by buying the HIV and AIDS commodities and distribute to facilities so people living with the virus could access.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 10 countries were in Nigeria to attend the pan-African event.
The event is aimed at changing the HIV and AIDS prevalence status through improved funding. (NAN)
ATAB/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

2019: Society urges electorate to vote against corrupt leaders

2019: Society urges electorate to vote against corrupt leaders
By Shuaibu Tatu
Corruption
Birnin Kebbi, Nov. 10, 2018 (NAN) Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, an Islamic NGO, has urged the electorate to vote against corrupt leaders in the upcoming 2019 general elections.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Imam Adeyemi Fuad, made the call on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi during a three-day training workshop for Imams and Islamic scholars.
On unpaid salaries by state governors, Fuad said those leaders who are using their positions to oppress the people would not smell paradise.
“Not only that, those of them who are cheating their people, taking away all the means they would use to survive from them, would suffer on earth and hereafter,’’ he said.
He also admonished the electorate against voting based on religious and tribal sentiments.
“If we vote for them on the basis of collecting peanuts from them, they will also serve us on the basis of having collected from them which is an act of corruption,’’ he said.
The cleric urged all Nigerians to rise and reject corrupt leaders during the general elections.
Besides, he enjoined chief Imams and other religious leaders to use their positions to preach against corruption and to enlighten the public on the evils of corruption in the country.
The cleric said that the anti-corruption arm of the organisation, The Just Foundation, was out to solicit support of Islamic groups, religious leaders, Imams and scholars across the country to preach against corruption.
Fuad said that the foundation was specifically established to promote good governance, anti -corruption, gender and human right advocacy in the country.
“We also established The Just Foundation, an arm under the society to tackle the problems of poverty, giving out Zakkat to improve welfare of masses in our society,’’ he said.
He said that the organisation collected and distributed about N10 million as Zakkat recently, which was also extended to Christians who deserved it, adding that many of the beneficiaries use it to build their houses.
Fuad said that the foundation in collaboration with the MacArthur foundation had started implementing a project tagged “Encouraging accountability and transparency through faith-based intervention (EAT-Fin) in states across the country.
He said that Nigerians were poor because of corruption that had eaten deep into all sectors of the society.
“The money that is supposed to be used for the development of our nation has gone into individual pockets,’’ he lamented.
Speaking on behalf of Chief Imams, Malam Ishaq Mugundi, promised to spread the message to their followers across the state. (NAN)
SZT/JPE/MST
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

(Audio) South East has no issues with my nomination- Obi

Mr Peter Obi, PDP vice presidential candidate, delivering a lecture at a conference entitled: “Paradigm Shift”, organised by The Potters House of Lagos recently. (NAN)

Leadership
By Kingsley Okoye/Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Oct. 24, 2018 (NAN) The vice presidential candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi says there is no issue with the people and leaders of South-East over his nomination as running mate to Atiku Abubakar.

Obi, former Governor of Anambra stated said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Obi was reacting to comments credited to some South–East leaders that they were not consulted before his nomination for the 2019 presidential election.

Cue in audio

“There have never been issues with my people, not one person has said we do not support the candidacy of Peter Obi.

“Our leaders have said the communication is not the way they would have wished to receive it, and that is understandable.

“They have never said we do not want Peter Obi, no body. Go and check it anywhere nobody has said so.

“And those are the respected leaders.

”When you talk about Governor Umahi, who is the chairman of the zone, somebody like Ike Ekweremadu, who is the highest office holder from that zone; these are our leaders, these are my leaders.

“I respect them a lot  and I respect their feelings and I assure you we are going to work as a family because it is important to us.“

Cue-out audio

On growing the economy, Obi said what was needed in the country was focused leadership that would do the right thing to turn around the economy.

Cue-in audio

`’If you want your economy to grow, you need to have right leadership and they have to do the right things.

“There should be a clear total plan deliverable that is followed strictly; and that you will see when we start the campaign.“

Cue-out audio 2

He said Nigerians should do the right thing by voting rightly in order to fix the country. (NAN)
KC/LCN/DOR/IS
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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Ismail Abdulaziz

Health

NMA task stakeholders to ensure polio-free Nigeria in 2019

NMA task stakeholders to ensure polio-free Nigeria in 2019

By Ummul Idris

Polio

Abuja, Oct. 23, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that Nigeria is declared polio-free in 2019.

Dr Philip Ekpe Philip, the Chairman of NMA, FCT chapter, gave the task at the opening of the Physician Week on Tuesday in Abuja.

”Nigeria was about to eradicate polio in 2016 but unfortunately there were diagnosis in Borno; and for a country to be free of polio it has to be diagnosis for three years.

“We were delisted in 2016, so by 2019 if there are no any diagnosis then we will join the rest of the world to be declared as polio-free.

“We are therefore calling on the Federal Government, our team and other stakeholders to make sure that we don’t get another diagnosis just about the time that we are about to be declared polio free,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Dr Matthew Ashikeni, the Director, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, said that the Federal Government is committed to making sure that polio is eradicated in 2019.

According to him, the government is putting a lot of resources together with its partners to ensure that every child in Nigeria is protected against polio.

“You know that it paralysis the child; the only way we can prevent polio sustainably and in a very cost effective manner is to make sure that a child receive vaccine.

“Ordinarily, it should not be a difficult thing because we all want our children to be healthy but there are a lot of misinformation.

“The doctors have to take responsibility because if you are my patient, I think it is my responsibility to guide you properly to make sure you know some of the benefits of a vaccine.

“it is very safe and highly protective. India was able to eradicate polio in 2012. India is bigger than Nigeria and if we talk of resources we have enough resources as India so why can’t we eradicate polio.

“So I challenge the doctors today to rise up to the challenge, ensure that your clients, their patients, friends and family members are able to receive routine immunization.

“The coverage of routine immunization is very low, the average for Nigeria is 33 per cent; there are states with three per cent and it is not good enough,” he stressed. (NAN)
UMD/COA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola