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NGO urges FG to establish national agency on cancer

NGO urges FG to establish national agency on cancer

NAN-HG-5

Cancer

By Angela Atabo

Abuja, March 28, 2017 (NAN) Project Pink Blue, an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to establish a national agency on cancer control to comprehensively manage cancer care and deaths in Nigeria.

Mr Runcie Chidebe, the Executive Director of the organisation which also serves as a Health and Psychological Trust Centre, made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Chidebe said the establishment of the cancer agency would also help to reduce cancer incidences in Nigeria.

He explained that the cost of cancer treatment was too expensive in the country and called for subsidy for cancer patients to save further loss of lives.

He expressed optimism that the House of Representatives would host public hearing on the proposed bill for the establishment of the agency soonest.

The executive director commended the media for helping to amplify the need for a policy driven action on cancer management in the country.

Chidebe said the group commemorated this year’s World Cancer Day with a walk, cycle, ride, skate and marathon against cancer with 1,127 participants on Feb. 4.

“The walk was led by Sen. Tejuoso Olarewaju, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, and supported by artists like Korede Bello, Denrele Edun, Shola Adeyemo.

“Others are Peace Emezue, Ghana Must Go, Big Mo with cancer control advocates and FCT residents.’’

According to him, the centre also launched the Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group (ABC-SG), which was the first support group on cancer in Abuja.

Besides, he said 101 women received cervical cancer screening and five were found with positive abnormal cervical lesion.

Chidebe said 24 men received free prostate specific antigen test and the result showed all negative, adding that 80 women also received free clinical breast examination and 12 were positive with abnormalities.

He said the abnormalities from their test results were currently being followed up and navigated to the next level of care.

However, he said that some had been referred for free treatment in the case of both breast and cervical cancers. (NAN)

ATAB/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

$533,000 Scholarship Scam: Kano State anti-graft agency seals ex-commissioner’s hospital

$533,000 Scholarship Scam: Kano State anti-graft agency seals ex-commissioner’s hospital

NAN-H-11

Hospital

By Mustapha Yauri

Abuja, March 23, 2017 (NAN) The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has sealed a hospital belonging to a former Commissioner for Health in the state over alleged diversion of 533,000 dollars (about N163 million).

The Chairman of the commission, Mr Muhuyi Rimingado, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by telephone on Thursday in Abuja.

Rimingado said that the health facility, New Age Diabetic Clinic, located at Dorayi Babba in Kano, belonged to Dr Abubakar Yusuf, the former commissioner for health allegedly involved in the scholarship scam.

He said the amount was part of 1.5 million dollars (about N458 million) meant for the payment of scholarship grants to 139 students sponsored by the previous government to study at Al-Mansuora International University, Egypt.

He explained that the commission’s attention was drawn to the development following complaints of non-payment of the allowances by the students.

The chairman said that the allowances covered the 2012 to 2014 tuition and accommodation fees of the students.

Rimingado said that the subsequent seizure of 200,000 dollars (about N61 million) by authorities at the Cairo International Airport from a Nigerian bound for Kano was also directly linked to the ex-commissioner.

The chairman said that the suspect had confessed his connection to the seized $200,000.

“Yusuf said the money was meant to finance a company they created but could not provide the source of the fund and the reason for the attempt to smuggle it into the country,’’ the chairman said.

“In the course of investigation, one of the directors at the Ministry of Health confirmed that he served the former commissioner with the money sourced from the consultant to the students’ scholarship scheme,” Rimingado added.

He said the consultant collected 1.5 million dollars from the Kano Government for the scholarship scheme, but how the fund was disbursed remained suspicious.

The Chairman said: “This is an act punishable under sections 22, 23, 40 and 41 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Law 2008 (as amended)”.

The law empowers the commission to seize any money or property suspected to have been acquired fraudulently or corruptly.

Such funds, assets or property belonging to suspects under investigation shall remain in the custody of the commission pending final court verdict or at the discretion of the anti-graft agency.

He assured the public of the commission’s commitment to ensure justice, equity and fairness to all and sundry in the discharge of its mandate.

NAN also recalls that the commission is investigating staff of the state Judiciary over alleged non-remittance of about N100 million revenue to government coffers.

The anti-graft agency is also investigating some workers of the state traffic control authority (KAROTA) over an alleged N50 million corruption case. (NAN)

AM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Agency spends N200 million on road maintenance in Niger

NAN-H-137

Roads

By Mercy Osajiugo

Minna, Feb. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Niger State Roads Maintenance Agency (NIGROMA), says it spent N500 million to maintain the state’s roads in 2016.

Alhaji Umar Sani, its Managing Director, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna, that the agency had already spent N200 million on that activity this year.

He said that some of the repairs were carried out on federal roads.

“Some of the roads into which we sank money are federal roads, but we had to attend to them so as to help our people because their comfort is very paramount to us,” he said.

He particularly identified some specific areas along the Suleija – Minna road as deserving special attention

“Sometimes, heavy trucks loaded with petroleum products, get stuck and remain there for days; articulated vehicles loaded with yam tubers suffer the same fate. So, you see, we cannot close our eyes to these sufferings,” he said.

He said that rehabilitating the road was further necessitated by the presence of an NNPC Depot with heavy trucks always finding it difficult to maneuver through the bad spots.

Umar said that government had also been under pressure by motorists, road transport workers, petroleum tanker drivers and oil workers over the poor state of the roads.

He said that the agency had repaired 70 per cent of the bad portions on Minna township roads, and promised to maintain the tempo to rid the capital city of such sights. (NAN)

MNO/AAB/ETS

============
Edited by Adeboye Ajayi and Ephraims Sheyin

General news

Kano Road Traffic Agency warn motorists against bribery

Kano Road Traffic Agency warn motorists against bribery

NAN-H-90 Motorists Aisha Ahmed Kano,  Jan. 24, 2016 (NAN)  The Executive Director of  Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Alhaji Muhammed Zarewa, has warned motorists against giving bribe to workers of the agency.

The director gave the warning in a broadcast at a local radio station in Kano on Tuesday.

He explained that the agency did not appoint any of its staff members to collect money on roads.

“If a defaulter is found, the members of staff are expected to take him to the Head Office where the person will be called to accept his offence.

“If need be, the defaulter will face the mobile court attached to the agency where he will be fined according to the law.

“This agency was created to reduce road traffic vices in Kano and to help road users in knowing road regulations.

“We are doing our best to train our staff to reduce corruption from the service and have a good human relation with the public,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that there is growing public outcry on corruption against KAROTA.

NAN recalls that former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, now Senator, created the agency to ensure effective traffic mamangement across the state. (NAN)

AAA/OIF/MST

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Agency provides border communities with N270m social amenities 

Agency provides border communities with N270m social amenities 

NAN-H-10

Projects

By Shuaibu Tatu

Bagudo (Kebbi State), Jan. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Border Community Development Agency (BCDA) has awarded N270 million contracts for the provision of social amenities for border communities in Bagudo Local Government Area in Kebbi State.

Mr Numoipire Wills, the Executive Secretary of the agency, announced this in the border town of Tungan Kungi, a neighbouring community with Republic of Benin, on Friday.

Wills said out of the amount, a rice milling centre was established to enable small scale farmers in the area to process their agricultural produce, specifically rice, which is produced in commercial quantity.

He listed other contracts awarded as the construction of four houses of 1-2 bedroom bungalows in Tungan Bagiri, also a neighbouring community with Benin republic.

He said the houses were built in order to enhance social interaction between the people of Nigeria and Benin Republic.

He said the houses were equipped with solar powered boreholes to make them accessible and habitable by beneficiaries.

Willis further explained that a nomadic primary school was also constructed with six blocks of classrooms, toilets and office accommodation for the headmaster.

According to him, the project is to facilitate learning of nomadic children and other members of the community.

“The BCDA also constructed a primary health centre with solar powered borehole in Kwakwaba village, Dandi Local Government Area, also bordering Benin Republic,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties, Nasiru Zangon-Daura, said at the event that the committee was tasked with overseeing activities of the agency.

Zangon-Daura said 2,000 communities in 105 local government areas had so far benefitted from a variety of developmental projects by the Federal Government under the agency.

The lawmaker said the essence of the projects was to bring socio-economic development to the border communities; as well as to boost the image of Nigeria as a mother of Africa.

Malam Hamidu Dobi, the Village Head of the community, expressed appreciation to the federal government for the projects.

Dobi said the projects would give his people a sense of belonging and make them have confidence in governance.

NAN reports that the people of Gesaye village presented a gift of a cow to officials of BCDA as a show of appreciation for the projects. (NAN)

SZT/BKD/DOR/MST

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Muhammad Suleiman Tola