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  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Health

Gov. Wike leads taskforce to enforce ban on public gatherings

Gov. Wike leads taskforce to enforce ban on public gatherings

Enforcement
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, March 27, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers will on Sunday, March 29 lead taskforce to monitor compliance on the enforcement of ban on public gatherings and places of worship.

Mr Paulinus Nsirim, Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, disclosed in a statement on Friday in Port Harcourt.

Nsirim said that all the Service Commanders,  Commissioner of Police and the State Director, Department of State Security (DSS) would accompany the governor.

“Any Church found to violate the directive of the state government will be closed,” the commissioner warned.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Rivers government had embarked on sensitisation and several other measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.(NAN)

OAS/CHIN/AFA
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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Felix Ajide

 

 

  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Metro

Master plan: NASCO boss urges PLSG to ban indiscriminate buildings on Jos hills, mountains 

Master plan

By Martha Nuhu

Jos, March 20, 2020 (NAN) Mr Attia Nasreddin, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of NASCO Group of Companies, Jos has advised the state government to ban indiscriminate buildings on hills and mountains to ensure strict compliance with the city’s original master plan.

Nasreddin gave the advice when the Commissioner of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Mr Yakubu Dati, paid a courtesy visit to  him in Jos.

He said that the Jos master plan should not end up as just a document instead of being implemented to enable Plateau regain its beauty.

“Jos has a master plan but it has been kept on the shelf for decades; it should not just be on paper, but should be implemented for the benefit of us all.

“People are building on hills and on rocks; Plateau is known for its mountains, but when you look around now, you will discover that people have built on them and turned them to shanty towns.

“The landscape is being destroyed; we are calling on the government to control how these buildings spring up. This should be done for the good of all us,” he said.

Nasreddin said that the buildings, because of their locations, are built without drainage systems, access roads for fire service and toilets, or other facilities necessary for any decent living.

“Such settlements are death traps for the occupants,” he pointed out..

He said that with Coronavirus threatening countries, it would be a disaster if these shanty towns were hit by the disease as they lacked proper access roads.

He also observed that there was an influx of people all over the state which, he said, could lead to problems in the long run.

The CEO advised the ministry to stop indiscriminate building of shops without car parks as they create artificial gridlocks on the road.

He regretted that land value in the state was depleting, declaring that if necessary steps were taken, the state could be turned into one of the best in the country as it had the weather, minerals, beauty and food that other states lacked.

Earlier, the commissioner had commended the company for its prompt payment of ground rents and other taxes to the state.

Dati also thanked NASCO for beautifying the environment and uplifting roundabouts in the the state, while calling on staff of the company to buy lands in the new layouts the state had provided. (NAN)

ADY/OSA/ETS

===========

Edited by Shittu Obassa and Ephraims Sheyin

Sport

Match fixing: FIFA bans former Super Eagles coach Siasia for life

Match fixing: FIFA bans former Super Eagles coach Siasia for life
Ban
Zurich, Aug. 16, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Former Nigeria national team coach Samson Siasia has been banned from the game for life following a match-fixing probe by world governing body FIFA.
FIFA said in a statement on Friday that the adjudicatory chamber of their independent Ethics Committee found that Siasia was “guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics’’.
The 51-year-old Siasia played 51 times as a striker for the Nigerian national team and later coached various national youth sides before a spell as senior coach in 2016.
The case is the latest to emerge from FIFA’s long-running investigation into the activities of Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, who FIFA has called a “known match fixer” and who has admitted such activity in several interviews.
FIFA said that he was banned for life “from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.”
Siasia has also been fined CHF 50,000 (41,997.1 pounds).
Siasia, a former Nigerian international was appointed Super Eagles head coach from 2010 to Oct. 2011.
He was reappointed for a short spell in 2016. (Reuters/NAN)
MUYI/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NAFDAC to ban Paraquat, Atrazine products in Nigeria

NAFDAC to ban Paraquat, Atrazine products in Nigeria
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ban
Ibadan, June 20, 2019 (NAN) The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will soon ban the use of Paraquat and Atrazine products by farmers.
The agency said it would mount evidence that the products hurt applicators and the environment.
Dr Husman Bukar, the Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate, NAFDAC, said this at the launch of a herbicide (Lifeline), produced by United Phosphorous Limited (UPL).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the product launched at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, was also developed with UPL, IITA and Springfield Agro Company Lagos.
Bukar said the decision was coming at a time when new herbicides that are safer and environmentally friendly were being registered in Nigeria.
“A date for the ban has not been announced but it will happen very soon. Paraquat has been banned in several countries and we cannot continue to allow it to come into Nigeria,” he said.
He also announced stricter measures to curtail the use of Snipper (Dichlorvos or 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) in homes to end the abuse of the pesticide which in recent times had been associated with suicides in Nigeria.
“Recently, some suicide cases have been associated with people drinking Snipper, henceforth, we call on the agro-chemical industry to enhance their distribution channels so that this product (Snipper) gets to only accredited distributors and marketers.
“We have also placed a ban on the manufacture of smaller packs of Snipper which are easily purchased for household use.
“On the use of glyphosate by farmers, NAFDAC has placed a ban on glyphosate-based formulations with tallow-amine (an emulsifier and wetting agent for agrochemical formulations.
“Agrochemical companies have been given the grace period of between now and December 2019 to withdraw all glyphosate formulations with tallow-amine from the Nigerian market,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Shanni Srivastava, the UPL Country Manager, said his company was working towards ensuring that only safer and environmentally friendly herbicides are introduced in the Nigerian market for the benefit of farmers.
He said the debut of Lifeline was to offer a better and safer alternative to paraquat which in several countries in Africa had been banned.
On his part, the President of the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Aminu Abubakar, described Lifeline as an excellent weed control herbicide in maize.
Abubakar said that most of the maize farmers were now using the product and commended UPL for inaugurating the product in Nigeria.
He also commended IITA and Springfield Agrochemicals for collaborating with UPL to ensure that Nigerian farmers benefited from the innovation.
Mr Tope Olabokunde, a cassava farmer, who participated in the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT) programme where Lifeline was used by researchers from IITA, said the product was a good controller of weeds. (NAN)
CC/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Security: Police ban rallies, processions, demonstrations in Kano

Security: Police bans rallies, processions, demonstrations in Kano

By Tukur Muntari
Order
Kano, June 8, 2019 (NAN) The Kano State Police Command has banned any form of rally, demonstration, procession or assembly in the state until further notice.

The order was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdullahi Haruna, and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

Similarly, he said, the command had withdrawn permission given to members of the public, civil society organisations, political parties, NGOs and other groups.

NAN reports that the order might not be unconnected with tension generated following the query issued to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, over alleged misappropriation of N3.4 billion by the Emirate Council under his (Sanusi) leadership.

He explained that the action was necessary to prevent any threat, breach of the peace or break down of law and order in the face of various security challenges in the state.

He warned that any person or group of persons found engaging in any unlawful assembly would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.

“The Public should know the position of the state command in maintaining peace and order in the society,” the spokesman cautioned.

He therefore warned groups under whatever guise to adhere to the order until further notice or face the wrath of the law.

“The measure is to assure a lasting peace and unity in the State,“ Haruna emphasised. (NAN)
MTM/ECN/MST
edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NAFDAC bans Malco vitamin B complex injection in Nigeria

NAFDAC bans Malco vitamin B complex injection in Nigeria
By Yashim Katurak
Ban
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned the importation, sale and distribution of Malco Vitamin B Complex injection in Nigeria due to contamination.
The drug is produced by Shreechem Pharmaceuticals PVT Ltd, India.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the ban in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adeyeye said laboratory analysis by WHO indicates that the product is unfit for human consumption.
She said that use of the product could cause serious health hazard, urging healthcare providers and members of the public to stop the administration and use of the affected product to avoid negative health complications.
The director-general therefore directed all importers, wholesalers and retailers to immediately stop the importation, distribution and sale of Malco vitamin B complex injection.
She urged anyone in possession of the affected product to submit it to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Adeyeye also advised consumers to report any adverse events related to the use of the product to the nearest NAFDAC office or NAFDAC PRASCOR 20543 toll free.
“NAFDAC has been informed that the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZARMA) has directed International Drug Company (IDC) Limited, Lusaka, Zambia, to recall all batches of Malco vitamin B complex injection manufactured by Shreechem Pharmaceuticals PVT Limited, India.
“The recall is a precautionary measure due to observed particulate materials possibly microbial growth in the bottles of the product.
“Preliminary observation from World Health Organisation (WHO) facilitated laboratory analysis indicates that the sample is unfit for human consumption.
“The body needs Vitamin B complex for various functions such as supporting cellular metabolism, maintaining healthy nerve cells and proper neurological function; aiding the bone marrow to produce healthy red blood cells and helps to control blood levels of homocysteine,’’ the statement read in part.
The director-general also noted that although Malco vitamin B complex injection was registered with NAFDAC, but its marketing authorisation license expired in 2016. (NAN)
KRY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NMA urges NAFDAC to ban products with TFAs

By Ummul Idris
Ban
Abuja, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban the importation, production and distribution of products with Trans Fatty Acids (TFA) content.

Dr Fancis Faduyile, the National President of MNA, made the appeal in his address of welcome at the launch of “Improving the Cardiovascular Health of Nigerians (ICON)’’ project on Wednesday in Abuja.

The event was organised by Dr Tonnie Okoro, the Strategic Programme Manager of NMA.

Faduyile said that stakeholders must respond to the clarion call by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to all nations to take conscientious steps to eliminate or restrict the consumption of all forms of industrially produced TFAs.

“We hope that NAFDAC finds the courage to effectively ban the importation, production and distribution of food with TFAs content within the Nigerian markets going forward.

“There are overwhelming body of evidence of the harmful effects of TFAs in our diets; justifying the rationale for outright ban or at least a monitored restriction to not more than two per cent in all publicly available foods in Nigeria.

“As a responsible citizen and the true custodian of the health of Nigerians, the NMA has birthed a sustainable vehicle to be a platform through which it can continuously engage all stakeholders.

“And also key players in the nutrition industry who have relevant roles to play to end the era of TFAs in Nigeria. This passion led to the birth of the ICON project,’’ he said.

Responding, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, commended NMA for its unwavering efforts in making relevant recommendations to the government in the interest of the nation.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Mr Ummulkhairi Bobboi, the Assistant Director, Food Safety in the agency, said that NAFDAC has a statutory responsibility to safeguard public health, through the execution of its mandate.

She said that concerns had been raised for several decades that TFAs are among the major causes of cardiovascular diseases.

Adeyeye, however, stressed that some meat and dairy products contain small amount of naturally occurring trans fat.

“Much of the trans fat in the food supply are created through an industrial process that solidifies vegetable oils and increases shelf lives of the foods and contain them.

“Consumption is now associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

“The removal of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, containing industrially produced trans-fat from the food supply, is now recommended by WHO as a public health intervention for reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases.

“To this end, NAFDAC is prepared to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in order to come out with clear cut policies and action plan to mitigate the public health effects of consumption of food with high level of TFAs,’’ she said.

According to the NAFDAC boss, the agency intervention in reducing the menace of cardiovascular disease is in the provision of revised fat and oil regulations 2018 and the draft nutrition, health and other food claims regulations.

She stressed that there was the need for consumer awareness and education to enlighten the public on the adverse effects of TFAs and the need to avoid TFA rich food items.

NAN reports that the launch of the NMA-ICON project attracted relevant stakeholders from the country’s health sector to brain storm on the way forward for TFAs and health of Nigerians. (NAN)
UMD/KTO/MST
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

FIFA can’t ban Nigeria, Giwa’s lawyer says

FIFA

Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Aug. 16, 2018 (NAN) A lawyer, Ardzard Habilla, has said that the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) cannot ban Nigeria over the lingering leadership crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which needed to be sorted out internally by the country’s judiciary.

Habilla, who is counsel to Chris Giwa, an NFF factional President, said this in Abuja on Thursday while addressing newsmen on the threat by FIFA to ban Nigeria from all football activities following intervention by the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Giwa had dragged the Pinnick-led board to court over forceful takeover of the NFF secretariat following Pinnick’s emergence as president in an election conducted on Sept. 30, 2014.

The election prevented Giwa who claims to have emerged as NFF president at an earlier election on Aug. 26, 2014, from assuming office.

It will be recalled that the Supreme Court had in April, set aside a 2016 judgment of the Appeal Court on the leadership tussle and sent the matter back to the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau, which had earlier mandated Giwa to take over as president.

Habilla told newsmen that the threat by FIFA was a calculated attempt to subvert the constitution of the country and an act of neocolonialism.

“Do we take it that FIFA laws are superior to the judgment of the highest court in our land — the Supreme Court, and has FIFA elevated itself before the constitution of Nigeria?

“When we went to Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), it said that the issue before it is not the validity of the election, and that it is the domestic law of Nigeria that should determine the validity of an election or elections.

“FIFA is bound by the decision of CAS and that is why the Giwa-led board went to court to determine the validity of those elections,” he said.

“So, if CAS gave this judgment that domestic laws of a country should determine the validity of its elections, why should FIFA threaten to ban Nigeria, when this is the decision of CAS and FIFA is bound by the decision of CAS?

“If FIFA is aggrieved with the decision of CAS, it has the right to go the Swiss Court to seek judicial review, so, FIFA cannot continue to play double standard.

“As we speak, FIFA has never for one day heard from Giwa on this matter rather it prefers to go by the tactics of the Pinnick-led board.”

He urged FIFA to purge itself of bias and respect the country’s judicial system or face another round of challenge at CAS.

According to Habilla, it is ironical for Pinnick to accept the position of CAF Vice-President made possible after a court in Ghana sacked the country’s FA Chairman who was the then CAF Vice-President, and then, refuse to accept a court judgment in his own country.

“FIFA is not supposed to interfere in domestic affairs; article 69 (2) of the NFF statutes says `domestic affairs should be determined in Nigeria and FIFA jurisdiction only comes in when it involves international disputes’.

“So, FIFA cannot ban Nigeria; I challenge FIFA, if they feel they are impartial in this matter, let them come to Nigeria or invite both parties to Zurich, Switzerland; that is the rule of natural justice.

“We want to know if FIFA can approbate and reprobate all at the same time.

“Recall that FIFA in responding to a petition by one Barrister Leo Igbokwe, admitted that it has no powers to interfere in the internal matters of NFF, so, what has changed now? It has now assumed powers to interfere in the domestic matters of NFF,” he said.

He wondered why FIFA had refused to recognise the Giwa-led board which was duly elected on Aug. 26, 2014.

Habilla said: “No one in Nigeria has challenged the validity of that election before NFF Electoral Appeals panel which was legally constituted by the former NFF executive committee led by Aminu Maigari. (NAN)
EMAF/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Health

Ebonyi Govt totally bans sale of tramadol, codeine substances

Ebonyi Govt totally bans sale of tramadol, codeine substances
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Ban
Abakaliki, July `3, 2018 (NAN) The Ebonyi Government has totally banned the sale of tramadol and codeine-containing products in chemists, pharmacies and other health facilities in the state.
Dr Sunday Nwangele, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. David Umahi on Health Services, announced this in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.
Nwangele who said that the ban took immediate effect, added that restriction has also been placed on the sale of antibiotics and analgesics Over The Counter (OTC) in these health outlets.
“Henceforth, issuance of antibiotics and analgesics will be strictly on doctor’s prescription as this directive will be adequately monitored,” he said.
“OTC drugs are not affected by the restriction as is obtained in the country, African continent and other parts of the world.
“The OTC drugs such as paracetamol, minimal dosage of Ibuprofen, aspirin, among others, are basic analgesics and drugs used to treat fever but we are talking of serious analgesics.
“These analgesics are orally administered, injected into the muscles or veins and can also be steroidal or non-steroidal.
“This is the area doctor’s prescription comes in because such drugs such as tramadol are greatly abused and they reflect in the brain.
“The state government is aware of the devastating effects of these drugs especially on the youths which have led to increase in crime and other social vices,” he said.
He said that the government also regretted the failure of Ebonyi indigenes to pass the medical screening of various security and paramilitary outfits, during job recruitment.
“We discovered that they fail because they test positive to hepatitis B surface-antigens, as the government will soon commence public screening over the issue.
“The date of the screening will soon be announced but our people especially youths are advised to conduct individual screening to ascertain their hepatitis B surface-antigens status.
“This will enable us effectively manage those already afflicted by the disease and properly prepare those who test negative, to undergo the outfits’ screening,” he said.
Nwangele further said that the government has also declared war on adulterated kerosene and other petroleum products across the state by placing total ban on their sales.
“The government, however, sympathises with the family which lost its dear ones at Ezza South Local Government Area due to kerosene explosion.
“The governor further directs his special assistant on petroleum pricing and distribution to liaise with relevant security agencies and petroleum products-dealers in the state to enforce the directive.
“The government will deal decisively with individuals or groups who sell tramadol and codeine-containing products, flout the restriction on sale of antibiotics and analgesics and sell adulterated petroleum products.
“The committee set up to check the sale of fake drugs and other substandard products are working assiduously with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“It is our desire that the committee and these agencies work together to achieve a total stoppage to the sale and usage of fake products in the state,’’ he said. (NAN)
RCO/VOE/MST
Edited by Vivian Emoni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Drug Abuse: Mental health expert harps on welfare of citizens

Drug Abuse: Mental health expert harps on welfare of citizens
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Ban
Lagos, June 29, 2018 (NAN) A mental health expert, Dr Eniabitobi Kuyinu, has called on the Federal Government to provide social welfare security for Nigerians to discourage citizens from indulging in drug abuse.
Kuyinu made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of an International Mental Health Conference on Friday in Lagos.
He said that the federal government’s ban on Codeine and Tramadol might not be the solution to its being abused.
NAN reports that the International Mental Health Conference is organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Educator USA/Africa.
The NGO seeks to provide information and enlightenment programmes toward managing mental health, as well as ways to avoid depression and suicide.
The three-day conference had participants drawn from across Nigeria, with delegates from government parastatal agencies including the Prisons, Police, Clergy and Lagos State Government officials.
The international facilitators included Dr Dan Sartor, Vice President, Integration, Richmont Graduate University, U.S.; Dr Sonja Sutherland, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, and Mrs Andrea Jones, President, International Parenting Institute, U.S.
Others are Dr Yolanda Fountain, Founder, Play Wellness, U.S., and Mrs Renee Bryan.
Kuyinu, who is the Founder of Educator, U.S.A/Africa, said that government should do more than banning the abused products but also improve on the social well being of citizens.
According to her, this will make people not to be seeking alternatives.
“Dealing with drug abuse should be multifaceted, it is not only by banning; experience has shown that all over the world, once a substance is banned, there is increase in demand.
“These banned substance becomes hot cake and attractive; however, what the government needs to do in this regard is to engage the citizens socially, as well as create social awareness.
“Parents should endeavour to take care of their children; nowadays, things are hard out there, both parents are fighting for survival, working from dawn to dusk leaving the children vulnerable.
“We are also in a state now in Africa that we are losing our identity, our societal values; we are losing our identity of being our neighbours keeper and caring for ourselves,” she said.
Kuyinu said that social media abuse was also impacting negatively on the social interaction of many.
According to her, many people now prefer to source for solutions online rather than seeking physical help.
“The social media is also not helpful to us, most people now communicate through phones, no physical interaction; people now keep to themselves; we need to start talking about these things.
“Technology should not take away our physical social interaction, western culture must not be a problem to us; this adoption of foreign culture is one of the reasons for the increasing numbers of suicide.
“Government should also fight corruption because a case where someone stole billions of Naira while others are impoverished means we don’t care about others.
“The abuse of drugs does not stand alone; there are certain factors that are contributing to it which include economic, social and physiological problems and government can help fight the economic factor,” she said. (NAN)
KOJE /VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola