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  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Economy

COVID-19: Pay March salary before closing markets, workers urge Wike

Salary
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, March 27, 2020 (NAN) Some workers on the payroll of Rivers Government on Friday pleaded with Gov. Nyesom Wike not to close markets in the state without paying March salary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wike had ordered the closure of all markets as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The workers, who pleaded that their names should not be mentioned, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the danger of staying without money would be worse than the pandemic itself.

A female secondary school teacher said that the state government ought to pay salary and give Rivers people and residents at least three days to stock their house with essential food items.

“We commend Gov. Wike for taking necessary steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus but the issue of closing all markets when salary has not been paid is a minus.

“What do we tell our children? We can’t tell them that there is no food, no parent will be able to withstand the psychological trauma this decision will cause,” she said.

A staff of the Ministry of Works said that the little money he had could not buy anything in the market because prices of food items had gone up.

“The announcement that markets should close on March 28 has caused panic buying and the effect is that prices of essential goods have tripled.

“We can’t cope with this situation when March salary has not been paid, so I am pleading with Gov. Wike to reconsider his decision and pay salaries first,” he said.

Mrs Kesima Opus, a local government worker claimed that council workers would be most affected because they had always received salaries late in the new month.

“It’s an insensitive decision because you can’t be tackling one issue and do something that could make people commit suicide.

“As council workers, we always receive salary of the previous month between 10th and 15th of the new month; so, we are to be paid around April 10.

“How do we cope when the markets are closed? The hunger we experience may be worse than COVID-19 that the government is trying to tackle,” she said.(NAN)
OAS/ENN/OJO
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Mufutau Ojo)

Health

Centre tasks NAFDAC to clear markets of fake malaria test kits

Centre tasks NAFDAC to clear markets of fake malaria test kits
By Lydia Ngwakwe
RDTs
Lagos, Feb. 18, 2019 (NAN) The African Networks for Drug and Diagnostic Innovation (ANDI), a research centre, has called on NAFDAC to clear Nigerian markets of fake Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDTs) kits for malaria.
Prof. Wellington Oyibo, a Consultant Medical Parasitologist, University of Lagos, Akoka, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
He described RDTs to look like the urine pregnancy test, an output of science which does not need electricity to work.
“The thing now is that NAFDAC has to do more of regulation so that the wrong RDTs do not find their ways into the Nigerian markets.
“Even as patients and healthcare givers still find it hard to accept these kits, it would not be nice to allow the fake to flood the markets.
“The agency must find a way to ensure that those who want to do business, do so with the right kind of RDTs. There should be no low performing test in our markets.
“For people to believe in this test, we need to do more in terms of ensuring that there is quality assurance, training, funding as well as strong advocacy,’’ Oyibo said.
The ANDI Principal investigator expressed concern about the perception of health workers to the test kits.
He alleged that their perception of the kits had caused most patients not to believe in the efficacy of the kits.
He urged medical facilities across the country to ensure that government policy of `compulsory testing and diagnoses before treating’ were operational.
Oyibo urged doctors to ensure patients that have come to complain of malaria are tested with the RDTs stressing that before the kits got into the markets, they followed due process and are 98 per cent accurate.
According to him, the way Nigerians think is what has made this social disease to still be with us.
Besides, he called for the training of healthcare givers and the strengthening of work ethics.
“When this is done people will have the right attitude to work and proper communication will be given to patients on the need to do a test”.
ANDI Centre of excellence for Malaria Diagnosis is an International Centre for Malaria Microscopy and Malaria Rapid Diagnosis tests quality assurance centre situated at the College of Medicine, LUTH, Idi-Araba.
It provides the platform for Malaria Microscopy quality assurance, Malaria RDT quality assurance through lots of testing with time.
The centre is officially designated as World Health Organisation Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test verification facility.
It is the only facility in Africa so designated to ensure coming from a very strong problem ends that malaria diagnostics test that are used in the country are validated and are quality assured.
ANDI centre also does research on malaria, malaria case management, diagnostics and treatment, and on diagnostic implementation.
The centre has the capacity to as it is to provide valuable research, development and training in the entire West African Sub-region.
The centre has close working collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme and other Malaria programme implementers such as the Society for Family Health, DFID/Malaria, Consortium/SunMAP and USAID. (NAN)
LED/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NMA takes sensitisation on Lassa fever to markets

NMA takes sensitisation on Lassa fever to markets
NAN-HG-4
Sensitisation
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Jan. 31, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has taken sensitisation on Lassa fever to Wuse market in Abuja to educate traders on ways to prevent the viral infection.
The FCT NMA branch Chairman, Dr Achonwa Chiedozie, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday after the campaign that the awareness was necessary because of the outbreak that was recorded in some states.
Chidozie said that the sensitisation was organised in conjunction with the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
He said that the association decided to bring the awareness to the market because many market men and women may not have time to listen to radio, watch television or read newspapers on the danger of Lassa fever.
The chairman said the campaign would be taken to other markets across the FCT to ensure that many traders were sensitised on the dangers and prevention of the disease.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration that was first recorded in 1969 in West Africa.
The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces and contact with body fluid of infected person.
The chairman advised the general public to avoid contact with rats and infected persons.
According to him, regular washing of hands is key in the prevention of Lassa fever.
Chiedozie enjoined residents of the territory to keep their food stuff in rodents “proof containers” to avoid contact of rats.
He said that though, no confirmed case of Lassa fever in FCT, but there was need to take precaution to prevent the outbreak of the disease in the territory.
Hajiya Hauwa Ibrahim, Head of Promotion and Education Department, FCTA Public Health, while addressing people in the market said that personal and environmental hygiene were important in the prevention.
Ibrahim enjoined residents to keep their dustbins away from the house and ensure a clean environment.
“Poor management of environment is a risk factor of communicable diseases including Lassa fever.
“Early detection of Lassa fever is important, therefore I am advising residents to report to the nearest health centre if you have what they describe as ordinary fever,’’ she said.
NAN reports that free medical outreach services are also provided along with the awareness campaign in the market. (NAN)
MS/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Business registration: CAC targets specialised markets

Business registration: CAC targets specialised markets
NAN-H-30
Registration
By Angela Atabo
Abuja, Jan. 5, 2017 (NAN) The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced plans to take business registration process to specialised markets.
The commission said this in a statement signed by Mr Uchenna Arisukwu, Programmes Coordinator, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, on Friday in Abuja.
He said that CAC disclosed the plan when the centre visited the Acting Registrar-General of CAC, Ms Azinge Azuka.
Arisukwu quoted Azuka saying that the aim is to create a seamless registration process.
She said that it was to further reduce time and cost of registration of companies and other post incorporation processes in the country.
“As part of CAC’s openness drive, it has connected 20 of its offices across the country to its online processes to enable its clients perform business registration without inhibitions.
“I hope that the 38 state offices will be covered by March this year.
“In addition to opening its processes for greater and easier access, the commission is taking the business registration process to specialised markets through its mobile registration centres.
“Apparently to show case its new model service which sees its work as business and not public service,’’ Azuka said.
The acting registrar-general said that the commission would also set up a desk to facilitate ease of doing business in Nigeria.
She said that the commission was ready to join the advocacy for increased openness in government as a demonstration to the sustainability of the reforms adopted in CAC.
Azuka called for the support of stakeholders to its proposal to review two aspects of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
She said that these acts were those relating to annual returns form to ensure that owners of up to five per cent share were fully disclosed in the returns form.
Besides, she said it would be beneficial to owners as incorporated in CAC’s publications.
Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), who was also part of the delegation, said that the visit was a call to ensure wider coverage of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
Abari said this was in line with the principles of citizen engagement and participation in governance process.

He said that the CAC was selected by the OGP stakeholders to demonstrate citizen’s participation in its activities as part of the citizen engagement and empowerment principles of the OGP.
He requested for the setting up of the OGP Desk to enable other stakeholders to interact with the commission with regard to its work and mandate.
On his part, Mr Uchenna Arisukwu, said that the centre had commissioned a research into the extant laws of agencies implementing the OGP commitments which CAC is among.
According to Arisukwu, the report of the research has since been validated by a Government-CSOs roundtable convened by the centre and the reports are being published into a book.
The book, he said, would form the advocacy tool for engaging the relevant stakeholders like the National Assembly into looking at the recommendations of the report to amend these laws for better performance. (NAN)
ATAB/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

FCTA cleans drains, markets

FCTA cleans drains, markets

NAN-H-36
Drains
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 25, 2017 (NAN) The Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr Isiyaku Yamawo, says the department has embarked on massive clean-up exercise around the popular Nyanya Interchange and market areas.
Ms Felicia Meeme, Public relations Officer of the department, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The statement said the exercise was part of the department’s mandate to keep the satellite towns around the FCT clean.
According to the statement, Yamawo who inspected the exercise assured that the Malam Muhammad Bello led-FCT administration remains committed to ensuring a safer and hygienic FCT for all residents.
The coordinator noted that the exercise would be an on-going one, appealing to residents, particularly those living in the suburbs to desist from dumping refuse on drains and by the roadsides.
The STDD team carried desilting of drains around the portions of interchange and roads leading into and out of Nyanya settlement. (NAN)
KM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

SON warns manufacturers against dumping substandard goods in markets

NAN-H-50

SON

Jos, April 25, 2017 (NAN) The Plateau office of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has warned manufacturers against dumping substandard goods in the markets.

Mr Musa George, the State Coordinator, gave the warning on Tuesday in Jos, when he presented Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme certification to Fekaf Nigeria Limited, makers of Royal Bread and Chocolate.

He also warned members of the public against purchasing goods not certified by the organisation because such goods had not met the safety requirements and were in the market illegally.

George said that SON would continue to enforce stringent measures to force manufacturers to comply with approved standards, and promised severe sanctions for defaulters.

He advised manufacturers to strive for quality so as to promote consumer confidence and boost global competitiveness of Nigerian goods and services.

The official called on the bakers to adhere to standard, saying that SON would continue its regular surveillance to ensure conformity.

George, however, warned the company that the certificate could be withdrawn if the products failed to conform to the minimum standard. (NAN)

UBO/EMO/ETS

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Edited by Ejike Obeta and Ephraims Sheyin

 

General news

Food Export: Council calls for improved standards for global markets

Food Export: Council calls for improved standards for global markets

NAN-H-53

Exporters

By Esenvosa Izah

Lagos, Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) The Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, has urged exporters of food products to key into international standards in order to scale up local standards for the global market.

Represented by Mr Abdullahi Sidi-Aliyu, Director, Policy and Strategy in the council, made the call at the 1st Nigeria Food Safety and Investment Forum held on Wednesday in Lagos.

He spoke during a panel discussion on Nigerian Value Chain Improvement.

“We need to comply with the best practices and other food safety conditions that are necessary to launch us into the global market otherwise we will continue to import foods.

“We need more investment, both private and public on how to provide safety for the movement of agricultural goods and services from the farm gates to the exit market.

“We should move toward the improvement of the quality of our products and ensure the conformity to the international standards.

“Otherwise we will continue to consume what we produce and remain a closed economy,’’ he said.

The director-general said that there was high demand for the country’s food products from Nigerians in diaspora.

He said, however, supply of food products was a challenge, therefore the need to find ways to address it.

“The population of Nigerians in diaspora is estimated to be about five to 15 million all over the world with the largest in the UK, US, South Africa and even Sudan.

“We need to open up; if we are talking about globalisation and you want to participate in the global system, you have to adopt the good agricultural practices,’’ Awolowo said. (NAN)

EEI/ENN/MST

Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola