COVID-19
By Hilary Akalugwu
Nsukka (Enugu State) March 26, 2020 (NAN) Chief Patrick Omeje, Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, has directed the council ‘s workers to stay at home from Friday as part of measures to control the spread of coronavirus.
Omeje gave the directive in Nsukka on Thursday at a meeting with security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area.
He said the measure was to complement the state government’s efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic, which had killed thousands of people globally.
The local government boss, however, said the directive did not include workers rendering essential services, saying that those in the Health department were expected to come to work.
“I hereby direct council workers to stay at home till further notice. Only those rendering essential services are expected to come to work.
“As you stay at home, ensure you observe personal hygiene like regular washing of hands, avoid hand shake, hugging and maintain safe distance.
“You should also comply with other recommendations approved by health experts that will help to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” he said.
Omeje directed security agencies in the area to ensure immediate enforcement of the ban on roadside hawking.
He also urged them to ensure enforcement of ban on festivals, ceremonies, night clubs and others, as a temporary measure to control the spread of the disease.
“Also ensure that no tricycle takes more than two passengers, and buses not more than two passengers on a seat.
“Taxis should not have more than three passengers and motorcycles not more than one.
“Though there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 in the area, but these measures are to prevent residents from contracting the deadly virus,’’ he said. (NAN)
HOA/BHB/AJA
============
Edited by Buhari Bolaji/Adeleye Ajayi
NAN Board appoints Mammaga as Acting MD
By Isaac Aregbesola
Appointment
Abuja, July 15, 2019 (NAN) The Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has approved the appointment of Mr Ibrahim Mammaga as the Acting Managing Director and substantive Editor-In-Chief of the agency.
A statement by the agency’s Assistant Director, Administration and Human Resources Management, Mr Moses Uzogba, in Abuja on Monday, said the appointment took effect from July 10.
Before his appointment, Mammaga was the Managing Editor in charge of states in 2019, and served as Head, Lagos Operations between April 2018 and May 2019.
He was also the Zonal Manager Kaduna between 2006 and 2012. He served as State Correspondent from 1990 to 1995 in Sokoto, and District Correspondent in Birnin Kudu between 1988 and 1989.
Mammaga is a graduate of Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano. He is a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
He succeeds Mr Idris Abdulrahman who retired on July 9. (NAN)
IAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NAN Joint Union rejects reappointment of Onanuga, seeks reversal of acting appointments
Probe
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, July 8, 2019 (NAN) The Joint Union of the News Agency of Nigeria urged the Federal Government not to reappoint former Managing Director of the Agency, Mr Bayo Onanuga, because reappointing him would inflict pain on the staff.
Mr Gambo Haruna, who spoke on behalf of the unions at a news conference in Abuja, said since the exit of Onanuga, the Agency has enjoyed industrial peace and harmony.
Haruna, however, called for the appointment of an individual, who understands the workings of the agency, saying this would go a long way to restore its dwindling performance and lost glory.
“Experience has shown that individuals with no knowledge and understanding of what the agency was established to achieve, come into the agency to manipulate, bastardise the system, and ignore the conditions of service and Public Service Rules.
“NAN members of staff, therefore, wish to thank President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for their support and understanding.
“The members of staff wish inform Mr President and Nigerians that NAN currently enjoy industrial peace and harmony after the exit of Bayo Onanuga, we sincerely believe that reappointing him would inflict more pains on the staff.
“At this juncture, we call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt and other related Practices Commission (ICPC) to expedite actions in probing the allegations on misappropriation of funds made by the Joint Union.”
The Union also demanded the reversal of all acting appointments of some officers, who had also benefitted from January 2018 promotion, saying this was an injustice to other colleagues employed on the same grade level.
He demanded the immediate deployment of officers on posting, seconded to NAN back to their various offices, saying this discourages career progression, and a negation of the Public Service Rules.
According to him, the engagement of contract staff is not only duplication, but a calculated attempt to make a confirmed staff of the agency redundant.
“This is apart from the fact that their continued engagement is costing the agency N3.9 million monthly, while seven state offices have been closed due to the inability to pay rent,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Joint Union includes the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWUN).
Others are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government-Owned Companies. (NAN)
TAK/ESAN/AFA
=============
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Felix Ajide
UNFPA seeks media support on reproductive healthcare
By Talatu Maiwada
Partnership
Abuja, Sept. 12, 2018 (NAN) Dr Mabingue Ngom, the Regional Director, West and Central Africa Office, has called on journalists to support and promote reproductive healthcare and demographic dividend issues for national development.
Ngom made the appeal during a visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He solicited for a stronger partnership between UNFPA and media organisations to engage with stakeholders such as religious and traditional leaders in addressing issues of population in the country.
“The Millennium Development Goal recognises partnership and has been elevated in the 17th goal, so we recognise partnership as an objective that will help us reach out to different places we can’t go.
“It is important for organisations like the UNFPA and the News Agency of Nigeria to partner and engage local and traditional leaders in the country.
“This will go a long way in avoiding some of the misunderstandings, mis-interpretations and confusion among the larger communities.
“We have a vital role to play if we must make progress in Nigeria before 2030, because there is no way Africa can succeed and Nigeria does not succeed.
“We cannot have a better world without a better Africa,’’ he added.
Responding, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Managing Director of NAN, pledged the agency’s commitment in raising awareness on UNFPA’s transformative agenda, including delivery of Demographic Dividend (DD) in the country.
Onanuga also promised to raise public awareness on the three key three key thematic areas of UNFPA; namely: ending maternal deaths, unmet needs on Family Planning (FP) and Child Spacing (CS) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) in line with SDGs 2030.
He said that NAN was committed in ensuring a strong partnership with the organisation in championing the interest of women, girls and young persons in the country.
He stated that due to the importance of reproductive healthcare issues, the agency had designated a specialised desk that addresses the issues of women and children.
“Part of your mandate in UNFPA is concerned with delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, where every child birth is safe and every young person’s potential will show.
“Our agency is committed to all UNFPA stands for and all your campaigns on reproductive healthcare.
“Following the mandate of your organisation is something any news organisation would definitely like to partner with,’’ he said.
Onanuga noted that NAN was the right media to partner with as it has offices in all parts of the country with no fewer than 500 journalists.
He said that most media organisations subscribe to NAN for news text, pictures, audio and video clips, adding that some subscribers translate NAN news into local languages for local communities.
The managing director expressed the agency’s desire to deepen relationship with UNFPA in addressing issues of demographic dividend, population growth and reproductive healthcare.
Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Tola, the Head of Health and Gender Desk of NAN, appreciated the partnership and intervention of UNFPA in the provision of operational equipment to the agency.
However, Tola called on UNFPA to scale up its funding and technical support to the agency in order to build a robust relationship to enable NAN deliver better services.
“The funding support has drastically dropped from N10 million in 2015 to about N3.6 million this year, which is yet to be accessed.
“This is adversely affecting our working relationship.
“From January this year till date we have covered and published not less than 30 of UNFPA’s intervention activities across the country from the three approved in our agreed Annual Work Plan (AWP).
“`We therefore call for a scale up in funds to strengthen our partnership towards effective delivery of services to UNFPA,’’ he said. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
ICIR to partner NAN to train journalists on investigative reporting
By Chinenye Offor
Training
Abuja, Aug. 15, 2018 (NAN) The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) on Wednesday requested partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to train its journalists on investigative reporting.
Mr Dayo Aiyetan, the Executive Director of the centre, made the request during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
Aiyetan said ICIR was ready to collaborate with NAN to develop its journalists to acquire the necessary skills for investigative reporting.
He said that the training would also help journalists to improve on the reportage of critical issues since the role of the media is to hold government accountable.
He said that his organisation was being funded by donor agencies and that the programmes included building the capacity of journalists, internships, mentoring as well as provision of grants.
According to him, the organisation’s funds were tied to specific projects such as investigating budget and procurement processes and human rights issues, among others.
Aiyetan said that ICIR was interested in training as many journalists as possible in order to improve their skills to be able to deliver on their statutory mandate.
“Because NAN is a government-owned media does not mean they cannot participate in investigative journalism.
“The organisation complements the work of anti-corruption agencies and we are standing with government to expose illegal activities.
“We want to train the staff to show our support for the media as well to share our contents,” he said.
Responding, Onanuga said that NAN management would welcome meaningful collaboration with organisations for training that can raise the capacity of its editorial staff and ultimately improve the fortunes of the agency.
Onanuga noted that NAN journalists had been trained to be compliant with the new trend of journalism such as data and investigative journalism.
He added that NAN, being a government-owned medium, had a mandate to hold government accountable.
The managing director explained that the organisation’s reportage cover all works of life, adding that the agency was subsidising the media in the country by charging affordable rates for its services.
While pledging to partner with ICIR, he noted that the public depended on the media for information and that NAN was committed to delivering on its mandate.
Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, the Acting Editor-in-Chief of NAN, underscored the need for capacity building, saying the management had continued to avail editorial staff of training opportunities organised both in-house and by external organisations.
She said that training was key to journalists’ development and that capacity building in the areas of science, health, economy and other sectors would be welcomed. (NAN)
CSO/ KOO/MST
=============
Edited by Kevin Okuzuwa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
1. President Muhammadu Buhari has held a high-level Security meeting with Service Chiefs and other heads of Security Agencies in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to review and strengthen security operations in the country.
The President also met with the governors of Jigawa and Kebbi states
in the Northwest, before his departure for Bauchi State also in the
Northeast of the country on official visit.
======
.2. The Editor-in-Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria, Malam Yusuf
Zango has retired after 35 years of meritorious service to the agency.
At a reception held by staff of the agency in his honour, Zango urged
the staff to uphold the ethics of the profession and eschew all acts
capable of undermining their professional integrity.
======
3. A Senior Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, Ebere Agozie, has won the 2018 Coordinator’s Award for ‘Best Print Media’ of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB).
Dr Rose Gadido, Nigeria Coordinator of OFAB, an initiative of the
African Agricultural Technology Foundation hosted by the National
Biotechnology Development Agency, said the award was in recognition of
the reporter’s passion and commitment to the promotion of
biotechnology in the media.
======
4. 10-year-old Clark Kent Apuada has beaten the 100m butterfly
swimming record of 1hour, 10 minutes and 48seconds set by young
Michael Phelps in 1995.
Apuada, who has won seven gold medals, now holds the new world record
of 1hour, 9 minutes and 38 seconds.
======
5. Pope Francis has changed Catholic Church teaching to fully reject
the death penalty, the Vatican has announced, saying it would work to
abolish capital punishment worldwide.
Francis has for years been a vocal critic of the death penalty,
calling it an “inhuman measure,” but his latest move places the issue
toward the forefront of his efforts to overhaul and modernise the
Church.
Mr Idonije Obakhedo, Head of Editorial Services, NAN Lagos Office receiving media kit from Mr Abraham Adekoya, while Mr Akin Jimoh (Right), the Programme Director, DEVCOMS and Mrs Appolonia Eke, look with interest
NAN-HG-9
Maternal
By Busayo Onijala/Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Jan. 31, 2018 (NAN) An NGO, Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS), has called for collaboration with the media for improved maternal and child health to reduce high burden of maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Mr Akin Jimoh, the Programme Director, DEVCOMS, made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Lagos Operations of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Iganmu, Lagos.
Jimoh was accompanied on the visit by Mrs Appolonia Eke, a Family Planning Consultant and Financial Secretary, Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI), Lagos.
Other members of the visiting team were Mr Abraham Adekoya, Vice-Chairman, Interfaith Group of Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) and Devcoms Head of Programmes, Ms Ikeoluwa Otudeko.
Mr Idonije Obakhedo, the Deputy-Editor-in-Chief and Head of NAN, Lagos Editorial Services, received the team on behalf of Mr Mike Mbonye, the Director/Head of Lagos Operations.
Jimoh said, “It is regrettable that a large proportion of women still lose their lives to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications.
“In Lagos State alone, statistics show that 555 women out of 100,000 die annually in Lagos as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth; it is equivalent to six women dying every hour.
“A lot of factors account for these needless deaths; there is need to stem them and it requires increased collaborative efforts and massive sensitisation.
“The media can play a major role in this because they checkmate government policies, ensure that there is accountability, as well as give out the right information to the public.
“Yet, we need to do more because these deaths are under-reported, especially when it has to do with under-developed, rural and semi-rural areas.’’
According to him, maternal mortality is not an issue to be overlooked; its causes are broad ranging from unwanted pregnancy which lead to abortions, haemorrhage, sepsis, poor healthcare services and delays.
“They include inability to take prompt decisions before going to a health facility, unavailability of transportation to access, as well as the proximity of health facilities.
“Delays can also come from factors that affect prompt treatment such as power supply, unavailability of qualified medical personnel, drugs, consumables among others.
“There is need for individuals, health workers, government and the media to know that we are all stakeholders in this issue.
“We can be victims in one way or the other; so, it is necessary to intensify the need for good maternal health because without good health, we cannot function well,’’ Jimoh said.
Also, Mrs Appolonia Eke of PHSAI, Lagos, said, “Media are integral in achieving the desired aim of reducing maternal mortality.
“If they show the kind of commitment that was shown during the time we had Ebola crisis in Nigeria, through the dissemination of right information, the rate of deaths from complications of pregnancy and childbirth will be reduced.
“There is need for people to understand and embrace family planning (child spacing) and the use of contraceptive methods.
“Child spacing helps to avoid the proven challenges that women face in pregnancy and childbirth, especially when they are too young, old, or when pregnancies are too close or too many.
“Successful child spacing programmes improve quality of life and significantly contribute to demographic dividends and national development.”
Eke said that advocacy and enlightenment campaigns should be continuous, especially in the rural and semi-urban areas to highlight the importance of accessing healthcare services and family planning.
Also commenting, Mr Abraham Adekoya, the Vice-Chairman, Interfaith Group of NURHI, said, “ It is important that people know the right information on family planning (child spacing) and use of contraceptives.
“This is because adequate information will help to correct some of the myths and misconceptions and break barriers surrounding the use of contraceptives in Nigeria.
“There should be more investment in family planning services in terms of funding and advocacy, because failure to take action will result to dire consequences.
“When a woman dies, it is not just a loss to family, but a loss to the nation; this is because the nation loses out on her contributions to the social and economic development,’’ Adekoya said.
Earlier, Obakhedo commended the Devcoms team for their commitment to the health sector, especially the drive to ensure that women enjoyed good maternal health.
He said that the agency was committed to disseminating right and balanced information to members of the public.
Obakhedo pledged the support of NAN toward realising the goals on health,
especially in reducing maternal and child mortality, improving maternal health to achieve a better Nigeria.
Obakhedo was joined by Mr Silas Nwoha, Deputy-Editor-in-Chief (DEIC) Metro), Mr Tajudeen Atitebi (DEIC/Head of Economics Desk), Mr Peter Ejiofor (DEIC Sports), Mr Olagoke Olatoye, (AEIC, Head, Health and Gender Desk) and Mrs Vivian Ihechu, Editor. (NAN)
OMB/VIV/GOK
===
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye
UNODC tasks Nigerian media on fight against organised crimes
NAN-HG-8
Media
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Oct. 6, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called on Nigerian media to work with government agencies to tackle human trafficking and other organised crimes in the country.
The UNODC Country Representative, Ms Cristina ALBERTIN, made the appeal when she paid a courtesy call to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja on Friday.
ALBERTIN explained that media was a major stakeholder which had a lot of roles in the fight against human, child trafficking, corruption, illicit drugs and other organised crimes in the country.
“The media play critical roles in terms of advocacies and raising of awareness against human trafficking issues and other organised crimes.
“Addressing child or human trafficking which is a global problem cannot be delegated to only one agency, stakeholder like the media must partner with relevant agencies.
“Over two years that I have been in Nigeria, I have been participating in various activities and working with the media and I have always been on the same page with them,” she said.
The outgoing representative, who said that she will be leaving Nigeria for Egypt in couple of days, however lauded the Nigerian media for accurate reportage.
ALBERTIN explained that UNODC deals on issues of human and child trafficking, corruption, illicit drugs, small and light weapons, among others.
Responding, Onanuga noted that human and child trafficking as well as money laundering were issues that must be given serious attention.
He decried activities of some African countries, including Nigerians that were being trafficked to Europe through Libya, adding that such people needed to be seriously educated.
The managing director said that he was aware that the European Union has been at the fore front in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and the world.
He said that illicit transfer of funds across Africa was worrisome and needed to be addressed.
Onanuga advised the organisation to partner the media in implementing its mandate in Nigeria. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NAN MD proffers 12-point agenda for UCH media strategy
NAN-H-26
Strategies
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Aug. 26, 2017 (NAN) The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, has proffered a 12-point media engagement strategy to ensure successful implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
Onanuga made the suggestions as a panellist at the two-day National Health Dialogue on UHC organised by some NGOs and Premium Times in Abuja.
He recommended for a robust government, civil society and media partnership to raise public awareness on healthcare needs and demands to achieve UCH in the country.
Represented by the Head, Health, Gender and Population Desk of the agency, Mr Mohammed Tola, the managing director tasked media practitioners in the country to get acquainted with provisions of health laws and issues to report accurately and correctly.
Onanuga explained that health issues must be taken seriously and the only way to achieve that is for media practitioners to have adequate knowledge on health matters.
He also urged stakeholders, especially NGOs, to empower media practitioners through training and equipment to sharpen their skills and deliver effectively.
Besides, the managing director enjoined government health agencies and CSOs to provide relevant data and information to enable journalists report accurately.
Onanuga further advised journalists covering the health sector to go beyond daily reportage as they were expected to conduct indepth analysis of pressing issues in the health sector.
“For us to record success in health sector, the media must be used as tools for advocacy.
“Journalists should take advantage of Freedom of Information Act to get necessary information needed to hold government and healthcare service providers accountable and transparent by delivering accessible and qualitative service.
“We must report activities of the government in the sector, monitor infrastructural development, procurement and disbursement of drugs and equipment as well as immunisation activities,” he said.
Onanuga stated that the only way that could be achieved is when media practitioners have adequate knowledge concerning health related issues.
Meanwhile, some cancer survivors at the event appealed to the Federal Government to establish functional Cancer Treatment Centres across the country to enable patients access medical care.
Some of the survivors who spoke to NAN after the conference urged government to speed up interventions to save lives.
Ms Comfort Daniel regretted that it was unfortunate that some of the treatment machines were not available in many parts of the country and she had to travel to Lagos to access Radiotherapy.
“If not for the support of well meaning Nigerians, NGOs and the media, I would have died of breast cancer.
“Sometime an NGO known as Pink-Blue sponsored my trip to and fro by air to Lagos to access radiotherapy.
“I was diagnosed of breast cancer when it was in stage 2 in 2014, because I didn’t have money and before I sourced for fund, there were a lot of delays and it deteriorated to stage three,” she said.
Daniel said that cancer treatment was expensive that government needs to intervene and provide necessary equipment, drugs and support for cancer patients.
Ms Gloria Orji, the Abuja Cancer Governor, also urged government to take necessary actions to provide treatment centres to carter for those suffering from various forms of cancers.
Orji, who recovered from breast cancer in the last five years, noted that the country was endowed and there was no reason why people should be dying of the disease that can be prevented and treated.
According to her, the treatment is expensive that even a middle class in the country cannot afford not to talk of the poor.
“To treat some types of breast cancer require not less than N12 million, you can now understand that a poor person cannot afford the treatment.
“I know of a person that was diagnosed of cancer and when she was told of what is required for the treatment, she said she cannot afford it that she will go home and die and she eventually died,” she said.
She appealed to the government to act fast to prevent high rate of mortality from cancer.
On her part, the Wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu, told that NAN the rate at which people are dying of cancer related disease was unacceptable.
Bagudu said that governments need to revive and strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) to provide services to the larger population of Nigerians.
According to her, when there is functional primary healthcare, it will help in early detection and that will go a long in reducing the fertility rate from the ailment.
She also underscored the need for government to act fast in providing the necessary functional equipment for the treatment of cancer.
Bagudu added that Nigeria had the resources and it was not right for cancer patients to travel to overseas to access medical care.
NAN reports that the dialogue, which was attended by media experts, practitioners and health experts, was themed: “Media advocacy and accountability: Strategies for achieving Universal Health Care’’. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Abuja, July 4, 2017 (NAN) Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), says the agency will partner the National Population Commission (NPopC) in carrying out effective coverage of activities of the proposed 2018 census.
Onanuga said this when the NPopC Chairman, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, visited him at the NAN Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The managing director said the agency would use its local and national reach to effectively cover the activities of the commission at the national, state and grassroots level.
Onanuga said the agency had a wide national coverage of news with offices in all the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory and no fewer than 22 district offices across the country.
He said the agency would use this capacity to effectively cover the activities of the commission including preparatory activities leading to the census.
“The agency has been working with the commission’s local and international collaborating agencies and so we are familiar with the kind of activities and duties carried out by the commission.
“We are ready at all times to partner with you at the national, state and grassroots level; NAN is always on board to work with you in covering preparations for the census, the census itself and other activities.
“No other agency has the kind of reach that NAN has with over 500 reporters spread across all states and local government areas of the country,” Onanuga said.
However, the managing director urged NPopC to conduct a credible and acceptable census free of politics for national development purposes.
Earlier, the NPC chairman solicited for support from all and pledged to conduct a credible and acceptable national headcount.
Duruiheoma commended the efforts of Onanuga in heading the only news agency in Nigeria with the numerous challenges that abound in holding such office.
He also lauded staff of the agency for supporting the managing director to succeed in his task, noting that one cannot succeed without the support of the people.
He said that he has always followed the activities of the agency since its inception and appreciated the growth it has experienced so far.
Duruiheoma urged Onanuga to scale up the good work. (NAN)
