Bow Your Head in Shame - FG Slams PDP Over Comments Made About 82 Released Chibok Girls

The Peoples Democratic Party has been blasted by the Federal Government over its recent comment about released Chibok girls.

The Federal Government has lambasted comments credited to the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party on the recently released 82 Chibok schoolgirls.

According to the FG, the PDP lacks the moral right to comment on the issue.

The PDP faction had on Sunday criticised the Federal Government for freeing some Boko Haram suspects in exchange for the Chibok girls. Speaking on Monday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement that the PDP, under whose watch the girls were kidnapped, should bow its head in shame.

He said it was clear that the kind of disdain for human life which the PDP exhibited in its incautious statement is the same reason the girls were kidnapped in the first instance, and for which then PDP-controlled Federal Government took what seemed an eternity before even acknowledging the abduction – thus losing critical time for their rescue.

The minister said, ”Since the PDP failed – as it did in everything – to rescue even one of the Chibok girls, the party should hold its peace while this administration continues to seek the release of all the abducted girls, using every means at its disposal, in addition to working assiduously to end all Boko Haram hostilities.”

Mohammed said prisoner exchange was a common practice across the world including in the United States and Israel.

He added, “In his inaugural address, President Muhammadu Buhari said the administration cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls. He also said this government will do all it can to rescue them alive.

‘If that includes swapping some Boko Haram elements for the girls, so what? Will the PDP rather have the girls stay in perpetual captivity, just to prove a ludicrous point? Didn’t superpower United States engage in negotiations with the Taliban that led to the exchange of five Taliban fighters for US Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl in 2014? Didn’t Israel release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in 2011?

”A lot of factors come into play when a nation has to decide whether or not to engage in prisoner/hostage swap. None, however, trounces the sanctity attached to human life and the consideration for the pains of the loved ones of those involved.”

The minister said from the ill-advised statement, it is clear that the PDP, whose incompetence and cluelessness precipitated the Chibok girls” crisis in the first instance, is not wishing and praying for it to end with the safe return of the abducted girls.

FG to Stop PMS Importation by 2019 - NNPC

The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to stop the importation of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol by 2019.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru disclosed this to newsmen on the sideline of the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, U. S.

Baru, who was represented at the conference by the Chief Operating Officer, Gas, and Power, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, said the feat was achievable.

He said that all the nation’s three refineries were producing petroleum products between five and six million litres of PMS daily.

“That is part of what is making the PMS market in Nigeria stable today, we believe that the set target of exiting PMS importation in 2019 is achievable.

“As a result lack of turnaround maintenance over the years, it will take more years to get the refineries fully back to their nameplate capacities.

“We will also bring in new refineries that will co-locate with existing ones, we are on course and I see us becoming a net exporter of products,” he said.

He said in line with its transformation agenda, the corporation was aligning its 12 Business Focus Areas with the Federal Government’s 7-Big Wins as championed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

Baru had earlier told newsmen that the corporation’s power supply was the most reliable and the cheapest.

Buhari absent from FEC meeting again, seeks rest

For the second time in 21 days, President Muhammadu Buhari, was again, absent from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which held yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Seeking more time to recuperate, Buhari directed his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to preside over the gathering. The president’s absence from the FEC meetings has generated public interest leading to speculations about his health because that is where the developmental agenda for a given time is set by the government.

But apparently to douse the anxiety over the non-appearance of the nation’s number one citizen at major events lately , the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, later spoke to State House correspondents.

His words: “We just concluded the FEC meeting. I am sure you noticed that the president was not there. He was not there because he asked that he be allowed to rest and asked the vice president to preside.
“And he will be working from home. He has asked that all his files be taken to him in the house. He will be working from home today.” In the meantime, the president has sought the approval of the National Assembly to take two separate loans totalling $12.912 billion to fix the railways, reconstruct the North East and expand the social safety net programme of his administration.

Mohammed noted that Osinbajo would later brief the president on the outcome of the deliberation.At yesterday’s meeting, only a handful of ministers assembled alongside the vice president in the Council Chambers venue awaiting the Buhari’s arrival to no avail.

A security official was seen standing behind the president’s exalted seat but vacated the area later when it became apparent that the president would not be presiding.

At exactly11:00 a.m., ‎Osinbajo opened the meeting with the national anthem which was followed by prayers and the proceedings proper.

The gathering did not hold last week. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had blamed this on the inability to circulate relevant documents to members due to the Easter holiday .

Also three weeks ago, Osinbajo presided over the meeting because, of what the presidency termed, Buhari’s engagement with other pressing state issues at his official residence.In an interview with newsmen, Mohammed had maintained that it was not unusual for his deputy to preside over the council.

He had noted: “It is not unusual, even if the president is hale and hearty and everything is going on well, for the vice president to come and preside over meetings of the Federal Executive Council.

“The fact that the president is not in the office does not mean that he is not working….‎so, the fact that you did not see him does not mean that he is not working at all.

“Understandably, that has sparked a lot of controversies. I just want to make this clear, the president is in town. He is attending to other issues. The president looked at the agenda, it was a very light agenda and decided that the vice president should preside.

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“It is not unusual for the kind of interest that is shown especially given the fact that the president was away for a while on medical treatment. We are not surprised that people will be wondering is he ill again?”

Yesterday’s deliberation, however, led to the approval of ‎N3.8 billion for the lease of fast-going vessels to enable the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (MIMASA) to optimally perform its duties on the high sea in the next one year.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who made the disclosure to newsmen, added that the council sanctioned the release of N358 million for the procurement of 56 land patrol vehicles for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Also N5 billion was approved for the construction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ‎ headquarters.The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said government would deploy a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health personnel in Sokoto and Zamfara states to curb reported cases of meningitis.

He confirmed that 813 deaths cases have so far been recorded since the outbreak of the contagious disease in parts of the country. Adewole hinted that the “cases will drop with the commencement of rainfall.”

The new move comes five months after the Senate declined a $29.96 billion loan request. The first proposal is for a facility of $5.851 billion from the China Exim Bank. The second involves securing $6.926 billion from the World Bank.

Prior to the presentation, it was learnt that the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and principal officers of the two chambers, with the exception of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, had met with the president some weeks back on the issue.

According to the breakdown, the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project and Lagos-Ibadan segment will take $1.231 billion.Those of Lagos-Kano and Kano-Kaduna segments take $1.146 billion, while $3.474 billion is billed for the Coastal Railway project, Lagos-Calabar segment. The three components are part of the loan request from Chinese bank.

Part of the $6.926 World Bank facility will be used to finance projects in the Boko Haram-ravaged North East and provide social inclusion and welfare advancement project.


Polio eradication support and routine immunisation project get $125 million.Also, community and social development project would get $75 million, while states’ health programme investment projects take $125 million, just as $100 million goes to education programme investment projects at that tier of government.
Youth employment and social support projects also get $100 million while $50 million is earmarked for the Fadama 3 Project. The lawmakers had noted then that they rejected the earlier loan request because a breakdown was not attached.

Reading the letter on the floor, Dogara said it behooved the lawmakers to expeditiously approve the request since the funds available under the Chinese-African fund were limited and loan applications based on first come, first serve.

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Igbo drag FG to court over alleged negligence, discrimination, demand N1trillion

The Federal Government of Nigeria has been dragged to court by a constitutional lawyer, and former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba for alleged negligence of the Igbo-occupied South Eastern part of the country.

Agbakoba is also demanding N1trillion in the fundamental human rights suit filed before a Federal High Court for himself and on behalf of the South East Zone over alleged acts of discrimination and underdevelopment of the region.


In the suit brought in pursuant to section 42 of the 1999 constitution, the lawyer is further asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government and its agents, servants or privies, or otherwise howsoever from further acts of discrimination against the applicant or any member of the Group/Class represented in the civil action.

Besides, the applicants are also claiming a whopping sum of N1trillion from the Federal Government as general damages to be shared among the five states of the South-East geo-political zone.

The suit is praying the court to “declare that the structural composition of the states in Nigeria, in this distribution: North-West, Seven States; North-Central, Six States; North-East, Six States; South-West, Six States; South-South, Six States; and South-East, Five States; creates a structural imbalance against the applicant and the Group/Class he represents to their political and economic disadvantage in federal legislative representation, ministerial/political and judicial appointments, and revenue allocation contrary to Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which requires reflection of federal character in conduct of public affairs, and accordingly a violation of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which prohibits discrimination against the applicant and the Group/Class represented based on Ethnic Grouping and place of origin.”


In an originating summons supported by an affidavit of 99 paragraphs and a statement of claim, the applicants rooted their action on the ground of alleged total neglect of the applicant’s geo-political zone by the Federal Government in terms of infrastructure and general federal presence making the region feel not part of the Federal Government (1st Respondent).

It is equally demanding the creation of two more states in the South-East geopolitical zone to balance with the seven states in the North-West.

The suit is also asking the Federal High Court for an order directing the Federal Government to forthwith, “prepare and send to the National Assembly for enactment, a bill to establish the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and for ancillary matters, which body shall be charged with the execution of the said master plan and the general development of the South-East geo-political zone.”


Other grounds upon which the action was filed is the alleged abandonment of the Niger Bridge to collapse and failure to build the ‘Second Niger Bridge’ making the applicants feel isolated from other parts of 1st Respondent and causing them apprehension about disaster on crossing the existing bridge.

They cited the abandonment of federal roads, which are death traps and robbery baits and occasioning and constraining on the applicants’ grueling road journeys within the geo-political zone as another reason for the suit.

It is their contention that the failure to develop strategic new roads especially the Anam-Nzam federal road linking the South-East with the North-Central at Idah in Kogi State to give the applicants easy access to the northern part of Nigeria is discriminatory.

The grounds of the suit also include failure to exploit the Oil/Gas Reserves in Anambra Basin and stalling the applicants’ legitimate expectation from employment and derivation funds for development of the Applicant’s South-East Zone.

The applicants further cited the abandonment of the Enugu Colliery and depriving them legitimate expectation from employment and derivation funds for the development of the South-East zone as grounds of their action.

In addition, they also pointed out the failure to develop trade-friendly ports and customs policies and establish ‘ease-of-business’ platforms to assist the applicants’ trading brothers and sisters to do better and operate on a higher and modern scale in trading, which makes the applicants to spend money to support relatives.

The suit further raised concern over ”the failure to have an operational international cargo airport at Owerri to aid trading, which causes the applicants to spend huge sums of money to support trading relatives to haul airborne goods by road from Lagos, with the attendant risks.

”The failure to dredge the Lower Niger and establish a Port at Onitsha to aid trading which causes the applicants to spend huge sums of money to support trading relatives to haul seaborne goods by road from Port Harcourt or Lagos, with the attendant risks, has also prompted the action of the applicants.

”Low revenue allocation status on the South-East Zone as a result of failure to exploit Oil/Gas and Coal and as a result of the said structural imbalance is adduced as a ground for the suit.

Among other declarations sought, they want the court, to declare that the worsening menace of erosion in the South-East zone generally and in particular in Agulu, Nanka and Obosi in Anambra State, under the watch and neglect of the 1st Respondent, who responds to similar or less-threatening ecological problems in other Zones with dispatch and commitment, is discriminatory and a violation of the fundamental right of the applicant and the Group/Class represented guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

It is also their prayer that the court should make an order directing the 1st Respondent to “take immediate steps to check the excessively aggressive and nefarious, yet ineffective policing of the South-East Geopolitical Zone and putting an end to the extortion going on at the ubiquitous police check-points on the highways in the South-East Geopolitical Zone.”

Biafra: FG violating freedom of Nigerians by insisting on Nnamdi Kanu’s secret trial – Group

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A Civil Society group, Concerned Nigerians, has said the ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court to conduct a secret trial for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is not in the interest of Nigeria’s national security.

The group maintained that the secret trial of the IPOB leader will violate the “rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people.”


The group made the statement while announcing its planned protest against the secret trial of Kanu on Friday in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju and its Secretary, Dr. John Danfulani, the group disclosed that the march will begin at the Unity Fountain, Abuja at about 9am.

The statement reads, “We invite the general public and members of the press to our peaceful procession to protest the attempts to conduct the trial of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in secret. The procession will begin at the Unity Fountain on Friday April 21st, 2017 by 09:00am.


“This procession has become necessary in the light of the FGN’s continued insistence to conduct the trial in secret. It is our firm belief that a secret trial in such a high profile matter does not serve the interests of the course of justice or Nigeria’s national security interests.

“Furthermore, Sections 36(3) and 36(6)(d) guarantee the right to a public trial and to examine all witnesses called by the prosecution to all Nigerians citizens.

“These attempts to try Nnamdi Kanu in secret not only potentially violate these rights but also constitute a precursor to the erosion of the rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people.



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“In the build up to this procession, we have held a meeting with a security team comprising the State Security Services (SSS), the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Abuja Command of the Nigerian Police Force and representatives of the Nigerian Army.

“During this meeting, we reiterated our intention to conduct a peaceful procession in the manner of all our previous processions. We also reiterated our intention to exercise our right to peaceful and lawful assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We are well aware of the subtle and not so subtle threats made at this meeting. However, we refuse to be intimidated by them. In this wise, our protest will go on as planned.

“We urge all Nigerians who plan to attend to be peaceful and law abiding during the procession.

Recall that the Justice Binta Nyako-led Court had fixed April 25 to deliver ruling on whether to continue with its earlier ruling of Kanu being tried in secret or not.

Kanu alongside Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are currently standing trial on criminal charges before the Justice Nyako-led court.

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FG arraigns Supreme Court judge over alleged false assets declaration

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A suspended Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta was on Thursday arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Abuja, on an amended 8-count charge of false assets declaration.

Ngwuta, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges instituted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel to the defendant, made an oral application seeking the bail of his client on self-recognisance.

Mr Umar Muhammed, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, did not oppose the application, as according to him, bail granting was at the discretion of the court.


The tribunal headed by its Chairman, Danladi Umar, granted the bail application and fixed July 12 for the commencement of trial.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), had averred that Ngwuta contravened Section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. According to Malami, false declaration of assets was punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Act.

NAN reports that Ngwuta is one of the federal judges from whose residences, the Department of State Service (DSS) claimed it uncovered huge sums of money in various denominations. The DSS raided the judges’ residences in October 2016.

Ngwuta is currently standing trial on that account before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The Federal Government that preferred that charges, said Ngwuta contravened Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 (as amended). It added that the offences are punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Act.




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Drama in Aso Rock as Buhari suspends, probes SGF, NIA DG

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• APC, NASS, Ozekhome laud govt’s action
• Exercise, an afterthought, says Fayose
• Wike welcomes probe of $43m in Lagos home

There was a mild drama at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday following the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari suspending the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal and the Director General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke.

A statement by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said both officials remained suspended until they were fully investigated. Lawal is being probed over allegations of an award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE). Oke, on the other hand, is facing scrutiny for his agency’s role in the $43 million and other local currencies found in an Ikoyi, Lagos apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

By the suspension of these officials, the government seems to have affirmed its commitment to its anti-corruption agenda. But how the matter is finally resolved will determine the strength of the resolve of the government to beam the anti-corruption searchlight on its officials.

Shortly after the announcement, State House correspondents sighted the axed officials being driven into the Villa. However, it could not be established whether Lawal had prior knowledge of the presidential directive as at the time of his suspension, but he was seen by newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

When reporters sought his reaction after the meeting, the suspended SGF queried the source of the report. The following conversation ensued:
Newsmen: Your suspension has just been announced. How will you react to the development?
Babachir: Who announced it?
Newsmen: The Presidency
Babachir: Then ask them. Why are you asking me? Who is the Presidency?
Newsmen: Have you been informed of the suspension?
Babachir: By who? About what. What about you? Have you been informed?
Newsmen: Yes sir.
Babachir: By who?
Newsmen: By the Presidency sir.
Babachir: I have not seen it. I should have been given... I have not seen the press release so I cannot comment on it.
Newsmen: It is currently trending online. Are you doubting the authenticity of the statement?
Babachir: I have not seen it.
Newsmen: Tell us the outcome of your meeting with the Vice President sir.
Babachir: I am always here. I always meet the Vice President. I used to come here even before I was made SGF.

Apparently looking bemused, ‎he thereafter walked away and was chauffeur-driven out of the Presidential Villa. In the same vein, Oke, who arrived at the seat of power shortly after Babachir left to seek audience with the Vice President, could not gain access as he was barred by the security agents at the entrance to the Vice President’s ‎wing of the Presidential Villa.

Oke, who later made another attempt at the security gate accessing the forecourt linking the entrance to President Buhari’s office, was again denied access, as the remote controlled gate remained firmly shut.

Hitherto, the NIA boss enjoyed the privilege of gaining access to the President through the gate along with the service chiefs, National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector General of Police (IGP), DG State Security Service (SSS), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister. The suspended NIA boss was forced after being denied access to drive out of the presidential villa looking dejected. He was, however, sighted about 45 minutes later being led to Prof. Osinbajo’s office by the Vice President’s Chief Security Officer.

Consequently, a three-man committee, headed by the Vice President with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the National Security Adviser as members, has been raised to investigate the allegations. It has two weeks to submit its report.

By the new development, the most senior permanent secretary and officer in the SGF and NIA offices are to act as heads while the investigation lasts. Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the President over the decision.

Its spokesman, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi in an interview with The Guardian, said there was nothing abnormal with the measure. His words: “The action by the president is part of the normal procedural thing to do. If someone is being investigated, it is normal that that individual is required to step aside to allow the investigation to be concluded. It also demonstrates the resolve by the president to entrench transparency and accountability. This is my interpretation of what happened.”

Besides, the National Assembly and famous constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, lauded the exercise. The Senate communicated its satisfaction in a statement yesterday by the chairman of its ad hoc committee on the humanitarian crisis in the North East, Shehu Sani.

“It is commendable that the president has taken the Senate committee report and recommendations seriously. The sword of truth is not just cast and sharpened for the neck of foes but also for those of friends,” he added.

In their commendation messages, Representatives Aliyu Magaji Dau (APC Jigawa) and Johnson Agnayinman (APC Edo) noted that the action sent a signal that nobody was above the law.

They, however, called for restraint so that fair hearing for the affected officials would not be compromised. Describing the axing as “good riddance to bad rubbish”, Ozekhome held that the measure was indicative that President Buhari was beginning to listen to the voice of reason on the need to entrench good governance in the polity.

“The suspension of the N250 million grass-cutting SGF and the N15 billion Osborne Road warehousing NIA DG, NIA is good riddance to bad rubbish. I am sure the government is beginning to listen to my critical but patriotic voice. We cannot continue to be a laughing stock in the international arena,” he stated.

But Governor Ayodele Fayose considered the exercise as an afterthought. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor queried: “Would the president have set up a probe panel if these scams were linked to anyone in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or those members of his party that are not in his good books?”

He added: “Most importantly, what business does a presidential committee have with an investigation into crime? Are they telling Nigerians that they have lost confidence in all the intelligence and investigative agencies of the government, including the EFCC and DSS?”

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‘Things were better when Osinbajo was acting than now Buhari returned’

President Buhari’s return from his medical vacation affected the good works of Osinbajo in restructuring the Nigeria economy, said Tanko Yakasai, an Elder Statesman.

It was allegedly reported that Yakasai told newsmen (Sun, Daily post) in an interview on Saturday while comparing the state of the economy when Osinbajo acted on Buhari’s stead and the return of Buhari.

Yakasai reminiscence that things were moving on good till Buhari returned back from his medical vacation.

According to him, “Niger Delta militants stopped blowing pipelines and Nigerians were enjoying more than 8 hours of electricity” Speaking further with newsmen on his take in 2019 election, Yakasai wished Buhari good luck if he wishes to seek for a second term.

“This is in the hands of God. If Buhari is fit, good luck to him. He admitted that things went on fine when Osinbajo acted for him; you know the vice president is younger, while ill health and military background weaken the president.

“Things were better when the vice president acted because I was getting electricity for eight hours a day, and now since Buhari came back and took over, electricity supply dropped to two or three hours in a day.

“Same happens in Lagos, people pay electricity bill they didn’t enjoy, it wasn’t happening when Osinbajo was acting.

“During the short period that the VP acted, there was no blowing of pipelines anymore.

“If what happens in this country in the last two years didn’t kill me, I don’t think it will kill me in the next two years.

The suffering was much, I suffered and you suffered.

“The other day I got a text message from somebody who complained how he has been suffering, as his pensions had not been paid for over one year, and his children are still in school, I told him, how I was also suffering.

“Everybody is suffering, but if we want to suffer, we can continue the suffering.

The Hausa people say, Mutuwar yawa kaka meaning ‘If death is going to take everybody, not me alone, let it come’.

“So, you can see, if Buhari says he is fit and wants to continue, I wish him good luck.” He said.

Trump plans to move ahead with Nigeria planes sale

President Donald Trump’s administration is pushing forward with plans to sell up to a dozen aircraft to Nigeria’s air force for the fight against the extremist group Boko Haram.

Sources said the deal could be worth up to 600 million dollars.

Sources also said the Super Tucano A-29 aircraft, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer.

A second production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada.

Former President Barack Obama’s administration originally agreed on the sale, but delayed it after incidents including the Nigerian Air Force’s bombing of a refugee camp in January that killed 90 to 170 civilians.

The Trump administration wants to push ahead to boost Nigeria’s efforts to fight Boko Haram and bolster hiring in the United States by defence firms.

“We’ve been told that the administration is going to go forward with that transaction,” a congressional aide said.

Formal notification of the deal has not yet been sent to Congress but is expected shortly.

Trump has said he plans to go ahead with foreign defense sales delayed under Obama by human rights concerns.

A senior Nigerian military source in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, confirmed that the sale would go ahead and said it would also involve training, surveillance and military intelligence “to support … the ongoing insurgency war.”

In March, the Trump administration informed Congress of its plans to pursue a five billion dollars sale to Bahrain of Lockheed Martin F-16s and related equipment, which had been held up under Obama when Bahrain failed to meet human rights targets.

Reuters first reported the Obama administration’s plan to sell the Embraer aircraft to Nigeria in May 2016, as a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to reform the military.

The Super Tucano costs more than 10 million dollars each and the price can go much higher depending on the configuration.

It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT six engine.

Trump’s plan to move ahead with the Nigerian sale was first reported on Monday by the Associated Press.

The U.S. congressional source said rights concerns remain, despite support for the sale from some lawmakers.

There are also questions about whether Nigeria will be able to pay the full 600 million dollars for the aircraft, equipment, training and support.

U.S. officials said Buhari raised frustration with delays in the sale in a phone call with Trump in February.

Meningitis vaccination is free, says FG

The Federal Government on Friday said vaccination for meningitis is free throughout the country and asked Nigerians not to pay for it.

The Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

Shuaib therefore advised Nigerians to report any health centre or health worker who extorts money for the on-going meningitis immunisation to the nearest law enforcement agency.

He said the attention of the agency had been drawn to a report of sharp practices by some health workers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) extorting money unsuspecting and desperate citizens.

He added that some health workers were alleged to have extorted money and other forms of incentives from members of the public before being vaccinated against Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM).

Shuaib said that the vaccination against CSM, like other vaccination in the National Immunization schedule, is free by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government had spent billions of Naira to procure, store, maintain and distribute such vaccines to all parts of the country.

“Under no circumstances should any health worker demand for money from members of the public for such services,’’ he warned.

According to him, the vaccines’ preventable diseases are covered free-of-charge under the National Immunisation schedule which includes Bacillus Calmette Guerin – (BCG), Poliomyelitis and Hepatitis B.

Others are Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus toxoid -(Pentavelent vaccines), Haemophilus influenza type B, Pneumococcal vaccines, Inactivated Polio virus vaccines, Measles, Yellow Fever and of course, Meningitis vaccines.

The sequence to the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of the country, the federal government had made available 500,000 doses of meningitis vaccines.

The government is still expecting the delivery of additional 823,000 doses to curtail the outbreak.

The residents of Kubwa, FCT-Abuja, have alleged that they were being charged N500 by vaccinators per person before receiving the CSM vaccine.

Some residents who spoke to newsmen said that they did not understand the rationale behind the fee, when the federal government had announced that the immunisation was free.

World health day: ACT Foundation commends FG on health development

In commemoration of the World Health Day marked globally on April 7, novel nonprofit grant making organization, Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation (ACT Foundation) has commended the Federal Government for the growth and development of the health sector in Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, ACT Foundation Osayi Alile in a statement to the press said the government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the lives of the Nigerian citizenry.

In line with the global theme for the 2017 World Health Day termed “Depression,” the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that depression is the largest cause of disability worldwide and if not properly managed, can lead to suicide.

WHO also stated that by its ranking, depression ranks as the third leading cause of global burden of mental and behavioral disorders and will move to first place by 2030 if not checked.

This frightening statistics is a call to action for the health sector to pay close attention to this aspect of mental health within the Nigerian community.

However, WHO further highlights that depression is preventable and can be treated through therapy and the use of anti depressant drugs. It also noted that for people living with depression, talking about the symptoms and effects of this malaise can be the first step to recovery.

Speaking in line with the theme, Alile noted that depression is a time bomb waiting to explode. She advocated for people to be more aware about mental health in the country so as to prevent the unfortunate spate of suicides in the country.

In her words, “Depression is a mental disorder and a major challenge to health. People living with this condition can barely carry out their daily activities thus they become less contributory members of the society”.

“First I must commend the Federal Government for the attention it gives to the health sector, and also urge them to pay keen attention to mental health which is a relegated aspect of health in our society”.

While admonishing Nigerians, Alile said “There is need for us to understand depression, its causes, prevention and treatment. Another crucial thing which we must learn to do is stop the stigmatization of people living with this condition, and encourage people to seek assistance in order to live a happy and empowered life which we all truly deserve”.

The World Health Day is celebrated on the 7 th of April yearly to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization as well as raise awareness around specific health topics of concern to people all over the world.

Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation is a non-profit grant making organization that aims to promote social impact initiatives through the promotion of healthy living, empowerment, leadership and the environment.

ACT Foundation aims at building sustainable communities and providing innovative solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.