₦airaland Forum

Join the people who love poetry and good music at the Freedom Hall June Show on Thursday, June 16 at the Freedom Park.



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Performing are Nosa, Nana Aisha, Donna, Maka, Maximum,Phrance, Moses Audu, Ruddy Tee, T Acoustic and many more.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/freedom-hall-presents-poetry-music-air/

The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS),Muhammad Babandede, has given all Passport Control Officers (PCOs) nationwide 48 hours to clear all backlog of passport applications.



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He gave the directive on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with senior management staff of the NIS.

He also directed all‎ Passport Issuing Desks in Nigeria’s Foreign Missions to do the same.

He warned that failure to comply with the directive would be interpreted to mean the officer is incompetent and will therefore be removed.

Babandede said that the time line for processing of passports remained 72hours and therefore, expected every Passport office to conform to the policy forthwith.

The‎ Immigration boss reminded applicants to always get their breeder documents such as birth certificate, age declaration, certified guarantor’s forms from the right sources to avoid delay in the processing of their passports.

He also‎ inaugurated a committee that will configure the NIS Passport platform.

He said the move was to enable State Passport Offices re-issue passports to applicants who want to change their data on account of marriage or due to loss of previous ones.

“With this development, such category of applicants will need not to travel to Abuja to effect any change in their travel documents but go to the state offices they reside in to do it,” he said.

He said that the‎ committee has been given two months to complete the configuration.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nis-boss-directs-officers-clear-backlog-passport-applications/

The Nigerian Government in association with the Chinese Government has commenced a five day agricultural technical training programme for forty members of staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.


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The training which is aimed at building the capacity of agricultural officers was declared open by the Charge d’Affaires of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Qin Jian.

The pioneer training programme would cover vegetable and rice cultivation, soil and fertiliser management, agriculture machinery operations, seed production and inspection.

In his opening remark the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Shehu Ahmed said the training was introduced as a follow up to President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China in April 2016, where bilateral cooperation was intensified in the area of trade and agriculture.

He said “it is hoped that the Nigerian agricultural scientists and technicians will take the opportunity to enrich themselves with the understanding of Chinese agricultural development and its rich experience”

“This training, therefore, is to provide you with knowledge and basic skills that would enhance your competencies and productivity in the agricultural sector, he noted.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chinese Economic and Commercial Councillor in Nigeria, Mr Zhao Linxiang, said that Nigeria has abundant agricultural resources and that agriculture plays an important role in growing the national economy.

He said that the agricultural development in China and Nigeria was highly complementary, with great potentials for cooperation.

Mr. Linxiang said it was important to strengthen personnel training to enhance the agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

“This is the first time that the China-aid training courses have been held in Nigeria, which is groundbreaking, it is hoped that through this training programme experiences can be obtained and lessons learnt for similar training courses in the future”

He said for the modernisation of Nigerian agriculture, large numbers of qualified personnel including technicians and officials were necessary and agricultural capacity building should be given top most priority.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/federal-ministry-agriculture-associate-china-train-personnel/

The Nigerian Government in association with the Chinese Government has commenced a five day agricultural technical training programme for forty members of staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Farmers.jpg


The training which is aimed at building the capacity of agricultural officers was declared open by the Charge d’Affaires of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Qin Jian.

The pioneer training programme would cover vegetable and rice cultivation, soil and fertiliser management, agriculture machinery operations, seed production and inspection.

In his opening remark the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Shehu Ahmed said the training was introduced as a follow up to President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China in April 2016, where bilateral cooperation was intensified in the area of trade and agriculture.

He said “it is hoped that the Nigerian agricultural scientists and technicians will take the opportunity to enrich themselves with the understanding of Chinese agricultural development and its rich experience”

“This training, therefore, is to provide you with knowledge and basic skills that would enhance your competencies and productivity in the agricultural sector, he noted.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chinese Economic and Commercial Councillor in Nigeria, Mr Zhao Linxiang, said that Nigeria has abundant agricultural resources and that agriculture plays an important role in growing the national economy.

He said that the agricultural development in China and Nigeria was highly complementary, with great potentials for cooperation.

Mr. Linxiang said it was important to strengthen personnel training to enhance the agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

“This is the first time that the China-aid training courses have been held in Nigeria, which is groundbreaking, it is hoped that through this training programme experiences can be obtained and lessons learnt for similar training courses in the future”

He said for the modernisation of Nigerian agriculture, large numbers of qualified personnel including technicians and officials were necessary and agricultural capacity building should be given top most priority.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/federal-ministry-agriculture-associate-china-train-personnel/

In the election to the post of CAN President, Rev. Supo Ayokunle defeated Elder Joseph Otubu in the just concluded Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) election as announced by the out-going president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

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The election was concluded and the result announced just around 2:30pm in the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abuja where the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Supo Ayokunle led the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (MCCSW), Elder Joseph Otubu by 54 votes to 28 votes.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/breaking-new-can-president-emerges/

Nigeria is at a crossroads. Just over a year ago, people voted in a historic democratic election to end corruption and business as usual, opting instead to build an economy that delivers for all Nigerians.


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The old order was based on an unsustainable commodities supercycle. While the boom had many positives and contributed to Nigeria becoming Africa’s largest economy, it fostered an epidemic of corruption and inefficiency.

Foreign businesses and financial institutions also benefited as some people spent and sometimes hid huge sums abroad, lifted by the rising tide of oil exports and dollar revenues.

Now we are living in a new world of low energy prices. The economy has slowed while unemployment and inflation have jumped. Longstanding structural imbalances and overdependence on imports have been cruelly exposed. We are an oil-rich nation that imports most of our gasoline.

We are a farming nation that imports most of our basic food staples. This is simply not acceptable or sustainable.

Our solutions must be in proportion to the challenges. Fundamental change takes time and we are driving not one but three changes to reposition Nigeria for inclusive growth.

• Restore trust We have begun to tackle the endemic corruption and mismanagement that is crippling our economy and corroding trust in our institutions.

The anticorruption fight is at the heart of combating poverty and improving security. We have stepped up enforcement and new prosecutions to get our house in order, and I have called for foreign governments to work with us to identify where funds stolen during previous administrations are lodged and for multistate cooperation to combat oil theft.

Fighting corruption is not enough. We need accountable government and a public sector that can do more with less.

We have already taken initial steps by bringing all government finances into a single treasury account where we can monitor spending and impose discipline, implementing zero-based budgets and benchmarks targeted at waste and fraud, and establishing electronic platforms for government agency interface.

• Rebalance our economy In a world of lower oil prices and dollar revenues, the only sustainable path is to reduce Nigerians’ overreliance on imports. We must rebalance our economy by empowering entrepreneurs and producers, big and small, to create more of what their fellow Nigerians demand. The supply of foreign exchange to the economy must be increased.

This requires radically increasing exports and productivity and improving the investment climate and ease of doing business.

Nigeria’s growth and job creation will be led by the private sector. We are a young, entrepreneurial society with vibrant success stories in new industries such as telecommunications, technology and entertainment.

Government is doing its part to lower taxes on small businesses, eliminate bureaucracy to bring the informal economy out of the shadows and provide development funding for priority sectors such as agriculture.

The central bank has moved to introduce greater flexibility in our exchange-rate policy. These actions are a downpayment on our people’s ability to succeed.

• Regenerate growth We must reposition our economy by attracting investment in domestic industries and infrastructure. Nigeria has huge untapped gas reserves and also a critical shortage of electricity.

Our private sector loses too much of its revenue due to brownouts and power outages. Half of my fellow Nigerians have no access to the power grid.

Investment in our power infrastructure, restructuring of the state-run oil-and-gas sector and development of other industries such as solid minerals, metals and petrochemicals will help to create a virtuous circle of growth and exports while creating jobs and reducing poverty.

I am optimistic that our actions are providing the breathing room Nigeria needs during this period of fundamental change. But we cannot improve living conditions and restore fiscal health without making people feel safe and secure—just as we cannot defeat militancy without reducing poverty and dislocation.

One of our main achievements this past year has been to unite regional and global allies to push back Boko Haram. What we do in the next three years to build an economic bridge to Nigeria’s future will be just as important for bringing lasting peace and prosperity.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/three-changes-nigeria-needs-president-muhammadu-buhari/

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has called for calm and assures that justice will prevail following the unfortunate death of a Police officer, ASP Mathew Akpos, who was allegedly killed by operatives of the State Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Bayelsa earlier this month.


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This was stated in a press release issued by the Force Public Relation Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole in Abuja on Tuesday.

The unfortunate incident triggered protests by aggrieved citizens.

She said that the IGP has called for calm and that the Police authorities have already waded into the matter to ensure that justice is served.

According to her, upon the receipt of the information, the IGP immediately directed that the matter be investigated to ensure justice is served.

Kolawole added that all the Policemen linked with the killing of the officer have been arrested, detained and are presently undergoing investigation, for subsequent prosecution.

“The IGP called on the family and friends of the deceased officer to remain calm and patient as the Police authority will not relent in their efforts to ensure professionalism in carrying out their

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/igp-orders-investigation-murder-police-officer/

The House of Representatives has summoned the Nigerian Minister of Communication Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu and the Executive Chairman Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, Professor Garba Danbatta, over the settlement with MTN on the N1.04 trillion fines imposed on the MTN by the NCC.


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The decision was taken on Monday, at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by House Committee on Communication Technology, on the issue, during which Mr. Shittu and Professor Danbatta failed to turn up.

Announcing the committee’s decision, the committee chairman, Mr. Sa’id Fijabi noted that it was wrong for the Ministry and the NCC to accept a reduction while the House was investigating the negotiations between the Nigerian government and MTN on the fine.

Reduction opposed
Mr. Fijabi stated that, “It came to us as a surprise to hear that MTN is paying N330 billion. How can they pay that amount when the minister told us that everything was stalled pending the outcome of our investigation? As a House, we have opposed the reduction of the fine because there is no provision in the NCC Act that the fine can be reduced.”

The Nigerian Communication Commission has fine the MTN N1.04 trillion for not deactivating over five million unregistered SIM cards.

But a deal worked out by both NCC and MTN reduced the amount to N330 billion.

The committee mandated the Minister of Communication and his counterpart from the Ministry of Justice, NCC Chief Executive as well as all involved in the deal to appear before it on Monday, June 20.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/house-reps-summon-communication-technology-minister/

Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji lai Mohammed has said that with the activation of the 2016 budget, workers in the construction sector have returned to work in droves.


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Alhaji Mohammed also maintained that the Federal Government has availed itself creditably so far.

The Minister made this known on Monday in Uyo the Capital of Akwa Ibom State, south-south Nigeria during the Federal Government Town hall meeting organised by the Federal Ministry and Information and Culture.

He said as contractors are mobilised back to the various road construction projects across the country, the promise of the government to create and save jobs was real.

He then said as more and more road construction works resume in the days ahead, thousands of Nigerians will also be returning to work.

He particularly mentioned the construction sites that are back to work and have reengaged their staff with more underway.

“Julius Berger and RCC have returned to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, CGC have started work on the Bode Sadu-Jebba road and the Abuja-Lokoja road, CCECC is being mobilised to the Kano-Maiduguri road, RCC has resumed work at the Loko and Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue, The 2nd Niger Bridge is in this year’s budget and work is expected to start soon,” the Minister noted.

Again he stated that the Federal Government has also commenced the process of recruiting and training 500,000 teachers, specifically targeting unemployed University Graduates. “The online recruitment, through the portal ‘npower.gov.ng’, came on stream over the weekend,” he said.

“The Federal Government has other direct job creation and training schemes that are ongoing. Some of them are, the N-Power Knowledge, which is training 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and N-Power Build, which is training another 75,000 Nigerians in building services and all trainees, will be paid in the course of their training”.

River Basin

Alhaji Mohammed said an agreement has been signed to reposition the River Basin Development Authorities within the next 18-24 months, which would also boost job opportunities.

“The agreement between the River Basin Development Authorities and the Songhai Farms of Benin Republic includes the training of unemployed youths in integrated farm practice. This programme is complimentary to the upcoming Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme being planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.”

According to the Minister, the Federal Government was also working to provide fresh but conditional financial support for the states, many of which have been finding it difficult to pay their workers’ salaries.

Alhaji Mohammed concluded by stating that “the All Progressive Congress campaigned on three broad areas: To tackle insecurity, fight corruption and revamp the Economy and without mincing words, the party has done well.”

“I will say here that the Administration has so far availed itself creditably, as far as fulfilling these promises is concerned.”

This is the fourth in the series of the Town Hall meetings which started in Lagos, went to Kaduna, Kano and now Akwa Ibom state.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/2016-budget-already-creating-saving-jobs-minister/

The state of the Nigerian economy has been a cause for concern for all stakeholders as more businesses have found it hard to thrive.


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Could it be that the nation is on the brink of an economic recession? On this episode of #AnalyseThis , Arese Ugwu and Tunji Andrews discuss the state of the economy and proffer possible solutions to the impending problem.



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Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/video-analyse-ndanitv-nigeria-economic-recession/

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has appealed to labour leaders to call off the ongoing strike to give room for dialogue, failing which he said the state might be forced to apply the no work no pay rule after Tuesday.


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The governor made the appeal in an interview with Government House correspondents shortly after featuring on a live Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State television programme, Eyi Ara, in Ibadan, on Sunday.

Ajimobi maintained that the industrial action was ill-advised since labour had no dispute with the government prior to the strike nor gave the government any ultimatum in compliance with labour laws.

He said it had become imperative for the labour leaders to call off the strike to enable those he called the committed and hardworking among the workers to resume work in their own interest and the larger interest of the state.

In extending an olive branch to labour, the governor said that the labour leaders must be prepared to apologise for disrupting a stakeholders’ forum where they were also invited to discuss a proposed public-private participatory management of public secondary schools in the state.

Ajimobi said, “I am appealing to them to imbibe the culture of dialogue. We want them to come because we are not quarreling with labour; we have no dispute that might warrant labour leaders to direct workers to embark on strike.

“We don’t have problem with them, except for some that are being politically motivated. It is just a few who are using politics and are being influenced by failed politicians who wants to get through the backdoor what they failed woefully to get from the ballot box.

“We are appealing to them to come and dialogue with us. It is the major ingredient of democracy. Consultation, participation, rule of law and peace that is all we want. But anybody who breaks the law will be prosecuted. We may be forced to apply the no work no pay from Tuesday if they ignore my appeal.”

Commending workers for their tolerance and sacrifice in the face of delay in salary payment, the governor assured them that the situation would improve in the next few months when the result of the ongoing efforts to ameliorate the situation began to manifest.

The governor similarly appealed to pensioners to bear with the government, reminding workers and the senior citizens of how he was commended and even given an award as the best pensioner-friendly governor when there was sufficient fund to pay their dues.

He listed payment of 13th month salary for an unprecedented three consecutive years, salary increase on three occasions, local and overseas training, free bus shuttle, payment of salaries on or before the 25th of every month as some of the things he did for the workers before the recession set it.



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The governor said, “I am not happy with the situation we found ourselves, even though other states in the country, except Lagos and probably one other, are going through similar challenges of delay in payment of salaries and pensions.

“It is disheartening. I feel for them because I can’t imagine somebody working and not being paid. I also empathize with our senior citizens over the pension arrears. We will overcome these challenges because we are working hard to shore up our revenue base.

“We are plugging the loopholes and leakages at our revenue collection centres, because there is a lot of stealing going on. We are also increasing our tax net. And this is an opportunity for me to remind property owners to get prepared for the payment of tenement rate.

“For the sake of emphasis, the situation with pensioners was brought about by the stealing of over N6bn meant for them. We are prosecuting the culprits now. But we won’t say because of that we are not going to pay them. I’m optimistic that things will get better in the next few months.”

On the vexed education initiative, Ajimobi reassured the stakeholders that his administration had no plan to sell or privatize any of the 631 public secondary schools in the state, stressing that the allegation was a figment of the imagination of some opponents of the government.

Judging by the responses so far, the governor said that the state might not have more than 30 schools or thereabout where partnership might exist with interested stakeholders in the management of the schools.

Ajimobi also stated that the government would spend the about N600m generated from the education level introduced last year for the renovation of the remaining schools when the students embark on the next long vacation.

The governor decried the poor attitude of some parents whom he said were not prepared to contribute anything to the education and development of their children, a situation he blamed for the inability of the government to meet the N1.2bn target from the education levy..

He said, “We are not selling our schools. It is a misconception. We only want to partner with the people on the management of some of our schools, because this has become inevitable judging by the poor state of our economy and the deteriorating condition of our schools.

“We are just discussing this proposal, It is not ye a policy because we have not concluded the ongoing consultations. That is why labour and everyone who wants to partner with us should come and contribute to the discourse.

“Our schools that will not be involved in partnership management are not going to be left unattended. We will renovate them with the about N600m we realised from the education levy. The money is intact. Although it fell short of our target of N1.2bn, because some parents are not paying.”

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/ajimobi-urges-labour-leaders-embrace-dialogue/

1. We wish to inform Kaduna Citizens and beyond that there was never an incidence that occurred in Kakuri where a Christian was stabbed because he was not fasting.



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2. We wish to state the fact that Francis Emmanuel popularly known as IBOYI is a residence of Kakuri.
3. From our investigation under this community platform, we have gotten all the facts as to what lead to the incidence where Francis Emmanuel (IBOYI) was stabbed.
4. This entire issue is a case of a quarrel that ensued between some young men from Makera community and IBOYI who is from Kakuri. All the parties are not responsible people in the society.
5. What actually happened was; the group came and entered a road side drinking joint along Sokoto road by Gora junction. The group were said to have come looking for their brother but did not find him.
6. They had several exchange of words with IBOYI who has finished drinking and was sitting eating Opka. IBOYI told them to leave the place and they responded by saying they didn’t come to see him. He threatened to deal with them if they don’t leave. He pulled out a knife with the intention of stabbing one of the gang member but missed and one of the gang attempted to hold the knife but cut his hand in the process.
7. A witness Nasiru Abubakar was busy trying to push away the gang to a nearby transformer but he couldn’t make it alone as the number over powered him and no one on the street came to help him separate the parties. In the process one of the gang member tried to attack IBOYI with a scissors and Nasiru blocked him but another one had already taken the knife from IBOYI’s hand and stabbed him severally.



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8. A civilian JTF (Stephen Godwin Sunday) came to the scene which made the gang to run away. He was the one that took IBOYI to the hospital.
9. The star witness Nasiru Abubakar is a very close friend of IBOYI and was the one who made great effort in separating the incidence and had confirmed the incidence has nothing to do with religion or Fasting as was reported in the media.
10. It is unfortunate that some people misguided the public on the real story as to what had happened.
11. It is also unfortunate that efforts were not adequately made to reach out to the community leaders to find out the exact story before going on air.
12. We have all evidence and witness which we would make available to counter the lies going round.
13. We entirely condemn this act and support the security agencies to fish out the criminals and make a very good investigation to find out the exact story of the incidence. We also wish to plead on the security agencies to make the investigations public so that the true reflection what happened would be made public.
14. We have held an Inter Faith town hall meeting on Saturday about the incidence and the above outlines is a true reflection of our community over the incidence.
15. We call on the good people of Kakuri and beyond to remain peaceful and report any act of breach of law and order immediately to the appropriate authority.


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/locals-reveal-kaduna-stabbing-unrelated-religion-fasting/

STATEMENT BY KAKURI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION:



1. We wish to inform Kaduna Citizens and beyond that there was never an incidence that there was never an incidence that occurred in Kakuri where a Christian was stabbed because he was not fasting.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG_20160614_132718.jpg



2. We wish to state the fact that Francis Emmanuel popularly known as IBOYI is a residence of Kakuri.

3. From our investigation under this community platform, we have gotten all the facts as to what lead to the incidence where Francis Emmanuel (IBOYI) was stabbed.

4. This entire issue is a case of a quarrel that ensued between some young men from Makera community and IBOYI who is from Kakuri. All the parties are not responsible people in the society.

5. What actually happened was; the group came and entered a road side drinking joint along Sokoto road by Gora junction. The group were said to have come looking for their brother but did not find him.

6. They had several exchange of words with IBOYI who has finished drinking and was sitting eating Opka. IBOYI told them to leave the place and they responded by saying they didn’t come to see him. He threatened to deal with them if they don’t leave. He pulled out a knife with the intention of stabbing one of the gang member but missed and one of the gang attempted to hold the knife but cut his hand in the process.

7. A witness Nasiru Abubakar was busy trying to push away the gang to a nearby transformer but he couldn’t make it alone as the number over powered him and no one on the street came to help him separate the parties. In the process one of the gang member tried to attack IBOYI with a scissors and Nasiru blocked him but another one had already taken the knife from IBOYI’s hand and stabbed him severally.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG_20160614_132741-1.jpg
Kaduna Man Stabbed In Kakuri Francis Emmanuel


8. A civilian JTF (Stephen Godwin Sunday) came to the scene which made the gang to run away. He was the one that took IBOYI to the hospital.

9. The star witness Nasiru Abubakar is a very close friend of IBOYI and was the one who made great effort in separating the incidence and had confirmed the incidence has nothing to do with religion or Fasting as was reported in the media.

10. It is unfortunate that some people misguided the public on the real story as to what had happened.

11. It is also unfortunate that efforts were not adequately made to reach out to the community leaders to find out the exact story before going on air.

12. We have all evidence and witness which we would make available to counter the lies going round.

13. We entirely condemn this act and support the security agencies to fish out the criminals and make a very good investigation to find out the exact story of the incidence. We also wish to plead on the security agencies to make the investigations public so that the true reflection what happened would be made public.

14. We have held an Inter Faith town hall meeting on Saturday about the incidence and the above outlines is a true reflection of our community over the incidence.

15. We call on the good people of Kakuri and beyond to remain peaceful and report any act of breach of law and order immediately to the appropriate authority.

SOURCE: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/locals-reveal-kaduna-stabbing-unrelated-religion-fasting

I feel $26.2 billion is outrageous for LinkedIn, just like I said that Facebook buying WhatsApp for $19 billion was also out of place.

I'm beginning to suspect that these tech companies are either becoming agents for money laundering or they must be stealing from their shareholders by buying these assets at ten times the value, then the executives get refunded the balance gradually, into their bank accounts.

Something is just not adding up.

I hope the NFF will pay up what they've been owing Amodu Shuaibu and Stephen Keshi. I hope they don't owe Samson Siasia too.

It is better like this, so that the states which want to volunteer would volunteer, and those which want to lease of sell will lease or sell.

@BlackBerlin


She is a black market dealer who has been caught, and is being punished. Of course, not all criminals can be arrested, but those who are, must face justice.

It is easy for the black marketers in Lagos to escape arrest because they storm the streets with one or two jerry cans which they can easily prove to be for personal use. Tens of 50 litres jerry cans however, no one can convince a court it is for personal use.

As a matter of fact, the Mowe area is known for the special brand of black marketers who get their products from vandalizing pipelines in that area. I'm sure that the law enforcement agents were unable to prove the suspect's involvement in pipeline vandalization, so they settled for "Illegal Dealing In PMS". You actually need a license to do this, otherwise, it is a crime.

…Reiterates commitment to friendly business climate
…Gov’s leadership style result-oriented, all inclusive, says LCCI President

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday said his administration has commenced the process of developing a top class International Convention Centre that would boost trade and investments, just as he reiterated his unwavering commitment to ensuring the ease of doing business in the State.


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Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he received a delegation from the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) led by the President, Chief Dr. (Mrs) Nike Akande, disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct the Convention Centre has already been signed.

Governor Ambode said the Convention Centre, which would be constructed in the Victoria Island area of the State on 30, 000 square meters space, upon completion, would be of international standard and it would compete favorably with best convention and exhibition centres across the world.

While emphasizing the importance of organizations such as LCCI in growing the economy, Governor Ambode commended the leadership of the organization for partnering with the State to develop the economy, especially ensuring businesses and investments continue to thrive.

He added that the LCCI remained a veritable instrument to reach out to investors and the private sector, assuring that his government would continue to partner with the organization in the best interest of the people.

He said: “We will continue to be partners in progress and I believe strongly in improving on the ease of doing business and like we have always tried to reiterate, our administration is actually built on a tripod. First is security and we believe that if we are able to secure the lives and property of our people, we will create an atmosphere that we can actually now create job opportunities that we allow investors to come in and those local investors too.

“By so doing, we are creating jobs for our people and in creating that template and that platform, we believe strongly that our revenue will grow and in growing the revenue, we will now use it to provide infrastructure for our people and that is the platform upon which this administration is built,” Governor Ambode said.

He also said his administration is unequivocally committed to give good governance and accountability to the people, as well as allow a better platform for the private sector and businesses to thrive.

Earlier, Akande said her delegation was at the Lagos House on a courtesy visit to the Governor as part of activities to further improve on the relationship which had always existed between the State Government and the LCCI.

She commended Governor Ambode for his numerous achievements just within one year in office, saying the State was witnessing a gradual but steady rebranding for better under the Governor.

Akande, a two-term Minister of the Federal Republic, alluded to the massive donation of equipment to security agencies, the numerous road construction and rehabilitation across the State, effective traffic and environmental management, power sector development, Light Up Lagos Project, creation of Office of Oversees Affairs and Investment, N25 billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF), among other giant strides of the Governor, saying all the initiatives were important enablers for the private sector.

“We like to commend your administration for the tremendous achievements in the last one year and it is a reflection of the clarity of vision and focus. It also demonstrates an exemplary commitment to the ideals of service. Evidently, governance in Lagos State has gained momentum in the last one year despite the downturn in the economy.

“The Governor has not only sustained the good legacies of his predecessors but he has created a new development trajectory for Lagos State. Governor Ambode’s disposition is calm and amiable; his style is effective and his approach is inclusive, while his strategy is result-oriented,” Akande said.


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lagos-get-world-class-convention-centre-ambode/

Osun was the first state to stick to the School Feeding Program. If the Osun state economy had sustained the program, it would have been a good example for application to other states, and indeed, the Federal Government.

As much as I feel anything to encourage parents to send their pupils to school should be done, but I also suggest that the states which can afford this should delve in first, in order to test the viability of the program.

Honourable Commissioner of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti has said at the Lagos Empowerment Summit, that the outcome of deliberations would provide significant input in the formulation of government’s blueprint to create the needed atmosphere for employers of labour to excel.


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‘The interactive and technical sessions of this summit were particularly designed as an avenue for all stakeholders to bring up ideas and suggestions that will add value to the strategies guiding the design and implementation of harnessing the opportunity for job and wealth creation.’ he added.

According to Durosimi-Etti, the interactive segment which is very crucial would serve as feedback mechanism for government to revisit the drawing board in implementing earlier strategies in wealth creation.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr, Abdul Ahmed Mustapha, underscored the need for investment in Research and Development to enhance value chain in the Agriculture and Agro-Allied Sector through the production of high yield input and raw materials to potential entrepreneurs.

According to him, ‘there is need for effective collaboration between the private and public sector whereby the unemployed youths who are interested in farming are assigned to entrepreneurs, under an arrangement where government pays half of the salary and the entrepreneur provides the balance as a way of enhancing job opportunities in agro-allied business.’

Mustapha also said that linking small farmers with formal markets and business development services through knowledge,
technology and innovation would aid the sector’s growth, while enhanced knowledge of regulatory requirements would boost synergy between entrepreneurs and elicit knowledge sharing on business successes.

Meanwhile, participants at the 2-day summit have called on the state government and financial institutions to make the process of accessing finances for growing entrepreneurs seeking start-up capital less cumbersome, as well as make the interest payment affordable and convenient.

They commended the initiative of government with the Empowerment Trust Fund intervention and also said that government should prevail on financial institutions to always give special considerations to entrepreneurs who approach them for soft loans to grow their businesses.

They bemoaned situations where the financial institutions charge as much as thirty(30) per cent interest rates or more on loans, describing it as ‘beyond the level of affordability, ‘Banks should be more transparent about hidden charges and implement discounted rates on loans for SMEs’ they added.

The participants also called on government to continually sensitize entrepreneurs on the various opportunities available to access finance and strengthen partnership through stakeholders’ engagement to improve entrepreneurs’ knowledge of available types and sources of financial support for their businesses.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/lagos-empowerment-summit-harnessing-opportunities-job-wealth-creation/

The state Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu confirmed the Agip bombing and said the corps had started meeting with traditional rulers in various coastal communities as part of methods to resolve the crisis in the state.



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He said the meeting began with traditional rulers from communities in Southern Ijaw, a local government with one of the largest concentration of oil activities in the state, adding that the strategy was aimed at directly involving the traditional rulers and youths in the protection of critical national assets within their domains.

Agu said the corps and other security agencies remained resolute and committed in protecting the country’s assets adding that his men were doing their best to protect the state from attackers.

He asked aggrieved youths to stop violence and embrace peace for Niger Delta to attain expected growth and development.

He said: “This is the case of people turning their weapons against themselves. This destruction is having grave impact not just on the economy of the region but also on the environment.

“Any polluted environment takes a long time to recover and become suitable for farming, fishing and other uses. Invariably, these youths are destroying their future and the future of their children. It doesn’t worth it because there are better ways to make demands than self-inflicted injuries”.

Meanwhile, the elders and traditional rulers from the Nine States of the South-South geo-political zones yesterday proffered solutions to stop oil pipeline attacks by new militant groups in the Niger Delta region.

The elders said though the Federal Government have set up negotiating team to discuss the terms of ceasefire, the genuine solutions to stop the new militant groups in the region is to focus on discussing true federalism, equal political participation and fiscal sharing among states rather than discussing mundane issues.

The Elders under the aegis of the Voice of the South-South (VSS) in a statement issued in Yenagoa and signed by its Chairman, Board of Trustee, Engr. Mike Oghiasa, said though past dialogues on issues affecting the Niger Delta have gone down the drain due to misplaced priorities, the new negotiation should focus on issues of true federalism and equal participation in country.

Oghiasa noted that the violent agitation by the new militant groups was triggered by the anger against the lopsided administration of the country. ”Nigeria, as a country, is embedded in hatred, suspicion and inequality. Unless the federating units are allowed to have autonomy, there will continue to be bottled anger.

“The negotiating team should focus on true federalism, equal representation and proper economic sharing of resources. The sharing formula should be arranged along the geo-political system. The system is fool proof and devoid of political under tone. The six zones will have equal opportunities. If Bayelsa with eight local councils is sharing resources with Kano with over 20 local councils, it may trigger inequality.”

On the reasons for silent cry by the Niger Delta people for true federalism under the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, they argued that though the agitation was silent, “there was less injustice perceived under President Goodluck Jonathan administration.”

In a related development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) has paraded suspected pipeline vandals in Agip Gas Plant, Kwale in Delta State.

The Delta State Commandant of the NSCDC, Beatrice Irabor, who paraded the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Asaba, said they were nabbed in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the southern Nigeria state.

She said the vandals arrived on speedboats before engaging officers of the NSCDC which led to the injuring of some of the vandals while others escaped through waters.

Items recovered during the operation include gas cylinders, cutters and generators among others.

The NSCDC Commandant said they would be prosecuted.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nscdc-meets-traditional-rulers-resolve-niger-delta-crisis/

Economic and Financial Crime Commission clears the air on the issues of freezing suspects’ bank accounts. In a statement released to the press by Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity (EFCC) stated that the commission is legally empowered to freeze any bank account suspected of being used for financial crimes:


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In recent times, a lot of interest has been generated by the action of the Commission in freezing the accounts of suspects that were investigated or are currently being investigated. Some commentators have tended to ascribe vindictive motives to this action.

In order to prevent misinformation, it is imperative to explain the reason behind the Commission’s actions in this regard.

Freezing of accounts suspected of being used for commission of financial crimes is a mandatory investigative step backed by law.

Indeed, Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.

The section stipulates that, “the Chairman of the Commission or any officer authorized by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the Court ex-parte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”

Similar provision in the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2012 (as amended), also empowers the EFCC Chairman or his representatives to place a stop order on any account or transaction suspected to be involved in any crime.

The intendment of these provisions is to ensure that the Commission safeguards suspected proceeds of crime pending the completion of its investigation. It is without prejudice to the social standing of the holder of such accounts or whether they are individual, corporate or government accounts.

Freezing orders are incidental to investigation and doing otherwise will jeopardize the prospects of recovering stolen assets.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/efcc-freezes-bank-accounts/

A Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State has convicted and sentenced one Memunat Mohammed to two years imprisonment for dealing in Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, without lawful authority.


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Mohammed was arrested on December 8, 2015 in the Mowe area of Ogun State, during a raid by operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The convict was said to have been found in possession of 21 jerry cans each containing 50 litres of PMS, which she kept in her house.

She was arraigned by the NSCDC before Justice Adamu Mohammed on charges bordering on dealing in PMS without lawful authority.

The prosecuting counsel for the NSCDC, Mrs. Uzoma Telma, had claimed that Mohammed acted contrary to Section 1(17) (a) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and was liable to be punished under the same law.

The prosecution also tendered several exhibits, including the 21 jerry cans each filled with 50 litres of PMS as well as the confessional statement of the convict, which the court admitted in evidence against Mohammed.

In a judgment on April 19, Justice Mohammed said he found the testimonies of the three prosecution witnesses credible, noting that the testimonies were not refuted by the defence.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/oil-deal-woman-bags-two-years-jail-term/

@Twaci

Could be a lot of ppst-partum depression, especially aggravated by the situation of the IDP camps. She could also have been raped. Possibly by Boko Haram terrorists.

@Diegwu01

Haba! How can you compare El-Rufai with Fayose? Is Governance a Ponmo cutting contest?

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged the Federal Government to promote the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country.


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Obasanjo made the call during a courtesy visit by the management of NIPCO Plc to his Hilltop Estate in Abeokuta, on the need by the the Federal Government to promote use of CNG as a vehicular fuel.

The former President said that the signing of the idea during his tenure in 2006, to use CNG, was in a bid to promote cleaner environment and to develop gas as a vehicular source of fuel.

“If other government had promoted the use of LPG and CNG in Nigeria, half of the country’s vehicles would have been converted to gas.

“The essence is to provide alternative to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol at a reduced cost and to boost national socio-economic growth,’’ he said.

Obasanjo said that aside the economic gains, CNG targeted reduction of unfriendly automobile emissions and exposure of Nigerians to the innovation of powering vehicles on gas.

The Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy, said that Nigeria would have saved government over two billion dollars yearly, if the use of CNG is promoted in Nigeria.

He said that globally, the natural gas industry was increasing its focus and efforts to support natural gas transport.

Venkatapathy said that the CNG project was between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and NIPCO, through a joint-venture scheme called Green Gas Ltd.

He explained that the initiative, which is the first of its kind in West Africa, is ushering in a new era of vehicles running on the CNG in Nigeria with its attendant benefits.

He said that CNG “is a superior auto fuel alternation to liquid fuels, mainly petrol and diesel specifically for countries like Nigeria which is blessed with abundant availability of natural gas remains untapped.’’

According to him, to replace 20 per cent of current petrol consumption of Nigeria, Natural gas required is less than five per cent of the total domestic gas consumed currently and less than one percent of the current gas production.

Venkatapathy gave some statistic from Benin City, that over 4,000 vehicles run on CNG which resulted in replacing 20 million litres of petrol from 2012 to 2015 and which also saved over nine million dollars for Nigeria.

The managing director said that CNG had more benefits than petrol, adding that some of the benefit include low operating costs, lower maintenance costs and it reduces harmful vehicle emissions that cause local air pollution.

He said that on mile to mile basis, CNG would be cheaper than petrol by over 50 per cent and as compared to Diesel (on dual fuel mode), it would be over 45 per cent cheaper.

Meanwhile, some motorists plying Lagos-Ibadan Expressway described CNG powered vehicles as economical, safer, flexible and eco-friendly.

A commercial motorist, Mr Kazeem Odunayo, said that the conversion of his vehicle to CNG in early 2015, had saved him money.

Another commercial vehicle operator, Mr Sunday Adeyemi, said that most of the commercial vehicles operating between Lagos and Ibadan had converted to CNG because of its availability and the economy of scale.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/obasanjo-urges-fg-promote-use-cng-fuel/

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies have arrested a woman at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Dikwa town of Borno for allegedly killing her newborn child .


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The NSCDC Commandant in Borno, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Maiduguri, that the incident occurred on the 1st of June this year.

Abdullahi said that the woman, aged 30 (name withheld), allegedly killed her baby by throwing it into the pit in the camp after she gave birth.

“Immediately she committed the atrocity, she left the camp. Our attention was drawn to the dastardly act after three days when the corpse started smelling in the pit.

“We conducted our investigation and were able to trace her through a man named Gulumba , the person that brought her to the camp.

“The case had since been referred to the Borno police command for further prosecution and interrogation.

“This is not the first case; IDPs on several occasions had been caught indulging in all sorts of anti-social behavior, like prostitution, murder and illicit drug abuse, among others,” he said.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nscdc-arrests-30-year-old-idp-allegedly-killing-newborn-baby/

Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has broken a syndicate that specialises in pipeline vandalism along the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway and recovered a total of nine vehicles and seven motorcycles from the suspects.


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The agency, which arrested two suspected members of the syndicate, also recovered about 3, 000 jerry cans during an overnight operation in Oluwo-Ifote Village, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The two male suspects are Afees Olohunwa, 33, and Ayoola James, 21. Sunday Telegraph gathered that other members of the syndicate fled when NSCDC operatives stormed a thick forest in Oluwo-Ifote, where fuel was being scooped from a vandalised pipeline of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The State NSCDC Commandant, Akinwande Aboluwoye, who conducted reporters for an on-the-spot assessment of the vandalised pipeline, said the agency raided the forest in the early hours of Friday.

Aboluwoye stated that some of the jerry cans as well as drums had been loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and were awaiting transportation out of the site when civil defence men swooped on the suspects. He explained that the suspects consequently fled and abandoned nine vehicles, seven motorcycles, hundreds of empty jerry cans, drilling tools and hose, among other items.

“From main junction to this place (vandalised spot) is about 10km. We arrested two suspects and their jerry cans are still being counted. We have about nine vehicles and seven motorcycles,” he stated.

The commandant said efforts would be made to apprehend the fleeing suspected vandals, adding that those arrested would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation. He also said the NSCDC would notify the NNPC authorities on the need to urgently fix the ruptured pipeline to avert disaster in the area. Aboluwoye warned pipeline vandals to desist from the illegal activities, saying the NSCDC would not hesitate to bring them to justice.

”They should desist from their nefarious activities and do very good job. Here, there are a lot of areas they can cultivate in farming and be more productive, instead of polluting the farmland. Most of the people enga ging in vandalism are young ones; they should be involved in very productive jobs and not this kind of bad job,” he added.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nscdc-recovers-9-vehicles-7-motorcycles-pipeline-vandals/

Today LinkedIn entered into an agreement to be acquired by Microsoft, joining forces to realize a common mission to empower people and organizations. LinkedIn’s vision – to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce – is not changing and our members still come first.


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Both companies are the world’s leading professional cloud and network. This deal will them to keep growing, investing and innovating on LinkedIn to drive value for members and customers. Members will continue to develop their skills, find a job and be great at that job, using the platform which will continue to help customers hire top talent, market their brand, and sell to their customers.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-89PWn0QaaY



The LinkedIn you know and value is only getting better. LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence. The network has been changing the way the world’s professionals have connected to opportunity for 13 years, and this is an opportunity to truly change the way the world works on a massive scale.


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Microsoft paid $26.2 billion to seal this monumental deal. We look forward to seeing the great opportunities this collaboration will bring.


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/microsoft-acquires-linkedin/

PROTOCOLS
The Kaduna State APC government places the highest priority to educating our children and began implementing a multi-prong approach to improve access, quality and outcomes in the sector. In 2016, over 35% of our budget has been earmarked for education to cover the costs of (1) renovation and furnishing of our primary and secondary schools, (2) enhanced teacher training and comfort (3) closer monitoring and inspection of schools and teachers (4) provision of books and working tools (5) provision of free uniforms in our secondary schools (6) increase in daily spending from N33 to N180 per secondary school student for three meals (7) improved pedagogy trial using 4,000 pre-loaded student-teacher tablet PCs in selected schools for SSS2 students from September 2016 ( free, compulsory basic education for all, and (9) free primary school feeding programme.



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The Kaduna State Primary School feeding program (SFP) is currently in its 18th week. The Programme was launched January 2016 with the number of primary schools before and at the commencement of the SFP, are 4046 and 4256 respectively. This is largely because the Army and Police Children’s Schools applied to be included in the programme.



The programme was launched as a direct intervention in the health and nutrition of primary school pupils in Kaduna. It is part of our project to expand access to education. We knew that the programme would save parents money, expand the demand for farm products and create jobs for the catering vendors. In a sense, winning for our children meant winning for our farmers and caterers. It also gives our Government the moral authority to enforce the provisions of UBEC Act, and the Street Hawking and Begging (Prohibition) Law recently enacted by our State House of Assembly. In Kaduna State no parent has an excuse for his child – girl or boy – not to be in school.



Since 18th January 2016, the Kaduna State Government has been providing one meal for at least 1.5m pupils every school day. Pupil enrollment in Primary 1-6 before SFP was 1,007,096. Enrollment rose to 1,590,859 at the commencement of SFP.



There is a set menu for all public primary schools in the state. The menu could be adjusted without compromising the nutritional quality, based on relative seasonal scarcity or the widespread unpopularity of particular meal items such as beans pottage which the children were clearly not fond of. On Fridays, when schools close by 12 noon, we give the children a drink and snacks.



We began by sending a team to study the Osun feeding programme and learnt many lessons from its successes and challenges. We also sought the technical assistance of the office of the Vice President and held extensive discussions with experts from PCD to ensure that our thoughts, vision and approach were doable and on the right track. We debated extensively and decided against doing a pilot of a few schools but went for a ‘big-bang’ statewide implementation, and effecting adjustments and corrections as we moved along.

We then began implementing the Programme by identifying women already cooking around the schools and invited them to join the scheme. We worked with the headmasters, traditional rulers, APC party leaders and Parent Teacher’s Associations (PTAs) to identify suitable candidates for the programme. They were encouraged to form cooperative societies and elect leaders that will be signatories to the bank accounts we required them to open. Many of the participants have no capital to provide food be paid after the fact, so the state government had to be providing funds weekly to purchase the raw food ingredients for cooking.



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The food vendors were trained for a week on food hygiene and sanitation practices, and each vendor was assigned to feed no more than 250 pupils in a given day, in order not to overstretch their capacities and create quality problems.



The key index for the successful management of the programme is therefore hinged on the prompt and timely release of funds to all cooperative societies actively monitored by the Education Intervention Committee – a cabinet committee with representatives of ministries of agriculture, health, education and local government but chaired by the Finance Commissioner. There is a special assistant to the Governor in charge of the Programme that monitors implementation and raises red flags direct to my office. In addition, there are technical committees at state, local government and ward levels to check on defaulters.



We spend N318m every week (about N4bn every school term) in these lean times to feed our children. The catering vendors are mostly recruited from within the community they serve. This ensures that they produce most hygienic meals for the pupils, and we have not had a single case of unwholesome meals or food poisoning. We have about 17,000 of these vendors, each of whom recruits other staff (an average of four women) to help them. Getting the funds across to these vendors is a challenge in parts of the state where banking presence is low or non-existent.



As outlined earlier, in order to effectively manage the programme, the vendors are organized in clusters of 255 Cooperative societies formed with women leaders. Several women NGO groups have offered to provide free monitoring services on the conduct of the programme. Communities, PTAs and School-based Management Committees across all the 255 wards of our 23 local governments are beginning to take ownership by supporting the monitoring of the supply and distribution of the meals on the agreed time, quality and quantity.



Given the scale of the undertaking, some of our people doubted that it could be done. There were also concerns regarding whether we should not just focus solely on the physical conditions of most of the primary schools. We inherited a baleful legacy of dilapidated schools, inadequate classrooms, and no furniture for nearly 80% of the pupils. The schools also often lacked water and toilet facilities. The government of Kaduna State responded by launching a simultaneous school rehabilitation programme. It is a massive commitment to fix the more than 4000 public primary schools in the state and transform them into conducive places for the delivery of quality education. We have made a choice to prioritize SFP because of its lifetime impact on the pupils brain, mind and body.



In almost six months of running the school feeding programme, we can attest to its impact in improved nutrition for children, job creation for catering vendors and expanded demand for farm produce. Indeed, some of our vendors had to resort to buying materials from cheaper sources in the neighbouring states. It is also the only government initiative, along with free basic education programme that truly touches every household and community in the state particular the poorest and most vulnerable.



On account of the increased awareness and extended need, the Kaduna State Government will extend the SFP to nursery classes (an additional 300,000 children) in July 2016. We are encouraged to do this by the commitment of the federal government to provide matching grant to cover the cost of feeding pupils in classes 1-3 of the primary schools. We are submitting our claims with all records next week and look forward to the expeditious treatment of the request.



Your Excellency Mr. Vice President, ladies and gentlemen, this laudable Programme is a work-in-progress, has been very challenging to implement and we estimate that between one and five percent of the school feeding expenditure leaks. We have been responding by tightening financial controls and had to take very serious actions under the public service rules to discipline those that saw the programme as an opportunity for corruption. On our part, we are not only committed to its continuation but shall be fine-tuning the programme going forward, and strengthening the monitoring mechanism.

Thank your for listening and God Bless.



Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, OFR
Governor of Kaduna State


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/governor-el-rufai-analyzes-kaduna-state-school-feeding-programme/

Risk of zika during Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is minimal, says Brazilian health minister
The risk of the zika virus being spread during the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is minimal, the Brazilian health minister said on Friday (10 June). After a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices in Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Barros said the number of new cases registered in the city fell from 2,116 in the third week of February to 208 in the first week of May, a reduction of 90 per cent.

The decline in cases appears to reflect the fact that the prevalence of the mosquito that transmits the virus drops dramatically during the cooler and dryer months in Brazil, as outlined by Rio 2016’s chief medical officer earlier this week. February is summer in the southern hemisphere while May is autumn and August and September, when the Games will be staged, are winter.

“The municipal, state and federal governments are working together to ensure that people can watch the Games without risk,” said Barros, who confirmed that that Ministry of Health has invested an extra R$19.5 million (US$5.7 million) to guarantee the well-being of athletes and spectators during the Games.

“Brazil is in one of the regions in the world with the lowest rates of circulation of the zika virus in the period of the Games,” Barros said. The minister said the government’s increased prevention activities combined with the lower temperatures in Rio during the Games should result in a much lower proliferation of the aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the zika, dengue and chinkungunya.

Ricardo Barros speaks to the media in Rio on Friday (Photo: Rio 2016/Saulo Pereira Guimarães)

August is cool and dry in Rio, conditions which are not favourable to aedes aegypti. In an articlepublished in the June edition of Brazilian scientific journal Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, the authors highlighted this as one of the main reasons that the Games should go ahead as planned.



The researchers said that pregnant women should avoid travelling to countries with known zika transmission, but concluded that “the recommendation for the general public is to attend normally, while paying attention to the instructions from WHO and the Brazilian Health authorities.”



On Tuesday (June 7), health officials said the number of people infected with zika during the Rio 216 Games should be close to zero. In May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is no public health justification for postponing or cancelling the Games.



In an article he wrote earier this week, Rio 2016’s chief medical officer João Grangeiro said: “The WHO, the IOC and Rio 2016 would never put the health of athletes or tourists that will visit the city at risk. We are carrying out the organisation of the Games responsibly and with a thorough understanding of the complexity of our mission.”

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/risk-zika-rio-2016-minimal-brazil-health-minister/