Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
A total of 33,049 people from 571 households were affected in the recent Adamawa flood disaster.
The Secretary of the state Emergency Relief Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmud, said while briefing newsmen that the number was for the nine worst affected Local Governments along the river banks while reports from remaining 12 local government areas of the the state that were not seriously affected was being compiled.
He said that four people lost their lives along with 13,372 livestock in the nine Local Governments, comprising Yola North, Yola South, Demsa, Fufore, Numan, Lamorde, Girei, Shelleng and Guyuk.
Mahmud also said that over 1000 hectares of farmland was affected by the flood in the nine local governments, adding that the state government had expended over N500 million in assisting the flood victims across the state.
He said his committee would soon commence disbursing the N500 million released by the Federal Government after categorising the affected local governments.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State government will create additional 20,000 jobs in 2013 to cater for unemployed women and youths, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, the commissioner for Finance, has said.
Hammayo who made this known in Bauchi at a roundtable discussion with stakeholders on the state’s 2013 budget, he said the jobs would be created through the public works programme, whcih had been adopted as a model by the Federal Government in the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P).
Hammayo also said that various measures would be taken to curb over spending on overhead cost and other recurrent expenses in 2013.
The commissioner said that the savings from such measures would be channelled to sectors such as water, healthcare as well as new access roads for rural farmers.
Ekiti
The Ekiti Government in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday distributed Severe Acute Malnutrition treatment materials to five referral centres to be administered free on children of five years and below.
The referral centres are University of Ado Ekiti Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti as well as the specialist hospitals in Ikere, Ikole and Ijero.
The Chairman, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Sule Lawal, said while handing over the materials to the hospitals that malnutrition was a life threatening condition which required urgent treatment.
The Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Folakemi Falore, commended the centres for giving the cases serious attention, thereby reducing acute malnutrition in the state.
Responding on behalf of the recipient hospitals, the Head of Department, Nutrition, at Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, Dr Onyema Clifford, pledged to make good use of the items. (NAN)
Kano
Four private hospitals have been sealed for alleged illegal operations and unhygienic conditions in Kano State, a statement said on Wednesday.
The Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Health, Malam Isma’il Gwammaja, stated that they were closed by the Private Health Institution Unit of the ministry. The hospitals are; Pasly by nature health centre, Amana Hospital, Sarki hospital as well as Annur Hospital, all in the state capital.
The Senior Special Adviser to the state Governor, Dr Salisu Ibrahim, led the monitoring team that shut down the hospitals. Pasly by nature health centre was shut down because it use unauthorised herbal medication to treat patients, while Sarki hospital lacked the conducive atmosphere to operate.
Amana hospital lacked qualified personnel, while Annur violated the regulations of health care service delivery.
The statement warned that the State Government would not tolerate any unwholesome practices, especially as it regards health care delivery.
Katsina
Residents of Malumfashi local government of Katsina State on Wednesday appealed to the Katsina State Government to rehabilitate township water supply systems to ease persistent water scarcity in the area.
Speaking in separate interviews in Malumfashi, a cross-section of residents expressed displeasure over the situation.
A resident, Malam Sanusi Zubairu-Khalifa appealed to the state government to hasten the repairs of the damaged pipes as well as overhaul the water board operation.
Zubairu-Khalifa explained that the situation had increased domestic expenses, noting that the population of water vendors also increase daily due to the water scarcity.
Kogi
Kogi State Government has promised to assist victims of the recent flood disaster staying outside the relief camps.
According to the statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Yabagi Bologi, Awoniyi said the Government would ensure equity in whatever assistance it would render to the victims.
He said that government was updating the records of all the victims in all parts of the state, adding that no one would be left out.
Awoniyi said that many of the relief camps would soon undergo reorganisation with those in public schools to be relocated to allow for normal academic activities to resume.
He advised farmers, who lost their farmlands to the floods, to be patient as government was already taking steps to provide them with seedlings and other inputs.
The deputy governor said that affected buildings were being enumerated to enable the government take appropriate decisions on their suitability for occupation.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, says the state is financially buoyant to meet its obligations.
Ahmed, who made this known in Ilorin during a monthly interactive session, “The Governor Explains”, said the State Government had paid salaries, contractors and settle other claims.
“There is no magic in our financial viability other than the fact that we have been able to manage our expenditure within our revenue profile,” he said.
He assured that no local government council would sack its workers as they had streamlined their expenditure portfolio to manageable size to avoid past experiences.
Ahmed said his administration had spent N70 million to repair Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile Road, a federal road which linked the state with Osun State, promising to extend the intervention to other federal roads.
He said contract for the construction of Kaiama-Kisi Road, which links parts of Kwara North senatorial district, would be awarded soon.
He said the State Government was releasing N30 million monthly to the state Road Maintenance Agency to ensure a pot-hole-free road in the State.
Ahmed said his administration had spent more than N40 million on relief materials for the victims of the recent flood disaster.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for releasing N300 million as relief fund for the affected persons in the state.
LagoS
The former President of the Nigeria Power Lifting Federation (NPF), Fred Ine, last Thursday urged the three tiers of government to enact enabling sports policies to attract corporate partnership.
In an interview In Lagos, Ine observed that most investors in the country have long neglected interest in sports because there wee no binding policies in place.
“Sports development in the country is not the sole responsibility of government. It should be complementary between the government, individuals and corporate entities.
“But because there are no binding policies in place, corporate bodies in the country are operating the way they deemed fit,’’he said.
According to Ine, government should make it mandatory for corporate outfits to adopt any sport of their choice, to relieve the government of unnecessary burden.
Oyo
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has advised agrochemical dealers to adhere strictly to proper handling and administration of their products to avoid food poisoning.
NAFDAC Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances Directorate, Mr Hashim Yusuf, gave the advice at a workshop organised for the dealers in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The sensitisation workshop was organised by NAFDAC for members of the West Agro Input Dealers Association (WAIDA).
Yusuf was represented by Mrs Ngozi Onuorah, the Deputy Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances Directorate of the agency,
The director said that the inappropriate storage and handling of agrochemicals had harmful effects on human beings, animals and the environment.
Plateau
The Military Special Task Force keeping the peace in Plateau State, announced last Thursday that it has killed two persons believed to be assailants who attacked Kura falls village in Barkin Ladi.
The assailants attacked the village last Thursday. The STF spokesman, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, told newsmen in Jos that the STF men also recovered a baby belonging to a couple, who were believed to be killed by the assailants. The helpless baby, he said, was rescued in a nearby bush.
Mustapha said that the attackers had killed three persons, including a couple, while few other persons sustained injuries.
The spokesman expressed concern over the incessant attacks on villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom in spite of the spirited efforts to ensure peaceful coexistence amongst the villagers, and warned that the STF would not condone that.
Taraba
The Taraba Deputy Governor, Malam Garba Umar, last Wednesday directed committees handling the distribution of relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster in the state to begin distributing them.
Umar gave the directive in Jalingo while inspecting warehouses in which the materials were kept. The materials include food items, building materials, textiles, farming implements and fishing materials. The materials were bought with the N400 million provided to the state by the Federal Government to assist the victims in six local government areas.
Umar said a telecommunication company, MTN, the Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had donated relief materials to the victims.
Zamfara
Bakura Emirate Council in Zamfara State, has donated drugs worth N1 million to cater for children affected by malnutrition in the area.
The Emir of Bakura, Alhaji Bello Muhammad, presented the drugs to the Director, Primary Healthcare, Bakura Local Government area, Alhaji Ahmad Suleman, last Thursday.
He said that donation was informed by the council’s concern over the health conditions of women and children, noting that the donation was also meant to draw the attention of policy makers to the plight of the children.
“From the reports I have received from the community, the management of malnourished children is worrisome. “There is need for collaborative efforts to reverse the trend,” the emir said.
He added that the emirate had also received complaints from the State Coalition for Maternal and Child Health “on the pathetic state of malnourished children in the area”.
Nation
SIM-NIN: Subscribers Kick Against Today’s Deadline, Demand Extension
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers has requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission extend the deadline scheduled for the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers beyond Friday, March 29, 2024.
The subscribers’ body argued that telco agents were failing to capture all necessary information needed for verification, just as it also cited difficulties in uploading the captured data on the National Identity Management Commission’s server.
The President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, told The Tide’s source last Wednesday that NCC needed to order telcos not to disconnect telephone lines, considering the ongoing difficulties faced by subscribers.
The telecom regulator had insisted that there would be no changes to the deadline for the next phase of disconnection
The disconnection process was rolled out in stages, with the second phase scheduled for March 29, 2024, following the initial phase that occurred on February 28, 2024.
The third phase is slated to commence on April 15, 2024, as previously announced.
Earlier, the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, told The PUNCH, “We issued a publication that you can refer to. We specified certain deadlines and stipulated that subscribers who do not comply with the directive would be barred. And that has not changed.”
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers has requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission extend the deadline scheduled for the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers beyond Friday, March 29, 2024.
The subscribers’ body argued that telco agents were failing to capture all necessary information needed for verification, just as it also cited difficulties in uploading the captured data on the National Identity Management Commission’s server.
The President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, told the source on Wednesday that the NCC needed to order telcos not to disconnect telephone lines, considering the ongoing difficulties faced by subscribers.
The telecom regulator had insisted that there would be no changes to the deadline for the next phase of disconnection
The disconnection process was rolled out in stages, with the second phase scheduled for March 29, 2024, following the initial phase that occurred on February 28, 2024.
The third phase is slated to commence on April 15, 2024, as previously announced.
Earlier, the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, told the source, “We issued a publication that you can refer to. We specified certain deadlines and stipulated that subscribers who do not comply with the directive would be barred. And that has not changed.”
At the last deadline on February 28, 2024, about 40 million lines that were not linked to NIN were barred.
The NATCOM president said before the first deadline, subscribers had appealed to the NCC for a one-month extension.
However, the NCC explained that there was no issue as the process was designed to occur in phases.
According to the president, the Operator’s Consumer Centre stands as the primary location for consumers to complete their registration fully, with data provided there being verifiable.
However, the president noted that telecom agents were bypassing crucial information during the registration process, resulting in incomplete registrations of subscribers.
“For example, during interactions with telecom representatives, some agents fail to collect all required the information from subscribers.
“If a subscriber cannot provide certain details, agents often leave the registration incomplete. Consequently, these incomplete registrations are deemed unverifiable,” he said.
Further, Ogunbanjo noted that NIMC also shares responsibility in this process.
He said the challenges often arise when telecom companies attempt to upload collected data on NIMC’s server, owing to network issues.
“These network difficulties, beyond the control of subscribers, hinder the timely completion of the registration process,” he said.
“NIMC’s inadequate network infrastructure exacerbates the problem. While they intend to accept data uploads, technical issues prevent them from doing so effectively.
“We urge the NCC to address NIMC’s shortcomings, improve their services, and acknowledge that meeting the deadline will be challenging given the current issues,” the president added.
NIMC is a statutory Nigerian organisation that operates the country’s national identity management systems.
NIMC’s enrollment figures as of December 31, 2023, stand at over 104.16 million unique records.
About 530,345 Nigerians in Diaspora have gotten NINs. 59.12 million male and 45.04 million female Nigerians have NINs.
When The PUNCH reached out to NIMC for comments on technical glitches, the Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, clarifies that the commission’s server has consistently remained operational, debunking reports suggesting otherwise.
He emphasizes that the NIMC’s services are fully functional and accessible to all users
“Our server has never been down. You can go to the various NIN centres and confirm.
Adegoke further explained the process for subscribers to link their NIN to their SIM cards,
“These individuals only need to submit their NIN and complete the verification process through their respective telcos providers.
He encouraged those who have not yet obtained their NIN to visit any NIMC centre for enrollment.
Adegoke assured Nigerians that upon enrollment, individuals can expect their NIN to be available within three hours.
However, for those requiring corrections, such as rectifying date of birth errors, the process may take up to 72 hours.
Last week, the National Identity Management Commission and the NCC issued a joint statement unveiling a strategic partnership aimed at simplifying the NIN-SIM linkage procedures for telecommunications subscribers nationwide.
Both agencies reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the processes involved and improving efficiency regarding the NIN and SIM card linkage initiative.
They acknowledge the importance of this initiative in bolstering security measures and enhancing service delivery across the country.
The SIM-NIN linkage initiative is a crucial step towards improving the integrity of subscriber data and enhancing security measures within the telecommunications industry.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy was initially introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2020. This directive requires all telephone line users in Nigeria to associate their SIM cards with their NIN.
In December of the previous year, the NCC issued a directive stipulating that all telecommunications operators in Nigeria, including major providers like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, among others, must enforce complete network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers have not provided their NINs by February 28, 2024.
Barely two weeks ago, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project issued a warning to take legal action against the NCC if it does not revoke the directive instructing network providers to block the phone lines of individuals who have not linked their SIM cards to their NINs.
Nation
Reps Query N15bn Payment To Remita
The House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee has queried the N15billion payment made to Remita from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for two years.
This is just as the committee accused the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks of complicity in the sharing of the N15billion remittance.
The committee’s Chairman, Bamidele Salam, made the allegation at the resumed investigative hearing on revenue leakages in Abuja yesterday.
Remita is a payment solution that helps individuals and businesses make and receive payments, pay bills, and manage their finances.
The round table: Delta Bloodbath: Senate Meets Service Chiefs As Troops Comb Creeks.
Salam said that the Remita payment from the OAGF from 2016 to 2018 was questionable, adding that the OAGF paid the money without agreement or contract.
“The money is an illegal payment. There was no budget provision. So, where did they source the money from?” the chairman queried.
“If someone pays N150,000 as a Remita, you will pay 7.5 per cent Value-Added Tax in addition to it.
Salam said that the Remita payment from the OAGF from 2016 to 2018 was questionable, adding that the OAGF paid the money without agreement or contract.
“Ordinarily, that whole sum of VAT ought to go to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, but what they are doing in this transaction is that they will now add that VAT to the N150.000.
“They will add it up, gather the money together, and take it to the CBN,” he claimed.
He said, “System Spec and Remitta, both collecting revenue for the Federal Government, will share 50 per cent, while the banks and the CBN will also have their share.”
He said that by the time the committee finished its reconciliation, “I am very sure that hundreds of billions of naira will be the VAT component that was not remitted to FIRS.”
Salam stated that each bank ought to take the money and directly remit it to FIRS.
“Now, Remita is saying that each of those collecting the money will come and calculate the money that has been shared into shreds. Now, how do we track this kind of money? “he asked.
The Director, Banking Services, CBN, Mr.Ahmed Abdullahi, said it was necessary to source for an alternative way of remitting revenue, adding that Remita and System Spec were selected because they had been rendering similar services to banks.
The Chief Accountant, Treasury Single Account Department, Oyewole Adewale, representing the Accountant-General of the Federation, accused the CBN of not honouring its letters to reconcile the revenue accrued to the country through the Treasury Single Account.
He noted that the OAGF had developed a system where all revenue generated by the Ministries of Departments and Agencies of Government could now be monitored with little or no interference.
The Director, Remita Payment Services Ltd, Aderemi Atanda, while reading the summary of the TSA collection record, maintained that 10, 20, and 50 per cent were shared among CBN, commercial banks, and Remitta respectively.
Collections, he noted, often vary, saying, “In 2015.
Nation
Nigeria Needs Community-Driven Police, Not State Police -Shekarau
Former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has said that the country needs to adopt community-driven police rather than establish state police.
Shekarau noted that it would be more effective in addressing the current security challenges in the country.
The former minister of education spoke in Akure at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) during the launch of a book titled ‘The Psychology of Growing Old: A Personal Experience for both Young and Old,’ written by Sehinde Arogbafa.
Shekarau argued that community police would be better controlled than state police as well as devoid of political and religious leaders’ influence.
He the involvement of communities in state policing would enhance trust, cooperation, and collaboration between the police and the citizens.
Shekarau argued that community police would be better controlled than state police as well as devoid of political and religious leaders’ influence.
He the involvement of communities in state policing would enhance trust, cooperation, and collaboration between the police and the citizens.
“I’ve been an advocate of community policing. It is different from what is being paraded as state police. Community policing means community watch.
“There is hardly any community in Nigeria that does not have what we call the vigilante group. All we need to do is the government should organise them, the government should own is up, and the government should promulgate a law.
“If I may give you an example of Kano, I’m sure you must have had experience with the Hisbah Guards; that is community watch. We set up a committee of 12 elders in every ward to do the selection of 20 responsible and respected young men for the Hisbah Guards. And we recruited them and mandated that the local government take charge of them. We’re paying them allowances. And they know everybody in the community.
“Within one to two years in Kano State, ask anybody; we don’t have any vices, no drugs, nothing in all the communities because that is community watch.
“We have over 10,000 Hisbah Guards in Kano; I did not nominate a single one; not a single party leader nominated one. It was all the elders in the community. The government created a law; we didn’t leave it in a vacuum. The number one assignment of the Hisbah Guards was to support and complement the work of all the Nigerian armed forces and the police. And they were working with them peacefully.
“Ask anybody in Kano today, and they will tell you that people prefer to report their cases to the Hisbah Guards office rather than even the police stations or even going to court. What we need in Nigeria is community watch, not just when you ask a state to create 2000 to 3000 state police bombarded by party thugs, and you will find out that you are going back to the same intimidation. There will be abuses by political leaders.
“But if you allow the communities to select with the backing of the government, the government will pay them all their allowances, provide vehicles for them, and support them, and there is a chain of command from the state to the local governments, to the wards, and even to the villages.
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