Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Gombe State Water Board, says the state will meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of providing potable water and basic sanitation to half of the population before 2015.
The board’s General Manager, Alhaji Isa Mohammed, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi recently.
Mohammed, who was in Bauchi to witness the launching of Bauchi State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, said the state had short-term and long-term policy toward achieving the MDGs objectives.
“We have short term solution and part of the short-term is all the boreholes are undergoing reticulation and about 70 per cent of the boreholes are functional and undergoing repairs.
Borno
Fifty persons have returned to Maiduguri after a three-month extensive training on agriculture in Thailand.
The group, comprising 41 males and nine female departed home in November for the course aimed at preparing ground for agricultural revolution in the state.
Receiving the group, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, the Deputy Governor of the state, commended them for their dedication to study while in Thailand.
Mustapha explained that they were sent for training in Thailand so that the state would be among the top food producers in the country.
FCT
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, says granting local government councils autonomy is not a solution to their problems.
Onyejeocha (PDP-Abia), the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
She said that the problem inhibiting the development of local government areas in the country was not who kept the money allocated to the councils, but how it was managed.
“Is the problems about who keeps the money or who gives out the money?
Gombe
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, has enjoined stakeholders to follow proper channels to register their products with the agency.
Orhii made the call at the interactive session with the stakeholders in Gombe last Friday.
He said that following due process in the registration of products would assist the country in ensuring quality products for the consumers.
According to him, the purpose of the meeting is to interact with the stakeholders on the challenges facing them in the state and to look for a way forward.
Kaduna
The Federal Government is planning to establish mega universities to address admission constraints among Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan said last Saturday in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The President said this at a special convocation and launching of N50 billion Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Phase II Development Fund at the university’s main campus, Samaru, Zaria.
Jonathan was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
He said that when established, each of the mega universities would absorb more than 200,000 students.
Kano
The Kano State Government has assured residents of provision of a healthy and safe environment.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, made the promise at the end of this month’s sanitation exercise in Kano.
Abbas said that the government would, however, require the support and cooperation of the people to make a success of the programme.
“The main objective for introducing this exercise was to change the attitude of people on the issue of health. The governor is very concerned in seeing that health is improved tremendously through personal sanitation and hygiene.”
Kwara
The Elerin of Erinle, Oba Abdulganiyu Ibrahim Olosooku, has appealed to parents to always encourage their children and wards who wish to participate in sporting activities.
Olosooku made the appeal recently at Erinle, Kwara, while honouring the U-15 Moje Queen FC of Erinle that represented Nigeria at a soccer tournament in Germany.
The monarch said the team’s feat overwhelmed him with joy, noting that many of such success would come the community’s way.
He commended their parents for releasing them for the tournament in spite of the misgivings of some of his subjects.
Lagos
Vincent Adekoya, an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, last Sunday in Lagos advised against the use of car-piece and exposure to noisy environment to prevent hearing loss. Adekoya, a lecturer at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, (LASUTH), gave the advice in an interview with newsmen to mark International Day for Ear and Hearing.
He said that 90 per cent of hearing loss could be prevented because most of the causes were usually acquired due to ignorance or negligence.
According to him, some pregnant women use drugs indiscriminately during the first three months of baby formation and this can affect the baby’s hearing ability.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government is to purchase 2,000 computer laptops for distribution to its civil servants, Mr Andrew Affi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, has said.
Affi however, told newsmen on Saurday in Lafia that the laptops would not be given out free of charge.
“Any civil servant who is interested will be given one for N135,000 and will be expected to pay up the money within 18 months,” he said.
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has dissuaded the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) from making the killing of two students of Nasarawa State University to degenerate into national problem.
Aliyu gave the advice on Friday in Minna when he met with the NANS’ Director of Exchange programmes, Mr Olusina Oyebisi, who presented a document to him on the issue.
According to him, if the issue is not resolved it may affect the entire education sector of the country.
It would be recalled that two students of the university were allegedly killed by soldiers, while protesting against water scarcity on the campus and its environs on February 25.
Ogun
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Saturday identified lack of quality leadership among other factors as major hindrances to development in Nigeria as well as other African countries.
Obasanjo, who acknowledged that Nigeria and Africa had enormous potential, said it was only quality leadership that could bring such to realisation.
He spoke in Abeokuta during the final of Africa Region Intercollegiate Debate on Human
Security Africa, organised by Centre for Human Security, (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
Some University and secondary schools from secondary schools from Nigeria and other African countries participated in the debate.
Plateau
The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining security in Plateau said there was an attempt by some miscreants to bomb a mosque in Jos recently.
This is contained in a statement signed by the STF Media Officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, on Saturday in Jos.
It stated that the attempted attack on the mosque took place at about 8.30 p.m.
The mosque, the statement added, was located on the Bukuru expressway in Jos South LGA.
According to the statement, the miscreants threw a hand grenade into the mosque but it failed to detonate and thereafter, they fired shots in the air and escaped.
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has reiterated the commitment to service delivery for pensioners.
Ejikeme said this during the Customer Service Week in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that commission had a mandate to deliver good service delivery to the pensioners.
Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said that the customer service week was important to operations of PTAD.
“Customer service is the support that you give to a customer, whether it is an existing customer or potential customer in the process of delivering or making enquires about a service.
“To be a good customer service representative you need to be knowledgeable, have good attitude and attribute especially to the senior citizens and have empathy,” he said.
Ejikeme said that all PTAD staff had most of the attributes of a good customer representative.
“We provide excellent customer service by going to verify our aged pensioners who cannot do it by themselves anywhere across the country.
“There is a dedicated team that was mandated to go round to confirm the aliveness of those who can not confirm their aliveness either because the are too old or have health issues,” the executive secretary said.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said that the official theme of the 2024 customer service week was “ We Go Above and Beyond For Our Customers.”
She commended PTAD and the SERVICOM team for organising the 2024 customer service week.
“This is in line with the best practice of celebrating frontline workers and service takers.
“Customer service week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.
It calls attention to the importance of people to boost morale team work and departmental collaboration in supporting pensioners.
“ It is a platform to reward employees for the significant work they do,” Akajemeli said.
She said that the objective of the customer service week was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of employee who strived to create positive customer experiences.
She said that it was time to show customers that the organisation valued their experience and feedback, through comment cards, dedicated hotline, among others.
Akajemeli said that it raised awareness internally and externally about the importance of good customer service in building customer loyalty and satisfaction.
She said that the benefit was to increase motivation, show appreciation, encourage friendly competition, boost employee retention, create a positive workplace and increase productivity.
The Head, Surveillance Department at the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Abdulrahman Saleem, said that good service delivery was the key success of every establishment.
Salem said that PTAD operated with standard, considering the success it had achieved so far.
Saleem said that pensioners required the best service attitude and behavior.
“ I give kudos to PTAD for its efforts and encourage it to do more.
“Therefore I urge PTAD staff to keep up the standard and continue to give good service to the pensioners,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has honoured Flying Officer David Sangokoya for winning the 2023/2024 Royal Air Force College Cranwell International Cadet Sword of Honour.
Abubakar honoured the officer during the presentation of cheques to 13 beneficiaries of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy (GPAIP) in Abuja, yesterday.
He described the achievement as ground-breaking as it was the first time an African cadet had won the prestigious award since the Academy’s creation over 100 years ago.
According to him, the feat underscores the excellence that exists within NAF, and proof that NAF officers and cadets can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“To our awardee, you have set a new standard, not just for your peers, but for every cadet and officer that will come after you.
“This accomplishment is a powerful reminder that no goal is out of reach when one is armed with dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Your journey as an officer has begun with this prestigious accolade, but the true measure of your success will be seen in how you serve, lead and contribute to the mission of NAF and the defence of our great nation.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, we extend our deepest gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for its unwavering support in providing world-class training opportunities to our personnel.
“This has enabled our officers and men to gain invaluable skills and knowledge, strengthening not only our bilateral ties but also our collective ability to address global security challenges,” he said.
The CAS said that the NAF looked forward to continuing the fruitful partnership for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and UK countries.
He expressed gratitude and unflinching loyalty to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare and training of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and NAF in particular.
“I must also take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the instructors who helped to mould and prepare this cadet for the global stage.
“Their dedication and commitment to developing top-notch officers is evident in this ground-breaking achievement.
“You have not only trained a leader but have given the Nigerian Air Force a legacy we will all cherish,” he said.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated private sector involvement to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, made the call at a high-level policy dialogue on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the dialogue was organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), a coalition of private sector stakeholders, to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the country’s healthcare system.
The dialogue has “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare” as its theme.
Represented by Dr Yakubu Agada-Amade, the NHIA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Ohiri explained the crucial role of private sector collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system
He highlighted the “One Plan” under the SWAp framework, which seeks to unify health sector efforts, ensuring efficient resource use, effective governance and expanded healthcare access.
He also stressed the importance of overcoming barriers that historically hindered the implementation of healthcare interventions in Nigeria, such as inadequate financing, weak governance systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that “the dialogue explored innovative approaches, including digital health innovations and financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Act and mandatory health insurance coverage.
“With enrollment in health insurance growing by 14 per cent over the past year, NHIA can push for greater inclusivity, particularly targeting the informal sector through flexible payment systems and partnerships with telecommunications companies.”
He called for stronger synergy between public and private health actors to ensure universal access to quality healthcare and sustainable reforms in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Panelists from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) and Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) echoed the sentiments, underscoring the private sector’s role in expanding insurance coverage and improving healthcare delivery.
They commended NHIA’s efforts toward driving reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).
