Image caption Ali was run over by Boko Haram militants in 2014
A five-year-old Nigerian boy, who was seriously injured when he was run over by Boko Haram militants three years ago, has taken his first steps since.
The Islamist militants drove over Ali Ahmadu’s back on a motorbike as he tried to flee with his mother from an attack on their village, Chibok.
Ali is now walking again, after having spinal cord surgery in Dubai.
The operation was funded by a Nigerian charity, which raised about $60,000 (£45,000) for his treatment.
Ali is expected to stay in Dubai for about three months while he undergoes further physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises.
Image caption Ali was only two years old when he was run over by Boko Haram militants
The founder of the charity that arranged his treatment, Nuhuu Kwajafa of the Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care, told BBC Focus on Africa that Ali had not seen a doctor between the time of his injury and arriving in Dubai.
“He had been lying down with spinal cord injury,” said Mr Kwajafa. “He had inactive tuberculosis, so many kinds of infections, and they left him in the village.”
Now, following his surgery, “he is marching up and down in the room, talking, making noise. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
This story is auto-generated from ‘BBC News’ syndicated feed and has not been edited by Africa Prime News staff.
In one now-deleted Tweet, the president said Mr Strange “will never let you down!” according to news website ProPublica, which documents Mr Trump’s posts.
In another, the president said “vote today for ‘Big Luther'”.
A lesson for the president
Analysis:By Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter
Alabama Senator Luther Strange is disappearing down the memory hole.
As in George Orwell’s 1984, where politically inconvenient information is scrubbed from the records, Donald Trump is airbrushing over past support for the soon-to-be-former senator.
It’s just part of the president’s efforts to mend fences with his Make America Great Again base and their more impassioned advocates.
Getting back in favour with Mr Moore’s supporters shouldn’t be too hard for Mr Trump, given there were few who seemed to believe his heart was in the Strange endorsement.
They thought the president was mistaken or being misled, and he would eventually come around. It didn’t take long.
If there’s a lesson the president will take from all this, it may be that he shouldn’t try too hard to push his supporters in a direction they don’t want to go.
And if you’re a Washington politician seeking re-election next year, it’s best to assume you’re going to be on your own.
Early on Wednesday, Mr Trump changed his tune to congratulate Mr Moore on his victory.
“Sounds like a really great guy who ran a fantastic race. He will help to #MAGA!” he tweeted, referring to his “Make America Great Again” catchphrase.
The Republican president has been known previously to occasionally delete tweets, most often replacing them after correcting spelling errors or other mistakes.
Some watchdog groups have criticised the deletions, saying that the tweets are government records that must be preserved for the historical record.
Mr Moore rode a wave of support in the Republican primary from the same grassroots conservative movement that helped elect Mr Trump.
But Mr Moore derided his opponent as an “establishment lackey”.
With all 67 counties reporting, the outspoken evangelical Christian led the incumbent by 55% to 45%.
Mr Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence both appeared with Mr Strange at rallies in Alabama.
The president had tweeted support for him at least 10 times.
During a campaign appearance for Mr Strange last week, Mr Trump told the crowd “I might have made a mistake” in endorsing the former Alabama attorney general.
Mr Strange was appointed to the Alabama Senate seat after Jeff Sessions joined the Trump administration as attorney general.
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption Mr Moore said of the vote: “God has put me in this election at this time, and all the nation is watching”
A White House aide told CNN on Wednesday that the president felt “embarrassed” by Mr Strange’s loss.
Political website Axios reports that Mr Trump blames Mr McConnell and “has taken to physically mocking” him.
Mr Moore, 70, is best known for twice losing his position on the Alabama Supreme Court.
He was de-benched the first time for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the courthouse and again for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licences.
Mr Moore is now the heavy favourite for Alabama’s special election in December against a Democrat.
Alabama has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in a quarter of a century.
Image copyrightAFP/Getty ImagesImage caption The president himself flew in to Alabama to offer his endorsement to Mr Strange
Note: This story is auto-generated from BBC syndicated feed and has not been edited by AFRICA PRIME NEWS
Gombe (Nigeria) — Participants of a town hall meeting in Gombe, northeast Nigeria, say the rising figures of maternal and child deaths in the State is unacceptable, calling on government to direct adequate resources to saving lives of mothers and children.
The meeting under the Review of Maternal Newborn-Child Health (RMNCH) programme featured various speakers who lamented the absence of releasing money meant for Free Maternal and Child Health services, a programme the state willingly introduced to address such deaths.
The meeting gathered that State Government had stopped funding the free services in all its health facilities since first quarter of 2015 — releases have not been forth-coming, despite budgetary allocations and approvals.
The sum of N100 million has been earmarked for spending on the free programme in each quarter.
While speaking at the meeting Director of Nursing Services in the state Ministry of health, Saidu Adamu warned against molestation of midwives by patients who feel that antenatal service in Government facilities are free. “This always occur whenever patients are given lists of drugs and other requirements by the midwives to be brought to the hospital.”
The town-hall meeting also frowned at vested interests of highly placed individuals in the State who influence postings or divert postings of their relatives from the rural areas to cities even when there is high demand of health workers especially nurses and midwives in the rural areas of the State.
The town-hall meeting brought together civil society organizations, the media, traditional and religious leaders, officials of the State Ministry of Health, as well as Save the Children International.
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State, in northern Nigeria, says his administration is ever ready to share public document and information with citizens, adding that, gone were the days when public officials hide documents from citizens.
He said his administration, since coming to power in May 2015, commenced disclosure and making available all relevant document to citizens, saying he had been running an open door policies, where residents of Kaduna interact with government officials for development of the state.
Inaugurating Kaduna State Steering Committee of ‘Open Government Partnership’ (OGP), the governor said, the technological breakthrough today has made things open, and there was no more secrecy in governance. The OGP is aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance,
Mr. El-Rufai said, he had already tasked government officials on openness and being accountable in their respective areas of responsibilities.
Said he, “I always tell my officials to be conversant with what they do because there is no more secret in what we do any longer. If as a government official, you make a speech today and you read that same on a media platforms later, how will you feel. That is why we are transparent in what we do in the state as a government. We publish our programmes including bid for contract where any contractor within and outside the state can apply”, the governor said.
The civil society Co-Chair of the OGP Kaduna, Malam Mustapha Jumare commended Kaduna State Government for the bold step in being the first state to embrace the partnership at the sub-national levy, saying it is a demonstration of willingness to subject ones self to public scrutiny.
He said civil society organisations are ever ready and willing to work with Kaduna State Government in ensuring the achievement of the OGP objectives.
“I want to assure you that as civil society organisations we are ever ready to support the process, and ensure that OGP works in Kaduna, and that its objectives are achieved.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), who is also the Co-Chair of the OGP Nigeria, Edetaen Ojo, said OGP is premised on partnership between government and civil society which for many fail to come to terms with, especially the government and civil society themselves.
“Government has to work with CSOs to develop and implement the OGP action plans, which contain priorities that have been jointly agreed upon.
“The OGP process also encourages members to establish institutional mechanisms for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between government and CSOs, which runs through the process”, he said.
He urged Governor el-Rufai to remain opened to suggestions from the CSOs saying, once they are achieved the credit goes to him, adding, “nobody would be bothered with trying to find out whose ideas they were originally,” he added.
Nigerian Police says it has arrested 31 suspects in connection with kidnap and robbery on the Abuja – Kaduna Highway and other roads in Niger state, north central Nigeria.
The success followed reinforcement of Operation Absolute Sanity officers on the Highway, with more personnel of Special Tactical Squad and additional two (2) units of Special Police Forces.
A statement by the Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, says, the suspects were arrested in their hideouts and camps where some of their victims were rescued — firearms, ammunition, Army Camouflage Uniforms and operational Vehicles were recovered from them.
“In the operation that is still ongoing, four (4) different vicious and notorious Kidnap for ransom gangs, including those dealing in illegal possession of prohibited fire arms were dislodged and busted. Also arrested is a gang that is responsible for the killings of some security personnel on Kaduna – Abuja road and Abuja – Lokoja road recently.
“They equally confessed to have raped some of their victims. A total number of thirty one (31) suspected kidnappers / Armed Robbers were arrested in the operation. They confessed to the offence and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.
The statement says, most of the suspects were identified by the victims for being responsible for their kidnap.
“While the operation is being sustained, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and commands to introduce new strategies in curbing kidnappings and other violent crimes on the highways and major roads in other states of the country.
“They are also to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) and ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide and make sure that detection of crimes are prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminals. The ongoing raids on criminal hideouts will be sustained throughout the country,” it says.
The statement further says, investigation is being intensified to effect the arrest of other suspects at large, while all the arrested ones will be arraigned in court on completion of Investigation.
Gombe (Nigeria) — Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) says it will partner Nigerian government in its fight against corruption.
President of the Association, Shehu Usman Ladan, stated this Tuesday, while speaking with Journalists shortly after opening the fifth session of this year’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme in Gombe, saying, the Association would punish any member involved in corruption related offences.
He stated that the association has put in place an ethics and standard committee to sanction erring members with a view to curtailing rising cases of corruption in the country.
“Any of our member found wanting will face the visitation panel. If such a person is again found wanting, he goes to the discipline tribunal or higher court,” he said.
The ANAN president lauded the federal government for successfully managing the recession plaguing the country, stressing that the association is aware of government’s determination towards restoring the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to positive growth.
“Being a key player in public sector accounting, we are on course in our determination to broadening expertise in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) as it will provide a great framework for achieving value in government utilization of public funds and managing effects of the recession,” he said.
Ladan reiterated the association’s support for the ongoing anti-corruption war as well as efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in bringing looters of national treasury to book and recovering the nation’s stolen wealth.
He added that the association’s Society for Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention (SFAFP) is geared towards providing machinery for training, supervision and regulation of the practice of forensic accounting and fraud prevention.
The president called on members of the association to register with SFAFP in order to enhance their professional leverage and strengthen their efforts towards building a corrupt-free society.
While listing benefits of attending ANAN programmes to members to include improving skills to face challenges posed by changing trends in the profession among others, the ANAN president however threatened further sanctions to members who shun the association’s activities.
Those ANAN members that fail to attain its activities, according to Alhaji Ladan, stands the risk of denial of privilege to be elevated to hold office at branch level, delisting defaulting members name in the register of members of the association.
Also speaking the State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dakwambo, commended ANAN for choosing Gombe State to host the event aimed at training sound professionals in the field of accountancy.
The governor said since inception, his administration was aware of the importance of prudent utilization of scarce resources because the state was among others receiving the lowest allocation from the federation account.
“When I became Accountant-General of the state in 1999, I met less than ten professional accountants in the treasury department. It is worthy to note that we now have not less than one hundred and twenty. I have no doubt this will ensure accountability, transparency, probity, efficiency and effectiveness in the management of the finances of the state,” Dankwambo said.
This year’s theme for the MCPD programme is “Strengthening Public Sector Financial Management in Times of National Economic Recession” with seasoned professionals billed to deliver to further educate the members.
New ANAN members are also expected to be inducted into the association during the programme.
Gombe (Nigeria) — The Maternal and Newborn Child Health Coalition (MNCHC) in Gombe State, northeast Nigeria, has urged top government officials, politicians, Traditional and religious leaders to desist from interfering in the posting of health workers, as the state currently records 162/1000 under five mortality rate.
Chairman of the Coalition, Alhassan Yahya, who made the call at a press briefing in Gombe on Tuesday, said, the State Ministry of Health is overwhelmed by requests from highly placed individuals seeking to redeploy health workers from rural areas to urban.
“Most of rural communities do not get qualified health workers to provide the needed service, their health facilities are manned by volunteers and other unskilled personnel who are forced to do their best siling patient jeopardizing their lives
“The high concentration do not get qualified health workers in town undermine service delivery at the rural areas facilities, in the final analysis , all these contribute to the negative health indices of the state as contained in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey that Gombe state has 162/1000 under five mortality rate”, the Chairman added.
The Coalition also appealed to the state government to enforce a clause of compulsory acceptance of posting to any part of the state, as contained in the employment letter for at least 2 years before seeking redeployment.
It also advised the government to accord priority to skilled health workers when employment opportunities arise and that volunteer health workers, who are skilled, should be considered first, in term of employment, particularly in primary health facilities.
Communities in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State have applauded efforts of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in sensitizing youths for better future.
The communities including Fadan Kamanton, Zonzon, Kamuru-Ikulu and Ramai-Zonkwa, all in southern Kaduna, observed that with the sensitisation on girl-child education, early marriage and economic empowerment, the youths are better equipped to make good use of their potentials towards a better standard of living.
In various presentations of their activities since the commencement of Collective Action for Adolescent Girls Initiative (CAACI) last year, there had been turn-around, where most drop outs had to returned to school to further their education.
It also showed a reduction of social vices being practiced mostly amount the youths of the affected communities.
The report shows a reduction in early marriage amongst young boys and girls, stressing that most of them as a result of the awareness, have embraced skills acquisition programmes like tailoring, carpentry, amongst others in order to earn a living.
Speaking after the presentations, CAACI project officer, Linda Sidi Umar, expressed delight with the commitment shown by the youths and enjoined them not to relent in the training they have received for a better tomorrow.
She enjoined them to introduce the various programmes they have trained in and pass the message to others for the realization of the yearnings and aspirations of CAACI in the local government.
Linda Sidi Umar stressed the need for the girls to shun the company of bad friends so that what they have learnt would not be a waste but a stepping stone for greater heights in future endeavours.
She thanked religious and traditional rulers for embracing the programme and appealed to them not to relent in ensuring there was total change in the lives of the youths especially the girls so that they will be deceived into early marriage.
Some elders who attended the programme commended the efforts of CAACI for changing the way of life of most youths in the four communities while appealing to other NGOs to take a cue from CAACI, for sustainability and reduction of the rate of social vices among the youths.
They appealed to the state government to always engage the youths in meaningful projects that would take their attention away from evil practices that are inimical to their progress.
They lamented lack of social amenities that could help involve the youths in what they have learnt in their various trainings.
