Africa Prime News

Saudi Executes 57th Convict For Fatal Shooting

-

02/02/2016

Saudi Executes 57th Convict For Fatal Shooting

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday executed one of its citizens for the fatal shooting of another Saudi, bringing to 57 the number of convicts put to death this year.

Mosaid al-Shahrani had been tried and found guilty of killing Hamad al-Shahrani with an automatic weapon after an argument, an interior ministry statement said.

It did not give further details of the connection between them but said the accused was put to death in the southwestern city of Abha.

Most executions in Saudi Arabia are done by beheading with a sword.

The kingdom on January 2 executed 47 people in a single day for “terrorism”.

According to an AFP tally, Shahrani is among 10 other locals and foreigners put to death this year.

In 2015 the kingdom executed 153 people, mostly for drug trafficking or murder, according to an AFP tally.

Amnesty International says the number of executions in Saudi Arabia last year was the highest for two decades.

However, the tally was far behind that for China and Iran.

The kingdom practices a strict Islamic legal code under which murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy are all punishable by death.

Source: Vanguard

Nigeria: Stakeholders Commend NURHI Over Family Planning Support

Africaprimenews

-

02/02/2016

0

Nigeria: Stakeholders Commend NURHI Over Family Planning Support

Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – As activities of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) Phase II kicks off in Kaduna State – north west Nigeria, health workers and other beneficiaries of their services have commended their presence and impact in improving contraceptive prevalence in the state.

During a facility tour recently embarked by a team of Journalist to Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities at Barnawa, Kudenda, and Sabo Tasha, suburb communities of Kaduna metropolis, it was noticed that the family planning units were all made over and supplied with family planning commodities at zero cost by NURHI so as to encourage the inflow of women in adopting child spacing.

According to the Family Planning provider heading the family planning unit in Kudenda PHC, Safiya Ibrahim, efforts of NURHI in encouraging adoption of family planning has triggered women’s turnout to the facility.

She said the organization has successfully trained providers and also provided family planning commodities in the clinic for free which include autoclave, sterilizer, weighing scales, plastic buckets, water drum, metal chairs, handbooks/guidelines and contraceptives among other items.

In the same vein, the provider with Sabon Tasha PHC, Florence Nwosu appreciated NURHI’s efforts at raising awareness about family planning among families as well as its provision of facilities free of charge.

She noted that an average of 20 women come in daily to access any of the family planning method, adding that the renovation of the family unit has made clients comfortable anytime they visit, hence encourage their turnouts.

Mrs. Nwosu added that, when a client comes as a first timer, she is been counseled and then educated on the advantages and disadvantages of each method before she makes her choice of method – the only thing expected of her is to register with the hospital for N300.

“One of our challenges here is that when there is no light, we use kerosene stove to work because we don’t have generator to generate power in order to sterilize our equipments and make work easier,” she lamented.

In the same vein, Ladi Kama, a family planning provider with PHC Barnawa noted that with NURHI’s intervention, they recorded an average inflow of 140 women monthly.

She however called on the government to provide more space for the family planning unit and also support NURHI’s activities.

Also during the visit quite a number of women were seen receiving counseling before proceeding to take up the contraceptive plan of their choice. Many of them commended the initiative and said it has assisted them to either limit their child bearing or space their births properly.

Family planning is referred to as Child Birth Spacing (CBS) in which couples make an informed decision on the desired number of children, space the birth and prevent unplanned pregnancy.

Methods of modern family planning include injectables, condoms, pills, implants, and Intrauterine Device.

NURHI II is a five year project, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the vision to eliminate supply and demand barriers to contraceptive use and make family planning a social norm in Nigeria.

Nigeria: NSCDC Wins 2016 Customs Volleyball Championship

Africaprimenews

-

01/02/2016

0

Nigeria: NSCDC Wins 2016 Customs Volleyball Championship

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) male and female teams emerged winners of the 3^rd edition of the Comptroller-General of Customs National Open Volleyball Championship held over the weekend in Kaduna.

The male team defeated the Nigeria Customs team 3 – 1 while the female team defeated the Nigeria Customs Service 3-2 in a high-tension played match at the indoor sports hall of Murtala Mohammed Square.

The Nigeria Police Force came third in the male category while the Nigeria Immigrations came third in the female category.

26 teams participated in the competition consisting of 19 male teams and seven female teams. The teams comprises of security agencies and state teams.

Trophy winners went home with N500, 000 while the runners-up and second runners-up got N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively in both the male and female categories; certificates were also presented to best servers, best receivers, best spikers, best attackers, and best court defense among others.

Speaking at the end of the tournament, NSCDC’s Director of Sports, Ayodele Titus Olusegun attributed the victories to hard work, dedication and support they got from the management.

In a remark also, representative of the Nigerian Customs, Tukura Danladi Haruna, said in sporting competition a winner and loser will definitely emerge, as such losers should work hard to win next year. He added, “For our sportsmen, we will encourage them to work hard next year to reclaim the trophy.

President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) Habu Gumel, while making his remarks commended organizers of the competition, and said, the competition will also provide an avenue for talent hunt where talents can be selected to represent the country at any competitions.

Nigeria: Muslim Woman Donate Bibles To Church

Africaprimenews

-

01/02/2016

0

Nigeria: Muslim Woman Donate Bibles To Church

By Ibrahima Yakubu and Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – In an effort aimed at strengthening religious tolerance and mutual understanding, a Muslim woman has donated Bibles to a church in Kaduna state, North West Nigeria.

The Bibles which were both Hausa and English version were donated to fellows of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry at Sabon Tasha in commemoration of the United Nation’s world international interfaith harmony week.

Ramatu Tijjani after making the donation said the World interfaith harmony week which commences from 1^st -7^th February has began and there is the need to start the week by donating important gifts, sharing in love, visiting each other at places of worship, encouraging togetherness irrespective of faith or organization. She said it is aimed at boosting mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue for peace and harmony to be promoted.

Mrs. Tijani who was accompanied by her son, Abdullahakim, explained that the United Nation declared and dedicated the first week of February to promote activities which encourage and enhance religious tolerance.

She said, “I see Christians as my brothers and sisters because we all are from one Family Adams and Eve. I love to visit them because both religions preach peace, forgiveness and Tolerance. We must to learn to forgive and forget past mistakes in order to make our country great and reunite our communities through the teachings of the holy Book.”

While calling on the government at all levels as well as other stakeholders for their support during the week, urged them to be involved in the interfaith activities by visiting Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, and Temples according to their own religious conviction. She added, “it is necessary for clerics to encourage peace and maintain the culture of visiting other clerics at their places of worship in order to teach their followers tolerance.

Receiving the Bibles, the general overseer of the church Pastor Yohanna Buru expressed appreciation for the kind gesture. He called on all citizens to shun all forms of ethno-religious and political crisis which has caused great set-backs to the nation, adding that it’s high time for all preachers to redouble efforts in teaching their followers the right ways according to teachings of the holy books so as to end the activities of extremists and terrorist who are hiding under religion to cause problems.

Pastor Buru noted that this was the first time, a Muslim woman would be donating Bibles to the church, adding that the church really welcome such kindness.

He added that, as the interfaith harmony week commences, “We are going to organize endurance trek for both Muslim and Christian Clerics to create public awareness on tolerance, as well as organized reading competition among students of both faiths.

Rights Group Faults Arrest of Nigerian University Lecturer, Demands Release

Africaprimenews

-

01/02/2016

0

Rights Group Faults Arrest of Nigerian University Lecturer, Demands Release

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) — Centrum Initiative for Human Rights Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy Nigeria demands the immediate release of their member and Director of Strategy John Danfulani from detention.

Danfulani’s detention was ordered by Kaduna State University authorities where he work a week ago, over an article he wrote, which the school authority claimed has the potentials of causing rancour among students and staff of the university community.

But the human rights group believed the university authority has no right to stop him from expressing his personal view on issues relating to kaduna state and Nigeria’s development.

The article, posted on internet was entitled “The problem with Nigeria,”

A statement by the group’s spokesperson, George Brown described Danfulani as a human rights activist, internationally acclaimed Author and researcher, a champion of the minorities without consideration to gender, ethnicity, race and religious affiliation.

“He is a teacher par excellence, who upholds equity and fairness, and an advocate of justice.

“We are aware that several organisations both human rights and ethnic bodies have called for this unjust persecution of our venerable icon to cease forthwith, as this will exacerbate the matter.

“We are not oblivious of the curious fact that government or its agents may be fuelling the matter to their own end as the whole hubris smirks of organized government controlled interests.

“John Danfulani is a tax paying and law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose rights are fully guaranteed in Chapter 4 (four) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and as such has never been convicted by any Court of Law, he is a Northerner, a teacher charged with training and mentoring of wards for a better and greater Nigeria,”

The group further stated that they are “utterly afraid of a regression” to military impunity of yester-years where good citizens were intimidated, coerced, cajoled, bamboozled, and freedom of expression gagged.

“It is a fact that this same John Danfulani’s persuasive and intellectual skills were used by the present Government of the day to victory.

“Clearly, John Danfulani connotes this Country’s bright elements possessed of a writer’s narrative imagery, poetic license and vivid imagination. It will be unfortunate therefore, if his literary skills are misconstrued for selfish reasons by mischievous proxies.

“We are grateful to law abiding supporters, friends and family of our amiable Dr. John Danfulani who have vowed to stand with the true social icon through these hard and trying moments of his carrier and life.

“We continue to urge same teaming supporters, friends and family to keep up the struggle by all peaceful means necessary,” the statement reads.

Chad’s Deby Becomes New AU Chair

News

Africaprimenews

-

31/01/2016

0

Addis Ababa – Chad’s president Idriss Deby took over the post of African Union chairperson on Saturday, replacing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

While making his speech at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia, the new chairperson said, “I accept this task with pleasure, but with a little agony as the responsibility you entrust in me is heavy and fraught with challenges.”

He told fellow presidents that conflicts across the continent had to end.

“Everything that we are doing now will be in vain and without purpose if we allow Africa to go through these perpetual crises: South Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Burundi, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin,” Deby said.

“Through diplomacy or by force… we must put an end to these tragedies of our time. We cannot make progress and talk of development if part of our body is sick. We should be the main actors in the search for solution to Africa’s crises.”

Deby, 63, one of Africa’s longest ruling presidents, emerged as the leader of the arid north-central African state in December 1990, after the war which ousted the regime of Hissene Habre.

Mugabe, Africa’s oldest president aged 91, has held the ceremonial role for the past year, welcomed his “brother” Deby to the post.

“Whatever support you want from me, I will still be there, until God says come, then I’ll go and join the others.But as long as I am still alive, I will still have the punch.” Mugabe said

The one-year presidency is rotated between different regions of the continent.

culled from new24

AU Summit To Endorse Mass ICC Walkout By Africa

News

Africaprimenews

-

30/01/2016

0

AU Summit To Endorse Mass ICC Walkout By Africa

Addis Ababa – The African Union (AU) summit is on Saturday expected to adopt a report that recommends, among others, collective withdrawal of African States from the Rome Statute that establishes the International Criminal Court ( ICC).

The AU Executive Council that comprises foreign affairs ministers from the continent has already adopted a report that highlights Africa’s misgivings with the court.

The cases against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang and the one against Sudan president Omar al Bashir are key among items straining ICC’s relationship with Africa.

The report that was unanimously adopted Thursday ahead of the AU Summit on Saturday said the decision by The Hague-based court to apply Rule 68 that allows use of recanted testimony in the case against Ruto and Sang was against the “basic principles of law and the rule of natural justice”.

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said the ICC had shown no regard to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) that reaffirmed the none retroactivity of the rule during its 14th session held in November last year.

“The first thing the court said was that whatever the ASP had agreed was irrelevant. What business do we have being in an institution that has no bearing on anything?” asked Amina.

The report wants the Summit to adopt the reaffirmation of the application of the controversial rule by the ASP in order to stamp Africa’s position on the matter.

Africa has expressed its reservation about the court saying it has disregarded Africa’s position on several matters.

Africa feels the ICC targets the Continent even as worse atrocities are committed elsewhere around the world.

“There are cases in Iraq, Syria and Palestine and we see none in that court,” said South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Maite Mashabane.

culled from capitalfm.co.ke

Kenya and Nigeria To Make Africa A Better Place

Africaprimenews

-

29/01/2016

0

Kenya and Nigeria To Make Africa A Better Place

NAIROBI – Presidents of Kenya and Nigeria have pledged to work together to make Africa a better place for the present and future generations.

Presidents of both countries Uhuru Kenyatta and Muhammadu Buhari said they will join hands in addressing challenges facing the countries in rooting out corruption, terrorism and radicalization, which they termed as “obstacles to development.”

The two leaders made this known during a state banquet hosted by Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta in honour of the visiting Nigerian President, Mahammadu Buhari.

Taking a trip down memory lane, Buhari recalled that Kenya’s founding father President Jomo Kenyatta was among the most inspiring first generation of African freedom fighters which included Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Abdul Nasser of Egypt, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria and Kwame Nkuruma of Ghana – leaders who paved the way for the independent Africa of today.

Buhari added; “That generation of heroes brought our continent back to us. Now it is our task to make them proud by elevating Africa to a level beyond their dreams.” He noted also that his visit to Kenya was the first state visit since he assumed the leadership of Nigeria, adding that he appreciates the deepening relations between the two countries.

“For example, we have Nigerian banks operating in Kenya while Kenya Airways is connecting many Nigerians to West Africa and indeed the world. Nigerian farmers are coming to Kenya to learn from successful Kenyan farmers while many upcoming Kenyan oil and gas businessmen are partnering with Nigerian oil companies.

“We have Nigerians drinking Kenyan coffee in their homes and offices while many Kenyans are listening to Nigerian Music and watching Nollywood movies,” Buhari pointed out.

He noted that, these developments point to a real integration within the continent which promotes and boost intra-Africa trade that result in creation of millions of jobs within Africa for Africans.

“It is on this note that I hope our two countries will continue building on the strong foundation already laid so far by further enhancing trade and economic ties,” Buhari said.

Kenyatta said Buhari’s visit to Kenya has provided an opportunity to maintain the momentum in the development of bilateral relations that have registered significant growth between Kenya and Nigeria.

He told Buhari that, “I look forward to continuing to work with you my brother in ensuring that Africa’s children enjoy happier, more peaceful and prosperous lives.”

According to Kenyatta, the two countries are forging closer ties creating room for increased partnership between the business communities of Kenya and Nigeria; noting that the two countries were grappling with the problems of terrorism, radicalization of the youth and violent extremism, stating that the two countries will work together to end these scourges.

While appreciating Buhari support and visit to Moi barracks in honour of Kenyan soildiers, Kenyatta said, “Tonight, I simply want to record my deep appreciation of your support in our fight.”

Both Kenyatta and Buhari agreed that both countries should ensure that the Memoranda of Understanding and bilateral agreements signed are implemented in earnest.

The state banquet was attended by senior Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and other invited guests.

Africa Prime News.

Africa Prime News.

Africa Prime News.

Africa Prime News.

Currency Exchange Rates

Africa Prime News.

About us

Company

The latest

Subscribe

Africa Prime News