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Group Decries Poor State Of Nigerian Cemeteries

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18/11/2015

Group Decries Poor State Of Nigerian Cemeteries

The bizarre and poor state of Cemeteries in Nigeria has become worrisome as most of the grave-yards have turned out to be places of defecating, refuse dumping, hide-out for criminals and center for ritual activities.

It is against this backdrop that a team of Kaduna based clerics (Imams and pastors) engaged on a grave-yard tour within Kaduna metropolis to sensitize the public on health hazard and dangers of defecating in cemeteries as well as discourage dumping of refuse in such areas.

Addressing journalists after the tour, the team leader who is also the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry Church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said a graveyard is supposed to be a clean and sacred environment, not a refuse dump site.

According to him, a graveyard must be properly secured and fenced to avoid trespassing or encroachment, but the reverse is the case, as most of cemeteries have no fence and are expose to all sort of filthiness.

He further expressed worry over what he referred to as neglect of Nigerian graveyard sanitation, stating that majority of the cemeteries in Kaduna and other parts of Nigeria are in bad condition resulting from lack of sanitation exercise by some worshipers.

“It is regrettable that our graveyards are not looking attractive due to the I don’t care attitude of many residents which have turned cemeteries into refuse ground, where dangerous criminals and ritualists are sighted at night carrying out nefarious activities.”

Buru urged the state government to secure and start cleaning what he termed ‘final home’ saying; “When we grow old, God willing, we are going to be permanently laid in those grave yards so we must keep them clean.” He further called on government and religious leaders to sensitize citizens and worshippers on the importance of keeping the graveyard clean – adding that, there is the need for state governments to extend monthly sanitation to graved-yards in order to save the poor state of Nigerian cemeteries.

In the same vein, A Muslim scholar, Alaramma A. Bichi who was part of the tour, expressed dissatisfaction over the condemnable attitude of some people who usually defecates at the cemeteries – emphasizing on the need for Nigerians to use every last Saturday of the month for cleaning the cemeteries.

General survey of the Nigerian graved-yard shows that there is the need for fencing all cemeteries in order to protect them from trespassers and refuse dumping.

NIGERIA: Casual Staff Of Electricity Company Protest Unjust Dismissal And Non-payment Of Salary

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18/11/2015

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NIGERIA: Casual Staff Of Electricity Company Protest Unjust Dismissal And Non-payment Of Salary

By Longtong Ibrahim Kaduna (Nigeria) – More than 500 Casual employees of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) on Tuesday stormed the zonal headquarters of the Company protesting over what they called unjust dismissal and non-payment of their three months salaries.

The Casual employees, who protested along Ahamadu Bello way to the Zonal headquarters, barricaded the KEDC entrance; carrying placards with different inscriptions to express their grievances.

When the situation was getting out of hand, the police dispersed the crowd with teargas, but they later regrouped and protested peacefully.

The protesters alleged that their dismissal was unfair, after been promised permanent employment in the recently conducted employment exercise by the company.

According to one of the protesters, Aisha Musa, the management of the company asked them to vacate the premises of the company without payment of their three months salary.

She said, she had been a casual staff of the company for ten years.

Also speaking, Ahmad Mohammed said, so many of them have worked for several years without been considered, adding that he had worked for more than 17 years with letter of confirmation as a casual staff.

Ahmad demands that his severance package should be paid.

Head communications unit, Abdulazeez Abdullahi in a response said, when the company took over from its predecessor last December, they didn’t want to contravene the national and international labor laws, but gave opportunity to the casual staff to apply for a dignified employment.

“In compliance with the extant national and international labor laws, the casual workers were given the opportunity to apply for full and more dignified employment, where they applied and went through the recruitment processes and the successful ones among them were employed.” He said

He described the protesters as those who didn’t meet up the employment requirement, adding that, “an opportunity was given to both internal staff and fresh candidates to gain employment.”

Nigeria: Northern State Reinstates Suspended Council Chairman

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17/11/2015

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Nigeria: Northern State Reinstates Suspended Council Chairman

By iliya Kure
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Chairman of Interim Management Committee of Kaduna North Local Government Council, in Northwest Nigeria, Ahmed Kurfi has been recalled from suspension.

Kurfi was suspended from office early October following demolition of over 100 shops in the local government, in a drive to recover public lands, from whom the state government called “encroachers”.

Read the story here: https://www.africaprimenews.com/2015/10/demolition-hits-printing-village-in-nigerian-city-over-100-shops-affected.

A statement by Special Assistant to Kaduna State Governor, Samuel Aruwan says an
investigation conducted has cleared the chairman of any wrongdoing, and commended his ‘courage and initiative’.

“After his suspension, his conduct was investigated and he was invited to respond to a query.

“Following consideration of his response, and the conclusion of investigations, the government determined that his conduct in tackling illegality was commendable.” The statement says.

“But it noted that the administrative lapses that occurred in the implementation of the action were unfortunate.” The statement adds

A letter of recall, dated 13 November 2015, by Secretary to the State Government, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of the chairman.

The letter also admonished the recalled chairman to always abide by laid down administrative procedures.

The Kick-Off
On Wednesday August 6, bulldozers moved to Alhudahuda Secondary School in Zaria [second biggest city in the state] and commenced pulling down private living houses on the order of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on the grounds that the houses were built on public land [house owners claim they bought the land from previous governments under government carve-out policy, which permits state officials to sell land in public institutions].

Read the story here: https://www.africaprimenews.com/2015/08/nigeria-el-rufai-commences-demolition-of-houses-in-kaduna/

The state government had given owners of such structures ultimatum to remove them on, or before August 5, or face the wrath of the law.

In a discussion on Kaduna State Media Corporation (radio), at that time, Mr. Aruwan warned that the state government would recover all such lands acquired by individuals

“This government cannot allow the encroachment of schools and hospitals lands to continue. For instance, when we visited the state library in Zaria and Alhudahuda College, private buildings have almost taken over the institutions. This has serious effect on the learning atmosphere of such institutions.” He said on the programme.

Following the action, a Kaduna High Court restrained the State government and its agencies from demolishing buildings along Constitution Road in Kaduna city, that have been marked for demolition.

The order was against the two weeks quit notice served on the owners of the marked buildings dated 5th August, 2015 and signed by the Interim Chairman, Kaduna North Local government, Ahmed Kurfi.

Read the story here: https://www.africaprimenews.com/2015/08/kaduna-demolition-court-restrains-el-rufai/

This was also followed by two separate rallies, one by a group of commercial printers and traders occupying shops along Lokoja, Gwari and Muri Roads opposing the demolition drive, while the other by road transport workers and market associations in support of the demolition.

Nigerian Police Uncovers Plans Of Clothing Thugs In Police Uniform to Disrupt Election

Elections

Africaprimenews

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17/11/2015

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Nigerian Police Uncovers Plans Of Clothing Thugs In Police Uniform to Disrupt Election

The Nigeria Police Force has said it has uncovered plans by some politicians in Kogi to clothe thugs in police uniform to disrupt the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase disclosed this at a stakeholders’ forum, Tuesday in Lokoja, North-central Nigeria.

He said that, the perpetrators’ intention was to disrupt the election and cause mayhem, describing the act as “wrong and wasteful investment “.

Arase further explained that, measures have been put in place to properly identify 12, 000 Policemen who would be on duty during the election; noting that 6, 000 out of the 12,000 officers would be drawn from police formations close to Kogi. He stressed that, “We intend to dominate security space that day; if you want to test our strength, have a rethink.’’

The police boss also pointed out that the police will be supported by the Military, Civil Defense Corps, Immigration, Customs and the Federal Road Safety Commission so as to provide an effective policing – with one unit of mobile policemen to be deploy to each of the 21 local government areas of the state, backed up by amour personnel carriers, vehicles and other security apparatuses.

On the safety of electoral officials, the IGP said, nobody would be allowed to intimidate them – the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Lawal Tanko, and three other commissioners of police would be deploy to coordinate police activities before, during and after the election.

He therefore called on the people of the state to feel free by coming out to vote for any candidate of their choice; while restriction of unnecessary movement would be strictly enforced.

Russia Admits Airbus A321 Was Downed By Terror Act

Africaprimenews

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17/11/2015

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Russia Admits Airbus A321 Was Downed By Terror Act

By Iliya Kure

Russian Investigators say the wreckage of its downed Airbus A321 and passengers’ belongings contain traces of explosives, concluding that the plane was attacked by terrorists.

Kremlin Press Service quoted Head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov in a meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, saying, “One can definitely say that this was a terrorist act”.

Bortnikov said an improvised explosive devise with a capacity of up to 1 kilogram of TNT equivalent was on board the plane.

According to the transcript provided on Kremlin Press Website, Putin said Russia’s military operations in Syria must be expanded, “so that criminals realize that retribution is inevitable”.

“We will find the terrorists anywhere on earth and punish them,” Putin said.

A Russian aircraft flying from Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg on October 31, crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 passengers on board.

Following a recommendation from the FSB, Russia banned all its flights to Egypt and began evacuation of about 70, 000 Russian tourists who were in Egypt at the time.

Soon after the crash, ISIS had claimed responsibility of bombing the plane, but Russia denied the claim. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously declined to comment for what he described as “an abundance of false information” and “hoaxes.”

Nigeria: MTN Gets Friday Deadline To Pay $5.2b Fine

Africaprimenews

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17/11/2015

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Nigeria: MTN Gets Friday Deadline To Pay $5.2b Fine

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday extended to Friday the deadline given to MTN to pay a $5.2billion fine.

The commission also said it sanctioned the telecommunications giant based on security reasons following its failure to deactivate 5.2million unregistered SIM cards.

It said it acted in the national interest and to protect innocent Nigerians from falling victim of terrorists using unregistered SIM cards .

According to a top shot in NCC, the deadline was extended to Friday for more consultations.

The source said: “Although the deadline expired on Monday, we have extended it to Friday to enable all parties to conclude ongoing talks.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday extended to Friday the deadline given to MTN to pay a $5.2billion fine.

The commission also said it sanctioned the telecommunications giant based on security reasons following its failure to deactivate 5.2million unregistered SIM cards.

It said it acted in the national interest and to protect innocent Nigerians from falling victim of terrorists using unregistered SIM cards .

According to a top shot in NCC, the deadline was extended to Friday for more consultations.

The source said: “Although the deadline expired on Monday, we have extended it to Friday to enable all parties to conclude ongoing talks.

“Definitely by the end of the week(Friday), we will issue another statement. We hope that we would have finalised ongoing discussions in the interest of all parties. Our official position will be known by the end of the week.

“We decided not to be rigid about the deadline to allow for the conclusion of talks.”

The NCC, in a statement by its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, broke its silence on why MTN was sanctioned.

It said the sanctions became inevitable because national security was at stake.

The NCC statement said: “Following the sanctions placed on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), members of the public have expressed diverse interest as to what actually transpired.

“The fine was a result of violation of Section 20(1) of the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation of 2011.

“Section 20 (1) of Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011 states that: ‘Any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulations is liable to a penalty of N200,000.00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium.”

“The fine of N1.04trillion on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was done in the interest of the public, which has been at the receiving end of security challenges.

“Consequent upon the overwhelming evidence of non-compliance, and obvious disregard to the rule of engagement by MTN, the NCC had no choice but to impose the sanctions.

“MTN, in a letter of November 2, 2015 admitted the infraction and pleaded for leniency. The Commission has acknowledged this and is looking into their plea without any prejudice to the fine. The fine remains but the appeal and other engagements with MTN may affect the payment deadline.”

NCC also gave the details of how MTN had committed infractions and its neglect of warnings.

It added: “The fine that was imposed on MTN was the second within two months after the operators were given a seven-day ultimatum to deactivate all unregistered and improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards. While others complied, MTN did not.

“On August 4, 2015, at a meeting of all the representatives of the Mobile Network Operators (MNO) with NCC, major security challenges through preregistered, unregistered and improperly registered SIM Cards topped the agenda after which Operators were given the ultimatum to deactivate such within seven days.

“On August 14, 2015, three days after the ultimatum expired, NCC carried out a network audit, while other Operators complied with the directive, to deactivate the improperly registered SIM Cards, MTN showed no sign of compliance at all.

“Please recall that four (4) Operators; MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat, were sanctioned in August for non compliance of the directive to deactivate the improperly registered SIM Cards. MTN got a fine of N102.2million, Globacom N7.4million, Etisalat N7million and Airtel N3.8Million fine. Others complied while MTN flouted the fine.

“Based on the report of the compliance Audit Team, an Enforcement Team, which visited MTN from September 2 – 4, 2015 wherein MTN admitted that the Team confirmed that 5.2million improperly registered SIM Cards were still left active on their network; hence, a contravention of the Regulations was established.

“Consistent with the Commission’s enforcement process, MTN was by a letter dated October 5, 2015, given notice to state why it should not be sanctioned in line with the Regulations for failure to deactivate improperly registered SIM Cards that were found to be active at the time of enforcement team’s visit of September 15, 2015.

“On October 19, 2015, the Commission received and reviewed MTN’s response and found no convincing evidence why it should not be sanctioned for the established violations.

“Accordingly, by a letter dated October 20, 2015, the Commission conveyed appropriate sanctions to MTN in accordance with Regulations 20(1) of the Telephone Subscribers Registration Regulation 2011 to pay the Sum of N200,000.00 only for each of the 5.2million improperly registered SIM Cards.”

The statement said all stakeholders in the industry were part of the registration of telephone subscribers.

It said: “In order to ensure proper identification of telephone subscribers with their biometric data and in line with international best practice, the Commission came up with a framework for the registration of telephone subscribers in Nigeria. (Nigerian Communications Commission Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011).

“The above Regulations were developed with the full participation of all key industry Stakeholders including all Mobile Network Operators (MNO) in 2011.

“The Commission on its part has a statutory responsibility to monitor and enforce compliance to the rules. More so, when national security is at stake.

The statement explained that, National interest is paramount because when lives are lost they cannot be replaced.

“As a responsible Regulator, the NCC will not stand by and watch Rules and Regulations for Engagement being flouted by any Operator.

“The Commission has adopted a smart regulation in its oversight function in the industry, hence it has always weighed the implications of sanctions that is why it had to place the appropriate sanction accordingly.”

The NCC statement further said that sanctions are the last resort after all overtures fail but this does not in any way undermine Industry Standards and the interest of Investors.

curled from The Nation

Antibiotics Resistance Raises Risk Of Turning Common Ailments To Killers Worldwide – WHO

Health

Africaprimenews

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16/11/2015

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Antibiotics Resistance Raises Risk Of Turning Common Ailments To Killers Worldwide – WHO

Antibiotic resistance, which can turn common ailments into killers, has reached dangerous levels worldwide, the World Health Organization warned Monday, saying users still know too little about how antibiotics work. Antibiotic resistance happens when bugs become immune to existing drugs, allowing minor injuries and common infections to become deadly.

Overuse and misuse of the drugs increases this resistance, but WHO also published a survey of 10,000 people worldwide showing a range of dangerous misconceptions about the threat, which are allowing it to prosper.

“The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, and governments now recognise it as one of the greatest challenges for public health today,”

WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a statement, stressing that resistance was “reaching dangerously high levels in all parts of the world.”

“Antibiotic resistance is compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and undermining many advances in medicine,” she warned. WHO’s 12-country survey published Monday found that nearly two thirds of all those questioned (64 percent) believe wrongly that antibiotics can be used to treat colds and flu, despite the fact that the drugs have no impact on viruses.

The survey, conducted in Barbados, China, Egypt, India,Indonesia, Mexico,Nigeria, Russia, Serbia, South Africa,Sudan and Vietnam, also showed that 66 percent believe that there is no risk of antibiotic resistance for people who take their antibiotics as prescribed.

And nearly half (44 percent) thought antibiotic resistance was only a problem for people who take the drugs regularly, when in fact, anyone, of any age and anywhere, can get an antibiotic-resistant infection. Around a third meanwhile believed it was best to stop an antibiotic treatment as soon as they felt better, rather than completing the prescribed course of treatment, the survey showed.

– ‘Urgent’ to improve understanding –

“The findings of this survey point to the urgent need to improve understanding around antibiotic resistance,” Keiji Fukuda, the UN chief’s special representative on antimicrobial resistance, said in the statement. Along with its survey, WHO launched a campaign Monday called “Antibiotics: Handle with care”, aimed at raising awareness about the problem, and correcting such misconceptions.

“This campaign is just one of the ways we are working with governments, health authorities and other partners to reduce antibiotic resistance,” Fukuda said. “One of the biggest health challenges of the 21st century will require global behaviour change by individuals and societies,” he added.

A WHO report in April showed there were “major gaps” in all regions of the world in addressing the problem and reining in overuse and misuse of antibiotics. The UN health agency has warned that without urgent action, the world could be headed for “a post-antibiotic era” in which common infections and minor injuries that have long been treatable once again become killers.

The survey published Monday showed a dire lack of understanding of the problem and widespread dangerous behaviour. Broken down by country, the survey for instance showed that five percent of Chinese respondents who had taken antibiotics in the past six months had purchased them on the Internet, while the same percentage in Nigeria had bought them from a stall or hawker.

In Russia, only 56 percent of those who had taken antibiotics in the past year had them prescribed by a doctor or nurse.

US Ambassador Tasked Nigerian Governments on Free Information Access

News

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13/11/2015

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US Ambassador Tasked Nigerian Governments on Free Information Access

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Nigerian governments have been charged to make its information accessible to the public as it forms an essential ingredient which promotes democracy and accountability in governance.

United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle gave the charge at a two day Workshop for Government Spokespersons of Northern governors – organized by the US Embassy in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said, “Open and unfettered access to information is the essential ingredient that promotes democracy and accountability in governance”.

Entwistle explained that an effective government press operating unit is critical in communicating clear and timely information to the public about government policies and actions which could help to shape public knowledge and perceptions of government – through the media.

He posited that government spokespersons have great responsibilities which require effectiveness through skills updating. He said, “Your ability to do this job effectively in a fast-paced, technology-driven world requires frequently updating of your skills. And to help impart this knowledge, we’ve brought Eduardo Cue, a Paris-based, American senior media consultant and journalist who also has experience as a government (UN) spokesperson.”

While declaring the workshop open, Kaduna state Governor,Nasir El-Rufai, represented by his deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex urged spokespersons of government to liaise with the media in disseminating information to the public.

He said “we are committed to transparency and we are committed to provision of the constitution particularly as it regards to the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state polices particularly the participation of the people in government.

“We have sign into an open budget, were people can track everything we are doing and pursue their naira to its logical destination.

“All we are asking for is not to cover for anything we are doing wrong, if there is any, and to project what we are doing to the people.‎”

‎National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abdulwaheed Odusile in a remark, commended the US government for initiating the workshop.

He tasked government Spokespersons to always make government information open and accessible to the public to make them abreast with government policies and activities.

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