Africa Prime News

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23/06/2015

All African Games: Nigeria Commence Screening of Handball Players

By Anang Bako
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigeria has commenced a one-week screening exercise of players for its National Handball Team, ahead of All Africa Games coming up in September in Congo Brazaville.

The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has zoned the screening in three cities of Lagos, Kaduna and Owerri. The Lagos screening just got concluded, paving way for Kaduna and Owerri.

President, Nigerian Handball Coaches Association, John Jatau told Africa Prime News in Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria that the screening will also feature players for under 23 category.

He said “By record, the bulk of players that make up the national team for male are always from the North and that is why we are conducting another screening to recruit players for the team.

The President assured that players will be selected based on merit, saying “Most times players complian that coaches, when asked to bring names, submit names based on sentiment.”

Jatau urged players who have participated in the qualifiers game to attend screening at designated centres [because there could be changes], adding their performance have to be verified during the screening.

“Players who have participated in the qualifiers even if they are pencilled should attend the screening because this is a programme that has been approved by the broad to enable us present a very good and strong team for the upcoming All Africa Games.”

Jatau added that Federation has trained Coaches to handle various teams in Abuja and belived they will also have good players.

He thanked the Government of Kaduna State for providing the screening facilities and a member of the mega veteran Abuja Mr Josiah Yahaya who sponsored the open Championship for about 10 teams.

Nigeria: Kaduna Weeds-Off Ghost Workers

Governance

Africaprimenews

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21/06/2015

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Kaduna State Government, Northwest Nigeria is conducting biometric verification of its workers within 2 weeks, starting Wednesday June 24 to Wednesday July 8.

The exercise is to provide the government a reliable record of “its personnel and clean-up its payroll.”

A statement by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the State Governor, says “Data collected from the exercise will enable the government to determine if the billions of naira that are being expended monthly on staff salary are being paid to identifiable and verifiable civil servants, and make savings from an updated personnel record.”

The exercise will be conducted simultaneously at the zonal headquarters of Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria.

The statement says an earlier circular by Head of Service has “specified the order in which the personnel from each ministry are expected to appear for the exercise, and advised that civil servants must bring their letter of appointment, letter of last promotion and means of identification, which should be any of the following: national identity card, driver’s license, permanent voter’s card or international passport.”

It requires the workers to “physically appear before the verification team for screening and collection of their salary cheques for the month of June 2015.”

The statement says “Kaduna State Government last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank to partner in updating the civil service payroll.”

General Agwai Heads Committee on Southern Kaduna Killings

Governance

Africaprimenews

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20/06/2015

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General Agwai Heads Committee on Southern Kaduna Killings

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Former Nigeria’s Chief of General Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), has accepted to head a committee on solutions to stamp out attacks on communities in Southern Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria.

The Kaduna State Government disclosed this on Saturday in a press statement made available to newsmen.

The announcement by Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the State Governor, Samuel Aruwan, said the committee is part of the government’s multi-dimensional approach to finding lasting solutions to the killings in the area, which have continued since the post-election violence of 2011.

The committee’s terms of reference according to the statement is as follows:

“To identify socio-political and economic factors that promote existing conflicts in Southern Kaduna and advice on measures to be taken by Government to address them;

“To explore ways of finding mutual solutions that engender reconciliation amongst and between communities in Southern Kaduna; and to advice on how the villages and communities of Southern Kaduna would be free from attacks bedeviling it.

“The committee has 30 days within which to complete its assignment and submit its report.”

General Agwai’s credential include his present service as United Nations envoy in Sudan. He had served as Deputy Military Advisor to United Nations in its New York headquarters.

Also, between 2007 and 2009 he served as Commander of the combined United Nations – African Union Peacekeeping Force in Darfur, where he led one of the biggest peacekeeping operations in the world, with approximately 20,000 troops and 6,000 police under his command.

The statement by Aruwan further says, in the ongoing efforts to contain the security challenges in parts of the state, Governor El-Rufai on Friday held an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

The meeting reviewed the security situation in the state following attacks in Katsak and Danborno villages in Jema’a and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas respectively.

The meeting analyzed the incessant attacks and collated first-hand details from the sites of the latest attacks.

The meeting also appraised the deployment of security personnel and stressed the importance of partnerships between traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in strengthening intelligence gathering.

Nigerian Drug Control Agency Arrest 35 Drug Hawkers In Katsina

Africaprimenews

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19/06/2015

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Nigerian Drug Control Agency Arrest 35 Drug Hawkers In Katsina

By Idris Shehu

Katsina (Nigeria) – Thirty – five drug hawkers have been arrested in Katsina, Northwest Nigeria by officers of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, for not having basic pharmaceutical knowledge of the drugs they sell.

The agency had also sanctioned several other drug outlets that were found selling counterfeit drugs in the state.

Katsina State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Muhammad Bashir Muazu who disclosed this to newsmen also said more than fifty illegal packaged water factories have been sealed – off in the state.

Katsina is one of the Nigerian states with high cases of drug hawking – the hawkers are virtually found in every nook and cranny of Katsina metropolis and environs.

The hawkers are popularly called ‘kafada chemists’ in Hausa, (meaning, chemist on shoulders) as they typically carry baskets of drugs on their shoulders to hawk.

The State Coordinator explained that “most of them are young and illiterate, and have no knowledge of basic pharmacy, hence they endanger the lives of their customers.”
Alhaji Muhammad Bashir called on the general public to always provide NAFDAC with useful information about the activities of quack drug sellers and illegal packaged water factories.

This he said would assist the agency in safeguarding the health of people of the state.

Nigeria: El-Rufai Cancels Government Welfare Package To Kaduna Muslims

Africaprimenews

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19/06/2015

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Nigeria: El-Rufai Cancels Government Welfare Package To Kaduna Muslims

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria has announced cancellation of Government’s “package” to support muslims in the state during the Ramadan fast.

Governor El-Rufai said his government could not continue sharing state resource in meeting such needs, adding that if he does that he would only be left with money to pay salaries.

Muslims in the state have on annual basis received food items including rice, millet, vegetable oil, milk, sugar and other essential commodities during Ramadan.

El-Rufai made this known when he received the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI).

“I have also been made to understand that, this Ramadan period, we are supposed to have started sharing rice, milk and sugar, but we will not do that.‎ One, the government is not supposed to be involved in religious activities. Two, the government is broke.

So, we solicit for your prayers to be able to stabilize the situation and we hope that things will improve,” he said.

Responding to the earlier call for the return of missionary schools to the churches, Mr. El-Rufai said, the government cannot return the schools and continue funding them.

While promising to set up a committee ‎to look into the matter, the Governor pointed out that ownership is not what matters, but quality education and equal opportunity to every child.

Earlier, the JNI delegation led by Ibrahim Kufena offered a special prayer for the success of Mr. El-Rufai’s administration and assured the government of ‎JNI’s readiness to assist government in maintenance of peace at all times.

“My Aunty Directed Me To A ‘Baby Factory’, Victim Says In Enugu – Vanguard

Crime

Africaprimenews

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19/06/2015

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“My Aunty Directed Me To A ‘Baby Factory’, Victim Says In Enugu – Vanguard

Some residents in Enugu State and its environs have expressed dismay over the return of ‘baby factories’ in the state.
This came as the operatives of the 9th Mile Division of Enugu Police command, through intelligence operation, raided a baby factory located at Etiti, Amankwo-Ngwo Udi Local Government Area where they rescued nine pregnant girls.
The baby factory, allegedly operated by Obinna(not real name) of Etiti,Amakwo-Ngwo was discovered on June 13, during a raid at the private house of the owner.
Police Spokesperson,Mr.Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the arrest in a statement to newsmen revealing that nine pregnant girls were rescued during the raid.
Amaraizu said,”we had strong intelligence report about his activities. We had to put a tab on him for some time which eventually paid off. “Nine pregnant girls at various stages of pregnancy were rescued.
Continuing,the Police Spokesperson however noted that the operator claimed he got a provisional approval in October 2007 from Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Enugu State to admit and shelter pregnant women in his home.
OPERATOR CONFESSES

The operator had revealed during police interrogation that he operated a hospital/maternity(name withheld) which is no longer functional.
The Operator said,”I decided to run the maternity from my house. I am supposed to inform the Social Development and Women Affairs Ministry within 24 hours of admitting any pregnant women. I called the Ministry on phone instead of writing them. The people I admitted came without referral.”
VICTIM NARRATES ORDEAL

Ugwu Christabel, one of the pregnant girls revealed that she was allegedly raped as she was returning from school.
She said,”I could not report the incident to my parents until it resulted to pregnancy. I was forced to marry an old man or leave the family which made me seek assistance through one of my aunties.
“She was the one that directed me to the home. At the home, all we do is to eat. We were asked to list what we want with the agreement that after delivery,we will leave our babies and go.”
CLO LAMENTS

Member governing board,Civil Liberties Organisation,CLO,Mr. Gambo Danjuma tasked the police to unravel who contracted the operator to get the babies.
Danjuma said,”most of them who claim that they are doctors are responsible for impregnating the girls. When the girls deliver,they sell the babies to their buyers.
“We had cried out over the activities of baby factory operators in Enugu State. The police should conduct serious interrogation on who is responsible for the pregnancy, who gave them the contact to the home,who is the buyer and how they share the booty. “The price of the baby varies depending on the sex. Most times,these babies are used for rituals. The police should reveal how the buyers are linked to the facility.
“The public should always go through the appropriate channels whenever they intend to adopt babies. Most of these babies go for N500,000 to N750,000 depending on sex.”

Why The Pope’s Encyclical On The Environment Should Speed Up The End Of The Fossil-Fuel Era

News

Africaprimenews

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19/06/2015

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Why The Pope’s Encyclical On The Environment Should Speed Up The End Of The Fossil-Fuel Era

Rome (Italy) – Reacting to the Pope’s Encyclical on the environment, Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, said:

“Greenpeace welcomes the valuable intervention of Pope Francis in humanity’s common struggle to prevent catastrophic climate change. This first encyclical on the environment brings the world a step closer to that tipping point where we abandon fossil fuels and fully embrace clean renewable energy for all, by the middle of the century.

“Everyone, whether religious or secular, can and must respond to this clarion call for bold urgent action.

“As the Encyclical states, the environment is a public good, the heritage of all humanity and the responsibility of us all. Greenpeace has always taken that view. That’s why, with the support of millions of people, we aim to stop Shell drilling for oil in the melting Arctic.

“The wording that ‘technology based on fossil fuels, highly polluting – especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser extent, gas – must be progressively replaced and without delay’ is a crystal-clear call on responsible investors, CEOs and political leaders to step up the pace of the clean energy revolution.

“The criticism of ‘those who hold most of the resources and economic or political power seeming to be concerned mainly in masking the problems or hiding the symptoms … of climate change’ is a welcome rebuke to climate change deniers and the interests that seek to thwart progress. That dirty game must end now.

“Above all, Pope Francis reminds all of us, individuals through to world leaders, of the moral imperative to address social and climate injustice. It is the poor who are most affected by catastrophic climate change, yet they have contributed least to causing the problem.”

Martin Kaiser, head of international climate politics at Greenpeace, said:

We welcome the clarity and directness of the Encyclical about the weakness of the international political reaction to climate change, with too many special interests prevailing over the common good. The Pope’s words should jolt heads of government out of their complacency, and encourage them to bring in tough laws in their own countries to protect the climate, and to agree a strong climate protocol in Paris at the end of this year.

The Encyclical rightly points out that deforestation is a big contributor to carbon emissions and the loss of species. We endorse Pope Francis’ call on world leaders to protect the forests and oceans, and listen to the demands of people and scientists worldwide.

Finally, we hope that the Vatican Bank will join the growing movement which is divesting from coal, oil and dangerous nuclear power and support renewables, in keeping with the Pope’s words. And we look forward to the Church’s support for an energy revolution at local level as well.

Contact:

Martin Kaiser, Head of International Climate Politics,
martin.kaiser@greenpeace.org

PHOTO NEWS: SEMINAR ON THE AFRICA’S BIG FIVE: ALGERIA, EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Development

Africaprimenews

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18/06/2015

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PHOTO NEWS: SEMINAR ON THE AFRICA’S BIG FIVE: ALGERIA, EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

L-R, Mal Nasr El-Rufai, Governor Kaduna State; Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed (rtd), Chairman Gusau Institute; Guest Speaker, Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director, Institute for Security Studies, South Africa

L-R, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Major-General Alani Akinrinade, Governor Nasir El-Rufa’I and General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau

L-R. Senator Ibrahim Gaya, left, with General Aliyu Gusau (Rtd) at the seminar

Cross section of some Governors, at the seminar

Senator Ibrahim Gaya granting media interview

Pic by Shehu K. Goro

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