INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Abujah Racheal

The Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, on Thursday said the commission would deploy 3,000 infrared thermometers for Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.

Yakubu said this at his first appearance at Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

He said, while speaking on INEC preparations for the two states governorship elections that the thermometers were donated by PTF.

Yakubu said that the infrared thermometers would be used at the 3,000 voting areas in Edo state elections on Sept. 19, adding that 17,000 ad hoc staff would be engaged in the election.

According to him, the same thermometers will be deployed for the Ondo elections.

The PTF has recommended the deployment of infrared thermometers to be used on Election Day but as a result of budgetary constraints, INEC doesnt have all the resources.

The commission only made provision for the deployment of thermometers at collation centers, which are fewer than the numerous polling units.

In Edo state, there is a total of 192 ward collation centres, 18 local government collation centres and one collation Centre but the polling units are many.

We have almost 3,000 voting locations in Edo state.

We simply dont have the resources to buy the handheld thermometers and deploy them at polling units.

Happily, PTF has supplied, initially 100 units of the thermometers which we deployed to Nasarawa.

I am also glad to say that they have made available 3,000 thermometers to be deployed to the polling units in Edo State.

I want to assure the PTF of the prudent use of these thermometers in Edo and well move the same thermometers to Ondo for the governorship election on the Oct. 10, he said.

Yakubu said that INEC had developed a policy on COVID-19 protocols to guide voters and electoral officials during elections.

He said that voters must avoid touching surfaces or leaning on walls at polling units,adding that INEC had produced a 10-point Code of Conduct for voters education during COVID-19 pandemic.

The chairman said that INECs COVID-19 Policy and Voters Code of Conduct had been produced in braille format also, to assist the visually impaired.

According to him, millions of people involved in elections are voters, INECofficials, security, personnel, accredited domestic and international observers, journalists, the candidates, polling agents, and service providers such as transporters.

Millions of people are involved in elections in close proximity in the course of party primaries, electioneering campaigns, voting on Election Day and collating of results and declaration of winners.

How do you ensure that the health, not physical security of all those involved are protected?

Fortunately, PTF working with the health authorities provided a guide, the national policy and anchoredon those guidelines INEC developed a policy specific to our mandate.

It covers not only the conduct of the elections but also electoral activities in general involving voter registration, political party and election observation and securing the electoral process.

In order to protect voters, officials and other stakeholders, the commission identified eight protective measures drawing from the national policy ranging from the mandatory use of face masks, hand sanitisers.

Use of methylated spirit and cotton wool to clean the smart card readers after the fingerprint of each voter is read, rules of physical distancing, the use of infrared thermometers and procedures for handling voters and election officials showing COVID-19 symptoms.

Yakubu said that the 10-point voters code of conduct targeted specifically at the voter giving details of the dos and donts at polling units on election day.

For instance, it is mandatory for every voter to wear face mask or face covering without which the voter will not be allowed to vote.

We need to emphasise that we are not asking for the kind of face mask I am wearing, not surgical face mask, but face covering will be sufficient for the voter to be accredited and to vote.

Also, voters are required to maintain physical distancing, he said.

Yakubu said that the commission introduced two queues, one outside the polling area and the other inside the polling area.

He said that within the inner queue, voters must maintain the mandatory two meter or sixfeet distance from each other.

Yakubu said that working with security agencies, INEC had produced and revised the Code of Conduct for security Personnel on Election Duty and that also included COVID-19 guidelines. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Bayelsa state government on Wednesday restated its commitment towards upgrading facilities at the Diete-Koki Memorial Hospital, Opolo and other health institutions to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

The state Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the promise during his visit to hospitals, prisons and charitable organisations to celebrate his birthday with less privileged ones.

Some of the facilities visited include the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gloryland Motherless Childrens Home, Opolo and the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Okaka in Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, underscored the role quality healthcare would play in the prosperity agenda of the administration.

He noted that the former Governor, Chief Seriake Dickson did a lot in terms of building various health facilities, adding that the current administration would spare no effort in developing the health sector.

Ewhrudjakpo whose birthday was on Sept. 5, described his visit to the less privileged in society as a tradition he had kept over the years to mark his birthday.

He stressed on the need for better-placed members of society to always give a helping hand to the needy.

The deputy governor said he could not afford to throw flamboyant birthday celebrations in the midst of poverty and underdevelopment in the state.

Ewhrudjakpo was conducted round the various wards at the Diete Koki Hospital by the Head of Administration, Mr Felix Olomu.

He later gave cash gifts to in-patients for their treatment, and also promised to pay the bills for outpatients that visited the hospital on Wednesday.

Every Christmas and on my birthday, I visit the hospitals and the childrens home to share what God has given us.

Saturday was my birthday but due to my busy schedule, I could not make it till today, which is also significant because it is the birthday of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ.

Today is a very symbolic day for me and I chose it for this visit, which is a tradition for me. I usually do it quietly but because my office has been elevated, so this visit has also been elevated.

There is nothing to celebrate, when there is so much insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment.

Until Nigeria overcomes these challenges to an appreciable level, which I believe should be the status of Nigeria, I dont think Ill celebrate. And I pray this happens sooner than later.

As a government, we will make our efforts to improve these situations because that is the mandate given to us by the people.

We will do the little we can to change things. We have started that good journey in Bayelsa State, through the Prosperity Government of Gov. Douye Diri. I believe we will get to the promised land, he said.

At the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Okaka, the deputy governor was welcomed by the Controller of Correctional Services, Bayelsa Command, Mr Edhokotum Seth.

He urged the inmates not to despair, but aspire to be better citizens by working toward becoming more productive members of society after regaining their freedom.

At the Gloryland Childrens Home, Opolo where the deputy governor was received by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Faith Opene, he assured the children of a great and better future.

Ewhrudjakpo also visited the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa where he was conducted round the Special Babycare Unit and Surgical wards by the Chief Medical Director, Dr Dennis Alagoa, and other management staff.

High points of the visit was the cutting of the birthday cake at the Childrens Home as well as presentation of cash gifts to the

Source: NAN News

Gov. Of Bauchi, Bala Mohammed

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Thursday promised to fish out corrupt civil servants, who are ruining the interest of the state.

Mohammed stated this during an interactive session with stakeholders on challenges associated with the payment of salaries in the state.

This government, will no matter the odds in the system, definitely get rid of all our saboteurs who are bent on bringing down Bauchi state.

In 2015, salaries stood at N4.5 billion but we now need N7 billion in 2020 to pay salaries.

Embargo was placed on employment, We have retirees, yet we need N7 billion to pay salaries?

So, you can see the gross corruption going on in the state civil service, people do not want us to get to the root of the matter, he said.

Mohammed said that most of the corrupt practices take place in the Health Management Board, Education and Pensions Boards, among others.

We have many cases of double salaries, ghost workers collecting salaries, 100 ghost doctors, among others.

We lack a credible nominal roll that will drive payroll in the state civil service, he added.

Mohammed urged the stakeholders to come up with suggestions to check fraudulent allowances and salaries in the state.

He, however, said that to address the challenges, the state government engaged the services of Consultant: Dynatech Solutions Systems Ltd, to handle the issues of salaries and payroll in the state.

The governor said the consultant had begun to unravel huge corruption in all sectors.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger

The Niger State Government has dismissed 80 civil servants for allegedly placing themselves on salaries above their current status.

Hajiya Salamatu Abubakar, the state Head of Service, who disclosed this during a press conference in Minna, said that their dismissal was approved by the state Executive Council at its meeting on Thursday.

The Head of Service explained that those affected were uncovered by the salary committee earlier set up by the state Governor, Sani Bello.

Abubakar added that the officers placed themselves on allowances above their current status and entitlement.

She said the report of the committee was submitted to the office of the head of service which transmitted it to the Auditor General for further action.

The head of service added that the report was later presented to the state executive council, which approved the dismissal of the 80 officers from service on Thursday.

She said that the officers were from the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as Hospital Services and Management Board and Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Others were from School of Health Technology, Tunga Magajiya, School of Midwifery, the High Court and Sharia Court of the state Judiciary.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

Israel will hold first trials of a COVID-19 vaccine with 100 volunteers, Sheba Medical Centre in central Israel said on Thursday.

The trials are scheduled to begin in October at Sheba hospital and Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, both selected for the task because they have large centres for clinical trials.

The vaccine, developed by Israels governmental Institute for Biological Research (IIBR), is based on another virus that is not harmful to humans.

One component of this virus has been replaced by a component of the novel coronavirus, which is responsible for its binding to human cells.

The bodys immune system is supposed to identify the binding site and develop antibodies against it, preventing the coronavirus from binding to the cell.

In June, the IIBR announced success in the vaccine trials on hamsters, as it was that the vaccinated hamsters blood did not contain residues of coronavirus, and they also developed antibodies against the virus.

In the first stage the safety of the vaccine will be tested, after the volunteers will receive the vaccine at one dose, through a muscle, hand or buttocks.

If it is proven that the vaccine has no significant side effects, the trials will be expanded to hundreds of volunteers, and then its effectiveness will also be tested.

Zeev Rotstein, Director-General of Hadassah, told the Hebrew news website Ynet that the hospital staff is ready, including special facilities needed for the first phase of the complex trials.

We will have to do it according to the rules and in a perfect way that will be good, efficient and without additional risks, he added. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

A drowing boy

By Bosede Olufunmi

A 10-year-old boy, Aminu Ilu, has drowned while taking his bath in a pond along Maiduguri road in Danladi Nasidi area of Kumbotso Local Government in Kano State.

A statement issued on Thursday by Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer of the state Fire Service, said the incident occurred on Thursday morning.

We received a distress call from from one Ado Sule at about 09:57 a.m.

On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene at about 10:10 a.m.

Ilus corpse was handed over to the ward head of Mariri Kata village, Alhaji Gambo Adamu, Mohammed said

He said that the cause of the incident was still under investigation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Enugu State House of Assembly

By Ifeoma Aka

The Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Water Resources on Thursday met with a contractor, Fordmarx Nig. Ltd. in a bid to tackle water scarcity in the state.

The meeting, which had in attendance the management team of Fordmarx Nig. Ltd., afforded the lawmakers the opportunity to assess the companys capacity to deliver quality water augmentation project to the state.

Fordmark Nig. Ltd. is one of the companies shortlisted by the state government for the augmentation of water scheme to the Ninth Mile area of the state.

Declaring the meeting open, the House Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Mrs Ethel Oyibo-Ugwuanyi, said that the importance of water to the survival of the state residents could not over-emphasised.

We, the house committee members, invited Fordmarx Company in order to know how it will assist the state government to achieve the goal of improving water supply.

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had, at the inception of his administration, promised to improve water supply in Enugu State.

This informed his decision to channel available resources toward achieving the goal, Oyibo-Ugwuanyi said.

Commenting, the Leader of the House, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, noted that the Enugu State Government had invested much resources to ensure that residents of Enugu metropolis would enjoy adequate water supply.

Ezeugwu, however, regretted that the efforts had not yielded the desired result.

I blame incompetent contractors for the lingering scarcity of water.

The state government will no longer engage incompetent contractors to sabotage its efforts of resuscitating various water schemes in the state, the lawmaker said.

The Special Adviser to the state governor on Water Resources, Mr Anthony Onyia, said that the Ninth Mile Water Project was aimed at augmenting the existing Ajali Water Scheme.

Onyia said that the scheme would also provide an immediate solution to water scarcity in the area.

Responding, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Clifford Nnaji, said that the water project would cost N599 million, adding that it would be solar-powered.

Nnaji gave the assurance that the project, when completed, would supply 4,000 cubic litres of water to the Okwojo-Ngwo Community daily.

The managing director assured the lawmakers that the solar panel to be used would have 20 years warranty and the pump, two years warranty.

He added that the company would train individuals on how to maintain the facilities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa

By Muhammad Adam

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has approved the full take off of the Health Insurance Scheme in the state.

Fintiri made the announcement during the inauguration and foundation laying ceremony of a new cottage hospital in Gombi Local Government Area (LGA), of the state on Thursday.

The governor said the approval of the scheme was aimed at assisting people of the state get standard and affordable primary healthcare services.

I am happy to note that my administration is taking every step to ensure that our primary healthcare system is made resilient and fortified enough to address emerging health challenges.

In line with the above, I have approved the full take off of the Health Insurance Scheme in the state.

The development is to address and provide standard and affordable healthcare services to our people, Fintiri said.

He said that development of the Gombi Cottage Hospital, was a historic gateway to allow people in the area get access to a standard health facility.

It is disheartening that despite the growing population, successive administrations failed to build a befitting health facility in the area, he said.

According to the governor, the foundation laying of the Gombi Cottage Hospital is the third in the state, as part of governments commitment towards the provision of healthcare services.

He noted that the ongoing struggle against COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the weakness of the states health sector.

He said: Because of the past administrations weakness on the health sector in the state, we have taken intensive measures to address the situation.

So far, we have built one of the best Infectious Diseases Treatment Centre and commenced massive upgrade and renovation of healthcare facilities across the state.

Also, we have given directive for the recruitment of more healthcare professionals, purchased and distributed medical equipment to all three level healthcare delivery service facilities across the state.

He assured the people of more dividends of democracy to improve their living standard. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mohammed-Babandede, NIS CG

By George Odok
The Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Cross River, Mr Okey Ezugwu, has cautioned traditional rulers and government officials to desist from conferring indigeneship on foreign nationals in the state without following due process.

Ezugwu gave the warning during a courtesy call on the speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Eteng Jonah-William on Thursday in Calabar.

He said that such actions were done through the backdoor with no duly followed procedures or considerations for national interest.

He decried attitudes of residents toward border security through the encouragement of illegal migration into the state.

He urged local government authorities, local government officials and traditional institutions to refrain from issuing foreign nationals breeder documents which they have been using to apply for Nigerian passports and national Identity cards.

I am not trying to implicate anyone, but the Clan and Village Heads are admitting foreigners through the backdoor.

Irregular migration and all forms of illegality along the Cross River borders are managed by village heads who are giving foreigners Nigeria documents free of charge.

My visit here is to plead with the Speaker and House members that are grassroots people to talk to their Village Heads.

The security of Cross River which is surrounded by neighbouring countries doesnt depends on uniform personnel alone.

The security of Cross River should be our collective responsibility and we need to work together not to allow foreigners into our country illegally, he said.

Responding, the Speaker assured the NIS of the Assemblys continued cooperation and assistance with a law to put an end to all issues raised.

We cannot sit down as stakeholders and allow our country to go the wrong way. It takes less than 30 minutes to get to Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, anyone coming in should follow the right process, he said.

Jonah-Williams added that all the House of Assembly members will take the message to their constituents.

He promised the Comptroller of a new era of stability in the borders.

We are here to support you, anytime you need us, you can come to us, he said.

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Zikrullahi Hassan, NAHCON Chairman

By Salisu Sani-Idris
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Thursday signed an agreement with the Jaiz Bank Plc, for a Hajj Savings Scheme in the country.

NAHCON Executive Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullahi Hassan, said this while signing the agreement designed to fast-track the implementation of the scheme.

Hassan explained that scheme was enshrined in NAHCON Establishment Act, 2006 as a contributory payment scheme for prospective Muslim faithful wishing to undertake Holy Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

He said that the agreement was a step towards securing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s license for the operation of the scheme as a full fledged model.

He said that the scheme was expected to boost economic growth, entrench culture of savings among low income groups and lift people out of poverty.

He said every Muslim faithful, who intended to perform the Hajj could be enroled in the scheme through the Pilgrims Welfare Board in all the 36 states, agencies and commissions or NAHCON offices across the country.

Enrolment can also be done directly from the comfort of room by logging into the dedicated site of the scheme.

Subscribers can also deposit at their convenience, and the amount they want to contribute over a specific period to be determined by them.

Deposits made will be invested in low risk Sharia-compliant product which will be monitor by the commission and profit share among stakeholders.

In line with the provision of NAHCON ACT, 2006 and in consultation with the board, we shall in due course constitute a Board of Trustees to be submitted to the government, Hassan said.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), advised the Muslim faithful to imbibe the saving culture and long-term planning in order to key into the Hajj family.

Represented by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, General Service, Office of the SGF, Mustapha urged the board and management of NAHCON to secure the license from the CBN in order to deploy the full-fledged scheme under a Special Purpose Vehicle.

He noted that promoting national cohesion and social inclusion was one of the core principles upon which the present administrations Economic Growth Recovery Plan (ERGP) was built.

The SGF said that government encourage programmes that have positive socio-economic impact on Nigerians and that the Hajj savings scheme was one of such.

The success of similar schemes in some countries gives us the hope that Nigeria by virtue of its population, constituting one of the largest Hajj contingents will succeed in this endeavour and usher in a new era in the history of Hajj management to meet and possibly surpass the best in the world today.

It is my sincere hope that all stakeholders in this scheme will give their all so that Nigeria will not only have a scheme which we can be proud of, but one that others will learn from, he said.

The Chairman Board of Trustees, Jaiz Bank, Alhaji Umar Mutallab, said that the bank was committed to the success of the scheme.

Source: NAN News