By Ikenna Osuoha

International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in West Africa (ICWWA) has advocated for rights of women living with the virus in the region.

President of the community, Astou Diop, made the groups position known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Diop stated that a meaningful engagement of women and adolescent girls living with HIV in planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes toward checking the spread of the scourgewould guarantee womens right to health.

She urged governments at all levels in West Africa to fulfill the highest attainable standard of health for all citizens, especially women living with HIV.

She noted that governments should ensure that women were consulted to make informed decisions and choice of preference with respect to Anti Retroviral (ARV) regimen.

She added that governments should also ensure that all HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health services are free, accessible and respect the rights and dignity of people living with the virus, especially and key population.

The community leader also called for domestic funding of HIV/AIDS treatment and services to accelerate the implementation of West and Central Africas 90-90-90 target.

Diop noted that political leadership, dwindling funding for HIV and AIDS, the lack of patient centred care, respect for human rights were responsible for the regions backwardness in the fight against AIDS.

She called for strengthened partnership of Joint UN Programmes on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigerias Ministry of Health to support the leadership capacity of Community board members.

Source: NAN

Senator Dino Melaye said on Friday that he will appeal the judgment of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his election as senator representing Kogi West in the Nigerian Senate.

It would be recalled that Melaye was declared the winner of the Kogi West Senatorial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February but the tribunal nullified it on Aug. 23 (Friday) and ordered for fresh election.

A three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke in a unanimous judgment ruled in favour of Adeyemis petitions and ordered for reelection into the Kogi West senatorial district.

However, Melaye in a tweet shortly after the annulment by the tribunal vowed to appeal the judgment noting that his challenger would have also challenged the ruling if he was in his shoesr.

On Tribunal judgment: No cause 4 alarm at all. Even if it went my way they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate cannot be taken.

We will get judgment at the Appeal Court. There will be fresh election in Kogi West bc I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate no shaking.

On Tribunal judgement. No cause 4 alarm at all. Even if it went my way they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate can not be taken. We will get judgment at the Appeal Court. There will be fresh election in Kogi West bc I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate no shaking

Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye)

He also tweeted a picture with a caption He who laugh last, laugh bestKOGI Governor loading

He who laugh last, laugh bestKOGI Governor loading

Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye)

Source: NAN

North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday morning, South Koreas military says.

The launch is the seventh carried out since North Korea ended a 17-month hiatus on testing at the end of July.

Pyongyang has repeatedly expressed anger at US-South Korean military exercises that have been taking place.

On Saturday South Korea said the latest missiles, launched after the drills ended, cause grave concern.

Military officials said the projectiles were launched at 06:45 and 07:02 local time (21:45 and 22:02 GMT Friday) from the eastern town of Sondok in South Hamgyong Province.

Source: NAN

The Body of Nasir Ahmad

The locals are calling this a miracle and said that the deceased, Nasir Ahmad, was a good soul who had Allahs blessings.

The incident took place on Wednesday in the Baberu graveyard where one grave had sunk in owing to incessant rainfall.

The graveyard committee members were informed and they cleared the mud to find a body wrapped in white shroud. A huge crowd collected at the place as the news spread and the body was taken out.

It was identified as that of Nasir Ahmad, who had died 22 years ago. One of the relatives of Ahmad identified the body and said that he was present when the burial had taken place 22 years ago.

In consultation with local clerics, the body was later buried in another nearby grave on Wednesday night.

Source: NAN

Governor Udom Emmanuel has commiserated with Senator Chris Ekpeyong over the demise of his wife Dr. Grace Ekpeyong.

The State Governor who was accompanied on the condolence visit by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo expressed sadness over the death.

Other who accampanied the governor were: Director General Divine mandate Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, National Legal officer of the PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, Senator Anietie Okon, SSG Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, former SSG, Obonganwan Grace Ekong, Dr. Udoma Ekarika Dr Etido Ibekwe,Elder Aniekan Umana, some members of the state executive council and political stalwarts.

Emmanuel said the news of the demise of Late Mrs Grace Ekpenyong came as a shock and urged the family especially, the bereaved husband to be consoled by the fact that God who created her knew that a moment like this would come.

The governor said there is no better moment to loose a loved one.

He prayed God to comfort the family and to grant her eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Responding Senator Chris Ekpeyong thanked the Governor and his entourage for identifying with him in his grief described the wife as a daughter of Zion and committed Servant of God as well his pillar of strength.

He thanked the Governor for the support given her during her travails to receive medical attention both at home and abroad.

Senator Chris Ekpeyong said that his late wife was an ardent supporter of the Governor and the PDP, adding that when he aspired for the Senatorial seat she gave him her blessings.

He recalled fond memories and said that he will greatly miss the companionship and her wise counsel.

He appealed to the state government to stand by him and the family to give his departed wife a befitting burial.

Prayers were offered for the family and for God to grant her Soul eternal rest.

Source: NAN

Three environmental scientists have warned people living in coastal cities, such as Lagos, to beat a retreat now or face the prospect of a disorderly, chaotic withdrawal in about three decades, as climate change worsens.

The scientists, A.R. Siders, Miyuki Hino and Katharine J. Mach, in a new policy paper, published 23 August in the journal, advised that the only way to avoid a chaotic withdrawal is to start planning now for the inevitable retreat from coastal cities.

Faced with global warming, rising sea levels, and the climate-related extremes they intensify, the question is no longer whether some communities will retreat moving people and assets out of harms way but why, where, when, and how they will retreat, the authors of the paper wrote.

As many as 1 billion people are expected to be forced out of their homes by the droughts, floods, fires and famines associated with runaway climate change over the next 30 years and they all have to go somewhere. This massive global exodus can go one of two ways: either it will be a chaotic mess that punishes the worlds poor, or it can be a path to a fairer, more sustainable world.

Rather than dealing with these forced migrations on a reactive, disaster-by-disaster basis (as many emergency evacuations do now), the researchers propose taking a managed and strategic approach to the problem, setting up policies and infrastructure now to help climate refugees transition into new homes and out of harms way as soon as possible.

The steps to accomplish this task range from the common sense for example, limiting property development in at-risk areas (like coastal cities) and instead investing in creating affordable housing in safer inland communities to the incredibly complex. For instance, the authors want to build infrastructure that maintains the cultural heritage of marginalised communities that wind up having to leave ancestral homes.

Retreat may exacerbate historic wrongs if it relocates or destroys historically marginalised communities, the researchers wrote. Conversations around who should pay for retreat will almost certainly need to address reasons why certain communities find themselves at risk.

Indeed, the researchers wrote, retreat could be an opportunity to revitalise communities and redistribute wealth in a more sustainable way. For example, it could be a chance to end real estate practices that incentivise living in at-risk areas. Retreat could also be a chance to subsidise new schools, hospitals and affordable housing in safer inland regions instead of making belated improvements to at-risk areas, like building expensive new sea walls to shield communities that have already been battered by severe storms and abandoned before.

One proposal for Bangladesh suggests investing in a dozen cities to provide infrastructure along with educational and employment opportunities to draw successive generations of people away from low-lying coasts, the authors wrote. Retreat is not a goal in and of itself, but a means of contributing to societal goals.

While widespread evacuation of climate-prone communities may not occur for a decade or more, the only way to prepare for this unprecedented global challenge is to start planning now. Leaving home is never easy however, with enough research, investment and strategic thinking, it doesnt need to be a disaster.

Source: NAN

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has described as false the kidnap alarm raised by a father, Mr Frank Anioma, over his daughter, Miss Kosisochukwu Anioma.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Saturday in Enugu.

He said that Anioma took to the social media to announce his daughters kidnap as well as reported to the police.

Amaraizu said that the fake kidnap alarm was raised on Aug. 22 and the police operatives of the Anti-Kidnap Unit immediately swung into action.

He said that contrary to the fake social media hype, fresh facts had emerged on the purported fake kidnapping incident.

According to him, Kosisochukwu was never abducted by anyone and that she willingly left their home.

He said that Aniomas daughter went to the park at Holy Ghost without telling anyone and headed to Owerri where she met her boyfriend.

According to her, both of them have been secondary school friends at Abakiliki but she needed to go see him following the prolonged school holiday.

Kosisochukwu, 14, is going to SSS 1 if school reopens same with her boyfriend who hails from Owerri in Imo State, the police spokesman said.

Amaraizu said that Kosisochukwu confessed that she was not abducted nor kidnapped as stated by her father.

Source: NAN

Text: Romans 14 v 14 – 19; Isa. 32 v 17

Introduction: - The Kingdom of God in the life of every believer should be fully rooted and established on these 3 pillars; Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost, for if in these things we serve Christ the Lord, v18 says; we’ll be acceptable of God and approved of Men. May God accept us as we grow in Him and study tonight in Jesus Christ Mighty Name; Amen.

Righteousness And Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost

• Righteousness: - Isa. 61 v 10. Rev. 3 v 18. To enjoy fellowship with God, we must not only know that we have been forgiven of every sin but we must also know that we are clothed with a righteousness that is acceptable to God. Rom. 1 v 17; Jer. 23 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Isa. 54 v 14; How does God make us Righteous? He does this by placing us in His Son. 1 Cor. 1 v 30; 2 Cor. 5 v 21. We ourselves are not righteous, but God has put us IN CHRIST. When God looks at us, He does not see us as we are; He sees only Christ. Because we are IN CHRIST, we have a perfect righteousness before God. Christ is our righteousness. What happens when God looks at us and sees us as we are?

• Peace: - Eph. 2 v 14; Isa. 9 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Phil. 4 v 7; Rom. 3 v 17; Heb. 12 v 14; Beloved, Jehovah Shalom, our God is Peace; Judges 6 v 24; and the peace of God is incomprehensible but capable of keeping our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. The Lord in His sovereignty gives peace to His people. To have effectual fellowship with God, we must be at peace and also follow peace with all men. Ex. 14 v 14. When you fight and quarrel with others, you have taken upon the battle yourself, and you cannot hold onto your peace anymore. If God is indeed your peace, can anything pluck you out of God’s hands? No. John 10 v 28-30. To enjoy God’s divine peace, we must shun Unfaithfulness, envy, evil-plots, lies, flatteries, bitterness, iniquities, etc. Psalm 37: 12; Psalm 52:3; Psalm 64:3; Proverbs 14:6; Isaiah 1:4 for there is no peace for the wicked.

• Joy in the Holy Ghost: - Rom. 5 v 1 – 5; Math. 2 v 10; Psalm 16 v 11; Neh. 8 v 10; Heb. 12 v 1-2; When we have peace like a river, we enter in the Joy of the Lord by the Wonderful Holy Ghost. “When the enemy comes rushing like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall raise a standard” - Isa. 59 v 19. When we have His Spirit, we’re sure going to live according to his standard without even knowing it. The Holy Ghost ensures our that our Joy in God through Christ Jesus our Lord is preserved and maintained. The Holy Ghost opens the channel of God’s Love abundantly into your heart, so nothing should make you fear. Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled. Joy expresses God’s kingdom and we have joy because of God’s grace. The Spirit’s production of joy can manifest (i) The joy of deliverance (1Samuel 2:1; Acts 12:14). (ii) The joy of salvation (Luke 15:7; Acts 8:8; 15:3) (iii) The joy of spiritual maturity (2Corinthians 1:24; 1Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. The work of Righteousness is Peace (Isa. 32 v 17), the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9 v 6) makes us one with the Father in whose presence there’s Joy everlasting, and this Joy is shed into our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Shalom!!!

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Sen. Babajide Omoworare has been appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matter (Senate).

Omoworare is to replace Sen. Ita Enang who held the position for the last four years.

In a statement made available to our correspondent and personally signed by Omoworare, the Senator said that the news of his appointment had been communicated to him.

Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has just announced my appointment as an Aide to Mr. President for the National Assembly (Senate).

I am grateful to God Almighty and to His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve his government as his primary liaison with the Senate.

I gladly accept this rare and coveted privilege to advance the administrations legislative agenda, promote its policy priorities in the Senate and foster Mr. Presidents constitutional responsibilities in the National Assembly.

As I resume the helms of President Buharis Legislative Office team, I am aware of the importance of ensuring a more productive working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.

I have spent the past two decades working passionately as a parliamentarian, policy strategist, legislative strengthening advocate and lobbyist.

Therefore, it is my sincere but humble hope that that my knowledge, expertise and network of contacts in the National Assembly will be positive and outstanding resources to my new Office, this adminstration and the Nigerian nation.

In pursuit of building further blocks in the Executive/Legislature relationship, I shall lead a team that will rely on the robust experience of the National Assembly leadership as well as the cooperation and cohesion of all the Distinguished Senators and our Honourable Representatives.

I also look forward to a mutually satisfying relationship between the National Assembly on one part and Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the other part, as we toil towards accomplishing unparalleled achievements for the Federal Government, as well as guaranteeing good governance for the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Omoworare wrote.

Source: NAN

Equatorial orbit shorter to space

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Tuesday said that Nigeria should harness the benefit of launching satellites from the Equatorial orbit which is shorter to space and saves cost.

Dr Spencer Onuh, the Director, Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), one of NASRDAs activity centres, said this during the centres week and 9th Annual Space Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the two days conference focuses on the theme Exploration of Equatorial Orbit for Space Optimisation.

Onuh said that Nigeria located in Africa as a continent is advantaged being close to the equatorial orbit, adding that the positioning gives African countries an edge over other countries who could be located across the polar orbit.

NAN reports that Nigeria in 2003, 2007 and 2011 launched its satellites from China, Italy and Russia respectively which are outside the equatorial orbit.

Onuh explained that equatorial orbit is an orbit roughly in line with the equator of the being planet orbited while polar orbit is one in which a satellite passes above or nearly above poles of the body being orbited on each revolution.

There is a natural endowment of advantages the equatorial region bestows on us.

For a country like Nigeria, we do a lot of revisiting of satellites for information gathering in disaster management, security, agricultural issues.

We need to make use of equatorial orbit to reap the benefits of space science and technology, he said.

According to Onuh, Nigeria is lacking in the area of infrastructure for developing space science technology but has human capacity to advance the sector.

He said that private-public partnership, space entrepreneurs can be encouraged to build the infrastructure needed to develop space science technology and harness its benefits.

Private partnership can be Nigeria having international collaborations that should be done in our interest, on our terms.

We have the capacity to challenge European space industry, our challenge is the infrastructure, we need to fix our ground station, our Assembly, Integration and Testing lab.

Private-public-partnership can be encouraged to develop space science technology because satellite business is not just about government, Onuh said.

The director said, though, the government had taken the responsibility of developing the space industry because Nigeria is a third world country but it is not sustainable.

Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research, said that satellites from equatorial orbit deviate from the equitorial plane of a planet by less than 45 degrees.

According to Rabiu, equatorial region is characterised with the highest values of the peak electron density with the most pronounced amplitude.

He said that Near Equitorial Orbit (NEqO) satellite of countries have the potential to provide immediate disaster relief information and repetitive monitoring from multi-mission satellites.

NEqO satellites have possible programming and selection of areas to be observed with acceptable cloud cover before and during satellite data acquisition, he said.

He noted that NEqO country satellites have less market potential for data coverage because it is limited to targeted zone in equitorial zone.

I observed that most of the nations in the equatorial belt are actually underdeveloped and considered as nations with poor management of resources, he said

The director recommended that there should be continuous deployment of ground-based equipment for monitoring space environment in the equatorial region.

He called for urgent review of the space agencys present budget and procurement laws to favour space science and technology among other recommendations.

Dr Matthew Adepoju, President, Geo-information Society of Nigeria (GSN) said African countries lagged behind in the first, second and third industrial revolution.

Adepoju noted that the continent must not continue to take the back stage in the fourth industrial revolution.

The most advanced countries have taken advantage of the polar orbit, we are located in the equatorial orbit which we need to take advantage of.

Most African countries are leveraging on this and Nigeria need to also key in and take our leadership in the continent to space. (NAN)

Source: NAN