By Kate Obande-Okewu

The Rwandan Governance Board (RGB) says online assets declaration by public office holders is one of the methods that can be used to reduce corruption to a barest minimum in any country including Nigeria.

Dr Usta Kaitesi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of RGB, said this when he received the Nigerian delegation on a Post-Conflict Learning visit titled: Readiness for Change on Thursday in Kigali, Rwanda.

She said that the online method was to enable officers add newly acquired assets and deduct the ones that were no longer in their possession to ensure accurate database.

Kaitesi said that Rwandan government had zero tolerance for corruption and anybody caught irrespective of their position would face the law.

She explained that Rwanda was not 100 per cent free from corruption but it was very minimal, adding that only zero tolerance for corruption could guarantee and sustain the fight.

There is no immunity for public office holders in Rwanda, if you take part in corrupt activities and you are caught, you will be dismissed from office and face the law irrespective of your position.

You can always run but no matter how long you run, anytime you are caught, you will face the wrath of the law.

So either you stay and face the consequences then come out to be a better person or you keep running till you are caught.

We still have some perpetrators of the genocide, who are still at large and we are still searching for them any day they are found they must face the law, she said.

She explained that resilience on part of government and compliance by citizens was paramount in ensuring sustainability of any development project or policy.

Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, who led the delegation described Rwandas public service as excellent.

Oyo-Ita noted that the visit was enlightening and that Nigeria had learnt a lot and would replicate same in Nigeria for better national development.

The delegation also visited the National Public Service Commission, Rwanda and was received by the Mrs Angelina Muganza, Executive Secretary of the commission.

Muganza said that Rwanda depended on its human capacity to grow the economy as they had no mineral resources.

She explained that before the genocide, recruitment was based on nepotism, connection and prejudice but all these had stopped.

According to Muganza, after the genocide the priority is to find staff, the entry year into public service is 18 and exit 65.

She also said the recruitment process was done online and if you were not employed there was a platform you could appeal to be employed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation had so far visited 10 Rwandan institutions including ministries to learn their post-conflict survival strategies and mechanisms.

The five-day learning visit was to expose State and Federal Government officials to the mechanisms to be applied during the post-conflict era in reconstructing and strengthening public institutions, particularly in the North east, Nigeria.

Source: NAN

By Joshua Olomu

Move Against Cancer Africa (MACA), a cancer advocacy NGO, on Thursday, rolled out lung cancer prevention
awareness programme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Caleb Egwuenu, the Project Director of MACA, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the campaign that the awarenesswas part of the groups initiative toward marking the 2018 Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM).

November is a global Lung Cancer Awareness Month designed toraise awareness on the need for more research and better communityeducation about the disease.

According to Egwuenu, the campaign is to educate Nigerians on some common, but unhealthy practices that can cause lung cancer.

He said: as we know, November is the awareness month forlung cancer, therefore, we have seized this opportunity to launch the sensitisation.

This is in line with our goals at MACA to educate people on cancer and to reduce cancer-related burden and its consequent death rate in our society.

Like we did in October as the awareness month for breast cancer, we are using this month to provide information to Nigerians onlung cancer, especially on its prevention.

Dr Abiodu Egwuenu, a Volunteer Epidemiologist with MACA, during her presentation at the awareness programme, said that lung cancerwas the most common type of cancer among males and the third most common cancer among females in developing countries.

She added that for several decades now, lung cancer has been the most common in the world and it claims more lives each year thancolon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined.

Research has shown that 58 per cent of new cases occur in less developed regions, and this is why awareness is very crucial.

She identified some risk factors of lung cancer to include smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, exposure to asbestos andother carcinogens and family history of lung cancer.

According to her, exposure to radon, a gas produced by breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water, also causes lung cancer in the long run.

Egwuenu explained thatsymptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, coughing up blood, even a small amount,chest pain, bonepain and worsening shortness of breath, among others.

She, therefore, warned that people should beware of secondhand smoke by avoiding areas where people smoke, such as bars andrestaurants where smoking is permitted.

Prohibition of smoking in public places, including child care facility, will help in checking secondhand smoke, she said.

MACA is an NGO that provides essential medical information to people affected by or concerned about cancer.

It helps individuals and families to understand, interpret and act upon the most reliable and recent breast cancer informationfor informed decision making.

In collaboration with relevant health organisations, the group organises free cancer screening for Nigerians across the country.

Source: NAN

The Department of State Service (DSS) recently arrested suspects in high profile crimes, including those allegedly involved in the abduction and killing of the traditional ruler of Adara Chiefdom, HRH Maiwada Galadima.

The arrest of the suspected killers of Galadima was made possible with collaboration with the military, Mr. Peter N. Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer of DSS, said on Thursday in Abuja.

DSS, he said, sprang into action in its determination to contain the menace of kidnapping.

With the recent arrests, he said that relative peace has returned to Kaduna State after the disturbances that followed the violent abduction and gruesome murder.

He said that concerted efforts were being made to address the resurgence of organized criminal activities in the North-West.

The Service had also arrested high profile kidnappers and notorious elements in different locations of the State and beyond.

On 25th October, 2018, in Riga Chikun, Kaduna State, five members of a dreaded kidnap gang whose operations span between Kaduna and Katsina States were apprehended.

They are Isa Ahmadu (Gang Leader), Suleiman Umar (Ransom negotiator), Ibrahim Mallam, Ishaku Saidu (aka ISHE) and MANSUR (Mallam).

The groups hideout in Katsina State was raided after preliminary investigation leading to the arrest of two other members of the group,, Muhammadu Ibrahim and Muhammed Isa.

On 19th October, 2018 Sirajo, a suspected infamous kidnapper was arrested at Hayin Danmni, Igabi LGA of the State.

On 30th October, 2018, at Sainyinan Dani, Yabo LGA, Sokoto State, the duo of Abubakar Umar and Suleiman Sani were arrested for gun running.

Between 11th and 12th October, 2018, suspected armed bandits operating in and around Zamfara State were also arrested in Bakura, Tsafe and Bungudu LGAs of the State.

Those arrested were Dan-Alhaji Dan-Mineri, Yusuf Khalif and Musa (Mallam).

He also said that on 5th November, 2018, the tactical team of the Service, in collaboration with the military, arrested Muhammed Aminu, a suspected gunrunner and his accomplice, Dare Okunwola (aka BODA) at Lere LGA.

During a search of Okunwoles residence, several ammunitions and eight (8) AK-47 rifles were recovered.

On the same date, at Toungo LGA, Adamawa State, Abbas Abubakar (aka SAMBO), a suspected Improvised Explosives Device (IED) expert for the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), was apprehended.

Other arrests were those made on 15th October, 2018, at North Bank, Makurdi, Benue State where renowned cultists, Yakubu Mohammed and Joseph Andoaasin were apprehended.

Cartridges and a locally made pistol were recovered from them.

Investigations have so far uncovered leads that will enable the Service and other sister agencies to address the menace of kidnaping in the country. Suspects will undoubtedly be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The DSS reassures the public that the tempo of these operations will not only be sustained, but strengthened for greater impact on the well-being of residents.

The Service, therefore, enjoins everyone to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and avail them useful information that would assist them carry out necessary operations that will guarantee peace especially at the coming yuletide and general elections.

Source: NAN

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG), has commended President Mohammadu Buhari-led government, ECOWAS, Ghanaian authority and others for their intervention in the reopening of Nigerians shops in Ghana.

The President of NUTAG, Mr Chukwuemeka Nnaji, said this in a telephone conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)from Kumasi Ghana on Thursday.

NAN reports that hundreds of shops run by Nigerians were reportedly shut following an impasse with the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).

The closure of the shops was allegedly in compliance with authorities mulling some legislation compelling foreigners to have one million dollars (R14.3 million) as minimum foreign investment capital to do business in Ghana.

Nnaji who confirmed the reopening of the shops by the authority in Ghana said that the government of Nigeria had worked so hard to achieve the feat.

Yes, the Government of Nigeria has worked so hard to bring this success. All our shops are now opened. We want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention, he said.

He recalled that President Buhari had sent a special envoy led by Foreign Affairs Minister, and President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean Claude Brou, to Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo over the matter.

We also commend the ECOWAS president, Jean Claude Brou,and his commissioners and other envoys sent toGhana so many times over the issue.

We also want to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for their efforts, he said.

Nnaji noted that the Minister had on Nov 2, summoned the Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Rashid Bawa, over the situation on the reopening of the shops.

He commended the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Amb. Olufemi Abikoye, and his Ghanaian counterpart, Bawa, on their efforts in resolving the impasse.

Nnaji also expressed the unions appreciation to Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo for his efforts and the role played in ensuring that the closed shops were reopened.

NAN also recalled that President Akufo-Addo had assured Nigerians in his country of freedom to operate their businesses without harassment.

Akufo-Addo said this while receiving President Buharis Special Envoy to Ghana, led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geofrey Onyeama.

He urged Nigerians to go about their normal businesses in Ghana.

As far as the traders are concerned, the shops are re-opened; people are back to work.

Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act will never be applicable to ECOWAS citizens; so people can get on with their normal lives, he said.

Source: NAN

The ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project can be converted to electric train in future, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), has assured Nigerians.

Mr Jerry Oche, the Railway District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the Federal Government was serious on delivering the project on time as work is going on as we speak.

He said that the project was not just about the standard gauge only.

According to him, the government has taken into cognisance, the possibility for this project to be converted into an electrically driven train in the future.

Im sure most Nigerians are aware of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard gauge railway project.

This is one of the projects that government of the day has taken very seriously.

As a matter of fact, its a project funded by China and Nigeria Government.

Nigeria, as of today, has paid 100 per cent counterpart funding for that project.

Every month, we have project meeting chaired by the Minister of Transport Rotimi Amechi himself, not representative.

The government of the day is serious on delivering that project; work is going on as we speak.

And of course, in railway, the standard gauge is the in-thing of the day.

This particular project is not just about the standard gauge, weve also taken into cognisance, the possibility for this project to be converted into an electrically driven train in the future.

All the provisions, all the land weve acquired, weve made provision for that possibility, in case we wake up tomorrow and we say hey, we want to convert it to electric trains.

But we all know why we wouldnt want to do that now; we all know the power situation in the country.

But if there is an improvement, I can assure you, we will change to that (electric trains), Oche said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Perpetual Onuegbu

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned against vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure, stressing that the act is compromising Federal Governments efforts toward achieving30 per cent broadband penetration in 2018.

Miss Helen Obi, the commissions Head of Zonal Operations in Niger, said this at a one-day sensitisation programme on Protection of Telecommunication Infrastructure on Thursday.

According to her, telecom infrastructure serve all citizens and should be owned collectively and everyone should work against its vandalism so that it can serve the purpose for which it is meant.

She said we are here to sensitise the people as stakeholders not only as consumers, including local governments and agencies of Federal Government on the need to protect telecom infrastructure.

This is actually key to the 8-point agenda of the NCC Chief Executive, Prof. Umar Danbatta, to ensuring quality service and broadband penetration.

This is because tampering with these infrastructure compromises the efforts of government to meet the 30 per cent broadband penetration target for 2018.

She said that so far, NCC had achieved 22 per cent broadband penetration and hoped to reach 30 per cent target.

Dr Lawal Bello of the Department of Technical Standards and Network Integrity (TSNI) of the commission, said that the industry had continued to lose huge sums of money as a result of vandalism of telecom infrastructure.

He said that the spate of destruction of telecom infrastructure across the country had slowed down the growth of services.

Bello outlined some of the challenges facing the sector as willful damage of telecom infrastructure to extort money from service providers, andlocal communities or individuals barring technical staff of service providers from installing equipment or carrying out repair on existing systems.

He added that diesel theft and digging up of cables for sale were also among the problems.

The TSNI official said that NCC had been using various avenues such as the Consumer Outreach Programme, the Telecom Consumer Parliament to sensitise people and to educate them about the dangers associated with vandalism of such infrastructure.

He called for speedy passing of the bill of Telecom Infrastructure and the need to declare it a national asset.

Bello added that the protection of telecom infrastructure was not only NCCs responsibility or that of security agencies, but of all patriotic citizens.

Mr Abubakar Salisu, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Office of the Head of Service in Niger, urged the commission to give incentives to states that have less cases of vandalism.

According to him, incentives will encourage states to do more and make others to follow.

NCC statistics shows that Niger has the least occurrence of telecommunication infrastructure vandalism.

During the sensitisation programme, telecom users were given opportunity to ask questions and lay their complains, which the commission pledged to look into.

In attendance were security agencies, community members and telecom operators and associations.

Source: NAN

Labour leaders, who have called off a planned nationwide strike, have agreed a new national minimum wage at the end of negotiations with a Tripartite Committee, set up by the Federal government.

The agreed figure will be kept under wraps until 4.15 pm on Tuesday, when it will be revealed in a report to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, spoke to newsmen at the end of the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new National Minimum wage meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the National Minimum Wage Negotiating committee has concluded its assignment and agreement has been reached and also documents have been signed.

The report will be submitted to Mr President by today and therefore, having reached this position, the Organised Labour also decided that the proposed strike is hereby suspended.

Therefore, we thought this should be communicated appropriately without also divulging this information as mutual agreement has been reached, he said.

Ms Amma People, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee also noted that the assignment of the committee has been concluded.

We are going to present our report to Mr President today at 4:15 ,pm and he will reveal the figure that we have recommended, she said.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary of the Government of the Federation commended members of the committee for their time and commitment on the processes of recommending the new minimum wage.

I am confident that government will give expeditious consideration of the report when submitted tomorrow to Mr President. And very soon the processes will be put in place to truly actualise your recommendations so that the status of our working populace will be enhanced and they would receive appropriate and commensurate payments for the services they offer to our nation and to the different sectors of our economy, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organised Labour had threatened to commence nationwide strike on Nov. 6 over government rejection of a N30,000 minimum wage. Government offered N24,000, which labour also rejected.

Source: NAN

The planned nationwide strike by the labour unions over a new minimum wage has been shelved for now. The strike was scheduled to start on Tuesday.

Labour leaders, government representatives and organised private sector spent many hours on Monday to reach a consensus on a minimum wage.

But it was in vain as the Tripartite committee decided to convey the resolution of the meeting to President Muhammadu Buhari, for onward transmission to the National Assembly.

The report will be submitted to President Buhari on Tuesday by 4:15 pm.

Government wants to pay N24,000 as minimum wage, but the labour leaders are insisting on N30,000.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Mondayintervened in the impasse by appealing to the labour unions, especially the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to consider the rot his administration inherited from the previous governments.

The President explained that the present government was doing more with the fewer resources at its disposal in putting the nations economy right.

*More to follow

Source: NAN

By Dorcas Jonah

The FCT Squash Association on Monday in Abuja said it would build a formidable squash team for the territory to compete successfully at the upcoming 19th National Sports Festival (NSF).

The associations chairman, Edem Selong, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the team would have talented boys and girls who would perform well to win medals at the festival.

He assured that with good support, the association would get the game of squash back to the centre stage in Abuja.

Our immediate task is to groom and present a formidable team for the NSF slated for Dec. 6 to Dec. 16 in Abuja, Selong said.

He also said the association would expedite action in the completion of the squash courts at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja.

Selong said the association would do this as part of all efforts to popularise the sport in the FCT.

NAN reports that the Minister of the FCT, Muhammed Bello, had on Thursday inaugurated new members for the boards of the 29 sports associations in the FCT.

He had charged the members to move sports to the next level in the territory.

NAN reports that other members of the FCT Squash Association include Ladan Dahiru, who is the First Vice-Chairman, Jamal Arabi as Second Vice-Chairman and Jonah Attah as Technical Director.

Other members are Hadi Sani, Dorcas Jonah, Emmanuel Emeka, Ime Ekrikpo, Anthony Oke, who is a coach, and Noah Omede, who is the secretary.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received Prince Charles and his wife, Princess Camilla at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Prince Charles and members of his entourage arrived the State House at about 2.20p.m.

Buhari, who welcomed the Prince at the Fore Court of the presidential villa, introduced some members of his cabinet and presidential aides to the prince.

The President later went into closed door with Prince Charles.

Prince Charles, 69, who is on a 3-day visit, had visited Nigeria in 2006.

During this visit, he would engage in peace-building activities, including addressing the persistent attacks of herdsmen on farming communities in Nigeria.

He is also expected to discuss practical solutions to alleviating the tensions, arising from the activities of herdsmen.

NAN also reports that the Benin Monarch, Omo NOba Ewuare 11, had on Sunday arrived in Abuja ahead of Prince Charles visit to Nigeria.

Source: NAN