By Hassana Yakubu

The Kaduna State Government on Friday reinstated the 24-hour curfew on Kaduna metropolis and environs, as well as Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, Kateri and Kachia.

Mr Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity said in a statement that the curfew is effective from 11a.m. till further notice.

He said this became necessary to help maintain peace following the murder of the Chief of Adara, Mr Maiwada Galadima in the hands of his abductors who took him away last Friday.

The Kaduna State Government calls for calm in all our communities. The criminal elements who perpetrated this crime should not be allowed to divide us.

This is a struggle between good, decent, law abiding people trying to uphold the peace and criminals who want to divide and destroy.

It is not a struggle between religious or ethnic groups. Let no criminal find succour in faith or tribe.

Let us unite against every criminal activity. Let us stand together as human beings who have a right to live in peace, he said.

Source: NAN

By Felicia Imohimi

Help Keep Clean Foundation has advised Nigerians against inappropriate disposal of municipal waste, describing it as hazardous to health.

Miss Ijeoma Chikezie, the President and Founder of the organisation, gave the advice in a sideline interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the maiden edition of its National Health Advancement Conference (NAHAC) in Abuja.

Chikezie, a 25-year-old Medical Laboratory Scientist and Miss United Nations World Habitat recipient, identified environmental cleanliness as the responsibility of all and sundry not restricted to the government.

The lab scientist who decried the rate of inappropriate waste disposal and poor hygiene practices by the populace however urged them to desist, warning that it is dangerous to our health, environment been our habits.

Our environment is our habitat; if you keep it clean you are keeping yourself clean and healthy, let us help the government by keeping our environment clean and make their job easier.

Environmental cleanliness is everybodys responsibility; it does not end with the government it also behoves on every one of us to keep our environment clean, she said.

Chikezie said the conference was informed based on her passion for environmental health, hygiene and cleanliness.

She explained that the theme Environmental health: Re-awakening national awareness on environmental hazards and safety was aimed at addressing numerous environmental challenges or hazards facing the country.

Chikezie, who identified some of the hazards to include flood and tremors, attributed them to unhealthy practices like inappropriate waste disposal and open defecation, among others.

She decried the number of lives and property lost yearly across the country, outbreak of infectious diseases due to `I dont care attitude.

According to her, the conference will discuss and proffer solutions or ways in which individuals and governments can help solve this numerous environmental problems.

The mission of our organisation is to improve clean water, adequate sanitation and hygiene in rural communities and schools, to protect and defend childs right and privileges.

Our vision is also to sustainably empower women and vulnerable children through quality education and care to break the circle of poverty, hunger, diseases, illiteracy and maternal/child mortality, Chikezie said.

Highlight of the event include presentation of awards to Dr Mike Omotosho, the Founder, Omotosho Foundation; Mr Ibrahim Jibril, the Minister of Environment, and wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, among others.

A book titled Tom and his hand washing friends promoting personal hygiene and authored by Chikezie was also unveiled at the event.

Source: NAN

By Rita Iliya

The Niger Government has approved the release of N300 million to the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) as counterpart funding to help address gully erosion and flooding challenges in the state.

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger disclosed this on Friday when Malam Salisu Dahiru, the National Project Coordinator, NEWMAP, came on a courtesy visit to Government House in Minna.

Bello said that the money was part of the state governments 2018 counterpart funding for the World Bank-assisted two million dollars grant to help address the states gully erosion problems.

He said that the project was targeting these selected areas in the state: Rafin-Gora in Kontagora, Baban Rami in Mashegu, Ungwar Shanu Tayaman in Kagara, Efumayaki/Efumada in Bida, and Minna metropolis.

Other areas are Lapai, Agaie, Suleja and Mokwa.

A lot of lives have been lost in these areas because of serious gully erosion. Therefore, I have directed for work to commence immediately.

Work should start immediately after the rainy season, even though we know the work requires a lot of resources, places like Rafin-Gora need immediate action.

The Federal Government needs to do more in assisting the state with more resources to address these problems, he said.

Bello advised NEWMAP to be prudent and to utilise the resources effectively for the intervention projects.

Earlier, Dahiru disclosed that the World Bank has released two million dollars as preparatory grant for the project in Niger State.

Dahiru said that the state had paid its counterpart fund which was part of the requirements for any state to participate successfully in NEWMAP.

He said that the governor had directed NEWMAP to engage a consultant that would produce the required engineering drawings for the intervention in some priority gully erosion sites across the state.

We are here to brief the governor on the progress made so far following his visit to the Minister of Environment on the need to assist the state.

Our priority is to control the problems of gully erosion and flooding, particularly those experienced this year.

For NEWMAP to intervene in any state, it must produce comprehensive engineering drawings that show what they intend to do and the timelines.

The governor has approved the official inauguration of the project and given marching orders for activities to commence immediately on sites affected by gully erosion and flooding.

The project is being sponsored by the World Bank partnered by NEWMAP to provide technical solutions.

Once all the designs are ready, the World Bank will provide all the required funds needed to implement the projects, Dahiru said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NEWMAP is funded by World Bank partnered by state governments and the Federal Government.

Source: NAN

A Kaduna chief, the Paramount ruler of Adara, Agom Maiwada Galadima who had been in the den of his abductors since last Friday, has been killed.

The Kaduna State Government confirmed this in a statement on Friday and immediately reimposed a 24 hour curfew in some parts of the state.

According to Samuel Aruwan, senior special assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Galadima was killed early today.

He said the curfew will be observed in Kaduna metropolis, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, Kateri and Kachia, from 11am today

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four persons including a policeman were killed along Kaduna/Kachia road by the alleged abductors on Friday Oct. 19 before taking away the monarch, his wife and driver.

Both the driver and the wife were freed by the kidnappers, leaving only the chief in their custody.

The Kaduna state government calls for calm in all our communities. The criminal elements who perpetrated this crime should not be allowed to divide us.

This is a struggle between good, decent, law abiding people trying to uphold the peace and criminals who want to divide and destroy. It is not a struggle between religious or ethnic groups. Let no criminal find succour in faith or tribe, Aruwan said.

Source: NAN

The African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI) on Thursday in Abuja joined other Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) to demand justice for Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanja, a victim of rape.

Ochanya, a 13-year old girl, was allegedly abused sexually and raped to death by Mr Andrew Ogaju, a lecturer of Benue state Polytechnic Ugbokolo and his son Victor Ogbuja, a Student of Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State.

ASESIs Executive Director, Chinonso Obasi, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the group alongside its volunteers, joined other CSOs to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) headquarters Abuja in a peaceful protest.

Obasi said that the protesters got NHRCs assurance that the matter would not be swept under the carpet and that anyone found wanting would be brought to book.

Also, the leadership of Idoma Youth Action Group headed by Comrade Felix Onuh, in a statement, demanded for justice in the case so that it would serve as deterrent to others indulging in the act of sexual abuse and molestation against the girl-child.

On his part, the Vice President of Unity Schools Old Students Association(USOSA), Mr Michael Magali, called on the court to bring justice for Ochanya.

More so, representatives of the class of 81, Federal Government Girls College Ugbokolo submitted their petition to the commission demanding for justice.

Responding to the protesters, Mrs Aver Gaver, Director Women, Children and Vulnerable, NHRC, thanked the protesters for their peaceful conduct.

She informed them that the headquarters had already directed its Benue State office to conduct a thorough fact finding on the issue and also monitor the proceedings.

Gaver gave an assurance that that justice would prevail.

Source: NAN

The Ministry of Budget and National Planning, says the National Social Registry (NSR) is part of Federal Governments effort to capture the Nigerian poor and vulnerable in the country.

Mr Olajide Odewale, the ministrys Permanent Secretary said this during an engagement meeting with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Donor partners on NSR in Abuja.

Odewale, represented by Mr Kayode Obasa, the Director, Social Development of the ministry said the register would help improve services in the country.

A lot of misinformation and invalidated data are out there in the public domain.

And attempt to use the data to implement the interventions have led sometimes to undesirable outcomes, hence the need to take the right steps.

First, by warehousing details of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians irrespective of the location and socio-economic standings.

I therefore, thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his visionary position and determination to ensure that every Nigerian is counted and given basic social service.

Odewale expressed optimism that the forum would address grey areas of the current NSR and shed more light on how MDAs could leverage on the register.

He said it would also provide the developers of the NSR feedback from seasoned technocrats on measures to better implement the register.

Odewale expressed the ministrys commitment to ensuring that the NSR was sustained and utilised by all stakeholders.

He then commended the representatives of the various MDAs and donor partners for their efforts and contribution to the success of the NSR.

The World Bank Representative, Prof Foluso Okunmodewa, in his remarks expressed optimism that the NSR would resolve the errors of exclusions in the country.

What is important for us at the bank is to make sure that we protect the quality and credibility of this register.

I enjoin all the partners to ensure the register in terms of credibility is protected, he said.

Mrs Hajara Sami, the Acting National Coordinator, Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), said the forum was timely and pledged commitment to support the NSR drive.

Mr Hamidou Poufon, the Chief of Social Policy, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), also pledged the funds commitment to support the register.

Source: NAN

A witness to the petitioners at the Ekiti Election Tribunal, holding in Abuja, on Wednesday disowned an exhibit tendered and urged the tribunal not to use it.

The petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate in the Ekiti July 14 governorship election, Prof. Olusola Kolapo had approached the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election.

The respondents in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Kayode Fayemi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The witness, Aborisade Abolarin, who served as a polling unit agent for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 election, stated this while being cross examined by the counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN).

Asked if his signature was the one on the Form for Polling Unit 005, Ward 9, Moba Local Government Area of the state, the witness stated that it was not his signature.

It is not my signature that is here (on the document). I disown this document, said the witness listed as PW26.

Also a former councillor in Ikere LGA, Adeniyi Ibidunmoye, stated under cross examination that he was a polling agent for the petitioners during the election.

According to Ibidunmoye, who said he served as a councillor between 2008 and 2010, after counting of votes, PDP scored 219 votes as against the APCs 115, adding that some ballot papers cast for PDP were voided.

He stated that an argument ensued following the voiding of his partys votes, adding that he only signed the result sheet after the argument.

Asked why he has different signatures on his witness statement on oath and the one on the polling unit results sheet form, the witness informed that he had two different signatures which he uses.

Another witness, Adeyemi Idowu from Moba LGA, informed the tribunal under cross examination that, a total of 21 votes were voided at the Polling Unit 14 Ward 10 where he was a PDP agent.

Meanwhile, all the witnesses called by the petitioners complained in their written witness statements on oath of alleged deliberate voiding of valid votes meant for the petitioners during the election.

The tribunal chaired by Justice Suleiman Belgore, will continue the hearing of the petition today.

Source: NAN

A majority of Americans say that their financial situation has not improved since the 2016 election, according to a Bankrate survey released Wednesday.

Of those surveyed, 17 percent said they were worse off now than two years ago and 45 percent said their situation has not changed. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said their finances have improved.

Despite low unemployment numbers and rising job numbers, senior Bankrate analyst Mark Hamrick noted that economic improvements are not being felt by everyone.

Ultimately, a rising economic tide lifts many boats. It does not lift all of them, he said.

The economy is paying dividends for many Americans, but there are still many people and pockets of the U.S. economy that are hoping for those dividends to appear.

Respondents perceptions of their financial situations were split along party lines.

Of those that identified as Democrats, 48 percent found their financial situation to be the same and 23 percent found it to be worse, while only 32 percent of Republicans felt stagnant and 9 percent said they were worse off.

Democrats who did notice improvement also did not give the credit to Republicans in office, with only 7 percent attributing the positive change to Trump, Republicans in Congress or both.

Of the respondents who identified as Republicans, 71 percent who noted improvement attributed it to the president or Republicans in Congress.

The poll surveyed 1,001 respondents between Sep. 25 and 30. The margin of error for the sample is 3.72 percentage points.

*Originally reported by

Source: NAN

Ethiopian doctors have extracted over one hundred iron nails and other sharp objects from the stomach of a patient in the capital Addis Ababa.

Dawit Teare, a surgeon at St. Peters Specialised Hospital, said the 33-year-old patient suffers from mental illness and had apparently consumed the items, including 10-centimetre nails.

Reports say the patient had also swallowed four pins, a toothpick and pieces of broken glass.

The patient has been suffering from mental illness for the last 10 years and had stopped taking his medication two years ago, one probable reason he started consuming inanimate objects.

I guess he consumed the objects with the help of water, however, he is a lucky person that those sharp objects didnt cut his stomach.

That could have led to serious infections and even death,Dawit told AFP after a two-and-a-half hour operation.

The surgeon said that while he had dealt with other cases in which people with mental illness had swallowed multiple sharp objects, he had never encountered a case like the present one.

Dawit added that the patient was recovering well.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Police Force, Plateau State Command, has declared eight persons wanted in connection with the abduction and disappearance of Major General Idris Alkali.

Among the eight persons wanted in a statement on Wednesday is 52 year-old Yakubu Rap, said to be the district head of Dura, where the vehicle of Alkali was recovered in a pond.

Others are Moses Gyang, a.k.a boss, Timothy Chuan, Pam Gyang Dung, Mathew Wrang, also known as Amesco, Da Chuwang Samuel, a 28 year-old with the nickname of Morinho and Nyam Samuel, 25, also known as Soft Touch.

All the suspects belong to the Berom ethnic group.

On 13 October, the Nigeria Army presented to newsmen in Jos 13 suspects arrested in connection with the missing Alkali.

Brig.-Gen. Umar Muhammed, Garrison Commander, 3 Division, Nigeria Army, Rukuba, near Jos, thereafter handed the suspects to the police for full investigation.

Muhammed said that the people were arrested in the area where the generals missing car was found.

Alkali, the immediate past Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters, Abuja, was declared missing on Sept. 3.

He was said to have gone missing on his way to Bauchi from Abuja.

Consequently, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, set up a search operation.

The army authorities said that after a thorough investigation, they narrowed the search to a mining pond in Dura-Du in Jos South Local Government of Plateau.

After two weeks of draining water from pond, Alkalis car and two others were recovered from the pond.

Muhammed stated that a cordon and search operation was conducted in the community and some people were apprehended.

He said: They were moved to the barracks where they were screened, profiled and interrogated.

The persons to be handed over to police include those who were in possession of fire arms without licence.

Those who heard and saw the criminals that stopped the retired senior officer and those that pushed his vehicle into the pond but failed to report these criminal acts to the security agencies will also be handed over.

Source: NAN