THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 20, 2012
News
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USAID establishes VVF centre in Cross River From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar
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HE United States Agency International Development (USAID) in conjunction with Cross River State Government has established a Vesico Vaginal Fistula Centre at the premises of the Ogoja General Hospital. In his address, shortly before the inauguration of the centre last Friday, the Country Manager, Fistula Care Project of USAID, Chief Iyeme Efem, said the Ogoja centre is the second to be established with the collaboration of the agency in the southern part of the country. The centre, which is the ninth in the country, is expected to contribute to the treatment of about 4, 000 fistula cases handled by specially trained medical practitioners through the help of USAID. Other states where the centre had been successfully established in collaboration with the respective governments are Kano, Kwara, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Sokoto. Efem said the sustainability of the project, which involves the special training of medical personnel and provision of surgery equipment to handle the rising cases of Fistula was of concern to USAID. Cross Rivers Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who unveiled the centre, said his administration had resolved to ensure that it achieved the 2015 Millennium Development Goals target through successes in the primary healthcare service delivery. According to him: “One of the things we want to achieve is success in the primary healthcare service delivery. ‘’We have placed priority on this not because we need donor attention but because we are committed to healthcare delivery. We have pegged 2015 to deliver the MDG.”
Gowon, Obasanjo for conference
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WO former Heads of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) will lead other eminent Nigerians to examine the indispensable roles of strong institutions in building a great nation at this year’s national conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria (AES). AES President, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, said Gowon will chair the event slated to hold next Tuesday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs(NIIA) Lagos. Obasanjo will deliver a speech on “Institution and Systems: Necessary Tools for Building”. Ajagu added that a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof Itse Sagay, will speak on “Strong Legal System: Necessity for Building a Virile Nation”. Ajagu will also make a presentation on “Ethics and Value System: Necessity for building a virile nation.”
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HE Federal Government has repatriated about 4, 214 foreigners in the last three months. It also refused about 16,998 foreigners entry in the same period. The Federal government did not, however, give specific reasons for the action. The repatriation followed a February 26 directive by the Federal Government for the immediate easing out of all illegal immigrants from the country. Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, disclosed these yesterday at an interface with the media and some members of the public at the ongoing 2012 ministerial platform in Abuja. He also informed that 335 foreigners were also deported within the same period with 34 stowaways. The Minister said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) watch-listed 1, 247 persons and restricted about 3, 298 Nigerians from travelling for allegedly possessing doubtful travel documents. He added that although
Nigeria repatriates 4,214 in three months
Don’t tamper with CBN autonomy, Soludo warns
•Denies 16,998 foreigners entry From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
the ministry does not have the mandate to generate revenue for the government, it has been able to rake billions into Federal Government coffers. The ministry, according to him, generated over N190 million at the Citizenship and Business Department. The NIS generated N5,765 billion from issuance of immigration facilities while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps made N72 million within the period, the minister further disclosed. The NIS, he added, generated a further $11,470 mil-
lion through the issuance of immigration facilities by Foreign Missions and another $729, 600 as fines imposed on certain airlines that brought some inadmissible foreigners to Nigeria. Moro also regretted the lack of cooperation among security agencies and said effective internal security can only be achieved through maximum synergy between the ministry and other security agencies. According to him: “There were grave ambivalences in the defined responsibilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. ‘’These were manifest in situations where the Ministry
was saddled with the responsibility of maintaining internal security without having the necessary control over the requisite indispensable paramilitary establishments such as the Police Force, Passport Office, Revenue and Preventive Divisions of the Customs and Excise Department. The Fire Service was also under the supervision of the Nigeria Police Force.’’ The minister disclosed that the Federal Government is collaborating with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to effectively patrol and control the nation’s borders with over 1, 497 irregular and 84 regular or legal entry routes.
By Ayo Aminu
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MMEDIATE past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has cautioned against whittling down the autonomy of the CBN as guaranteed by the CBN Act 2007. He feared that such development could hamper the effectiveness of monetary policy and the management of the macro-economic framework of Nigeria. Soludo, who spoke at the weekend during a sent-forth dinner in his honour, declared that “the survival of that institution, CBN, is at the heart of the survival of the Nigerian economy”. He warned that any attempt to remove the autonomy of the apex bank will lead to “ominous” consequences. He decried a situation in which a disagreement with an individual could lead to the destruction of the entire institution. The respected economists appealed to members of the National Assembly to have a “constructive dialogue” over the matter “to avoid going to the other extreme as the institution of the CBN must be preserved no matter the level of disagreemen.”
Obi assures on accelerated rural development From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi
•Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, in a handshake with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Bamanga Tukur, during the funeral ceremony of his mother, late Mrs. Theresa Chime, ... at the weekend
JTF clamps down on illegal refineries
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HE Joint Military Task Force (JTF) has smashed a syndicate of oil bunkering operating in Ogbia creeks of Bayelsa State. The exercise code named Operation Pulo Shield is to rid the Niger Delta region of bunkering and illegal refineries. This came few days after
From Isaac Ombe, Yenogoa
the JTF arrested suspected bunkering operators and impounded items in some states in the region. Media Coordinator of the JTF, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement in Yenagoa shortly after the operation led by Lt. Colonel Jafaru Ibrahim, said many il-
legal refineries were destroyed during the exercise. He also disclosed that items recovered include 36,000 litres capacity lorry tankers loaded with illegally refined oil products, 26 surface tanks, 10 pumping machine and 1,000 drums containing refined products. According to Nwachukwu, “the operation
is in line with the mandate given to JTF to protect oil sector from illegal oil bunkerers and oil thefts”. While conducting newsmen round the destroyed and recovered items, the JTF media coordinator said the operation was a “continuous exercise aimed at stamping out all oil- related crimes in the region.”
How to tackle insecurity, by Badejo
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ORMER General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Wilson Badejo, has declared that the current level of insecurity in the country can be addressed by paying more efforts and resources to ameliorating the socio-economic challenges facing the less privileged. He said many poor Nigerians are hardworking and willing to be meaningfully engaged if given a chance. Badejo spoke with news-
By Sunday Oguntola
men yesterday ahead of the 5th annual lecture of the Wilson Badejo Foundation (WBF) slated to hold next Wednesday at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos. He warned that the nation may continue to battle with insecurity ‘’until and unless symptoms of poverty, squalor, lacks and underdevelopment are arrested’’. The cleric described the
mass poverty in Nigeria unacceptable, saying the situation is at the root of the different conflicts being experienced. According to him, ‘’wellmeaning Nigerians and governments have to devise ways of tackling the challenges of the less –privileged. ‘’These people are hopeless and helpless and this is why they are vulnerable to criminal tendencies’’.
He informed that WBF has awarded scholarships to over 50 indigent students and provided empowerment as well as mentoring to many area boys. Twenty other indigent students, he said, will receive scholarship during the annual lecture with the theme Nigeria: great resources and the paradox of economic poverty. The lecture will be delivered by Prof. Akpan Ekong.
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NAMBRA State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has pledged to scale up efforts in reversing the gross neglect of some rural communities by successive administrations. Obi spoke at a service to mark the collation of canons at Cathedral Church of Saint Michael Umuikwu Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area. The Governor said the ongoing massive infrastructural development of rural communities was geared towards opening up the areas to boost socio-economic activities and widen opportunities. Obi reiterated that his administration will continue to support initiatives that promote development and better life for all. He assured that necessary measures will be taken to make major access roads in the area motorable throughout the rainy season. The Anglican Bishop of Mbamili Diocese, Right Reverend Henry Okeke, thanked Obi for loving for Anambra West and commitment to uplift quality in the area. He noted that the Governor has received a lot of local, national and international recognition and honours for his people-oriented leadership and commitment to welfare of rural communities.