News 8
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 5, 2016
Nigeria to have Diaspora policy soon ÏÏÏNigeria has begun the process
of joining the league of countries with National Diaspora Policies with the setting up of a technical team saddled with the task of coming up with final draft of the Policy in January 2017. This was the resolution of stakeholders after a seven-hour validation seminar in Abuja on the 68-page draft policy jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora. A Press Release signed by AbdurRahman Balogun, special assistant, Media, to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, noted that while declaring the seminar open, Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, stated that there was the need to promote the capacity of Nigerians abroad so as to benefit from the “immense potential of the diaspora.” Onyeama, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Amb Sola Enikanolaiye, said the federal government would support all efforts to ensure the inclusion of Nigerians abroad in future elections He added that enhanced inclusion of Nigerians abroad in the voting process would support their contributions to national development; hence such policy that would see to their empowerment should be hastened up. “Many of them (Diaspora) are deeply concerned about the situa-
tion in the country and have critical skills and potential that could be harnessed to solving Nigeria’s sociology-economic challenges. “The ministry, therefore, is sharpening its in-house resources to effectively harness the potential of Nigerians wherever they are based,” Onyeama said. In his key note speech, Prof George Obiozor, former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America and Director-General, Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), said the time for a national policy on Diaspora has come. “National Policy on Diaspora matters would expedite the integration and coordination of the skills and
resources of Nigerians living abroad for the general development of the country,” he said. Obiozor said the policy has worked successfully for other developing nations, urging the federal government to expedite action on it as it would assist in harnessing enormous national resources of her Diasporas. Both Chairpersons Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Monsurat Sunmonu, and Rose Oko, respectively, pledged legislative support, such as passage of the Diaspora Commission Bill and amendment of relevant laws to support diaspora voting. Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike
Dabiri-Erewa also emphasised the need to have a national diaspora policy, saying a number of African countries already ahead of Nigeria in that regard. “We cannot ignore our diaspora; when Ireland went into recession they reached out to their diaspora community and one thousand of them saved the country from recession. Now that Nigeria is going through challenges, we cannot have this enormous human resource and not engage with them,” she said. She urged all Nigerians home and abroad to contribute to the final draft of the policy as a technical committee would be set up to work on the recommendations agreed on and come up with an action plan for implementation.
Nigeria records highest cancer cases in Africa –WHO Tom Okpe, Abuja
ÏÏÏ An NGO, Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria (CiSCANEN) has said the prevalence of cancer has remained on the increase in Nigeria with about 102,000 deaths and 250,000 new cases annually making the country highest cancer carrier in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report. The National coordinator of the group, Elijah H O Elijah, made this assertion in Abuja over the weekend at the maiden edition of the International CSOs conference. He said that the “prevalence of cancer in Nigeria has remained on the increase and has continued to undermine the development of our dear country. “According to WHO, Nigeria with about 102,000 cancer deaths and reported 250, 000 new cases occurring annual-
ly in the country, shoulders the heaviest Cancer burden in the continent of Africa”. According to Elijah, current statistics has it that about 30 women die every day of breast Cancer while at least one die on daily bases of cervical cancer adding that men are not equally spared from this menace as almost 14 men die daily of prostate cancer. “Interestingly, these cases are preventable and curable if detected early; worldwide, cancer is reputed to kill more people than the Human Immune Virus ( Hiv/ Aids), Tuberculosis and Malaria”, he said. Elijah opined that CiSCANEEN with other stake holders is determined to deliver Nigeria in the global fight against Cancer saying, “Embedded in its vision, a Nigeria society that is free from Cancer and its attendant Social and Economic effects”.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (left) and Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejuyigbe Aladesanmi III, during the presentation of Excellence Award on Fayose by the Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union (APU) in Ekiti… at the weekend.
More flight delays, cancellations expected as Nimet warns pilots over Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
Yuletide: Nigerian army to dismantle ÏÏÏ The Nigerian Meteosome road blocks in S’East rology Agency (NIMET) has
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The Nigerian Army “Operation Python Dance’’ in the South-East says some of its road blocks will be dismantled to facilitate free flow of traffic during the Yuletide. Deputy Director, Public Relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Col. Musa Sagir, disclosed this while on patrol with newsmen at the River Niger Bridge head, Onitsha and Awka, on Sunday. Sagir said that it had become imperative to remove totally or shorten some of the check points, particularly
within the bridge head, Onitsha, as the Yuletide drew closer. He called on other security agencies operating within the bridge head to support the Army to ensure free flow of traffic in the area. He said that the operation was not to witch-hunt any group or individuals but it was purely for military training and crime prevention. “Our men stay on the side of road watching in case of any criminality and obstruction on the road.
warned airlines of harmattan haze sweeping across the country, saying that this weather condition compels airlines to delay or cancel scheduled flights whenever horizontal visibility falls below the stipulated minima. The agency had on October 2016 had issued an advisory forecast for dust outbreaks to affect the country during the December to February dry season period. The Director-General of NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforom said occasional out-
break of dust which will reduce horizontal visibility significantly to 1000m and below in some places was predicted. He also stated that the expected increase in concentration of the dust particles will lead to colder and drier atmosphere as well as increase in incidences of respiratory disorder. In the course of monitoring the weather situation in and outside Nigeria, he said NiMet has observed that in the past 24hours, dust has been raised over the source regions in Niger/Chad republic which will be transported by northeast trade
winds into and across the country. He noted that visibility is as low as 100m were reported by some stations in the Niger republic. His words, “Current reports of visibility values across the country are good. However, deterioration is expected to set in beginning from areas in the far northern parts of the country over the next 24 to 48 hours.” “There is prospect of fresh dust plumes being raised in the coming days, with its attendant consequence. NiMet will however, continue to monitor the weather and climate conditions as they
unfold and provide regular updates and advisories to the general public”, he added. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has continuously alerted airlines and passengers of the impact of harmattan haze to air travel. It has its minimum standard visibility between 700 to 1000 feet depending on the airport. Experts reasoned that regulatory body should look at the equipment of each airline and grant some of the airlines that have Next Generation aircraft the right to operate under low visibility, using the modern equipment in their aircraft.