Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Some farmers in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State have expressed optimism of recording bumper harvests in the 2017 cropping season.
They also commended the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for supporting displaced farmers to return to their farms.
Reports say that thousands of displaced farmers supported by FAO cultivated their farmlands in Maiduguri and other liberated communities.
FAO in collaboration with implementing partners distributed seeds and fertilisers to more than one million farmers this cropping season in the North-East.
A cross section of the farmers told newsmen in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas that they were happy and were anticipating bumper harvest this season.
FCT
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar last Wednesday described late Group Capt. Adanu Ochai as a gallant officer who died in active service for the nation.
Abubakar said this during the burial of the officer at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
According to him, the officer died as a result of air crash in Kaduna State on August 24.
The CAS said what happened to Ochai would happen to “all mortals one day, every mortal must taste death one day in his or her life”.
He described the deceased as a very hard working, committed and dedicated officer during his active service to the nation and his humility was unparalleled.
Gombe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe State Zonal Office says it has arrested the Secretary of Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Danlami Arab Rukuje for alleged diversion of materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
A statement signed by the commission’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the zone, Mr Bello Bajoga in Gombe last Wednesday said the arrest followed a tip-off by the Intelligence and Special Operations Section (ISOS) of the office.
Bajoga said the materials diverted include cans of paints, bags of cement and other building materials donated to the state by the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI).
He said that investigation revealed that the materials were diverted to other areas including markets for sale.
Jigawa
The Police in Jigawa State have arrested eight suspects over alleged theft and receiving stolen items in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, Jinjiri Abdu confirmed the arrest in an interview with newsmen in Dutse last Thursday.
Jinjiri said that four of the suspects, aged between 18 and 19, were apprehended over alleged house breaking and theft in Takur site quarters, Dutse, the state capital.
He added that the four suspects (names withheld) were arrested after they broke into one of the houses and stole a plasma TV, DSTV decoder, iPad, laptop computer, a Tecno mobile phone and two sets of cloth.
The spokesperson said the plasma TV and DSTV decoder were recovered from the suspects during their arrest.
Kaduna
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) chapter has urged its members nationwide to sustain the 100 per cent compliance with the ongoing strike.
Its Secretary, Dr Sam Kwis gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State last Thursday as the nationwide strike enters the third day.
The current industrial unrest in the health sector is the second in the life of this government.
Issues in dispute include salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017; failure to rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017; failure to circularise house officers’ entry point; and the failure to correct the stagnation of promotion of members and properly place them on their appropriate grade levels.
Kano
Two pilgrims from Kano State have died during the 2017 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, the State Pilgrims Welfare Board said last Thursday.
The Board’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi told journalists on telephone from Makkah that the deceased who were males, died in Makkah after performing their Hajj rites at the Ararat.
“The two pilgrims who lost their lives during this year’s Hajj died in Makkah after they performed the most significant Hajj rites, that is staying at the Arafat,” he said.
Badamasi said the deceased who were from Dala and Doguwa local government areas, had since been buried in Makkah in accordance with the Islamic rites.
On preparations for the transportation of the state pilgrims back to Nigeria, Badamasi said the exercise would commence on September 15.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered activities of fraudsters alleged to be extorting money from innocent people for recruitment into the corps.
The state Commandant of the corps, Sammani Ringim told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last Wednesday that the fraudsters had been extorting money from the public under the pretext of facilitating their recruitments into the NSCDC.
Ringim said the fraudsters lied and collected money from unemployed people under the pretext that the NSCDC was recruiting.
The fraudsters alleged that they would facilitate the recruitment of their victims into the corps after they had collected money from them.
Kwara
A Christian cleric, Pastor Banji Bolade last Thursday in Ilorin urged politicians irrespective of party affiliations to support the government and shun distractions to move the country forward.
Bolade, who pastors Testimony Church of Christ, Tanke, said politicians should close ranks after elections and give the ruling party the much-needed support to succeed.
“Politicians must, irrespective of their party affiliations, always support the government for the good of the nation.
“Nigeria’s growth should be a priority above party sentiments as individuals must cooperate to make the country great,” he told newsmen.
Lagos
The Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) last Thursday urged residents to report incidents of domestic violence.
OPD Director, Mrs Olubukola Salami disclosed this to newsmen last Thursday in Lagos.
She said that this would ensure justice and stem the rampant cases of the menace in the society.
Salami also urged women who were victims of domestic violence to report the abuse immediately rather than suffer in silence.
Nasarawa
The Medical Director (MD), Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Keffi in Nasarawa State, Dr Joshua Ndom, has appealed to the resident doctors across the country to call off their ongoing strike and return to work to save lives.
Ndom told newsmen last Thursday in Keffi that the strike had done more harm than good, especially to patients.
He said that there was the need for the doctors to return to work since their leadership had commenced negotiation with the Federal Government over their grievances.
Also, some patients at the centre appealed to the doctors to suspend the strike for their sake and for the overall development of the country.
They advised the federal government to do the needful by amicably resolving the ongoing nationwide resident doctors’ strike.
A patient at the centre, Mr Haruna Abubakar, said most patients were not happy with the strike.
Niger
A Minna Grade 1 Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday reserved judgment after a 32-year-old man, Ayuba Salihu pleaded guilty for raping an eight-year-old girl.
The accused, whose address is unknown was arraigned on a charge of rape.
The prosecutor for the State Child Rights Protection Agency, Mr Abdullahi Mayaki, told the court that the incident occurred on August 31 near Gwari Market in Chanchaga Local Government Area.
Mayaki said the accused lured the unsuspecting primary school pupil with N100 into the market before assaulting her sexually.
The offence contravened Section 18, sub-section 2 of Niger State Child Rights Law.
Reports say that the offence attracts life imprisonment.
Chief Magistrate Hassan Mohammed, who convicted the accused as charged, adjourned the case until September 12 for sentence.
Osun
The Osun State Police Command last Tuesday said it arrested three male suspects, with two human heads and hands in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, told newsmen in Osogbo that the suspects were arrested on August 29 during a police stop and search operation.
“On August 29 at about 1;02 p.m, a police patrol team on a stop and search operation on Ogbomosho/Oyo Road, at Agboro Area, stopped a motorcycle with two persons on it.
“The persons on the motorcycle were searched and two severed human hands with gloves and a human head were found with them, and they were promptly arrested,” he said.
Adeoye said in a similar case, on the same date at about 11:30 a.m, at Oba’s compound in Moro, Ipetumodu, one Adeniyi Adeyeye was also arrested with a human skull in his possession.
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has reiterated the commitment to service delivery for pensioners.
Ejikeme said this during the Customer Service Week in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that commission had a mandate to deliver good service delivery to the pensioners.
Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said that the customer service week was important to operations of PTAD.
“Customer service is the support that you give to a customer, whether it is an existing customer or potential customer in the process of delivering or making enquires about a service.
“To be a good customer service representative you need to be knowledgeable, have good attitude and attribute especially to the senior citizens and have empathy,” he said.
Ejikeme said that all PTAD staff had most of the attributes of a good customer representative.
“We provide excellent customer service by going to verify our aged pensioners who cannot do it by themselves anywhere across the country.
“There is a dedicated team that was mandated to go round to confirm the aliveness of those who can not confirm their aliveness either because the are too old or have health issues,” the executive secretary said.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said that the official theme of the 2024 customer service week was “ We Go Above and Beyond For Our Customers.”
She commended PTAD and the SERVICOM team for organising the 2024 customer service week.
“This is in line with the best practice of celebrating frontline workers and service takers.
“Customer service week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.
It calls attention to the importance of people to boost morale team work and departmental collaboration in supporting pensioners.
“ It is a platform to reward employees for the significant work they do,” Akajemeli said.
She said that the objective of the customer service week was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of employee who strived to create positive customer experiences.
She said that it was time to show customers that the organisation valued their experience and feedback, through comment cards, dedicated hotline, among others.
Akajemeli said that it raised awareness internally and externally about the importance of good customer service in building customer loyalty and satisfaction.
She said that the benefit was to increase motivation, show appreciation, encourage friendly competition, boost employee retention, create a positive workplace and increase productivity.
The Head, Surveillance Department at the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Abdulrahman Saleem, said that good service delivery was the key success of every establishment.
Salem said that PTAD operated with standard, considering the success it had achieved so far.
Saleem said that pensioners required the best service attitude and behavior.
“ I give kudos to PTAD for its efforts and encourage it to do more.
“Therefore I urge PTAD staff to keep up the standard and continue to give good service to the pensioners,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has honoured Flying Officer David Sangokoya for winning the 2023/2024 Royal Air Force College Cranwell International Cadet Sword of Honour.
Abubakar honoured the officer during the presentation of cheques to 13 beneficiaries of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy (GPAIP) in Abuja, yesterday.
He described the achievement as ground-breaking as it was the first time an African cadet had won the prestigious award since the Academy’s creation over 100 years ago.
According to him, the feat underscores the excellence that exists within NAF, and proof that NAF officers and cadets can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“To our awardee, you have set a new standard, not just for your peers, but for every cadet and officer that will come after you.
“This accomplishment is a powerful reminder that no goal is out of reach when one is armed with dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Your journey as an officer has begun with this prestigious accolade, but the true measure of your success will be seen in how you serve, lead and contribute to the mission of NAF and the defence of our great nation.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, we extend our deepest gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for its unwavering support in providing world-class training opportunities to our personnel.
“This has enabled our officers and men to gain invaluable skills and knowledge, strengthening not only our bilateral ties but also our collective ability to address global security challenges,” he said.
The CAS said that the NAF looked forward to continuing the fruitful partnership for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and UK countries.
He expressed gratitude and unflinching loyalty to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare and training of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and NAF in particular.
“I must also take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the instructors who helped to mould and prepare this cadet for the global stage.
“Their dedication and commitment to developing top-notch officers is evident in this ground-breaking achievement.
“You have not only trained a leader but have given the Nigerian Air Force a legacy we will all cherish,” he said.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated private sector involvement to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, made the call at a high-level policy dialogue on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the dialogue was organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), a coalition of private sector stakeholders, to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the country’s healthcare system.
The dialogue has “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare” as its theme.
Represented by Dr Yakubu Agada-Amade, the NHIA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Ohiri explained the crucial role of private sector collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system
He highlighted the “One Plan” under the SWAp framework, which seeks to unify health sector efforts, ensuring efficient resource use, effective governance and expanded healthcare access.
He also stressed the importance of overcoming barriers that historically hindered the implementation of healthcare interventions in Nigeria, such as inadequate financing, weak governance systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that “the dialogue explored innovative approaches, including digital health innovations and financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Act and mandatory health insurance coverage.
“With enrollment in health insurance growing by 14 per cent over the past year, NHIA can push for greater inclusivity, particularly targeting the informal sector through flexible payment systems and partnerships with telecommunications companies.”
He called for stronger synergy between public and private health actors to ensure universal access to quality healthcare and sustainable reforms in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Panelists from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) and Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) echoed the sentiments, underscoring the private sector’s role in expanding insurance coverage and improving healthcare delivery.
They commended NHIA’s efforts toward driving reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).
