Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Bachama Hunters Association in Adamawa State has appealed to Governor Mohammed Bindow to assist it with vehicles to enhance its security surveillance activities in the state.
Leader of the hunters in Bachama kingdom of Numan Local Government Area of the state, Mr Hassan Mijah, made the appeal last Monday in an interview with nwesmen.
The association is assisting the security agencies in the state in the ongoing operations against Boko-Haram insurgents.
Mijah said that if provided, the vehicles would enable them patrol remote areas where the insurgents carried out frequent attacks.
He said that the hunters would take care of fueling and maintenance of the vehicles.
Benue
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of a businessman, Mr Felix Toechukwu after he was shot by unknown gun men.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the killing to newsmen in Makurdi said Toechukwu was shot by assailants last Saturday evening.
He said the deceased was robbed at gun point in his house at the close of business.
Yamu said that the robbers had trailed him from his shop to his house at Nyiman where they dispossessed him of cash and other valuables.
He said the deceased, however, died last Sunday morning at a private hospital where he was receiving treatment.
FCT
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the news being circulated via a parody Twitter account and an old NTA news video that President Muhammadu Buhari is travelling or has travelled to the United States is fake.
In a statement issued in Lagos last Sunday, the minister urged Nigerians to disregard the news.
The statement was signed by the Special Adviser to the minister, Mr Segun Adeyemi.
The minister said one of the numerous parody Twitter accounts in his name — “@MohammedLai”, was used to disseminate the fake and ludicrous news that claimed that President Buhari was due to leave Nigeria for the U.S. on Monday “to condole with President Donald Trump over the floods in Houston”.
Gombe
Bank customers in some states of the North-East last Friday lamented over insufficient number of Automated Teller Machines (ATM), poor network and slow dispensing of cash by the machines under pressure.
A cross section of them told newsmen in Bauchi, Gombe, Maiduguri, Dutse and Yola that they encountered difficulties withdrawing cash during periods of festivities.
Apart from the inadequacy of the machines, some of the few available ones were either non-functional or never stocked with enough cash.
They added that most times, poor network also worsened the already precarious situation.
In Bauchi, bank customers experienced difficulties withdrawing money from the machines during the break, due to poor network service.
Kaduna
Veteran actor, Kasimu Yero died in Kaduna last Sunday at the age of 70.
The deceased’s eldest son, Mansur Kasimu Yero, newsmen in Kaduna that his father died at his residence in Magajin Gari, Kaduna, after a protracted illness.
Yero, who was buried at Bachama Road Cemetry in Kaduna, is survived by eight children.
Yero would be fondly remembered for his role as ‘Uncle Gaga’ in the now rested ’80s situational comedy, Cock Crow At Dawn, and as one of the lead characters in Abubakar Imam’s TV series, Magana Jari Ce.
The deceased was one of the early popular northern faces in Nigeria’s entertainment industry and had the flair of interpreting humorous scripts.
Kano
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command says it has arrested 30 suspected hoodlums in Yankatsari village, Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this while parading the suspects before newsmen in Kano on Saturday.
He alleged that the suspects were arrested last Friday (Sallah day) while in possession of dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, swords, knives and clubs following a tip-off.
“The suspects were apprehended by operatives of NSCDC at Yankatsari village carrying dangerous weapons while trying to cause trouble in the area,” he said.
Lagos
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos last Monday warned soldiers against acts of indiscipline and interference in civilian affairs.
The GOC, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke, gave the warning while addressing the officers at the opening of this year’s 81 Division Officers Combat Proficiency Competition at the 9 Brigade, Lagos.
Dauke was represented by Brig.-Gen. Daniel Adeyemi, Commander, 55 Division Signal.
“Let me use this opportunity to sternly warn that the division has zero tolerance for any act of indiscipline. Troops placed under your command are to discharge their duties professionally.
Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-Makaura of Nasarawa State has approved new water projects worth over N84.4million to tackle the scarcity of water in some parts of the state.
Dr Abdulkarim Kana, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural Development told newsmen last Sunday in Lafia that the projects would be sited in Nasarawa, Eggon and Obi council areas.
“Governor Tanko Almakura is doing his best in the provision of water and other infrastructural services to various communities in the state.
“The governor has approved new water projects in some local government areas so as to boost water supply in these communities for the benefit of our people”.
Niger
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has deployed 1, 550 of its personnel to provide security during and after the Eid-El Kabir in the state .
The Corps Commandant in the state, Mr Philip Ayuba disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna last Tuesday.
According to him, the officers will take care of the security at the praying grounds in the 25 local government areas of the state.
“ We have already commenced a 24-hour patrol daily in and around the metropolis to pave way for peaceful conduct during Sallah in Niger’’, he said.
Ogun
The Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona has expressed happiness for the grace in participating in this year’s edition of the Ojude-Oba celebration.
Adetona, who showed much vigour at the event, thanked the people for their prayers and support while delivering his speech last Sunday at the festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The monarch extolled the grandeur of the event which he said had continually put Ijebuland in the limelight of tourism.
“I want to thank the people who have contributed to the success of this programme which has been made possible by their support and benevolence.
“I am happy that the Almighty God in His blessings and grace gave me the strength to witness this day with you all despite the rumours about my health and life.
Plateau
The female hostel in the Jos campus of the Plateau State Polytechnic was last Monday completely burnt down by fire.
The fire, which started around 8.30 a.m. raged on till 11.44 a.m, throwing the entire school into confusion as students and staffers scurried to safety with some bold students making frantic but fruitless efforts to quench the inferno.
However, it is reported that no life was lost in the fire that gutted everything in the hostel.
“Many students had left for lectures when the fire started; no one was around to remove anything from the burning hostel,” Yusuf Ade, a security man, told newsmen.
The fire service personnel arrived the scene around 11.20 when the hostel had been brought down.
Mr Dauda Gyemang, the Rector of the institution, who described the incident as “shocking”, attributed it to a gas explosion which occurred “at about 8.30 a.m.”
Zamfara
Seven persons have died from eating local food known as ‘Fate’ (poisoned leaf porridge) at Shiyar Ajiya in Shinkafi town, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The State Acting Governor, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi confirmed the incident to newsmen last Sunday in Gusau.
He said the seven victims who lost their lives included males and females, while the others affected were receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
Shinkafi said the government had deployed a team of medical experts to the area to investigate the cause of the incident.
“They (experts) have already taken the sample; we are waiting for them to give us the result to enable us take action.
“People close to the deceased said the death was as a result of poisoned leaf porridge which was said to be contaminated by onion seeds.
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).
