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Nigerians Travelling To UK Will Still Be Isolated For Seven Days

By
Munachi
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0

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency has said that Nigerians travelling to Britain will still be isolated for seven days as UK Government is yet to comprehensively review Nigeria’s vaccination certification programme.

The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a press conference.

He briefed the press on progress of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria.

Shuaib said communication with the UK Government officials showed the vaccines administered in Nigeria are approved by the UK Government.

READ ALSO: We Gained Over 70m New Users During Facebook Outage — Telegram

Shuaib further said UK officials are also involved with the vaccination programme in Nigeria through the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office and they are optimistic that by the time Nigeria’s COVID-19 vaccination programme certification is assessed, it will be approved.

He said: “Nigeria’s status has not changed.

“Nigeria is not among the listed countries that need mandatory quarantine for 14 days in a supervised UK facility.

“The statement released by the UK Government is in line with the press statement released last week that Nigerians will continue to isolate upon arrival to the UK.

“This is similar to our requirement to have travellers from the UK isolate for seven days upon arrival in Nigeria.

“The Presidential Steering Committee is in the process of reviewing these requirements.

“We have been in touch with the UK Government.

“Just like they stated clearly in their communication, the current listing of Countries with approved vaccination certification has just started in the UK.

“They are reviewing the country’s programmes in phases.

“If you go through the list of 50 closely, no African country made the list.

“Once it gets to our turn, we are more likely than not to get approved in the coming weeks.

“Like the UK Government have clearly stated, the process of assessment would occur in phases.”

Shuaib also pointed out that in recent weeks, the agency have intensified campaigns for the uptake of second dose using multiple media strategies, stakeholders, and community engagement, and these have yielded appreciable results.

He, however, reiterated that more work needs to be collectively done to improve vaccine uptake.

He added: “We will continue to engage with citizens to promote a more rapid uptake of the vaccines much as we will continue to count on your professional support to see that people are adequately protected against COVID-19.

“I would like to inform you that yesterday evening, we received 501,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility as donation from the Government of France.

“We have also gotten confirmation that we will be receiving 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer vaccines within the next two weeks.

“As part of our transparency process to Nigerians and the Media, we would be providing you with figures of the adverse event following immunization reported.

“In this phase of the vaccination process, 191 serious and 6,555 non-serious AEFI cases were reported.

“All cases reported were managed in the health facility and individuals have fully recovered and back to their normal daily living.

“In the coming months, Nigeria will be receiving more doses of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX facility.

“We anticipate that the vaccines will be quite large in amount, and therefore will require more efficient and faster ways of utilizing them including expanding access to the vaccines.

“We have therefore started implementing the decentralization of vaccine utilization by involving the private sector in the vaccine administration.

“Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are available at Government health facilities only.

“As we decentralize, private health facilities who meet the set criteria will be allocated COVID-19 vaccines, after due training of their immunization service providers.

“Vaccinations in a private health facility will continue with the help of Government health officials.

“Subsequently, clients will be able to access COVID-19 vaccines at both government and private health care facilities in the country.

“This will be done at different levels which would include the States and Local Governments.

“We are taking every caution to ensure that when implemented, the decentralization policy is not corrupted.

“Private health care facilities will be carefully selected based on transparent eligibility criteria, and supervision will be maximized to ensure discipline and compliance with safety measures.

“The goal, as I said, is to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and to ensure rapid and safe vaccine utilization.”

We Gained Over 70m New Users During Facebook Outage — Telegram

By
Munachi
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0

Messaging app Telegram gained over 70 million new users during Monday’s Facebook outage, its founder, Pavel Durov, said on Tuesday, as people worldwide were left without key messaging services for nearly six hours, Reuters has reported.

Facebook blamed its outage, which kept its 3.5 billion users from accessing services such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger, on a faulty configuration change.

“The daily growth rate of Telegram exceeded the norm by an order of magnitude, and we welcomed over 70 million refugees from other platforms in one day,” Durov wrote on his Telegram channel.

READ ALSO: I Love The Intensity In Premier League – Varane

Durov said some users in the Americas may have experienced slower speeds as millions rushed to sign up at the same time, but that the service worked as usual for the majority.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said the outage demonstrated the repercussions of relying on just a few big players and underscored the need for more rivals.

Russia said the incident showed Moscow was right to develop its own sovereign internet platforms and social networks.

WhatsApp’s nearly six-hour-long outage on Monday hit trading of assets from cryptocurrencies to Russian oil, market players said, although a quick shift to alternative platforms such as Telegram limited severe disruption.

I Love The Intensity In Premier League – Varane

By
Munachi
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0

Manchester United defender, Raphael Varane has revealed that he’s enjoying the intensity of the Premier League.

Varane joined signed from Real Madrid in the summer, in a bid to turn United into title contenders.

Despite a series of indifferent results this term, Varane is pleased with his integration into the team and adaptation to the Premier League.

READ ALSO: Fire Service May Withdraw Services Over Attacks — Comptroller

According to L’Equipe, Varane said: “I’m very happy with the start of this adventure. The Premier League is a league known for its intensity.

“There’s a different atmosphere, a different general mentality regarding football. It’s a different approach and a different experience for me.

“I’m taking pleasure in playing, going out of my comfort zone, finding new bearing with my teammates.

“It’s a different way of defending and it’s super interesting for me.”

Fire Service May Withdraw Services Over Attacks — Comptroller

By
Munachi
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0

Dr Ibrahim Liman, the Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service of Nigeria has said the service would withdraw from any State where his men or equipment are attacked during the course of discharging their duties.

Liman made this known in Akure during a courtesy visit to the office of the Governor of Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday.

Liman, who said he was in Ondo with his men for a week-long retreat for management staff of the fire service, disclosed that the training would boost the service delivery of his men.

He noted that most people didn’t know that his men might have to drive 100 km at times to get to their destination, only to be attacked by angry mobs out of “alleged sympathy”.

Liman said that the service had been boosted for better service delivery by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

READ ALSO: After Heightened Killings, South-East Governors Revive Ebubeagu

He, however, noted that the staff strength of the service had moved from under 1,000 staff before 2015 to over 6,000 and with the acquisition of 141 trucks, while another 59 already purchased were to reach the country soon.

According to him, the response of his men to fire disasters had improved with the presence of the service in 13 zones and all the states of the federation.

Meanwhile, on his part, Governor Akeredolu said the visit was an important one as the season changes from wet to dry one where issues of fire beckon.

Akeredolu, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said he was enthusiastic about cordial relationships and the cooperation of the Federal Fire Service with the state arm of the agency.

“I cannot but note here that we’re very pleased to receive to the State a while ago a Fire Tanker, an Ambulance, and a Fire Truck from the Federal Fire Service.

“This’s no doubt very significant support and a boost from the federal agency.”

No SIM Card For Any Nigerian Below 18, Says NCC

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has announced the disqualification of anyone below the age of 18 from registering and owning a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in Nigeria.

This is according to the draft copy of the modified registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on the commission’s website.

The commission in modified regulations only allowed subscribers above the age of 18 to haves SIMs. The regulation was made in line with the powers conferred upon the commission by section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act,2003.

In accordance with Section 57 of the Act, the NCC conducted a Public Inquiry on the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, alongside the draft SIM Replacement Guidelines and the draft Spectrum Trading Guidelines at its head office in Abuja on Tuesday.

At the Public Inquiry, Telecoms giant, MTN voice opposition to the directive adding that the age limit should be 14 years. The NCC maintained its stance adding that the age limit remains 18 years.

After Heightened Killings, South-East Governors Revive Ebubeagu

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

South-East governors and leaders on Tuesday announced measures to end the rising violence and sit-at-home (Ghost Mondays) in the zone.

The measures include the launch of the Ebubeagu security outfit by the zone’s five states before December 31 and engagement with the Federal Government for amicable settlement of all issues agitating the minds of the people, especially the youth.

They also resolved to join forces with security agencies to restore peace to the zone and encourage Ohanaeze Ndigbo, traditional rulers, the Southeast wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and clerics to continue ”dialogue with our youths.”

The strategies formed the highlights of an eight-point communique issued by the governors after their meeting in Enugu. It was attended by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, traditional rulers, Southeast National Assembly caucus leaders, and clerics.

The Southeast governors in April 2021 came up with Ebubeagu Security outfit, a concept similar to Amotekun in the Southwest.

It, however, never saw the light of the day in the states, except in Ebonyi, where it presently operates without uniform.

A former General Officer Commanding the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Obi Umahi, who headed the Southeast Security Committee that midwife Ebubeagu, resigned in June, citing lack of funding and office as reasons.

Also yesterday, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, raised the alarm that there are over 30 separatist groups in the Southeast.

In the communiqué read on their behalf by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, the Southeast governors and leaders accused the Igbo in Diaspora of issuing the sit-at-home directives.

They vowed to do everything within the law to ensure that there would be no further sit-at-home in the zone.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) introduced the sit-at-home practice to protest the detention of its leader Nnamdi Kanu.

The group announced a month-long sit-at-home from October 21 should security agents fail to produce Kanu in court.

The governors, who also said they were studying the issue of the marginalisation of the Southeast people, added that they would ensure that the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State was not truncated.

The communiqué also reads: “The meeting agreed that the Southeast Ebubeagu security outfit be launched in all the Southeast states and laws passed in various Southeast states before the end of 2021.

“The meeting received the committee report from Ohaneze on various matters affecting the Southeast, especially on the issue of security and marginalisation of the Southeast people, and resolved to study the reports.

“The meeting agreed to support security agencies to restore peace in the Southeast.

“The meeting resolved to support election in Anambra State and directed security agencies to ensure a peaceful election in Anambra State come November 6, 2021.

“The meeting commended all groups and the clergy for their efforts at interfacing with our youths.

“The meeting mandated our clergymen, bishops, CAN, Ohaneze Ndigbo  and traditional rulers to continue to dialogue with our youths.”

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano was absent. His Abia State counterpart Okezie Ikpeazu was represented by his deputy, Udo Okochukwu.

In attendance were former governors  Theodore Orji (Abia) and Martins ElechI (Ebonyi);  former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwemadu; Abaribe; Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide President, Prof. George Obiozor and his predecessor, Nnia Nwodo.

Abaribe, in an interview with Channels Television’s yesterday said that people do not know that apart from  IPOB, many other separatist groups existed in the Southeast.

He said: “One of the biggest problems the media have is that they tag everything IPOB.  In the Southeast,  you won’t believe that there are more than 30 different separatist organisations, including  IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). There are so many and each one of them comes back to the same thing.

“Why you are having separatist agitations everywhere today in the West, in the Southeast, and in the Southsouth, is that some people are unable to manage our diversity. That is just the fact.”

Abaribe argued that those calling for secession were merely protesting the marginalisation of their people and demanding that their grievances be addressed.

The lawmaker asked the government to dialogue with them to restore calm and peace in various parts of the country.

Abaribe, who added that the government should be concerned that a sit-at-home order by a non-state actor was being complied with, said if he were to become President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023, most of the problems facing the country would be put to an end within six months

He said: “It should worry the government if a non-state action is complied with in this manner, it takes us back to what I said at the beginning that there is a need to sit and talk with these people.

“There is nobody from the Southeast that I know, who does not feel that the way the people from the Southeast are treated today, that there is something fundamentally wrong which should be resolved.”

Asked if he would accept the offer to be the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023  and what Nigerians should expect if elected, Abaribe, replied: ”I would if it falls on me, within six months end all these things (Nigeria’s problems). These things will be a thing of the past.”

2023: Herdsmen Won’t Support Candidate That Against Open Grazing – Miyetti Allah

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

One of the umbrella bodies of herdsmen in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, says herders won’t support any southern candidate who is against open grazing should he or she run for president in 2023.

Speaking on the PUNCH Online programme on Tuesday monitored by ABN TV, the Miyetti Allah spokesman said his group won’t support southern governors or any southern candidate who is against open grazing and who also oppose the collection of Value Added Tax by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Asked whether his group would back a northern candidate after the expiration of the eight-year regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhassan said, “Our concern is not where the President comes from but certainly we know those that we cannot support; those that want to destroy our means of livelihood, we would campaign against them.

“We are not worried where the President comes from but we need a competent nationalistic person to take over from Buhari. We don’t need people with sectional sentiments; people that think they can make exclusive economic policies, people that think their zones should have more preference, they want to control the VAT, destroy our traditional livelihood.

“The governors can say anything but ultimately, the votes determine who becomes the President.

“If you say you are producing (Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Rotimi) Akeredolu as a southern candidate, we would never support him because he is championing the destruction of our rural economy. People like that, we would never support them. We won’t support someone hobnobbing with Biafrans.”

FG Committed To Pension Issues, Says SGF Mustapha

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to restore payments to pensioners on its priority list as well as clearing the backlog of arrears inherited from previous administrations, under both the contributory and defined benefit pension schemes.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, disclosed this at a two-day sensitisation summit on ”Eradication of Pension Fraud” in Nigeria.

The programme was organised by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and other stakeholders in the industry.

Mustapha said that the theme of the workshop spoke to the sacred responsibility of safeguarding the wellbeing of the senior citizens, who had worked.

“I am glad to know that the EFCC is extending its specialised coverage to the Nigeria pension industry, in order to secure the pension funds and shield unsuspecting retirees and contributors from the activities of fraudsters.

“The government is conscious of its responsibilities with regards to the payment to eligible retirees in the public sector; for this reason, we are resolute in dealing with the criminal act of pension fraud, its manifestation and those resulting from human interface.

“It is unfair for such crimes to be perpetrated against innocent pensioners by robbing them of the legitimate earnings they worked so hard to save for their retirement,” he said.

Mustapha commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment and success in pension matters, especially his attention to the payrolls of 9,216 pensioners of NITEL, after more than a decade of neglect.

He also said that other matters were the recovered cash and non-cash assets totalling N16 billion, trapped in various insurance companies.

”Also, the underwriters managing the pension funds of federal parastatals and universities, through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.

”The release of N54 billion to settle outstanding 33 per cent arrears, which dated back to 2010 when the minimum wage was increased to N18,000, placed 3,542 pensioners of 2005 liquidated Delta Steel Company on the payroll, among other achievements”, he said.

The EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, said that the initiative of the summit was significant to take stock of the measures put in place to improve and sanitize pension administration in the country.

Bawa said: “We cannot say exactly how much is lost to pensions fraud in financial terms, bearing in mind that most cases are unreported or underreported, but we have investigated and documented hundreds of billions of Naira lost in the pension industry”.

He said that the EFCC had the mandate to coordinate the enforcement of all economic and financial crimes laws in the country, which had made the commission conversant with the rot in the pension system.

“I am extremely optimistic that the reforms in pension administration and fraud prevention that will be the natural outcome of this summit, will be urgently implemented by all stakeholders for the instant and sustainable benefits of all,” he said.

Hajiya Aisha Dahir-Umar, Director-General of PenCom, said they were pleased to partner with the EFCC in the awareness creation initiative, which essentially sought to examine the incidences of fraud and ways to eradicate the menace in proactively.

Dahir-Umar, represented by the Commissioner, Inspectorate, Mr Clement Akintola, said that the event would create the synergy needed to boost the efforts of the two organisations in discharging their respective statutory mandates as they related to the theme of the summit.

“As you may recall, the problems of fraud and mismanagement in the pension sector are amongst the reasons that necessitated the pension reforms of 2004 by the Federal Government, the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004, which was later reviewed and re-enacted in 2014.

“These legal and institutional frameworks aim at addressing the rot that characterise the administration of pensions in the pre-reform era, the Act also established PenCom to regulate and supervise all pension matters in Nigeria, including the licensing of PFAs and Pension Fund Custodians.

“The Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate was also established by the PRA 2014 to administer, in a transparent manner, the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) for pensioners exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme,” Dahir-Umar said.

She said that those measures substantially restored credibility and confidence in Nigeria’s pension systems, pointing out that the PRA 2014 had also strengthened Nigeria’s pension institutions in the contributory, DBS and imbued them with the capacity to rise above emerging challenges.

The PenCom chief executive added that the continued collaboration with the EFCC would certainly serve as a catalyst for reducing the menace of fraud in the pension industry to the barest minimum.

(NAN)

Two-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja, Kills One, Several Rescued

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

A section of a two-story building under construction in Abuja has collapsed with an occupant dead.

The collapsed building is located behind CITEC Estate along Airport road, Jabi.

The incident, according to the Director-General (DG), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Authority (FEMA), Alhaji Abbas Idris, occurred by around 1am on Wednesday.

Idris told The Nation that the deceased body has been deposited at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Jabi.

According to him: “A section of a story building under construction behind CITEC Estate along Airport road, jabi collapsed.

“One person died. And the body was deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Jabi. It happened by 1am on Wednesday (today) the occupants of the uncompleted building were rescued to a safer place to prevent more casualties due to continuous cracks from the structure”.

Details shortly… 

Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS]

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

Senator representing Abia North constituency in partnership with Small and medium enterprises development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has taken free medical test and treatment of Peptic (stomach) ulcer diseases to Umunneochi local government area of the state.

Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS]

Speaking at the event which took place on Wednesday at Amuda town hall in Umunneochi, Senator Kalu, who is also Chief Whip of the Senate emphasised the need for Nigerians to access improved health care delivery at all times from professional caregivers.

Represented by the Director-General Orji Uzor Kalu movement Rev. Jemima Ola-Kalu, Sen. Kalu said the aim was to ensure that all terminal diseases affecting Nigerians would be treated and eradicated from the county by the year 2030, inline with the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda.

The lawmaker added that the exercise that started in Isuikwuato LGA would continue in Arochukwu Local Government.

He also revealed that his foundation would commence free medical treatment for cancer patients across all the political wards in the Abia North senatorial district.

He said, “We are aligning our thematic area with the United Nations sustainable development agenda 2030 which is to eradicate poverty and provide good health care for all.

“We are also providing a good education for our people at all levels. Recently we gave 50 students scholarships to study medicine and surgery in Venezuela and another 650 students to study medicine in selected 12 Nigerian Universities.

“We will ensure that by the year 2030 the patients/doctor ratio in Nigeria which is currently one doctor to 30 patients improves by training more medical doctors”.

The head of the medical team Dr Grace Onyebuchi Achilike explained that peptic ulcer disease can occur in the stomach and any other part of intestine.

She pointed out that the medical outreach was facilitated by Kalu because of his love for the people of Abia North senatorial district and Abia State in General to access quality health care attention.

She said; ‘I had organized a free medical outreach to give back to the society at Igbere last year because of the kind gesture of his Excellency to me when I was a student.

“But being a man that wants good health care delivery for his people our distinguished senator asked that we should extend the free treatment to other Local Governments in his senatorial district.

Some of the beneficiaries of the free test and treatment including Mr Godwin Onyekachi Orji, Roseline Eze, Chukwudi Augustine, and Iyke Okole commended the Senate Chief whip for the kind gesture, describing it as a privilege to members of the community.

Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS] Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS] Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS] Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS] Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS] Sen. Kalu In Partnership With SMEDAN Takes Free Medicare To Umunneochi [PHOTOS]

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