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Our Reporter

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Tuesday presented the “ICAO Council President’s Certificate” to Nigeria in recognition its progress in solving aviation security and oversight deficiencies.
A statement issued by Mr James Odaudu, the Director Press and Public Affairs in the Ministry of Aviation, stated that the award was presented to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, during the opening ceremony of ICAO’s 40th Triennial Assembly in Montreal, Canada.
According to the statement, the President of ICAO Council, Dr Olumuyiwa Aliu, said the certificate was in recognition of the contributions of deserving member-states to the marked improvement in global aviation safety and security.
It further quoted Aliu as saying that Nigeria received the certificated based on its commitment to the effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
Aliu said that the efforts of the Nigerian government in transforming the aviation sector had continued to receive recognition at the world stage.
He said that the recognition was meant to encourage the countries to do more.
He further said that the feat would spur other nations to step up their own efforts in promoting the security and safety of their respective air spaces, which would ultimately translate to better global aviation security standards.
Reacting to the award, Sirika expressed delight over the achievements recorded by Nigeria in the area of aviation security and oversight deficiencies to deserve the recognition by world aviation-governing body.
He said that the recognition was a challenge to him and other players in the nation’s aviation industry to do more.
He attributed the achievements to the unwavering commitment and support of President Muhammadu Buhari to the transformation of the country’s aviation industry.
The minister added that the government’s focus on safety and security since its inception had started yielding the desired results.
Sirika commended the ICAO council for monitoring and giving recognition to developments in member-states.
He promised that Nigeria would remain committed to the ideals and objectives of the organisation.
The statement noted that the certificate was awarded to 16 of the 193 member-nations. (NAN)

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, says the House would revisit the bill for an act to regulate the operations of Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) in the country.

Gbajabiamila made the announcement at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

“There were disturbing revelations concerning operations of NGOs during the meeting of the House leadership and Service Chiefs last Monday,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was on the state of security in the North East.

The speaker said that the bill which was sponsored by late Rep. Buba Jibrin (APC-Kogi) generated tremendous outcry from the general public.

“I am sure even the NGOs will like this because they will not like a few giving all of them bad names,” he said.

In a related development, the green chambers has urged the Federal Government to create a Special Security Fund for security agencies apart from the national budget.

This followed a unanimous adopted of a motion of urgent matters of public importance by Rep. Mohammed Mungonu (APC-Borno).

Moving the motion, Monguno said that Nigeria in recent times had witnessed unprecedented level of insecurity.

He said that the development had made national security a major issue for the government.

The House, therefore, resolved that its leadership should interface with parliaments of other countries especially the United States with a view to granting Nigerian security agencies access to buy arms and ammunition.

Dauda R Pam MAIDUGURI

Dr. Sule Meleh,the executive director, BORNO state Health Care Development Agency,BOSPHDA,has reaffirmed that the proposed ‘pull down and down sizing of human resources’ (Adhoc staff) from clinics in most of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps by major partners like the UNICEF, would not be a set back, as the Nigeria State Health Investment Project- Additional Financing (NSHIP- AF) is working assiduously to contract these facilities and strengthen its health system.

The executive director,disclosed this on Tuesday in a meeting with members of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), UNICEF Representative, Mr. Jimoh Mohammed, Directors and Deputy Directors of Primary Health Care (PHC) Departments in Local Government Areas of Borno Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

He said, the meeting was aimed at fraternizing with the stakeholders on how best NSHIP, which is strictly on Performance Based Financing (PBF) approach will key-in to ensure availability and affordability of quality healthcare services, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combatting HIV/AIDs, Malaria and other diseases amongst IDPs living in resettlement camps, as approved by the World Bank and Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum who have passion for the health sector.

Dr Sule Meleh,used the occasion to commend the unflinching support by development partners, particularly UNICEF which has taken the lead in providing health needs of IDPs in camps across the state, Dr. Meleh stressed that, with coming of NSHIP/PBF in designated clinics of the identified camps, the PIU team and the Directors of PHC department and other staff have to redouble their efforts to ensure 24hr health services for IDPs.

It could be recalled that already, PIU Team have visited 16 IDP camps in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere, where it carried out a Rapid Assessment (RA) of the clinics in Bakassi, Dalori I & II, Stadium, Muna, Farm Centre, Gubio, Madinatu, Customs House among other IDP camps, adding that based on the Data obtained about the situation of these clinics, there is the urgent need for NSHIP intervention.

Hear him, “We summoned you to this very important meeting because, in the next 10 days, UNICEF which is the major partner with our health facilities in IDP camps are rounding up with their interventions, which means, all existing adhoc staff, from the Health Facility Managers down to a cleaner would have their appointment terminated.

“In this case, there is going to be a huge human resources gap in our Clinics in the camps, and that is why our concerned Governor had to seek support from the World Bank to extend NSHIP intervention into the IDP camp clinics”

“As it is, before this new initiatives, NSHIP have so far contracted over 100 private and public Clinics and General Hospital in Borno Central, North and Southern Senatorial Districts which are presently benefitting from the project, and even if UNICEF downsizes its adhoc staff, and continue providing drugs or commodities to these clinics in camps, NSHIP is coming at a better time than now to restore hope to our IDPs” Dr. Meleh stated.

By Dauda Pam

Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE,OPLD, has commenced “OPERATION POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION”across the North Eastern part of Nigeria,to intensify the search for all suspected criminal elements that roam parts of the region in the North East.

This was disclosed by Colonel Ado Isa, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, DDAPR, Operation Lafiya Dole, Theater Command headquarters Maiduguri,who said that, 5 key terrorist logistics suppliers and fighters have so far been apprehended.

According to him, based on credible information,that some of the fleeing criminals are hibernating in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe States in particular and North East in general.

The Theatre Command OPLD used the medium to enjoin members of the public to always carry valid means of identification such as National Identification Card when moving or passing through Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The DDAPR said that troops have been directed to strictly check legitimate means of identification such as National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports or other valid official identification before allowing such persons to pass at checkpoints.

Members of the public are, therefore, requested to cooperate with the troops by moving along with valid identification cards and present same to the troops in the efforts to rid the North East zone of criminals fleeing for safety.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia

Officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and representatives of the Nasarawa State government have met and agreed on modalities for accessing a N1.5bn credit facility to assist youths across the state in establishing agribusinesses.

Chairman of the committee set up by the state government to secure the credit facility and Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the state governor on Youths, Sports and NGOs, Yakubu Kwanta, said shortly after the meeting, at the state Ministry of Agriculture that government and the parties have agreed on the modalities for accessing the loan.

He said the government has since kick started the process of the loan disbursement, with application forms issued freely to youths from across the 13 local government areas of the state.

The SSA further disclosed that the collection of the completed forms has commenced, following which the committee will sit down and analyse critically, whether the youths that applied for the facility were qualified or not.

“Our main target are youths between the ages of 18 and 35 that are graduates of agriculture and those that are desirous of going into agriculture,” he said.

Also speaking, Akin Ogidi, Head, Development of Finance Office at the CBN Lafia branch, said the project is at the preliminary stage, with the apex bank laying out its requirements for accessing the credit facility.

Ogidi confirmed that the state government was willing to take part in the programme.

By Mike Oboh

Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje applauds the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its immense contributions to the people of the State towards the development of their educational career and beyond.

The Governor stated this at the celebration of the 89th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organised by the Saudi Embassy in Kano, held at Afficent, Sultan road.

He acknowledged with full appreciation how several citizens of Kano are currently in Saudi Arabia studying various courses in the Kingdom’s Universities and some of them enjoy Scholarships under the Saudi Government.

“For nearly half a century, several Islamic Scholars from the State obtained different level of advanced religious knowledge which greatly gave them upper hand in imparting authentic Islamic knowledge and help in ensuring peaceful coexistence among Muslims in the State.

” Of recent, the donations of funds and Scholarships slots by the Saudi Ambassador during pronouncement of our free and compulsory education policy is a phenomenal and will remain in the mind of the good people of Kano State,” he revealed.

Ganduje represented at the occasion by his Deputy Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had occupied a unique place not only in the history of humanity but in the heart of over billion inhabitants of this world.

” As political entity, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies an elegant place in the committee of Nations for its unique strides and the strategic roles it plays in the modern global political – economy,”the Governor said.

Ganduje said being a predominantly Muslim’s State, Kano State would continue to hold a veritable perception towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a strategic nexus that link the people of the State to the rest of the world.

In our own part, the Governor continued, the State would remain committed in supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote the long relationship that exist between the two parties for the benefit of its citizenry.

Earlier, the Console General of Saudi Arabia in Kano Sultan Abdulrahman Al- Dhakel said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Sister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria share strong relationship and tides which is being based on Islamic faith that teaches peace and brotherhood.

Sultan Abdulrahman added that “The relationship between the two Countries has passed through different stages and were consolidated after the exchange of diplomatic presentation, which made it easier for the Government and people of the two countries to transact and exchange interest in various diplomatic activities.”

He explained that despite being loving and advocating for peace, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing malicious campaign aimed at improving its security and that of the entire world.

Abdulrahman said “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had presented numerous initiatives and treaties among various parties in the Arab and Muslims world a move that contributed to the stability and progress of these countries “.