Day: May 21, 2024

The Department of Security Services, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says the territory has recorded improved security within one year of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The Director of the department, Adamu Gwary, a Fellow of Defence College, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Gwary told NAN while assessing the performance of Tinubu-led administration on security in the FCT, that the impact was impressive, considering the reduced incidents of security breaches.

According to him, the security situation has significantly improved since Mr Nyesom Wike assumed office as the FCT Minister in August 2023.

‘We receive not only a situational report from security agencies, but from members of the public.

‘In the past, it used to be a daily affair where you will hear there are these issues, there are those issues, here and there, within the city, the environs, and the suburbs of the FCT.

‘But today, sometimes a whole week will pass wit
hout any report.

‘We have an interface with traditional rulers, who give us intelligence reports, which we process and forward to responsible security agencies, but this has really died down.

‘Also, if you recall, the issue of theft of manhood was at its peak at the commencement of the Tinubu-led Administration, but that has been completely addressed.

‘This is not to say that we are there, but the improvement is very visible in terms of the reduced number of reported cases of criminal activities.’

He attributed the successes to the proactiveness of the FCT minister through intensive community engagement and provision of logistics and equipment support to security agencies.

He recalled that Wike had organised town hall meetings across the six Area Council of the FCT, where he and security agencies interacted with community members on their active participation in addressing insecurity.

‘The minister had equally provided vehicles to traditional rulers across the FCT to enable them to move around their dom
ain and mobilise their subjects to support ongoing security efforts.

‘This is with a view to take security to the doorsteps of the residents and assure them of the FCT Administration’s readiness to support security agencies to do their work.

‘These have really paid off,’ he said.

Gwary added that the minister equally set up security task forces to address heinous crime, like kidnapping the dreaded one chance criminal activities.

On logistics support to security agencies, the director said that the FCT minister, under Tinubu-led administration had procured and distributed motorcycles to security agencies, including vigilance groups to improve security in rural communities.

He added that the FCT Administration had equally procured patrol vehicles, fitted with modern communication gadgets including combat protective gears.

‘Plans have also been concluded to procure surveillance drones and other equipment to enhance surveillance and operation of security agencies in the city.

‘These are all geared towards
ensuring zero tolerance to heinous crime within the city centre and the suburb, which is plagued with the issue of kidnapping and the rest,’ he said.

The director described security as everybody’s business and called on the resident to cooperate with security agencies in sharing timely and accurate information.

‘See something, say something and we will do something,’ he said.

Mr Edward Orim, Principal Consultant Edgard Consulting, a private security firm, equally said that Wike, under the Tinubu’s government had made significant headway in addressing insecurity in the FCT.

Orim, who is also the Chairman of ASIS International, Chapter 273, Abuja, an international security organisation, particularly lauded the current government for curbing the trend of kidnapping in the territory.

‘From my own assessment, I think the current administration has done very well,’ he said.

He, however, advised the FCT Administration to do more in strengthening community policing, where everybody would be involved in assistin
g the police with critical information, including logistics where necessary.

‘Community policing is very critical to addressing insecurity; know your neighbour and give information out to the police to help them do their job.

‘There should be more awareness on the residents to be aware of their surroundings, security threats and work with security agencies to address them,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for collaborative efforts against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection among girls and women in the country.

Dr Ijeoma Agbo, UNICEF Health Specialist, made the call during a two-day media dialogue on HPV vaccine on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue has the theme: ‘Combating The Most Preventable Form Of Deadly Cancer Affecting Women and Girls Through Vaccination’.

Agbo said that HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and caused more than 95 per cent of cases of cervical cancer.

The UNICEF health specialist, who noted that HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and free, said there was an urgent need for all stakeholders to come together to sensitise Nigerians on its importance.

According to her, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally and the second most common cancer affecting women in Nigeria.

‘There are over 100 HPV types that have been identified to date, and
two human Papillomavirus types (16 and 18) account for about 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases.

‘It is estimated that 604,000 new cases with 342,000 deaths occurred globally in 2020 and an estimated 12,075 cases and 7,968 deaths recorded in Nigeria,’ she said

Agbo also said that the high burden of cervical cancer is attributed to several factors, which include poor access to HPV vaccination services, poor screening and treatment as well as low awareness among others.

Agbo, however, said that vaccination against HPV had shown to be effective in preventing persistent infection with high-risk types, which are the primary cause of cervical cancer.

On the objective of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria, Agbo said that the main goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer by providing HPV vaccine to girls between ages nine and 14.

She also said that the targeted audience for the vaccine is on girls aged 9-14, who can be found in schools, out of schools, places of religious worship, special popul
ation settings and groups, among others.

In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Okorie, Programme Manager, UNICEF, highlighted that the media dialogue was an opportunity to sensitise the public about the advantages of proven global interventions in the prevention of HPV through vaccination.

Okorie said it was also an opportunity to reach more people through the media and dissuade the minds of the people on any misgivings about the vaccine.

He appreciated the role of the media in creating awareness about the HPV vaccine and called for more synergy to make the vaccination programme successful.

Also, Dr Adetola Akinpelu, Immunisation Programmes Coordinator, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, said the state was targeting 80 per cent vaccination of girls between nine and 14 years old by December 2024.

Akinpelu said the state had so far recorded success stories with the campaign, and vaccinated 44.8 per cent of the targeted population.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says the patient-focused healthcare agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led administration, has significantly improved the quality of service delivery in FCT health facilities.

Dr Babagana Adam, the Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, FCT Administration, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Adam, while assessing the one-year performance of Tinubu’s administration in the FCT health sector, said that the approach has significantly improved the quality of health services in FCT.

He explained that the patient-focused approach was entrenched by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of Tinubu-led administration.

He said that efforts were ongoing to strengthen 24-hour-service delivery in health facilities in the FCT.

‘We are installing solar lights to augment the electricity from the national grid.

‘We are also refurbishing our vehicles and generat
ors to ensure constant power in our health facilities.

‘We are equally servicing some equipment that are not working and planned to procure additional ones to replace the old and obsolete equipment,’ he said.

Adam said that the Administration was also making efforts to increase the number of health facilities in the territory to address the challenge of access, including the provision of specialised services.

The permanent secretary disclosed that the Health Secretariat has concluded plans to establish an Ophthalmology Centre, where people with eye challenges can access services.

He added that three general hospitals, one each in Gwarimpa, Gwagwalada and Utako would be completed and equipped for operation before the end of 2024.

The completion of the hospitals, according to him, will increase access to quality health services in the FCT.

Adam equally said that the recruitment of doctors and other health professionals was in the pipeline to ensure quality service delivery.

‘Everything is just getting be
tter in health, agriculture, education, social services, and infrastructure among other sectors, because Wike is an all rounder,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa, has urged barracks women to make extra income for themselves through fish farming and other vocations.

Musa gave the advice at a One-Day Seminar on Fish Farming and Financial Literacy, organised by DEPOWA for barracks women on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said there was need for the women to have multiple streams of income by engaging in different vocations and maintaining high level of financial discipline.

Musa said that fish farming was not just a vital source of protein for millions of people worldwide but also a significant contributor to local economics and food security.

She said that there must be adoption of a holistic approach that combines sustainable practices, effective operation and financial intelligence to be able to thrive in the industry.

According to her, financial intelligence is the key to unlocking the full potential of fish farming by understanding the intricacies of financial management, risk moderat
ion and investment opportunity.

‘Therefore, this seminar offers a unique platform for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration.

‘I encourage you all to engage in thought provoking discussions, seek clarifications, ask questions and learn from each other experiences.

‘The whole essence of this seminar is to empower you with the right knowledge and necessary tools that will enable you make informed decisions in your financial planning and management strategies for fish farming business.

‘I am certain that this training will give a sense of direction and provide a means of livelihood or extra source of income to the participants,’ she said.

The DEPOWA president expressed appreciation to the First Lady and Founder of Renew Hope Initiative, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for her motherly inspiration and continuous support.

She also thanked the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for the support, encouragement and being the driving force of her mission and vision in DEPOWA.

A resource person and prof
essional fish farmer, Mr Best Tomter, said the seminar was aimed at training the women on the value chains of fish farming, adding that they could start agricultural business with as low as N150,000.

Tomter said that fish farming was one of the easiest agricultural businesses that help them to begin to earn passive income.

He said the training would teach them how they could start fish farming without really going through the stress of setting up a fish farm.

‘We want a fish farm estate where intending fish farmers or agricultural enthusiasts can come, buy a pond and can also start fish farming.

‘We are trying to impact in the women here this morning how they can have multiple streams of income.

‘Fish farming is very lucrative because, currently our fish consumption in Nigeria stands at 3.2 million metric tons per annum and then what our local production produces is just 1.2 million metric tons.

‘So you can see that we have over 2.2 million metric tons deficit in fish production currently in Nigeria.

‘
So we need people to fill up that gap and there is market for fish farming,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has described the extension of Nigeria’s continental shelf as a significant achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its one year in office.

The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Adaji described continental shelf as the natural submerged prolongation of a country’s land territory.

He congratulated Nigeria on the extension of the country’s continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and sovereignty over additional 16,300 square kilometres of maritime boundaries, about five times the size of Lagos.

‘Just recently, Mr. President, was briefed about the activities of the high-powered Presidential Committee on the extended continental shelf, where the Boundary Commission played a very key role.

‘Of course, the project started from this commission. It’s a baby of NBC but now being handled by a presidential committee.

‘We want to commend the visionary le
adership of the Federal Government for the support and congratulate Nigerians for the extension of our maritime territory,’ he said.

The DG said that the extended continental shelf would be of massive economic benefit to Nigeria considering its rich natural and mineral deposits.

He assured President Tinubu of the commission’s continued support to the High-Powered Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project.

‘Of course, the committee is still working. Whatever the government decides as the next phase of action, the boundary commission will be ready to play its part and participate in the committee’s work as much as possible.

‘I want to congratulate Nigeria for this achievement and congratulate this government for the interest it is showing and the willingness to support this project to logical conclusion,

‘I want to pray that the dividends of democracy, as we are beginning to see in this administration will be sustained till the end of the administration,’ Adaji said.

NAN reca
lls that the High-Powered Presidential Committee had on May 14, briefed the President on the approval of the extended continental shelf by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).

The journey to extend Nigeria’s continental shelf began in 2009 with the country’s submission to the CLCS, but the project suffered setbacks due to lack of funds and other administrative challenges.

It was finally approved by the UN shortly after Tinubu assumed office.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-1) says it will train no fewer than 200 youths from four states in agribusiness incubation along the value chains of rice, cassava and sorghum.

The training is in partnership with ABOMAX, a firm that provides services in agribusiness, among others.

Ms Heather Akanni, Project Manager, Youth in Agribusiness Incubation, announced this at the inauguration of the workshop on Youth in Agribusiness Incubation on Tuesday in Abuja.

Akanni said the programme was aimed at contributing to the Renewed Hope Agenda on food security, food safety through improved and gender friendly technology.

He said the strategy was to catch youths and get them involved in agriculture with the hope of monitoring and linking them with relevant institutions and organisations in scaling up food production.

According to her, the programme will deliver three mandate value chains of cassava, Sorghum and rice across the four zones of Adani-Omor, Bida Badeggi, Kano – jigawa and k
ebbi – Sokoto.

‘The incubatees would be taken through various modules in line with the value chains to effect inter personal relationship among the young agribusiness partners,” she said.

Dr Adekunle Alege, National Agribusiness Specialist, ATASP-1, said the strategy was to promote the growth of self-reliant small-scale business model among incubators.

He said the programme’s core mandate crops included rice, cassava and sorghum, adding that the training was to re-orientate youths about agriculture.

Alege said that the Federal Government unveiled the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) to attract private sector investment in agriculture and reduce post-harvest losses.

‘Also to add value to local agricultural produce, develop rural infrastructure and enhance access of farmers and other value chain actors to financial services and markets,” he said.

The National Project Coordinator, ATASP – 1, Dr Muhammad Arabi, said the beneficiaries would undergo two weeks training where they would be trained to
become entrepreneurs.

He said the beneficiaries would acquire capacity in production, processing and also to increase their income generation and reduce unemployment in the country.

Dr Rotimi Mathew, Director General, Chartered Institute of Mentoring and Coaching Nigeria (CIMCN), said the objective of the training was to enhance food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty, as well as creating employment and wealth.

He said the training would help the beneficiaries get access to financial services and create a bond among the incubators.

Dr Bukar Musa, the Director, Project Coordinating Unit of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), said the aim of the programme was to unlock jobs for youths.

He said the ATA was set to create over 3.5 million jobs along the value chains of priority agricultural commodities of rice, cassava, livestock, oil palm etc.

Musa appealed to the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity, saying it would help them be employers of labour.

Source:
News Agency of Nigeria