Day: May 30, 2024

In a bid to promote menstrual hygiene in schools, the HOJ Foundation, an NGO, on Tuesday sensitised and distributed sanitary pads to schools in commemoration of the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28, to raise global awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.

Mr Bismarck Oji, the Executive Director of the foundation, said menstrual health hygiene was pertinent to the general wellbeing of girls and women in the society.

Oji noted that there was need to intensify awareness on good menstrual hygiene due to the several risks associated to poor hygiene during menstruation.

He added that some schools within the Isolo-Oshodi Local Government Area (LGA) benefited from the programme tagged’ Pad Up Our Girls, Keep Them in School’.

Some of the schools include Ansarudeen College, Isolo; Livingspring Hi-Grade College Isolo; Effortswill College, Ejigbo; Spring School, Okota; Airforce Secondary Sc
hool, Ikeja and Jeed Trinity College, Ilasamaja.

He said:’Menstrual hygiene is for everybody and this is because whatever affects our girls and women affects the society.

‘We are here to sensitise our girls in schools that menstruation is a natural process that should not stop girls from going to school and the importance of good menstrual hygiene.

‘Some of the girls are yet to start their menstrual circle while some have started, this is to prepare those who are yet to start their menstruation and educated those who have already started on the importance of good hygiene’.

He, however, urged government to subsidise pads to ensure availability and affordability for girls and women in the Country.

Students of Ansarudeen College, Isolo, Lagos

Speaking also, Mrs Uchena Ofomata, the Programme Coordinator in charge of Women and Health at the foundation, urged government to provide free sanitary pads for girls, especially those in public schools.

Ofomata said the present economic situation has made it impossi
ble for some girls to get access to pads, therefore, resulting to tissue paper, cloths and a times deprive them of learning in school.

‘We are out to sensitise girls because at this age, some of them feel bad about menstruation and there is the need to educate them on good hygiene to prevent infection.

‘Another thing is availability of pads for some girls whose parents cannot afford it due to the present increase in prices of commodities generally in the country.

‘We want the government to either subsidise the price or give free monthly pads to secondary school girls, especially those in the public school,’ he said.

She affirmed that HOJ foundation would continue to empower women and youths, and provide interventions on health related issues for people within its locality.

Precious Chimezie, a JSS 3 student of Livingspring Hi-Grade College, commended the foundation for the sensitisation and free menstrual pad, noting that it further increased her knowledge.

‘We have been taught about puberty and menstru
ation in my school but this programme has given me more enlightenment on how to handle pad, duration of usage and good hygiene,’ she said.

Speaking also, Oreoluwa Koiki, a JSS 3 student of Ansarudeen College, said the pad up our girls programme by HOJ foundation was very educating.

‘I have been able to learn more things about menstrual hygiene that will keep me in check when I am in my cycle,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted various contrabands with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.2 billion.

It also arrested a suspected fake customs officer, who allegedly defrauded many rice dealers.

The Controller in charge of the zone, Comptroller Kolapo Oladeji, made the disclosure to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said that 20 suspects had been arrested in connection with the seized goods.

According to him, the smuggled goods were seized from April 19 to May 28.

He listed the seized goods to include 914 Jerry cans (25 litres each) of Premium Motor Spirit – equivalent of 22,850 litres – and 10,372 of 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice as well as 27 units of imported used vehicles.

He said that the seized good also included 2,152 cartons of foreign frozen products, six units of imported used trucks and 625kg of Cannabis Sativa.

‘The sum of N81.8 million was recovered through meticulous documentary checks on goods which already exited with low duty payment
s. It would have escaped the coffers of the Federal Government,’ he said.

Oladeji said that tougher days for smugglers had just begun.

He said that smugglers undermined Nigeria Customs Service’s efforts at revenue generation.

He said that the unit also arrested a self-acclaimed customs officer, who until his arrest, had been defrauded unsuspecting citizens.

He said that the suspect claimed to be the officer in-charge of rice auctioning.

‘His arrest was made after some of his victims reported his illegal claims and activities,’ Oladeji said.

He said that he had visited traditional leaders within the zone for partnership which, he said, led to the quantum of seizures recorded within his six weeks in office.

The FOU boss said that the seizures were made at Ojo-Odan, Ijebu-Ode, Badagry, Agbara, Idiroko and Oyo, among other axis.

He commended officers and men of the command for their efforts, and praised sister-agencies for cooperation.

Oladeji advised smugglers to embrace legitimate businesses.

He said
that smuggling was negatively affecting the health of Nigerians, adding that some smuggled goods were transported in contaminated vehicles, motorcycles and cement trucks.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An NGO, Advocacy for Positive Behavioural Patterns Initiative (APBPI), has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise policies that support holistic development of the country’s youth.

Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NGO, Mrs Christiana-Adedoja Tanimola, stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Tanimola said that investing in the younger generation of the country was crucial for the nation’s growth, prosperity and stability.

According to her, Nigerians envision a country where the young people thrive, reach their full potential and contribute positively to the society.

Tanimola said that Nigerians were in need of a country where youths would be empowered to become responsible citizens and leaders, and where Nigeria would become a model for positive behavioural patterns globally.

‘On behalf of APBPI, we congratulate you on your first anniversary in office. We acknowledge your efforts to address the challenges facing our nation.

‘As a beha
vioural-based non-profit organisation focusing on promoting positive values among young Nigerians, we urge your administration to prioritise policies that support the holistic development of our youths.

‘We believe that investing in the younger generation is crucial for our nation’s growth, prosperity and stability,” she stated.

Tanimola particularly recommended to the president policies that would promote positive behavioural patterns among teens and youth, and enhance access to quality education and skill acquisition.

She also called for improved healthcare and social welfare services for young people as well as empowering them to become responsible citizens and leaders.

The executive director also urged Tinubu to address the issues of mental health and wellbeing of young Nigerians, and reduce crime and criminal activities among them.

According to her, the establishment of modern libraries in all the 774 local government areas in the country will provide young people access to knowledge, information a
nd resources, thus aiding their development.

Tanimola said that the NGO had observed that some ministries and agencies were supporting great initiatives for the youth.

She said that with sustained support in this direction, the young people would achieve great things and contribute positively to the nation’s development.

Tanimola, however, said that the NGO would be looking forward to seeing meaningful policies and initiatives that would benefit the younger generation and position Nigeria as a leader in positive behavioural patterns.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Lagos, May 29, 2024 (NAN)The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday engaged market leaders and traders in Lagos to investigate the persistent increase in food prices across markets.

Mrs Suzie Onwuka, Head, Lagos Office of FCCPC, revealed the reasons for meeting with market leaders of Mile 12 Market and Oke-Odo Market, Ile-Epo in Lagos, while briefing newsmen.

Onwuka explained that the engagement aimed to gather insights directly from stakeholders to understand the factors contributing to escalating food prices, a major concern by consumers nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission’s investigative mission prioritises consumer protection and competition issues, particularly regarding the affordability of food commodities.

She highlighted insecurity, particularly its impact on agricultural produce, and the removal of fuel subsidies as a major factor influencing the rising cost of transportation which subsequently added to food prices.

Accor
ding to her, the practice of hoarding grains during dry seasons and releasing them during rainy seasons for planting purposes exacerbates price fluctuation and sustains high prices.

She stressed the importance of stakeholders’ collaboration in addressing the challenges and stabilising food prices for consumers.

Alhaji Shehu Usman, Chairman of the Mile 12 International Perishable Market Association, affirmed the market leaders’ commitment to collaborating with the Lagos State Government in agricultural ventures to enhance food security.

Usman highlighted efforts to secure land for farming activities, including tomato cultivation, to complement existing produce.

Addressing the inflationary trend, Usman clarified that there was no deliberate price manipulation within the market.

He attributed the spike in food prices to disruptions in agricultural activities caused by insecurity.

This, he added, led to the movement of some Northern farmers from their base to Internally Displayed Camps (IDPs), due to securi
ty threats posed by bandits.

Alhaji Taofik Olorunkemi, the Baba-Oja of Oke-Odo Market in Ile-Epo corroborated Usman’s views regarding the hike in prices of food items

He emphasised the challenges posed by the high cost of transporting goods from farms to urban centres and the continuous increase in food prices with each new produce entering the market.

Olorunkemi also highlighted the influence of the removal of oil subsidies on food prices and expressed concerns about the reluctance of the youth to pursue farming opportunities due to modernisation.

The market leader commended the federal government for the provision of adequate security measures to safeguard farmers and agricultural operations.

He emphasised the need for a secure environment to enable effective cultivation.

Meanwhile, some market traders who spoke to newsmen, said they feel the pains of Nigerians but more painful that they would have to sell based on the cost price.

They urged the federal government not to relent on its various interve
ntion programmes, aimed at reducing the pains of Nigerians.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has appealed to the Federal Government to reverse 50 per cent deduction of its revenue generation.

NAMA Director- General, Mr Farouk Umar, made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Umar said restoring the agency’s full revenue would enhance operational efficiency, ensure continuous training of safety personnel and address critical infrastructure needs.

‘With adequate funding, we can fulfil our mandate to provide safe and reliable air navigation services across Nigeria.

‘By reversing the 50 per cent deduction, we can significantly enhance air safety ensuring that Nigerian air remains safe and maintains high safety standards.

‘We urge all stakeholders to support this necessary change for the future of our aviation sector and the safety of the flying public, ‘ he said.

Umar said the formula was not in the interest of NAMA because the agency required huge capital for its investment adding that it will jeopar
dise its ability to meet both national and international obligations.

‘The current revenue- sharing formula allocates only 22 per cent of the 5 per cent airfare, contract, charter, and cargo sales charges to NAMA, despite our significant capital investment needs.

‘Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with less responsibilities as it stands currently is allocated 56 per cent while the NAMA with all its responsibilities gets 22 per cent, ‘ he said.

Umar said the entire aviation system is about safety and it remains sacrosanct owing to the fact that there is no parking space in the sky.

According to him, NAMA operates on the principle of cost recovery as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The NAMA boss added that safety procedures and protocols ought to be prepared and strictly adhered to while on the ground.

He reiterated that NAMA was entrusted with the critical responsibility of ensuring the safe conduct of flights in all phases within the Nigerian airspace including
territorial waters in the Gulf of Guinea.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint qualified officials from Southeast to head the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Dr Raymond Edoh, the Council’s Executive Director, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at a news conference on the state of the nation and the federal character principle.

According to him, appointing an official from the southeast to head FRSC will be in compliance with the Federal Character principle.

‘Recall that the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria was borne out of the need to ensure evenness in spreading government appointments to promote inclusion, representation, a sense of belonging and balance in the polity.

‘The underlying philosophy is providing equality of access in public service representation to curb dominance by one or a few sections.

‘The Principle was first introduced into the Constitution in 1979 for public offices and federal institutions to reflect Nigeria’s diversities.

‘The Federal Character Commiss
ion (FCC) was subsequently established by Act No 34 of 1996 as a Federal Executive body to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle of fairness and equity”, he said.

He said the Commission had achieved remarkable feats in the nation’s civil service in terms of employment.

However, he said, the same could not be said of appointments of heads of security agencies and para-military establishments over the decades,’ Edoh said.

According to him, verifiable records show that the configuration of the nation’s security and para-military architectures do not properly reflect and represent the Federal Character Principle.

He listed the heads of para-military agencies; Nigerian Police Force – IGP Kayode Egbetokun , Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps – Dr Ahmed Audi, Department of State Service -Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Others are Nigeria Customs Service,Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Age
ncy,Mohammed Buba Marwa.

Also, Economic and Financial Crime Commission ,Mr Ola Olukayode, Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission ,Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu and National Food and Drugs Administration and Control , Prof Moji Adeyeye.

He said the list showed that that no personnel or official from the southeast was heading any of the agencies listed.

‘With the retirement of Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps last week, general expectations and healthy assumptions were that the next Corps Marshal FRSC would be considered from the Southeast Zone.

‘Furthermore, our diligent findings shows that within the nine dispensation and 36 years of the enactment into law and formal appointments of the successive Corp Marshals, below is the official records;

‘Dr Olu Agunloye. 1988 -1994. Maj. Gen Haldu Anthony Hananiya (rtd) 1994 – 1999, Danyaro Ali Yakasai. 1999 – 2000, Mr Abba Wakilbe, 2000 – 2003, Maj. Gen Haldu Anthony Hananiya (rtd) 2003 – 2007.

‘Others include Osita Chidoka, 2007 – 2014, Mr Bob
oye Oyeyemi 2014 – 2022, Ali Biu 2022 – 2024, and Mr Shehu Mohammed (now reported to be confirmed and decorated),’ the executive director said.

Edoh therefore appealed to President Tinubu to encourage national unity and integration by taking advantage of the retirement of Mr Dauda Biu as Corps Marshal of the FRSC to remedy the situation.

Earlier, the Director, South West, NCSCN, Mr Yemi Success, said every zone was equal in the country.

‘Facts speak for itself, but there is a possibility that the leadership has not taken cognisance of the details and as the watchdog of society we have placed it before them.

‘We will follow it up with advocacy; we note that President Tinubu has been one of the advocates of good governance and equitable distribution of power in Nigeria before his ascension to power.

‘We believe this may be oversight that might happen as a mistake, now that we have placed the facts and figures before him we are sure that he will do the needful.” Success said.

Similarly, Mr Haruna Gambo, t
he Director Media, NCSCN, said the only way the country could promote unity was by being just in the distribution of federal appointments and political offices.

Gambo therefore, called on the government to unite the country by making sure that any region in Nigeria that was deprived of appointments was compensated.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria