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19Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Wike promises improved quality healthcare services in FCT

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says plans are underway to improve the quality of health services in the federal capital, Abuja. Wike gave the assurance when the Executive members of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors, led by the President, Dr Rahman Olayinka visited him in Abuja on Wednesday. He explained that the FCT Administration would ensure necessary provisions in the 2024 budget to improve quality of services in health facilities in the FCT. “The services at the moment are not encouraging. It is unfortunate. “I was thinking that since FCT is a capital city it will have the best health facilities, but from what I am told, there is nothing to write home about, but be assured it will be the best. “We will bring th...

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19Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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NAFDAC destroys fake, expired goods worth N500m in Abuja

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday destroyed fake and expired goods worth over N500 million in Abuja. Speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that some of the goods were also voluntary submitted to the agency. Represented by Mr Francis Ononiwu, NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, the D-G stated that the exercise is carried out routinely all over the country. The NAFDAC boss said that the destruction of the products were done to prevent their re-introduction to the supply chain. Adeyeye listed some of the products destroyed as drugs made up of psychoactive and controlled substance like antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarials, herbal snuff and herbal rem...

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19Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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President Tinubu celebrates former Head of State Gowon at 89

President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria has sent warm greetings to former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on his 89th birthday. A statement by Presidential Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said the president celebrates the elder statesman whose visionary leadership has shaped major milestones in Nigeria’s history. The president extolled Gowon for institutionalising the peace process in Nigeria with lasting legacies, such as laying the foundation for Nigeria’s federation through the creation of states. Other milestones of the former head of state include fostering cohesion, encouraging inter-ethnic warmth and understanding by establishing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the president said. Tinubu said Gowon also sustained the pillars of...

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19Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Gunmen kill 5 in Benue

Gunmen on Wednesday killed five persons in Ayilamo, a village in Logo Local Government of Benue. According to Mr Sewuese Anene, spokesman of the Police Command in the north-central state, the attack occurred on Tuesday night. “A few others sustained injuries,” Anene added. She said that another attack occured in Mbachohon community in Gwer-West Local Government, but added that details in respect of that incident were not available. Unconfirmed reports indicated that six people were killed in the Mbachohon attack. “The attacks are unfortunate; more security men are being deployed to the areas to restore peace,” Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria.

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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SMEDAN awards certificates to 116 business development service providers

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has awarded practicing licenses to 116 qualified Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs). Dr Charles Odii, Director-General, SMEDAN, said at the Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) Licencing Award ceremony organised by the agency on Wednesday in Lagos. Odii said that the practicing license would allow BDSPs to provide quality service delivery to the Micro Small and Medium–sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. Sharpedgenews reports that the BDSPs certification was in collaboration with Kaduna Business School, the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University. The BDSPs are Nigerians from the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the country that have met the requirements to practice th...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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We have secured 631 convictions, rescued 22,000 victims – NAPTIP boss

 Mrs Fatima Waziri, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says the agency has secured 631 convictions since its establishment. Waziri, made this known while speaking with newsmen during the workshop for its Public Relations Officers (PROs) and Public Enlightenment Officers (PEO) on Wednesday in Lagos. Waziri said that the number of convictions in 2022 was the highest since the agency’s inception. “In 2022, we are able to secure 80 convictions, which was the highest  since the inception. As at today in 2023, we have secured 55 convictions and still counting. “For the first time on March 8, we extradited a high profile human trafficker back to Italy to serve her 13 years sentence. “This we did in collaboratio...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Unilorin condoles with parents, after student commits suicide over N500,000 scam

The management of University of Ilorin on Wednesday condoled with the family of Miss Hameedat Sanni, the student who allegedly killed herself over financial transactions. A statement by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, said the institution’s management viewed the incident with sadness. “It was the most horrible way to die, especially for a promising young lady who had every opportunity before her to make it big in life”. Akogun expressed the university management’s sympathy with the parents, siblings, friends and colleagues of the deceased and prayed that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss. The management then counselled students of the university to be wary of the company they keep in order not to fall into the traps of scammers. ...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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NNPC Ltd  appoints new spokesperson

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has appointed Mr Olufemi Soneye as its Chief Corporate Communications Officer. The NNPC Ltd management said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja Soneye would lead its Corporate Communications team and drive its brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives, and stakeholder management. The company described Soneye, as a seasoned journalist with full-time and freelance experiences at some of the world’s most respected publications in Nigeria, Australia, and the U.S. “He is a member of reputable bodies, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists, and the Guild of Corporate Online Media Publishers. “He is the former President of the ...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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China commits to refinancing, completing Abuja, Kano, Portharcourt-Maiduguri railways

The Peoples Republic of China has expressed commitment to refinancing and completing the Abuja-Kano and Port- Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President. The statement, released on Wednesday in Abuja, quoted the President of China, Xi Jinping, making the pledge while responding to requests made by President Bola Tinubu during a bilateral meeting with the Chinese leader in Beijing. Sharpedgenews reports that Tinubu was represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative Forum (BRI) holding in China. NAN recalled that since the launch of the projects, China is yet to release funds for th...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Israel-Gaza crisis: U.S. vetoes Security Council resolution

The United State on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. The failure by the Council to make its first public intervention on the Israel-Gaza crisis followed the rejection of a Russian-backed draft on Monday evening. While 12 of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour of the Brazilian-led text, one (United States) voted against, and two (Russia, and the United Kingdom) abstained. A ‘no’ vote from any one of the five permanent members of the Council stops action on any measure put before it. The body’s permanent members are: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Prior to the vote, two amendments proposed by Russia, calling for an i...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Israel-Gaza: UN chief urges ceasefire as humanitarian supplies given green light

UN Secretary General, António Guterres, on Wednesday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East to ease the “epic human suffering” in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Speaking in Beijing, Guterres said a ceasefire would “provide sufficient time and space” to realise two essential appeals which he made earlier this week. He appealed to Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held in Gaza and to Israel, to immediately allow aid to enter the sealed-off enclave in the throes of a devastating humanitarian crisis. “The region is on the precipice,” he warned. The call came a day after hundreds were killed in a strike at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, which Guterres strongly condemned, stressing that hospitals and all medical personnel were protected under...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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We’ll encourage responsible journalism not gag press – Idris

President Bola Tinubu will continue to encourage the practice of responsible journalism and not gag the press in the country. Malam Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing Presidential Villa Correspondents. According to him, a free and vibrant media practice and social media is significant to the success of the administration and the promotion of nationalism and patriotism. "Mr President and all of us in that sector are committed to ensuring that there's press freedom. "That freedom, like I said, comes with responsibility. "A lot of things that some of these people in the social media are doing are also not very patriotic. "Sometimes you see news that is not factual; but I don't want a situation whe...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Palestine calls for independent commission of inquiry on Gaza attack

The Palestinian Ambassador in Nigeria, Abu Shawesh, has called on the United Nations and African Union to set up an independent commission of inquiry on Tuesday’s attack on a hospital in Gaza. The Envoy made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen on the attack. He said that women and children were mostly killed when Israeli Air Force jets allegedly struck the Baptist Hospital in Gaza. Shawesh said that the hospital, which was located side by side with the Baptist Church, had served as a safe haven for families displaced by the ongoing war. He also said that calls by the Israeli authorities for people to evacuate the hospital was rejected by medical personnel of the hospital, who said doing so would amount to slow killing of sick and injured patients receiving ...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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FG defers outset of new approved universities

The Federal Government has said that operations of the newly approved universities by the past administration would be delayed. Minister of Education Tahir Mamman disclosed this after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday in Abuja. He said this was in recognition of the funding need for an effective and efficient educational programmes for these universities. Former president Muhammadu Buhari administration had approved the licensing of 37 new universities in the country few days to handing over date. “A number of these new universities were approved by the past administration in its twilight. After much considerations, President Tinubu felt their take off should be staggered. “It’s not that the universities will be scrapped but that they would be looked at in t...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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We “ll guarantee staff welfare- Akpabio

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has said that the National Assembly would guarantee the welfare of staff of the assembly. He made the remark at the 9th National and States Assembly Service Commissions Conference held in Abuja on Wednesday. The conference was organised by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC). Declaring the conference open, Akpabio who was represented by Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe) said that the national assembly management was not unmindful of the welfare of the staff. “I know the welfare issues you are battling with. But be rest assured that the 10th National Assembly has your back. “Staff welfare will be supported by the assembly,” Akpabio said. He said that in classical theory, the main role of parliament was to make new laws and ch...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Wike pledges support for maintenance, development of National Mosque

Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday pledged continued support for the maintenance and development of the Abuja National Mosque. Wike made the promise when the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, led by its Chairman, the Etsu Nupe (the chief of Nupe people), Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, visited him in Abuja. The minister assured the board members that the FCT Administration would not hesitate to support the maintenance of the Mosque, having been declared a National Monument. “No government will hesitate to support the maintenance of a National Monument, be it for Christians or Muslims. “I will always give support to anything that has to do with Islamic affairs. “Whatever assistance the previous administration has been helping, if ...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Senate confirms EFCC Chairman, Secretary

The Senate has confirmed Mr Ola Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The senate also confirmed Mr Muhammad Hammajoda as Secretary of the Commission. The confirmation was sequel to the screening of the duo during plenary on Wednesday. While answering questions from the lawmakers, Olukoyede said that “we will do our work with utmost respect to the provisions of the law. We are going to be guided strictly by our mandate. “There is no way you can fight corruption successfully without respect to the provisions of the law.” Speaking on the issue of investigating political opponents, Olukoyede said “this is neither here nor there. “There must be two salient questions that must be asked and answered; has the person committed crime, ha...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Association assures commitment to tackle climate challenges

Prof. Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, President, Association for Environmental Impact Assessment of Nigeria (AEIAN) has decried the low awareness of climate change and impending impacts in the country. She said this at the 7th annual conference and annual general meeting of the Association for Environmental Impact Assessment of Nigeria (AEIAN), in Abuja. Sharpedgenews reports that the theme of the conference is: "Impact Assessment: Climate Resilience, Financing and Environmental Sustainability". She said that Nigeria being one of the highly vulnerable countries to climate change had continued to battle challenges with its negative impact such as flooding, health complications among others. "We need to create awareness about it as it is a global issue and we need to talk about it. "Thi...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Benue Gov reads riot acts on Heads of MDAs, calls for effective service delivery

.. Says more civil service reforms underway… The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia has warned civil servants to desist from truancy, but uphold their duties for effective service delivery to the state. The Governor gave the warning during a meeting with Head of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Units of the State, civil service , which held at the Secretariat Complex in Makurdi. According to Alia, the various Heads of Departments were to ensure staff adhered to diligence, hard work accountability, transparency, confidentiality discipline and team work. "Accountability has to be built in your heart, the confidentiality we used to have in the service needs to be returned, as we take charge of our life style, so should the job be" ,he added. He ...

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18Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Al-Sissi warns against displacing Gazans to Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah al-Sissi on Wednesday warned against the repercussions of forcibly displacing Palestinians from the neighbouring Gaza Strip, now the focus of a massive Israel bombardment. Worries have grown in Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, about a mass exodus into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula after the Israeli military told people in the north of Gaza to head south as an Israeli ground offensive looms. Egypt’s Rafah, the only border crossing into the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel, is currently closed, although pressure is building on Egypt and Israel to reopen it, at least for aid deliveries. Al-Sissi at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “Egypt rejects attempts to liquidate the Pale...

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