The Nigeria Union in South Africa said today that it was committed to the welfare of Nigerians and the protection of their interests in South Africa. The President of the union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, said this in a Christmas message to Nigerians in South Africa. A statement issued in Pretoria by the Public Relations Officer of the union, Mr Emeka Ezinteje, quoted Anyene as saying that the body would use all legal means to protect the interests of Nigerians in South Africa. The statement also quoted Anyene as urging Nigerians to embrace the identity card project initiated by the union and…
Author: Kunle Atiba
Prof. David Alabi, a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, says a strong political will and adequate funding are critical elements required to develop Nigeria’s defence industry. He said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja today. The don expressed regret that the 51-year-old Defence Industries Corporation (DICON), established in 1964, was producing only bullets, dicon salt and furniture. According to him, its counterparts in Brazil and India are producing aircraft and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). Alabi described the condition of DICON as “unfortunate’’ and “pitiable’’. He further said that corruption and impunity…
Dr. Adaora Ukoh who works as a Gynaecologist at a private Hospital in Abuja, says partial evacuation of foetus from the womb during abortion of pregnancy (evacuation of foetus) could increase the rate of infertility in women. Ukoh said this in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja today. According to her, abortion is a medical process of terminating a pregnancy by removing the embryo and placenta from the uterus. She said that abortion could be done in two ways; either through the use of medicines or via a surgical procedure. Ukoh described medical abortion as a process where the woman takes medication in…
A Guidance and Counseling Officer at African Community School in Abuja, Mrs Deborah Menegbe, has called on the government to include reproductive health education in primary schools curriculum in the country. Menegbe made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja today. She said that the initiative would equip the pupils with the knowledge to make informed decisions on their sexual life. “It is important for sex education to be integrated into the school curriculum, while the parents have a role to play. “Sex education means giving enlightenment to a growing child about the dangers involved in an unhealthy relationship with the opposite…
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) says it has introduced Rammed Earth Technology to facilitate the construction of three-bedroom bungalows for Internally Displaced Persons across the country. The Managing Director of FHA, Prof. Mohammed Al-Amin, told newsmen in Abuja today that the authority would use its technical expertise for rehabilitation of IDPs at little cost. Al-Amin described Rammed Earth Technology as a technology that would facilitate the construction of a three-bedroom flat with only 10 bags of cement. “What we are doing with the IDPs across the country, particularly in the North-East, is to assist them to regain their shelter but not to…
The Kano State Government has employed 729 extension workers to assist farmers to improve agricultural production in the state. Prof. Mahmud Daneji, Managing Director, Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), disclosed this in Kano today in an interview with newsmen. Daneji said that the government had also distributed 400 motorcycles to extension workers to solve their transportation problems. According to him, the motorcycles have been distributed to both male and female extension workers to enable them reach out to farmers particularly those living in rural areas. “Agriculture is the mainstay of economic activities and major employer of labour in…
The government of Niger has arrested nine military officers on suspicion of planning a coup, government officials said. The arrests, which took place earlier this week, came after a nearly one-month long surveillance operation, Hassoumi Massaoudou, Niger’s interior minister, told a press conference on Sunday. “Nine officers identified as responsible for the attempted coup have been arrested and will be presented before a military court,” Massaoudou told reporters in Niamey, the capital. He said the coup had been foiled “thanks to the loyalty” of certain soldiers “who regularly kept us informed of the plan’s progress”. President Mahamadou Issoufou said in…
The former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has lauded the Abia government for its efforts to develop infrastructure in the state. He made the commendation yesterday in Aba while commissioning Umuola road, Kamalu road and Oomnne drive constructed by the government. He urged the people of Aba not to sabotage the efforts of the government, saying they should support the governor because he is an “achiever.” Obasanjo noted that since Aba is the hub for economic activities for the South-East, if its roads and infrastructure are in good shape, it would augur well for the people of the South-East and South-South. He…
Hajia Aisha Buhari, the wife of the Nigerian President, has called for women empowerment through various skill acquisition programmes to enable them support their families to cope with the current economic downturn. She made the call yesterday in Abuja at the 7th Al-Habibiyyah Women forum. Represented by Hajia Salma Makama, the Managing Director, Shelter Plus, Aisha Buhari specifically called for the empowerment of widows and those displaced as a result of insurgency in some parts of the country. In his remark, the Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, encouraged women to be supportive of their family. He said that…
The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has expressed optimism that insurgency in the North-East will soon become history following renewed commitment by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to tackle the menace. He made the statement yesterday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen. Ndume spoke shortly after presenting certificates to 100 internally displaced women, who had undergo three months training in tailoring. The beneficiaries were part of the 400 women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in a camp in Karu, a satellite town in the FCT. The camp has a population of 1, 214 IDPs. Ndume said: “By God’s grace this thing – insurgency will…