Nigeria’s slow drive in exclusive breastfeeding

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), the nation’s slow progress in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding came into sharp focus.

 In the past, Nigerian mothers took pride in breastfeeding their children for as long as necessary and the country’s exclusive breastfeeding rates were among the highest in the world. But this is no longer the practice. Today, breastfeeding rates in Nigeria are amongst the lowest in the world and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently remarked that Nigeria is making slow progress in exclusive breastfeeding. 

Niger state govt. alleges arrested NTA reporter demanded bribe

The government of Niger state on Monday provided what it says were text message exchanges between it and Fejiro Oliver, the journalist declared missing since Friday and eventually paraded by the State Security Service, SSS in Minna on Monday.

The text messages as provided by the Niger State government detailed a conversation between Mr. Oliver  and an official of the Niger state government. The Niger government is alleging the reporter tried to blackmail its officials over a story about Governor Muazu Aliyu.

The spokesperson of Mr. Aliyu, Israel Ebije, told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Oliver, whose real name is Tega Oghenedoro, is actually a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority in Asaba Delta state.

BREAKING: SSS blocks lawmaker from travelling, confiscates his passport

Sunday Karim, a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, is currently being prevented by the State Security Service from boarding a flight at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the lawmaker has told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr. Karim, representing Yagba East and West Federal Constituency, says he was on his way to the United States when state agents suddenly seized his pasdport as he tried to clear immigration.

The lawmaker said he was scheuled to travel by Air France, and that the flight was already boarding when he was blocked.

Mr. Karim, a PDP lawmaker, said his luggage had already been checked in before the incident, adding that he has “absolutely no prior notice” that the SSS was on his trail.

It is not immediately clear why Mr. Karim is being detained, but law enforcement agencies have recently focused on the activities of lawmakers in the wake of the budget padding scandal.

The police, SSS, EFCC and other agencies have been invited to investigate the scandal, which involved several lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara.

PDP not sponsoring Avengers -Turnah

Ben. Agande, 

Abuja ABUJA: A deputy Chairmanship candidate and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP from Bayelsa state, Barr. George Turnah has dismissed allegations that the party engineered the emergence of some militant groups including Niger Delta Avengers NDA to frustrate the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP and its colour flags Speaking with journalists in Abuja chortle after he collected nominations forms for the deputy chairmanship position, Barrister Turnaj said what the party is concerned about now is reposition itself and to robustly engage the government in power in order for Nigerians to derive the best benefits of democracy. 

“You are journalists and we all can remember that the media had reported before now that MEND was dead. Sometimes, when it suits us, we like to make issues out of nothing. We have problems in the Niger Delta, East, North and some other places and we are supposed to be seeking solutions to them. 

“These things do not get us anywhere. I know that allegations, when you make them, you also take further steps to prove them, you do not just make such weighty allegations. Who takes pleasure in taking blood? We may not all be angels in the party, but when you talk about militancy in the region, it is purely a regional issue, of a people asking for their rights and other privileges, it is not a PDP matter”, he said. Turnah who added that the PDP was due for a reset and new mode of thinking said the crisis in the party is a “family affair” which would be sorted out for the greater good of the majority. “I assure you that what is happening in the PDP would soon come to an end, not through the courts anyway, we are going to talk to ourselves and people would have to shift grounds, make some concessions in the interest of all”, he stated.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/pdp-not-sponsoring-avengers-turnah/

Saraki seeks probe of B’Haram recruitment of IDPs

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, has urged security agencies in the country not to treat the rumours that Boko Haram terrorists were recruiting members from Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in the North East with levity but to urgently investigate the issue to unravel those behind the menace, if any.

Saraki

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki said it had become necessary for the intelligence outfits to take such rumours seriously, with the aim of curtailing the untoward development.

“Seeing that ISIS has been recruiting members from European refugee camps, and the Kenyan government recently had to shut down the world’s largest refugee camp because Al-Shaabab  was using the place to train and recruit young people as extremists, it is important that we take the rumours about Boko Haram’s recruitment from IDP camps seriously,” he said.

The Senate President further reiterated his call for a more holistic investigation of alleged diversion of materials meant for the IDPs last week.

Three Weeks In Captivity: My abductors didn’t want me to die – Oseni, freed Lagos monarch

By Monsuru Olowoopejo 

One week after Oniba of Iba, Oba Yushau Oseni, was freed by his abductors, the traditional ruler said his abductors bought him drugs to ensure he remained healthy while being hold in captive.

 Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni The monarch, who joined the crowd that thronged his Palace to participate in the prayer session marking his safe return and continued protection added that he was was wearing only a T-shirt and shorts when he was freed. When Vanguard visited the palace of the monarch, hundreds of sympathizers thronged the home of the monarch who was kidnapped on Saturday, July 16 in his Palace. 

He was abducted when he was about having his bath. He was set free last Saturday by his abductors at about 7 pm after three weeks of abduction. Many of the jubilant sympathizers were eating and drinking to celebrate the safe return of the monarch from his captors who collected N15.1 before releasing him. Among those who visited the Oniba was a state government delegation led by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami. The daughter of the monarch, Ms Dayo Oseni,

Nsukka jailbreak: We have re-arrested 6 escaped prisoners – Prisons Controller

Nsukka (Enugu state) – Mr Isaiah Amariri, the Enugu State Controller of Nigeria Prisons Service, said on Thursday that six of the inmates that escaped from Nsukka Prisons on Tuesday night, have been re-arrested.

Amariri, who gave the figure to newsmen in Nsukka, however declined to give the exact number of inmates that escaped from the prison.He said the prison service was liaising with security agents and community groups to apprehend the remaining escaped prisoners.“There was a jail break in Nsukka prisons on Tuesday night between 12pm and 3am, in which many inmates escaped, though six of them have been re-arrested.

PDP loses state Assembly candidate to APC in Sokoto Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/pdp-loses-state-assembly-candidate-apc-sokoto/

Tureta (Sokoto State) – Alhaji Jazuli Liman, the PDP candidate for Tureta state Constituency in the Aug. 20 bye-election in Sokoto State, has defected to the All Progressives Congress ( APC). Liman announced his defection in Tsamiya village at the inauguration of the campaigns for the poll to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He said: “I left my former party to the APC because of its remarkable achievements, at all levels. “I have wholeheartedly joined the APC and I will honestly work for its success at the forthcoming poll.” Also speaking, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto State), commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his tireless efforts to better the lives of Nigerians.

Ekiti PDP raises questions over Aisha Buhari’s US trip, slams APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has described the comments by the State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), on the visit of the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari to the United States of America (USA), as a function of total ignorance and

mischief, saying, “Even the Presidency has not told anyone that wife of the President travelled to the USA and in official communications, only ignorant and mischief makers in the APC will belief that a trip to the USA will be made by Mrs Buhari and Nigerians will only get to know about it through online media.”

Aisha Buhari In Washington DC

The PDP, which said it would have ignored the APC and allowed those in the party to continue to wallop in their self-deceit, added that “it is only in the world of the APC that wife of the President of Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world would travel to the USA, ostensibly to debunk her involvement in a major scam and no television station will report her departure and arrival. The question is, did she travel to USA or Qatar?”

8yrs after creation, N-Delta Ministry completes only one project— Minister

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Uguru Usani, yesterday, said that the ministry had successfully completed only one project since its creation eight years ago.

He stated this in Abuja.Pastor Usani Uguru

Mr. Usani said it was regrettable that no project had been commissioned or completed since the establishment of the ministry in 2008, except a cassava processing plant in Ondo State by the present administration.

He decried the destruction of oil facilities by Niger Delta Avengers, arguing that no matter the provocation, it was wrong for the group to destroy the environment that bore the peoples’ heritage.

He said that the region was everybody’s business and that no personal or collective interest was worth the destruction of oil pipelines in the region.

“Let us come together as one to protect our communities. Let us preach love, peace, tolerance, patience and dialogue with one another. Let us convince ourselves that it is our region and that we have nowhere to go to, if we destroy it,” he said.

Breaking: Buhari relaunches War Against Indiscipline Brigade

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, on Monday, relaunched the War Against Indiscipline, WAI Brigade, in Abuja, saying in this era of insecurity, violence, kidnapping, and other forms of social vices, the role of the Brigade in civil intelligence gathering cannot be over emphasized.President Muhammadu Buhari

Announcing the development on the occasion of the National and State Commanders meeting of the Community Support Brigade, CSB, also known as WAI, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Dr. Garba Abari said the President Buhari administration has declared the intention to relaunch the Brigade for better performance, as well as to bring its activities to the fore.

Speaking at the meeting, Abari said: “It’s great pleasure that I have the opportunity to meet with the leadership of WAI, for the first time since my assumption of office about two months ago. This meeting is meant to discuss the repositioning of the WAI Brigade in the current dispensation of change.

“I’m not only delighted with this gathering, but excited with you all for keeping faith and working tirelessly to contribute your quota to nation building as volunteers who are not being paid for over 3 decades. So, I salute your patriotic efforts, indeed, Nigeria salutes your patriotism.”

Militancy: FG not in talks with Niger Delta militants —Tabai

By Emma Amaize, Soni Daniel & Perez Brisibe

More confusion  enveloped the Niger Delta region, yesterday, as a key actor in the region, Jude Tabai, said that he was unaware of any discussion between any militant group and the Federal Government.

The claim by Tabai, who described himself as a major stakeholder in the Niger Delta crisis, ran contrary to the position of President Muhammadu Buhari last week, that the government was discussing Niger Delta peace with militants.

Tabai, who led Sports and Youths Development Minister, Solomon Lalong, to a failed peace parley with Niger Delta Avengers lately, said that the government might have been discussing with fifth columnists, who were merely keen on reaping pecuniary gains, adding that  there was no credible dialogue currently going on between the government and the real ‘stakeholders’ in the Niger Delta crisis.

Police launch investigation into alleged assassination attack on Pedro Obaseki

By Gabriel Enogholase 

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike has ordered an investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on Mr. Dan Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki. 

The police investigation follows reports confirmed by Pedro Obaseki that a group of thugs he claimed to be dressed in his cousin’s campaign attire unleashed mayhem on his residence in the Upper Mission area of Benin on Sunday night. Pedro, a former APC aspirant, has turned against his cousin and is presently active on the campaign team of the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. 

According to Pedro, the mayhem followed an altercation between him and an APC supporter in his neighbourhood which prompted the intervention of security men. The former APC governorship aspirant said as soon as the security men left no fewer than 30 thugs descended on his residence. He said, “Youths in the area sympathetic to me came out to resist the intruders, but they were beaten up with machetes and bottles. 

Many of the wounded are in the hospital receiving treatment. “The hired assassins attempted to gain entrance into my compound but were resisted by my Personal Assistant Mr. Ferdinand Orumwense.who was injured trying to defend his boss.

Nigeria: Budget Padding Scandal - Jibrin Returns, Relaunches War Against Dogara

By Hassan Adebayo

After ceasing fire for a few days in obedience of his party's directive, a former Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Sunday, resumed his onslaught against Speaker Yakubu Dogara on Sunday.

Photo: Daily Trust
Yakubu Dogara, Nigeria House of Reps Speaker.

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress had ordered him and the Speaker to stop public comment on the budget padding scandal in the House.

But in a fresh attack on Sunday, Mr Jibril accused the speaker of pocketing N25million monthly, amounts he said were never accounted for.

He accused Mr. Dogara of enlisting the support of a five-man cabal consisting of two governors and three former House members to help him shield him from possible prosecution.

The said cabal, Mr. Jibrin said, had blocked him from reaching Mr. Buhari.

"I am therefore left with no choice than to plead with all our former Heads of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, Alh Shehu Shagari, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Enest Shonekan, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar and Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the diplomatic community, particularly Ambassador of the United States of America, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, the German and French Ambassadors and all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the call on the corrupt and fraudulent Speaker Dogara and 3 others to reconvene the House immediately, step aside and allow for a thorough external investigation and also call on the anti-corruption agencies to expedite action on investigation and commencement of prosecution in line with the anti corruption stands of this government, " he said.

Read Mr. Jibrin's Full Statement

YAKUBU DOGARA, YUSUF LASUN, ALHASSAN DOGUWA AND 9 OTHERS: A LITMUS TEST FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA AND A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE STRUGGLE TO CLEAN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF CORRUPTION AND WEED OUT CORRUPT ELEMENTS

It has once again become necessary for me to make some statements, clarifications and further revelations.

As you are aware, my party the APC has intervened in the current crisis, following allegations of corruption, embezzlement and gross abuse of office I leveled against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, three other principal officers and 9 other members, of which none had responded to any

AfDB approves $9m equity investment for SME’s in Nigeria

Akinwumi Adesina

The African Development Bank has approved a nine million dollar EQUITY INVESTMENT in the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) to provide expansion capital to agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This was contained in a press statement issued by the bank on Monday and published on its web: www.afdb.org.

The statement said that FAFIN is a first-generation private equity fund that provides financial, capacity-building and technical assistance to commercially viable SMEs in the Nigerian agribusiness sector.

It said that FAFIN used a unique value chain-centric approach, a combination of equity, quasi-equity and convertible loan instruments to provide loan for SME’s.

According to