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.