Thorian

A medical expert, Dr David Ajibade, says children below the age of 12 with sickle cell disorder, can live an almost normal life, if proper care is instituted early enough for them. Ajibade, also the Executive Director, Brain/Body Foundation (BBF), an NGO, made the assertion on Tuesday at a virtual interactive session to commemorate the 2020 World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD) in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the virtual interactive session was organised by BBF in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Washington, D.C. U.S chapter and supported by the Federal Ministry of Health. Theme of the lecture was: “Breaking The Cycle of Pain.” He said that more awareness should be created based on improved knowledge of how to manage the sickle cell disorder. “Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has four areas of maximum vulnerability hotspots, which include reduced immunity, increased free radical damage, increased inflammatory processes and reduced nitric

Senate President Lawan The Senate on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to subsidise electricity for Nigerians in a bid to alleviate the proposed hike in electricity tariff which had been deferred to next year. Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Sen. Gabriel Suswam made the call while briefing newsmen in Abuja. NAN reports that the leadership of the National Assembly on Monday waded into the controversy on the planned hike in electricity tariff from July 1. The representatives of the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) had maintained the same ground that they would support the suspension of the planned hike only if government would bear the differences in the present tariff and what was considered as the appropriate tariff. Addressing newsmen, Suswam said “No where in the world that power is not subsidised especially in developing economies because there are genuine people, who, because of their income, are unable to pay what is called cost-reflective tariff. “Nigerians are hea

An Upper Area Court in Makurdi on Tuesday ordered that a 22-year old businessman, Mtagher Kena, who allegedly murdered his 18-year-old girlfriend be remanded in a Nigerian Correctional Service centre. Kena, who lives in Akpehe Village, Makurdi, is charged with Culpable Homicide punishable under Section 222 of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004. The judge, Mrs Rose Iyorshe, did not take the plea of Kena because her court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter. Iyorshe adjourned the matter until Aug 7 for further mention Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Veronica Shaagee, told the court that one Ayughtse Aondona of Logo 1, Makurdi reported the matter on June 7, at the ‘E’ Division Police Station. He alleged that the complainant reported that Kena murdered his 18-year-old daughter in Makurdi. READ ALSO: Man kills friend over girlfriend in Bauchi The prosecution alleged that Kena poisoned the deceased’s and she became unconscious. Shaagee alleged that the 18-year-old girl

By Onozure Dania – Lagos A Lagos Magistrates’ Court sitting in Igbosere, on Tuesday, handed down five years jail term to a customer service representative of Airtel Nigeria Ltd, Jeremiah Mustapha, for facilitating a fraud to the tune of N2.2 million. Mustapha, 32, alongside one Nurudeen Salimu, 35, was arraigned on June 14, 2017, on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, fraud, and diverting messages from a phone number to another. They however pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. During the trial, the second defendant became mentally incapacitated and could not continue with the trial. READ ALSO:  uLesson, Airtel partner to subsidize online education for Nigerian students Magistrate Mrs. A. G. Omoyele, who handed down the verdict, sentenced Mustapha after finding him guilty of five counts out of the nine-count charge preferred against him by the police. The magistrate sentenced Mustapha to one year on each of the five counts and ordered that the sentence

By Dennis Agbo AN Anambra state-based youths group, Anambra Ekunie, has reiterated that the 2021 governorship election in the state will not be based on any zoning arrangement. It asked those promoting social fragmentation in the State, using the zoning of the 2021 governorship election as a shield, to desist from further balkanization of the state. Also read: Ondo PDP guber aspirant canvasses single term for govs, political office holders After an emergency meeting in Enugu, on Tuesday, the group said the insistence by Anambra South that Gov. Obiano’s successor must come from the area, was an unacceptable act of provocation aimed at intimidating other zones to submission. According to the group, Anambra state remains one and cannot be balkanized by political merchants who see zoning as an avenue to impose someone who will be subservient to them as governor over the state. A statement signed by President of the group, Dr. Ifeanyi Achusi, said every zone of the state was qualifi

MARITIME anti   corruption group,  Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, MACN, has received the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative, to scale up its collective action in the fight against the vice in the country. MACN is a global business network of over 130 companies working together to tackle corruption in the maritime industry. The project will be implemented by MACN and the Convention on Business Integrity, CBi, and run from 2020 up to January 2023. READ ALSO High profile Nigerians fly contaminated plane, risk COVID-19 infection In a statement signed by the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Convention on Business Integrity, Soji Apampa, and made available to  Vanguard Maritime Report , MACN noted that “Through the generous support from Siemens AG, CBi and MACN will be able to contribute to a stronger government and port authority compliance environment and encourage public-private oversight of compliance in ports and terminals. “We believe this will lead to more e

Stories by Godwin Oritse IN a bid to maintain peace in the African continent, Nigeria lost most of its maritime security platforms to prosecute the 14-year old war in Liberia. Speaking to some maritime journalists in Lagos the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, said that at the end of the war, virtually all the maritime platforms that the government took to that country to prosecute the war were lost adding that Nigeria had to start from ground zero in acquiring new platforms.   He explained that it was the depletion of these platforms that made the ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo led government to set up the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security and Safety, PICOMSS, to acquire new platforms for the purpose of securing the nation’s maritime space. Explaining further, Jamoh said that at the end of the life of PICOMSS, these platforms were again shared with the Nigerian armed forces thereby bringi

By Lawal Sherifat A Nigerian Model has accused American singer, Beyonce of contributing to the misrepresentation of Africa. This came after the announcement that the singer will be releasing a movie titled “Black is King” which depicts the African culture. @Dimssoo accused Beyonce of tapping into the wealth of African culture for her arts but excluding African countries from her tour. The model wrote: “Beyonce includes African culture in her music but never adding Africa to her tours. Same Beyonce making a whole movie based on Africa and its culture that’s not available in Africa.” READ ALSO:  Wizkid, Beyonce make ‘Brown Skin Girls’ video While sharing the teaser, Beyonce wrote: “Black Is King” is a labor of love. It is my passion project that I have been filming, researching, and editing day and night for the past year.” She added that: “I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to

Peace Mass Transit (PMT) Limited, is gearing up for the resumption of operations on July 1st, 2020, following the relaxation of interstate lockdown announced by the Federal Government on Monday. The company was the first to suspend operations early March at the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, and consequent devastation of lives and businesses. Also read: My only regret was Apapa gridlock, port access roads — Ex-NPA Chair The PMT management, in making the decision to resume, has also mandated its staff across the nation to adhere to, and indeed, strictly enforce recommended international/national protocol on control of covid-19, including handwashing with soap and water at entry points, social distancing, use of face masks for the entire duration of journeys by drivers and passengers alike, and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Instructively, all PMT passenger vehicles are to carry only 50% of normal capacity and at no extra cost to the passenger, accordi

By Godwin Oritse THE Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has debunked media reports based on a petition written by one Mr. John Okpurhe to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging that a secret account was being operated by the Authority. A statement signed by the NPA spokesman, Engr Adams Jatto, said the petitioner accused the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, of allegedly refusing to reward him after exposing over $1bn supposedly hidden in an account with Unity Bank Plc. READ ALSO Edo COVID-19 frontline workers to get outstanding allowance The statement also said that “the said account number, 0013680344, allegedly being operated by NPA does not exist as evidenced by a letter from the bank, Unity Bank Plc.” Jatto stated that the allegation lacks substance adding, “Mr. Okpurhe, claiming to be a whistleblower cited an account number, 0013680344,  allegedly being operated by NPA but this account does not exist as evidenced by a letter from Unit

By Sola Ogundipe The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, LSACA, has commenced the training of executives of the Nigeria Automobile Technician Association (NATA) Lagos State Chapter on HIV prevention amid COVID-19 pandemic This is in line with the global epidemic control of HIV/AIDS by 2020 through the UNAIDS 90-90-90 initiative which means: 90 percent of the people living with the virus should know their status. 90 percent of HIV positive individuals should be initiated on antiretroviral drugs, 90 percent of individuals on antiretroviral drugs should achieve viral suppression, and for total eradication in 2030. Addressing the participants at the event, the CEO of LSACA, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke said the State Governor has approved and released funds for the sensitisation and awareness campaign amongst the NATA Lagos Chapter. She said the community was a critical sector of the State economy with a significant Adolescent Youth Population that is contributing to the Gross Domestic Product.

run-away COVID-19 patient By Chioma Obinna A new study has shown that three-Quarters of the 200 million Nigerians are at risk of Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, amidst coronavirus pandemic. The study also found that men are more at risk than women. The year-long study which commenced in 2019, by WellNewMe in collaboration with Novartis was aimed at determining Nigerians risks for developing chronic diseases as part of the disease activities for World Hypertension Day. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), people with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or cancer are at higher risk of complications of COVID-19. READ ALSO:  Covid-19: Health workers protest nonpayment of allowances The result of the study released weekend revealed that a total of 1,900 people were enrolled for the pilot, and 1,269 of them completed the assessment as part of the pilot. The participants were drawn from different parts of Nigeria i

Deal with only corporate freight forwarding firms – Olayiwola Shittu By Godwin Oritse EXECUTIVE Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, has said that a well structured freight forwarding practice will checkmate quarks and decongest the industry. He lamented the proliferation of quacks and lack of professionalism in the freight forwarding industry, saying that the country needs only a few freight forwarders that are well capitalized. Bello, who stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja last week, said the business of freight forwarding must be restructured with a view to streamlining both the operators and the standard of services. He stated, “Working with freight forwarders has exposed us to very many important things. They are vital to ports operations, also truckers. But freight forwarding must be professionalized and consolidated. READ ALSO ‘I wanted to fortify my son against Fulani herders’ attack, but local bulletproof charm failed’ “Th

Seme Border By Godfrey Bivbere FOLLOWING the closure of the nation’s border since last year, Nigerians in Ghana have resorted to direct delivery of their importations to other West African countries instead of routing such imports through Nigeria, a measure that will result in loss of import revenue to the nation. Hitherto, traders usually get their goods from markets in Lagos and moved them by road to West African countries, but with the closure of the border however, moving cargo from Nigeria became impossible resulting in the traders seeking alternatives. The first effort as reported by Vanguard Maritime Report  late last year was  groupage  shipment from Nigeria to Ghana by sea which did not work out as a result of the time frame for the goods to arrive at destination. READ ALSO Court convicts UNIILORIN student over accommodation fraud A source also told  Vanguard Maritime Report  that the delay then was deliberate as the Ghanaian authorities ensured that the goods did not

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) By Godfrey Bivbere AS drug trafficking by sea increases globally, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has stressed the need for the Federal Government to strengthen the Agency to effectively combat the illicit drug trade. This is even as the Agency indicated that there has been a rise in the volume of drug trafficking in the West African sub-region. The NDLEA made the call in Lagos during the commemoration of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking on Monday. READ ALSO: 774,000 jobs: NASS C’ttee can’t give us directives — Keyamo Director, Seaports Operation of NDLEA, Omolaja Faboyede, noted that drug trafficking through the sea has been a security problem for all countries of the West African region because it involves the movement of large quantity of drugs. According to him: “It increases the level of insecurity and drug related crimes. Nigeria must have the political will to tackle t

By Ozioruva Aliu – Benin City The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2020 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Tuesday, condemned the reported non-payment of three months allowance due to the Edo State COVID-19 mobile screening team by the state government. A statement on Tuesday by the Director of Communication and Media of the Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation, John Mayaki described the actions of the Edo State Government towards the screening team as “callous, inhumane, and unacceptable”. The workers had protested the non-payment of their allowances after they were disengaged. READ ALSO:  PDP to Ize Iyamu: You are no match to any of our aspirants The statement read: “We observed today with concern the protest staged by young men and women of our state engaged by the Obaseki-led Edo State Government to form the mobile team that conducted screenings for COVID-19 in Edo State over Governor Godwin Obaseki’s refusal to pay their due allowances for three f

Nigeria Customs Service By Eguono Odjegba THERE are indications that the management of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, is currently investigating some of its officers believed to have enlisted in the Service with forged state of origin and date of birth; both of which are standard official requirement for regular evaluation of personnel. The development is coming on the heels of reported discovery of discrepancies in the personal data of officers across the rank and file in which two deputy comptrollers general, DCG, are believed to be involved.  But constitutional and legal experts have posited that any attempt to pursue issues of state of origin beyond tolerable limits could backfire since citizens’ right under indigenisation law protects them against sanction. They noted that the official emphasis is on nationality and not on state of origin. “If the said investigation is on falsification of age, those involved have case to answer, because it is criminal to do so. It is not

By Adeola Badru THE hope of Salami Akinjide, a 6-year old boy, fulfilling his dream to become a medical doctor may be dashed, if nobody cares about his current health status. At six, Salami, a nursery two pupil of D-Way Group of School, Ologuneru, Ibadan is brilliant, meticulous and intelligent. Also read: Five Doctors, three support staff test positive for COVID-19 in Benue He was diagnosed to have a hole in his heart, hence urgent surgery is required to save his life. He is expected to have the surgery and treatment at Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State. The cost of the treatment, surgery and drugs are estimated to be N5million. He father, Ismail Akinjide, a shop attendant and his mother, Oluwatosin Akinjide, a stylist, are struggling to put food on their table for survival, let alone affording the medical bills. His mother, Oluwatosin who spoke with Vanguard, was on her kneel while profusely crying for held from Nigerians. She said: “Please don’t allow m

NIMASA By Godfrey Bivbere THE former President of Indigenous Ship-owners Association of Nigeria, ISAN, Isaac Jolapamo, has said that the new management at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, should focus more on the development of local shipping capacity to help maximise potentials of the sector for the benefit of the nation’s economy. Earlier last week while briefing the media on his first 100 days in office, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, had said that his regime has already prioritised shipping development as one of the three key focus in his three-S strategy. Speaking with Vanguard Maritime Report in Lagos, Jolapamo said regulation and other activities that the agency had been focusing on in the past has benefitted neither the industry nor the nation. He added that the best way to go is to set an annual target of ship acquisition for the country. The former ISAN boss pointed out the NIMASA can achieve this in two ways; either b

SHIP owners are turning towards second hand ships in the post-pandemic era, at least for now, turning their backs on new building orders. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Allied Ship broking said that “on the dry bulk side, the relatively good momentum in the SnP market continued for yet another week, with both the activity being noted and buying appetite seemingly re-emerging at a fast pace. As of the past week, we experienced a good flow of transactions in the bigger size segments too (and for more modern units), helped (to some degree at least) by the strong upward trend noted in freight rates during the same time frame. All-in-all, with a far more bullish attitude currently being portrayed in terms of forward returns, we can expect things to ramp up further in the near-term. On the tanker side, total activity noted seems to be on a softening path as of the past few weeks, given the relatively mediocre number of vessels changing hands. Whether this is circumstantial or a n

•Prof Umar Garba Danbatta By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor The Nigerian telecom sector may soon herald fresh transformation as new guiding principles have started to unfold gradually. Barely a month after the current Executive Vice Chairman, EVC of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta was reappointed, the man is beginning to give an indication that a new sheriff is in town. From his actions since his reappointment, Danbatta  has been passing message to industry operators that it is no longer going to be business as usual. First, a week after his reappointment, the chief regulator quickly announced the unveiling of a new strategic management plan, SMP. He said the action was in line with his objective of creating a seamless strategy to augment effective management and regulation of the telecommunications sector. Why SMP? Hi-Tech checks revealed that the SMP leverages on the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, as well as the new Nati