NSCDC moves to prevent farmers, herdsmen conflict in Edo

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Edo has begun a sensitisation programme for herdsmen to prevent conflict between them and farmers in the state.
The Commandant of the corps, Dr. Benito Eze said NSCDC had established an agro-allied unit to promptly attend to such cases between the farmers and herdsmen.
He attributed the recurring clashes between the two groups nationwide to communication breakdown.
“Edo has been blessed by God, which is the reason why we have not had any issue of clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in the state. We will do everything possible to prevent this completely.
“One of the steps we have taken towards this is the establishment of the agro-allied unit across the 18 local councils of the state,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of cattle rearers in the state, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar, said that his members were ready

Kwara sets new date to begin implementation of Infrastructure fund

The implementation of the Kwara Infrastructure Development Fund, which was previously scheduled to commence on December 1, has now been postponed to December 8, 2016.
According to a statement by Dr. Muyideen Akorede, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the postponement was necessitated by the need to allow more time for compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements.
The statement noted that the commencement of the IFK scheme will be preceded by the formal signing of contract documentation by Governor Ahmed, the fund trustee, Investment One and project partners on

HIV/AIDS: FG develops plan to eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission

The Federal Ministry of Health has developed a National Operational plan for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV (2017-2018), aimed at halting the spread of the scourge by 2030.
Dr. Deborah Odoh, the Assistant Director, HIV/AIDS Division of the ministry, made this known at the National Conference on HIV Prevention in Abuja on Wednesday.
Odoh said the operational plan had incorporated the roles of the private sector and the community in the bid to end the Prevention of Mother-to Child Transmission of HIV.
She added that the plan had also addressed the provision of Anti-Retro Viral drugs for HIV positive pregnant women and ensured that unintended/unplanned pregnancies were prevented among positive women.
She explained that since 2002 when the PMTCT programme begun, Nigeria had been one of the first to adopt each revision of guidelines recommended by World Health Organisation.
She said government had strengthened the health system, provided essential commodities like test kits and ARVs, capacity building for health providers and improved the health-seeking behaviour of Nigerians.

Go and face trial – A’Court tells Ikuforiji

The Lagos division of the Court of Appeal has set aside the ruling of a Federal High Court, Lagos, that cleared former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his Personal Assistant (PA), Oyebode Atoyebi, of allegations of money laundering.
The appellate court in a unanimous judgment set aside the verdict of the trial judge, Ibrahim Buba, and held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had made a prima facie case against the former speaker to require him to enter a defence to the charge brought against him.
The court, in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Biobela Georgewill, also ordered that trial should start ‘de novo’ (afresh) before another judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, other than Justice Buba in the light of the far-reaching findings already made by him.

N-Power: Assembly decries low number of beneficiaries from Kano

The Kano State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the low number of beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Empowerment Programme, N-power, selected from the state.
The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, stated this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on the issue in Kano.
Rurum said: “Despite the fact that Kano is the most populous state in the country, available data has shown that over 20,000 youths from the state applied for the scheme, yet only 4,966 were selected.”
He cited examples of other states that were not as densely populated as Kano but were allocated more

Kalu Idika Kalu to speak at the IoD Nigeria’s Annual Dinner

About 200 eminent personalities, leaders of corporate Nigeria and other distinguished guests will converge at the 2016 Annual Directors Dinner of the Institute of Directors Nigeria, which takes place on today, Thursday 1 December 2016 at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is the Special Guest of Honour while Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, a renowned economist and former Federal Minister of Finance is the Guest Speaker.
According to the Acting Director-General/CEO of the Institute, the Annual Directors Dinner is usually a black tie event, an evening of fine dining, networking and honouring. However, the 2016 edition is unique in many ways and attracts more eminent personalities than ever before, with three royal fathers from the country’s three main regions to be honoured.

Stakeholders allege plans by cabals to create artificial fuel scarcity

The possibility of scarcity of petroleum products as Nigeria approaches the Yuletide may not be ruled out following allegations by stakeholders in the sector led by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that there are plans by cabals in the downstream sector to create artificial scarcity.
They accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of according credit right to few oil marketers and perpetuating monopoly it claims to curtail just as they petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.
A member of IPMAN, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said in Abuja, yesterday, that there was imminent scarcity of petroleum products. His words: “The cabals are working hard to create artificial scarcity in order to give this government a bad name. The sufferings and the pains of the masses are their gains. The cabals in the downstream sector are used to free lunch and the day subsidy was removed was the day this free lunch was taken away from them.
“Ironically, the NNPC claims that it wants to open-up the market but this market is only open to a few cabals. How can the NNPC open-up the market by according credit right to few major marketers? I have over 40 distribution outlets across the country and about 1000 Nigerians make their livelihood from my chain of distribution. For over 20 years, we have never defaulted our credit status. One of my distribution outlets in