Health Minister Allays Zika Virus Fears In Nigeria

The Minister of Health has been giving an update on the outbreak of Lassa fever in different parts of the country, saying the disease has so far affected 20 states of the federation, according to Channel News.

Professor Isaac Adewole addressed a press conference in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Thursday.

“You will all recall that on the 8th of January 2016, I briefed the nation on the current outbreak of Lassa fever that started in December 2015 and which has now affected 20 states of the federation.

“As of today, Nigeria has recorded 176 cases with 108 deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 61.4%.

“It is important that I inform the nation that this current outbreak is under control as evident by decline in new suspected cases, new laboratory confirmed cases and newly reported cases by week.

“Despite this achievement however, you will all agree with me that it will be too dangerous for us as a nation to go complacent at this stage,” he said.

The Minister also dismissed fears about the possible outbreak of Zika virus in Nigeria, saying there is no need to worry.

“Although two African countries have reported Zika infection in the recent outbreak and in the past many others, causal relationship between Zika virus infection, birth defect and neurological syndromes have not been established in this continent.

“Nigerian scientist working in Western Nigeria in 1954 discovered Zika Virus in Nigeria. Further studies in the years 1975 to 1979 show that 40% of Nigerian adults and 25% of Nigerian children have antibodies to Zika Virus, meaning they are protected against this virus.”

Germany Signals Interest in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu with the Vice Minister for Economic Affairs & Energy, Mr. Uwe Beckmeyer

Nigeria’s quest to expand its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market into Europe received a major boost on Thursday as a visiting German trade delegation indicated the country’s burgeoning desire for Nigeria’s gas supply.

 

Leading a large contingent of German business concerns on a visit to the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu at the NNPC Towers, Vice Minister for Economic Affairs & Energy and Member of the German Parliament, Mr. Uwe Beckmeyer, said the country was seeking development of business relationship to accelerate the supply of LNG especially in the country’s ship building industry.

 

According to Mr. Beckmeyer, Nigeria’s LNG would come in handy as the country and other European industrial powers seek to cut down drastically on Carbon dioxide (C02) emissions arising from heavy industrial operations since LNG is far friendlier to the environment.

 

“We have a lot of interest in LNG and I think this is one special thing we should develop in the next few years. I think there is increasing demand in Europe especially as we seek to reduce emissions. It is useful for both sides to develop this special business relationship,’’ the German Vice-Minister stated.

Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Kachikwu said that the oil and gas industry was ready to embrace the interest for improved business relationship expressed by the German trade delegation noting that the Federal Government is working assiduously with other relevant stakeholders to ensure activation of LNG Trains 7 which would help accommodate potential off-takers from new markets.

 

Meanwhile State Governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum have expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

 

Speaking on behalf of the forum, Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the NGF, Mallam Abdulaziz Yari, who led a team of governors to the NNPC Towers on Thursday, expressed confidence in the ability of Dr. Kachikwu to lead the NNPC and the oil and gas industry to the desired levels.

 

Expressing delight in the ongoing reforms in the NNPC, Mallam Yari stated that the visit of the governors to the NNPC Towers was indicative of the level of confidence the NGF has in Dr. Kachikwu.

 

“What we are seeing is not NNPC of yesterday, you can see for yourself the change we are talking about. In the last eight years you have not seen a group of governors coming to NNPC to find out what is going on as critical stakeholders. So you can see the change we are talking about,’’ he said.

On the ongoing plans by the Corporation to build new mega fuel station in every senatorial district across the country, the NGF Chairman pledged the readiness of members to support the NNPC Retail expansion drive in their respective states.

 

“We are happy with his performance, in fact when he made a presentation to the forum earlier, we told him we are going to support him as a forum and also take him to Mr. President to campaign for him to be given any support he needs to succeed,’’ he said.

Workers ground Imo, Okorocha recalls sacked civil servants

                                                            Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha

Imo State workers and the national leadership of the organised labour on Wednesday started a three-day warning strike to protest against the concession of 19 parastatals by the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led administration, according to The PUNCH.

The workers described as obnoxious and crude, the government concession policy, which led to the dismissal of over 3,000 state workers.

While public schools, banks, government institutions, local council secretariats, filling stations, and supermarkets, among others were completely shut, the Owerri Main Market and its adjoining commercial areas witnessed low patronage.

When our correspondent visited some parts of the state, heavily-armed policemen were seen manning some strategic points.

The workers had around 8am converged on the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat on Edede Street, Owerri, where they were jointly briefed by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

After the briefing, they commenced a peaceful march to the Orlu Road Roundabout.

The workers vowed not to succumb to government harassment, coercion or intimidation to shelve their planned strike over the concession policy.

The state Chairman of the NLC, Austin Chilakpu, had said the protesting workers would commence an indefinite strike if the government failed to meet their demand to rescind the controversial concession policy and recall the sacked workers.

The workers wore black clothes and chanted solidarity songs, while displaying placards bearing inscriptions, some which read, “Okorocha, you are wicked,” “Rochas revert your policies, it is anti-workers” and “We cannot fear your antics again,” among others.

They eventually stormed the Government House despite the heavy presence of security men, where they were addressed by Okorocha.

The governor said the ‘suspension’ of parastatals workers was for the overall interest of the state.

He noted that his government which started in 2011 never owed workers, adding that it was only in Imo State that N20,000 minimum wage was paid to workers.

Also addressing journalists, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, noted that the fate the APC was suffering today was borne out of the recklessness of the past administration led by the Peoples Democratic Party.

He said that there was a colossal drop in the national income following the drop in oil price.

It was later learnt that Okorocha ordered the recall of the sacked workers.

FG To Introduce Procurement Guidelines

The Federal Ministry of Finance has announced plans to introduce price guidelines for procurement purposes by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Having reviewed the overhead expenditure data of the MDAs from 2012 to 2014, the unit found that cumulative expenditure on items purchased was 825 billion Naira, Channel News reported.

According to the head of the unit, Mrs Patience Oniha, the figure represents 61% of the cumulative total overhead expenditure of 1.35 billion Naira for the period.

In order to cut costs on recurrent expenditure, Mrs Oniha said that the efficiency unit of the Ministry would introduce ministerial debit cards to the MDAs to monitor procurement and expenses.

FG, States To Join Resources In Resolving Border Communities’ Problem ~ VP OSINBAJO

One of the measures the Federal Government would undertake to address the deplorable conditions of border communities in the country is to engage State Governments in tackling the challenges, according to Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

 

According to him, “our border communities are in a state of despair, we need to pay a lot attention to them.”

 

Prof. Osinbajo however observed that “without the states we will not be able to achieve much either with the border communities or the boundary commission”, offering to make presentation to the Govovernors at the National Economic Council (NEC), in order to highlight the enormity of the challenges.

 

Speaking today when he received the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments led  by its Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Gumel and the Chief Executives of Border Communities Development Agency and the National Boundary Commission at the House, Abuja, the Vice President said “border communities are places where you need to ensure are stable.” He noted that phased approach will be taken in solving the problems, considering government’s lean resources.

 

He also noted that roads, markets, schools and other social basic infrastructure must be provided at the border communities, to avoid intrusion by foreigners.

 

Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on State and Local Government, Senator Abdullahi Gumel, told the Vice President that they were at the State House to brief him on the result of their oversight conducted on some of the border communities with the finding that facilities at the border communities are in the state of disrepair.