I’m leaving NPF Better Than I Met It- Usman Baba

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June 21, 2023

The former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba said he is leaving the Nigeria Police Force, NPF better than he met it.

Baba stated this when he officially handed over the mantle of leadership of the Force to the acting IG, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja on Wednesday.

The outgoing IGP added that he believes he added value to policing in Nigeria.

Baba said, “As I exit the leadership of the Force today, I believe that I am leaving it better than I met it. I believe that I have added value to policing in Nigeria. I hold the firm conviction that steady progress has been made in all the components of my promise to change policing narratives and in our journey to restore the dwindling police primacy within the internal security architecture of the country.

“We might not be there yet, but certainly the pathways have been clearly defined, firm foundations built, and giant strides were taken for the new Force leadership to leverage on in his quest for a better Police Force.”

President Buhari Appoints Usman Alkali Baba As Acting IGP

The ex-IG further noted that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration set out to positively change the policing narrative of the country by laying out a well-articulated vision and mission objectives.

He said, “In this regard, I pledged to address the welfare concerns of serving and retired officers and enhance the operational capacity of the Force through the procurement of critical operational assets.

“I also set out to reposition the special detachments of the Force, particularly, the Marine, Air Wing, Special Forces, Police Mobile Force, Counterterrorism Unit, and Special Protection Unit, while also striving to enhance the intelligence capacity of the Force through the push for the upgrade of the Technical Intelligence assets of the Nigeria Police.

“In addition, my vision was to modernise the environment in which police operate across the country in order to make them befitting and fit for purpose. This informed the concept of modern police stations and barracks, as well as the model State Police Headquarters and Model Police hospital, which were constructed across the country, and the remodelling of the Force Headquarters.

“My vision was to also evolve a Police Force in which abuses associated with the promotion regime will be addressed and the process made credible enough to truly motivate personnel, while the age-long challenge of rank stagnation will also be tackled.

“I also envisioned a Force that will adapt to modern dynamics of crime. Hence, the establishment of the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Aside from this, my leadership projection was to enhance the manpower profile of the Force and deepen the professional knowledge of officers in coping with the challenges of policing a diverse nation as ours and optimally managing the complex dynamics of modern crimes and internal security threats.

“This informed the push for the sustenance of the recruitment drive, and the huge investment in training and capacity building across all ranks,” Baba added.

Foreign Students’ Family Visa, Not Directed at Nigerians —Envoy

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 21, 2023

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The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has said his country’s decision banning international students from bringing family members with them starting in 2024 is to control the inflow of migrants and avoid overburdening the country’s housing infrastructure.

“Many more students are trying to bring their dependents with them… but it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of all our existing student population…we’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK,” Montgomery told State House Correspondents after he emerged from a closed-door meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Wednesday’s meeting comes one month after the new British diplomat to Nigeria handed his letters of Credence to former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 18.

On May 23, the UK Home Office said international students, including Nigerians, would no longer be able to bring family members with them starting January 2024.

It also announced that overseas students would be stopped from switching from the student visa route to a work visa until their studies have been completed.

The decision has been greeted with mixed reactions from international students, schools, and some British lawmakers who argued that the regulation would aggravate labour shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare and threaten the country’s global standing as a top destination for international talent.

But in response to a question from our correspondent, the British High Commissioner gave reasons for the regulation saying, “I think there are two issues here. The first is, it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of all our existing student population.”

“And second, reasonable people would accept that we have to manage our visitor numbers and we’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK just as the Nigerian government would do,” he added.

Montgomery revealed that Nigerian students coming to the UK had increased fivefold in the last three years, even as they make up 10 per cent of those granted UK visas annually.

“That issue was not raised in the meeting (with the Vice President) just now. But I would like to put the media debate about it in a broader context. Last year (2022), for example, the UK granted three million new visas, of which 325,000 were to Nigerians.

“Nigerian visitors constitute over 10 per cent of the people coming to London and the UK.

“It’s a fantastic success story for our universities. And we are really delighted that so many Nigerians are coming to the UK,” he said.

The British High Commissioner revealed that his discussions with the VP highlighted the current policy direction of the Bola Tinubu administration, which, he said, is being warmly received by UK investors.

“As I discussed with His Excellency, the big economic decisions being taken by this government are really important and are being noticed around the world: the removal of subsidy, the exchange rate reform, all of that create a much better investment environment.

“I was in London last week; I was briefing my ministers, but I was also talking to British business in finance, banking and investment sectors. They are all responding very positively to these first decisions,” Montgomery stated.

The discussions also featured areas of assistance by the British government to cushion the effects of the discontinuance of petroleum subsidy, which has spelled “tough times” for Nigerians.

“We know that there are tough times that are going on at the moment, inflation and unemployment.

“The vice president and I also touched on some of the measures that might be possible to cushion the blow of some of these economic pressures.

“But I think the big issue is that these reforms help put Nigeria on a higher growth path; they will attract more investments and the United Kingdom and the city of London see Nigeria as a big opportunity going forward. I will be doing my part to try to boost those, enhance trade and investment,” he noted.

Lagos Launches N5bn Contract As EKO Rice Hits Market

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 21, 2023

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Rice produced from the Lagos State-owned 32-metric tonnes per hour Imota Rice Mill in Ikorodu has now hit the market, with the listing of the commodity for trade in Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) on Tuesday.

This was followed by a formal launch of N5 billion Eko Rice Forward Contract Programme by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the floor of the commodities exchange market, UAC Building in Marina, on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the State Government’s efforts to promote agriculture and enhance food security in Lagos.

The Forward Contract, which is a joint initiative of the Government-owned Lagos State Rice Company (LASRICO) and Commodities Tradenet Limited, is the first series of N30 billion Private Commodity Notes Issuance Programme facilitated by Lagos State Government to ensure undisrupted paddy supply, enhance quality management, transaction efficiency and transparency.

Forward Contract for Eko Rice became the first to be listed and traded in Nigeria’s commodities exchange ecosystem.

The private listing of the Lagos rice excited commodity brokers, farmers and investors in the commodities market, as first 5,000 contracts issued on the exchange floor were traded at the value of N195 million.

The offer for 50kg of Eko Rice opened on June 13 at the rate of N33,000 per Note, with the commodity being expected to be traded till next Monday, June 26, 2023. Tenor of the Note is 60 days.

Commodity brokers said the encouraging performance recorded by Eko Rice at first trading in the Commodities Exchange was due to its well-cleaned grains and high-grade texture, which positioned the crop for fair competition with imported rice in the market.

Eko Rice is laboratory-tested to have less than 2 per cent impurity and 14 per cent moisture content.

Sanwo-Olu said the Eko Rice Contract Programme was a game-changer launched with the objective to make Lagos a hub for agricultural production and processing in the country.

Rice, the Governor noted, is a regular staple consumed by over 80 per cent of Lagos population, stressing that the Forward Contract was a key goal in the food security plan of the Government to guarantee availability of the commodity at affordable price.

He said: “The N5 billion Series of N30 billion Eko Rice Contracts Programme being launched today is part of our efforts to ensure a sustainable supply of rice paddy for the smooth running of Lagos Rice Mill in Imota. The exchange market is a public-private partnership programme that will provide a platform for farmers, processors, and traders to buy and sell rice contracts at a fair price.

“The programme will also provide a guarantee for the quality and quantity of rice produced, which will enhance the confidence of buyers and sellers in the market. Leveraging the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange is a critical component of our plan to create a transparent and efficient market for the trading of agricultural commodities and derivatives. The Exchange has the potential to transform the agriculture sector by providing a reliable and efficient market for farmers, processors, and traders.”

To ensure the supply chain is not disrupted, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government embarked on the development of rice value chain through capacity building for farmers, and provision of inputs and infrastructure in rice production centres across Lagos.

This effort, the Governor said, has scaled up local paddy production by 63.5 per cent, while creating over 2,620 direct and indirect jobs. Sanwo-Olu said the intervention had also stimulated economic activities and facilitated improved livelihood in rice producing communities.

He said the Lagos-owned Imota Rice Mill required 200,000 tonnes of paddy yearly, stressing that the Commodities Exchange would create a steady market for the 2.5 million bags of 50kg rice that would be turned out from the mill annually.

“Today’s Bell Ringing is to herald the listing of rice paddy contracts for the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota for open transactions. This highlights the opportunities available in rice processing and other value chains of the Lagos Agricultural sector. It will draw attention of local and foreign investors to the Lagos Rice Mill forwards contract, and project the role of the Capital Market in driving development in Lagos commodities ecosystem. We are committed to expanding the programme to cover other commodities, such as cassava, maize, and vegetables,” Sanwo-Olu said.

LCFE Managing Director, Mr. Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale, said rice was among the 13 crops approved by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for trading at the commodities exchange market, stressing that the listing of Eko Rice was a watershed moment in the capital market.

Akeredolu-Ale said collaboration with the Lagos State Government would drive paddy supply to the Imota Rice Mill, integrate stakeholders in rice value chain across the country and standardise of head rice and paddy rice in Lagos.

He said: “LCFE will provide an opportunity for investment in the rice value chain through the creation, onboarding and listing of commodities instruments for paddy aggregation and trading, while also providing opportunities for rice distributors and stakeholders to trade on the Exchange through capital market operators. There is no credit risk associated with the issuer of the Notes, as the underlying commodity assures return on investment.”

Sanwo-Olu tolled the open bell, signifying the formal commencement of trading of the contracts for the commodity. The Governor was joined by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and other top government functionaries.

Johnvents Industries Limited, an agro-processing firm, became the first investor to procure 5,000 Forward Contracts worth N195 million on the Exchange floor.

LCFE chairman of Board of Directors, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, said the partnership complemented the objectives of the Exchange in transforming the commodities market by redefining practice norms and catalysing economic growth in the country.

General Elections: Jonathan Arrives Sierra Leone

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 21, 2023

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Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has arrived Freetown, Sierra Leone ahead Saturday’s general elections in the West African country.

Jonathan posted photos of his arrival in Freetown on his Twitter handle, adding that he is leading the team from the West Africa Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to Sierra Leone ahead of the election.

According to him, WEAF would work with other stakeholders here to help encourage and support a peaceful and credible poll.

Violence Flares In Sierra Leone Ahead Of Presidential Vote

He thanked the government and the people of Sierra Leone and staff of the Nigeria High Commission in Freetown for their warm reception.

In his words: “Just arrived in Freetown, where I am leading the team from the West Africa Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to Sierra Leone ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for this weekend.

“WEAF will work with other stakeholders here to help encourage and support a peaceful and credible poll.

“I thank the Government and the people of Sierra Leone and staff of the Nigeria High Commission in Freetown for their warm reception.”

Violence Flares In Sierra Leone Ahead Of Presidential Vote

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Elizabeth Williams

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June 21, 2023

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Violence broke out around Sierra Leone’s main opposition party headquarters on Wednesday, killing at least one person, days before an election in which President Julius Maada Bio is seeking a second and final term.

Sidi Yahya Tunis, a spokesperson for the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) said one of its supporters was killed by police. A police spokesperson declined to comment, saying there would be a news conference later.

“We had asked our supporters to converge at our party headquarters. When they started coming the police advanced and tried to disperse them,” said Tunis.

Videos shared on Twitter showed civilians carrying an unconscious man, who appeared to have been shot in the neck. Reuters has not verified the footage.

A mortuary in the city centre of the capital Freetown said it had picked up one body from the area with gunshot wounds.

There have been concerns of unrest in the run-up to the poll, similar to deadly anti-government protests that broke out last August. But in a Tuesday evening address to the nation, Bio had pledged to act decisively against any violence.

F.G Moves to Network With International Finance Corporations at Paris Summit

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Elizabeth Williams

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June 21, 2023

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The Federal Government has disclosed moves to network with international finance Corporations, institutions, and countries that are well-heeled that would facilitate direct foreign investment into Nigeria.
This was disclosed in an interview session with the Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communication and Strategy to the President, Dele Alake after President Tinubu’s closed-door meeting with top Government officials on the trip to Paris prior to the Financial Pact summit.
The Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy to the President, Dele Alake said the essence of the Financial Pact Summit is to ensure necessary networking as much as feasible and practical to create an enabling environment to encourage foreign investors adding that the Government is also working on the unification of the multiple exchange rates, which has caused very positive multiplier effect.
He further said that apart from the immediate, short, and long-term positive effects of the currency unification policy, there is a need for an injection of direct foreign exchange into the economy to shore up the value of the naira while market forces stabilize and complement the domestic policies.
With the recent policies of President Tinubu’s Government in the last three weeks, Alake said it has encouraged foreign nations including France and investors to become more interested in the affairs of Nigeria.

British High Commissioner Hails Tinubu’s Subsidy Removal, Forex Reforms

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Elizabeth Williams

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June 21, 2023

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The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery says Ministers and Businesses in the United Kingdom are “responding very positively” to the first policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration new economic Policy which includes fuel subsidy removal and unification of foreign exchange rates.
The British High Commissioner stated this on Wednesday after he met with Kashim Shettima Vice President of Nigeria at the State House, Abuja.
In a chat with State House correspondents, the British High Commissioner said the meeting with the Nigerian Vice President was fruitful, as it focused on how to ramp up bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the area of boosting economic engagements.
He said the removal of petrol subsidy and the exchange rate reforms by the new government are “big economic decisions” being notices around the world and they are important to attract investments into Nigeria.
The British High Commissioner said he discussed with the Vice-President on the measures to cushion the effect of the President’s first policies like subsidy removal.

American Medical Association Says BMI Not An Accurate Tool

By

faith Jegede

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June 21, 2023

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Delegates at the Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates adopted a policy aimed at clarifying how body mass index (BMI) can be used as a measure in medicine.

The new policy was part of the AMA Council on Science and Public Health report which evaluated the problematic history with BMI and explored alternatives.

The report also outlined the harms and benefits of using BMI and pointed to BMI as an imperfect way to measure body fat in multiple groups given that it does not account for differences across race/ethnic groups, sexes, genders, and age span. Given the report’s findings, the new policy supports AMA in educating physicians on the issues with BMI and alternative measures for diagnosing obesity.

Under the newly adopted policy, the AMA recognizes issues with using BMI as a measurement due to its historical harm, its use for racist exclusion, and because BMI is based primarily on data collected from previous generations of non-Hispanic white populations.

Due to significant limitations associated with the widespread use of BMI in clinical settings, the AMA suggests that it be used in conjunction with other valid measures of risk such as, but not limited to, measurements of visceral fat, body adiposity index, body composition, relative fat mass, waist circumference and genetic/metabolic factors.

The policy noted that BMI is significantly correlated with the amount of fat mass in the general population but loses predictability when applied on the individual level. The AMA also recognizes that relative body shape and composition differences across race/ethnic groups, sexes, genders, and age-span is essential to consider when applying BMI as a measure of adiposity and that BMI should not be used as a sole criterion to deny appropriate insurance reimbursement.

“There are numerous concerns with the way BMI has been used to measure body fat and diagnose obesity, yet some physicians find it to be a helpful measure in certain scenarios,” said AMA Immediate Past President Jack Resneck, Jr. M.D. “It is important for physicians to understand the benefits and limitations of using BMI in clinical settings to determine the best care for their patients.” Body mass index (BMI), devised by a white man considering white bodies, is measured by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms or pounds by the square of height in meters or feet, and it has been deeply ingrained in the medical system as a way to measure population health more broadly

Former Sokoto State Governor Calls For Establishment Of Private Hospitals

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 21, 2023

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A former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, has called for the provision of more private hospitals, to help improve the health sector in the state. He stated this while commissioning a private hospital named ‘Foresight Premier Hospitals,” founded by an indigene of the state, Dr. Shamsu Aliyu.

The governor, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion, commended the founder for his foresight and urged other well-meaning individuals in the state to emulate him.

Wamakko said providing private hospitals in the state will bring healthcare services closer to the people. He called on the people of the state to patronise the hospital so as to encourage the establishment of more private health facilities in the state.

Wamakko, however, confirmed that he also built a private hospital in the state, which will soon be unveiled as part of efforts to provide effective health service delivery.

He also commended Dr. Mansur Isah Buhari and Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, both from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on the roles they have played in enlightening the general public to know their rights at all times.

Speaking earlier, the founder of the health facility, Dr. Aliyu, explained that plans are underway to establish more hospitals in the zone and the nation at large. This, he said, was his way of bringing succour to the indigent people in the state.

Dr. Buhari, on his part, described the health facility as an ultra-modern, world-class hospital with state-of-the-art facilities. He explained that the 24-bed capacity hospital has an operating room, pharmacy, labour room, intensive care unit, male and female wards, and a recovery room, among other facilities needed for a hospital to be effective. This according to him, will provide about 300 job opportunities for the people of the state.

Group Task Stakeholders On Quality Health Service Delivery

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 21, 2023

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Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has called on stakeholders to join hands with the agency to deliver quality medical laboratory services. Dr Tosan Erhabor, Registrar of the council who made the call in Abuja said that the services would be in line with global best practices as envisioned in Act 11, 2003. According to him, this will be the best way to justify the confidence reposed in the leadership of the council by the Federal Government.

Mrs Fidelia Ginikanwa, Head Corporate Affairs, Public Relations in the council, in a statement said that he made the call while responding to goodwill messages from stakeholders to mark his second term in office.

The registrar, while expressing gratitude to the presidency and the Ministry of Health for finding him worthy of a new term in office, urged the top management staff to remain steadfast.

He said: “I need their support as no single individual could actualise the mandate of the council alone. It is humbling that our efforts over the past few years were recognised by the government but it is also in my view a call to do more, as the job is not done yet. I appreciate the support of the stakeholders including the top management and staff of the council. I urge you all to remain committed to the cause by doubling your efforts in the new dispensation,” he added.

Erhabor also reiterated that the council’s commitment to build a safe, effective, and efficient health laboratory system that Nigerians can be proud of. “That is the essence of my re-appointment as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the Guild of Private Medical Laboratory Directors, Dr Elochukwu Adibo, said that it would continue to collaborate with the council to strengthen the health laboratory system. Adibo added that the re-appointment was a well-deserved recognition of his leadership attributes.

Also, Dr Lawrena Okoro, Deputy Registrar, Mentoring, Inspection and Molecular Laboratories, assured the registrar of their commitment to reforms introduced during his first term. Okoro pledged that all hands would be on deck to make his second term more successful than the first.