Fanta, Sprite, Coke safe : Health Ministry

Coca-Cola products, Fanta, Sprite and Coke manufactured in Nigeria are safe for consumption. the Federal Ministry of Health said  in Abuja on Friday.

The ministry gave the assurance after  a meeting summoned by the Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to discuss  the recent judgment on the case filed by Fijabi Holdings against the Nigeria Bottling Company and NAFDAC.

Adewole explained that both benzoic acid and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) were ingredients approved by International Food Safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world.

“Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the organisation established by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) to set internationally recognised standards, codes of practice, guidelines relating to foods, food production and food safety.

“In the case of benzoic acid, the standard set by Codex was 600mg/kg until recently reviewed to 250mg/kg and adopted in 2016.

“With reference to the Codex standard and other relevant documents, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in consultation with and relevant stakeholders elaborated the standard of benzoic acid in soft drinks to be at 250mg/kg based on the national climatic and storage conditions.

“This standard has been in existence since 1997 and revised in 2008, the levels of benzoic acid in Fanta (1 batch) and Sprite (2 batches) presented by the claimant in the court are 188.64mg/kg, 201.06mg/kg and 161.5mg/kg, respectively,” he said.

The minister stressed that the levels were in compliance with both the Codex and Nigeria Industrial Standards, stressing that the Coca-Cola products manufactured in Nigeria were safe for consumption in view of the following reasons:

“Risk assessment was conducted to ascertain maximum limits of food additives acceptable in foods. This takes into consideration the environmental, storage and distribution conditions as well as the shelf life of food products.

“NAFDAC and SON regularly monitor the manufacturing practices of food industries and conduct laboratory analysis to ascertain continuous compliance with required national standards.

“There was a routine inspection conducted at Nigeria Bottling Company by NAFDAC officers in December 2016, which was satisfactory.

“With reference to the Codex standards, each country or region is permitted to adapt a standard and limit based on country specific scientific evidence such as environmental, storage and distribution conditions,” he added.

Adewole noted that benzoic acid as a preservative prevents the growth of micro-organisms which thrive more at higher climatic temperatures like in Nigeria.

He said that due to the different environmental conditions obtainable in the UK, the standard for benzoic acid was set at a lower limit of 150mg/kg, while in Nigeria it was set at 250mg/kg even below that of Codex (as at time of production of that batch; Codex limit was 600mgkg).

Besides, the minister said that food products being imported into a country must comply with the relevant standards of the destination country.

“NAFDAC has processes in place to ensure products imported into the country are evaluated to ascertain compliance with required Nigeria Industrial Standards.’’

Adewole further said that the claimant did not obtain NAFDAC certification before export; otherwise, he would have been advised on the required standard of the destination country.

The minister advised Nigerians to take medicines with potable water as this would help to prevent unexpected drug-food interactions.

He added that all bottling companies are encouraged to insert advisory warnings on all products as necessary.

-NAN

NAFDAC shuts down wine shops in Wuse market

\\

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down some wine shops worth N100 million in Wuse market, Abuja, for selling fake and unregistered products.
Mr Shaba Mohammed, the Deputy Director, Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said this on Friday in Abuja during an operation.

Mohammed led a team of NAFDAC officials on enforcement to the market in continuation of a renewed global anti-counterfeiting fight against counterfeits.

He warned that unwholesome food and beverages pose threat to human lives.

“This operation is being carried out in 60 countries of the world which includes Africa, America, Asia and Middle East.

“The operation is in continuation of a renewed global anti-counterfeiting fight against counterfeit, substandard, fake and unwholesome food and beverages in collaboration with Interpol and Europol,”Mohammed said.

He said that the raid was tagged “’Opson VI”.

Mohammed said that most of the items seized in the operation were mainly 100 per cent ethanol mixed with other additives and contaminants.

Some of the fake wine found in the market includes Chamdor, Toma, Valdepenas, J and W, and Charmat, among others.

He further explained that the contaminants cause damages ranging from affecting human brain, communication, inflammation of the liver and cancer.

He said that suspects arrested would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

Mohammed advised the general public to be watchful of food and beverages they purchase and consume on daily basis.

He urged Nigerians to purchase only products that carry NAFDAC registration numbers.
He also advised Nigerians to insist on obtaining payment receipts for any purchase made and to report any suspicious activities or illegal warehouses found in their vicinity.

-NAN

NVBF to organise national league

The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has said it had adopted modalities to commence a national league soon.

Habu Gumel, President of NVBF told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the national league was of importance to federations.

“The league is very important to any national federation.

“We have agreed on how we can do the league through the zones so that we come up to the national, and the league is going to start very soon.

“We have adopted the system we are going to use and now we have written to sponsors and we believe most likely that we are going to get sponsors that will sponsor the league.’’

Gumel said that the federation had already written letters to some states and companies seeking to sponsor the federation’s 2017 championship in both the indoor and beach games.

He said that Nigeria would host the zones championship of volleyball to which no fewer than nine countries would attend in Lagos.

The NVBF president said a date had yet to be fixed for the championship which would feature over 150 participants.

“So many programmes are lined up for this year which we have discussed but the most important thing is to ensure that we get good sponsors that can help us so that we can finish all these programmes without any problem.

“I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to the private sector to please support sports because government cannot do it alone.

“Government has so many sectors to take care of; so, naturally, the private sector will have to compliment the effort of government.’’

-NAN

Nigerian govt. earmarks N701bn for electricity

The Federal Government says it is committed to providing N701 billion as guaranty to electricity to ensure market liquidity in the country’s power sector.

Alhaji Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, disclosed this on Monday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Baba-Shehuri spoke on “Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission in Nigeria’’ at the 58th annual conference of the Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG).

The theme of the conference is: “Geography, Nation-Building and Environmental Change’’.

The minister identified lack of political will, policy direction in the past, current fluctuation, poor management and inadequate power supply, among others, as some of the challenges facing the power sector.

Baba-Shehuri said that the present government was committed to addressing the problem of power sector so as to improve electricity supply for the benefit of Nigerians and the overall development of the country.

“We are all aware that the importance of power supply to the socio-economic development of the country cannot be over-emphasised as the federal government is doing its best in addressing the challenges facing the sector.

“The federal government is making serious commitment in ensuring that the problem of vandalism of infrastructure is completely addressed for the overall development of the country.

“His Excellency, the Vice President was recently in the Niger Delta region as part of efforts to address the problem of gas/pipeline vandalisation as its affect the power generation in the country.

“As a result of the government efforts, we could notice sufficient and significant power improvement with power generation hovering around 4,000MW and above compared to what is obtained as 2,000MW power generation a month ago,” he said.

The Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development, Mr Suleiman Adamu, urged the association to continue to provide solutions to the nation’s environmental problems.

On his part, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Usani Uguru, who presented a paper titled “Appreciating Change in the context of Globalisation: Geographic Paradigm”, said that President Muhammadu Buhari came to rescue Nigeria from decaying.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, who presented a paper on “Environmental Issues in Nigeria: the Change Agenda’’, said that the federal government was genuinely committed to addressing environmental challenges for the benefit of the people.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the National President of the association, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, said that one of the key goals of geography was to help citizens realise their responsibilities for the future of the plant earth.

He said that the association would continue to embark on research in order to proffer solutions to the nation’s environmental challenges.

-NAN

Ooni inaugurates committee on peace

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has inaugurated a truth and reconciliation committee to ensure peace between the Hausa community and Yorubas in the ancient city.

Oba Ogunwusi inaugurated the committee in his palace on Saturday in Ile-Ife, Osun

Ooni described members of the Hausa community in Ile-Ife as his subjects and co-owners of the town with whom he has enjoyed tremendous loyalty in the last 14 months of his reign.

“Thank God for the normalcy, I commend Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, for being proactive and the security agents for their efforts towards ending the crisis” he said.

The royal father condemned the actions of those behind the fracas on Wednesday and expressed optimism that they will soon be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He assured the residents that the situation had been brought under control by the government and promised that such mayhem will not be allowed to occur again.

The monarch admonished the Hausa community not to retaliate, saying that the Abuja motor park will be relocated from Sabo, while the police station will be located too.

The Monarch urged all the Yoruba people to always embrace the Hausa and other ethnic groups as their brothers to enjoy maximum peaceful co-existence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Committee is chaired by Obalufe of Ireland, Oba Idowu Adediwura; other members are the Jaran of Ife, High Chief Ademola Adeyeye; Wasin of Ilare, High Chief Zacheus Olasode.

Others are: Seriki Hausa of Ife, Alhaji Mamuda Mandagali; Ezendigbo of Ife, Ezekiel Onyejekde; Okobairo of Urobo, David Akpomedaye; Chairman Modakeke Progressive Union, Alhaji Tajudeen Oke and security agencies, while Sen. Babajide Omoware is the adviser for the committee. 

-NAN

Police begin air surveillance on Abuja-Kaduna road

The Police on Saturday has started 24-hour air surveillance on Abuja-Kaduna highway following increase of traffic on the road.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Abuja, Alhaji Salisu Fagge, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Saturday that the measure was part of efforts at ensuring safety of travellers on the road.

Traffic on the Abuja-Kaduna road is expected to be high from now till the next six weeks due to the shift of air transport services from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Kaduna Airport.

The Abuja airport was closed on Wednesday for upgrade of some critical facilities, especially the runway.

Fagge said that the commissioners of police in Kaduna, Niger and Federal Capital Territory, comprising the zone, have been directed to put adequate measures in place to contain any security threat on the road and beyond.

He gave assurance that the zone would continue to adopt proactive security strategies against any form of security threat in the area.

Sufficient personnel have been deployed to provide security in the zone, he said.

He assured travellers on the highway that there is “no course for alarm”.

“We are patrolling the entire area on air and land against any form of security threats.

“We will continue to map out comprehensive security measures that will enable us apprehend all kinds of criminals.

“We have identified and deployed armed security personnel to dangerous spots for that purpose,” the AIG said.

He called for the support of traditional rulers and stakeholders in sensitising residents to volunteer information that would aid security agencies in apprehending criminals in their midst.

-NAN

Police deploy special force to Ile-Ife, ringleaders arrested

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris  has deployed a Police Special Intervention Force, to troubled Ile-Ife, Osun state, where a riot broke out on Wednesday.

In addition, a Joint Investigation Team made up personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, FSARS, SIP and Osun State Police Command CIID headed by a Commissioner of Police,  is also on ground in the ancient town.

The JIT, which reports to a deputy Inspector-General of police in Abuja has already succeeded in arresting the arrow-head and principal suspect,  including some of his thugs that caused the death of most of the innocent victims, according to Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood.

Moshood said  the special force comprises five units  of the  Mobile Force , specially trained anti riot policemen, five cells of Counter Terrorism Unit, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Technical Intelligence Unit, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), with their Headquarters in Ile-Ife.

The  Force is being led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The operations of the team will cover the entire Ile-Ife and environs, and other trouble spots in Osun State, Moshood said.

“The Police Special Intervention Forces are already on the ground working in synergy with the Osun State Police Command to ensure that total peace and normalcy are restored and sustained in Ile-Ife and environs.

“To achieve success in the operations, the Force will be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandates, police standard operations procedures and rule of engagement.

The Force will ensure the full enforcement of the curfew imposed on Ile-Ife and environs by the Osun State Government. The personnel of the Police special Intervention Force will carry out twenty four (24) hours surveillance and patrol, stop and search; continuous raids of identified criminal hideouts and black spots, with a view to arrest promptly trouble makers, their sponsors and nip in the bud any further attempt to cause violence and other criminalities in the general area.

“The deployment of the personnel will equally cover communities, towns, villages, vulnerable points, Government and private infrastructures and facilities in Ile-Ife and environs.

” Traditional rulers, religious leaders, public office holders, politicians, opinion leaders, parents and guardians are hereby called upon to prevail on their subjects, supporters, children and wards to support the personnel of the Police Special Intervention Force in the discharge of their responsibilities, and propagate peace, demonstrate love, and tolerance to promote harmonious coexistence with their fellow citizens, irrespective of religious, ethnic inclinations and differences”.

-NAN

Muhammadu Buhari 'to return to Nigeria on Friday'

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to the country on Friday after extended medical leave in the UK, according to a presidency statement.

The 74-year-old, who took power in May 2015, left Abuja on January 19 for treatment in Britain.

He had originally planned to stay 10 days but stayed longer to rest after consulting his doctors, deepening suspicions that his health was far worse than officials are publicly admitting.

"President Buhari expresses appreciation to teeming Nigerians from across the country, and beyond, who had prayed fervently for him, and also sent their good wishes," the presidency said on Thursday, adding he extended his UK stay on doctors' recommendation for further tests and rest.

The statement gave no medical details.

Earlier on Thursday, the presidency had published pictures of a smiling Buhari meeting the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in Abuja House, part of the Nigerian High Commission in London.

Osinbajo, a lawyer, held in Buhari's absence cabinet meetings and finished work on an economic reform plan needed to secure a World Bank loan to help plug a deficit caused by low oil revenues.

Nigeria seeks U.S. immigration clarity, advises against non-urgent travel

Nigeria has advised its citizens against any non-urgent travel to the United States until Washington clarifies its immigration policy, after several incidents in which people with valid visas were denied entry, a presidential aide said on Monday.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said no reasons were given for the cases over recent weeks in which Nigerians with valid multiple-entry U.S. visas had been denied entry and sent back to Nigeria.

The West African country is not among a group of Muslim-majority countries from which President Donald Trump wants to suspend travel to the United States on security grounds. About half of its 180 million inhabitants are Muslim, and half Christian.

Trump is expected to sign a new executive order on Monday to implement the travel ban, after his first attempt in January was blocked in the courts.

Dabiri-Erewa did not make any explicit link to the ban, but said Nigerians without any urgent need should "consider rescheduling their trip until there is clarity on the new immigration policy".

International demand for travel to the United States over the coming months has flattened out, reflecting uncertainty over Trump's immigration policy, travel analysis company ForwardKeys said on Monday.

-Reuters

Chimamanda elected into US Academy of Arts and Letters

Award winning Nigerian Author, Chimamanda Ngozi- Adichie has been elected into the American Academy of Arts and Letters as a foreign honorary member.

According to a press release by the Academy on http://artsandletters.org , the honorary members will be inducted at the annual induction in May.

This induction will make Chimamanda the second Nigerian to be inducted into the academy after Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, was inducted in 1986.

The Academy explained that Chimamanda will be honoured alongside 14 others.

“When the American Academy of Arts and Letters holds its annual induction and award ceremony in mid-May, Calvin Trillin, secretary, will induct fourteen members into the 250-person organisation and Yehudi Wyner, president will induct three foreign honorary members.”

The objective of the Academy include to “foster and sustain an interest in Literature, Music, and the Fine Arts” by administering over 70 awards and prizes, exhibiting art and manuscripts, funding performances of new works of musical theatre, and purchasing artwork for donation to museums across the country.

Some of her previous awards include, Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2007 (Half of a yellow Sun); The MacArthur Fellowship 2008 for Fiction and The PEN Open Book Award, 2007 (Half of a Yellow Sun).

-NAN

Banksy opens Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem

Secretive British street artist Banksy has opened a hotel next to Israel's separation wall in Bethlehem, his latest artwork in the Palestinian territories.

The Walled Off Hotel is only four metres from the wall which cuts through the occupied West Bank and all the rooms face it.

"It has the worst view of any hotel in the world," Banksy said in a statement.

The artist himself was not in attendance, though dozens of his new works adorn the walls.

Above one bed an Israeli soldier and Palestinian protester fight with pillows, while a television supposedly showing CNN is cracked and backwards.

In the presidential suite, a working jacuzzi is fed from a leaking water tank similar to those that adorn the roofs of many Palestinian homes.

There is also a gallery selling Palestinian art and a museum highlighting the history of the region and Western interference in it.

At a push of a button a moving statue of Arthur Balfour signs the decree which promised Jews a homeland in the land at that time called Palestine.

Seven of the bedrooms were designed by Banksy himself. Two others were dreamed up by Canadian and Palestinian artists.

The wall is one of the most striking symbols of Israel's 50-year occupation, and has become a major focus for demonstrations and art work.

Israel began construction on the wall in 2002, saying it was meant to keep out would-be attackers. But critics argue the wall serves as a de facto annexation of Palestinian land. 

According to the International Court of Justice it is in clear violation of international law.

The Banksy statement said the hotel "offers a warm welcome to people from all sides of the conflict and across the world".

Banksy has maintained his anonymity despite numerous theories and attempts to reveal his identity since he started stencilling on walls in his native city of Bristol in southwest England more than a decade ago.

His artwork comments on war, child poverty and the environment, and has a long history in the Palestinian territories.

In February 2015, he allegedly sneaked into the Gaza Strip through a smuggling tunnel and painted three works on the walls of Gaza homes destroyed in Israeli air strikes during the previous year's conflict.

In 2007, he painted a number of artworks in Bethlehem, including a young girl frisking an Israeli soldier pinned up against a wall.

In 2005, he sprayed nine stencilled images at different locations along the eight-metre-high wall.

They included a ladder reaching over the wall, a young girl being carried over it by balloons and a window on the grey concrete showing beautiful mountains in the background.

-A

Abati : What Buhari Is Not Telling Nigerians About Goodluck Jonathan

Former Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, has recounted the economic achievements of ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan in order to debunk the claims of the federal government indicting his former principal as being responsible for the current recession rocking the nation.

He said there was danger in peddling a single side of the story of how Nigeria’s recession started as championed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet; stressing that repeating a lie will make people start to assume it is true.

Abati stated this in Lagos while chatting with the media on the state of the economy.

He said that Jonathan’s administration rebased the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation and made Nigeria the largest economy in Africa.

He also said that in six months, the immediate past federal government attracted about N1.15 trillion in foreign direct investment (FDI) to the nation; hosted the first-ever World Economic Forum to be held in Africa as an endorsement of the work done on Nigeria’s economy; and revived the automotive industry and national railway; as well as grew agricultural sector to a robust stature.

The ex-spokesman further urged Nigerians to always double-check information peddled by the Buhari administration.

Abati said: “There is something about the danger of a single story. If you look at the Jonathan government, at the risk of defending that administration, under that administration the GDP was the rebased and Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa.

“As at 2014, Nigeria had become the number one Foreign Direct Investment destination in Africa. Within the first half of 2014, this economy has gained from FDI alone about N1.15 trillion. In fact, that same year, for the first time in Africa, the World Economic Forum held in Nigeria; which was a kind of endorsement of what was been done by that administration at that time.

“It was also under that administration that the auto motive industry was revived. It was under that administration that the national railway was revived. It was under that administration that the agricultural sector became very robust.

“I am not here to come and offer a defense but the danger of the single story is that it ends up repeating a lie until you assume that people will believe it. I think that people should double check some of these things.”

News:FG Directs Oil Companies To Relocate Headquarters To Niger-delta

Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has directed the International Oil Companies operating in the Niger-Delta region to relocate their headquarters to their States of operation to mitigate tension in host communities. Osinbajo, gave the directive at a Town Hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday during continuation visit to the region to dialogue with stakeholders.

The Acting President urged the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to begin the process of engaging the International Oil Companies on the way forward to actualize the directive, saying “I think it is the right thing to do”. He disclosed that, the Ministry of Petroleum is also working with major oil companies on several initiatives including; working on illegal refineries to establish modular refineries to achieve the desired result. On the Federal Government amnesty programme for ex-agitators, Osinbajo re-iterated the federal government stand noting that, the Ministry of Petrolum and Amnesty office are working with the state governments of the region on providing the benefits to young people in the states.

He emphasized on the importance of the Ibaka deep Sea port project, saying that, the Federal Government is seriously committed to its realization. According to him, “Indeed as a matter of fact, in the 2017 budget there is already a provision for the Ibaka port. There is already N1billion provision. It is a matter we take seriously to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government”, urging state governments in the region to attract private investments in their domain in order to create employment opportunities for the youths. Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel appealed to the Federal Government to integrate Akwa Ibom indigenes who were left out in the amnesty programmes, as well as stressed the need for the reactivation of the Aluminum Smelter Company (ALSCON) at Ikot Abais local government area of the state to create more opportunities for the people.

He said, “With facilities we have in ALSCON, we cannot see it anywhere in Africa; from the services, communication to power generation you can create seven profits centres”. Governor Emmanuel, while commending Prof. Osinbajo for the visit, further solicited the support of the federal government for the completion of the maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities at the Akwa Ibom International airport to assist repairs of aircrafts assuring that, any financial assistance for the completion of the MRO will be refunded in no time from revenue generated from the repairs of aircrafts.

-Vanguard

Cabal Attempts To Bring Buhari Home Before Closure Of Abuja Airport

SaharaReporters has learned that some of President Muhammadu Buhari's aides have renewed attempts to return him to the seat of power in Abuja before the possibly eight-week closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

The airport is scheduled to be shut down for at least six weeks starting from midnight on March 7, 2017. President Buhari left Nigeria on vacation on January 19announcing that he would be back in Abuja on February 6. However, on the planned date of return, President Buhari wrote to the Nigerian Senate extending his return to Nigeria indefinitely. The Nigerian leader told senators that he would remain in the U.K. to await the results of tests ordered by his doctors.

Presidential spokesmen have been adamant against revealing to Nigerians the specific nature of Mr. Buhari's illness. Instead, they have either claimed that the president was merely resting in London or that he was undergoing some medical checks that necessitated a delay in his return to Abuja.

Saharareporters was the first to disclose that President Buhari would need more than the initial ten days to deal with myriads of health challenges that have dogged him for months. Sources close to Mr. Buhari disclosed that the president's doctors in the U.K. have recommended that he stay in London for as long as four months in order to complete a rigorous regimen of treatment for a prostrate-related ailment as well as Crohn's disease.

Our sources revealed that President Buhari is afflicted with internal organ disorders that have caused him to lose weight and wrecked his appetite.

"Some of Mr. President's associates are mounting pressure on him to return to Abuja as soon as possible, and especially before the [Abuja] airport is temporarily closed," a knowledgeable source told our correspondent. He confirmed that President Buhari was yet to complete his treatment for his prostate ailment as well as Crohn's disease, a condition that plagues his intestines.

Our sources said President Buhari's inner circle, led by his cousin, Mamman Daura, and his personal assistant, Tunde Sabiu (also known as “Tunde Idiagbon”), were behind the decision not to disclose the nature of the president's ailments to the Nigerian public. The two insiders are reportedly managing a cabal around Mr. Buhari to control and leverage power in Abuja.

Our investigation showed that the cabal had effectively shoved aside President Buhari's wife, Aisha Buhari, relegating her to Abuja. Instead, one of President Buhari's daughters, Halima, is now the only direct relative given free access to the ailing president in London.

Halima, a daughter from Mr. Buhari’s first marriage, recently returned to Abuja on a British Airways flight. One source claimed that her return to Abuja was possibly to prepare for her father’s temporary return to Nigeria.

Our sources revealed that, even if President Buhari returns soon, he would need to travel out again to London in a few months to continue his treatment.

"It doesn't make sense for Mr. President to return to Abuja immediately just to serve the political interests of some people when his doctors want him to go through all his treatment," one of our sources said.

-Sahara Reporters

El-rufai: Audu Maikori will be prosecuted

Chocolate City co-founder, Audu Maikori, was recently arrested by the police over a series of tweets he sent to his followers, alleging that some students of the Kaduna State College of Education had been killed by Fulani herdsmen in Southern Kaduna.

He is currently out on bail but Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, speaking at the on-going Social Media Week 2017 on Thursday, said the music mogul will face the full brunt of the law for publishing “fake stories and pictures.”

“We are going to prosecute him. He was arrested. His statement has been taken. He is on bail. He is going to be prosecuted. His fate will be decided by a judge,” El-Rufai said.

While insisting that he had no personal grouse against Audu, the governor noted that prosecuting him would serve as a deterrent to people who spread untrue information on social media and would help rein in the scourge of fake news.

He said, “It is not personal. I have nothing against him. In fact, he has worked with the state government in the past. But I’m not going to sit as the governor of Kaduna state and allow anyone to post or tweet anything that leads to loss of lives without consequences.”

Audu, El-Rufai said, was informed about the untrue nature of his posts but still doubled down on them.

“He posted fake pictures of Boko Haram attacks, Rwandan genocide, as Southern Kaduna killings. It is totally irresponsible to do that.

“Even when it was pointed out to him that the information was untrue, he still posted that he stood by his story. He questioned the authenticity of the press statement. He was totally and completely irresponsible.”

The music mogul and lawyer was arrested on February 17, by policemen attached to the inspector-general’s monitoring and intelligence team, over ‘inciting comments’ he made on social media on Southern Kaduna killings.

In a series of tweets on January 23, he alleged that five students of Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kafanchan, were murdered by Fulani herdsmen.

“My driver’s younger brother and five others students of College of Education, Gidan Waya, were ambushed and killed by herdsmen yesterday #SouthernKaduna,” he said in one of the tweets.

But the school’s management denied that any of its students was killed. Kaduna State also condemned the misinformation and vowed to prosecute rumour peddlers.

Maikori later apologised for the wrong information contained in his tweets, claiming that he was misled by his driver, who himself was an indigene of Southern Kaduna. The driver, he said, was handed over to the police after he (Maikori) decided to further investigate the story to “ensure that all the facts of the case and evidence were presented to the authorities.”

“I hereby tender an unreserved and sincere apology to the Management of the College of Education, Gidan Waya, His Excellency the Governor of Kaduna State and the Kaduna State Government, and also to the people of Southern Kaduna and the Fulani community and also VANGUARD newspapers, whose source was my driver, for the false statement by my driver which I also publicized believing same to be true,” Maikori said in a statement on February 5.

He was arrested shortly afterwards.

Southern Kaduna, recently for a couple of months, was a scene of bloody conflicts between suspected Fulani herdsmen and indigenes of the area, with scores of the residents killed. The conflicts forced the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew on Zangon Kataf which was only relaxed on February 4 to “6 pm and 6 am”

International: German ambassador to Ankara summoned over cancellation of rallies

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned the German ambassador to Ankara to protest the cancellation of rallies in support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the April 16 referendum when Turks will vote on whether to approve constitutional changes creating an executive presidency.

During a meeting between Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs Mehmet Kemal Bozay and German Ambassador Martin Erdmann on Thursday, a written démarche was handed to the German envoy.

“Our discomfort and our reaction to these developments have been communicated in person to the German ambassador who was summoned this evening to the ministry,” a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

The latest spat between Ankara and Berlin broke out when authorities in the southwestern German town of Gaggenau controversially withdrew permission for an event, where Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag would have met with the Turkish community and meet his German counterpart Heiko Maas.

Gaggenau authorities said in a statement that as the town hall did not have the capacity to host so many people they had to withdraw an earlier agreement with the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) to hold the rally.

“Because the event is now known across the region, the city expects a large number of visitors. However, the Bad Rotenfels hall (in Gaggenau), parking lots and access road are insufficient to meet that demand,” they stated.

“Due to these reasons, the hall rental agreement with the UETD has been revoked,” the town's officials added.

 

Bozdag condemned the move in return, claiming it smacked of hypocrisy.

“Anti-democratic approaches, such as the annulment of my address using the parking space size as an excuse is unacceptable,” he told reporters while on an official visit to the French city of Strasbourg.

"It is unacceptable that German authorities, who constantly lecture us on human rights, democracy, rule of law, [and] free speech... do not tolerate a meeting organized by the Turkish community," he noted.

Meanwhile, the German Press Agency (DPA), citing an official from the city of Cologne, said a March 5 event, where Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci would be holding a pro-Erdogan rally, has also been canceled.

On Wednesday, a group of German legislators urged Chancellor Angela Merkel to stop the Turkish president from entering the country while Deniz Yücel, a Turkish-German journalist for German national daily Die Welt, continues to be held in an Istanbul prison since February 14.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Huseyin Avni Karslioulu on Tuesday, with Merkel describing the arrest as “bitter and disappointing”.

Relations between Turkey and Germany have soured following a series of disputes since a failed coup attempt to overthrow Erdogan last year.

Turkish officials say over 240 people were killed and more than 2,100 others injured following the botched July 15 putsch.

Tens of thousands of people, including military personnel, judges and teachers, have been suspended, dismissed or detained as part of the post-coup crackdown.

·          

·          -PressTV

·          

·          

·          

·          

·          

News: Acting President Osibanjo bags chieftaincy title

The Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osibanjo was today conferred with the title of Obong Emem of Akwa Ibom State by the State Council Of Chiefs lead by the Chairman Traditional Rulers Council Obong Dr. Effiong Bassey Archianga, the Paramount Ruler of Ibono Local Government Area.

Ash Wednesday: Christians tasked to sacrifice

By Jude Melea Moses

Catholics in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Abuja, Nigeria, in a mass today join the rest of the world to participate in the Ash Wednesday ceremony, the beginning of Lent this year.

The period of Lent is considered as one important period in the Catholic Church, the beginning of a forty days prayers, fasting, and almsgiving. Christians strive to imitate the life of Jesus and prepare for the celebration of Easter as they reflect on His life, death, and resurrection.

The Ash symbol on the foreheads of all Catholics is a reminder that everything on earth is vanity, “dust to dust,” man was made and to dust man shall return hence, the Assistance Parish Priest Revd. Fr Cliffort Lambar Oyati tasked members to sacrifice for the betterment of Nigeria.

The Lent period which is capitalized with Fasting, Almsgiving, and prayers, members were asked to participate by sharing all they have with others and
also pray for Nigeria.

“Go to your wardrobe, pick the cloths that you don’t longer use and sacrifice them to the poor, keep away from your old ways of life and embrace Jesus. This is a period not to open any fix deposit account, but a period to sacrifice, abstain not only from food but from evil ways, and love one another as yourself” he added.

The day’s readings were taken from the book of Joel 2: 12-18, 2 Corinthians 5: 20-6:2, and the Holly Gospel, from the book of Mathew 6: 1-6, 16-18.

Christians were asked to use this period of Lent to study the scripture all the times, pray for peace in Nigeria and pray that God will grand President Buhari health of mind and body.
   
   

Soludo: Why we visited Kanu

The former governor of the CBN, Charles Soludo has given reasons why he visited the leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.



Soludo who spoke to journalists after the visit to Kanu at Kuje Prison said the act was in solidarity with the detained IPOB.

Soludo visited Kanu alongside renowned economist Pat Utomi, Law Mefor, national secretary of the Alliance Democracy, Udenta Udenta among others under aegis of Nzuko Umunna, a coalition of all major group in the South-east and South-south.

The former CBN governor said the visit was also to consult with Kanu on his agitation for Biafra and the way forward in liberating and ensuring development in the South-east and South-south region.

He also said Nigeria as a country has never been more divided than it is now.

He said: "We visited to hear his own point of view and also Nigeria has never been divided like it is now!"

Soludo said the agitations in the region is due to corruption via looting by elites and the failure to address issues and challenges ravaging the country.


He also said that no citizen of Nigeria deserves the kind of the treatment meted to Kanu and his co-accused.

"Nnamdi Kanu is not above the law, neither should he be put beneath it," Soludo said.

Soludo had urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government to release Kanu and his colleagues.

-Naij

News: Buhari's health worsens

A source familiar with President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical treatment in London has revealed to SaharaReporters that, apart from a lingering prostrate flare-up and other chronic conditions, the Nigerian leader has also recently been battling with a persistent “internal organ” problem, a fact this website reported on Sunday.

The source attributed President Buhari’s inability to eat as well as his progressive loss of weight to Crohn’s Disease, a medical condition that has affected his digestive system.

According to the source, Mr. Buhari had had parts of his colon removed in 2013 and also had another operation to have hemorrhoids, swollen veins near the human rectum, removed in 2016 in London during one of his secret trips to seek urgent medical treatment.

The latest revelation appears to validate a claim by Mr. Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buhari, to the effect that her husband was dealing with “internal organ failure.”

In interviews, several doctors in Nigeria and the UK told Saharareporters that the fact that Mr. Buhari was an outpatient indicated a condition consistent with Crohn’s disease. Two of the doctors stated that it was likely that President Buhari’s course of treatment for his prostrate and other issues led to a complication and worsening of his Crohn’s disease. SaharaReporters had reported that Mr. Buhari also has prostate cancer that was first treated by UK doctors shortly after the Nigerian leader lost the 2011 presidential election to former President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by the disease can affect different areas of the digestive tract in different patients, but doctors interviewed for this report disclosed that it usually occurs in the intestines, where the inflammation caused by Crohn's disease often spreads deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue. 

Doctors also revealed that Crohn's disease can be both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications. “When it occurs in younger people, there is a higher chance of future complications than in older patients,” one doctor told our correspondent. He added that the disease “often worsens with age.”

[i]According to the doctors consulted for this report, while there is no known cure for Crohn's disease, [/i]palliative therapies can greatly reduce its signs and symptoms and even bring about long-term remission. Some of the doctors stressed that, with proper treatment and management, many patients with Crohn's disease are able to function well.

The doctors stated that the cause of Crohn's disease is largely unknown. However, one doctor said the condition was likely due to an abnormal response of the immune system. Food or bacteria in the intestines, or even the lining of the bowel, may cause the uncontrolled inflammation associated with Crohn's disease.

The doctors disclosed that the inheritance pattern of Crohn’s disease was also unclear, noting that several genetic and environmental factors are often at play in the occurrence of the disease. According to one doctor, the condition tends to “cluster in families.” He explained that having an affected family member was deemed to constitute a significant risk factor for the disease.

-Sahara Reporters