UNIDO demonstrated rice husk

fire powered plant

NAN-H-88

UNIDO

Abakaliki, Feb. 1, 2008 A mock

demonstration of a 5 MW rice husk

fire powered plant was today made

before members of Ebonyi Executive

Council at Government House,

Abakaliki.

The demonstration was at the

instance of the United Nations

Industrial Development

Organisation (UNIDO).

The choice of Ebonyi for the

demonstration was as a result

of availability of rice husk

produced from over 300

mills in the Abakaliki Rice Mills.

UNIDO Representative in Nigeria, Mr

Magayoshi Matsushita, said the rice

husk fire powered electricity plant

was among seven projects, the

organisation had worked on since

2002.

He said the biomass power plant when

completed, would certainly boost the

economic base of the state.

UNIDO -- 2

The representative gave an assurance

that the technology of producing

electricity from the husks was tested

and proven.

Gov. Martin Elechi on the occasion

promised continued support for

the project.

He said that the power plant would

add impetus to the development

of the state and would be a new

beginning for the government.

The Commissioner for Public Utilities,

Mr Celestine Nwali, disclosed

that government had already

released N10 million for the project.

The project is expected to cost about

$11.3 million (about N146 million)

OU/YEMI/ODI

==========




Cleric wants govt's aid for dead orderly

NAN-H-89

Orderly

Abeokuta, Feb.1, 2008 (NAN) Venerable

Sunday Aboderin of the Anglican Church,

Abeokuta, today appealed to Ogun

government to assist the family of the

late Sergeant Akinola Fadairo, who died

last Sunday.

Aboderin made the appeal at the service

of songs held at Christ Anglican Church,

Iporo Ake, Abeokuta, for the late Sergeant,

who died with the Secretary to Ogun State

Government (SSG), Otunba Sadiq Olukoya.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports

that until his death, Fadairo was the security

orderly to the late SSG.

They were returning from Bayelsa, where

the SSG led the state's delegation to the

burial of the father of Vice-President

Goodluck Jonathan, when the accident

occurred near Abeokuta.

Orderly -- 2

The priest in his sermon described the

late Fadairo as ``a God-fearing man, who

served the church and the government till

his death''.

He, however, assured the widow of the

late sergeant that ``as the scripture says,

after a thick darkness, there must be

light".

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police

in Ogun, Mr Joseph Apapa, said in an

interview with NAN that the family of the

late Fadairo was entitled to compensation

from an insurance scheme put in place

by the police.

``Since he was in active service for 17

yeas before he died, his family is also

entitled to his retirement benefits,'' he

said.

Orderly -- 3

He added that when the command

received the news, the police made

immediate provision for his burial

expenses, though he worked at the

State House.

The commissioner explained that the

late Fadairo, who was enlisted into the

police force 17 years ago, had served

at various formations and departments.

NAN reports that the remains of late

Sergeant 37, were interred at a

cemetery on the Abeokuta/Sagamu

expressway in the outskirt of Abeokuta.

He is survived by wife, Mrs Shade

Fadairo and a little kid; Boluwatife. (NAN)

OMT/AIB/KAY/EU

===========


Food prices soar in Benue

NAN-H-90

Food

Makurdi, Feb.1, 2008 (NAN) Prices of

foodstuffs have recorded a slight

increase in Makurdi, as the new year

progresses, a News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) survey has shown.

A measure of imported rice now

sells for N200 as against N150

in December.

Similarly, a bottle of palm oil at the

Makurdi Modern Market sells for N300

against N150 during Christmas.

A trader at the market, Madam Cecilia

Odunzu attributed the increase in the

prices of palm oil to the cold season,

which she said had affected

production of palm fruits.

Food -- 2

Another trader, Madam Maria Odan

said a measure of beans sold for

N120 against N100 in December.

Meanwhile, prices of food in

restaurants are not affected,

though the quality and quantity

have been reduced.

Business activities are generally

low due to a lack of money

as civil servants have yet to

be paid their January salary.

(NAN)

DOE/KAY/ODI

===========








Corruption: ICPC introduces village

square meetings

NAN-H-91

Meetings

Abuja, Feb. 1, 2008 (NAN) ICPC said today in

Abuja that it has introduced village square

meetings as a forum to discuss corruption

issues in rural communities.

Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, the Chairman of the

commission, said this at an interactive session

with workers of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory

Commission.

``The meeting provides a forum for community

leaders to discuss corruption and participate

actively in the fight against it,'' he said.

Ayoola said the meeting was an extension of the

community advocacy programme during which

workshops were conducted, to sensitise local

government officials on topical issues in the

country.

``The training under the community advocacy

programme is designed to be continuous and

is aimed at institutionalising integrity in the

local government system,'' he stressed.

Meetings -- 2

Ayoola said the commission was collaborating

with relevant government agencies to

resuscitate civic education in schools.

The ICPC chief also said that the commission

was working on the production of anti-corruption

training manuals as tools for imparting

anti-corruption ideals in members of the public.

``We are making this manual available to all

stakeholders in our joint crusade against

corruption.

``We, in ICPC, strongly believe that with the active

support of members of the public, the fight against

corruption is as good as won,'' he said. (NAN)

VI/KUA/AD

========
CNPP rallies support for Chime

NAN-H-92

Support

Enugu, Feb. 1, 2008 (NAN) Some political

parties in Enugu State today pledged their

support for the administration of Gov.

Sullivan Chime.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

reports that the parties, under the aegis

of the Conference of Nigeria Political

Parties (CNPP), organised a rally at

Enugu to drum the support for the

governor.

The parties include ANPP, Fresh,

Justice Party, CPP, NUP, NAP, UNPP.

NAN recalls that Enugu State Election

Petitions Tribunal had annulled the

election of Chime and ordered a fresh

election, saying that voting did not

place in many places during the polls.

However, Chime sooner said that

he would appeal against the tribunal's

judgement

Support -- 2

Speaking with NAN at the rally, Mr

Anthony Okonkwo, the Acting State

ANPP Chairman, said that the party

participated in the rally to celebrate

``democracy and inclusive

government''.

Okonkwo noted that Chime's

administration had some respect for

opposition parties and had resolved

to build bridges of understanding,

unlike its predecessors.

Also speaking, Mr Chuks Uzochukwu,

the State Chairman of Citizens Popular

Party (CPP), said the administration had

restored the people's confidence in the

state's governance.

"This is a PDP government with a

difference, as it strives to meeting the

people's aspirations.

Support -- 3

"Personally, I have been touched by

this administration. Just last month, the

state government provided electricity

for my town, Mgbidi, in Awgu Local

Government Area," he said.

Also speaking, Chief Michael Nnamani,

State Secretary of NUP, said: `The

administration has brought peace to

the state.''

Nnamani said that since the NUP

stood for peace, it would support any

moves to promote peace in the state.

NAN also reports that the people

of came out in their thousands to

participate in the rally. (NAN)

KSN/DCU/OOK

============






Osun rich in tourism -- official

NAN-H-93

Tourism

Osogbo, Feb. 1, 2008 (NAN) The federal

government has identified Osun as one

of the states with the richest tourist

attractions in the country, an official, has

said.

Mrs O. Nohanwa, the Director of Culture

in the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture

and National Orientation, said this today

in Osogbo at an interactive session with

Osun/Osogbo heritage council.

She stressed the need for proper

management of all tourist centres in

the state to generate funds and jobs.

She said private stakeholders in tourism

business also had enormous role to play

in developing the identified tourist sites.

Tourism -- 2

Nohanwa called for collaboration between

the state and the federal ministry of

tourism and culture to develop the sites.

She explained that apart from Osun/Osogbo

Groove, other attractive tourist activities

such as the establishment of a craft village

and an amusement park would generate

revenue for the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Tourism

and Culture, Mr Obafemi Fagbola, said the

purpose of the interactive session was to

share ideas on how to make the forthcoming

Osun/Osogbo festival more attractive.

The commissioner said the government

was determined to develop all tourists

centres in the state to serve as sources

of revenue.

Tourism -- 3

Fagbola also charged all hoteliers in

the state to expand their facilities to

accommodate the increase in the

number of visitors during the festival.

He asked them to should show more

concern for the welfare and security of

their customers.

He expressed the hope that the development

of more tourist sites would provide more

job opportunities to the people. (NAN)

AFA/SY/EU

=======






Ebonyi to assist federal agencies

NAN-H-94

Agencies

Abakaliki, Feb.1, 2008 (NAN) The

Ebonyi Government today promised

to assist federal agencies in the state.

Gov. Martin Elechi announced this in

Abakaliki, when the General Manager of

Unity FM, Abakaliki, Mr Chika Emerenwa,

paid him a courtesy call.

The governor directed the State Water

Corporation to provide water to the station

while its access road would be constructed.

He said the performance of the station

had justified the Federal Government's

decision to establish radio stations

in all the states.

Agencies -- 2

Earlier,Emerenwa had told the governor

that the station followed strictly the Federal

Government's guidelines on recruitment.

According to him,all the junior employees

on GL 1-6 were from Ebonyi.

Out of the 44 workers on the payroll

of the station, he said 21 were from

Ebonyi.

He also lamented the poor access road

leading to the station, saying it had

adversely affected the station's vehicles.

(NAN)

OU/OJO/ODI

==========




Doctors' warning strike

paralyses activities in govt.

hospitals

NAN-H-95

Doctors

Lagos, Feb. 1, 2008 (NAN)

Resident doctors' one-day

warning strike paralysed

activities in most government

hospitals today in Lagos State.

Correspondents of the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who

monitored the strike in the

hospitals, report that the action

recorded much compliance by

members of National

Association of Resident Doctors

(NARD).

Lagos University Teaching

Hospital at Idi-Araba, Lagos

State University Teaching

Hospital in Ikeja, Psychiatric

Hospital in Yaba and National

Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, all

recorded skeletal operations.

The resident doctors embarked

on the strike in solidarity with

their parent body, the Nigerian

Medical Association ((NMA)

which is demanding the

introduction of a medical salary

scale as the basis for the

remuneration of medical and

dental practitioners.

NARD had on Monday

announced its intention to

embark on the nationwide strike

due to alleged federal

government's failure to meet the

NMA's demand.

Doctors - 2

NAN reports that in most of the

government institutions, only

medical consultants were

conspicuous as only few

resident doctors reported for

duty.

Out-patients were sent back.

At the Psychiatric Hospital, the

out-patients were advised to

come back on Monday.

One of the doctors at the

hospital explained that the

strike was about the salary

scale which favoured nurses

and other workers more than

doctors.

``If we can create an atmosphere

where doctors can work and not

fill short-changed, then we will

have a better Nigeria" he said.

Doctors - 3

According to him, since the

introduction of the consolidated

tertiary institutions' salary scale

(CONTISS) by the Obasanjo

administration, as doctors get

elevated, their call duty

allowances get reduced.

The doctor called for the

harmonisation of the medical

salary scale in order to put an

end to the crisis in the health

sector.

He also said that the same

salary scale should be

applicable to all doctors

nationwide irrespective of their

work station, as that would go a

long way in putting a stop to the

brain-drain syndrome in the

sector.

He appealed to President Umaru

Yar'Adua to urgently address

the matter so as not to

degenerate into full-blown

strike.

``As the servant leader, his job

is not done until he has served

the citizens to the best of his

ability,'' he said.

Doctors - 4

Mr Micheal Oduobi who,

brought his sister to the

hospital to collect her

medication, told NAN that they

had been there since 8am

without being attended to.

Mrs Lydia Ajayi, the Corporate

Affairs Officer of the hospital,

told NAN that the management

was doing everything possible

to ensure that patients were

well taken care of by

consultants.

Meanwhile, doctors at the

General Hospital, Marina, Lagos

indicated today that they would

embark on a full-blown strike if

the conditions given by NARD

were not met .

``Some of the hospitals could

not join the one-day strike

called by NARD because it might

cause a great loss to the

nation," one of the doctors,

Abiodun Ademola, told NAN.

``The association is very

considerate and that is why it

allowed some hospitals to still

work today in spite of the

warning strike'' he said.

Doctors - 5

At the Lagos University

Teaching Hospital (LUTH), some

resident doctors were on their

duty posts.

At the Rasome Kuti Children's

Emergency Ward, doctors on

call were moving from one bed

to the other, attending to

children with different ailments.

A mother who spoke on

condition of anonymity, said the

doctors attended to the children

that morning.

``You can even see them moving

from one bed to another,

attending to children,' she said.

In some other wards, doctors

were also going about their

jobs.

Doctors - 6

A resident doctor, who also did

not want his name mentioned,

said that some of them were on

duty because it was just a

warning strike.

``Some of us are still working

because we still believe that the

real strike has not started.

Besides, this is just a one-day

warning strike,'' the doctor said.

Doctors at the Lagos State

University Teaching Hospital

(LASUTH), Ikeja, however,

joined the strike.

Lasisi Taiwo, President of NARD

in LASUTH told NAN that all the

resident doctors were

participating in the strike as

directed by the national body of

the association

"We have, however, put some

doctors on call to prevent loss

of lives."

Doctors - 7

According to him, no out-patient

or elective procedure (i.e. cases

of surgery) cases will be treated

today.

He emphasised that doctors did

a ward-round on Thursday to

ensure there were no cases

which needed emergency

attention.

``If any patient on admission

develops any problem, the team

on call will take over".

Only emergency patients who

need to stabilise are the ones

that will be placed on admission

today. Other cases will have to

wait till Saturday,'' he said.

NAN observed that all the four

emergency units were opened.

Doctors - 8

The units include the Surgical,

Paediatric, and medical

emergencies as well as the

Obstetrics and Gynecology (O &

G) Emergency Unit.

At the medical emergency unit, a

teenage patient, who simply

identified herself as Nike,

begged for a place to lie down

but was kept on a chair with

drips placed on her.

At the Paediatric section, a

doctor sat and attended to a row

of mothers who brought their

children for treatment, just as

what transpired in other units.

Also speaking, the head of

corporate affairs office of the

National Orthopaedic Hospital,

Igbobi, Mr Ademola Esan, said

the strike was observed by most

resident doctors in the hospital

as proposed.

Doctors - 9

He said that consultants and

some other medical officers

were going about their normal

duties, but with more patients to

attend to.

One of the resident doctors, Dr

David Odatuwa-Omagbemi, said

before now, while other civil

servants were having their

increments, there was no such

in the medical salary scheme.

Odatuwa-Omagbemi, who is the

immediate past president of

NARD, Igbobi chapter, further

stated that while the struggle

for the review was still going

on, the government merged

them with other civil servants.

He stated that ever since then,

the doctors had been fighting to

return to the medical salary

scale. (NAN)

Reporters/IGO/WAS/BP

FG inaugurates hospital

NAN-H-96

Hospital

Iresi (Osun), Feb. 1, 2008 (NAN) A multi-

million naira hospital built by the National

Primary Health Care Development Agency

(NPHCDA) has been inaugurated at Iresi, in

Osun.

A federal government Representative, Dr

Modupeola Oyesiji, who inaugurated the

hospital today at Iresi, Osun, immediately

handed it over to the Iresi community in

Boluwaduro local government.

She urged the community to protect the

building and equipment in the hospital

from vandals in its own interest.

According to her, the construction of the

hospital was part of the federal government's

efforts to bring health care delivery closer

to the people at the grassroots.

Oyesiji appealed to the people to make

best use of the hospital so that government's

intention for embarking on the project

would not be defeated.

Hospital -- 2

Oyesiji urged the people of Iresi to be

grateful to the federal government and

count themselves lucky to have such

a facility located in their community.

Responding, the Chairman Boluwaduro

local government, Mr James Ajayi, thanked

the federal government for providing the

health facility.

He described the location of the hospital

as strategic, adding that ``it is a blessing

not only to the people of Iresi community

but also to the entire people of the local

government''.

Ajayi assured the federal government that

the community would do everything

possible to protect the hospital and its

equipment from vandals or abuse. (NAN)

AFA/SY/EU

=======






Police foils robbery attempt

NAN-H-97

Robbers

Ibadan, Feb. 1, 2008 (NAN)

The police in Ibadan today foiled

a robbery attempt, leaving one of

the suspects robbers dead as

four others fled with bullet wounds.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

reports that a group of armed

robbers had invaded a compound at

the Adegbayi area of Ibadan at about

12 30 a.m.

Eye witness accounts said

the robbers had ordered the

occupants of the affected building

to lie down during the operation.

According to the reports,

the police in Egbeda division

of the Nigeria Police Force on

patrol of the area, responded.

The DPO of the

Gbagi police station, Mr Joe

Agugoesi said there had

been recent threats to the

residents of the Adegbayi area.

Robbers -- 2

Agugoesi said the police had been

informed hence, officers were

deployed to patrol the

area both day and night.

According to him, the gang of

robbers had been suspected by

the officers on patrol and trailed

to the compound.

There, one of them, a middle-aged

man was shot dead while four

others who had sustained bullet

wounds escaped.

Robbers -- 3

Agugoesi disclosed: "The residents of

Adegbayi area have at different times,

reported some security threats to me

and I had deployed some men to

that area.

'' My men noticed strange

men in suspicious manners in the

area where they eventually

attacked a house.

"They had stolen electronics gadgets

and some money but could

not cart them away as the officers

apprehended them.

''During the gun battle, one of them

was killed while others fled

with serious injuries," he said.

The DPO, however, stated that

investigation was ongoing and

implored the public to be alert to

security threats. (NAN)

BJ/YEMI/ODI

==========




















Russia sends bombers,fighters to

Atlantic, Arctic

NAN-F-34

Fighters

Moscow, Feb. 1, 2008 (Reuters/NAN)

Russia sent fighters and long-range

bombers to the Arctic and North

Atlantic today to take part in

manoeuvres demonstrating

revival of some of the military

power.

Russia lost its military might with

the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Vladimir Putin, set to hand

the presidency to a chosen

successor after an election

that will gauge his own popularity.

He tapped feelings of national

humiliation in rebuilding forces

left to decay in the 1990's.

The navy had lost the global role it

had grown in the 1970's, aircraft

and ships lacked fuel.

The air force said more than

40 aircraft would take part in

the manoeuvres, which follow

similar exercises by warships and

bombers last month off the

Atlantic coast of France and Spain.

``Air force pilots will carry

out practice in the areas

involving reconnaissance,

missile-bombing attacks on a navy

attack force of a hypothetical

enemy, air-to-air combat and

refuelling and patrolling,''

an air force spokesman, said.

Bomb -- 2

The bomber group included

two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic

bombers, code named "Blackjack"

by NATO, two turbo-prop Tu-95

"Bear" strategic bombers, and

eight Tu-22 "Blinder" bombers.

MiG-31 and Su-27 fighters were

also sent to the region.

Putin, who plans to draw

on his popularity and retain

influence after the election,

has renewed long-range bomber

missions.

He approved an upgrade

of nuclear forces that was

needed after NATO built up

forces close to Russian

borders.(Reuters/NAN)

OEO/HTH

======









*