Latest news from Nigeria on Nigeriaa2z.com. catch up with A-Z news and information from Africa’s most populous country in West Africa via our teams in Kaduna, Warri, Lagos, Abuja and Kano.
The Federal Government has begun the distribution of 7, 200 tonnes of fertiliser to farmers in Jigawa as part of efforts to accelerate paddy rice production, Gov. Sule Lamido said. Lamido disclosed this while inaugurating the distribution of the c...
Nigeria requires almost one Billion United States Dollars to fight malaria between 2013 and 2014, the World Health Organization {WHO} has reported. In its annual assessment report on the disease yesterday, the United Nations health agency noted&...
Activities at the magistrates courts in the FCT have slowed down following the mass transfer of magistrates within the territory. Checks at the courts by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reveal that numerous cases meant for adjudication in the last two...
The Police Service Commission, PSC, has said that Police officers who were denied promotion in the Force because of their state of origin, in line with the policy of Federal Character and Quota System may never get any compensation or reprieve. The com...
The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the death of six persons on Sunday in an auto crash on Kwankwama Road in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Aminu Sadiq, said that 16 others ...
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), yesterday, has disclosed that the federal government may spend N1.23 trillion on fuel subsidy payments by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. PPPRA’s projection shoots up subsidy payments as ...
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation is set to probe Saturday’s Helicopter crash which killed Kaduna state Governor, Patrick Yakowa, Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi and four others in Bayelsa State. Th...
Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has confirmed the suspicion that her mother, Professor Kanene Okonjo, was kidnapped by those who wanted to get at her over the contentious issue of unpaid fuel subsidy claims. Okonjo-Iweala, who expressed gr...
Two 6-year-old boys were to be the first victims of the Sandy Hook School massacre buried after funeral services on Monday in Connecticut.
Noah Pozner and Jack Pinto were among the 20 children - all age 6 or 7 - slain in a shooting spree on Friday at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Six teachers in the school were also killed by the suspected gunman, a 20-year-old man who appeared to be deranged.
Separate funeral services were scheduled for both boys in Newtown and a neighbouring community with burials to follow.
Several more services were planned for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Pozner was the youngest victim. His Jewish family's temple, Congregation Adath Israel in Newtown, was raising money to help the Pozners, and his funeral notice recommended memorial contributions for the planting of trees in Israel.
Jack Pinto's family held a private wake ahead of Monday's funeral.
His family said over the weekend that they planned to bury the young sports fan in a New York Giants football jersey of receiver Victor Cruz, his favourite player.
The professional player telephoned with Pinto's parents prior to his Sunday game in Atlanta.
``There are no words that can describe the type of feeling you get when a kid idolizes you so much that, you know, unfortunately they put him in a casket with your jersey on," Cruz said, in a report by the Newsday newspaper in Long Island, New York.
Cruz played on Sunday with messages written on his gloves and including "Rest In Peace Jack Pinto."
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Monday said that the ministry had started the printing of new yellow fever cards with encoded security details to replace the old ones.
Chukwu said this when the newly appointed WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Rui Gamavaz, paid a courtesy visit to the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that in May, about 125 Nigerians were deported by the South African authorities because they were alleged not to have possessed genuine yellow fever card.
He said that Nigeria had established collaboration with the Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunisation (GAVI) to ensure effective control of any unforeseen eventuality that might arise as a result of outbreak from neighbouring countries.
``On the yellow fever aspect, the issue we have with South Africa diplomatically, it has been resolved but for the health aspect.
``What we are doing now, we are printing new yellow cards, which once they are printed, these ones have better security features and they will gradually replace the old yellow card.
`` We are walking with GAVI now to some extent they have accepted our proposal for a campaign for yellow fever.
``So, if able by next year with the assistance of GAVI we will source yellow fever vaccines we will begin a special campaign.
``Because we remain at risks, even recently Cameroon had some outbreak and we are neighbours with them and from either ways the disease can cross from either ways but we need to get more people immunised in Nigeria if we are not to have recurrence of 1995 disaster.’’
Chukwu expressed concern over the ineffectiveness in the use of mosquito treated net to eradicate malaria in Nigeria.
He said that the method did not conform with the country's weather condition, stressing that a lot of people complained that it was generating a lot of heat.
Chukwu said that the indoor residual spraying was an expensive method to embark on, besides, many Nigerians preferred staying outside to receive fresh air.
The minister also appealed to WHO to collaborate with the country in ensuring that polio was totally eradicated.
He said that more laboratories would be established for polio diagnosis.
Chukwu said that Nigeria was also making progress in reducing maternal and new born mortality through the Save One Million Lives initiatives.
He pledged Nigeria's cooperation with the new country representative to achieve success in promoting the health of the citizens.
Responding, the WHO country representative appreciated the Federal Government's efforts in promoting the health of Nigerians.
Gamavaz gave the assurance that WHO would identify the health challenges in Nigeria and work toward addressing the issues.
He pledged to build on the existing relationship of his predecessors, stressing that efforts would be put in place to ensure success in promoting good health of the people.
The Bayelsa Government said it was awaiting the outcome of investigation into the navy helicopter crash that killed former Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, retired Gen. Owoeye Azazi and four others. on Dec. 15.
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa gave the indication on Monday in Yenagoa, when he received the investigation team from the Federal Government led by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba.
The governor, who described the crash as a monumental tragedy, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment and support for the investigation.
He commended the naval chief and the team for their prompt response by visiting the state to carry out an assessment of the crash site at Okoroba Community in Nembe Local Government Area.
Dickson expressed the condolences of the government and people of Bayelsa over the death of Yakowa, noting that he was a guest of the state, building relationships.
On the former National Security Adviser, Azazi, the governor said “here we have lost one of our best, who means so much to the state and has contributed towards nation building”.
Dickson described the navy pilot among the dead as diligent officers, who had served in the state during the flood period and commended their sense of duty and professionalism.
“I condole with the entire military, as well as their families for their tragic loss. We are all in mourning with the loss of these great patriots."
The governor remarked that the navy had been a critical pillar of support to the state in the quest to ensure peace and stability.
He said that the administration had already declared three days of mourning in the state, adding that all formal government activities had been suspended.
Dickson assured the chief of naval staff that the state government would continue to play its constitutional roles and called for more interactions from the Nigerian Navy to discuss issues of common interest.
Earlier, Ezeoba urged Nigerians to remain united in spite of the pain and grief occasioned by the national loss.
According to him, in spite all, we will continue to give thanks to God.
Ezeoba said that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed a detailed investigation into the rash, and gave the assurance that necessary steps would be taken to unravel its cause.
First Lady Patience Jonathan wept in Kaduna on Monday when she paid a condolence visit to Mrs Amina Yakowa, wife of Gov. Patrick Yakowa, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
``I am sorry I am crying because I am a woman; I know what she (Amina) is passing through. It's quite unfortunate that we lost a peaceful and supportive man, a man who was always filled with joy.
``My only advice to you my friend is that you should take heart, have faith in God because only God can comfort and protect you and your kids.’’
Jonathan prayed to God to grant Yakowa’s soul eternal rest.
Earlier, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who welcomed the guests, had described late Yakowa as ``a solidifier’’.
``He was a true Nigerian and a friend to everyone. He solidified Kaduna and he sought to bring people together.''
Sambo expressed ``deep and sincere appreciation’’ to all those who came to commiserate with Yakowa’s family and the state government over the governor’s death.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that governors Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, and Sule Lamido of Jigawa were present at the occasion.
Also present were wives of the governors of Gombe, Nasarawa and Katsina States, Niger, Benue, Zamfara, Kogi, Adamawa and Taraba.
It will be recalled that Gov. Patrick Yakowa and a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi died in the crash, which took place near Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa.
Others, who died in the crash are Dudas Tsoho, a top politician from Kaduna; Azazi’s orderly, the pilot and the co-pilot.
The victims were returning from Yenagoa after attending the funeral of the father of Mr Oronto Douglas, a presidential aide.
The Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) on Monday reiterated its support on the call for investigation into the crash that killed Gov. Patrick Yakowa and five others.
The Chairman of NGF, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers made the call in Kaduna when he led 10 other governors on a condolence visit to Gov. Mukhtar Yero.
Amaechi said the visit was to condole with the family and the people of the state over the ``tragic death'' of the former governor.
`` The first thing is to support the President in his call for investigation, and we also agreed to come here to pay our condolences to you, the people of Kaduna State, his wife and the immediate family of Yakowa.’’
He expressed the forum's support to the new governor, urging him to strive hard towards accomplishing the set goals of his predecessor.
`` We pray that the same wisdom God gave him to carry out programmes for Kaduna people, that same wisdom be bestowed on you to be able to continue and complete his programmes and those things that will impact on the lives of people.’’
Responding, Yero assured the governors that he would carry on with the projects embarked by the late governor.
`` Whatever he has put in place as a foundation for the development of the state, been part of the system, been part of the government, i assure you we will continue with the good work he started.
``We would try to consolidate on it and improve on all the things he started.’’
He expressed appreciation to the forum for commiserating with the family and the entire people of the state, adding that `` nobody envisaged'' the death of the late governor.
`` Our governor has left a big vacuum and we are trying to see how we can accommodate it. And by the grace of God, we will do our best to improve the lives of the people in Kaduna State.’’
The governor also reiterated his commitment towards ensuring peace, unity and development in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Idris Wada (Kogi), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Peter Obi (Anambra) were on the delegation.
Others were Theodore Orji (Abia), Jonah Jang (Plateau) Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Garba Umar (Taraba).
The European Union will no longer allow timber products from Nigeria into the its markets as from March 2013, according to a Nigerian official. Mr Oye Adedoyin, the Deputy Director of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, revealed this on Monday i...