Mrs Buhari Advises Women On Healthcare

Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of the President has advised Nigerian women, especially expectant and nursing mothers to avail themselves of proper medical attention to avoid exposure to unnecessary health hazards.

Mrs Buhari spoke through a speech delivered by the wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi at the Oji River General Hospital during her advocacy and community sensitization visit there.

She expressed sadness over the rate of maternal mortality during pregnancy and child delivery and stressed the need for precautionary measures to remedy the situation.

She advised all pregnant women to avail themselves of antenatal services for the good of themselves and their unborn children.

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World Bank Regrets Delay In Disclosing Abacha Loot Disbursement

The World Bank has asked for more time to provide details on how it disbursed the assets recovered from late maximum ruler, Gen Sani Abacha and how same was used by Nigerian authorities.

The bank made the disclosure following a request by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)  for information on the handling of assets recovered from the late Head of State.

In a letter dated October 15, 2015, the World Bank through Ann May of its Access to Information Team, AIT wrote:

“In response to your request under AI3982, we would like to inform you that we are still considering your request and need additional time to provide you with a more comprehensive response.

“In most cases, we will be able to respond within twenty (20) working days from receipt of a request for information. However, we may need additional time in special circumstances, for example, if the request is complex or voluminous or if it requires further review by or consultation with internal World Bank units, external parties, the Access to Information Committee, or the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.

“We regret any inconvenience that a delay may cause you and, if one does occur, will aim to minimize it as much as possible. We will notify you promptly of any updates to the status of your request. Thank you for your interest in the World Bank."

Tokunbo Mumuni, SERAP's Executive Director welcomed the decision of the World Bank to do a thorough job on their request. He said ;

“We welcome the Bank’s decision to thoroughly consider the request. This thorough process shows the seriousness the Bank attaches to the request, and will hopefully contribute to a positive outcome that will serve the interest of justice and millions of Nigerians who want to know about disbursement of Abacha loot.”

SERAP had pursuant to the World Bank’s Access to Information Policy approved by the Board on June 30, 2005, sent an access to information request on 21 September 2015 to Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank Group urging him to “exercise the Bank’s prerogative to release documents relating to spending of recovered assets stolen by Late General Sani Abacha”.

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UN Lauds Buhari Over Fight Against Boko Haram

The United Nations has commended the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for its achievement in the fight against terrorism.

The message was conveyed by Mr. Weixiong Chen of the UN Counter Terrorism Centre who led a delegation to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Dr Peter Ekpendu.

Mr Chen praised the government and the Nigeria Prisons Service for the
“appreciable success that has been recorded in the counter-terrorism, reformation and rehabilitation drive of the prisons service through the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), European Union and other development partners."

He pledged to seek logistical and infrastructural support from international donors for the prison service so as to sustain the gains so far made.

The Comptroller General thanked the UN team for their effort in helping Nigeria to combat violent extremism which he said has redefined the country's security architecture.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support for the de-radicalization of terrorists in prison custody.

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Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Offers Cars To Low Income Earners

Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, PAN has designed a scheme to help medium and low income earners purchase Peugeot cars and pay in installments.

To give effect to the scheme, PAN, last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on auto loan alliance with the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Abuja.

The alliance between PAN and FCMB offers Nigerians who wish to own brand new Peugeot cars the opportunity to do so with a monthly payment plan spread out over five years.

Stressing comfort, safety, quality and reliability of Peugeot cars as attested to by users over the last 30 years, the Managing Director of PAN, Mr Ibrahim Boyi said that the alliance with FCMB is aimed at enabling low and medium income earners to own brand new cars.

His words ;
“You can’t take Peugeot off the roads. Some cars produced 30 years ago still ply the roads in Nigeria. This is the quality; this is the heritage we are preaching.

“We offer yet another opportunity with the FCMB for our prospective customers to relive the legacy, heritage and experience of Peugeot cars.

“Our cars today are better. They are modern to meet the developments in the markets.”

The Group Managing Director of the FCMB, who also doubles as the Regional Director, Abuja and North, Mr Olajire Awofisibe, said that the scheme offers Nigerians the opportunity to own brand new cars instead of buying used cars from Europe.

He said that the alliance with Peugeot Automobile is yet another move from the bank which has empowered over 400,000 Nigerians with loans to help more Nigerians own brand new cars.

“Instead of buying fairly used motor vehicles, why don’t you go for new ones at even a better price?’’ he said.

According to Awofisibe, repayment plans depend on model of vehicles chosen and the cash flow of the customer.

He said that the package covers free vehicle registration, free tracking, three years free maintenance service and discounted free insurance premium.

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Abuja Chamber Of Commerce Builds Database For SMEs

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ltd has built a database to help its members and other interested business concerns take advantage of global trends in business development.

The president of the ACCI, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye said this at the Abuja International ICT Conference and Expo 2015. He disclosed that the Chamber will liaise with other chambers across the world to expose its members to contemporary best business practices.

He added that the conference was organized to help members to harness ICT to enhance their businesses.

He said ;

, “You cannot separate business from ICT. Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture is a business concern. ICT is a tool for business. We are doing this conference to enhance the business of our members and members of the business community.

“We know that no business can survive without ICT tools. So we have to make the opportunities open to them to realise the potential in aligning their businesses with the latest ICT trends. Look at what is happening to organisations like Jumia and Konga. They don’t have a shop anywhere and yet they record turnovers running in billions.”

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Who needs a broken record?

“The opposition seems to have run out of ideas so soon. Daily, we hear the same jaded, hackneyed allegations from them. I think they really are to be pitied. They need help.

“A broken record that repeats itself ceaselessly is of no use than to be thrown away."

This is how the Presidency responded to the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that the probe of former governor Godswill Akpabio of Cross River State by the EFCC was a ploy by the ruling APC to weaken their party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Now that they have started politicizing corruption. . . It's okay. . .

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Naira Loses At The Parallel Market

The Naira on Friday lost N0.5 against the US dollar at the parallel market.

The Nigerian currency ended the day at N225.5 to the dollar as the previous value of N225.

Forex traders attributed the loss to increased demand from businessmen and travellers for the dollar.

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