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NCAA did not follow due process on purchase of bullet proof cars--- BPP

STELLA ODUAH SAGA

The Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) did not follow due process in the purchase of controversial BMW armoured cars for Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah.

The agency made this clarification while making a presentation at the one day public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on Thursday in Abuja.

The public hearing is to enable the committee to investigate the purchase of two BMW armoured cars which has generated controversy in the last few weeks.

Similarly, the House Committee on Aviation summoned the Minister of Aviation to appear before it unfailingly on Tuesday Oct. 29 to explain her role in the purchase saga.

The House, on Oct. 22 sequel to a motion by the Minority Whip, Rep. Samson Osagie, mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report to it within one week.

Mr Ayo Aderigbigbe, a Director in the BPP, who represented the Director-General of the agency, Mr Emeka Eze told the committee that BPP was neither involved in the transaction by the NCAA nor the ministry.

He explained that the action of the NCAA in respect of the purchase of the said vehicles was outright violation of the provisions of the Act establishing the bureau.

Moreover, he said that any goods worth more than N100 million was beyond the approval limit of the NCAA, and must go to the Federal Executive Council for approval.

Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Rep Nkiruka Onyejiocha and other members of the committee accused the NCAA of violating the provisions of the 2013 Appropriation Act.

The Representatives said that NCAA also violated the constitution of the country which stipulated the way public fund should be spent.

The House interrogated the Director-General of NCAA, Mr Joyce Nkemakolam, and the former acting Director-General of the agency, Mr Fola Akintokun on the purchase of operational vehicles for the establishment.


However, it was discovered during the interrogation that the NCAA went beyond what was appropriated for it in the year 2013 budget.

Reps Jerry Manwe, Matthew Omegara, Zakari Mohammed and others observed that the National Assembly appropriated a sum of N240 million for NCAA for the purchase of 25 operational vehicles in the 2013 budget.

The lawmakers said that the officials of the agency went out of their way to commit the sum of N643 million for the purchase of 54 cars instead.
The lawmakers, who grilled the NCAA management team lamented that Nkemakolam demonstrated serious disregard to the National Assembly by neglecting its legislations.

The committee members were angry that Nkemakolam made approvals that were contrary to Acts of Parliament.
The committee was not satisfied with the presentation and responses of the officials of NCAA.
Subsequently, the committee mandated them to come back on Oct. 29 with bank statements from their operational accounts with the First Bank, Sterling Bank, UBA, FCMB, Zenith Bank and CBN.

The lawmakers also insisted that the minister of aviation must conclude or abandon her official engagement in Israel and appear before the committee next Tuesday as a matter of compulsion.
NAN.

A Urologist, Dr Celsus Undie, has advised women suffering ``urinary incontinence'', also known as involuntary leakage of urine when coughing or sneezing, to do pelvic exercises to help stop the leakage.
Undie, a doctor with the National Hospital, Abuja, said that involuntary leakage of urine is caused by weakness of the neck of the bladder.
He said the female urethra is shorter than that of the male, while the female pelvic floor is also weaker than that of the male.

The Doctor also said that females had bigger hips and their pelvic cavity wider anatomically to allow babies pass through.
He said that females have three passages through the pelvis as against two as found in the males.
``The genital passage in the male doubles as a passage for urine while in the female there are two separate passages, one for urine, the other is genital and the third passage is for stool,’’ he said.
The urologist said that the pelvic floor exercise, also called Kegel exercise, involved contracting and relaxing the muscles around the anus and the neck of the bladder.

He said that the exercise would help to strengthen the pelvic floor and hold the bladder up.
``Women who leak urine should do pelvic floor exercises, contract and hold their anus as if they want to stop watery stool from leaking through.
``Contract and hold the neck of your bladder as if urine is about to leak and you want to stop it from leaking. Do this and relax as many times as possible daily,’’ Undie said.

He said that the multiple passages in women contributes in weakening the pelvic floor, adding that by the time many babies push through the pelvic floor, it gets weaker.

``This changes the normal anatomy where the bladder neck is above the pelvic floor and urine is controlled by the strength of the muscles there.

``Once the bladder neck descends below the level of the muscles, the control is lost,’’.

Undie, however, advised women in the condition to see a doctor if they notice involuntary leakage of urine. 

Smile Widows Foundation to train 200 widows on skills aquisition in Akwa Ibom

NGO to train 200 widows 

 

Smile Widows Foundation, says it is targeting 200 widows for training in production of cosmetics and laundry services in Akwa Ibom.
The founder of the NGO, Mr Patrick Daramola, said this in Uyo on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeri.
He said that the five days free skills acquisition training would last from Aug. 12 to Aug.17.
He said that the women would be trained on how to make perfume, body spray, soap, detergent, air freshener, bleach, insecticide and body cream.
Daramola added that the women would also be trained on how to make paint, disinfectants and shampoo.
He expressed hope that at the end of the training the rate at which the widows depended on their relations for their sustenance would be reduced.
 ``It is the desire of the NGO that widows in Akwa Ibom should have sustainable income generating business to cater for themselves,’’ he said.
Daramola told NAN that at the end of the training, the beneficiaries would be linked with financial institutions for necessary assistance to commence their business.
He said that the widows were among the less-privileged in the society who needed to be supported and catered for by the people.
Daramola urged the widows to avail themselves of the opportunity of the training to engage in productive ventures.

PDP congratulates APC leadership on registration of party

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday congratulated the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the successful registration of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Tony Okeke, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of PDP.
The statement described the registration of APC as ``healthy to the nation`s democracy’’ and said that the party did not posed any threat to the ruling party.
``The PDP still maintained its pre-eminent position and enjoyed the widest popularity and acceptance across the country,’’ it said.
The statement said that with the registration of APC, ``Nigerians expect its leaders to eschew all forms of bitterness and desperation’’.
It advised the leadership of the new party against ``politics of propaganda'' and said that it should focus on issues affecting the nation's economy and governance in the interest of Nigerians.
``We hope to see a vibrant opposition that will constructively engage the PDP on issues of governance in a way that Nigerians will benefit instead of overheating the polity.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that three political parties, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), merged to form the APC.
A statement issued by INEC on Wednesday and signed by its Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, said the commission approved the application by the three political parties because ``they met all statutory requirements for the merger’’. (NAN)

17yr old wife kills husband over alleged sexual demands

A story of child not bride+
 
The Plateau Police Command on Wednesday in Jos said it had arrested a 17-year-old minor who allegedly killed her husband over his sexual demands. The minor allegedly killed Lawal Bala, 26, in his sleep on their matrimonial bed on July 8.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Chris Olakpe, said the police had also arrested some suspected criminals.
The minor, who spoke from the police custody, told newsmen that ``he was sleeping with me six times in a day.
``I kept complaining to him that I could not stand his sexual urge but he refused to listen to my plea; no family member was ready to help me, so I did what I did. ``
She said that she regretted killing him, but that she thought that was the only option left for her to free herself from the pains she was passing through.
According to her, I have realised my mistake and have repented of my sin; all I want is for the authorities to allow me to go home.
The suspect said she was already two months pregnant for her late husband and would want to go home to take care of herself till delivery.
Earlier, Olakpe had said that when the matter was reported, and the minor was arrested, she denied committing the offence.
``But in the cause of investigations, she later confessed to committing the crime and gave reasons, `` he said.
Olakpe, who said that the offence was a culpable homicide, added that she would soon be prosecuted at the Juvenile Court.
           

Dbanj urges FG to support music industry

Music From NAN

Nigerian hip-hop star, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D'banj, on Tuesday in Abuja urged the Federal government to design programmes that would boost the nation's music industry.
D'banj said this when he visited the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief  Edem Duke.
He said that the youth in the country were endowed with music potentials that should be harnessed.
``Nigeria’s entertainment industry needs support and I am committed to being a part of efforts toward achieving this,’’ D'banj said.
He also spoke about the need to promote the country’s image in the international community through music and entertainment.
``But we can achieve this through establishing a collaboration that will offer support for young and upcoming musicians who have the talents to showcase the country to the world,’’ he said.
D'banj also described the entertainment industry as an employer of labour, adding that it was capable of keeping the youth economically engaged and out of social vices.
Receiving him, Duke called on musicians across the country and in the Diaspora to strive to be role models.
According to Duke, the Federal Government is determined to strengthening the nation's entertainment industry with support from stars such as D'banj.
He urged him to use his popularity and talent to attract international partners to promote the nation’s music industry.