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Rivers State to employ more doctors.

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Rivers State Government will employ more resident doctors that will work at new facilities nearing completion this year , according to governor Nyesom Wike.

The Governor said this while speaking during a meeting with House Officers of the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday.

He equally assured the house officers that they would be retained after their internship.

The administration is expected to complete the Mother and Child Hospital Rumuomasi, Bori General Hospital, Degema Zonal Hospital And Okehi Zonal Hospital later this year.

The Governor said that their is need to employ young Rivers State doctors after they complete their internship saying that it has nothing to do with the economy.

“I thank God that we have this opportunity to employ you after your internship “.

The governor stated that his administration will assist the house officers to carry out their voluntary medical outreach to less privileged persons.

Governor Wike said that the Rivers State Government will continue to invest in healthcare programmes as a means to building the health infrastructure of the state.

Nigeria to be barred from international transactions by March.

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Egmont group is set to expel Nigeria’s Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, by March 2018.

This is on the agenda of the Egmont Working Group and Heads of FIU Meeting between the 2nd and 7th of March, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Egmont group, which is a global network of 152 Financial Intelligence Units, FIUs, had earlier suspended Nigeria in July 2017 following the consensus by the members of the group at the 24th plenary of the group in Macao, SAR.

If expelled, Nigeria will suffer a blacklist in the global finance sector and Nigerian Banks will be unable to issue Mastercard and Visa credit/debit cards while card transactions with Nigerian originated cards will be blocked meaning Nigerians cannot do foreign transactions. This is one of many other costs of the i

This is one of the many other consequences of this looming decision. In the first place, the decision to suspend Nigeria’s FIU largely due to the fact that it has operated under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with high level of interference and meddling by the Ibrahim Magu led anti-corruption agency.

Mr Magu by court orders is an illegal appointee who has continued to receive the backing of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The NFIU in this position flagrantly violates Recommendation 29 of the FATF standards that stipulates that the FIU must remain independent and devoid of any form of interference.

In Macao, the Egmont group specifically pointed out that the Magu-led EFCC had continued to leak sensitive information to the media and the agency has continued to blackmail individuals using highly confidential financial intelligence available to it.

The FIU in its statement announcing the consensus decision to suspend NFIU membership status said: “The Heads of FIU made a decision, by consensus, to suspend the membership status of the NFIU, Nigeria, following repeated failures on the part of the FIU to address concerns regarding the protection of confidential information, specifically related to the status of suspicious transaction report (STR) details and information derived from international exchanges, as well as concerns on the legal basis and clarity of the NFIU’s independence from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The measure will remain in force until immediate corrective actions are implemented.”

In reaction to this decision by the Egmont group, Vice President Osinbajo constituted an ad-hoc committee to reposition the NFIU and restore Nigeria’s membership of the Egmont Group. This was contained in a 31st of July memo (SH/OVP/DCOS NFIU/) addressed to Chukwuka Utazi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes but since then no progress has been made while his body language suggests a support for the Magu-led EFCC position echoed by Francis Usani, head of the NFIU who contradicts the global body with his insistence that the NFIU is operationally autonomous.

According to the EFCC Secretary, Emmanuel Aremo, the EFCC is best equipped to protect the NFIU from being endangered by politicians.

The groups maintained a stance that supports the NFIU autonomy within the EFCC rather than an independent body outside of it. This position seems to be at home with the House of Representatives which has put forward a bill that seeks to amend the Economic and Financial Crimes (Amendment) Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition & Prevention) Act.

But the Senate is opposed to it, a bill seeking the establishment of the NFI Agency has passed at the Senate which is also at war with the Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC.

The Senate had explained that its decision to embark on the decoupling option (removing the NFIU from the EFCC) was due to the meddlesomeness of the acting EFCC chairman in spite of the autonomy that the FIU should be granted.

The Senate’s position is backed by the Nigeria Law Reform Commission, NLRC, which argued that NFIU should be independent and an autonomous body separated from EFCC.

Nigeria struggled to join the Egmont group as a member after many years in 2007, one of former President Obasanjo’s achievements. Before then, Nigerian banks were blacklisted in international finance and were unable to engage in correspondent banking.

Nigeria’s administrative type FIU makes it inappropriate to be under the control of a law enforcement agency such as the EFCC.

“Of all the 14 countries in West Africa with an FIU, Nigeria is the only jurisdiction that currently domiciles its FIU in a law enforcement agency, EFCC, even when it is registered as an administrative-type FIU. This is a misnomer. Ten of the West African countries have their FIUs domiciled in their respective ministries of finance, while two others have theirs domiciled in central banks, and one in ministry of justice,” Walter Duru, an analyst versed in the subject matter said, expressing support for the creation of an independent NFIU.

Nigeria has invested years and lots of resources into attaining membership of the Financial Action Task Force, FATF, and the expulsion of Nigeria will put the country’s aspiration in jeopardy.

It would also place Nigerian transactions on extreme scrutiny and may affect the standing of Nigeria amongst the global community. Students may be affected as the expulsion might attract “the withdrawal by certain countries of scholarships to students of Nigerian origin”, Senator Utazi the sponsor of the autonomous NFIU bill said.

According to one of our sources familiar with the internal workings of Egmont group, the world is impatient with Nigeria and the breach of trust by the EFCC. Our source said: “For over 20 years Nigeria has been involved in Egmont group and FATF process. The world is continuing to frown that EFCC has not shown great maturity in handling of confidential data. The 7th National assembly agreed that the NFIU should be moved to the CBN but nothing has come out of that.”

Nigeria’s Egmont Group expulsion will ultimately be a death blow to Mr Buhari’s ambitions to recover Nigeria’s looted funds abroad as the country will be unable to benefit from financial intelligence, shared by the other 150-member-countries, including the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Rivers APC endorse Abe

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Rivers East Senatorial APC Stakeholders Endorse Magnus Abe.

The Rivers East Senatorial APC Stakeholders on Tuesday, endorsed for the office of governor, the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe.

The stakeholders who were from different ethnic nationalities that make up the Senatorial district said that the endorsement became a doctrine of necessity because of their beliefs in the Senator to deliver the party in the upcoming general elections.

Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi are from the senatorial district represented by Abe.

Abe as the Biblical Samson.

The stakeholders likened Senator Abe to the biblical Samson who defeated a lion by tearing its jaw. In a terse statement,  they said that only the Senator has the political will and experience that will dislodge the PDP and propel the party to victory come 2019.

Factional Representation.

In a sarcastic confirmation of months-old speculation that the party in state is divided, John Anucha , the Chairman of the party in Omuma, Etche local government, stated that the party does not need a boy or a school prefect to fly the party’s flag saying that only a strong politician can defeat the incumbent governor.

Mr Anucha, in reference to speculations that the Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s faction of the party has been meeting in London in a bid to decide the fate of the state chapter of the party, said that the people holding meetings in London will be running for office in London.

This is our last battle; we will be finished politically if we lose – Amaechi.

He maintained that the Rivers East Senatorial Stakeholders will not run to London to hold meetings because they are not running for office in London.

Another speaker, Mr. Golden Chioma, who is also a former member of Rivers State House of Assembly, said that the party is ripe for internal democracy.

Mr. Chioma said that the time for the imposition of candidates on the party has ended and that the primaries will determine who flies the party’s flag during next year’s election.

Stakeholders who authorized the endorsement include Allwell Onyeso,Victor Amadi, Chidiebere Okuolur, John Anucha, Golden Chioma and many others.

The Famous Native Soup of Rivers State And How To Prepare It.- Travis Kwent

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Pursuant to our publication of the Undisputed King of Street Food, Boli and Fish, our gourmet enthusiasts have been pressing for more Rivers State meals and we are not cut out to disappoint and today we look at the darling of the Rivers People the ” Native Soup”. If you have ever been to this neck of the wood and never tasted the Native Soup, you were never here. How could you?

Anyways you have one more life line and a fortuitous chance to redeem your missing out self.

Today’s rendition you get to know how it is made and get a cool recipe to try at home.

The Native Soup is the coolest soup around the Niger Delta,especially Rivers State and Port Harcourt in particular, rich in flavour, healthy spices and protein enriched. The historical narrative is a bit far fetched and we have all the natives laying claims, from the Ikwerres to the Okirikas and kalabaris but let us stick to the savoring of the mouth watering flavor. I see, you are drooling already.

As my Warri Folks will say, leave wetin them write for motor enter motor go ya way. Okay, now that we are done with historicity and histrionics in the garbage bin, let us get down to the ABCs of the Native Soup.

How To Make Rivers State Native Soup

Below are the ingredients for making the famous native soup. Some people may find some of the ingredients pricey and trim their recipe( especially the protein requirements in keeping with the recession unless you had seen fit to fork out more Naira for the Stock fish and bush meat, you would have lived forever in the dark rueing what the real native really tasted like

REQUIRED INGREDIENTS

All these and more can be purchased at your local fresh food market near you.
2 Medium size dry fish
7 balls of Cocoyam (Ede,Colocasia esculenta) as thickener(cooked and pounded into paste)
15-20cl of Palm oil
2-3 cubes of Maggi or knorr( your preference)
2 cups of Periwinkles
2 cups of Ngolo
1 cup of Ground crayfish
2 cups of sliced Uziza leaves Salt and pepper to taste.
2 cups or 2 handful of fresh Prawns or Shrimps
2KG of Meat( Bush meat,Cow Leg,Oxtail,Snail,Cow head etc).
12 pieces of stock fish ear (Nti okporoko)

PREPARATION

STEP 1:
Wash clean and parboil the shrimps/prawns in a small pot of boiling water,adding Maggi,one cube as it is already with natural salt and cook for 4 minutes, decapitate it and drain the water and put in clean bowl.
Prepare your meat, wash clean, and parboil in a large pot add 2 cubes of Maggi, 1 bulb of Onion, Salt for taste and a dash of fresh pepper. Some meat do take time to cook,say about 45-50 minutes but with pressure cooker you can cut the time to lesser period.
This time frame gives you ample time to quickly prepare other ingredients. Quickly Wash and slice the Uziza leaves. Grind the crayfish and fresh pepper also, you can grind together or grind separately.

Step 2
Soak the stock fish and dry fish with boiled water and wash thoroughly to remove sand and debone it.

Step 3
Add the washed dry fish/stock fish in the boiling meat on fire, after about 30-50 minutes of cooking just the meat. Once they are soft and the water is almost dried (about 1 cup left) add about 5-7 cups of water, palm oil and the ground crayfish.

Allow the soup to cook for another8-12 minutes before adding salt to taste.

Step 4
Add the cleaned Ngolo, stir, add the Cocoyam(Ede),which acts as thickener allow to dissolve in 8-10 minutes, if it is still very watery add more paste, cook for three minutes before adding the periwinkles, Shrimps or prawn and Uziza leaves which is like the last ingredient of the native soup. Allow to simmer for another five minutes and turn off the heat.

Voila! There you have it. The famous native soup. You can eat it with any swallow, Garri,Semolina,Wheat,Poundo yam flour or Ground rice and wash it down with any fresh fruit juice or just iced water.

Like our Story on Facebook,Twitter,Whatsapp and share our recipes.

Emenike Agamu: Declared wanted in Rivers State, granted amnesty in Imo state.

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The fourth in-command in the dreaded Don Wanny’s criminal gang, Emenike Agamu (aka General Red Scorpion), yesterday surrendered his arms to security operatives in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Emenike is one of the cult members that were declared wanted by the Rivers State Government on the 9th of January following spate of gang related killings, especially the killing of 23 persons in Omoku on New Year day.

The leader of the group, John Igwedibe (aka Don Waney) was gunned down in Enugu by security agents in January.

His younger brother and second in command, was shot dead days later in his hideout in Edo State.

It was later found out that the group had bases across the Southsouth and Southeast, including the Imo riverine community which borders Rivers State.

Agamu, who is among the suspected cultists declared wanted by the Rivers State government, surrendered alongside other Don Waney boys who had earlier rejected the government’s amnesty offer.

Red Scorpion confessed that the militant group killed many people and blew up many oil pipelines.

The group submitted explosives, rocket launchers and high calibre rifles, such as AK47, among others.

Receiving the repentant militants, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said the development would ensure lasting peace in the oil producing areas.

He said: “It is very shocking to note that most of the activists of the Avengers and those of Don Waney operatives are our sons and daughters and their surrendering arms will end the security challenges we have in the Ohaji/Egbema, Awara and the rest of the areas where people have been on self-exile for many years.”

Security forces kill Don Wanny’s younger brother.

 

He added: “Today, we are welcoming back our brothers and sisters who have remained in the creeks and forest for so many years, perpetuating all kinds of evil, killing and maiming human beings.

“But today, glory to God, these our children have decided on their own to come back to the society and be part of the society.

“They are doing so on their own, surrendering arms which they have used in committing criminal activities for what they called expression of grievances of different sorts.

“We, as a government, are happy, particularly that these young boys and girls will now come back as good citizens of Imo State. We are here to receive them and listen to them. What they say today will determine the role of government in assisting them and making sure they become good citizens once more. It is the wish of the Niger Delta people to welcome you back as good citizens.”

The governor recalled that three weeks ago, Don Waney was killed. Most of these boys are his colleagues and generals in the bush. Today, we are gladdened that the lives of these boys have not been left in the hands of the military and police who would have wasted them but today they are being reintegrated into our society to become good citizens,” he said, adding:

”We as a government that is sensitive to the plight of the people are here to intervene before the matter gets out of hand. Last year and last two years, we did a similar exercise and most of those youths are now doing well.”

“We want to remove terror from Ohaji/Egbema. This is one of my campaign promises that I will change the lives of Ohaji/Egbema people. Terror is going out from the region. These are the children that drove away their traditional rulers, parents and brothers but today the story is different. We don’t want to hear the stories of Avengers and Don Waney again.

“The state has forgiven them and will subsequently give their names to the Federal Government for amnesty.”

How To Survive Searing Heat Waves,Basic Tips – Lynda Ndunagu

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You would have noticed recently that the heat during the day and night have been unbearably high. This is as a result of heat waves stemming from the emission of greenhouse gases. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned Nigerians to prepare for more hot days and warm nights. This preparation will require smart adaptation strategies and engaging in climate resilient practices to cope with the damage that has been done.

COMMON EFFECTS OF HEAT WAVE

The common effects of heat waves on humans are dehydration which can lead to fainting or death, chickenpox, heat rash, and psychological stress.

SURVIVAL TIPS IF YOU EXPERIENCE HEAT WAVE

In order to cope with the current climate conditions, experts have advised that we
Should drink more water to keep hydrated. Keep a water bottle with you to remind you to take water.

Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks during this period.
Reduce intake of foods that are rich in protein because they increase metabolic heat. Fresh foods, fruits and vegetables are better options.
Monitor your blood pressure ,step into any near pharmacy near you for a quick check .

You should, as much as possible, stay indoors between 12noon and 3pm and take cold baths before going to bed at night.

 

 

 

 

Please endeavor to adhere, we need you hale and hearty! Have a nice day

Wike Charges Youth on peace.

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Rivers State Governor, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike has charged Nigerian youths on the need to maintain peace in their respective domains.

The Governor made this known on Monday during the closing of camp for the 2018 Nation Youth Service Corps Batch A at the National Youth Service Orientation Camp, Nonwa.

Wike, who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Kenneth Kobani, said that the youth remains the pillar of every nation and no country achieves anything tangible without the input of its youth.

He said that for their to be peace, the youths need to shun every act of violence and create a peaceful environment so that the nation can grow.

He urged the Youth Corp members to serve their country diligently, saying that Rivers State will take care of them.

However, some of the Corp members who spoke to TPCN, expressed optimism about their service year and urged the state government to ensure an enabling environment that will make their service year a fun and memorable one.

Missing ship: India reaches out to Nigeria for help.

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India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday, spoke with her Nigerian counterpart and sought assistance in tracing a missing oil tanker with 22 Indians on board according to Hindu News report.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyema assured Ms. Swaraj of all help and assistance in locating the ship that went missing off the coast of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea, according to a tweet by Ms. Swaraj.

The “Marine Express” continues to be missing in the piracy-plagued waters near West Africa, an official of the Mumbai-based Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) told PTI.

“I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing merchant ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860,” Ms. Swaraj said of her telephonic conversation with the Nigerian leader.

The DGS official said that all the communication equipment on board has been switched off.

No ransom call had been received, the official said.

He said that the Indian mission in Nigeria was in contact with the Nigerian Navy and other agencies, while the DGS was also coordinating the efforts as it involved Indian sailors.

The 22 sailors had been appointed on the ship by the Anglo Eastern Ship Management, the official said, adding that the Panamanian-flagged vessel was owned by the Ocean Transit Carrier SA, a Japanese company.

The owners had set up a dedicated helpline for the families of the Indian crew, the official said.

He described the area in which the vessel was sailing as “difficult”.

“The region has a history of piracy and it may be a case of suspected piracy,” another official from the DGS had said yesterday.

The ship has gone missing less than a month after another vessel, “MT Barret”, disappeared off the coast of Benin in January, and was later confirmed to have been hijacked. The 22 crew of “MT Barret”, most of whom were Indians, were reportedly released after a ransom was paid

Portharcourt residents cry out against heatwave.

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Residents of Portharcourt have cried out against the ravaging heatwave that has overtaken the city, saying that it has never been this bad.

In an interview with TPCN, many residents decried the heatwave and its effects on the children.

They said that their woes have also been compounded by lack of adequate power supply by the power holding company.

Although, it is not peculiar to Portharcourt alone, Heat Waves which arise whenever there is an abnormal rise in the temperature of the environment, has caused sleepless nights and other bodily harm to the residents.

Hundreds of people have died in countries where this hazard occurred in the recent past, according to research.

Nigeria, which falls in the tropical region of the world is highly susceptible to this environmental health challenge.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned Nigerians to prepare for more hot days and warm nights. This preparation will require smart adaptation strategies and engaging in climate resilient practices to cope with the damage that has been done.

According to meteorologists, a heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which could be accompanied by high humidity, especially in oceanic climate countries. Heat waves are measured relative to the usual weather in the area and relative to normal temperatures for the season.

The common effects of heat waves on humans are dehydration which can lead to fainting or death, chickenpox, heat rash, and psychological stress.

In order to cope with the current climate conditions in Nigeria, where there is also challenge of epileptic power supply, experts have advised People to drink more water to keep themselves hydrated and to avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks during this period.

They also advised that people reduce intake of foods that are rich in protein, because they increase metabolic heat. Fresh foods, fruits and vegetables are better options.

NAPTIP employs the services of witch doctors to fight human trafficking.

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons said it has engaged some local witch doctors in Benin, Edo State, as ambassadors in fighting human trafficking.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, disclosed this at a symposium for the agency’s officials in Abuja on Monday.

Edo State has the highest number of traffickers and victims of human trafficking in the country.

Okah-Donli said investigations revealed that some local witch doctors were involved or used in the trafficking of persons to Europe.

“When we gathered these witch doctors recently to sensitise them on what human trafficking victims go through in Europe, they were shocked.

“And they have made their commitments to work with us to fight the menace of human trafficking,” the NAPTIP boss said.

She said the agency would involve and sensitise more witch doctors in Edo and other parts of the country and make them NAPTIP ambassadors in fighting human trafficking.

Okah-Donli said once human traffickers get a victim’s consent by force, fraud or coercion, such person would be made to take oath of secrecy/allegiance before a local witch doctor in a shrine.

According to her, some rituals are performed on the victims, using their urine, pubic hair, fingernails, eye lashes, menstrual blood, underwear and other personal effects.

She said once these rituals are done, it would be seen as a bond between the victims and the traffickers.

“In spite of the rituals and oath-taking, the victim reaches the destination point only to realise the farce behind the sweet promises of a greener pasture.

“And in this circumstance, such person is told in strict terms not to renege on the oath of secrecy, as it cannot be reversed,” the NAPTIP DG said.

She pledged the agency’s commitment to, and determination to end trafficking in persons. (NAN)

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