The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, says 25 per cent or 46 million Nigerians defecate openly, while 33 million of these people are in the rural areas
Nawshad Ahmed, Programme and Planning Specialist, UNICEF, Abuja, said this in Minna on Tuesday during the 2017 Niger State UNICEF mid-year review.
He noted that open defecation, which was higher in the northern part of the country than the southern part, was present across Nigeria.
Mr. Ahmed said that open defecation was less in urban areas due to access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in urban areas.
He also said that one out of every three Nigerians did not have access to safe drinking water, adding that the rate surpassed 80 per cent in some southern states and less than 35 per cent in some northern states.
On open defecation in Niger, Mr. Ahmed said that there was a need to review the state's WASH policy for presentation to the State Executive Council for approval.
He said that there was inadequate government support for the implementation of the state's Open Defecation-Free Road Map to end open defecation by 2025.
The specialist noted that none of the 25 local government areas of the state had tangible plans to end open defecation, while there were no WASH departments in the local government councils.
He also said that none of the local government councils had existing budget for WASH facilities.
He added that the pace of expansion of safe water facilities was lower than the rate of increase in population.
On education, Mr. Ahmed said that over 20 per cent of world's out-of-school children -- 10 million children -- were in Nigeria.
"Children from the richest quintile are three times likely to attend school than children from the poorest families.
"There is no gender disparity in the school attendance for children in the richest, fourth, or middle wealth quintile; gender gap appears in the second quintile and is wider among poorest children," he said.
He, however, stressed that mother's education was important to improving the standard of education of children.
Usman Musa, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Planning, disclosed that the 2017 UNICEF work plan was already in progress.
He said the work plan would soon be signed by Gov. Abubakar Bello.
Mr. Musa advised participants to participate actively in the plan whenever it became operational so as to achieve the objectives of the review.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Etisalat Nigeria to retain operations with new brand name
Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (EMTS) trading as Etisalat Nigeria on Tuesday informed its customers that the change of brand name will not affect its operations. Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, the Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, EMTS made this known in a statement.
Dikko said that EMTS was aware of recent news reports regarding Etisalat Group’s withdrawal of the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria by EMTS. He said that EMTS had a valid and subsisting agreement with the Etisalat Group.
According to him, the agreement entitles EMTS to use the Etisalat brand notwithstanding the recent changes within the company. “Indeed, discussions are ongoing between EMTS and Etisalat Group pertaining to the continued use of the brand. “EMTS will issue a formal statement once discussions are concluded.
Dikko said that EMTS was aware of recent news reports regarding Etisalat Group’s withdrawal of the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria by EMTS. He said that EMTS had a valid and subsisting agreement with the Etisalat Group.
According to him, the agreement entitles EMTS to use the Etisalat brand notwithstanding the recent changes within the company. “Indeed, discussions are ongoing between EMTS and Etisalat Group pertaining to the continued use of the brand. “EMTS will issue a formal statement once discussions are concluded.
“The final outcome on the use of the brand in no way affects the operations of the business as our full range of services remain available to our customers,’’ he said. Dikko said that EMTS launched in Nigeria in 2008 with “0809ja’’ to affirm the “Nigerianness’’ of its origin and sphere of influence. He said that in nine years of operation, the company remained a prime driver and avid supporter of the Nigerian spirit of excellence. According to him, the telecommunications company will continue to stay true to its “Naijacentric identity’’.
“This notion is strongly reflected in our core messages and depicted in major projects and initiatives, which we have been known to support. “All these initiatives have their foundation embedded in supporting key aspects of the Nigerian fabric: building Nigerian businesses and empowering Nigerians with a focus on the youth. “Nigeria remains the soul of EMTS’ business and we have made the brand alluring to our teeming subscribers, who see a piece of the spirit and character of Nigeria in everything we do.
“EMTS is here to stay and we wish to assure our esteemed customers that our core values of youthfulness, customer-centricity and innovation will remain the pillars on which we operate. “We thank our esteemed customers for their abiding faith in us,’’ Dikko said. Since the month of March, Etisalat Group has been having the issues with the consortium of 13 banks over the payment of 1.2 billion dollar loan.
The group had on Monday given Etisalat Nigeria three weeks ultimatum to stop the usage of its brand name.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Video - Etisalat to phase out brand in Nigeria
Abu Dhabi's Etisalat has terminated its management agreement with its Nigerian arm and given the business time to phase out the brand in the country. This, after Nigerian regulators intervened to save Etisalat Nigeria from collapse, after talks with its lenders to renegotiate a $1.2 billion loan failed. All UAE shareholders of Etisalat Nigeria have exited the company and have left the board and management. Discussion between Etisalat International and its Nigerian arm are now ongoing to provide technical support for another 3 weeks before phasing it out.
NTA journalist shot dead
A reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Benin, Lawrence Okojie, was allegedly shot dead by gunmen on Saturday night in Benin, the Edo State capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Okojie was said to have been killed around Ogunola Junction, off Siluko Road.
The spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the report, said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.
NAN gathered that the late Mr. Okojie, who was dropped off by NTA staff bus at Ogunola Junction around 8: 00 p.m. on Saturday, had called his wife on phone and informed her that he was on his way home.
It was, however, several hours later that the wife, after repeated calls to his phone without any response raised an alarm that her husband, who was supposed to have arrived home could not be reached.
It was gathered that some of his colleagues at NTA joined by some family members on a search mission, discovered his corpse in a morgue in Benin on Sunday night.
As at the time of filing in this report, the circumstances surrounding the death of the reporter are still sketchy.
The police have, however, promised to thoroughly investigate the matter.
NAN reports that Mr. Okojie’s death brings to five the number of journalists killed in the state in the last six years.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Okojie was said to have been killed around Ogunola Junction, off Siluko Road.
The spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the report, said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.
NAN gathered that the late Mr. Okojie, who was dropped off by NTA staff bus at Ogunola Junction around 8: 00 p.m. on Saturday, had called his wife on phone and informed her that he was on his way home.
It was, however, several hours later that the wife, after repeated calls to his phone without any response raised an alarm that her husband, who was supposed to have arrived home could not be reached.
It was gathered that some of his colleagues at NTA joined by some family members on a search mission, discovered his corpse in a morgue in Benin on Sunday night.
As at the time of filing in this report, the circumstances surrounding the death of the reporter are still sketchy.
The police have, however, promised to thoroughly investigate the matter.
NAN reports that Mr. Okojie’s death brings to five the number of journalists killed in the state in the last six years.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Video - Nigeria racing against time to raise funds to send athletes to Kenya
The IAAF World Under-18 Championship is due to begin on Wednesday the 12th in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. But there is still no definitive word yet that one of Africa's sprinting powerhouses, Nigeria will be there. The country has entered 15 Athletes for the competition and the contingent is expected to arrive in Nairobi on Sunday, but the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is racing against time to raise funds and put everything in place for the trip as Deji Badmus now reports.
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