NAIJAFEED

Monday, April 16, 2012

Nigerian government to ban foreign medical trips by civil servants

The federal government is to ban public officers from traveling abroad for medical treatment, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told journalists, in Abuja, yesterday.

He said that the manner Nigerians travel abroad for medical treatment is not acceptable and that he is preparing a memo for the Federal Executive council, FEC, which will stop public officers from wasting public funds on foreign medical trips.

The only exception, according to him, will be a situation where the capacity to handle such a medical problem does not exist in Nigeria.

In the event that a public officer insists on foreign medical trip, public funds will not be used and the person has to bear the cost, as a private individual, Prof. Chukwu explained.

His words, "I am preparing a memo which will soon be presented to the council to stop public officers from foreign medical treatment. If a public officer says no, I don't want treatment in Nigeria, I want to travel abroad for treatment, no problem, you are free but you will not use public funds for that so long as it can be done in Nigeria".

The minister regretted that fraudulent slant has even been introduced into the issue of foreign medical trips whereby criminally minded doctors connive with foreign hospitals to rip-off Nigerian patients by referring such patients to those foreign hospitals and agree with such Nigerian doctors to be paid between 10-15 per cent of the medical bills as kickback.

"The other reason why people go abroad is the one that is the most disturbing to me as Hon. Minister of Health. What is it? Some unscrupulous doctors and other health practitioners because of money being made conspire with foreign practitioners.For instance, if Prof. Chukwu as a doctor, refers you to some of these countries, 10 -15 per cent of whatever money you pay there comes back to me. So is now a commercial motivation. So once you tell them that you have a chest problem, they will say aah, you have a heart disease and then they will refer you. It is as bad as that", he said.

Doctor Chukwu also noted that many doctors, health professionals and patients themselves are ignorant of medical facilities and expertise available in the country and that some of the cases for which many people travel abroad can be effectively treated in Nigeria.

"As Honourable Minister of Health, none of my relatives has been referred abroad."

Vanguard

Foreign oil workers in Nigeria highest paid in the world

Egypt narrowly escape defeat from Nigeria

Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-2 in a friendly game that was held Thursday 12/4/2012 in Dubai.

The game came within the Pharaohs' preparations for the qualifiers of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.

The Nigerian team broke the deadlock in the eighth minute of the game, thanks to a strike by Sunday Mba.

Egypt's Midfielder Ahmed Temsah equalized for the Egyptian side in the 25th minute. Eight minutes later, Mohamed Abou-Treika added the second goal by converting a penalty, giving Egypt a first-time lead.

Kalu Uche equalized for the Nigerian team only two minutes before the break.

At the injury-time, Ahmed Hassan Mekki added the third goal, giving Egypt a 3-2 win over Nigeria.

SIS

Friday, April 13, 2012

Video - Boko Haram threatens President Goodluck Jonathan on youtube

The message as conveyed by its principal Sheik Abubakar Imam Shekau was mainly in Arabic and Hausa language.

Shekau said, “You Jonathan cannot stop us like you boasted, instead we will devour you in the three months like you are boasting. If death is your worldly gain, for us, it is eternal victory to die working for Allah. Our joy is to die in Jihad for Allah against infidels like you…"

“We are also aware of some Muslims using our name to make money, we will say nothing but let them continue, and they will meet Allah in the last day.

“We are not doing physical human service, but Allah’s work and it is clear your aim is killing us. Let me tell you with Allah we will triumph over you and your men in hundreds. We are not boasting rather keeping quiet and working for Allah.

“Allah that finishes Pharaoh and others wicked rulers that you are not even up to them, will finish you and end your government. We are not afraid because we are not doing man work but Allah’s work. And we will see who will carry the day.”

Sahara Reporters

President Goodluck Jonathan declares Boko Haram menace will end in June

Nigerian extradited to Singapore for online dating scam

A 32-year-old Nigerian - who is believed to be involved in a series of Internet love scams - was extradited to Singapore from Malaysia on Wednesday.

This after the Royal Malaysia Police, acting on information provided by Singapore's Airport Police Division, arrested the suspect in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Police said on Thursday that the suspect was nabbed through close collaboration between the police from both sides of the Causeway.

BACKGROUND STORY

The police also reminded the public to remain vigilant against such scams and if they do come across such cases to:

a) Inform the police immediately if anyone attempts to extort money from you.

b) Be wary of messages from unknown people who want to befriend you.

c) Exercise caution when dealing with unknown persons 'befriended' through the Internet.

d) Do no remit or transfer money to people whom you do not know well enough. The criminal may spend months building rapport with you online before asking for money.

e) Do not accede to any request that may put you in vulnerable positions, such as performing compromising acts in front of the webcam, or give personal details about yourself when interacting with other internet users.

f) If you receive any message or call from anyone claiming he or she is in some kind of trouble overseas and need you to urgently send money over, you should report the matter to police and not transfer the money.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sam Tee, who is commander of the Airport Police Division, expressed his gratitude to his counterparts from Malaysia for the excellent cooperation and assistance rendered to the Singapore Police Force in effecting the arrest. He also commended his officers for their painstaking investigations into the cases.

Straits Times

Nigerian woman sets all time trafficking record by ingesting 5 pounds of heroin pellets

Nigerian government willing to re-start talks with Boko Haram

The Federal Government is willing to restart talks with the Boko Haram sect, the Interior minister said yesterday, hinting at fresh efforts to use mediated dialogue to end the sect's campaign of violence that claimed hundreds over the past two years.

Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad who served as go-between between the government and the sect pulled out of the talks last month, citing government's insincerity after media leakages.

But Interior Minister Abba Moro told the BBC Hausa radio yesterday that the Federal Government would prefer for the talks to resume.

"I think first of foremost, accepting to go back at all to continue with the dialogue is a sign of sincerity. That is enough. And it is important that the sect should agree that the government is sincere and ready to talk through the intermediary," Moro said.

"But if you want dialogue you need to do it without conditions," he added.

Moro was speaking in response to remarks on Tuesday by American official Jonnie Carson that there was need for Nigeria to re-enter dialogue with the sect.

The minister said it was because of government's willingness for dialogue that President Jonathan spoke in support of mediated talks months ago.

Few days after Datti's withdrawal, Boko Haram said the collapse of the talks were a vindication of its long-held belief that the Federal Government was never willing to dialogue. It then said it would never resume negotiations with the government.

When asked yesterday when the government would re-engage the sect, Moro said, "As soon as the sect comes back. The Federal Government is ready to continue with the dialogue."

SSS: Poverty, unemployment must be tackled

The State Security Service yesterday said it has given advice to the Federal Government on addressing unemployment and poverty as parts of efforts to contain the Boko Haram insurgency.

It has been variously suggested that there is a connection between poverty and rise of Boko Haram, and a United States government official on Tuesday called on Nigeria to target poverty reduction as part of efforts to contain the sect.

At a briefing by the Joint Security Information Managers Committee in Abuja, spokesman for the SSS Marilyn Ogar said: "We are strong advocates against poor governance, unemployment and poverty. We identified these problems and advised the government. In Borno, the government is importing seedlings to distribute to unemployed youth to go into farming."

Ogar has said the security agencies were winning the fight against Boko Haram. "We are not overwhelmed by the sect because there is huge success in the fight against the sect. There is relative peace now," she said.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said at the briefing that security forces are steps ahead of the sect by foiling their plans and arrest of top followers.

"We are ahead of the terrorists," he said.

"So there is no doubt that the security agencies are doing their best as there are many of such incidents which we have not been reported," he said.

"But they have been foiled because of the active and proactive intervention of the security agencies. That is why they have not been able to carry out their terrorist activities in different parts of the country."

On blocking of major roads in Abuja, Anas said the development was a direct reaction to information at the disposal of security agencies on the activities of terrorist groups.

The director said security agencies were aware of the inconveniences caused by the blocking and would take the necessary measures to improve the traffic situation as the situation improves.

"From time to time, security is beefed up in the FCT because credible threats are received by the agencies," he said.

"We are not unmindful of the traffic situation and the fact that it could cause some inconveniences. You know that security threats have hard and soft targets. As soon as the security situation improves, you will see improvement in these areas."

Anas said the JTF had recovered an unregistered Isuzu pick up van, a pump action gun, an AK 47 riffle, a double-barrel gun, a box loaded with assorted ammunition, 19 empty magazine of AK 47 riffles and a bullet proof jacket.

Other items recovered are a helmet and a DVD player from three Boko Haram suspects who were killed on April 9 in Borno.

Daily Trust

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Nigerian government begins talks with Boko Haram

Boko Haram suspends talks with government