The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is preparing to donate hundreds of millions of dollars towards improving access to contraception in the developing world. Reaching 100 million women, the initiative hopes to bring about major economic and health benefits and control population growth. In Nigeria, it is estimated that only 10% of married women use contraception. More than 20% want it, but do not have access to it. Some believe that using birth control and other types of contraception goes against their faith. Cultural beliefs about contraception is one of the many challenges the Gates initative faces.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Video report - Nigerian women's limited access to contraception
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is preparing to donate hundreds of millions of dollars towards improving access to contraception in the developing world. Reaching 100 million women, the initiative hopes to bring about major economic and health benefits and control population growth. In Nigeria, it is estimated that only 10% of married women use contraception. More than 20% want it, but do not have access to it. Some believe that using birth control and other types of contraception goes against their faith. Cultural beliefs about contraception is one of the many challenges the Gates initative faces.
Prosecution of oil subsidy fraudsters to begin next week
This is coming just as president Goodluck Jonathan held a crucial meeting with heads of the other two arms of government, including the Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher to mull the way forward on the war against corruption.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke who disclosed federal government's readiness to prosecute alleged looters of the country's funds meant for fuel subsidy in the country said: "The report was not discussed as an issue, but assurances were given that as soon as the EFCC finishes its assignment which is very soon, you will begin to see prosecution probably in the next one week.
"We will begin to prosecute because the EFCC has gone very far. So, Nigerians should be rest assured that this is not an issue that will be swept under the carpet. We have gone this far because we want a proper and painstaking investigation done so that when we charge people to court there will be no lapses or loopholes for lawyers to explore", the AGF added.
Adoke who spoke to State House Correspondents immediately after the meeting of heads of the three arms of government admitted that the meeting was to review strategy on fighting corruption, saying, "Yes, we are coming out with a national strategy on the fight against corruption, and that strategy will involve the three arms of government".
Also present at the meeting from the executive's side were the Vice President, Secretary to Government of the Federation, the Head of Service, Central Bank Governor, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke who disclosed federal government's readiness to prosecute alleged looters of the country's funds meant for fuel subsidy in the country said: "The report was not discussed as an issue, but assurances were given that as soon as the EFCC finishes its assignment which is very soon, you will begin to see prosecution probably in the next one week.
"We will begin to prosecute because the EFCC has gone very far. So, Nigerians should be rest assured that this is not an issue that will be swept under the carpet. We have gone this far because we want a proper and painstaking investigation done so that when we charge people to court there will be no lapses or loopholes for lawyers to explore", the AGF added.
Adoke who spoke to State House Correspondents immediately after the meeting of heads of the three arms of government admitted that the meeting was to review strategy on fighting corruption, saying, "Yes, we are coming out with a national strategy on the fight against corruption, and that strategy will involve the three arms of government".
Also present at the meeting from the executive's side were the Vice President, Secretary to Government of the Federation, the Head of Service, Central Bank Governor, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Related story: The big Kerosene fraud in Nigeria
Israel to partner with Nigeria to fight terrorism
The Ambassador of the State of Israel, His Excellency, Mr Moshe Ram has expressed his country's readiness to partner the federal government to combat insurgency in Nigeria.
The envoy who presented a paper on Suicide Terrorism: The Israeli Experience and its relevance to Nigeria, yesterday, during the Abuja Security Summit on Terrorism and Kidnapping in the FCT, however proffered that one way the country could make headway in the fight was to be proactive by using intelligence network to find out their next line of action.
Making allusion to the State of Israel and their fight against terrorism, Ram said that the success so far attained in Israel was mainly due to intelligence operations and the active military presence in the area.
"Israel has not so much learnt how to deter these attacks, as it has learned how to fight and stop them in the planning stages. This is thanks primarily to intelligence operations but also a very strong and active military presence in the area", he said.
Fielding questions from LEADERSHIP, the Ambassador, who disclosed that Nigeria and Israel were already collaborating on various issues of mutual interest said, "Israel is always ready to help Nigeria in the fight against terror. It is our long standing policy to help and to assist our partners and friends. So I mean, it is not a matter of request. Now we are in the process of collaborating on different issues among them is the security issue too.
"We are always ready to help our friends when they are in need and I think that we have a little experience on this issue and our hand is always open to help our friends. There is no magic solution to the problem. All the security organisations should work together, they should know exactly where the people are, they should gather intelligence and more intelligence.
In his keynote address the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, who was represented by Chief Superintendent Operations of FCT Command, CSP Gabriel Elaigwu said that terrorism and kidnapping were complex crimes which should not be left for only the security agencies to combat.
While calling on Nigerians to support the security agencies to fight terror, he urged government to provide all the necessary logistics and resources for intelligence gathering and detection of terrorists' activities.
The envoy who presented a paper on Suicide Terrorism: The Israeli Experience and its relevance to Nigeria, yesterday, during the Abuja Security Summit on Terrorism and Kidnapping in the FCT, however proffered that one way the country could make headway in the fight was to be proactive by using intelligence network to find out their next line of action.
Making allusion to the State of Israel and their fight against terrorism, Ram said that the success so far attained in Israel was mainly due to intelligence operations and the active military presence in the area.
"Israel has not so much learnt how to deter these attacks, as it has learned how to fight and stop them in the planning stages. This is thanks primarily to intelligence operations but also a very strong and active military presence in the area", he said.
Fielding questions from LEADERSHIP, the Ambassador, who disclosed that Nigeria and Israel were already collaborating on various issues of mutual interest said, "Israel is always ready to help Nigeria in the fight against terror. It is our long standing policy to help and to assist our partners and friends. So I mean, it is not a matter of request. Now we are in the process of collaborating on different issues among them is the security issue too.
"We are always ready to help our friends when they are in need and I think that we have a little experience on this issue and our hand is always open to help our friends. There is no magic solution to the problem. All the security organisations should work together, they should know exactly where the people are, they should gather intelligence and more intelligence.
In his keynote address the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, who was represented by Chief Superintendent Operations of FCT Command, CSP Gabriel Elaigwu said that terrorism and kidnapping were complex crimes which should not be left for only the security agencies to combat.
While calling on Nigerians to support the security agencies to fight terror, he urged government to provide all the necessary logistics and resources for intelligence gathering and detection of terrorists' activities.
Related stories:
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Video - Documentary on Nigerians in Chinese prisons for drug smuggling
Deji Bedemosi presents an in depth report on the plight of Nigerians in Chinese prisons.
Spain denies Nigerian athletes visas
Nigeria may not participate in the IAAF World Junior Championships as the Spanish Embassy in Lagos denied her athletes visas yesterday.
Tempers rose as the athletes who were at the Embassy early yesterday morning, protested the attitude of the Consular officials by blocking the entrance to the Embassy with their cars, requesting that they be attended to. But the officials remained adamant.
The applications for the visas had been submitted two weeks ago, but officials of the Embassy kept dribbling the athletes and officials. The team was scheduled to travel last night to catch up with the event, which starts this morning, but traveling is most unlikely as a result of the denial of issuing them visas.
Officials of the Embassy insisted that visas couldn't be issued because the officers who were supposed to stamp the passports were not on seat. They asked the team to report on Tuesday morning(today).
"We gave them our passports two weeks ago. We were supposed to travel on Saturday, but they assured us that visas will be issued on Monday.
"By 2.30pm yesterday it dawned on us that there wasn't going to be any visa for us to travel. From the look of things we may not be going to the championships, because it is late for us now," said Jide Josiah, Athletics Federation of Nigeria vice president.
"What kind of injustice is this? After all our training we are being told we can't travel," said Maria Osifo, one of the coaches on the trip
Solomon Ogba, the AFN President, said they met all the conditions set by the Spanish embassy.
Tempers rose as the athletes who were at the Embassy early yesterday morning, protested the attitude of the Consular officials by blocking the entrance to the Embassy with their cars, requesting that they be attended to. But the officials remained adamant.
The applications for the visas had been submitted two weeks ago, but officials of the Embassy kept dribbling the athletes and officials. The team was scheduled to travel last night to catch up with the event, which starts this morning, but traveling is most unlikely as a result of the denial of issuing them visas.
Officials of the Embassy insisted that visas couldn't be issued because the officers who were supposed to stamp the passports were not on seat. They asked the team to report on Tuesday morning(today).
"We gave them our passports two weeks ago. We were supposed to travel on Saturday, but they assured us that visas will be issued on Monday.
"By 2.30pm yesterday it dawned on us that there wasn't going to be any visa for us to travel. From the look of things we may not be going to the championships, because it is late for us now," said Jide Josiah, Athletics Federation of Nigeria vice president.
"What kind of injustice is this? After all our training we are being told we can't travel," said Maria Osifo, one of the coaches on the trip
Solomon Ogba, the AFN President, said they met all the conditions set by the Spanish embassy.
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