World Bank gives Nigeria N99.5b to improve maternal health

World Bank gives Nigeria N99.5b to improve maternal health
The World Bank said it has released N99.5 billion ($500 million) for the Nigerian government to improve on maternal and child health and nutrition.
In a statement, the World Bank said the fund was approved by the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors through the International Development Association. The fund is expected to “significantly” improve maternal, child, and nutrition health services for women and children in Nigeria.
Through this funding, an improvement in the access of higher quality health service in order to achieve Nigeria’s “Saving One Million Lives, SOML, Initiative,” a project is paramount.
The SOML initiative was launched by Nigeria’s Ministry of Health in October 2012 to save the lives of the more than 900,000 women and children who die every year in Nigeria from largely preventable causes.
Nigeria accounts for 14 per cent of all annual maternal deaths worldwide, second only to India at 17 per cent. Similarly, Nigeria accounts for 13 per cent of all global deaths of children under the age of five years, again second only to India at 21 per cent.
The World Bank’s funding support for the initiative will utilize the Program-for-Results, PforR, instrument to encourage a greater focus on results, increase accountability, improve measurements, strengthen management, and foster innovation.
This program will help strengthen Nigeria’s health system and development says, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, Nigeria’s Country Director.
Ms. Marie-Nelly said the program will also provide an important tool for bringing both government and development partners together around a commitment to achieve specific, tangible results.
These funds, World Bank said will only be disbursed to the Federal and State governments for independently verified improvements in key services such as vaccination coverage among young children, rates of contraceptive use, Vitamin A supplementation and skilled birth attendance.
Others include: HIV counselling and testing among women attending antenatal care, and preventing new malaria infections among children by using insecticide- treated bed nets when they sleep.
Also, Federal and State governments receive incentive payments for better tackling governance and management issues in the health sector and for improving the quality of basic health services.
SOML will be implemented under the Federal Ministry of Health, in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Finance which will provide the financial oversight role while new health operation is expected to start implementation on August 1, 2015.
The operation will end after four years, in December 2019

Verification: FRSC To Share License Details With Security Agencies

Verification: FRSC To Share License Details With Security Agencies

The Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) said it would work with relevant security agencies to ensure quick verification of licenses.
FRSC said the measure was to apprehend erring drivers or vehicle owners in the country.
This was disclosed by Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal of the commission, while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday at the end of the quarterly session with commanding officers of the agency.
According to Oyeyemi, FRSC cannot do it alone, and so, inter-agency cooperation is required to apprehend road traffic offenders and reduce crashes.
“We can’t do this alone, we need the support of all the other security agencies, especially the police.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has been working with us, so also the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“We will work with all the relevant security agencies in the country. Anybody can verify the drivers license and vehicle registration.
“ We are going to do the same thing with number plates.
The corps marshal further said the commission also needed the services of the Judiciary to prosecute offenders.
He said that prosecution of offenders; prompt response to accident victims; removal of obstructions; use of cell phone while driving and seat belt violation topped the list of the commission’s priority, this year.
The 2015 second quarterly session was attended by commanding officers of  all FRSC commands and schools across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the commission, had, after consultation with stakeholders in the road sector, fixed 100km/h as the maximum speed for private vehicles and 80km/h for commercial vehicles.
NAN also recalls that the commission had fixed June 1 for the commencement of enforcement of installation of Speed limiting Device (SLD) on every commercial vehicle in the country.(NAN)

The 2015 Nysc Call-Up Letter for batch A corp members is now ready for printing.

The 2015 Nysc Call-Up Letter for batch A corp members is now ready for printing. Prospective Batch A corp members are hereby informed and advised to go print theirs immediately.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) wishes to inform all prospective Batch “A” 2015 corps members that they can now print their call-up letters online. Those that have registered online can print theirs online.
How To Print Your NYSC 2015 Call Up Letter
All Prospective Corps Members that are ready to print their letters are required to visit http://portal.nysc.org.ng/.
Once on the NYSC portal, click the Print Call-Up Letter link and login with your registered e-mail address and password to access the page from where you will be able to print your call up letter.
NOTE: Batch ‘A’ printing of call up letters starts on Monday, 27th April and ends on Monday, 4th May, 2015. Those that didn’t register online are expected to visit their various institutions to collect their letters manually

Oluremi Olayinka sentenced to 266 years imprisonment for stealing N8m

Oluremi Olayinka sentenced to 266 years imprisonment for stealing N8m
A staff of popular eatery Sweet Sensation, Oluremi Olayinka pictured above has been sentenced to 266 years imprisonment by an Ogun state High Court for stealing N8 million from her employers.
Her company petitioned the EFCC after she made away with N8million handed over to her by her employer. Olayinka was in May 2013 dragged before the court for the offence.
Justice A.A. Akinyemi while delivering his judgement on the case yesterday April 22nd, found her guilty on all 34-count charges brought against her. She was sentenced to seven years on each of 30 counts and 14 years on the remaining four charges.
The sentences are to run concurrently. She was also ordered to return the money she stole in restitution to her victim. Olayinka who admitted to the crime initially, denied committing the crime when she was arraigned. 4 witnesses and 16 evidence were used by the EFCC to prove she was guilty of committing the crime.

Photos: Coffins await 4 Nigerians to be executed for drug trafficking in Indonesia.

Coffins await 4 Nigerians to be executed for drug trafficking in Indonesia.
4 Nigerians will be executed in Indonesia in less than 72hours from now after being found guilty of drug trafficking.
According to Utomo Karim,the lawyer of one of the convicts Raheem Agbaje Salami,he has already informed the victim of the development. Indonesian authorities have prepared 4 coffins for them,with RIP and names of the convicts written on them ahead of the execution.