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Fuel Scarcity May End Soon, As Oil Marketers Resolve Subsidy Controversy With Government

Okonjo Iweala

There are indications that soon, the nation-wide fuel scarcity and crisis would be a thing of the past, as the Major Oil Marketers have resolved the knotty issue of subsidy payment controversy with the minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), today, met with the minister and came up with an assurance that the fuel scarcity, being experienced across the country, would be over within the next few days. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance in Abuja.

It was also resolved at the meeting, which was attended by representatives of MOMAN and some senior officials in the finance ministry that outstanding subsidy claims would be paid even after a new government takes over power.

At the end of the meeting, which lasted over four hours, Okonjo-Iweala briefed newsmen along with the Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr. Thomas Olawore.

According to the finance minister, the issues that led to the scarcity had been resolved adding that based on the discussions at the meeting, the Federal Government and the oil marketers had both agreed to bring an end to the fuel scarcity problem.

“We have appealed to them (oil marketers) and you have heard them saying, following the payment of the N154bn, things will ease off.

“We have spent a considerable time talking about this and we welcome the news that have been announced by the marketers and we thank them.

“On our own side, we have discussed the issues they have put on the table and we are looking into them, government is a continuum and you find out that whatever the issues are, they would be resolved so that Nigerians will not suffer.”

When asked how the controversy surrounding the actual outstanding subsidy arrears, being owed the marketers was resolved, the minister said it would be difficult to get the exact debt owing to what she described as the “rolling” nature of the business.

She, however, said that with the understanding reached with the marketers, all the outstanding debts would be paid based on claims processed by Petroleum Pricing Products Regulatory Agency (PPPRC)

“What I want you to understand is that this is a rolling business and there is no one definitive figure.” [myad]

 

 

Governor Uduaghan Bags Silverbird Man of the Year Award

Uduaghan awarded
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has received Silverbird Man of the year Award in recognition of his laudable achievements in the year 2014.
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan dedicated the Silverbird Man of the year Award bestowed on him by the organization, to his wife and all Deltans who stood and worked with his administration to build a peaceful state.
The Governor said that the award is for all peaceful Deltans and for the prevailing inter-ethnic harmony in the state.
He expressed his appreciation for the honour done him saying: “I am very happy that Sliverbird Television has recognized the good work God is doing in Delta State through my administration. This achievement is a collective effort and l dedicate this award to my wife and all Deltans who made this dream of having a peaceful state a reality during our time and l pray that this peace will be sustained.”
Uduaghan appealed to the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari not to undermine the South-South and South East regions of the country
The Governor said that it would be dangerous and disastrous for the regions to be ignored just because they did not vote for the in-coming government.
“I must counsel here that the South – South and the South-East regions must not be ignored or undermined by the in-coming Federal Government on account of their voting patterns in the general elections.”
According to him, it would be precarious for such strategic regions or any region for that matter to be undermined solely because of their political leanings, and stressed the need for every part of the country to be treated fairly and equitably.
Governor Uduaghan assured that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is prepared to form a formidable opposition party in the country, adding that the party would bounce back sooner than expected.
He also charged the in-coming administration in Delta State to uphold the people’s oriented programmes already put in place by his administration.
The Governor explained that he had to give up his senatorial ambition for peace to reign in the State, stressing that if he had pushed ahead with his ambition, inter-ethnic crisis would have returned to the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odien Ajumogobia (SAN) said that apart from key infrastructure, urban renewal and human capital development, Governor Uduaghan is leaving behind a peaceful and united Delta State.
Barrister Chike Ogeah, Information Commissioner and Hon. Funkekeme Solomon works Commissioner described the award as a crowning glory for the governor.
In a keynote address, former chairman of Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce said that the Nigerians must shun the display of affluence in the mist of poverty, promising to represent the poor Nigerians as a Senator of the Federal Republic.
Other Deltans who bagged award at the ceremony include Chief Phillip Asiodu and Mr. Gameliel Onosode. [myad]

Olisa Metuh Describes Un-Named Jonathan Aides As Divisive Elements In PDP

Olisa Metuh of PDP

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh is angry with the un-named aides of President Goodluck Jonathan who have been trying to cause crisis in the party so that they would hijack it, describing them as divisive elements.

He accused them of flying all sorts of allegation against the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Addressing newsmen today at his Wadata House office in Abuja, Metuh said that the Presidential aides have accused members of the NWC of misappropriating the Presidential campaign fund, saying: “when this wicked and baseless allegation was debunked by the NWC who publicly clarified that it was not involved in the handling of the campaign and its funding, and that such were exclusively managed by the Presidential Campaign Organization appointed by the President, these divisive elements in their desperation came up with another allegation claiming that the leadership embezzled funds belonging to the party.

“Even after the NWC also debunked this despicable allegation, showing that the party’s funds were judiciously appropriated for our state election campaigns, this group resorted to labeling the NWC with attempts to instigate President Jonathan, PDP governors and other well-meaning members of our party against the national leadership.”

Metuh blamed part of the reason for defeat of President Jonathan in the election on part of the hate campaigns adopted by the Presidential Campaigns against the opposition presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

This even as the party’s NWC has vowed to involve competent firm of chartered accountants to investigate its financial transactions within the period of the presidential campaigns even as the party decided to call off the face-off as President Goodluck Jonathan had intervened on in the crisis between it and President’s aides

Metuh said that despite the intervention of President Jonathan into the crisis, the NWCfelt that it is necessary for the party to call for a transparent forensic audit into the finances of the party since the commencement of the presidential and general elections.

He decried the actions of the aides of the President in circulating payment vouchers of housing, furniture and medical allowances of the NWC to the media, stating that it points to the fact that the aides of the president concerned has a heinous agenda against the NWC of the party.

Metuh reiterated that the NWC did not receive any money directly for the 2015 general elections, rather, he said that out of the money generated from the sales of delegate forms, governorship and state and national assembly forms that the party donated the sum of N500 million to the presidential campaign of the party, N100 million each to the 29 governorship candidates of the party.

He acknowledged that the members of the NWC received N30 million each, but said that the money was for their medical, furniture and housing allowances for the past two and half years.

Pressured by reporters to disclose the names of the aides of the President that are behind the hate campaign against the NWC, Metuh declined, saying that President Jonathan has intervened in a meeting held at the presidential villa on Sunday.

But, Metuh said alerted Nigerians that some members of the party, including ambitious aides and associates of President Jonathan, are using their perceived closeness to him to further their heinous agenda of injecting crisis in the party with a view to highjacking the structure for their selfish interests.

“In the attempt to discredit the NWC, these elements pushed out series of misleading information to the unsuspecting public alleging that the party leadership mismanaged the Presidential campaign funds, leading to the poor performance in the polls and as such NWC should be made to resign.” [myad]

 

Housewife, 25, Confesses That She Stole Day-Old Baby In Katsina

IGP Aranse

A 25-year old housewife, Fatima Ibrahim has reportedly confessed to the police that she stole a day-old baby in Danja town, Katsina state even as the judge of the Katsina Chief Magistrates’ Court handling the case considered it serious.

Mrs. Fatima Ibrahim, who was said to have committed that offence at about 5.00 a.m. on March 10 this year was reported to have confessed when interrogated by the police, to have stolen the baby girl.
The prosecuting police, Inspector Hashimu Musa, told the court that the case was reported to the Central Police Station by one Malam Nuhu Umar of Funtua town, adding that the accused person stole the baby at the comprehensive Health Centre, Funtua at the time the staff on duty had gone to say their morning prayers.
The prosecutor alleged that the accused went away with the baby under the pretence of assisting the nursing mother even as she dropped her hospital card, bearing Fatima Ibrahim when was leaving the hospital, adding that during investigation, the card left by the accused was used to trace her and rescue the baby from her.
The prosecutor said that the accused committed an offence, contrary to Section 274 of the Penal Code.

The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Nafisa Bagiwa, said that the court would not take the plea of the accused, as her case was very serious even as she ordered the police to continue with the investigation, while the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the State Ministry of Justice for advice.
She adjourned the case to May 7 for continuation of the trial. [myad]

Court Decides June 18 Whether Or Not To Jail Fani-Kayode For Alleged Laundering Of N2.1 Million

Justic Rita Ofili

A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 18 this year for judgment in a case of money laundering, amounting to N2.1 Million against the Nigeria’s former Aviation Minister and recently, Director of media and publicity for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Counil, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia fixed the judgment date today following the adoption of final written addresses and summary arguments by lawyers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the accused person.

Fani-Kayode, whose trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed, was accused by the EFCC to have laundered about N100 Million while he was Minister of Culture and Tourism and subsequently Aviation Minister.

The allegedly laundered sum was however reduced to N2.1 Million on November 17, 2014 after Ofili-Ajumogobia, dismissed 38 out of the 40 counts levelled against Fani-Kayode by the EFCC for want of proof.

The EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, while urging the court to uphold the remaining two counts and to accordingly convict Fani-Kayode, said the former minister had failed to exonerate himself of the allegations.

Keyamo pointed out that the object of the charge was that Fani-Kayode transacted in cash sums above N500,000, which was the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering Act.

According to Keyamo, Fani-Kayode himself had admitted making such transactions in his confessional statement of December 22, 2008 made to the EFCC.

“In this statement, he admitted that he transacted in cash above N500,000. My Lord, this statement went in without objection by the accused person and the statement was voluntary.

“With the combination of this confessional statement and the statement of the IPO that investigated the allegation, we rely on all of these to submit that we have discharged our burden that monies were received by the accused person in cash and were not done through any financial institution.”

Keyamo argued that the prosecution had discharged its duty once it established that Fani-Kayode transacted in large sums above the Money Laundering threshold, adding that it was left for Fani-Kayode to explain the source of the money.

“Once you cannot explain the source of the large sum of money found on you, you are guilty of money laundering. If the prosecution must show where the money is coming from, then the whole essence of the money laundering law is defeated.

“It is not in all cases that the burden of proof lies on the prosecution; the burden at this point shifts to the accused person,” Keyamo argued.

He further argued that the court could not simply believe that the large sums in cash that Fani-Kayode allegedly transacted were proceeds of his father’s estate, saying the accused should have called the tenant, who paid to testify in court and back it up with his statement of account.

But Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr. Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), in his summary argument, maintained that Fani-Kayode made no confession to the EFCC, adding that the anti-graft agency had failed to show that Fani-Kayode actually accepted a cash sum of N1m as alleged in one of the counts.

Adedipe said the EFCC had also failed to show to the court the person who handed the cash sum to the accused persons. [myad]

 

Saudi Government Beheads 5 Foreigners For Murder, Robbery

Saudi beheads five

Saudi Arabia government has beheaded five foreigners for murder and robbery, described in diplomatic circle as an unusually high number that has added to what Amnesty International has called a “macabre spike.”

According to the Saudi Arabian interior ministry in a statement today, two Yemenis, a Chadian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese were among those that were put to death in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Those who were beheaded were identified as Yemenis Khaled Fetini and Ibrahim Nasser, Hassan Omar from Chad, Eritrean Salem Idriss and Abdel Wahhab Abdel Maeen from Sudan. They were all convicted of killing the Indian guard at a business and stealing money from the safe.

Their beheadings bring to 78 the number of locals and foreigners executed in Saudi Arabia this year, compared with 87 for all of last year, according to AFP tallies. Normally one or two people are executed at a time.

London-based Amnesty ranked Saudi Arabia among the world’s top three executioners of 2014. Drug trafficking, rape, murder, apostasy and armed robbery are all punishable by death under the Gulf nation’s strict version of Islamic sharia law. The interior ministry has cited deterrence as a reason for carrying out the punishment. [myad]

 

Enugu Speaker Locks Horn With Deputy Over Moves To Impeach Governor Chime

chime
Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly Eugene Odoh, leading 14 other members is now at logger-head with his deputy, Chime Oji who is leading eight members, over the moves by the speaker’s group to impeach the state governor, Sullivan Chime for what they called, gross misconduct.

The deputy speaker has not only announced the impeachment of the speaker, Odoh and the sacking of the Majority Leader, S.K.E. Ude-Okoye but also purported to have suspended them along with seven other members.

Apart from electing a new speaker, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba (Nsukka East), the group of nine lawmakers also appointed Hon. Donatus Uzoagbado (Oji-River) and Hon. Emeka Ogbuabo  (Isiuzo) as the new Majority Leader and Chief Whip respectively.

They also went ahead to recall Hon. Johnbul Nwagu who was suspended by the House about two weeks ago, while also defreezing the accounts of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) which was frozen by the Assembly two weeks ago.

But, in an earlier sitting which commenced about 6:28am, the group of 15 lawmakers who had a tough time trying to gain entry into the Assembly complex, having been stopped at the gate by a team of policemen directed the Clerk of the House, Christopher Chukwurah to serve the governor with the notice of impeachment.

They accused the governor of forging the 2012 Supplementary Budget running into billions of naira. Other impeachable offences listed against the governor are alleged inflation of the contract sum for the construction of the new State Secretariat complex from N13 billion to N21 billion without recourse to the House of Assembly,  award of the contract to Arab Contractors Limited even when another contractor submitted a lower bid, as well as using the police to deny the lawmakers access to the House for their sitting on Monday.

They also suspended three members including the  Deputy Speaker, Chime Oji, who was recently elected to represent Enugu North/South Federal Constituency,  Hon. Emeka Ogbuabor and Deputy House Leader,  John Ukuta for alleged anti-House activities.

The lawmakers had complained that the governor was using some legislators to disrupt the activities of the House and undermine their interest following their refusal to approve the N11 billion loan requested by the governor.
However, the mace was taken away after Hon. Odo adjourned sitting of the House to Tuesday.

The G-15 lawmakers who signed the impeachment notice are Hon. Eugene odo, 2. Sunday Udeokoye,  3. Okechukwu Nwoke, 4. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, 5. Elochuchukwu Ugwueze, 6. Iloabuchi Aniagu, 7. Nze Michael Onyeze, 8. Anichukwu John Nwankwo, 9. Theresa Egbo, 10. Dame Nkechi Omeje Ogbu, 11.  Chika Eneh representing Governor Chime’s Udi South, 12. Mathias Ekweremadu Jnr,  13. Paul Okechukwu Ogbe, 14. Anthony Ogidi, and 15. Nelson Uduji.

But at 7.05am, the G-9 led by the Deputy Speaker and other members of the House including the state Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo walked into the chamber with another mace and  conducted their own sitting.

The Group of nine lawmakers are: 1. Chime Oji, 2. John Ukuta, 3. Chinedu Nwamba, 4. Donatus Uzogbado, 5. Edward Mbosi, 6. Joseph Agbo Ugwumba, 7. Emeka Ogbuabor, 8. Cecilia Ezeilo and 9. Johnbull Nwagu.

After a short prayer, Hon. John Kevin Ukuta, who was also suspended by the Odo-led group, moved a motion that Hon. Johnbull Nwagu who was earlier suspended by the House for alleged misconduct,  should be recalled and Hon. Chinedu Nwamba seconded the motion.

Hon. Ukuta thereafter moved another motion calling for the suspension of the Speaker Eugene Odo and six other members in his group including Anichukwu Nwankwo, Okechukwu Nwoke, Paul Ogbe, Nze Michael Onyeze, Chika Eneh, Theresa Egbo and SKE Udo-Okoye.

The motion was approved by the nine members.

The principal officers among those suspended were also stripped of their positions and benefits.

Ukuta further moved for the nomination of other colleagues to fill the vacancies created by the suspension and went ahead to nominate Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East constituency as replacement for the suspended Speaker.

The motion was approved and Chinedu Nwamba was immediately sworn in as Speaker of the G-9.
Nwamba who moved to the seat of the speaker, thanked his members for the confidence reposed in him to preside over the affairs of the house and directed the House Clerk to inform the governor of the decision of the House.

Ukuta informed the lawmakers of the letter written by the State Attorney General, Anthony Ani, informing the lawmakers that they had no powers to investigate the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB, saying the recent order of the House freezing of the account of the board was a legislative recklessness.

He said the members of the House should be seen as lawmakers and not law-breakers, condemning the action taken against the board chairman.

Ukuta, therefore, urged the lawmakers to regard the freezing of the ENSUBEB’s account as erroneous and should be lifted immediately .

Emeka Ogbuabo seconded the motion, saying the House erred by freezing the account of the board, saying the petition against the board chairman was not properly handled before the sanction.

The G-9 lawmakers, however, lifted the order freezing the account of the board and directed that the account be immediately de-frozen, while the board was asked to continue dealing with the Chairman of ENSUBEB, Ms. Nneka Onuora.

At 7.50 am, the House adjourned sine die and directed the police and Department of Security Services, DSS, to ensure that nobody was allowed into the House of Assembly complex until further notice. [myad]

 

Kate And William Name New Prince After Queen’s Mother, Charlotte

British Royal Baby

The name of the Princess of Cambridge has finally been revealed to the world as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. In a touching tribute, the little girl, who was born on Saturday, has been named in honour of her grandfather, her grandmother and her great-grandmother.

Announcing the name in a statement this afternoon after days of speculation, Kensington Palace said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

‘The baby will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.’

A princess called Charlotte — a name that is French in origin — is a nod to her grandfather, the Prince of Wales.

William has spoken of his deep respect for his father and the amount of time the prince commits to his charitable work. ‘I just really hold him in great admiration,’ the Duke has said.

The Prince of Wales strove to protect William and Prince Harry following the death of their mother Diana Princess of Wales and backed them as they have worked to honour her memory through their charitable connections.

They, in turn, accepted and supported him when he married Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?  

A princess called Charlotte — a name that is French in origin — is a nod to the little’s girl grandfather, the Prince of Wales.

Charlotte is also the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton.

In royal history, George IV named his only child Charlotte, but she died in childbirth at 21.

George III’s wife was Queen Charlotte, who was born 1744. She used it instead of her given first name, Sophie. The royal was married to George III and founded Kew Gardens,

The name was particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries due to Queen Charlotte’s influence in tandem with that of novelist Charlotte Bronte. It rose in popularity in the 1980s, particularly in the UK and Australia.

Surprisingly, popularity of the name Charlotte is expected to fall following the announcement.

Sasha Miller, International Managing Editor of BabyCentre comments: ‘It’s a lovely name but we’re expecting to see fewer babies being called Charlotte in the coming months.

‘Parents don’t want to be labelled as having been influenced by others in their baby name choice, particularly by such a high-profile family. New parents who had been thinking of naming their baby Charlotte, may well now be thinking again.’

According to the Office for National Statistics, Charlotte was the 21st most popular name for girls in England and Wales in 2013. It has fallen in popularity over the last decade and was in 4th place in 2000.

The princess’s middle name Elizabeth is in tribute to the Queen, the girl’s great-grandmother.

The Queen is held in great respect by her family and William has spoken of how she has become an even more important part of his life as he has grown older.

Diana is the name of William’s late mother, the Princess of Wales.

William is protective of his father, defending him against criticism he has often faced. Naming his daughter after the prince will be seen as a clear public demonstration of his love of Charles.

Charlotte is also the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton. In French, it means ‘petite’ and ‘feminine’ or ‘free man’.

In royal history, George IV named his only child Charlotte, but she died in childbirth at 21. George III’s wife was Queen Charlotte, who was born 1744.

George III’s wife was Queen Charlotte, who was born 1744. She used it instead of her given first name, Sophie. The royal was married to George III and founded Kew Gardens.

Like most royals, the princess has more than one middle name, both of which are likely to have inspired by two women in William’s life whom he greatly admires.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are likely to have chosen Elizabeth in tribute to the baby’s great-grandmother the Queen. It is also Kate’s middle name.

Many thought it likely that William and Kate would use the name Diana, though it has probably been used as one of the baby’s middle names to avoid comparisons with her late grandmother.

The Duke places great importance on honouring her memory, having already used Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring when he proposed to Kate.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly decided on a name for their daughter shortly after the birth but wanted to inform the Queen personally before it was publicly released.

There is no protocol which says the monarch needs to be consulted about the name of a newborn in the family, and senior royal sources stressed she has no expectation of being informed in person before the princess’s name is made public.

However, William, who has grown especially close to his grandmother in recent years, apparently decided to afford her the honour when they met in Sandringham.

Today, the newborn was reportedly set to meet her great-grandmother, the Queen, when the family left Kensington Palace to embark on a new life in Norfolk, where the monarch is in residence.

They had introduced the little girl – the most senior royal princess to be born for 65 years – to her brother George and to their families yesterday.

The newborn may herald a new generation in the monarchy, but it is customary for royals to look to their past for name ideas. The repetition of names in each generation is at least partly an effort to preserve the continuity of one of the world’s oldest institutions.

For weeks, bookmakers had been saying that Alice was the clear favorite. But in recent days Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, has also swayed at the number one spot.

When the baby’s older brother, Prince George, was born in 2013, the royal couple took two days to reveal his name, waiting until after Queen Elizabeth II had met her new great-grandson.

The wait over her name has led to a betting bonanza in the past 48 hours, and Charlotte and Alice had been picked at the clear favourites. But outsiders such as Olivia also attracted a sudden flurry of wagers.

A spokesman for Ladbrokes said the betting markets had been in ‘total mayhem’ with 20,000 individual wagers – some of which were six-figure sums – placed on the bet in the past two days. That equates to more bets than were put on the General Election.

Bookmakers had been ‘praying’ that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall opt for a name outside of the top seven – which also included Diana, Alexandra, Victoria and Elizabeth – to stop them having to pay out millions in winnings. [myad]

 

 

Security Agencies Arrest UK Citizen For Allegedly Defrauding 7 Nigerians Of N70 Million

American duper

The Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), attached to the Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 48-year-old citizen of the United Kingdom, identified as Saheed Mohammad Cameran, for defrauding seven Nigerians to the tune of N70 million under the pretext of supplying them diesel.

According to a police source, Cameran was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos while trying to sneak out of the country.

It was gathered that the case has been taken over by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SF). [myad]

 

214 Rescued Girls From Boko Haram’s Sambisa Forest Pregnant – United Nations Population Fund

Sambisa girls pregnant

There are indications that no fewer than 214 girls who were rescued recently by the Nigeria army from the Sambisa forest in Borno state, the den on Boko Haram, might be pregnant.

The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Professor Babatunde Osotimehin made this known in Lagos today.

According to him, the UNFP had also, in the last one year, taken deliveries of over 16,000 pregnancies in the troubled North East part of the country.

Professor Osotimehin, who gave an update of the response to the rehabilitation of the rescued women and children,  said the organization, in anticipation of the magnitude of the problem on hand, had put in place a formidable team in collaboration with the Federal and state governments, to first restore the dignity of the girls, who, he said, are facing severe psychosocial trauma.

On the state of the girls, he explained that most of them, due to the long period spent in captivity, required a special set of services that would facilitate their integration into society.

“What we found is that some of the women and girls that have come back actually have much more in terms of the stress they have faced, so the counselling has to be more intense and working with them one-on-one.

“I’m glad the communities are not excommunicating them and are taking them back. That is an important therapy too. We anticipate this is going to escalate because the military intervention is continuing, we find that more people are now needing our services and we will continue,” he stated.

He said that the UNFPA had earlier collaborated with the Federal and state governments to train 60 counsellors to offer psychosocial services to the affected women and children. He noted that those trained were people from the communities, who understand the context and sociology of the people.

“UNFPA is providing dignity for women. In conflict and disasters, most people would only think of water and sanitation, provision of tents and housing, and food, which are all important. But women and girls have specific needs that nobody else looks after; it is only UNFPA that is doing this. We are giving psychosocial counselling.

“Beyond that, in the growing young people, we will always have pregnant women, but nobody segregates the needs of the pregnant women which are very important and different from the needs of the average community. We look after them, and ensure they get antenatal care and that they deliver properly and that they even get Caesarean Section when necessary.” [myad]

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