02042019 - Military uncovers arms factory in Benue

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20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 From left: Maureen Ada-Leonard, Education Chairperson, Professional Insurance Ladies Association, PILA; Ugochi Odemelam, Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc; Olaotan Soyinka, MD/CEO, Sovereign Trust Insurance, and Ose Oluyanwo, President PILA, during the courtesy visit of the Association to the Management of Sovereign Trust Insurance at the Corporate Head Office in Lagos. IFRS9: NSE extends deadline for insurers to submit results Stories by Rosemary Onuoha The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has extended the deadline for insurance companies quoted on the NSE to submit their 2018 financial results, following their transition to the International Financial Reporting Standard, IFRS 9. Accordingly, insurance companies have up till July 2019 31st to submit their results against the statutory time frame of June 30th every year. The extension came as a result of an appeal by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, to the NSE to give insurance companies more time to file their results in the IFRS 9 model. It will be recalled that Vanguard had exclusively reported that many of the companies had lamented that the implementation of the IFRS 9, in the 2018 financial year as against initial scheduled period of 2020 will cause delay in the submission of their results. However, while reacting to the development, Deputy Commissioner, Technical, of NAICOM, Mr. Sunday Thomas, noted that the Commission had reached out to the other regulators to extend some grace period to the insurers. Thomas, who spoke to journalists in Lagos, last week, said that NAICOM also had one-on-one dialogue with operators and had engaged Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of insurance firms in terms of implementation of the financial model. Thomas added that the adoption and effective implementation of IFRS9 will ultimately enhance transparency in financial transactions in the insurance industry. Thomas said, “We have reached out to the NSE and SEC to grant extension to insurance companies as regards submission of their 2018 financial results, and they have granted one month extension to insurance firms quoted on the NSE. “Operators need to do more to incorporate the tenets of IFRS 9 into their annual financial results. IFRS 9 provides significantly improved information because it introduces a structured approach to the classification and measurement of financial assets that reflects the business model in which they are managed and their cash flow characteristics.” According to Thomas, many Building collapse: NCRIB frowns at dependence on govt for compensation Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, has frowned at the poor attitude of Nigerians towards insurance and dependence on government for compensation after a major incident or disaster. Executive Secretary of NCRIB, Mr. Fatai Adegbenro, expressed this position while reacting to queries from Vanguard regarding the recent building collapse in Lagos, noting that insurance is the best form of risk transfer mechanism. Adegbenro said that government cannot pay compensation the way the insurance industry can in the event of a disaster. He said: “Nigerians should imbibe the culture of insurance and stop the habit of going cap in hand to government anytime there is a major incident or disaster. In mature climes, citizens don’t run after government for aid when there is an incident or disaster, rather they go to their insurance companies because they believe in insurance and that insurers will pay commensurate compensation for their loss. “But in Nigeria, the story is different as people see such scenarios as opportunity to gain from government. In some situations, some people capitalize on such occurrence to defraud government. Unfortunately, victims of disasters can’t get commensurate compensation from government for their loss after an incident or a disaster because government is not an Sigma Pensions Limited has reiterated its commitment to prompt resolution of complaints from contributors. The Senior Business Development Manager (West) of the company, Mr. John Igiehon, who said this in Akure, Ondo State at a sensitisation forum for retirees and prospective retirees in Ondo insurer.” It will be recalled that on March 13, a building collapsed at Ita Faji, Lagos Island, killing 20 persons, including school children, while more than 40 people sustained injuries. Five days later, another building collapsed on 57, Egerton Square, Oke Arin, Lagos — but this was because the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had engaged the services of some contractors to bring down houses marked for demolition in the wake of the Ita Faji building collapse. However, another building collapsed on Lagos Island, bringing to three the number of building collapses witnessed in that section of Lagos within two weeks. IFC, Africa Re partner to enhance farmers’ access to insurance IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with Africa Reinsurance Corporation, Africa Re, to help thousands of small holder Nigerian farmers to access insurance more easily to protect their crops and livelihoods. Under the agreement, Africa Re, a pan-African reinsurance company headquartered in Nigeria, and IFC’s Global Index Insurance Facility will help Nigerian insurance companies develop agricultural insurance products, and deepen their index insurance business lines. These index insurance products will help protect farmers against environmental risks such as drought, floods, erratic rainfall, and other natural hazards. companies are already complying while some have already submitted their IFRS 9 compliant financial statements. He said nine companies submitted last week. He said, “We have invited the companies on one-on-one basis where they were requested to tell us how far they have gone in terms of implementation and challenges. The IFRS 9 came into the system as part of transparency in financial transaction. Since the 2008 crisis, relevant institution and regulators across the world became concerned about transactions within the financial services sector. and Ekiti states, noted that contributors should not hesitate in pointing out any problem they may encounter in their dealings with the company. The event tagged “Agenda for the Retirees” had in attendance over 500 participants from the two states who interacted freely with the company’s management. Igiehon said Sigma which was licensed in 2005 was preparing the pensioners for the future on what they should know as regards their pensions and be able take critical decisions. “The main purpose of us bringing you together today is The Index-based agricultural insurance pays out claims based on transparent parameters like rainfall and does not require costly field visits to verify losses, which is an innovative and efficient way for farmers to protect themselves against losses. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday, Deputy Managing Director/ Chief Operating Officer of Africa Re, Mr. Ken Aghoghovbia, said; “We are excited to be partnering with IFC in assisting Nigerian insurers develop appropriate insurance products for small holder farmers. This initiative will certainly help move Nigeria towards its goal of food security and it is in line with Africa Re’s mission to support African economic development.” IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, Eme Essien, said, “IFC’s support for affordable and accessible agricultural insurance will help Nigeria’s farmers mitigate the effects of climate-related shocks, protecting them against catastrophic losses and unlocking access to finance. Developing a sustainable agricultural insurance industry also requires a strong commitment from regulators, such as the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, who embrace innovation to help farmers manage their risks. “Farmers with crop insurance are also more likely to access other financial products, including credit, and to invest in higher quality production inputs. Sigma assures contributors of prompt resolution of complaints Leadway Assurance Company Limited has restated its commitment to sustaining its Corporate Social Responsibility to enhance socio-economic growth in the country. To this end, Leadway Assurance has described the Nigerian contingent to the just-concluded 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi as true heroes who deserve to be celebrated by the nation at large. Speaking during a reception hosted in Lagos by the Special Olympics Nigeria for the team and various sponsors that made the team’s participation at the Abu Dhabi event possible, to educate our retirees and prospective retirees on what they should know about their pensions so that when it comes, you will know what to do. “We have been in operation since 2005 and we are doing our best to give our pensioners deserved benefits after retirement. We ensure that all our books are correct and we don’t involve in fraudulent acts,” he said. Also speaking, the Head Business Development Division (West), Mrs. Mabel George, noted that Sigma wants to show that pensioners are still relevant in retirement. Leadway Assurance restates commitment to CSR Ademola Ayodabo who represented Leadway Assurance’s Head of Corporate Communications, Olubunmi Adeleye, said the team’s total haul of sixty-three individual medals in eight sporting activities was a testament to the irrepressible Nigerian spirit. He noted that Leadway Assurance was proud to be associated with the great success story of the team both as a sponsor and also for being represented on the Board of Special Olympics Nigeria. He also promised that the company was committed to sustaining its CSR support for Special Olympics Nigeria.
Vanguard, TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 —21 * Cross section of Oyo women attending antenatal at the Iwo Raod,Primary Healthcare Centre, PHC, Ibadan North-East during a field trip organised by UNICEF recently. In Oyo, newborn deaths drop as immunisation increases By Chioma Obinna THE birth of a live baby brings joy in the community and ultimately compensates the mother for her endurance all through the nine months of pregnancy. But when it becomes the opposite, it throws the community and the family into perpetual sadness. This was the situation some communities in Oyo found themselves a year ago until the State government, community leaders, UNICEF and other partners through the Accelerated Action for Impact, AAI, Initiative moved in to ensure that no child dies from preventable causes as well as put in measures that guarantee that the estimated 334.073 newborns and 1,670,366 under 5 children in the state reach their full potential in health and well-being. In just six months, Oyo has reduced the number of unimmunised children in three Local Government Areas from over 2000 to 510, all thanks to AAI. Previously, statistics have shown that in Nigeria, Oyo State is among the 15 States contributing to nearly 50 percent newborn deaths in Nigeria and the sadly, the 3rd highest contributor to newborn mortality rate in absolute numbers in the South West. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS, 2016/2017, Oyo parades unenviable 42 percent of newborn mortality rate. However, as Nigeria strives towards ensuring 100 percent child survival through different initiatives. In line with these efforts, Oyo State government with support from UNICEF introduced evidenced based intervention for women, children which has metamorphosed immunisation coverage in Ibadan North-East, Ibarapa North and Saki West Local Government Areas out of the six identified Local Government Areas with high burden of newborn deaths. One unique thing about the interventions is the involvement of community, religious and traditional leaders and health workers among others. These leaders have introduced house-to-house mobilisation and sensitisation in the communities while the health workers embarked on constant outreach programmes even in the hard- to- reach areas in the state. Today, in Oyo, it is taboo for a pregnant woman not to visit the hospital for antenatal or fail to immunise her children. Even Landlords quit their tenants who fail to access healthcare or immunise their children. Community members now come together to mobilise women to use health facilities at no cost. A field visit to Ibadan North-East Primary Healthcare Centre, PHC, confirmed ws a revelation. Community members were all full of praises for government, UNICEF and other partners for saving their newborns. In some communities like Oke-Adu, immediately, the National Orientation Agency alerted them on the death of children in the community and what needed to be done, the community leaders began house-tohouse mobilisation of mothers and children to health facilities. “We banned Traditional Birth Attendants in the villages. We resumed house- to - house immunisation. We took it upon ourselves to ensure we monitor pregnant women and their children. Today, it is paying off. Our children are no longer dying,” Sulaimon Saudah, a community birth attendant narrated. In the words of Chief Community Health Extension Worker, Mrs, JolasinmiAdebola, “Through the various interventions such as counseling and awareness, the number of women who usually brings their children for immunisation had increased. “Usually, we used to have 56 women every month but today, we have over 78 coming to this Today, in Oyo, it is taboo for a pregnant woman not to visit the hospital for antenatal or fail to immunize her children centre alone. For exclusive breastfeeding, it has increased from 103 to 189. The only challenge we have is the fact that most women no longer deliver here since we stopped running night services and most deliveries happen at night.” A report made available to Good Health Weekly on Ibadan North East showed 100 percent immunisation coverage in February, 2019. The report also showed that there was a decrease in neonatal deaths. By January, 2018 there were four cases of neonatal death between 0-28 days of birth and cause of death was Asphyxia. Today, the LGA has also achieved 100 percent reduction in neonatal death. The State Immunisation officer, Primary HealthCare Board, Oyo State, Mrs. Eunice Nihinlola told Good Health Weekly that newborn death was commomplace due to low immunisation coverage, however, UNICEF introduced different intervention designed to save newborns and increase immunisation. “We started with training of health workers because we had problems with their data documentation and data analysis, we also have issues of how they were addressing mothers, and the kind of attention they were given them then which made many of them stayed away from the facilities. “The outcome of the training has helped in having more mothers coming to the facilities to have their children immunised properly against killer diseases and it has reduced the number of unimmunised children from over 2,000 in the three LGAs to 510. “To address the issue of handling of vaccines to the hard –to- reach areas, the Chairman, Saki West provided us with Motorcycles to move down to hard- to- reach areas. From the Local government to get to Korete, we 10 hours going there and back. Recalling that religious beliefs and ignorance were major factors affecting immunisation coverage, she affirmed that meetings with religious and traditional leaders have paved a way for smooth immunisation processes in the state. “During these meetings, we address them on the importance of vaccination and the need for children to get all the immunisations including BCG to prevent tuberculosis, oral polio, Hepatitis vaccines, pentavelant vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines and measles vaccination. Today cultural and religious barriers are history. The Imams help us when we have issues. Corroborating these views, the Assistant Immunisation Coaching Officer for the LGA, Mr Ayobami Akinola, explained that the number of newborns immunised on a monthly basis had increased from 1,701 to 1,926 due the health interventions. Ayobami said under the intervention, women are being taught proper immunisation, exclusive breastfeeding and postnatal services, among others. He said to achieve this feat, Community Ward Development CBAs, were also established to address the negative belief on immunisation and encourage the people to accept it. He said now, they have solar refrigerators and cold boxes to preserve the vaccines before distribution to other PHCs in the area. Giving insight into the various interventions during a two-day, media dialogue with the theme: “Improving Health Outcomes for Children in Oyo State through Accelerated Action for Impact.”, the UNICEF Health Specialist, Akure Field Office, Dr Adebola Hassan, said the interventions became necessary after it was identified that Oyo was performing poorly in newborn health in absolute numbers. According to her, some of the babies die as result of ill health after birth and so many things can kill new born within the 28 days. She said the intervention programmes had been having positive effects in reducing the number of newborn deaths in the council area. Hassan who noted that there are six local governments in the state with highest infant mortality and neonatal death in the state was optimistic that with various interventions by UNICEF and the state government, the trend was changing.
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