Twenty-eight ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from March 30 to April 18.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication – `Shipping Position’, – a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

NPA explained that the expected ships contained buckwheat, empty containers, bulk salt, bulk sugar, general cargoes, containers, crude palm oil, diesel, petrol and Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes.

The document noted that six ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with petrol, aviation fuel and kerosene.

NAN reports that 16 other ships are at the ports discharging general cargoes, bulk wheat, bulk sugar, steel products and petrol.

He attributed the successes recorded so far to the adoption and application of sound economic and fiscal policies.

Governor Gaidam, spoke at the opening of a two-day retreat for members of the State Executive Council, SEC, in Abuja.

The governor said the reforms implemented in conjunction with the United Kingdom-based Department for International Development, DfID, and the State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability, SPARC, had launched Yobe State into the league of prudent managers of public finance and good governance.

The governor said: “The cumulative effect of these reforms in Public Finance Management is the high standards of accountability and prudence manifested in the ability of the State Government to remain above board and keep paying salaries, overhead costs and even service some capital projects at a time when many states cannot pay staff salaries.

“As part of efforts to internalize the lessons learnt through our collaboration with SPARC, our administration has made it mandatory for MDAs to conduct their activities in a transparent manner and this has checked diversion of funds, misappropriations, revenue leakages and misuse of public funds.

“In addition, we have formed committees to verify execution of contracts, payment of outstanding pensions and gratuity and conduct of Bio-metric enrolment for verification of staff and salaries with the aim of eliminating ghost workers.

“Furthermore, we have set machinery for the establishment of Integrated Personnel Management Information System among others. To cap all our efforts of embracing reforms, we have formed a Governance Policy Advisory Committee under the Chairmanship of the Secretary to the State Government for the purpose of advising on and coordinating reform programmes.”

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday warned traders on dangers of Lassa fever, meningitis and measles, urging them to always take precaution against the deadly diseases during dry season when the diseases were rampant and also dangerous to human beings.

Its North-west zonal Coordinator, Musa Ilallah, who made the call while addressing the village head of Kawo community within the Kawo market in Kaduna state, described Lassa fever as “a dangerous disease” that affects the blood, liver and other parts of the human body.

He said: “It is a disease caused by Lassa fever virus that is carried mostly by multimamate rats. The disease occurs throughout the year but it’s most common during dry season. Cholera is another deadly disease that we think our people need to take precaution from. Other diseases are measles and meningitis all are killer diseases that are rampant in dry season.

“We decided to visit this market because it’s one of the important markets in the state. People from different villages and communities visit this market on weekly basis. So we feel it will be best to meet with the traders face to face to educate them on these diseases mentioned above.”

The coordinator added that there were steps to prevent these diseases which included ensuring proper sanitation and for people to always wash hands after visiting toilet.

“People must learn to always cover their dust bins and toilets; they must avoid eating uncovered food. Traders must learn to always wash hands before and after eating. For meningitis they should always sleep in a well ventilated room and not in overcrowded room. They should also maintain proper sanitation and to avoid contact with infected person.”

The village head of Kawo, Alhaji Yahaya Hassan, thanked NEMA for the sensitisation against the deadly diseases and assured the agency of their total support and readiness to help eradicate the diseases, particularly Lassa fever.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved to employ a foreign coach following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

Amaju Pinnick, the federation president disclosed this while speaking with newsmen shortly after the Super Eagles lost 1 – 0 to the Pharaohs of Egypt in a tension-soaked Afcon qualifier played in Alexandria on Tuesday.

The Eagles lost control of the game in the second half and conceded a goal that technically sent them out of contention for the 2017 Afcon ticket.

However, Pinnick commended Coach Samson Siasia, for putting in his very best since he took over the team in interim capacity.

Siasia, Prompt News Online recalls was appointed an Interim Coach sequel to sudden resignation of erstwhile coach Sunday Oliseh.

Pinnick said it was glaring now that a foreign coach is inevitable to assemble a vibrant team that can qualify Nigeria for the World Cup.

The NFF boss also assured that Siasia would be given necessary support to go for gold at the Rio Olympics games later in the year.

President Muhammadu Buhari will today leave Abuja for Washington DC to join President Barack Obama and other world leaders and heads of international organisations at the fourth nuclear security summit which opens there tomorrow.

While in Washington DC for the summit, the President and his delegation, which includes Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State, his Kwara State counterpart, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Director-General of Nigeria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA), Prof. Lawrence Anikwe Dim, would also hold bilateral meetings with other participating Heads of Government and high-ranking United States government officials.

A statement yesterday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, indicated that at the plenary session of the summit, which is dedicated to reinforcing international commitment to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, Buhari would insist that while Nigeria would continue to sustain that commitment, world powers must respect the right of other countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for development purposes.

President Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Sunday.

In another development, President Buhari has admonished the South Sudanese government to invest more in agriculture and not to be solely dependent on oil revenues to grow the nation’s economy.

Receiving the out-going South Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Makuet Riak, at the State House in Abuja, Buhari said South Sudan could avoid the mistake made by Nigeria in her over-reliance on oil revenue.

The President said: “Investing in sustainable agriculture is one of the best ways to provide jobs for the people and keep the nation productive. Food security is important to any country and that is what we are trying to achieve here, years after we ‘threw away’ agriculture for oil.”

He also praised the excellent relations between Nigeria and South Sudan and re-affirmed his commitment to strengthening the existing bilateral ties.

In his remarks, Riak said South Sudan was blessed with fertile land and would welcome more investments from Nigerian companies.