The Director General of the Federal Capital Hospital Services Management Board, Dr. Mohammed Kawu on Friday noted that the main building and other important structures of the Asokoro District Hospital were not affected by the fire incident which occurred last Thursday.

Kawu hinted that the clarification became necessary against the backdrop of reports in some sections of the media that the entire building structures at the Asokoro District Hospital have been razed by fire.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Strategy Communication, Malam Abubakar Sani stated that: “Fire was noticed at about 12 noon at the IHVN and Tuberculosis porta cabin that is located at the back of the hospital main building. These porta cabins are isolated from the main building and so the fire did not pose any threat to the structures which house patients.

He explained that the FCT fire service was called in and they responded promptly and were able to contain the fire.

The DG said in order to ensure the safety of patients, the Male Out Patient Department was evacuated and all the cylinders removed from the oxygen plant.

He added that following the precautionary measures taken, no member of staff or patients sustained any injury, pointing out that normal hospital services have since resumed at the hospital.

The Peoples Alliance for Indigenous Rights (PAIR) has dismissed a newspaper report that the Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, was heckled at the presentation of Certificates of Return to newly elected area councils’ chairmen on Friday in Abuja.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday by the National Coordinator of the PAIR, Isa Pai, accused the newspaper of reporting out of context as those who applauded the minister’s suggestion to the INEC were overwhelming.

The statement reads: “Newspapers and media houses need to guard their integrity like a woman’s honour. During last Saturday’s area council elections, there was widespread failure of BVAS leading to the disenfranchisement of some voters. This election obsevers like YAIGA Africa have noted in their preliminary report on the election.

“As an important stakeholder in Nigeria’s political environment, the Hon. Minister of State FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, suggested the possibility of allowing registered voters to vote in places of widespread failure of the BVAS as was witnessed in the area council elections.

“For a newspaper to twist facts when the minister was widely applauded bothers on mischief and a new narrative of some individuals to taint the hard earned reputation of the minister as unfortunate,” the statement further reads.

Pai further stated that the minister has continued to receive commendation one of which was from the NUJ FCT over her exemplary leadership and accommodating administrative style when she paid an unscheduled visit to the union.

The PAIR coordinator called on media houses to be circumspect about reports from some of their reporters as they could be misleading.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that its national convention earlier scheduled for February 26 will no longer hold.

In a letter to the Electoral Commission which was signed Governor Mai Mala Buni, the National Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Senator John Akpan Udoedehe, its Secretary, the APC notified INEC of its intention to hold its Zonal Congresses on March 26th.

The APC said the current letter supercedes the earlier one it wrote notifying INEC of plans to conduct its national convention on February 26th.

Our correspondent had earlier reported that the Buni-led Caretaker Committee is seeking a minimum of two weeks extension to conduct the national convention.