Category: News

By Hassana Yakubu

The Chika-ji Rohugi community in Kaduna State on Monday urged the state government to provide residents with infrastructure like roads, electricity and hospital, to enhance their standard of living.

Alhaji Lawal Tanimu, District Head, Chika-ji community in Igabi Local Government Area of the state, made the plea while addressing newsmen in the area.

According to him, the provision of such facilities will help in reducing some of the health challenges being faced by most pregnant women, while going for ante-natal and other medical checkups.

He said that people in the area were being transported through tipper vehicles and motorcycles because of the bad state of roads in the district.

Tanimu stated that the community, being inhabited by the Hausa-Fulani, Gwari, Adara and other minority tribes, had been existing for decades.

“Farming, cattle breeding, fishing and sand extraction from the river are our main business, while some women are into petty trading to support their families.”

Apart from the bad roads, the community leader identified insecurity and lack of youth empowerment programme as some of the problems facing residents in the area.

He said the poor state of the 20-kilometre road, linking the community to major cities in the state, had hampered the transportation of their farm products to urban centres for sale.

Another resident, Malam Idris Chika-ji, called on the Kaduna State Government to build a primary health care centre in the area, to reduce the problems being faced by women, especially while going for treatment in the city centre.

He described the road as usually bad during rainy season, to the extent that some women had to abandon going for ante-natal and other medical checkups.

“When the roads are bad during rainy season, we usually put our pregnant women on our back and take them to the hospital for treatment.

“We also carry the corpses of family members from the city hospitals to the village on commercial motorbikes.

“We need a hospital in this community to save the lives of residents,” Chika-ji said.

By David Adeoye

The Oyo State Government says is addressing issue of rape to protect girls and young persons from abuse.

The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Seun Fakorede, disclosed this on Monday in Ibadan.

Fakorede spoke while receiving protesting members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by the National President of the association, Mr Bamidele Akpan, ay the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

He said the state House of Assembly is working on laws to tackle the menace of rape incidents in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students were protesting the death of an 18-year-old Barakat Bello, who was gang-raped and murdered on June 2, at Akinyele area of Ibadan.

Bello until her death was a student of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production, Ibadan.

Fakorede, while addressing the students on behalf of Gov. Seyi Makinde, described rape as a very condemnable act, assuring that the state will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of Bello to justice.

“As part of measures to bring the perpetrators to book and nip such dastardly acts in the bud, the state government, in collaboration with the police, has swung into action.

“All concerned institutions will deal with this seriously and I want to say that Oyo is one of the states leading and giving adequate direction to how we are meant to handle this dastardly act.

“Of course, this act is very condemnable and we deeply condemn it as a state. I can assure you that we will do everything to bring justice for Barakat.

“It will not only be for her but a whole lot of people that are victims of these unfortunate incidences.

“I salute you, NANS President and everyone that is part of this entourage. I bring you the greetings of Gov. Makinde,” the commissioner stated.

Earlier, Akpan said students from different parts of the country were in Ibadan to protest the unfortunate killing of Bello.

“The dastardly act of the rapists who chose to go the other way by raping our students to death.

“This we are doing as our own contribution to the sustenance of the society and of government because they say evil thrives when the good people stay quiet,” he said.

He extended NANS’ condolences to the deceased family, the Federal College of Animal Health and Production, the Oyo State government and the people of the state.

Akpan also called on the Nigeria Police and other relevant authorities to speed up the investigation process and fish out those behind the dastardly act.

By Grace Alegba
Environmentalists have called on business owners and governments in Nigeria to take advantage of the huge investment opportunities in waste management to promote biodiversity and overcome post-COVID-19 economic challenges.

They made the call on Monday during a Zoom virtual meeting organised by the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) to commemorate World Environment Day (WED).

Dr Vishwas Vidyaranya, Technical Director, Value Investment, Colombia, said it was important to link circular economy with waste management while promoting public health.

Vidyaranya called for establishment of effective, sustained and decentralised waste management modules that created jobs and wealth while targeting alternatives that would promote healthy environment.

Speaking on the topic, “Green Recovery and Waste Management“, he said that challenges of the COVID-19 was going to open up huge business opportunities which Nigeria should not miss out on.

He said that economic prosperity of emerging mega cities usually increased pressure on waste management infrastructure but noted that it usually created opportunities in the various waste value chains which developing countries were not exploring.

The expert explained that organic wastes were easier to manage and Lagos State could leverage on its huge population to begin to use the ones from millions of households to produce various useful products.

He said that Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa generated more organic wastes which were easy to manage with Lagos accounting for the highest.

“Lagos in Nigeria generates the largest waste, about one kilogramme per person daily,’’ he said.

Vidyaranya said that sustainability in investment drive could lead to massive post-COVID-19 global economic recovery through investments in the wastes value chains.

“It is important to go for green recovery; green energy could drive COVID-19 recovery with 100 trillion dollars boost. Speeding up investments could deliver huge gains to global GDP by 2050 while tackling climate change emergency,’’ he said.

He highlighted the importance of exploring the business, scientific and engineering opportunities in nature preservation and conservation.

Dr Neeraj Mannie, Executive Director, Munch Innovation (Pty) Ltd., South Africa, called on businesses to focus more on manufacturing products less destructive to the environment.

Mannie explained that manufacturing environment-friendly products would promote sustainability, saying that there should always be consideration for adding value to nature.

“Nature does provide us with capital to use and not abuse,’’ he said.

He said that nature was constantly creating opportunities for new businesses but stressed the need for adoption of green business models that would not further degrade the environment.

On her part, Dr Tania Li Cheng, an expert from Portugal, suggested the need to monetise natural resources and find a balance between profit-making and preservation of the biodiversity.

She cited farmers and fishermen as examples of those who used pesticides to destroy soil or overfish to destabilise aquatic biodiversity.

“It is a challenge but it is possible to make plans that respect both our bio-diversities, communities and economies,’’ Cheng said.

She called for interdisciplinary solutions to environmental problems with experts in various fields coming together to protect most of the world’s endangered aquatic species.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), FCT Chapter, has said that investigations showed that Mr Luka Avong, a staff member of the FCT High Court did not die of COVID-19.

The Chairman of JUSUN, Mr Abdulrazaq Yusuf, in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said that Avong died as a result of growth on his abdomen.

Yusuf said that the union excutive took it upon itself to investigate the issue following the outcry from family members and colleagues.

The union leader said that weeks before Avong’s death, he complained of abdominal pain to which he visited a private hospital where he was examined and advised to go for a scan.

He said the deceased was able to get a scan and from the result made available to the union by his family members, it showed that he actually had a growth (mass) below his liver and parts of his abdomen.

The chairman said the doctor advised him to do a CT Scan and also recommended a surgery for him.

He noted that he was also referred to another hospital for further assessment and was then advised to get a CT Scan for clarity and confirmation.

”Avong then decided to approach Maitama Hospital where he had his NHIS knowing that both the Scan and Surgery might overwhelm him financially.

“Pastor, as he was popularly called, died at Maitama General Hospital on his second visit following an unsuccessful first outing on June 4.

”It is on record that he was in severe abdominal pain the day he passed away in the hospital but he was not attended to.

”Shortly after he slumped, a crowd gathered at the hospital and immediately took him in but unfortunately this was too late,” the JUSUN chairman said.

He further said that investigation was still trying to unravel how the story was twisted and concluded to be a COVID-19 death.

”Avong did not show any sign of the Coronavirus. The body has since been buried.

“But we are convinced that this is done as a cover up, as no sample was taken for test either by the hospital or NCDC and they announced that he died of COVID-19.

“One can only pray for the soul of the departed at this point, it can be seen as hard luck to fall ill during this period but when negligence and recklessness are combined the outcome will always be fatal,’” he said.

Yusuf stated that until Avong’s death, he was a staff member of the Process Unit, Litigation Department of the FCT High Court, and that the news broke out on June 5.

 

By Uchenna Ugwu
A fire outbreak on Monday destroyed the production studio of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s Unity FM, Abakiliki in Ebonyi, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The General Manager of the station, Mr Rex Eze, who spoke to NAN on the development, said the fire started at the production studio and burnt it completely.

Eze said the fire was caused by an electrical fault, noting that workers were in the studio when the fire broke out.

He said that various items, including computers, laptops, furniture and electrical appliances were damaged by the fire.

“There was a bang shortly after our engineers changed from public power line to the generator.

“I thanked God that the fire did not affect the transmitter, the live studio and my office,” Eze said.

The Head of the Ebonyi State Fire Service, Mr Raphael Ibiam, who also confirmed the incident, described the fire outbreak as sad.

He said, however, that firemen were able to put off the fire before it could cause more damage.

Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of late Lady Janet Okwaraji, mother of Late footballer, Sam Okwaraji.

Mrs Okwaraji, was a teacher and school proprietress, who passed on at 83, leaving lasting memory of kindness, love and charity as a devout Christian.

The President’s condolence message was conveyed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday.

The President believed Lady Okwaraji, whose son, Samuel, died in August 1989 while playing for the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifier, would always be remembered for the sacrifices of the family for the nation.

President Buhari affirmed that the matriarch of the Okwaraji family, like her son, defined simplicity, loyalty and patriotism in many ways as she remained steadfast, believing in Nigeria, despite the vicissitude of life.

According to the president, as a mother, who lost her son in an unexpected situation, Lady Janet deserved to be acknowledged for her resilience and nobility, despite the odds.

President Buhari prayed that the almighty God would grant her soul eternal rest, and comfort her loved ones.

Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari, in-line with his constitutional responsibility has sent the nomination of Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Acting President, Court of Appeal to the Senate for confirmation as President, Court of Appeal.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

“Justice Dongban-Mensem is a serving Justice of the Court of Appeal and was recommended, as is the practice, by the National Judicial Council for the nomination by the President,’’ the statement added.

Buhari had earlier on May 29 approved the extension of the appointment of Dongban-Mensem as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal (PCA).

The extension takes effect from June 3 for a further period of three months.

Muhammad Nasir Bello

Beneficiaries of the Federal Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) palliatives in Sokoto State have lauded the government for the gesture.

The beneficiaries gave  the commendation during the distribution of  the items on Monday at Goronyo, Achida and Gandi Districts of Goronyo, Wurno and Rabah local government areas of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that  Sokoto state government on May 23, began the distribution of the federal government’s palliatives to alleviate the harsh economic realities occasioned by the  COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Ali Inname, Commissioner for Health and Chairman, Sokoto State Taskforce on COVID-19, said  the palliatives were received through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development.

According to Inname, the gesture is to alleviate the harsh economic realities occasioned by measures imposed to curtail the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

He said the state government had chosen the state Zakkat and Endowment Commission to undertake the distribution of the items, which included,  1, 800 50kg bags of rice and 600  25 litres of vegetable oil.

Malam Alasan Wakili, one of the beneficiaries in Goronyo district, described the gesture as a welcome development that would ease their hardship.

“The assistance will surely aid our daily need and ease the current hardship we encounter as  part of the global Coronavirus pandemic effect.

“We thank the federal government for remembering us and the Sokoto state government for extending the gesture to us,” he said.

Also speaking,  Hansatu Goronyo commended the government for the gesture and appealed for the continuation of such support to ease the hardship being encountered by the poor in the society.

Other beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen were Musa Danburam, Bala Achida, Rabi’a Gandi, Jamila Bello and Tagero Tsamiya, who commended the federal government for the gesture, appealed for more from wealthy persons in the state.

The State Zakkat and Endowment Commission Chairman,  Malam Muhammad Maidoki, commended the federal and the state governments for the gesture and promised to ensure equitable distribution of the palliative.

Maidoki represented by the Commission’s Director of Administration, Malam Ibrahim Jeli, urged the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the items to better their living standards.

Stanley Nwanosike

Nestlé Nigeria Plc, on Monday, donated nutritious food and beverages worth N32 million to support individuals and families most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Enugu State.

The items donated included: cartoons of Milo, Golden morn, Maggi, and Nestlé Purelife bottled water among others.

Presenting the items in Enugu, Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mauricio Alarcon, said that as the fight against the spread of COVID-19 continues to intensify, all hands must be on deck, to defeat this common enemy.

“As a company that cares, we are doing all we can to support the individuals and families at a time like this when our communities need us the most.

“We hope that these foods and beverages would help provide the necessary nutrients to those who need them most in these times,’’ he said.

Alarcon was represented by Mr Afolabi Adeleye, Nestlé Branch Manager, South-East (Enugu).

Receiving the donation, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, thanked Nestlé Nigeria for the generous donation and for thinking about the people of Enugu State in these challenging times.

Ezeilo said, “I want to appreciate Nestlé Nigeria Plc for including Enugu State among the states to benefit from its relief efforts.

“The lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 has negatively impacted on businesses in the state as in other states and your donation today shows you are feeling the heartbeat of our people.

“On behalf of the governor and the good people of Enugu State, I promise that the items will get to the vulnerable, sick, orphans and the indigenes and residents of the state, who really need these food and beverage products’’.

News Agency  of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that as the fall out of the COVID-19 crisis including loss of livelihood escalates across the country, many families are facing increasing challenges with getting the right nourishment.

Nestlé is determined to help cushion the effects on the most vulnerable by donating food and beverages worth over N450 million and a cash donation of N250 million towards the procurement of medical equipment and supplies through the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to support the government’s efforts.

Nestlé Nigeria also recently donated 13,000 of N95 face masks to the Lagos State Ministry of Health to help ensure the safety of frontline medical professionals and volunteers in the fight against COVID-19.

Ariwodola Idowu
The Ekiti Commissioner for health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, has warned  that the state government will deploy stricter measures to enforce compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures.

Yaya-Kolade, also a member of the Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19, gave warning while briefing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

According to her, the government is ready to ensure that Ekiti people comply with rules established to avert the transmission of the disease.

She announced that the state had recorded four new cases of novel coronavirus, but said that  the  cases were not as a result of community spread.

The commissioner said that the new infections brought the state’s burden  to 29 cases, with 18 treated and discharged, nine active and two deaths.

“The new cases are two health workers, an elderly citizen with no travel  history and a young man who sneaked into the state from Lagos.

“As a government, we are doing everything possible to prevent community spread of the virus; residents are urged to adhere strictly to precautionary measures,” she said.

Yaya-Kolade said that although some of the patients had underlying health issues, they had been put under strict observations.

Prof. Bolaji Aluko, Coordinator, Ekiti Taskforce on COVID 19, called  for compliance with all established preventive measures against the pandemic.

He urged Ekiti people to wear face masks while in public  and ensure good sanitary habits to avoid infection.

Aluko warned that the task force would take stringent steps against anyone found in public places without face masks.