Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa Police Command has mobilised 4,000 personnel to ensure security for the two-day campaign visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Yola, scheduled for today and tomorrow.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Akelere Shinaba, disclosed this in Yola on Monday while addressing newsmen.
Shinaba said various units of the police, including Bomb Squad, Mounted troop, Police Dog and a detachment of Mobile Police from Enugu, had been mobilised for the presidential campaign visit.
“We are going to be civil, courteous but very firm in the discharge of our duty.
“We are not out to intimidate anybody but we will deal with anyone who tries to foment trouble,” Shinaba said.
He advised the public to cooperate with the police and other security operatives that would direct them on moving in and out of Ribadu Square, venue of the campaign rally, to avoid incidents such as stampede.
The Commissioner also assured journalists of unfettered access to cover Jonathan’s presidential campaign.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has approved the implementation of 27.5 per cent allowance for teachers in the state and local government employ, one year after some states had implemented.
Following agreement reached between the national body of the NUT and the 36 governors, the latter had agreed to pay the 27.5 per cent in the allowances of teachers as from January 2010.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service, Establishment and ServiCom Matters, Alhaji Hudu Yunusa, in Bauchi yesterday.
The statement said that government had approved the new allowances and incentives for teachers in secondary schools in addition to the already existing Teachers Salary Scale (TSS).
“The allowances include the 20 per cent Inducement, 10 per cent Rural, Examination/ Supervision, 10 per cent Learning Society and five per cent Responsibility.
Others are the five per cent Hazard, five per cent English, 10 per cent Mathematics and 10 per cent Science Courses Allowances,” it said.
Benue
Chief Obadiah Ando, the Minister of Water Resources, has laid the foundation stone of a N17 billion multi-purpose earth dam in Otobi, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.
Ando said on the occasion that the dam, billed for completion in two and a half years, had the capacity to supply 30 million cubic metres of water.
He said the hydro-power component of the dam had the capacity to generate five megawatts of electricity for the people of Otukpo and its environs.
“The Otukpo multi-purpose dam is designed to supply water to several communities and irrigate 2,000 hectares of land downstream of the dam,” the minister said on Monday.
He said the Federal Government had committed a lot of resources to the development of dams and irrigation projects nationwide to boost economic activities ensure food security and enhance the wellbeing of the people.
FCT
Justice Hussein Baba of the FCT High Court yesterday in Abuja threatened to send out any lawyer who is “shabbily” dressed.
Baba, who expressed his disappointment at the way some lawyers appeared in court, said there was an urgent need for change in the dress code of lawyers in Abuja.
“I will not tolerate counsel who dress shabbily to court. You are supposed to wear your white stiff wing collar with bands hanging down the front of the neck.
“You are also supposed to wear either a black double-breasted suit or with a waist coat if single-breasted or a black coat and waist coat and grey pin striped trousers.
“These are the basic things you were taught in Law School. This is a High Court. Your appearance matters here,” Baba said.
Meanwhile, Baba has fixed May 8 for judgment in a murder case filed against an accused, Paul Owolo, by the State (Ministry of Justice).
Katsina
The Katsina State Transport Authority (KTSTA) has released N2.7 million to the families of 11 passengers who died in a recent accident involving one of its buses.
Presenting cheques totalling N1.7 million to the second batch of seven families in Katsina on Tuesday, the General Manager of the authority, Alhaji Sirajo Makera, said four families had earlier received N1 million.
He explained that each deceased passenger’s family received N250,000 being part of the insurance scheme entered between the authority and an insurance company for the safety of passengers.
The manager said the payment was not meant to compensate the families of the deceased, but was a palliative measure.
Kebbi
Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State has promised to provide more amenities to the people of Gwandu Local Government Area if re-elected.
The governor, who is the PDP flag bearer in the April election, made the pledge while addressing party supporters in Gwandu on Monday.
“The provision of 20 kilometres of roads in this area would be executed during my second tenure,” he said.
He said in the last four years, N820million was spent on the provision of a new General Hospital and township roads.
“The hospital was provided at N685million while N135million was spent on roads. “If you elect me in April 2011, my focus would be on improvement of amenities for better living conditions as well as youth empowerment.
“Job opportunities would be created to promote self reliance,” he added. He appealed to youths in the area to shun politics of violence and money.
Kogi
Workers in Kogi began an indefinite strike on Monday to protest alleged government refusal to fulfill agreements on the payment of allowances to them, labour said.
A statement, issued by Abdulsalami Ojanaun, on behalf of NLC and TUC in Lokoja yesterday, described the strike as a last resort by the workers.
Labour recalled that the issues in dispute were the same on which government and labour agreed last year but that the government had reneged its part of the bargain.
The statement recalled that the government issued a circular on February 17, stating that “Federal circulars not adopted or domesticated would not apply in the state.”
The workers are demanding the payment of salary relativity to core civil servants and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to health workers.
Lagos
Doctors in federal hospitals in Lagos on Monday embarked on strike in sympathy with their striking colleagues in Lagos State Government-owned health institutions.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) last Friday directed doctors in all federal hospitals, apart from those in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), to join the strike.
The NMA said the strike, beginning from Monday, was in support of their colleagues in Lagos State hospitals, following the refusal of the state government to meet their demands.
Doctors in the state hospitals on October 4, 2010 began a strike to press for the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), a reduction of tax and the re-instatement of a dismissed colleague. Our correspondent, who visited the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, and the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, on Monday reports that there were no doctors to attend to patients in the two institutions, and only nurses were available at the psychiatric hospital.
A nurse at the psychiatric hospital, who elected to remain anonymous, said that the doctors were not around, adding, “we have only nurses and nurse assistants working in the hospital today and we are doing the work of the doctors,” she said.
It was discovered that resident doctors also abandoned their duty posts at the LUTH, leaving only nurses and consultants to attend to patients.
Plateau
Eight residents of the Tin Mines Quarters, Jos, have appeared before a Kabong Upper Area Court for alleged conspiracy and unauthorised entry into some houses without the manager’s consent.
The accused persons are Musa Silas, Pam Chuwang, Chuwang Silas, Yohanna Davou, Challom Sho, Mrs Kachallom Silas, Gyang Pam and Rwang Chollom.
The manager of the quarters, Mr Charles Abeh, told the court that the accused persons broke into the houses without his knowledge.
He claimed that the accused persons conspired and broke into two houses which were locked after the tenants who lived there had left. Abeh said that since 1980, he had been managing the quarters which were given to him by the Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria to handle.
He told the court that the accused persons claimed they had been given the right to move into the houses by the Consolidated Tin Mines Association which, he said, lacked the right to do so.
“I have every document to show that I am still the manager of the houses. “My Lord, I am here to move the motion for the suit; the motion is supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit.
Sokoto
Ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s scheduled campaign visit to Sokoto State today, about 5,000 police personnel have been deployed to provide security in the state.
Alhaji Adeola Adeniji, the state Commissioner of Police, told newsmen in Sokoto on Monday that an operational order had been issued to the officers and men, to provide effective security network during the presidential visit.
He said the command had evolved a system that would enhance the security situation during and after the visit.
He said the command expected reinforcement from Kebbi, Zamfara and katsina states to effectively cover the state.
The Commissioner called on politicians to eschew violence, warning that any one caught in the act would be prosecuted.
“Sokoto state is one of the peaceful states in the federation and a formidable security mechanism has been put in place to sustain the tempo,” he said.
Yobe
The Yobe State Government is to disburse a N178 million as grants to women associations in 17 local government areas to empower them.
Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam announced this yesterday at Yusufari town in Yobe while inspecting some projects.
He said the amount would be released next week to the local government councils through their Committee of Trustees set up by the chairmen of the councils.
According to him, the objective of the grant is to improve the income of rural women, especially in agriculture and livestock farming as well as encourage them to participate in politics.
Gaidam added that “we all know how our mothers suffer to keep the family, especially in this difficult time.”
The governor said that the money would be disbursed in accordance with the committees’ recommendations, which must be based on peculiarity needs and job description.
“Under the arrangement, each group from a ward will receive N1 million as grant,” Gaidam said.
He said that last year, the government bought and distributed sewing, tailoring and baking machines as well as computer sets to 500 youths in the state.
Youths from five local government areas in Northern Cross River State have concluded a one-week warning protest and blockade of the dilapidated Ikom-Wula-Obudu federal highway over the weekend.
They have vowed to resume the road blocks if by this week the authorities do not intervene to fix the road.
More than five thousand locals, mostly youths from Obanliku, Etung, Obudu, Ikom and Boki LGAs trooped out everyday for one week, used palm trees to block the highway to draw state and federal government’s attention to their plights, requesting the repair of a road has has been unmotorable for about 40 years.
They warned that if they do not see any actions from the state or federal governments, they will resume their Plan B protest, stop revenue collections and make governance unpalatable.
The youths also warned that without interventions on the road which has claimed several lives, including that of last week when a pregnant woman died with her baby in the full glare of the protesters because of the terrible road, no election can hold in the area next year.
One of the leaders of the No Road , No Election protest, who is also the Abo Youths in Boki LGA, Dr Martins Assam said both the federal and state governments have neglected the region, which generates more than 70 percent state revenue from agriculture.
He said if machinery is not deployed by next week, they will not have any option than to embark on unpalatable and disastrous protest, and stop revenue collections in the area.
“Last week we had only a warning strike for one good week. We’ll embark on a more elaborate, disastrous one-month blockade of this highway until they intervene. We call on our Governor and representatives in the National Assembly to act now by impressing on the federal government to immediately fix this road else. We’re not asking for two much but to be treated as human beings.”
Another protester, Clinton Obi from the Etung axis said, “We’ve been neglected for 40 years. This Ikom-Obudu federal highway had been impassable. The government has removed its concentration from our plights. By this one week protest, we want action on this road otherwise the next phase of protest will be costly.”
Reverend Father Francis Amaozo, priest in charge of St. Nicholas parish in Nashua, Boki LGA said, “I have also been a victim of this very deplorable road. Enough is now enough. We’ve been betrayed by our representatives and other leaders, so that we in this axis have become endangered species on this road. I have lost some many members on this road.”
Member, representing the Boki-Ikom federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Bisong Victor Abang had pleaded with the locals to be a bit more patient with the government as action will commence shortly.
Nation
UNIPORT VC Receives Inaugural Lecture Brochure As Professor Highlights Urgent Need For Drug Repurposing In Malaria Fight
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Owunari Georgewill, last Thursday received the inaugural lecture brochure from the Inaugural Lecturer, Professor Udeme Georgewill, during a ceremony at the university’s Centre of Excellence attended by academics, researchers, students, and distinguished guests.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Udeme Georgewill described the occasion as the culmination of years of dedicated research, teaching, and service to humanity. He explained that his work as a pharmacologist has consistently focused on finding practical, affordable, and scientifically sound solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly malaria, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns.
She noted that Nigeria continues to bear one of the heaviest malaria burdens globally, accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide cases and deaths. The disease, largely caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, remains especially dangerous for children under five years and pregnant women, threatening not only present populations but unborn generations. Despite years of intervention efforts, malaria continues to strain families, health systems, and the national economy.
Prof Georgewill empha-sised that while Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies such as Artemether-Lumefantrine remain the gold standard for malaria treatment, emerging resistance patterns pose a serious challenge. He explained that drug resistance is a survival mechanism of the parasite, enabling it to adapt and reduce the effectiveness of medications designed to eliminate it. According to her, instances where patients do not feel better after initial treatment sometimes lead to repeated dosing or the search for injectable alternatives, practices that can worsen resistance and complicate treatment outcomes.
Against this backdrop, she advocated strongly for drug repurposing as a strategic and urgent response. Drug repurposing, he explained, involves identifying new therapeutic uses for already approved and widely available medications. He likened the concept to “old wine in new wineskins,” stressing that medicines already proven safe for certain conditions can be carefully re-evaluated and optimised for new roles in malaria management. This approach, she argued, offers advantages such as reduced research timelines, lower development costs, and faster clinical application compared to developing entirely new drugs from scratch.
She disclosed that her research had progressed from laboratory investigations to clinical evaluations, where his team is studying combinations involving Artemether-Lumefantrine and Ivermectin to determine their effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes and possibly reducing transmission. Clinical trials are ongoing, and findings will be communicated upon completion of regulatory processes. However, he cautioned strongly against self-medication, warning that misuse of drugs without proper diagnosis and prescription can lead to organ damage, treatment failure, and increased resistance.
Referencing global health commitments, Prof Georgewill highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which seeks to end epidemics of malaria and other major infectious diseases by 2030. She questioned whether the goal remains attainable under current realities, especially with growing resistance and funding gaps. He also referred to strategies of the World Health Organisation aimed at drastically reducing malaria incidence and mortality while pushing toward elimination in several countries.
Looking ahead, she revealed that her team is building comprehensive research databases to support artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing. He stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence, molecular docking, and advanced screening technologies is transforming global drug discovery, and Nigerian researchers must be equipped to participate competitively in this evolving scientific landscape.
In her recommendations, she called for the establishment of a National Centre for Drug Repurposing to coordinate research efforts and leverage artificial intelligence in identifying new indications for existing medicines. He urged policymakers to simplify and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical application, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs benefit the public more efficiently. She also appealed to the university and relevant authorities to increase funding and modernise laboratory infrastructure, including high-throughput screening facilities, to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global biomedical research.
The lecture concluded with expressions of gratitude to God, the university leadership, colleagues, students, and guests, as the event underscored the University of Port Harcourt’s commitment to research excellence and its role in addressing critical public health challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State Chapter, has rejected the proposed Niger State Hisbah Directorates Bill, describing it as controversial and capable of deepening religious division in the state.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and made available to The Tide’s source yesterday, the association urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago not to assent to the bill if it is passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abubakar, seeks to establish a Hisbah Directorate in Niger State.
CAN warned that the legislation could be perceived as discriminatory against Christians and may heighten tension in the religiously diverse state.
“Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state, wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division among the people you govern,” the statement read in part.
The association questioned the necessity and benefits of the proposed law, asking what economic or social value it would add to the state.
It further argued that existing security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, already have constitutional mandates to maintain law and order.
The Christian body also faulted the legislative process, disputing claims that it was consulted during a public hearing on the bill.
It insisted that it was neither invited nor notified of any such engagement, despite being a critical stakeholder in the state.
