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Insecurity: FG Procures Four Warships
The Director, Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, has said the Federal Government has procured four warships for the Nigerian Navy.
Aliyu, whose comments were contained in a statement, yesterday, said the four warships would be inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said the new ships would enhance the Navy’s operations against contemporary security challenges especially on the nation’s maritime domain.
Aliyu said the exercise was unique because this was the first time the Navy would take delivery of four warships at once.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force yesterday in Lagos said it had incorporated some new systems and ammunition aimed at the continuous fight against insurgency in the country.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, who made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the National Air Defence Corps in Ikeja, said that the new systems and ammunition were currently being tested in Lagos to bring additional capabilities to the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North-East.
“We are incorporating some new systems and some new ammunition to the platforms we have. We also need to intensify the day and night operations and we are here essentially to flag off the operations,” he said.
Amosun urged the citizens not to panic as occasionally there might be gun fires and ammunition being delivered, adding that the Air Force had been on air, notifying the public accordingly.
“We have been notifying the public that there is an ongoing operation to recalibrate our weapon system and to fine tune our tactics,” he said.
Amosun also said that the operation was an opportunity to take a look at the maritime environment, adding that challenges were not only in the North-East but also in the maritime environment.
“We have some new ammunition to test and the range here in Owode, Lagos, is the most ideal for this operations, so, we have to make use of the facility. Everything that the nation has in terms of land space, equipment and capabilities, must be brought to fight insurgency, terrorism and to take care of emerging threat all over the country,” he said.
Amosun, however, said that the Air Force was not in the operations alone, adding that the Nigerian Navy and the Army were also part of the operations.
“All the various leaderships of the forces are here to ensure that these operations are carried out successfully,” he said.
Amosun said that fighting insurgency and terrorism was not an easy task, however, there were well trained military to fight and conquer insurgency.
“Although, we are aware of the variables which may not be disclosed, that could prevent an operation from being completed in a spade of time. But we are satisfied with the period allocated to us now and we should be able to carry out the exercise within the period. I am optimistic that capability wise, we are good to go and the six weeks is more than adequate,” he said.
He said that there were collaborations from the French forces from Chad, Niger and Cameroon, adding that there had been support even before now which was still ongoing.
“Don’t forget that we have capable armed forces that should do the fighting but then, these days, worldwide, you hardly fight alone,” he said.
On the coming general election, Amosun said the Air Force would also play its role by moving materials from major locations like Abuja and Lagos to other areas where you have airports.
“We have Bancroft aircraft when it comes to some maritime areas and some difficult areas to penetrate. We have also deployed our soldiers to mount the unmanned airfields so that they can have materials and prevent the bad ones attempting to bring in bad materials to mess up the election,” he said.
Amosun thanked the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Jonathan, for his support because he is the reason why we can achieve all these.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
