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LASUTH Doctors Begin Strike, Jan 28
Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja says it will begin three days warning strike on January 28 over shortage of house officers and resident doctors.
President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-LASUTH) Dr Fatai Balogun, said at a news conference, yesterday in Lagos that the strike would be total.
Our correspondent reports that the association had in September 2018 went on an indefinite strike to demand for the replacement of the exited house officers and resident doctors in LASUTH.
Balogun said that the strike was suspended based on the promises by the management to replace the exited officers and the affirmation of the approval by the state government.
He said that all available means of communication with both the hospital management and government had proved abortive.
“This crisis has been a recurring event over the past years without any structured policy put in place to ensure seamless replacement of the exited and existing doctors.
“This, however, creates loopholes in the provision of optimal clinical service delivery.
“It is made to appear that the only language understood by them is an avoidable industrial action.
“All we are asking for are seamless employment of resident doctors and house officers; this should not be a tall order.
“The association is left with no option, but to reluctantly resume the suspended strike with a three-day warning strike which inevitably commences at 8.00a.m on Monday, January 28, “ he said.
The president said that shortage of doctors at the hospital had resulted in long waiting period by patients and inefficient sub-optimal healthcare service.
He also said that available doctors at the hospital were being overworked and falling ill due to the workload.
According to him, 80 house officers are being budgeted for every year.
“Until our struggle in September, the government did not employ doctors.
The state government, after the struggle, employed only 55 house officers and promised to employ the remaining 25 in December, 2018.
“Up till now, the remaining 25 have not been employed,” he said.
Reacting, the LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said that positive action would be taken to avert the proposed strike.
Fabamwo said that the Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, would ensure that all the paper works needed in the recruitment of doctors would be made possible.
“The new Head of Service believes there should be a template for automatic replacement of doctors; he says he will work toward that in order to address the shortage,” he said.
Ward Four in Elele Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has announced its endorsement of the candidature of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the presidency and Kingsley Chinda for Governor in the forthcoming general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-aligned Rainbow Coalition.
The endorsement was made during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened by the leader of the Rainbow Coalition in the ward, Hon. Amadi Jacob. The gathering brought together political leaders and stakeholders who expressed unanimous support for the candidates.
Hon Jacob, a former Supervisory Councillor, expressed appreciation for what he described as the Rivers State Governor’s alignment with the advice of President Tinubu in supporting the state’s APC governorship structure. He noted that the development reflects growing political harmony within the party and its allied coalition.
He further stated that Ward Four would mobilise what he described as “organic support” for the endorsed candidates, adding that strategies would be put in place to ensure their victory at the polls. According to him, Elele remains a strong voting bloc within Ikwerre LGA and would play a decisive role in delivering electoral success for the coalition.
While acknowledging the presence of opposition candidates, Hon. Amadi maintained that the ward would work closely with all relevant stakeholders to secure a “landslide victory” for all Rainbow Coalition candidates. He also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the primaries, describing the selected candidates as capable and electable.
In his remarks, the Renewed Hope Coordinator in the area, Victor Okah, pledged the ward’s full support for Hon. Amadi Jacob’s leadership, stressing that his guidance would be instrumental in achieving electoral success. He commended Amadi’s leadership style, describing it as consistent and widely accepted among party stakeholders.
Another community leader, Hon. Chikwuka Eleonu, also expressed confidence in Amadi’s leadership, noting that he has remained steadfast and committed to the political direction of the ward.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments by stakeholders of Ward Four Elele to intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the elections, with leaders insisting that the ward would play a leading role in delivering victory for the Rainbow Coalition candidates.
The Federal Government has commenced another phase of mass trials for hundreds of suspected terrorists facing terrorism-related charges in Abuja.
This is as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), declared that the administration would not treat terrorism with levity.
The prosecution is being led by Fagbemi, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.
The trials, taking place simultaneously in several courtrooms, are expected to last one week.
Some of the judges handling the cases include Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan.
At least 58 suspected terrorists were listed for trial before Justice Nwite on Monday.
Among them are Abba Bukar, Abba Manye, Gujja Mala Bukar, Brem Gonimi, Isa Mohammed, Lawali Dashiri Danke, Yau Tukur (Mai-Auduga), and Bello Liman, also known as Bell Doctor.
The latest proceedings come barely two months after about 500 suspected terrorists were tried between April 7 and April 10 in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists at the commencement of the trials on Monday, Fagbemi said the proceedings demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of Nigerians.
“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. And that is why you see ongoing trials,” he said.
According to him, the current exercise marked the fourth phase of terrorism trials under the administration.
“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” the AGF said.
Fagbemi disclosed that more than 600 suspects would be tried during the current phase.
Providing a breakdown of the figures, he said, “For this phase, the ones we have today, we have about 490. Tomorrow we will have 84. But this 84 does not include the 102 we brought forward from the last phase.
“So in total, we have 600 plus to contend with for this phase, and we have been assured by the honourable judges that they will do their utmost to ensure that they clear this number for this phase.”
The mass trial forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute individuals accused of terrorism, insurgency and related offences as part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity across the country.
Meanwhile, two suspects were convicted and sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offences.
Justice Binta Nyako sentenced a 55-year-old farmer from Katara village in Borno State, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years imprisonment for concealing information about the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
The judge convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Nyako, however, noted his claim that there were no government officials or security agencies in his remote community to whom he could have reported the activities.
She ordered that the 15-year jail term should take effect from 2013, when he was arrested and detained.
In a separate case, the judge sentenced Isa Isiaka, a father of 11 children and husband of two wives, to 20 years imprisonment for failing to disclose information about Boko Haram activities to the authorities.
Isiaka was convicted after admitting guilt to terrorism charges filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Nyako rejected his plea for leniency and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
A Professor of Chemical Engineering, at the Rivers State University Nkpolu/ Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, has outlined scientific approaches that can help to solve Nigeria’s refinery problems and improve oil sector efficiency.
Prof. Kenneth Kekpugile Dagde, a professor of modeling and simulation of chemical processes at RSU, outlined his ideas during the school’s 133rd inaugural lecture last Wednesday.
The lecture, titled “Milking the cash cow: harnessing mathematical modelling and simulation for sustainable refinery operations in Nigeria,” was held at the university auditorium.
Dagde argued that mathematical modeling and simulation are now essential, not optional, for modern refineries and said that they are central to keeping operations stable and sustainable over time.
Despite Nigeria’s large oil and gas reserves, he noted the country still lacks capacity to refine enough fuel for local use. That gap forces heavy dependence on imported petroleum products.
According to him, refineries only become a real “cash cow” when managed through proper modeling, simulation, control, and optimization. Validated models, he said, help with design, day to day operation, troubleshooting, and overall optimization.
He stressed that the future of Nigeria’s refineries must be data-driven and digitally enabled. Process engineering backed by real data is what will make operations more reliable and efficient.
Dagde also listed the key problems hurting local refineries which include government interference, lack of autonomy, poor maintenance culture, politicians choosing turnaround maintenance contractors, and chronic feedstock shortages.
He explained that crude is exported, leaving refineries without feed. Without feed, equipment sits idle, becomes redundant, and starts failing and suggests that all refineries, public or private, should own oil blocks to secure steady crude supply.
He further recommended that Local refineries should build modeling, simulation, and advanced control into both design and operations. He also called for stronger collaboration between universities and industry, plus better training for engineers.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Blessing Jaja said the the lecture was thought-provoking.
He said that Nigeria had enough crude, but expressed disappointment that daily demand was not met.
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