Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
Ikole Local Government Council in Ekiti State is to embark on the retraining of food vendors and handlers, as part of the efforts to promote hygienic culinary practices and the people’s wellbeing.
Director, Environment and Sanitation in the council, Mr Tunde Famuyisan, made this known last Thursday in an interview with newsmen in Ikole-Ekiti.
According to him, the exercise is aimed at ensuring that those handling meals, particularly food vendors, are free of communicable diseases.
”It is a global practice that food handlers are subjected to routine medical examination to confirm that they are free of any communicable disease.
FCT
The Special Envoy for Human Rights of the Australian Prime Minster, Mr Dario Morosini, has expressed his country’s commitment to support Nigeria’s quest to tackle insecurity and fight against corruption.
A statement by the Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Dr Clement Aduku, last Thursday in Abuja quoted Morosini as saying this when he visited the ministry.
The Special Envoy was received by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye.
Morosini said his country would lend a helping hand to the Nigerian government in its efforts to diversify the economy.
He said that he was in Nigeria as part of his country’s efforts to galvanise support for a strong global commitment toward sustaining the human rights of all citizens.
Jigawa
A 14-year-old physically-challenged girl in Shuwarin, Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Na’ima Hamza, has so far received 20 wheelchairs and three sewing machines as gifts from donors.
The latest donors are two philanthropists, Mr Chidi Okereke and Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi, who donated eight wheelchairs and N20, 000 to her.
The girl drew public attention on May 20, when she wept profusely after failing to get a wheelchair donated by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).
Zainab Shuaibu, who represented the donors, presented the items and the cash gift of N20, 000 to the girl last Thursday in Shuwarin.
According to her, two of the wheelchairs were donated by Gebi, an Abuja based businessman.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Government, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), last Thursday launched the state’s Adolescent and Young People (AYP) HIV intervention plan.
The intervention is aimed at curbing the prevalence of HIV scourge among adolescents and young people in the state.
HIV/AIDS specialist with UNICEF in Kaduna State, Dr Idris Baba, said that the intervention was developed for seven local government areas including Chikun, Lere, Kagarko, Birnin Gwari, Jema’a and Jaba.
Baba said, “The effort is to increase comprehensive HIV service delivery for AYPs living with HIV, increase condom use, HIV prevention, reproductive and sexual health education.
Kano
The United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], last Thursday solicited the support of the Emir of Kano State, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II in addressing issues related to child protection, survival and development in Nigeria.
The newly appointed UNICEF Country Representative, Mr Mohamed Malick-Fall, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit on the emir at his Palace in Kano.
“We believe that as someone who has the influence, you can help us to address a number of issues that children are confronted with which are related to child protection, survival and development.
Katsina
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued eight persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking in Katsina State.
The State Comptroller, NIS, Mr Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this at a news briefing in Katsina State on Mongay.
He said that the victims were rescued at Babban-mutum border following a tip-off.
Muhammad said that one of the victims, Ms Priscilla Inerials possessed forged travelling documents, while the remaining seven do not have any travelling documents.
Lagos
An Ikeja High Court has granted an embattled Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), both facing trial over alleged corruption, permission to travel abroad.
On May 26, Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla’s defence counsel, in separate applications, had requested for the release of the duo’s international passports, to enable them seek medical treatment overseas.
In a 17-paragraph affidavit in support of her application, Ofili-Ajumogobia, claimed to be suffering from high blood pressure, hypertension, palpitations, and stress-related issues.
Niger
The Niger State Police Command last Thursday advised Muslims attending religious programmes in various mosques, to be security conscious.
“People attending religious functions should be conscious of happenings around them. They must all be watchful and observe their environment,” the Commissioner, Alhaji Muazu Zubairu, said in Minna.
He gave the advice in an interview with newsmen.
Zubairu said that the security challenges facing the country would be minimised if people were more alert, saying that more security consciousness at public functions would forestall many unpleasant occurrences.
Ogun
For the umpteenth time, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has assured the people of Ogun State that ongoing multi-billion projrcts across the state would be completed before 2019.
Amonsun gave the assurance while inspecting Afon Bridge in Imeko-Afon and the 110km dual carriage way linking four council areas as part of activities marking this year’s Democracy Day.
The governor said the road which would terminate at IIara, a border community between Nigeria and Benin Republic, when completed, would boost economic activities in the state.
Osun
Some doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Osun State, last Thursday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo against continued payment of half salaries by the state government.
The Tide reports that the doctors dressed in their laboratory coats and branded shirts during the protest.
They marched from the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) Complex, Osogbo through the popular Olaiya Junction to other major streets in the state capital.
The doctors were armed with placards of various inscriptions and singing anti-government songs.
The state NMA chairman, Dr Tokunbo Olajumoke, told newsmen during the protest that there was no drug nor equipment in any of the state government-owned hospital.
Plateau
Former Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Mr Bagudu Hirse, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen the institutions charged with fighting corruption to enable them rid Nigeria of the menace.
“Government must strengthen the institutions to enable them deliver on their mandate. Corruption constitutes a massive threat to Nigeria’s growth, so we must deploy every arsenal to tackle it,” he told newsmen.
Hirse, who spoke last Thursday in Jos, said that strong structures would sustain the fight long after the current dispensation had exited power.
He said that the ongoing anti-graft war was “a worthy venture”, and declared that it was crucial to turning Nigeria’s fortunes around, for the better.
“The country went into comatose because some greedy Nigerians stole monies that should be channeled into the health, education, agriculture and other sectors for the benefit of all.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, last Thursday inaugurated the Ultra-Modern Tauma Centre at the Sokoto State Specialist Hospital, Sokoto State.
The Sultan commended the state government for constructing the centre which would “radically change the face of healthcare delivery in the state for good”.
Abubakar III further called on people of the state to take full advantage of the facilities.
“As leaders, we will continue to support government policies aimed at improving the lives of the people,” he said.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal said the emergency operations complex was designed to provide 24-hour emergency services to patients free of charge.
Tambuwal said that the centre was established to broaden access to quality healthcare to the citizenry.
Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has commended the efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to apprehend and prosecute the immediate past governors of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
This is just as she also hailed the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for ceding 14 properties that were initially forfeited to the federal government to the government and people of Enugu State.
Reacting to Bello’s excuse for not honouring the EFCC’s invitation, the lawmaker emphasized the need for the commission to investigate other corrupt public officials to avoid the impression that their actions against former governor were meant to witch hunt him.
In a now-viral video, the EFCC chairman had claimed Belloh told him that a female senator (name withheld) allegedly gathered journalists to humiliate him anytime he was at the agency’s Abuja office for interrogation.
“I called Yahaya Bello, as a serving governor, to come to my office to clear himself. I shouldn’t have done that. But he said because a certain senator had planted over 100 journalists in my office, he would not come.
“I told him that he would be allowed to use my private gate to give him a cover, but he said my men should come to his village to interrogate him,” Olukoyede was quoted as saying.
But Senator Natasha in a statement signed by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel and issued at the weekend in Abuja, reminded Yahaya Bello of the importance of respecting Nigeria’s laws and constitution, given his former position as the chief security officer of Kogi.
“I was surprised to hear that Yahaya Bello evaded the invitation from the EFCC, despite having served as Kogi’s former chief security officer. As a former governor, he should understand the importance of respecting Nigeria’s laws and constitution.
“It’s a well-known fact that ‘he who comes into equity must come with clean hands’. As such, I advise him to honour the invitation and clear his name while he still has the chance.
“I’d also like to take this moment to appreciate the diligence of the EFCC in handling the case so far. No Nigerian is above the law, and therefore the agency must see this case through to the end if they are to gain the trust of both Nigerians and the international community in the fight against corruption,” she said.
Worried over the latest depreciation of the Naira against major foreign currencies, the Senate through its Committee on Finance, has stated that the Legislature is exploring a range of policy options to mitigate the impact of Naira depreciation and foster economic stability in the country.
These, according to the committee, in a statement signed by its chairman, Senator Sani Musa (APC Niger East) and released yesterday, includes robust oversight of fiscal policies, engagement with key stakeholders, and the formulation of targeted interventions to support key sectors of the economy.
Senator Musa said the statement became necessary “to address the current state of the economy and the need for concerted efforts at tackling the instability and continuous depreciation of the Naira.”
This is even as he hoped that the “economic managers will adhere strictly to the norms and standards set by this administration to ensure that we achieve the desired outcomes in taking Nigeria to its economic growth and prosperity”, pledging the support of the National Assembly to the executive arm of government to achieve the set goals.
He, however, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resilient as they navigate these uncertain times, saying “together, we can overcome the challenges facing our economy and chart a path towards prosperity for all.”
The statement titled: “State of the Nation Economy and Naira Depreciation’, reads “The Nigerian economy is facing significant challenges, exacerbated by both internal and external factors.
“Despite efforts to stabilize and bolster economic growth, the numerous initiatives and bold but necessary steps and policy decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, the persistent depreciation of the Naira against major foreign currencies has become a pressing concern.
“The recent depreciation of the Naira underscores the need for proactive measures to safeguard the stability and resilience of our currency.
“The Senate Committee on Finance is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to implement effective policies and strategies.
“It is imperative that we address the root causes of Naira depreciation, including but not limited to fluctuations in global oil prices, fiscal deficits, and structural imbalances in the economy.”
The Senator, representing Rivers West Senatorial District at National Assembly Sen.Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has advocated for legislative backings to enforce immunisation as a pre-condition for admission into nursing, primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.
Banigo made the assertion recently in a statement to commemorate this year’s week-long immunisation campaign in line with the World Health Organisation advocacy.
Banigo, a Harvard-trained Public Health personnel, explained that such legislation would strengthen the National Immunisation Policy in the administration of vaccines, saves lives, helps in the child normal growth, prevents serious illness and disabilities such as poliomyelitis .
The former Deputy Governor of Rivers State who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), noted that Nigeria must attain at least, 90 percent vaccine coverage for all childhood and adolescence; stressing that a fully vaccinated child should have received BCG, Mussels and three doses of DTP and Polio .
She emphasised the need for collective efforts by stakeholders in the campaign against preventable diseases .
The theme for this year’s World Immunisation Week is “Humanly Possible: Saving Lives Through Immunisation” while the national theme is “Vaccine Works For All”.
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