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‘RSG Ready To Tackle Child, Maternal Mortality’
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has called on all pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of child-bearing age to take advantage of the ongoing 1st Round Maternal, New Born and Child Health Week to access medicare.
The governor made this call at the flag off of the Maternal and Child Health Week at the Primary Health Centre, Ozuoba in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Wike said his administration was highly committed to the timely implementation of health programmes by providing all the needed funds, stressing that he does not condone delays, especially in health matters.
“If there are any delays the respective organizations, you will be held accountable”, he warned.
He called on the technical partners and policy drivers to work closely and ensure that a second round was carried out before the end of this year.
Wike, who said the events, will be going on simultaneously in all the health centres across the state, urged all concerned to key into it.
“Every single health centre is involved in this programme, and I want to encourage every mother and woman of child-bearing age to go to the nearest health centre to participate. It is very important as they will deliver a minimum health package to you,” he stressed.
Wike said his administration was poised to tackle effectively infant, child, and maternal mortality and morbidity, stressing that no woman deserves to die while giving birth.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Caroline Wali had said the maternal and child health week was designed to deliver services which reduce death and improve the well-being among women and children in the country, targeting the new born, under five, pregnant women, nursing mothers and mothers of under five children.
She said the coverage of these services has increased in the state because of the support of the Wike-led administration.
In their goodwill messages, the Chief of Field Officer, UNICEF, Rivers Field Office, Mr. Welbroad Ngambi and state Coordinator, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Imoh Ukpong, expressed their willingness to continue to partner with the state government to improve the health indices of the state.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.