Today's Picks

Most Recent

Home Blog

Kaduna: Uba Sani, 29 HoA members-elect receive Certificates of Return

0
By: Mayen Etim

KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) on Friday, March 31, 2023 presented certificate of return to Kaduna State Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani and the Deputy, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe.

Speaking shortly after receiving the Certificate, Malam Uba Sani thanked the Almighty for witnessing the important day in his life.

He appreciated the good people of Kaduna State for giving him the mandate to run the affairs of the State, Saying that he would be the Servant of the people with utmost responsibility and fear of God.

Uba Sani assured that, every part of the State would enjoy dividends of Democracy. “Either you voted for me or not, you will be given sense of belonging irrespective of religion, ethnic and political affiliation,” he stressed.

He solicited the support and cooperation of all citizens of the State to achieve his 7-Point agenda which includes safety and security, upgrade of infrastructure, strengthening of institutions, trade and investment, agriculture, investment in human capital development, among others.

Senator Uba Sani who commended INEC for it dedication and commitment in the discharge of it’s duties, also appreciated security agencies for maintaining law and order during the election; and called on fellow contestants to join hands with him to move the State forward.

He further congratulated all members of the State House of Assembly elect and enjoined them to work toward the development of the State.

National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa and the FCT- Mohammed Haruna presented the Certificates of Return to the Governor and Deputy Governor-elect while the Administrative Secretary of INEC, Kaduna State-Mohammed Ahmad Mashi presented the Certificates of Return to the 29 elected State House of Assembly Members.

Bleaching creams, another major cause of cancer – NAFDAC

0
By: Admin

ENUGU, South-East, Nigeria – National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has urged journalists and entertainers within the South-East to join the agency in its current war against use of bleaching cream.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu at the South-East Media Sensitization Workshop on Dangers of bleaching creams and Regulatory Controls.

Adeyeye, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, noted that there was an imperative to warn people of the region and Nigerians in general to the harmful effects of bleaching creams including cancer and damage to organs.

According to her, other dangers are skin irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature skin ageing and prolonged healing of wounds.

The NAFDAC DG added that last year, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, acting on the resolutions of the Senate wrote to NAFDAC stressing the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching creams.

“We immediately took some decisive steps such as sensitization of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in trade fair complexes that have resulted in large seizures and destruction of violative products.

“One of such sensitization actions was the flag-off of Media Sensitization Workshops organised for journalists in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt and today in Enugu.

“Today’s sensitization workshop is therefore a fulfillment of my promise to cascade it to the six geo-political zones in the country.

“This is a deliberate strategy of mobilizing, educating, sensitizing, and challenging Nigerian Health Journalists to play a frontline role in our concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of bleaching creams and needless waste of scarce resources in Nigeria,” she said.

Adeyeye noted that the sensitization workshop is a training the trainers’ programme with the great expectation that participants would assume the role of champions in the vanguard of the campaign against use of bleaching creams.

She said that a World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) study revealed that use of skin bleaching creams was prevalent among 77 per cent of Nigerian women which was highest in Africa compared to 59 per cent in Togo, 35 per cent in South Africa and 27 per cent women in Senegal.

“This scary statistic has shown that the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that requires a multi-faced regulatory approach.

“Part of the multi-pronged approach is consultative/sensitization meetings such as this and heightened raids on distribution outlets of bleaching creams,” she added.

In a goodwill message, Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, said the state government and its institutions would continue to collaborate with NAFDAC in its mandate to safeguard the health of the nation.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Mr. Monday Obetta, said: “We want our people to join hands with NAFDAC to protect the skin which is an important organ, protecting other organs in the body”

Also speaking, Director of Public Affair in NAFDAC, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, said the agency wants to use human face to tackle the menace of bleaching cream by engaging the media practitioners in order to get Nigerians rightly informed against bleaching cream.

He noted that the agency wanted individual Nigerians, who are in the demand side of bleaching cream, to know the serious danger and negative consequences of using bleaching cream.

“We thank the media for their sustained support all these years; however, we want media practitioners to do more for us in this era of war against bleaching cream nationwide,” he said.

The President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Mr Hassan Zaggi, urged health journalists to put the advocacy against use of bleaching creams to the front burner of media discourse and engineering public thoughts toward it.

“Media practitioners should do more by creating time to talk one-on-one to people around them on the dangers of bleaching cream,” he said.

The workshop featured paper presentation on: “An Overview of Skin Bleaching: The NAFDAC Perspective”; “Role of Mass Media in Promoting Public Health in Nigeria”; “Safe Handling of Chemicals and Ingredients in the Cosmetics Industry” and “The Cosmovigillance Best Practices” among others.

Nigeria records 784 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, 142 deaths

0
By: Admin
ABUJA, NIGERIA –  Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC), on Tuesday, said less than three months, the country has registered 784 confirmed cases of Lassa fever with 142 deaths in 23 states.
The Center, via its official website, said the infections were recorded from January 1 till date.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhage fever caused by the Lassa virus.
The natural reservoir for the virus is the Mastomys natalensis rodent (commonly known as the multimammate rat or the African rat).
Other rodents can also be carriers of the virus which spreads through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats.
The virus can also spread through contact with objects, household items and surfaces contaminated with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats.
It said in Epidemiological Week 11, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 70 in Week 10 of 2023, to 38 cases.
The agency also said the cases were reported from Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Rivers, Plateau, and Nasarawa States.
According to NCDC, cumulatively from Epidemiological Week 1 to Week 11, 2023, 142 deaths had been reported with Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.1 per cent which was lower than the 18.7 per cent CFR for the same period in 2022.
The NCDC said, in total for 2023, 23 states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 97 local government areas.
The public health institution said 71 per cent of all new confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi while 29 per cent came from six states; explaining that of the 71 per cent, Ondo reported 32 per cent, Edo, 29 and Bauchi, 10.
According to the NCDC, the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years with the median age as 32 years; pointing out that the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases was 1:0.9.
The agency said the number of suspected cases increased compared to the number reported for the same period in 2022.
The NCDC disclosed that a healthcare worker was affected in Week 11.
It said the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral emergency operations centre, was activated to coordinate response activities at all levels.
It was gathered that the person-to-person transmission of Lassa fever can occur through contact with blood, urine, faeces, vomitus and other body fluids of an infected person.
Lassa fever initially presents like other commonplace illnesses accompanied by fever, such as malaria.
Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain and sore throat.
In severe cases, the symptoms include bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.
The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms of the disease is three to 21 days.
Early diagnosis and treatment of the diseases greatly increase the chances of patient’s survival.
(The Sun)

Nigerian Govt officials engage in oil theft, under reports crude production – NSA

0

 

By: Admin

ABUJA, NIGERIA – Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria from the Office of the National Security Adviser, (NSA), Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno, (retd), has submitted its report in Abuja.

In a statement on Tuesday,  spokesperson for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Usman, said the panel received and reviewed several memoranda and reports on oil theft and losses in its findings.

He said the report indicated that it was challenging to detect oil theft due to the roles played by regulatory agencies and their officials.

While submitting the report, chairman of the panel Maj-Gen Barry Ndiomu, (retd), said the panel discovered several layers of involvement in the illegal theft of crude oil despite the best efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies to combat oil theft.

“The panel also observed that crude oil losses arose from a lack of proper reporting of crude oil production, illegal refining, theft from wellheads and diversion from sophisticated pipelines networks.  The panel also attributed losses to the absence of a robust industrywide metering system and unworkable security arrangement.

“The confusing roles of regulatory agencies were also cited as being responsible for making the detection of theft/losses difficult,” Ndiomu explained.

The chairman mentioned that the panel engaged key stakeholders from state governments, ministries, departments and agencies, security agencies, regulatory agencies, international and indigenous oil companies, traditional institutions, host communities, artisanal refiners, among others.

Ndiomu called for quick implementation of the report and asserted that if the government implemented the recommendations in the report, oil theft/losses would be adequately addressed, stressing that prompt implementation of the report would not only immediately impact crude oil production levels to meet OPEC’s quota, but would also attract foreign direct investment and serve Nigeria’s economic and national security concerns.

Monguno assured that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would study the report and see its immediate implementation, especially the recommendations with short-term perspectives.

On December 6, 2022, the NSA inaugurated the investigative panel with extensive terms of reference to investigate all aspects of crude oil theft/losses in all its ramifications.

The panel was expected to investigate oil theft/losses in all ramifications and propose wide ranging implementable recommendations to enable the administration take decisive action to end the criminal enterprise within the shortest possible time.

The panel was given 10 weeks to complete the assignment, effective from the inauguration date.

Unilever announces plan to stop manufacturing omo, lux, other popular products

0
By: Admin

Unilever Nigeria Plc, one of the leading consumer goods companies, has announced that it will stop manufacturing some of its popular products, including Omo and Lux.

The manufacturer said it will exit two categories, Home Care and Skin Cleansing, which will affect the aforementioned brands.

Other brands to be affected include Sunlight, Dove Beauty Bar, Lux soap, Pepsodent Toothpaste, vaseline,Lifebuoy and Rexona products amongst many others.

Unilever Nigeria will likely sell its home, and skin care unit to another company.

In a statement sent to the capital market, Unilever informed shareholders that the Company will make changes to its business model in order to accelerate growth and sustain profitability while enhancing its ability to meet consumer needs.

“The 100-year-old consumer goods company will repurpose its portfolio while putting in place measures to make the business more efficient and future fit.

“These changes will reposition the Company to better meet the needs of consumers, shareholders, and employees.

“This will involve: Repurposing the portfolio by exiting the Home Care and Skin Cleansing categories to concentrate on higher growth opportunities,” the company stated.

Unilever also noted that the new model would reduce exposure to devaluation and currency liquidity.

It also believed offloading its home care and skin cleansing portfolios would enable the management to “concentrate on higher growth opportunities.

“Strengthening business operations with measures to digitize and simplify processes; and focusing more on business continuity measures that reduce exposure to devaluation and currency liquidity in our business model.

“The exit of these two categories over 2023 will boost the vision to make Unilever Nigeria great, building on the impressive progress made in other key aspects of the business, and is envisaged to result in overall improvement in profitability, growth and a more sustainable Unilever Nigeria Plc. Business.”

(Punch)

Meningitis claims 52 lives in 21 states – NCDC

0

 

By: Admin

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has that 52 persons in 21 states have been killed by Cerebrospinal Meningitis, (CSM) between last year and the 5th of March, 2023.

In a situation report released on Monday, the NCDC said as of March 5, a total of 628 suspected cases including 52 deaths (CFR 8.3 per cent) were reported from 21 states in 2022/2023 CSM seasons.

It said the 20 states that reported suspected CSM cases in 2022/2023 were; Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe States.

The report said, “91 per cent of all cumulative cases were from four (4) states – Jigawa (509 cases), Bauchi (23 cases),  Zamfara (22 cases) and Oyo (14 cases).”

It said males were 62 per cent of the cases while 38 per cent were females .

“Ten LGAs across five states, Jigawa (7), Bauchi (1), Oyo (1), Plateau (1) and Zamfara (1), reported more than 5 cases each this CSM seasons 2022/2023,” the report added.

NCDC said the number of new suspected cases in epidemiological week nine decreased by 84 per cent compared with epidemiological week nine.

It said the national multi-sectoral Cerebrospinal Meningitis Technical Working Group, (TWG ) continued to monitor response across states.

Court bars Uzodinma, security agents from arresting Ugochinyere

0
By: Admin
ABUJA, NIGERIA – A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) has set aside the police letter of invitation sent to the House of Reps member-elect for Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, in respect of alleged acts of terrorism, murder and arson.
The said letter of invitation dated March 13, 2023, was allegedly masterminded by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Governor of Imo State and the Nigerian Police against Ugochinyere, former Governor Emeka Ihedioha and Gerald Irona with the sole objective to frame them over the allegations.
Ugochinyere however filed the suit against the Governor of Imo State, State Security Services, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Imo State, Ebubeagu Security Network and the Deputy Inspector General(DIG) in Charge of FIIB.
In his ruling, Justice A.S. Adepoju stated, “It is hereby ordered that the letter dated 13th March 2023 with Reference No. AR3000/ims/dfa/sib/vol.1/58 titled –“INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES- RE: CASE OF MUDER(SIC), KIDNAPPING AND ARSON” be set aside pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
The Court further held that “The Respondents are restrained whether by themselves, agents, officers, staff, privies or howsoever described from giving any effect, carrying out, proceeding with, arresting, further inviting or taking any other steps in furtherance of or in connection with the said letter of invitation dated 13th March 2023 as it affects the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
By this ruling, the Imo state Police Command which has been accused by the member-elect of its complicity in the multiple attacks on his person and his home and for failing to conduct any form of investigation has been stopped in this fresh move to arrest Mr. Ugochinyere.
In the letter addressed to the Imo State Chairman of PDP Chief Charles Ugwu, the Commissioner of Police invited former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, former Deputy Governor Gerald Irona and House of Representatives member-elect, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere in connection to what it called an investigation into a case of murder, kidnapping and arson.
Many wondered why the Police which has failed to conduct an investigation into the deadly attack on the country home of Mr. Ugochinyere which claimed multiple lives including his uncle and over thirty-two vehicles and houses burnt could be inviting the victim for an investigation into such a case which was not disclosed.
Stakeholders in Imo politics are of the opinion that the invitation by the police was politically motivated and the Governor needed to arrest and detain all opposition leaders to enable him to win the House of Assembly election slated for March 18.
This opinion many said is predicated on the fact that the invitation was sent through the State Chairman of the PDP when they know that the trio are not officers or agents of the PDP or Chief Ugwu.
The matter was adjourned to April 4 for hearing.

Man lands in prison over rape of stroke patient

0
By: Admin

IBADAN, South-West, Nigeria – A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday, ordered the remand of one Bello Jamiu in Agodi Correctional Centre for allegedly raping a 56-year-old stroke patient.

The Chief Magistrate, E. A. Idowu, who did not take the defendant’s plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered the remand pending the legal advice from Oyo Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He, thereafter, adjourned the matter till May 16 for mention.

The accused, Mr Bello, is facing a count charge of rape.

The Prosecution Counsel, Femi Oluwadare, told the court that Mr Bello, on March 14, at about 4:00 pm, had unlawful sexual intercourse with the 56-year-old woman.

Oluwadare said that the victim, who suffered from stroke and on a sickbed, was raped by the defendant without her consent.

He said that the offence was committed at Okikiade, Ajala area, Babanla in Ibadan.

According to him, the offence is contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

(NAN)

Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga lands in International Criminal Court

0
By: Admin
The International Criminal Court, (ICC), on Monday, formally acknowledged receipt of a petition written by Prof. Gideon Christian to investigate election and post-election violence in Nigeria as well as alleged incitement to ethnic hate by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Media Director of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.
The ICC, in its acknowledgments letter dated March 27, 2023, with reference number OTP-CR-109/23, was signed by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information and Evidence Unit, Office of The Prosecutor.
The letter read: “The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter.
“This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register if the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
“Please note this acknowledgment letter does not mean an investigation has been opened, or that an investigation will be opened by the Office of the Prosecutor.  AA soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”
The petitioner, Christian, has in his petition titled: “Request to Investigate the Election and Post-Election Violence in Nigeria as well as Incitement to Ethnic Hate by Mr. Bayo Onanuga” invited the Office of the prosecutor to conduct an investigation into series of ethnically motivated violence resulting in injuries and death during the just concluded presidential and governorship elections in Nigeria.

Again, Abia INEC Returning Officer, Prof Nnanneya-Oti, receives N100m for integrity

0

 

By: Admin
UMUAHIA, South-East, Nigeria – In
appreciation for her integrity and honesty, an Interpol Systems Consultant, Sir Chikwe Udensi, has gifted the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Returning Officer for Abia State governorship election, Professor Nnenna Nnanneya-Oti the sum of N100 million.
This came hours after another son of the state, Mr. Steven Ukpabi, gifted her a brand new Prado Land Cruiser SUV.
Udensi, a chieftain of APGA who sought the party’s ticket for the governorship contest announced the gift on Thursday in a chat with newsmen in Abuja.
error: Content is protected !!