Security

Woman Disguised as Teacher Abducts Five Children in Rivers

By Web News 551

Five children were abducted by a woman from their homes after she disguised as a teacher in the Rukpakulus axis of Eliozu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Three children aged between 18-months and four years old were said to have been kidnapped from one family and two others snatched from another family.

The mother of the first three abducted children, Rose Monday, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the woman took her children when they went over to their neighbours to play.

Monday said the woman had disguised as a home lesson teacher looking to rent a makeshift structure in the area.

The devastated woman further said her children were last seen after the woman took them to buy notebooks, saying they never knew that she had a hidden agenda.

She explained, “I was at home when one of my children who was playing with her siblings came back alone. I asked her the whereabouts of her brothers’. She said one aunty (woman) said she will bring them home.

“I asked where the woman had taken them to and she replied that the woman took her to Oil Mill (a popular market in Port Harcourt) to start taking them on lessons and she and the other children followed her.

“They (children) were seven including one of my neighbour’s children. She said the woman told her to go that she has given her money for transport, that she will bring her brothers to the house.”

Mrs. Monday’s 14-year old daughter who was initially abducted by the mystery woman narrated how she (woman) let her and their neighbour’s son off around the Oil Mill market axis, but went away with the other five children.

The teenager said, “I told the aunty that the small one (child) don’t know how to write by herself and the woman can go and buy the books.

“The woman said no, that she likes little children. As I followed her, she started watching me. When I returned the looks, she smiled.

“She now stopped a vehicle and all of us entered. When we got to Oil Mill, the woman kept me there and sat down.

“The woman now told me she wants to take the children to go pick up something. So, I sat there for a long time.

“I then asked a girl operating PoS if she knew where the woman took the children to and the girl replied that she didn’t know the woman.”

The mother of the other two children, Blessing Emmanuel, said the mystery woman had hired her husband to buy materials to construct a makeshift structure before she kidnapped her children.

“So this woman told the children that she organises lessons (home classes) and that if she sees a way, she will begin lessons for them. So the grown-up child said, ‘Aunty let’s go and buy books’.

“Since I know the girl and her brothers’ who usually come to my house to play with my children because she was a former neighbour, I allowed my children to follow them,” she explained.

When contacted, the acting spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident, describing the parents of the abducted children as careless.

She said, “Those people (parents) were they not careless? Somebody came to you that she is a teacher, went to their house and told them she wants to take the children and buy books for them.

“They allowed her to take the children. Is it supposed to be like that? So, you can see that it is the carelessness of parents and they will now fall back on the police.

“We (police) have commenced investigation to ensure that the children are rescued, as well as arrest the woman and make her face the law.”

She, however, advised parents to be vigilant and report suspicious characters coming around their children in whatever disguise to the police or raise the alarm where necessary.

PUNCH

News

Senate Approves Bill To Ease Retirees’ Access To Pension Funds

By Web News 1071

The Senate has passed for second reading, the Pension Reform Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to make funds in the Retirement Savings Account under the Contributory Pension Scheme more easily accessible to retirees.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, APC/Sokoto-North.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Wamakko said the proposed amendments to the Pension Reform Act 2014 were to provide for a definite and reasonable percentage a retiree can withdraw from their retirement savings accounts.

According to him, the proposals of the bill seek to also provide succour to retirees in the delay and other difficulties they stumble upon in withdrawing their savings from their RSA.

The lawmaker, a former governor of Sokoto State, decried the inability of pensioners to access their benefits after service, which he said had resulted in their suffering and, in most cases, led to eventual and untimely deaths.

He said, “None of us can claim ignorance of the long-drawn-out anguish of retirees from the civil service, Nigerian Prison Service, universities and parastatals, among other federal agencies in this country.

“These retirees, rather than enjoy retirement after selflessly serving their fatherland, have continued to live in misery and pain, leading to diseases and even death, as they cannot easily access their benefits.”

The lawmaker explained that the Pension Reform Act 2004, amended as Pension Reform Act 2014, provides for a departure from the old pension scheme of ‘Defined Benefits’ to the new Contributory Pension Scheme that established the National Pension Commission.

Wamakko also noted that despite the amendments to the Pension Act, the legislation had failed to achieve its objective of solving the intractable pension crisis in the country.

The lawmaker added, “Suffice to say that the issue of pension Nigeria has more or less turned into a monster that has defied all efforts by successive governments to contain it.

“In view of the retirees’ protracted sufferings and pains, who are equally Nigerians, continued search for a lasting panacea is a duty-bound upon us and all others concerned.”

Wamakko explained that the Act in Section 7(1)(a) was amended in the bill to allow retirees to withdraw 75 per cent of their benefits.

He bemoaned the situation where pension administrators in the country benefit at the expense of Nigerian pensioners who continue to suffer neglect.

The lawmaker said, “These Nigerians who have retired from service after several years serving the nation are finding it extremely difficult to be the owners of their pension savings in this new arrangement.

“So, unless that law is made categorically clear that they can withdraw the 75 per cent, which we are proposing in this amendment, then they can definitely have some relief as retirees.”

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bill to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters after scaling the second reading.

The committee was given four weeks to report back to the Senate.

Adewumi Faniran /Punch

News

“We Will Continue To Stand , Fight For Justice As A Country” – President Buhari At AU

By Web News 570

President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said Nigeria will continue to pursue peace and progress in Africa, and other parts of the world, by consistently pushing for justice, fairness and inclusiveness in global affairs.

In a sideline meeting with the Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayyeh, at the ongoing African Union meetings, President Buhari said the country remains unwavering in supporting democracy, development and good governance, particularly in ensuring the rights of individuals and institutions.

“As a country we are doing our best, and we will continue doing our best to ensure justice and fairness,” he said.

The President assured the Palestinian leader that Nigeria will be “consistent” in pushing for peace and progress, while upholding the tenets of justice.

In his remarks, the Palestinian leader noted that the situation in the Middle East, particularly relations with Israel, had deteriorated over the years, adding that the world needs to know the facts.

Shtayyeh thanked President Buhari for his leadership role in the continent.

“Your Excellency, we thank you for your wisdom. We need it more now.

“Please continue to stay well and healthy, because we need your wisdom,” he said.

PR/Adewumi Faniran

News

US Lifts Suspension on Drop Box Visa Applications in Nigeria

By Web News 915

The United States embassy in Nigeria has lifted the restriction on dropbox service or interview waiver for those renewing visas in the country.

The interview waiver was suspended for Nigerian applicants in May 2019.

Following the lifting of the suspension, applicants must now be applying to renew a visa in the same classification as their prior non-immigrant visa.

“Right now, this service is only available to applicants renewing a B1/B2, C1/D, F, M or J, H and L visa. Applicants must satisfy all the following criteria for their visa class. If applying as a group or family, all members must fulfill all criteria to qualify for an interview waiver.

For B1/B2 or C1/D visa holders: the applicant must possess a full-validity B1/B2 or C1/D visa that expired within the past 24 months or will expire in the next three months.

The applicant must be a citizen or resident of Nigeria. The applicant must not have been refused a visa since the issuance of the previous visa, or had a visa revoked, or have ever required a waiver.

The applicant possesses all issued passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa.

The applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if the applicant has later received a waiver or pardon.

The applicant has never worked without authorization or remained beyond their permitted time in the United States. C1/D applicants must possess a letter from the employer outlining the scope, duration, and location of the anticipated work.”the embassy says

The same criteria also applies to Lagos F or M visa holders and Abuja applicants with F1/F2 visas, while for J visa holders, the embassy said the visa must be for academic purposes.

“The applicant’s DS-2019 must be for an academic program (not summer work travel, au pair, or camp counselor,” the embassy added

The embassy also instructed applicants to complete their applications using this link.

The following documents are to be mailed to the Abuja embassy via a designated document delivery DHL facility:

“A printout of your submission letter (printed from https://ustraveldocs.com/ng/); completed DS-160; an approved I-20; a receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; a GTB (MRV) receipt for your visa fee; your passport containing the expired student visa (if that passport is expired, a current valid passport is also required).”

Also required is a passport photograph meeting these requirements; proof of continued full-time enrollment (such as transcripts, tuition payment, etc.)”.

The embassy added that only applicants with scheduled appointments can drop off documents at the US Consulate.

FRCN, Abuja

Economy

Shelve Idea of Fuel Subsidy Removal Totally – MMPN Advises FG

By Web News 640

Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN has called on the Federal Government to shelve totally the idea of fuel subsidy removal in the interest of the impoverished masses.

This is contained in a communique issued in Ibadan by the Chairman, MMPN, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Ridwan Fasasi at the end of the monthly meeting of the Association held at NTA, Ibadan Zonal Station. 

The Association appreciated the federal government for suspending the planned removal of fuel subsidy following the public outcry noting that adding burden of hike in fuel pump price at the last stage of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is tantamount to inflicting more hardship on the suffering masses.

It urged the Federal Government to concentrate more on ensuring that all refineries are put to 100 percent utilization, which will permanently address the tales of fuel subsidy. 

The Association similarly expressed concern over indiscriminate citing of filling and gas station outlets in residential areas in the country and wondered why the government would trade the safety of the people by approving such locations all in the name of revenue generations.

MMPN called on the government to employ or involve indigenous professionals in solving the nation’s protracted problems emphasising that such step remained the best approach at this period. 

The Association also enjoined the Federal Government to address the problems in the health sector stressing that if care is not taken, the brain drain currently being experienced in the sector will adversely affect the healthcare delivery in the country.

It observed with concern as well the increasing cases of rituals in the country and Get-Rich-Quick syndrome among the youths which the Association believes it’s as a result of loss of value and lack of parental care. 

Ridwan Fasasi

Sport

Nigeria, Tunisia set for round of 16 clash

By Web News 547

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia will clash Sunday night in the round of 16 of the ongoing 33rd  Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria and Tunisia are meeting for the sixth time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with four of the previous five matches being played in knock-out rounds.

Nigeria were unbeaten in all five, Winning 3 and Drawing 2, excluding penalty shoot-outs.

Nigeria have won 12 of their last 14 Africa Cup of Nations games Losing 2, winning each of their last four in a row.

Tunisia’s only successful Africa Cup of Nations meeting with Nigeria came in 2004, when, as hosts, they progressed via penalties in the semi-finals after the match finished 1-all.

The Carthage Eagles went on to win the competition that year.

Also, Nigeria have had more different goal scorers (six) than any other team so far at AFCON 2021, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Simon Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi, William Troost-Ekong and Umar Sadiq each scoring once.

The Nigeria Tunisia match comes at 8pm at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua.

FRCN, Abuja

Sport

Football Fans Club Of Nigeria Mourns Death Of Rasheed Balogun

By Web News 694

National President, Football Fans Club of Nigeria, FFCN, Ambassador Oluwakemi Ogunfuwa has sympathized with the family of late Shooting Stars Boss, Mr Rasheed Balogun, 3SC Family and the entire football fraternity over the shocking demise of the great football manager.

Ambassador Ogunfunwa who expressed rude shock over the untimely demise of Ogun State Football technocrat, said Nigeria has lost another passionate football administrator whose vacuum would be difficult to fill

In her condolence message sent from Garoua, Cameroon, where she is currently cheering the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Ambassador Ogunfunwa described the late Rasheed Balogun as an impeccable football administrator who used his time and resources to discover many talents and nurture them to stardom.

“Ogunfuwa added: “My heartfelt condolences go to his immediate family, players, coaches and officials of Shooting Stars, Ministry of Youths and Sports led By Asiwaju Seun Fakorede, Oyo State Sports Council, Nigerian football family and numerous admirers of this loving gentleman”.

 The national media officer of the supporters club, Sunday Agunbiade also said that members in Cameroon and those across the 36 state chapters in Nigeria have been directed to observe a minute silence and pray for the repose of the football icon at four o’clock this evening. 

PR/Olaolu Fawole 

News

FG Seeks Support Against Challenges Facing Nation’s Water System

By Web News 763

The Federal Ministry of water resources has identified an increased demand for water due to population growth as problems confronting the development and management of the nation’s water resources

Permanent secretary, federal ministry of water resources, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack made this known in Ibadan at a southwest stakeholders engagement on the 2013 national water resources master plan implementation.

Mrs Walson-Jack who also highlighted climate change and uneven distribution of rainfall across the country however explained that the Federal government was sensitizing relevant stakeholders to implement the 2013 water Master plan.

She said the first water resources master plan for the country in 1995 recorded setbacks due to lack of political will and weak implementation structure, hence the need for the stakeholder’s sensitization workshop on the new plan.

Mrs Walson-Jack explained that the new plan focuses to achieve management and monitoring of water resources for agricultural production, food security and adequate provision of safe water.

While noting that the ministry had earlier organized similar sensitizations in Kano and Sokoto states, Mrs Walson-Jack explained that the stakeholders would be intimated on the need for Nigeria to consent to the United Nation’s water Convention.

She appealed to states, local governments, development partners and end-users to collaborate with the Federal government to ensure successful accession to the UN water convention.

Reacting to two of the participants, Mr Michael Ale and chairman, Oyo state rural water supply, Mr Najeem Omirinde advised the Federal Government to include in the plan, measures to check the indiscriminate drilling of Borehole.

The participants also called for the need to review the 2013 water plan to allow it to meet the current reality on the ground.

Mosope Kehinde

Sport

AFCON Round of 16: Nigeria Faces Tunisia

By Web News 811

Nigeria will face Tunisia in one of the Round of 16 matches at the on going African Nations Cup in Cameroun.

The fixture was revealed after the conclusion of the group stage of the competition.

To reach this stage, the Super Eagles topped group D with 9 maximum points while Tunisia came third in group F with 3 points.

The Nigeria/Tunisia match will take place in the city of Garoua by 8pm on Sunday, the 23rd of this month.

In some of the other Round of 16 fixtures, hosts Cameroun will face Comoro Islands; Cote D’Ivoire will take on Egypt; Senegal will confront Cape-Verde while Morocco will keep a date with Malawi.

If Nigeria beats Tunisia on Sunday, the Eagles will take on winner between Burkina Faso and Gabon in the quarter finals.

Meanwhile, Friday and Saturday are rest of the days at the competition.

Bisi Ogunleye

Yoruba

Ijoba Apapo Seleri Lati Se Idasile Ebu Ifopo Esekuku L’agbegbe Niger/Delta

By Web News 998
 

Ijoba apapo ti soo di mimo wi pe won yoo se idasile ebu ifopo esekuku meta otooto si okookan ati ipinle to n pese epo robi lagbegbe Niger/Delta.

Alakoso keji foro ayika nile yi, Oloyo Sharon Keazor lo sipaya oro yi ninu atejade to fi sita nilu Abuja.

O salaye wipe, awon ebu ifopo meta yi yoomu ona abayo wa fawon onise owo to n fi ise ebu ifopo se ise oojo, ti yoo si tun fun won lanfaani ati jawo ninu fifo epo robi lona ti ko bofin mu.

Alakose naa tenumo pea won ebu ifopo alabode yi ni won yio ti maa se amulo ohun elo ti won pese labele pelu awon ileese ijoba to je akosemose bii ileese ijoba apapo to wa fun ohun alumoni epo robi, ile sko giga fasiti ijoba apapo to wa fun epo petirolu, eyi to wa nilu effurun ati ile eko giga fasiti Ahmadu Bello to wa nilu Zaria.

Gege bo se wi, ijoba apapo yoo tun seto idanileko fawon onise owo ti yoo maa fo epo naa nipa amojuto ayika, lona tise won yoo fi pegede.

Babatunde Salaudeen

Sport

AFCON 2021: Super Eagles Makes It 6 Points from 2 Games

By Web News 817

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have qualified for the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, as they defeated Sudan 3-1 in their second group D match. 

The win which was their second in as many games will help them breathe easier going into the final group stage match against Guinea Bissau. 

Samuel Chukwueze opened scoring three minutes into the game, smashing the ball home from a Moses Simon pass as they easily breezed into the Sudanese defence. 

Taiwo Awoniyi fortuitously got the second after a Troost-Ekong header bounced off the striker and beat the Sudanese goalkeeper who should have done a better job of denying him the goal. 

Moses Simon got the goal his performance deserved after a quick one-two with Taiwo Awoniyi.

Nigeria’s Moses Simon celebrating his 2nd half goal against Sudan at the 2021 AFCON

Sudan got their consolation goal via a spot-kick with striker Walieldin Khedr sending Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye the wrong way after Ola Aina was deemed to have fouled a Sudanese player in the penalty box following a VAR review.

Nigeria now tops Group D with six points from two games and are through to the second round of the competition

Maxwell Oyekunle

News

Buhari Mourns Late Soun Of Ogbomosoland 

By Web News 1878

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of the Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, on the demise of the highly revered traditional ruler earlier on Sunday.

In a condolence message by his Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja, the President commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State as well as the indigenes of Ogbomoso land on the demise of the frontline traditional ruler.

The president noted that Oyewumi’s reign of 48 years reinforced the town as a land of peace, accommodating and a bastion of history and tradition.

President Buhari also joined the Oyo State Council of Obas in mourning the First Class Traditional ruler.

He affirmed that the deceased would forever be remembered for his counsel and commitment to the unity and harmony within the ranks of the traditional rulers.

He urged sons and daughters of Ogbomoso land to be consoled with the fact that Oba Oyewumi accentuated his reign with the development and progress of the community through enduring peace and extension of hands of fellowship to peoples of other lands

Pulse/Taiwo Akinola

Lifestyle

Itunnu Babalola Finally Laid To Rest

By Web News 1644

Human sojourn on earth is transient, hence the need for people to make their lives worthwhile.

The Most Superior Evangelist, Celestial Church of Christ,  Agbowo, Ibadan, Daniel Otakoya gave the admonition in Ibadan at the burial service  of a Nigerian lady, Miss Itunu Babalola, at Sango cementery.

Most Superior Evangelist Otakoya explained that since death was inevitable, people should ensure they live accountably before God. 

The cleric described Miss Babalola’s death as a great loss to Nigeria and her family.

During a visit to the deceased family at University of Ibadan, the head of media team Nigerian in diaspora commission, NIDCOM, Mr Rahman Balogun,  representing, the chairman of the commission, Abike Dabiri Arewa, said government had promised to support the family.

Earlier, Father of the deceased, Mr Babalola had expressed his gratitude to NIDCOM for bringing the remains of his daughter to Nigeria, and  pleaded for Government’s support as his late  daughter was the family’s bread winner.

Miss Itunu Babalola died in prison  in Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire where she was allegedly wrongly jailed. 

Miss Babalola died on the 14th of November, 2021 while serving a jail term in C’ote d’Ivoire.

Funmi Obagbayegun

Crime

EFCC Calls for Deliberate Efforts to Prevent Youths from Crime

By Web News 687

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has renewed the call on Nigerians, especially Parents and Guardians to make deliberate efforts towards preventing the youths from engaging in economic and financial corruption. 

Deputy Zonal Commander, EFCC, Lagos, Mr Emeka Okonjo who made the call while addressing participants in a town hall meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State called for the support of icons to the fight against economic and financial corruption. 

The event put together by a non-governmental organization, the Right Thinking Global Initiative, Eagle Ping at the Police Officers Wives Association, POWA Hall, Eleweran Abeokuta was attended by representatives of various organizations involved in anti-corruption issues, security agencies, students and community associations. 

The EFCC Zonal Commander promised that the commission would continue to collaborate with the relevant bodies to tackle corruption at all levels. 

Also, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alamutu advised Nigerians to work together with the relevant security agencies to strengthen the fight against corruption in the country 

Mr. Alamutu also encouraged Nigerian students to always say no to corruption and shun social vices while channelling their time and energy towards profitable ventures that would not put their future in jeopardy. 

In a remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Abosede Ogunleye encouraged Nigerian students to shun corruption and report anyone involved in suspicious activities to the relevant security agencies.

Other speakers at the town hall meeting were unanimous in their submissions on the need for collaboration between public agencies and the private sector with Nigerians, particularly at individual and community levels to give credence to the theme of the meeting “the role of traditional institution in the process of fighting corruption”.

Olufisoye Adenitan

Religion

Unity of Nigeria a neccesity – Methodist Prelate

By Web News 1324

Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Samuel Kanu-Uche has called on Nigerians irrespective of various differences to be patient, accommodating and tolerant.

The cleric stated this while speaking with Radio Nigeria during a visit to Oyo State.

The prelate who said unity of the country was a necessity, urged all stakeholders to seek peace through dialogue.

“I want peace, I work for peace, I pray for peace. Nothing will give me joy than having peace in this country and I believe peace through gun and bomb is not good. However, peace through dialogue is the best peace. So, whatever we can do to dialogue with the young people to have peace must be done”.

Dr. Kanu-Uche also identified patriotism among citizens, as a way forward for the nation.

Adedayo Adelowo

News

Let’s continue to pray for the cleansing, healing of Nigeria – Makinde

By Web News 937

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has called on citizens to pray for the healing and cleansing of Nigeria.

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda preaching during CFAN’s Ibadan Crusade 2021

Governor Makinde who was speaking at the close of a four-day crusade by Evangelist Daniel Kolenda also stated that the state was blessed to have hosted the four-day event without a hitch.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicates that the crusade was hosted by the Christ for All Nations Ministries, headed by Evangelist Kolenda.

The governor while speaking at the Crusade, held at the Arcedem Ground, Iwo Road, Ibadan, said that it was about time the people began to pray for the healing and cleansing of the country.

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Most political leaders are not patriotic – Dr. Durojaiye

By Web News 665

Nigerians have been told to utilize the political power at their disposal to proffer lasting solution to myriads of problem confronting the nation. 

The national leader of United Nigeria Movement for Change, Dr. Abdulfatai Durojaiye gave the advice in Ibadan while addressing newsmen on leadership challenges and the solutions.

He explained that Nigeria was at a critical point where change in the political narrative of the country had become inevitable.

Dr Durojaiye, who said Nigeria had human and natural resources to assume an enviable status in the comity of nations, noted that political leaders in the country were not patriotic to their fatherland.

He said lack of patriotism in the leadership was evident in their investments in foreign countries.

While expressing the vision of forging a national unity that leverages on the political will of the masses, Dr. Durojaiye said cutting cost of governance, as well as, firm decision by the masses would enable Nigeria to attain its rightful position in the nearest future.

Adedayo Adelowo

Health

UCH Bags Best Public Health Institution In Nigeria Award

By Web News 1483

The Federal Government of Nigeria on 30th September, 2021 gave an award to the University College Hospital, Ibadan as the best public health Institution in Nigeria.

The award ceremony which was held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja was part of the activities marking the end of the 60th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence and ushering in the 61st anniversary.

The ceremony was witnessed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari, GCFR, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, among other Ministers that attended the ceremony.

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar were also in attendance.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha presented the award of the best Public Heal th Institution in Nigeria to the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Lillian Ibomor

Religion

Continue to pray for peaceful coexistence of Nigeria – Imam Oladimeji

By Web News 573

A Muslim cleric, Imam Abdulateef Oladimeji has called on Nigerians to intensify prayers to sustain the peaceful coexistence of the country. 

Imam Oladimeji said this during the Jumat service at Boro Central Mosque, Oke Alaro, Polytechnic Road, Ibadan. 

He explained that the socio-economic problems in the country have been experienced by some nations in the past, noting that the countries overcame them through prayers. 

Imam Oladimeji stressed the need for the nation’s political leaders to always seek the face of God while governing the people.

Ajarat/Olaolu OFawole

News Analysis

The On-going Strike by Resident Doctors Amidst a Pandemic

By Web News 933

This is not to undermine the current strike by the resident doctors in public hospitals to press home their demands from government, but an effort to look at the moral implication on the medical profession and it impact on the ordinary man on the street.

Doctors are trained to save lives first before any other thing going by the Hippocratic Oath they administer on them upon graduation from medical schools.

However, once there is crisis between the doctors and government, human lives are endangered in the course of this war of nerves forgetting that no amount of monetary value fought for can replace the loss of lives at the end.

Public hospitals remain the only health care providers available to the common man in terms of cost implications for the range of services provided by them.

Therefore, the most unfortunate part of the current face-off between the resident doctors and the federal government is that the common man who is the highest beneficiary of the services provided by the doctors in the public hospital is the worst hit.

While the strike last, hospital ward are evacuated of patients, while the affluent can afford to be taken to private hospitals, the common man is cash- strapped and left to die in most cases.

Some of them often resort to quack doctors and other obnoxious alternatives which are death prone.

Facilities at the abandoned hospitals are affected too in one way or the other in terms of deterioration and level of hygiene by the time the doctors are back to work after the strike.

Although, there is remarkable improvement in the traditional health care delivery, there is still a wide gap between the orthodox medicine, and alternative medicine, specifically health conditions that require emergency and prompt management.

Strike as a tool for labour agitation should not be abused, especially by medical doctors who are trained to save lives and give succor to the patients.

How can they feel so unconcerned and unmoved that people are dying every second on each day they stay away from work?

While the threat by the federal government to have the striking doctors replaced because they appear to have lost the feeling of the doctors is counter-productive, there is the need to examine options to manage this type of crisis in the future.

Government at all levels should endeavour to have a pool of volunteer doctors attached to public hospital to manage health crisis occasioned by strike till matters are resolved to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

The current doctors’ strike across the country is the most insensitive coming at a period of a major pandemic like COVID-19 that has put many lives at risk and it is even more disturbing that the federal government has been unable to resolve the crisis amicably.   .

We cannot have international best practices in the health sector when the major stakeholders embark on strike every now and then.

All contentious issues raised by the striking doctors must be looked at holistically to resolve the impasse as the egoistic posture on both sides of the divide can only make the health sector crisis a recurring decimal.

Tayo Sanni

Feature

Nigeria Marks World Day Against Trafficking in Person

By Web News 802

When in 1883, Britain by Act of Parliament (1833), gave impetus to eradication of slavery by abolishing it, optimism might have run high that death knell had tolled for the heinous trade in human cargo.

However, close to three centuries after the historic act, the world remain plagued by trafficking in persons on a large scale with broad network of local and international syndicates involved across many countries.

In this report, Simeon Ugbodoovon examines what makes the illicit trade thrive in Nigeria despite various initiative by government

Article 3, Paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines the crime as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

 Exploitation in this regard includes all forms of prostitution, forced labour, slavery, servitude and removal of organs.

Human trafficking is described as a $150 billion global industry, with victims notching 40.3 million in 2018 according to Global Slavery Index.

Despite international collaboration, progression has continued, with the annual figure of victims rising from 30,961 in 2008 to 105,767 in 2019 and 108,613 in 2020.

2021 U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report ranks Nigeria 32 out of 167 countries with the highest number of slaves, put at 1,386,000.

Despite establishment of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in 2003 and enactment of Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act, as amended in 2015, curtailing trade in human cargo remains daunting.

Pathetically, in most cases trafficked persons have had sore tales to tell

Why have these efforts failed to drastically reduce or discourage the crime?

The Media Lead, The Migrant Project, a nongovernmental organization, Mr Tayo Elegbede, who acknowledged efforts of relevant authorities, explained that current efforts were still far cry from the magnitude of the problem.

He identified what still needed to be done to address what fuels victims being lured into the dragnets of traffickers.

Mr Elegbede advocated inclusive and massive collaboration of families, religious institutions and social organizations with the government, which should equally strive to improve economic wellbeing of citizens, one of the factors fueling trafficking in persons.

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 30 as World Day against Trafficking in Persons with this year’s theme as Victims’ voices lead the way.

Simeon Ugbodovon

Yoruba

Olori Orile Naijiria Nigbakanri Npe Fun Itesiwaju Ibagbepo Alaafia

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Olori orile-ede yi nigbakanri, Ogagun feyinti Abdulsalami Abubakar n pe fun gbigba adua fun alaafia ati itesiwaju ninu isokan orile ede Naijiria.

O soro yi ninu oro ikini to fi ranse sawon Musulumi lori ajoyo odun Eid-el-kabir.

Ogagun feyinti Abubakar, sope wiwa nisokan ile yi ni o se pataki to sin lo asiko naa lati rawo ebe sawon to ni okan ayederu, lati yi okan pada nipa gbigba Alafia laye.

O wa gba ladua pe, kolorun Allah fowo bawon lokan, ki won le ni ayidapa okan, pelu afikun pe orile ede Naijiria koni pe bori gbogbo ipenija to n dojuko.

Ololade Afonja

Yoruba

Ìjọba Àpapọ̀ Yio Bẹ̀rẹ̀ Gbigba Abẹ́rẹ́ Àjẹsára Covid-19 Miràn

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Àjọ tó ńrísí ọ̀rọ̀ ilé ìwòsàn aláàbọ́dé nílẹ̀ yí ti sọ wípé orílẹ̀ èdè yi yio gba abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára COVID-19 Pfizer-Biontech, Modena àti oxford Astrazenica láàrin osù yí sí osù kẹsan ọdún yí.

Adarí àgbà fún àjọ náà, Dókítà Pheza Shuab ẹnití ó sọ̀rọ̀ yí di mímọ̀ nílu Abuja sọ wípé oníruru àwọn abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára yi ti ilẹ̀ America àti àjọ ìsọ̀kan ilẹ̀ adúláwọ̀ fi ta orílẹ̀ ede oyi lọ́rẹ ni yio de ni ìpele ìpele.

Nídi èyí, ìjọba àpapọ̀ ti ra irinsẹ́ U701 ultracode ibain tótó mokandín láàdọrin tí wọ́n fi ńse abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára lọ́jọ́ tí wọ́n si ti pín mktàdínlógójì sí gbogbo ìpínlẹ̀ mkrìndínlógójì àti olú ìlú yi ní ìgbáradì fún gbígba abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára covid-19 yi tó nílò láti tutu ni ìwọ̀n tí kò tó ogójì sí márùndínláàdọrun celcius.

Dókítà Shuab sọ wípé ilẹ̀ yí ti parí fífún àwọn ènìyàn ni abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára ìpele kini tó wà ní wọn tí bẹrẹ ìgbésẹ̀ lórí fífún àwọn ènìyàn lábẹ́rẹ́ ọ̀hún ní ìpele kejì.

Oluwayẹmisi Dada

Education

Principals, School Proprietors, Protest 12,000 Naira Govt. Security Seminar Fee

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Principals, secondary school teachers and proprietors of private Secondary Schools in Ondo state have protested the directive of the state government asking them to pay a sum of 12,000 naira per school as compulsory fee for a proposed seminar on security.

The proposed security workshop is being organised by the Public Service Training Institute, PSTI, while a circular was issued to that effect by the Ministry of Education.

In the circular, the ministry directed that every secondary school both public and private in the state should provide a principal and two teachers and pay a sum of 4,000 naira each for the selected participants.

The principals, teachers and private schools proprietors however described the directive as strange and unacceptable, considering various financial challenges facing many public schools occasioned by lack of running grants.

In separate letters, addressed to the Head of Service, the Ondo State chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Nigeria, ASUSS, Comrade Balogun Tajudeen and the President of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, Mr. Johnbull Mebawondu urged the state government to reverse its directive and make the seminar free in the interest of all stakeholders. 

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, the Head of Service in the state, Mr. John Adeyemo, said efforts were ongoing towards ensuring that schools reduce the number of participants.

Mr. Adeyemo also debunked the allegation that the seminar was meant to enriching some people in government.

Kayode Animasaun

Lifestyle

African Civil Service Week: Clerics Urge Civil Servants to Contribute to Better Nigeria

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For Nigeria to enjoy true Federalism and good governance, every Nigerian has a role to play.

A Muslim Cleric, Mallam Tirimisiyu Adeniran stated this at a special Interdenominational Service to mark the African Civil Service Week organised by the National Forum of Heads of Federal Establishments in Nigeria, Osun State chapter.

Mallam Adeniran in his exhortation, noted that every bastardized system was due to the presence of bad elements who are working against the peace, unity and progress of good governance.

He urged civil servants to see their duties as service to God and humanity, therefore, contribute positively to good governance and better Nigeria.

Also speaking, a Christian Cleric, Pastor Albert Arinola advised Civil Servants to identify their talents or acquire skills which could be a source of income for them after retirement.

Earlier, the Chairman of NAFOHEADS, Dr. Omolara Idah appreciated God on behalf of all Civil Servants for being alive to celebrate the African Civil Service Week.

The Week continues tomorrow with Exhibition and Lectures.

Funmi Adekoya