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Drug Abuse: Sarkin Kano ,NDLEA, others, hold summit
An E-Summit designed to inform and educate Nigerians, especially Youths and Young Adults, on the dangers of drug abuse using the converging publicity power of Social Media and Information Technology will hold on Thursday.
The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Amini Ado Bayero will lead the team of other Nigerians to discuss with many Nigerian youths on the danger associated with involvement in it.
Abi Goodman, the Founder and Executive Program Coordinator of Center for Drug Abuse Education & Skills Acquisition (CEDASA said the focus will be on Youths and Drugs, the roles of traditional rulers, drug abuse intervention for women in Nigeria, drugs abuse prevention and treatment legislation and the role of educational instruction and community policy in combating substance abuse.
Abi said with over 14.3 Million drug users from ages 18-65, Nigeria is on the verge of an epidemic of substance abuse which has translated to increase in violence and crime in the country.
She said that it has therefore become imperative to organize a Virtual Summit during this Covid 19 Pandemic Period in which majority Nigerian youths across all social devices share a common interest.
The Zoom E- summit which is expected to be held between 11am-2pm on Thursday will be moderated by Mr. Shadrach Haruna, Secretary of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Abi Goodman: Founder & Executive Program Coordinator of Canter for Drug Abuse Education & Skills Acquisition (CEDASA)
The session will have the Emir of Bichi , His Highness, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero as chairman with
Engr. (Dr.) Michael A. Auta: GMD KYC Holdings Ltd as co chairman.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero , HRM, Igwe Ambassador Lawrence Okolo Chikezie Agubuzu, CON, KSM. Chairmam South East Council of Traditional Rulers and HRM (ARC.) King Adedapo Aderemi: Convener-General, Council of Traditional Leaders in Africa & Secretary (BOT) National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Abuja will talk about the role of the traditional rulers in the fight against drug abuse.
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation .Mr. Amaju Pinnick, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau: Chairman of Chairmen of Nigerian Football, Barr. Muhyi Magaji Rimingado: Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission and Dr. Yakubu Shendam, Founder /Chairman Governing Board. Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) will speak on Drugs and Youths.
Dr. Pauline Tallen: Hon. Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaaq: First Lady of Kware State,Hon. Oluwaseun Fakorede: Oyo State Commissioner for Youth & Sport and Ms. Karen Rohleder: Master Practioner will talk on drug abuse intervention for women in Nigeria.
On Drugs abuse prevention and treatment legislation, Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo, Chairman House Committee on Drugs & Narcotic, Dr. Mojisola Chistianah Adeyeye: Director-General of NAFDAC, Ms. Faten Kallel: Former Tunisia Secretary of State of Youth Affairs and Mr. Akin Oduntan: Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Technology Consultant are the expected resource persons.
Abi added that the E-Summit is designed to inform and educate individual, especially Youths and Young Adults, on the dangers of drug abuse using the converging publicity power of Social Media and Information Technology during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020 Week.
She further said the summit is in partnership with Buhari Campaign Organization, Office of the Speaker of House of Representatives on Youth Matters and Nigerian Youth Congress
The summit will have Mr Shadrach Haruna, Secretary of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA as host.
June 24, 2020
Court remands husband, one other, over alleged murder of mother, daughter
An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun on Tuesday, remanded one Micheal Adunola, 32, and Olawoyin Atinuke, 32, in prison custody over alleged murder of a mother and her daughter.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on May 23, 2020 around 12.00 pm at Ile-Ife.
Osanyintuyi said that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit murder.
He added that the defendants unlawfully killed one Esther Adunola and her 14-month-old daughter, Glory Adunola.
The prosecutor stated further that the defendants improperly and indecently interfered with the corpse of Esther and her daughter, Glory by cutting off their heads and hands.
Osanyintuyi said that the offence contravened sections 242, 319(1) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The plea of the defendants were not taken, despite the fact that their counsels, Mr M.I. Babawale and Mr Adewale Adegbami, announced their appearance, respectively.
Magistrate Muhibah Olatunji did not grant the defendants bail on the ground that her court lacked jurisdiction to try murder case.
Olatunji asked the prosecutor to duplicate their case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution at the Osun State Ministry of Justice for legal advice.
She ordered that the defendants be remanded at Ilesa Correctional centre and adjourned the case till July 28, for mention.(NAN)
June 23, 2020
CSOs Task Security Managers on Unity to Defeat Insurgency
As Nigeria continues to battle insecurity, a rights group, Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has urged the managers of the nation’s security architecture to resist any form of disunity amongst them to enable the nation defeat insurgency and other forms of insecurity.
The CSOs apparently reacting to comments from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd.) credited to President Muhammadu Buhari where he said excuses will no longer be tolerated from his Service Chiefs over the spate of insecurity across the country warned that allowing discord of any form at this time would lead to relapse of the gains made in the fight against insurgency and banditry.
It would be recalled that the NSA, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd.) had told State House Correspondents that President Muhammadu Buhari was unhappy with the current state of security in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Comrade Mike Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabir Matazu, conveners of the CSOs, praised the Nigeria military for the efforts made in ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality and called for sustenance of the tempo.
“The fight against insurgency is been largely won through the gallantry displayed by the Nigerian military. However, collaboration is required from all strata of the security architecture. This is where we find it necessary to caution the NSA to be weary of remarks on the security situation. The NSA and the security chiefs ought to be on the same page on operations in the war theatre. The purpose for the existence of the NSA and the various security agencies is for the security of the nation.
“So, when the NSA makes comments that suggests that he is not a part of the security agencies, it is tantamount to dampening the morale of the security chiefs and their troops.
“No one in Nigeria today can fend ignorance of the efforts of the Nigerian military in taming insurgency in the country. It was in this country that it was once normal for bomb blast to detonate on a daily basis including the nation’s capital. All that is forgotten now. While we acknowledge that there are still pockets of crises here and there, we must not fail to note the huge successes recorded so that those on the fringes of the war would be encouraged.
“As stakeholders who believe in the Nigeria project, we have elected to stand for unity and peace of the nation. It is in this wise that we urge the Federal Government to disregard calls for the sacking of the current service chiefs. Those making such calls are not doing so in the interest of the nation but their pecuniary gains.
“We herein also urged the NSA to show leadership by not allowing himself to be reactionary in his comments on the fight against insurgency. We understand that there is pressure on the managers of the nation’s security architecture particularly from those who have taken side with insurgents for pecuniary gains.
The CSOs further explained that the security situation in the country has improved significantly following the coming of the current government explaining that fighting insurgency was not as simple as some people imagine.
“The situation degenerated to a point where citizens deserted the north eastern states almost completely. Average Nigerians had given up hope on the sovereignty of the country. Hope however, began to return when Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai assumed office in July 2015 as he quickly evolved a master plan of taking war to the door steps of the terrorists, away from the reactionary approach adopted in the past. This art of war coupled with credible intelligence gathering has seen the destruction and killing of several terrorists’ leaders, camps and hide outs through a coordinated ground and aerial bombardment”, the statement added.
June 23, 2020
BREAKING: Ondo doctors to begin strike on Wednesday
Doctors under the auspices of the Residents Doctors Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, have announced the commencement of an indefinite strike effective Wednesday, June 24.
The health workers lamented that despite their exposure to COVID-19, their welfare has been neglected by the state government.
For the same reason, doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Government General Medical & Dental Practitioners, Ondo State also announced that it will join the industrial action starting from Wednesday.
They also frowned at the inadequate provision of personal protective equipment, which has resulted to some of their colleagues contracting COVID-19.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, state Secretary of the NAGGMDP, Dr Tunde Olasakinju, said five days after the ultimatum given the government to accede to its demands, the government had not responded or communicated them.
Olasakinju said, ” The government has deliberately failed to conclude negotiations on the erstwhile suspended Minimum Wage and Consequential Adjustments already enjoyed by the Non-Medical Staff Since January 2020.
“To our dismay and utter disappointment, as high as two and a half per cent of our members’ meagre consolidated basic salaries was deducted in the month of May 2020.
“The Special COVID-19 Hazard and Risk Allowance pronounced and approved for our members to commence from May 2020, which was to serve as a morale booster to our members working assiduously to fight against the spread of the deadly virus, was not paid.
“After extensive deliberations, Congress unanimously resolved that our members will commence the total withdrawal of services effective Wednesday, June 24, 2020.”
June 23, 2020
BREAKING: Buhari attends ECOWAS summit via teleconfrence
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently attending a virtual Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the West African Monetary Zone.
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant on New Media to Buhari, made this known on his Twitter handle.
Among those sighted in the video uploaded are Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.
Details later…
June 23, 2020
Almost 50 health workers test positive to Covid-19 in Enugu
49 health workers have tested positive for the coronavirus in Enugu state. The caregivers are among those managing people earlier infected by the pandemic in the state.
The State Commissioner for health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi who made the disclosure added that the state recorded by 67 new cases and attributed the rise to the opening of testing center where more people are being tested for the virus.
In a statement released Monday morning, the State Government again warned Enugu citizens and residents to be alert and responsible because “Covid-19 is real!”
“No individual category has been spared by the pandemic,” said Dr. Obi, who signed the statement in his capacity as head of the State’s Covid-19 Task Force.
“Consequently, men, women, children, old and young, people of every profession and socio-economic class have been affected,” he lamented.
Among the VIPs struck down by the virus is a State lawmaker, Mr. Chijioke Ugwueze (PDP, Isiuzo), whose death last week led to abrupt shutdown of the State House of Assembly on Saturday 20 June.
Speaker Edward Ubosi who ordered the shutdown “as a precautionary measure” invited health authorities to immediately decontaminate the Assembly Complex as he also suspended activities in the Complex “until further notice.”
The State Health Commissioner has however assured that brave health workers of the State will continue to “do their best in the prevailing circumstances … to deliver on their mandates, despite the huge risks faced by all.”
He asked citizens to reciprocate the efforts or health workers by seeking help when needed and by obeying simple protocols hitherto established by health authorities and disease experts.
Those who show signs of the ailment are to seek help quickly and not “suffer in silence” as delay could be dangerous, Obi said.
He also restated the protocol for citizens each of who must individually do everything possible to avoid contracting the deadly virus, including: staying home when it is not absolutely necessary to go out; wearing a face-mask or covering whenever there is a need to go out; keeping a safe distance from other people at all times and avoiding crowded places; practicing good respiratory hygiene – when coughing or sneezing; cleaning surfaces with a 1 in 6 concentration of bleach and water; washing hands with soap for 20 seconds under running water and as often as possible; and sanitizing hands when facilities for handwashing are not available
“When you do these, you protect me and when I do these, I protect you,” he said to explain the motive behind these protocols.
“If despite your your efforts… you develop symptoms or know anyone who developed symptoms, please call … and someone will speak with you and get the details.
“This is not the time to avoid visits to hospitals when medical attention is needed,” the health commissioner pleaded with citizens of Enugu State.
June 23, 2020
China successfully launches satellite completing home-grown GPS rival
China successfully launched into orbit the final satellite of its Beidou navigation network on Tuesday, a statement from Beidou’s government official website reported.
The launch achieves global coverage for the country’s home-grown competitor to the U.S.-owned GPS system.
“The satellite took off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, propelled by Long March carrier rockets,’’ the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The 10 billion-dollar Beidou project has been in development since the 1990s, with its first satellites launched in 2000.
The first generation covered only China and the second generation was expanded across the Asia-Pacific region.
Deployment of the current, third generation of satellites, Beidou-3, began in 2015 to realise worldwide coverage.
The latest satellite in orbit is the 30th for Beidou-3 and the 55th overall across all three generations.
The launch was originally scheduled for June 16, however was cancelled unexpectedly due to technical problems.
June 23, 2020
Salary deduction: NLC suspends planned strike in Kano
The joint labour unions in Kano State has suspended its planned one week warning strike to protest the deduction of worker’s salary by the State Government.
This was announced in a press statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano by the Chairman, state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Kabir Minjibir.
NAN recalls that the state government had deducted some amount from the May salaries of workers in the state due to COVID-19 meltdown, but the unions said they were not consulted.
Following this, the labour unions served the state government a two-week ultimatum to refund the deduction or the workers should embark on a week warning strike.
The labour union, at the end of the two weeks ultimatum, gave another one week, which was to commence by 12 a.m on Tuesday (June 23).
According to the statement, the decision to suspend the planned strike followed a series of meetings the unions had with a committee set-up by the state government to resolve the issue, and some agreements were reached.
“During our last meeting with the Committee, headed by the state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, the state government had agreed to refund 50 per cent of what they deducted from the worker’s salary,
“Other agreements we made with the committee was to ensure the payment of workers’ eight months new minimum wage arrears within the next third quarter of the year 2020 if the financial position of the state improves.
“The organised labour unions have also agreed to sit with the state government to set out modalities of payment based on the agreed percentage to be deducted on the N30,600 minimum wage, for the month of June and July in the first instance.
“And to be subsequently depended on the monthly amount received by the state from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, within the period of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The unions, while commending the entire workers in Kano for their tireless support, called for sustained support towards ensuring their welfare.
June 23, 2020
Group demands domestication of Violence Against Persons Act in Abia
By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, (FENRAD) has strongly demanded the Abia State House of Assembly to expedite a tions for speedy domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, (VAPP Act, 2015) as a state law.
The group explained that the demand became expedient from events spilling from the lockdown which it says has triggered Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and domestic violence, mostly against women and girls (minors).
FENRAD in a statement by its Executive Director, Nnanna Nwafor, opines that that violent activities” increased by folds during the recently eased lockdown most of which were not documented, even unreported across the federation”.
Part of the statement reads”the spate of sexual harassment, assault, violence, and abuse calls for serious concern, even immediate response.
“The tragic rape and murder of two female undergraduates: Miss Vera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of Microbiology with University of Benin and Miss Barakat Bello, an 18-year-old student of Science Laboratory Technology with University of Ibadan, both of which occurred on May 27, 2020 and June 1, 2020 respectively, brought the issue of rape and violence to the fore”.
The group therefore commends the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu(PhD) for joining the rest 35 state governors in declaring a “state of emergency” on rape.
It also enjoined the House to take the lead in the crusade against sexual and gender-based violence or domestic violence.
According to United Nations Population Funds,”violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime”.
The body further explains that gender-based violence undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet it remains shrouded in a culture of silence, adding that victims of violence can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and even death”.
June 23, 2020
Akeredolu sacks Ondo State deputy governor’s media aide
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has relieved Mr Allen Sowore, Special Assistant on New Media to the embattled Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, of his appointment with immediate effect.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Akure by Mr Olusegun Ajiboye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and made available to newsmen.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Ajayi had been at loggerheads with his boss, Akeredolu, for some time before he finally resigned from the All Progressives Congress and joined the People’s Democratic Party.
Ajayi, however, maintains that he remains the deputy governor of the state in spite of his leaving the All Progressives Congress.
The statement advised Sowore to submit all government’s property in his possession to the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
June 23, 2020