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World Bank provides $346m to strengthen resilience, livelihoods in Lake Chad region
The World Bank has approved two operations totaling 346 million dollars in International Development Association (IDA) financing to help strengthen resilience and livelihoods in the Lake Chad region,.
The bank made this known in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the fund would be shared among Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
It explained that overall, the Lake Chad region suffered from poor development and economic indicators compared to the averages in the four countries.
It said there were significant gaps in infrastructure, access to basic services was poor, and natural resources and livelihoods were severely impacted by climate change and the situation was exacerbated by insecurity prevailing since 2009.
According to the bank, this is due to insurgent activities that prevented more than 49 million people from attaining their livelihoods in fishing, livestock farming and agriculture.
The bank said that the two newly approved operations focused on enhancing regional collaboration among the four countries to support communities close to the shore of Lake Chad areas.
It said the operations would also improve the living conditions of the population, including vulnerable women and youths who were being faced with the negative impacts of climate change and suffer from insecurity.
“The first project, the Lake Chad Region Recovery and Development Project (PROLAC, 170 million dollars), will support national and regional coordination platforms and local capacity building.
“It will contribute to restoring sustainable rural mobility, connectivity and strengthen the recovery of agricultural livelihoods in selected provinces of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
“It will also promote knowledge sharing and regional dialogue with a data platform hosted at the Lake Chad Basin Commission, while strengthening community empowerment through citizen engagement, social cohesion activities and labour-intensive public works.
“PROLAC will contribute to the rehabilitation of rural roads and small transport infrastructure, and will promote productive investments by helping agricultural producers to increase productivity in the polder areas in Chad, the farming of oasis areas in Niger, and in the areas close to the shore of the Lake Chad in the Far North of Cameroon.
“The second project, the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project for North Eastern Nigeria, Additional Financing (MCRP AF, 176 million dollars), will help the Government of Nigeria to improve access to basic services and livelihood opportunities for crisis-affected communities in the North Eastern States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
“While enhancing coordination among these States and other Lake Chad countries.
“It expands the ongoing 200 million dollars MCRP project and puts an increased emphasis on support for agricultural livelihoods and investments.
“In addition, the MCRP AF will include support for labor-intensive approaches and works programs, promote rural and regional connectivity, rehabilitate market infrastructure and prioritize climate change adaptation and mitigation,” World Bank explained.
The bank, however, noted that the project would also expand its education and health activities to include a focus on service delivery.
This the bank said it would do by providing grants to schools committees and incentives to returning teachers, and by promoting quality of primary health care services in targeted public health centres and district hospitals.
It emphasised that the Lake Chad region remained a priority area of engagement given the common nature of the challenges faced by the sub-region and the huge potential for regional cooperation.
May 27, 2020
Kano Govt sets up 9 COVID-19 sample collection centres
The Kano State Government has set up nine COVID-19 sample collection centres to enhance detection and response to the pandemic.
Dr Tijjani Hussaini, the Coordinator, COVID-19 Technical Response Team, made this known in an interview with Our Correspondent, on Wednesday in Kano.
Hussaini said eight of the centres were set up in the Kano metropolis while one other was established in Rano Local Government Area (LGA).
“Ten more sample collection centres will soon be put in place, bringing the number to 19 in the state.
“We are also engaging voluntary mobilisers in the LGAs to enhance active case search at the grassroots.
‘The plan is to set up one sample collection centre in each of the 44 LGAs,” he said.
Hussaini said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has opened three functional molecular laboratories.
He said that the Dangote Foundation and ’54gene’ donated a mobile laboratory at the Muhammadu Buhari Hospital, Giginyu.
”The laboratories have a 650 test capacity per day while plans are under way to increase the capacity to between 1, 300 and 1, 500 per day.
The coordinator added that the state government had trained health workers on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC), to protect them against contracting the disease.
“Some of the infection recorded among health workers is linked to lack of knowledge on how to protect themselves against infections.
“We have quickly turned around the tide and the health workers in isolation discharged,” he said.
On the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19, Hussaini said that most of the cases were recorded in the Kano metropolis while 31 LGAs recorded at least one case of the virus.
The coordinator added that state government in collaboration with development partners had scaled up campaign to create awareness on the pandemic.
Our Correspondent reports that the Kano State Ministry of Health confirmed 923 COVID-19 cases and 751 active cases.
The ministry said 134 were discharged and the state recorded 38 deaths, as at May 26.
May 27, 2020
COVID-19: Oyo state records 6 new cases, 2 deaths
Oyo State has recorded six new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the latest figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have revealed.
In the figures released on Tuesday night, the six cases in Oyo were among the new 276 recorded in 15 states.
Our Correspondent reports that Gov. Seyi Makinde, in his tweeter handle, on Tuesday night, confirmed that the new cases had brought the number recorded in the state to 250.
“Sadly two of the six positive cases confirmed today had already passed away and the total number of deaths is six,” he tweeted.
Makinde, however, announced that 17 confirmed COVID-19 patients were discharged on Tuesday, after receiving their second negative test results, bringing the number of discharged cases in the state to 75.
The governor further urged residents with any COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, fever, tiredness, body ache and shortness of breath, to call emergency operations centre.
According to him, the numbers to call are 08095394000, 08095863000, 08078288999 and 08078288800.
May 27, 2020
(BREAKING) Kogi West: Tribunal reserves judgement on Melaye’s petition over Adeyemi’s victory
…Dino Petition Is Unreliable, Forbidden – Adeyemi
The Kogi State National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal on Tuesday, reserved judgment on the petition filed by Dino Melaye over the Kogi west senatorial rerun election.
Melaye is challenging the declaration of Senator Smart Adeyemi as the winner of the election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeyemi as the winner of the November 16/30, 2019 Senatorial rerun election following which Melaye approached the election tribunal to challenge the results of the election.
The three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Sambo, however, reserved the judgement after the parties had adopted their final written addresses.
Adopting the address, Prof Egbewole asked the court to grants his prayers and declare Melaye as winner based on the alleged evidence that the petitioners had the majority of lawful vote with 46,649 votes against INEC and APC which hold 43,543 votes. Prof. Egbewole, however, said though the figure was different from the one they pleaded in court against INEC, but submitted that their prayers should still be considered.
Barr. Chris Alashe, counsel to 1st respondents (INEC) asked the court to dismiss the case in ‘adumbration”, stating there was no evidence to the figure brought by the Petitioner, hence, the case be dismissed in its entirety.
Counsel to Senator Smart Adeyemi who was the second respondents, Dr. Otitoju Oladapo, urged the tribunal to look into his objections to the Petitioner’s prayer contained in his final written addresses, “We seek to adopt that your Lordships to dismiss this petition.
We also filed on the points of law to tendering of documents, urged you to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and substance.
“The petitioner failed to proof the petition by bringing credible witness to proof its case. When a witness lies before the court it becomes unreliable and the evidence the counsel to the petitioners brought this morning emanated from his table and it cannot stand as evidence before your Lordships.
The vote was not born in this process and therefore it cannot be giving a serious backing because it is forbidding.
“I urge your Lordships to discountenance the paragraph (3.00-5.0 ) it amounts to reargument which the court forbid. Having satisfied the law the 2nd respondents was declared the winner and it has not been disproved by any witness.
On this, I pray the Lordships to dismiss the petition.” Barr. M Y. Abdulahi, who is the 3rd respondents’ counsel, (APC) said the tribunal should not only dismiss the petition but cost should be awarded in their favour, “As the figure the petitioner brought to the court was not pleaded and it was manipulated by the counsel to the petitioner. We urge your Lordships to dismiss this case in entirety”.
The tribunal, after listening to the adopted final briefs of arguments, reserved judgement, saying counsels involved will be communicated.
May 26, 2020
Ooni celebrates Aregbesola at 63, describes him as epitome of loyalty
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has congratulated the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on his 63rd birthday, describing him as an epitome of loyalty.
This is contained in a statement by his Director of Media &Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, which was obtained by Our Correspondent, on Monday in Ile-Ife.
Ooni said that Aregbesola is worthy of celebrations, saying that he started with student’s right activism over 40 years ago.
“As a proponent of democratic rule, you in the 90s participated in the several pro-June 12 struggles, which led to the enthronement of civil rule in 1999.
“You have since 1999 lived for the people through your sterling public service performances, first as Commissioner For Works and Infrastructure in Lagos state from 1999 to 2006.
“Followed by your emergence as Governor of Osun from 2010 to 2018 and your current position as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Interior.
“Through which you oversee very sensitive sections of Nigeria’s internal security like Immigration, Civil Defense, Fire service, Correctional service among other responsibilities.
“RAUF, you are indeed a great descendant of Oduduwa and a Nigerian patriot with incorruptible Pan Africanism for which you are always worthy to be celebrated.
“You are an Omoluwabi per excellence, a down-to-earth grassroots politician with incredibly huge followership, a great promoter of our cultural values and heritage, an icon of people oriented public service and an epitome of loyalty.” Ooni said.
The royal father, who doubles as Council of Obas and Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN), prayed for good heath and longevity for Aregbesola who is the immediate past governor of Osun.
“My dear Ogbeni, may the Almighty Olodumare keep, upholding your entire household as you gloriously clock 63 today.
“We also pray the rest of your journey on this earth shall be characterized by sound health, meaningful long life and immeasurable prosperity,” Ooni prayed.
May 26, 2020
Oyo COVID-19 cases rise to 244 as 4 more persons test positive
Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on Tuesday rose to 244 in Oyo State as four persons tested positive for the disease, the latest figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.
According to the figures released on Monday night, the four cases in Oyo were among the new 229 recorded in 15 states.
Our Correspondent reports that residents of the state are jittery over the daily increase in the number of people who test positive to COVID-19.
A check conducted by Our Correspondent indicate that not many residents use face mask and respect social/physical distancing in public places, especially in markets and parks.
Our Correspondent monitoring the development in Ibadan also reports that fewer commercial drivers, tricycle and Okada operators obey the directive as regards number of passengers to carry.
Visits to some motor parks at Iwo road and new Ife road also showed that interstate movement is still ongoing in breach of the restriction order.
Security operatives appeared to be overwhelmed while enforcing the orders to make the erring drivers and commuters comply with the rules.
Some residents called on the state government to scale up public awareness on COVID-19 prevention protocol, while urging security agencies to ensure total compliance.
May 26, 2020
BREAKING: Fire guts Ogbogonogo market, Asaba
ASABA – AN early morning inferno has engulfed the popular Ogbogonogo market, Asaba, Delta State capital, destroying buildings and goods worth millions of naira.
Though the cause of the fire is unknown as at press time, sources said it could have resulted from a power surge.
Details coming soon:
May 26, 2020
BREAKING: NANNM Orders Members In JUTH To Sit At Home Over Alleged Negligence Of Welfare
Nurses and midwives under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, in the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH who are working in the institution’s isolation centre has ordered a sit at home for its members saying the order was necessary due to negligence of their welfare by relevant stakeholders.
The Chairman of the JUTH chapter of the Association, Mrs. Mercy Lenka at a peaceful protest on Monday at JUTH in Jos, said the order was necessary, as their members were risking their lives working under stringent conditions in the center, stressing that there was no special room created for suspected cases at the hospital but only a screen demarcation with a clothing material for suspected cases at the casualty unit, hence their members and other patients were at risk of getting infected with the disease at the unit.
Her words, “Particularly why we are taking this action is because, a patient was managed in the ward and it turned out that he became a suspected patient and the result turned out to be positive, all the people who nursed this patient were tested because of the exposure and then a nurse working at the centre have tested positive.
We raised an eyebrow when we saw the temporary arrangement made by the hospital for suspected cases of just a cloth demarcation at the casualty unit. “We also called attention of the infectious unit of the hospital, but they said the patients would not be kept for up to two hours there for their samples to be taken. it would interest you to know that a patient has been there since Friday, while a patient was brought last night presenting classical symptoms of COVID-19 of which his sample is yet to be taken, this is a risk to other patients at that unit and the nurses there who do not have Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs.”
She added that nurses at the centre would only return to duty if they were provided with accommodation, incentives and hazard allowances, while threatening that failure to provide a special room for suspected cases awaiting results may warrant a total strike of nurses in the hospital.
“Nurses at the centre must be tested before they resume as some may be positive and still going back to risk their families which is in irony of our advocacy against community transmission. Even if the federal government has not implemented the hazard provisions, the state task force should handle this matter,” she noted.
However, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Lar, said he was unaware of the development, but would get details from the Chief Medical Officer of JUTH.
The Public Relations Officer of JUTH, Mrs. Bridget Omini faulted the action of the nurses stressing that coming on a public holiday, it shows the nurses were up to what the hospital has no idea about. According to her, “The nurses took a wrong step; to do a thing like that, you inform the Management.
There was no notification to Management to relay their concerns that this is what we see, can you give us an explanation? There was nothing like that. Besides, that Monday was a public holiday, can anything be done on a public holiday? They went ahead and pull the nurses out of the isolation center which is wrong.
These on essential services were supposed to be on duty. “Glass cubicles are used as demarcation, it is been a while I entered the isolation ward, to get more details, the CMD will be in the better position to speak.” At the time of this report, the CMD, Dr. Edmund Banwat did not pick his call nor reply to a text message sent to his confirmed phone number.
May 26, 2020
Kebbi receives additional 83 repatriated ‘Almajiri’ from Kano
The Kebbi State Government says it has received 83 additional Almajiri (Qu’anic education pupils) repatriated from Kano State.
The development was made known in a statement signed by Malam Yahaya Sarki, the Special Adviser to Gov. Atiku Bagudu on Media, in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
IA copy of the made available to Our Correspondent said the children were received by the Chairman of the state’s Task Force on COVID-19, and also Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Jafar Mohammed, and his members on behalf of Bagudu.
“The children hail from seven local government areas of Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo, Dandi, Argungu, Maiyama, Jega and Yauri, while one of them was a citizen of neighbouring Niger Republic.
“All the children were handed over to the Chairmen of their respective local governments, while the child from Niger Republic would be taken back to his country through the protocols laid down by the Federal Government,” the statement said.
“We laud the Kano State Government for earlier testing and isolating the children at the Isolation Centre in Kano.
“I am happy all the children had been declared coronavirus disease-free, as they had tested negative to it.
“They were, therefore, ready to be reunited with their families as well as the general society.
“Our top most priority now is the continuation of both their Qur’anic and Western education, but with their own biological parents.
“We pledge the state government’s commitment to fully protect all the fundamental human rights of the children,” the statement quoted the commissioner as saying.
Daybreak recalls that Gov. Atiku Bagudu had earlier personally received 61 Almajiri children repatriated to the state by the Kano government on 22 May.
May 26, 2020
COVID-19: LUTH Volunteers did not shut operations, says Medical Advisory Committee
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, has refuted an online publication that its volunteers shut operations over their unpaid emoluments
Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) made the refutal in an interview with Our Corespondent in Lagos on Tuesday.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all volunteers and LUTH workers working at our Isolation wards have not shut down operations and have no intention to do so.
“They are very much aware of the importance of the services they are rendering to the country, Lagos state and humanity in general.
“They have been assured by the PTF on COVID-19, Minister of Health and LUTH Management that their emoluments will be paid in due course as promised by the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government delegation led by the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, (SAN) came to LUTH to deliver a solidarity message from President Muhammadu Buhari on May 23.
“The Minister along with the President of NMA and other HCW unions/associations assured the frontline workers, who were physically present at the briefing on the update on the payment of their allowances.
“This is the true situation of things at LUTH,” Adeyemo said.
He urged the media to be their partner in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic so that the war would be won together.
May 26, 2020