SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
Try "researchers"
Home Blog Page 2624

5G will positively impact Nigeria’s Digital Economy – NCC Chairman

Nnenna Okoronkwo
-
0

 

The Chairman Board of Commissioners, Nigerian Communications Commission,NCC
Professor. Adeolu Akande has stated that the full deployment of 5G technology in the country will have positive impact on the nation’s digital economy.

Speaking on in Abuja, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NCC and the the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, (NigComSat), on the full deployment of 5G, Profesdor Akande said, 5G will build on the successes of the previous generations of 2G, 3G and 4G and that spectrum plays a great role in the deployment of 5G.

“Spectrum plays a critical role in realising the full extent of these new capabilities. Thus, 5G’s full socio-economic impact is dependent on access to a variety of spectrum resources. These Spectrum will play a key role in meeting the demand for many enhanced mobile data services as well as new wireless broadband use cases such as remote object manipulation, industrial automation, virtual and augmented reality and next-generation connectivity for vehicles,” he said.

He emphasised that 5G will build on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speeds, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities noting that ” In doing so, it enables new use cases and applications that will positively impact different sectors and improve efforts towards achieving Digital Economies.”

The Chairman applauded the two agencies for their foresight in the early deployment of 5G in the country.

“We are glad that the Management of NigComSat and NCC have taken a bold step in the right direction to release contagious quantum of Spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for early deployment of 5G. This type of collaboration seeks to ensure synergy amongst agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy,” he said.

On his part,the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC,Professor Umar Danbatta, said the 3.4 GHz -3.9GHz are the best frequency allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

“Amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity. The C-band is most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70% of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band, thus the importance of this Spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria cannot be over emphasised.”

According to him, “The two agencies have been in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of Satellite service offering because end user terminal are cheaper there, while leaving the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz – 3.9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use. The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G Spectrum.”

He added that it would also go a long way in making positive impact on the Nigerian economy

“For optimal 5G service performance, an average of contiguous 100 MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an Operator. However in Nigeria, only 120 MHz of the band (3.4 – 3.52) GHz is available for mobile services while the remaining 680 MHz (3.52 – 4.2) GHz of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites,” he added.

He also used the opportunity to appreciate the Management of the NigComSat under the distinguished leadership of Dr. Abimbola Alale for demonstrating that the interest of our dear country is paramount to our organizational or personal interest.

In her response ,Director General, NigComSat, Dr. Abimbola Alale, appreciated all stakeholders that made the MoU a reality 5G adding saying she cannot thank them enough for their efforts.

5G Technology provides the platform for new and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to improve the way we live and work.

Nnenna.O

Malian woman gives birth to nine babies

Mosunmola Ore
-
0

 

 

Halima Cisse, a 25-year-old Malian woman has given birth to nine babies, two more than doctors had detected during scans.

Read Also: Minister raises alarm on fresh doctored videos to malign him

This was disclosed by West African country’s top health official, it was reported that Cisse gave birth to the babies by cesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care.

“The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister said in a statement.

Malian doctors, sent her to Morocco for the births because hospitals in Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries, are ill-equipped to provide adequate care for this extremely rare multiple pregnancy.

The private Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca, where she was treated, confirmed she gave birth there.

The clinic’s director, Youssef Alaoui  said they were not expecting nine babies.

Cisse gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks and is now in stable condition after heavy bleeding for which she was given a blood transfusion. The babies have been placed in incubators, Youssef Alaoui said.

 

e-NHIS: NIGCOMSAT delivers mobile biometric enrollment kits to NHIS

Mosunmola Ore
-
0

The operation of National Health Insurance Scheme using contemporary information and communication technology (ICT) equipment has received a significant boost with the delivery of 37 customised Mobile Biometric Enrollment kit and 100 identity card printers to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Read Also: NHIS plans massive rewards to enhance performance

The Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) presented the full complement of the devices to the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Prof Mohammed Sambo, in Abuja.

Delighted with the milestone, Prof Sambo said that the electronic platform will transform the entire operations of health insurance in the country from enrollment to access to care, adding that the device will enable the conduct of registration activities in rural areas and places where there is no electricity.

Tracing the history of the e-NHIS project, Sambo expressed gratitude to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for breathing life into the project and the minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire for his unflinching support which facilitated Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the project.

Explaining features of the device, Deputy Manager, NIGCOMSAT, Mr Akin Morakinyo said that the kit is ruggedized tamperproof and waterproof IP67 standard comprising a laptop, fingerprint scanner, signature pad, HD webcam, thermal printer and 45000mah backup battery which can last eight hours without charge, adding that the device can work online and offline while its accompanying identity card printer can produce 1000 cards per kit per day.

General Manager, Human Resources (NIGCOMSAT)Alh. Idris Adamu, who led the agency’s team of experts, further explained that the enrollment kit will enable NHIS fulfill its partnership agreement with the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on the compulsory National Identity Number (NIN), adding that the kit was custom-made for the Scheme.

Adamu further explained that in the event of the kit falling from a 10-feet height it will suffer no disrepair, adding that the device was carefully designed to withstand intense physical pressure.

The automation of NHIS services is to come on stream later on in the year.

Nigeria marks World Hand Hygiene Day

Kamila Bello
-
0

Nigerian has joined millions of people around the world to mark Global Hand Hygiene Day.

The purpose of the day is to mobilise citizens around the world on the  SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign which was launched in 2009.

The campaign aims to maintain the promotion, visibility and sustainability of hand hygiene in health care settings around the world.

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign is led by global advocacy efforts, the campaign now supports a social movement that helps to keep patients and health workers safe.

Since 2019, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme has led the country’s efforts to make hand

hygiene day activities a major national event in order to raise the consciousness of Nigerians on these efforts, and their role in saving lives.

This year, the global Hand Hygiene Day theme is “Achieving hand hygiene at the point of care,” and the slogan is “Seconds save lives – clean your hands.” 

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said that the NCDC recognises that the safety of health workers has to be at the forefront of Nigeria’s response strategy to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.

He said that the day was commemorated at a time the world is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic which has already claimed over 3 million lives.

The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, where an event to mark the World Hand Hygiene Day was held, Dr. Sa’ad Ahmed said that hand washing could help reduce the spread of disease.

“As simple as hand washing is , it actually save a lot of life. There is a circle of infection and and we need to break that circle through hand washing. Hand washing can save us a lot.” Dr Sa’ad said.

He also said that the at the point of care, most Health workers infect patients or get infected by patients, hence the need to promote hand hygiene.

In her welcome address, the Chairperson Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPCC), Dr Nkoli Uwazurike, noted that the the day is observed to make people aware of the importance of hand hygiene.

She said that hand hygiene could reduce major public health problem in Nigeria and has a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life.

In a message to mark the day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) calls on health care workers and facilities to achieve effective hand hygiene action at the point of care.

“The point of care refers to the place where three elements come together: the patient, the health care worker, and care or treatment involving contact with the patient or their surroundings,” it said.

The WHO slogan this year is ‘CLEAN HANDS SAVE LIVES’

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the risk of care-associated infections in low and middle income countries, particularly in patients admitted to intensive care units and in neonates.

The Nigeria sub-theme for Nigeria this year is “One Nation, One Plan: Turn Nigeria Orange.”

This recognises the efforts that have been made since the launch of the ‘Orange Network’  in 2019.

The Orange Network is a network of dedicated tertiary health facilities in Nigeria supported by NCDC, through the ‘Orange Project’ to become centers of excellence in infection prevention and control.

In line with activities to mark the 2021 World Hand Hygiene Day.

READ ALSO: Hygiene: Government inaugurates youth volunteer programme

Senate seeks probe of Police Commissioner over rights abuse

Nnenna Okoronkwo
-
0

 

Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called on the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to investigate Taraba State Police Commissioner over the alleged abuse of human rights of 14 people of Taraba South Senatorial District.

This follows the point of order raised on the floor of the senate by the Deputy Senate Minority Leader Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, over the allegations of Human right Abuses of the said persons.

Senator Bwacha explained that the 14 persons have been in detention beyond what the constitution stipulated even without trials.

 

Other Senators who contributed to debate on the motion, noted that the illegal detentions and abuse of power formed parts of the reasons some notable Nigerians are standing against State Police, emphasising the need for independence of judiciary as well as thorough investigations into the matter.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, called on the Inspector General of Police and the police service commission to investigate the matter and ensure that those in  police detention get justice.

In a related development, senators from Benue and Ebonyi states have called on the National boundary commission, to intensify on going efforts to resolve the lingering clashes in some communities of both states.

Senators Abba Moro and Sam Egwu who made the call on Wednesday while addressing Journalists, also condemned what they described as “political boundaries”, stressing that justice must be served over the land disputes so as to ensure lasting peace in Ebonyi & Benue states.

The Senators however assured their constituents, that nothing will be left undone to bring an end to the inter communal clashes which have consumed lives & destroyed properties of innocent rural dwellers.

 

 

 

 

Nnenna.O

Housing Scheme: Nasarawa government signs N6bn tripartite agreement

Nnenna Okoronkwo
-
0

 

Nasarawa State government has signed a tripartite agreement aimed at producing 2000 housing for low and medium-income workers in the state.

The tripartite agreement was signed at a ceremony at the Government House, in Lafia the State Capital.

The agreement which involves the Nasarawa State government, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and the Family Homes Fund, is aimed at the provision of 2000 housing for low and medium-income earners in the state, as well as associated financing required for the people to buy the houses on completion.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, described the event as not only another milestone but in line with the policy thrust of his administration, as enshrined in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), with housing as a key area of interest.

According to the governor, the signing of the agreement, will create wealth, boost economic activities in the state, create employment opportunities, while also providing houses for the less privileged, mostly workers earning less than N100, 000 monthly.

Governor Sule appreciated the FMBN for partnering with the Family Homes Fund, while also specifically thanking President Muhammadu Buhari, for initiating the idea, aimed at ensuring that less privileged members of the society acquire homes, towards addressing challenges of housing deficits in the country.

The governor noted that for a state like Nasarawa, opportunities for 20, 000 employment as stated by the Managing Director of the Family Homes Fund, is not a small achievement.

“If we can have 20, 000 of our graduates who are roaming the streets of Nasarawa State, we are going to create huge employment. This is one of my major motivations,” he stated.

Governor Sule added that his administration is aware that, with the high-cost building in the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State remains a frontline state when it comes to land acquisition.

The governor said that informed the decision to push the state forward, to see what will come to the state for the benefit of all the partners.

Engineer Sule assured that his administration will strictly monitor the project, towards ensuring that it is executed according to the terms of the agreement.

Also speaking, Managing Director of the Family Homes Fund, Femi Adewole, described the signing of the agreement as a landmark event, with his firm committing N6bn in executing the project.

Adewole explained that the project will among others, construct 2000 homes, including associated financing required for the people to buy their homes.

He added that the project will also create at least, 100, 000 jobs, both direct and indirect, at the construction sites, as well as through the multiplier effect downstream.

Adewole equally gave the assurance  that products to be used in the construction will be locally sourced.

He described the agreement signing, which is also a pilot project, as a novel approach to housing supply, by bringing all three critical elements of the housing value chain together under one roof.

“This will put an end to the failure of bedeviling housing projects in Nigeria. This is a solution that will not only bring a lot of reputation to Nasarawa State, but we expect using this success in Nasarawa, to replicate across many states,” he said.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa said the tripartite agreement will elevate the level of collaboration and partnership with the bank and Nasarawa State.

The FMBN MD, who was represented at the event by Oladapo Fakeye, Group Head Strategy, explained that the bank manages the Federal Housing Fund, created for all workers across the country both in public, private service, and even the self-employed, to contribute just 2.5 percent of their monthly salary, to benefit from a wide range of products, targeted at provision of housing or improving housing for Nigerian workers.

While expressing satisfaction with the NEDS, which has urban and sustainable housing as part of its major components, which is in line with the objectives of the FMBN, the MD said Nasarawa State is one of the frontline states partnering with the bank.

In a welcome address, Managing Director/CEO of Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASA), Barrister Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the Nasarawa housing programme is in fulfillment of Governor Abdullahi Sule administration’s fifth game-changer opportunity as enshrine in NEDS.

 

Nnenna.O

Power Sector Gets Cabinet’s Approval For Multi-Billion Naira Projects

Ime Njoku
-
0

 The Federal Executive Council has approved  six multi-billion-naira contracts for the power sector.

Minister of Power, Sale Mamman revealed this to State House Correspondents at the end of this week’s cabinet meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the contracts approved, include those for the procurement of transformers and vital spare parts for the maintenance of power transmission equipment.

He said: “The Federal Executive Council today approved six memos for the Ministry of Power. The first one is for the award of contract for design, manufacturing and supply of critical spare parts for transformers, in the sum of N298, 339, 887.04.

“The second one is for the award of contract for the procurement of 50 sets of 400 Ah battery banks, and 30 110-volt battery chargers for sub-station use by the Transmission Company of Nigeria in the sum of N644, 805, 953.10.

 “The third contract awarded was for the procurement of another 50 sets of 132KV Isolators for the Transmission Company in the sum of $840, 650 plus N53, 900, 000 and the fourth one is the award of a contract for the design, manufacturing and supply of 360/66 132 power transformers and accessories as well as 15 number of 500KV transformers for the Transmission Company of Nigeria in the sum of N1, 296, 953, 044. 55, with a delivery period of 12 months.

“The fifth one is for the award of contract for the design, supply and installation of Optical Ground Wire and Universal Optical Transportation Network System for some critical transmission lines, in the sum of $6, 800, 743.51  plus N668, 843, 634.74  and the last oner is the upward review of the contract sum for the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of 1×100 MVA 132/33KV power transformers at Ogba transmission substation Lagos in the sum of $648, 038.31 plus N48, 342, 524.18 with a delivery period of six months.”

Mamman said the procurements were geared towards the upgrading of the nation’s transmission system to the national grid, in order to have sufficient power supply to all parts of the country.

 

Ime N

Pep- Incredible four years for Man City

Tobi Sangotola
-
0

Pep Guardiola says reaching the Champions League final is the culmination of four ‘incredible’ years with Manchester City.

FCTA launches investigation into viral video on Maitama hospital

Kamila Bello
-
0
Authority of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it had commenced a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the truth about a viral video on the social media, purporting that an accident victim was rejected by Maitama District hospital.

 

It could be recall that a short video produced in hausa language, that went viral on the social media two days ago, suggesting that an accident victim was brought to the emergency unit of the hospital, but was rejected.

 

The Acting Secretary, FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Muhammed Kawu said that the investigation over the video was to ensure that no staff jeopardises the efforts of the administration towards umbellished health services delivery.

Kawu who was in the hospital to see the accident victim in question, identified as George Imohimi, and a resident of Mpape who hails from Edo state.

Imohimi is currently on admission in the hospital and is also said to be recuperating, but the administration has vowed that any staff found to have exhibited any form of negligence over the matter will be sanctioned in accordance with Civil Service rules.

Kawu reiterated the commitment of the administration towards efficient healthcare service, noting that all public hospitals in the territory are bound to accept and treat accident victims before any other protocols.

 

“FCTA is very concerned and the Minister has directed that I come here personally and observe the situation and also ensure that it is brought under control. 

“Investigation is ongoing,  we have seen the video  and we are investigating further. 

“The Administration wants to assure all Nigerians, particularly FCT residents is  that all public facilities are for the public  , every person has the right to go to any of this hospitals and must be attended to.

 

“This has been the policy and will continue to be so. The policy is that you take in accident victims and treat them before you look for police.

 

“We will let the public know what the issue is all about after the investigation. But now the patient is getting adequate attention. Any public servant that is found to have erred will be dealt according to civil service rules,” Kawu said.

 

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Imuentinyan Igbinovia, said that victim was actually taken into the emergency unit for proper attention, as against the message conveyed by the viral video.

 

Igbinovia,  however noted that the lady who brought the accident victim had expressed discontent over the delay in admiting the victim, but after explaining the situation to her, the disagreements with the emergency unit staff was resolved.

 

The CMD further clarified that despite the great influx of patients into the hospital on a daily basis, the hospital management has remained committed to excellent health care services to all residents.

 

He also confirmed that the patient in question is receiving the best medical treatment obtainable in the hospital, and has been recuperating very well.

 

Igbinovia said, “It was on Monday around 8am about an hour prior then some accident victims were rushed in and staff were seeing them and I joined them. About 30 minutes later another accident victim was rushed in and the staff also went to attend to the second set of victims. 

 

“Unfortunately there was ultercation between those that rushed the victims and the accident emergency staff, I was able to calm down the situation and also spoke to the lady who brought in the accident victim.

 

“Immediately after that a stretcher was brought and the victim was taken into the emergency unit. After the victim was admitted and stabilised I spoke with the Police Divisional Officer who was also around.
 
“The lady who brought in the victim thought that our responses would have been faster, I explained the situation to her. 

 

“To the best of our knowledge the matter has been settled.  The  victim is in the ward now receiving treatment and is getting better. To our surprise we saw the social media messages which we have taken in good faith.

 

“I want to assure the public that Maitama hospital is poised to take care of patients and from what you can see, there is a very large crowd that come here every day.”

 

 

 

READ  ALSO: FCTA rolls out free Health insurance coverage for vulnerable residents

Prominent pro-freedom Kashmir fighter, Ashraf Sehrai dies in jail

Bilkisu Halilu Pai
-
0

A prominent pro-freedom leader in Indian-administered Kashmir, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, has died inside a hospital in southern Jammu city, where he was in detention for the last year. He was 77.

An official from the Government Medical College hospital in Jammu said that the report for COVID-19 was negative but he had developed “respiratory stress”.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), an amalgam of pro-freedom groups in the region, accused authorities of not taking his health condition seriously.

“Despite repeated appeals to release political prisoners lodged in various jails on humanitarian grounds in view of the devastating Covid catastrophe, authorities are playing with their lives,” the statement said.

Sehrai was the president of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, a pro-freedom group in Kashmir that advocates the merger of Kashmir with neighbouring Pakistan.

He was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a law that allows detentions without trial for up to one year.

Sehrai was a long-time deputy of Syed Ali Geelani, one of the most influential Kashmir resistance leaders who has remained under house arrest for years.

Sehrai spent most of his life as a close aide of Geelani and their association dates back to the 1960s when they were part of Jamat-e-Islam, a local version of Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen or Muslim Brotherhood.

India jailed thousands of Kashmiris, including prominent resistance leaders, as part of its massive crackdown in the wake of the removal of the Himalayan region’s limited autonomy on August 5, 2019.

India’s only Muslim region is now directly ruled by the country’s home ministry.

India claims it conducted local body elections in the region but critics say the local bodies have no legislative powers.

Sehrai’s younger son Junaid Ashraf was the top commander of the Pakistani-based rebel outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen. Ashraf was killed in a gunfight in the main city of Srinagar in May 2019. Sehrai was detained and jailed a few months later.

Lodged inside Udhampur jail, 200km (124 miles) from his home, his family says they have not been able to see him for five months as the meetings in the jails were barred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His son Mujahid Sehrai said that the family was informed last evening about his father’s deteriorating health.

“We got a call that he is suffering from loose motion and has been shifted to hospital. I booked tickets and reached Jammu in the afternoon. Since then, I am waiting for the body and we have been told they have some formalities to complete. We have not been able to see his face,” he told Al Jazeera.

Mujahid said that his father suffered from multiple ailments including bronchitis and his conditions worsened in jail.

“We would send him medicines every month from home. We had also filed a medical petition in court and appealed that he be allowed to get the medical treatment, but to no avail,” he said.

Mujahid said that his father was allowed to make a call once a week but from the last two weeks they did not get any call.

“The last time when he spoke, he told us he was having pain in his body and was feeling weak. He was fasting and they were not getting proper food in the jail,” Mujahid said.

Last week, the wife of another jailed separatist leader Ayaz Akbar died of cancer at her home. But Akbar, according to his family, was not allowed a parole to attend her funeral.

With the second wave of the pandemic sweeping across India, the families of Kashmiri prisoners have been demanding that their kin lodged in jails in different parts of India be released on parole, fearing for their safety.

Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister of the region, has also demanded that political detainees should be immediately released.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA), a body of lawyers in the region, in a statement, termed it “custodial death” and demanded an independent probe into the cause of Sehrai’s death.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the JKHCBA said they had filed three applications before the court highlighting Sehrai’s serious heart ailments.

“Surprisingly, no orders were passed on the three applications,” the statement said.

Al jazeera

1...2,6232,6242,625...3,305Page 2,624 of 3,305

HEALTH

ENTERTAINMENT & TOURISM

WORLD

NEWS COMMENTARY

NEWS FEATURE

Voice Of Nigeria Mission is “Reflecting Nigerian and African perspectives in our broadcasts, winning and sustaining the attention, respect and goodwill of listeners worldwide, particularly Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora … making Nigeria’s voice to be heard more positively in the shaping of our world.”

More from CN

Contact

© Voice of Nigeria Broadcasting Service