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Commission calls for inclusion of vulnerable people in Covid-19 recovery plan

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria says all forms of discrimination and inequalities against Persons with disabilities must be prevented in order to build an inclusive society.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, stated this at the a Media Parley in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital on the occasion of the 2020 International Day of Persons with Disability.

” I therefore call on governments and stakeholders at all levels to include Persons with disabilities in their Covid-19 recovery plan” he said.

Mr Ojukwu said; “Covid-19 lockdown had greater impact on the work, income and livelihood of persons with disability.” 

He was represented by the Director, Women, Children and other Vulnerable Group, Mr. Harry Obe at the event.

The President, Initiative for Disabilities, Inclusion and Diversity, a nongovernmental Organisation, Mrs Bilkisu Zango noted that Persons with disabilities face environmental and social barriers despite their huge numbers in the society.

She added that government, religious institutions, the media and others had a role to play in the advocacy.

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Senate summons Covid-19 Task Force on vaccine administration

Confidence Okwuchi
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By Edwin Akwueh, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate has resolved to summon the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, the Health and Finance Ministers, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and other key government agencies to brief it on plans to take delivery and administer the Covid-19 vaccine to Nigerians.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Kwara Central Senator, Ibrahim Oloriegbe on Thursday.

Senator Oloriegbe lamented that despite the breakthrough in Covid-19 vaccine research globally, the Nigerian  government was yet to put into motion plans for procurement and administering of the vaccines.

Also captured in the motion was the need for government to ensure adequate funding for procurement and administering of the vaccine.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said owing to progress made on the 2021 budget, there would be need for a supplementary budget to procure the vaccines, emphasising the need for transparency in the process.

Senate however directed the committees on health and primary healthcare to follow up on the resolutions and report back to the Senate in two weeks.

It would be recalled that in recent weeks, major pharmaceutical companies have announced significant breakthroughs in Covid-19 vaccine research, with assurance of their safety on humans.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Nigeria to scale up rapid testing of Mycotoxin

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Nigerian government says it will continue to advocate for an effective Mycotoxin Testing Programme using rapid testing technology, with potential for scaling up to laboratory-based methods.

The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood stated this in Abuja Nigeria’s capital, during a workshop on the prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and environment.

Dr Mahmood said the common occurrence and extensive growth of molds in homes, schools, offices and especially on food and food products posed great risk to human survival.

He stated that “We must, as a Country be worried about the risk of environmental exposures experienced by those that consume or are exposed to food and food products contaminated with mycotoxins.”

“The ingestion of mycotoxin through food and inhalation of Mycotoxins and other contaminants in the air might result in lung damage, allergic reactions such as irritation in the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, and sometimes headaches. Exposure to all these contaminants could have harmful effects on vital organs and consequently on the overall human health and productivity,” the Minister explained.

Prioritising Mycotoxin control
Dr Mahmoud also re-affirmed the need to prioritise Mycotoxin control through the use of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, HACCP.

He disclosed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with Agriculture and Health Sectors in addressing issues of
Mycotoxin-contaminated commodities and fostering the objectives of ONE HEALTH.

Mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus and it is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation asserts that more than one-quarter of the World’s Agricultural Produce is contaminated with Mycotoxins.

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Presidential Support Committee to hold national conference

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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As part of effort to strengthen the peace and unity that brought Nigeria as one country, the Presidential Support Committee (PSC) has concluded plan to hold a National Conference this Month with a view to showcasing the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Administration.

The Chairman of the committee Rt. Hon Gideon Sammani disclosed this to journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with the members of the inauguration committee in Abuja.

He said the conference with the theme ’’Justice, Peace and Unity’’ is aimed at bringing Nigerians together and presenting the achievement of President Buhari’s led administration and youth awareness on Social Investment programmes initiated by the government for the benefit of youth, women and most vulnerable Nigerians.

Mr Sammani added that the conference will also examine the current security situation and other important national issues and suggest ways of finding lasting solution to the challenges facing the country.

The Coordinator of the conference, Engr. Kailani Mohammed said that the conference would give the details expenditures by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari within six years on social investment programmes, agricultural scheme and security.

He added that, plans were underway organised programmes that would advise the President on the need to create more jobs for youths and ways of curving the security challenges in the country.

On his part, the Chairman of the inauguration committee, Dr Yakubu Ogolawo hinted that, they were preparing for a National Conference as panacea for Justice, Peace and Unity of the country, so as to bring Nigerians together, to see how much the PSC had worked to realize the aim and objectives of All Progressive Congress (APC) via the motto of the party.
The strategic and planning committee of the group, who double as the youth leader, Mr Felix Kowa, urged the youths to be law abiding and use the opportunity of the upcoming conference to preach the message of peace and unity in the country.
The National conference is scheduled to hold in the second week of December, 2020.

Nigeria to scale up Mycotoxin testing 

Confidence Okwuchi
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0

By Zeniat Abubakar Abuja

The Nigerian government says it will continue to advocate for an effective Mycotoxin Testing Programme using rapid testing technology, with potential for scaling up to laboratory-based methods.

The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood stated this in Abuja Nigeria’s capital, during a workshop on the prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and environment.

He said the common occurrence and extensive growth of moulds in homes, schools, offices and especially on food and food products poses great risk to human survival.

According to the Minister, “We must, as a Country, be worried about the risk of environmental exposures experienced by those that consume or are exposed to food and food products contaminated with mycotoxins.”

 “The ingestion of mycotoxin through food and inhalation of mycotoxins and other contaminants in the air might result in lung damage, allergic reactions such as irritation in the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, and sometimes headaches. Exposure to all these contaminants could have harmful effects on vital organs and consequently on the overall human health and productivity.” the Minister explained.

Prioritise Mycotoxin control
Dr Mahmoud also re-affirmed the need to prioritise mycotoxin control through the use of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, HACCP.

He said the ministry was ready to collaborate with Agriculture and Health Sectors in addressing issues of Mycotoxin-contaminated commodities and fostering the objectives of ONE HEALTH.

Mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus and it is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals.

The Food and Agriculture Organization asserts that more than one-quarter of the World’s Agricultural Produce is contaminated with Mycotoxins.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Cross River Governor launches operation to tackle insecurity

Confidence Okwuchi
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By Eme Offiong, Calabar

A special task force designed to tackle insecurity as the festive season approaches has been launched in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

The task force, code named ‘Operation Akpakwu’, draws personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Defence.

AKPAKWU in the Bete dialect of the Obudu people of northern Cross River refers to a spiky-stinging plant commonly known as velvet beans or the devil’s beans or like the Yoruba people of western Nigeria would call it, Werepe.

Governor Ben Ayade, who was accompanied by service chiefs in the state, handed over more than one hundred patrol vehicles fitted with cutting edge communication gadgets, drones and ten BMW power bikes to the task force.

Returning the peace

Ayade condemned the rising spate of kidnappings and crimes across the state and urged the joint task force to return Cross River to the paradise it once was.

“Cross River State statistically remains the safest state in Nigeria. However, as a state we are used to the culture of zero kidnapping, zero cultism and zero robbery,” Ayade stated.

According to the governor, “in recent past, there has been an increase in the number of crimes within the Niger Delta and the country as a whole arising from the difficulty orchestrated by the ENDSARS protest as well as Covid19, which brought general poverty and hardship on the world”.

The governor warned perpetrators of crimes in the state to relocate immediately as Cross River would no longer be a haven for their kind.

He charged the task force: “The instruction is very clear from Abuja, ‘you must deal decisively with any form of criminality, you must deal decisively with any form of banditry, cultism, kidnapping of any form’. Let this, therefore, be a strong message to everyone that as far as you are resident in Cross River State, today is the end of that criminality”.

“This is the end of armed robbery; banditry must end today. We have received very clear instructions from the Nigerian government. I have supported and stand strong with all our military men and the police that they must comply with the obligations – that Cross River State must be made safe,” the governor said.

To further strengthen security, the governor urged every landlord in the state to account for all tenants as part of the regulations, which was signed into law under the Homeland security.

He said that the task force has been mandated to demolish any property occupied or belonging to kidnappers and robbers.

Extend amnesty
Ayade reiterated the need for the Nigerian government to extend the Niger Delta amnesty programme to members of the Bakassi Strike Force since the group voluntarily surrendering their arms.

“We want to ask the federal government to tell us why the Bakassi Strike Force has not been given proper restitution, rehabilitation and reintegration as they have done in other states,” he lamented.

 “I plead in the name of God that the Bakassi strike force should be admitted into amnesty so that they can have their due and be properly trained,  so they can add value to society”.

Speaking on behalf of the service commanders, the Cross River Police Commissioner, Abdulkadir Jimoh commended Ayade for his proactive steps in crime fighting and pledged the commitment of security agencies to rid the state off criminals.

Confidence Okwuchi

Lagos to increase fish production, host Seafood festival

Confidence Okwuchi
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0

By Luqmon Balogun, Lagos

The Lagos State government says arrangements have been concluded to host this year’s Seafood festival.

The State also assured that it’s fish production capacity would be increased with additional 60,000 metric tons in the coming year.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya gave this indication at a media briefing to announce the forthcoming Lagos Seafood Festival which is slated for Sunday, 13th December, 2020 at the Muri Okunola Park, Lagos.

Olusanya who acknowledged the huge deficit in the fish production in the State, said the move would bridge the gap in that regard, cater for the needs of fish demands in the State, as well as provide more job opportunities in the aquaculture value chain.

She explained that the state currently produces less tons of fish annually while the current demand is higher than the available productions.

She said that the 60,000 metric tons of fish would include both fingerlings and table size production to what already exist in Lagos.

“The target in terms of production currently is to increase our production. The demand for fish in Lagos is well over 400,000 metric tonnes and what we are producing as a State is roughly at about 174,000 metric tonnes so there is a huge deficit of about 226,000 metric tonnes.

“In terms of the target, we just ended our five-year master plan roadmap strategy document which will be unveiled by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the plan is to cover the deficit by a certain percentage.

“Already, the Lagos Aquaculture Center for Excellence which was mentioned during Mr Governor’s budget reading states that for the project alone, we should be adding over 60,000 metric tonnes of fish, both fingerlings and table size production to what exists already in Lagos.

“Outside of what we want to do with our fisher-folks in terms of them increasing production and aquaculture producers as well in terms of the support, we will like to give to them and create additional farm estates,” she explained.

LACE project
Olusanya noted that with additional production from the Lagos Aquaculture Centre (LACE), the state would produce over 60,000 metric tons of fish over a period of time which would be produced by registered fishermen, artisanal fishermen and the Lagos aquaculture centre.

According to her, for the LACE alone, it should be over 60,000 metric ton. That is obviously over a two to three-year period for the project to fully come to life. Within the first year, we should be able to get 20,000 metric tonnes.

“From our fishermen and those in the aquaculture subsector, we should be able to get a minimum of 40,000 metric tonnes extra, so we are looking towards an additional 60,000 metric tonnes for 2021 and subsequent years.”

 

More Collaborations
The Commissioner maintained that the state had commenced the registration of fishermen in the five division of the state to capture the youths, that the target was to register over 10,000 in the process.

She said: “As we speak, we have partnered with some Private Financial Institutions and right now registrations are ongoing in some fishing locations in the five divisions of the State such as Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Lagos Island and Ikeja.

“Right now, the private financial institution is registering youths in Ikeja, we are concentrating on the youth because they will take over from the aging fisher-folks who don’t have records and details that we can trace back to them in terms of capturing and empowerment,” Olusanya noted.

Seafood Festival
The Commissioner pointed out that this year edition of the Seafood Festival focuses on the need to harness the seafood potentials of the State in a post COVID-19 economy, adding that a robust relationships for the overall development of the seafood subsector will be initiated with fisher-folks for regular supply of fish and fisheries products during and after the Festival.

“Lagos State is a cosmopolitan City that is synonymous with seafood production. This fact is reinforced by the depiction of fishing in the State’s Coat of Arms. This activity is an old time preoccupation of Lagosians especially those living around the coastal, estuarine and riverine areas of the State.

“A total of 8,844 registered fishermen in 164 Fishermen Cooperative Societies live in 325 fishing communities across the State. Also 3,600 fish farmers, 26,500 processors have been identified in the Value Chain. The State is also home to 60 per cent of the nation’s commercial activities mixed with fashion and entertainment.

“The Lagos Seafood Festival provides the nexus for the celebration of the State’s aquacultural heritage in an atmosphere of commerce and entertainment,” the Commissioner noted.

Aims of festival
Olusanya said that the celebration of the Lagos Seafood Festival started in 2012 with the aim of showcasing Lagos aquaculture and seafood potentials to the local and international markets as well as stimulate investors’ interest in the fisheries business.

She said it was projected that this year’s festival would create 150 direct and indirect job opportunities as a result of increased marketing opportunities, setup and dismantling of equipment for the festival, technicians to operate equipment and other hands engaged to provide support services.

According to her, about 30 fishermen groups, processors and 10 vendors are expected to take part in the festival in compliance with the social distancing protocols.

Confidence Okwuchi

Kaduna government seals up unregistered clinic

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Kaduna State Ministry for Health has ordered the closure of a faith foundation clinic, a private clinic situated at Karshe Daddu of Jaba Local government Area in the State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Baloni gave the order for the closure after visiting the clinic in karshe Daddu in Kaduna.

She said the closure was with immediate effect based on the law of Establishment, Registration, Licensing, Operation and monitoring of Health facilities in the State.

She explained that it was the fourth time the team was visiting the clinic in karshe Daddu without seeing the Doctor.

He was accused of also failing to visit the Ministry as instructed for further discussion.

Balon said her Ministry contacted it’s counterpart, the Ministry of Security and Home Affairs which in turn directed the Local Government Chairman to persuade the Doctor to meet with them but all proved abortive.

Baloni said the committee on Private Health Establishment, CPHE also visited the clinic in June, 2019 following a report from people of the community about the poor State of the clinic.

The Commissioner discovered that the clinic was not registered as required by law and the qualification of the Medical Doctor could not be authenticated.

“The clinic is operating in an unethical environment and it was confirmed that the doctor didn’t go through a formal medical school,” she said.

According to her, with all the directives given to the clinic after the visit, the owner refused to comply.

“On August 26, 2020, another team from the CPHE visited the clinic and the aim of the visit was to close down the facility as directed by the Executive Council of Kaduna State but they were not granted access to the building and the owner could not be contacted”.

“The owner of the clinic later sent a letter written on September 7, 2020 titled ‘Application for opening of new health facilities at Karshe Jaba Local government’ but did not do a follow-up on the letter to formalise his intention to open a health facility”.

She said that, another team of the CPHE visited the clinic as a follow-up to his letter of Sept.17 but he was not around but they gained access to the building except the operating theater.

She adds that the unethical practice and the conditions of the 18 patients found in the hospital undergoing surgeries of various types cannot be accepted anywhere in the world.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

Kaduna assembly passes over N246 Billion as 2021 budget

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Kaduna State House of Assembly has on Thursday, passed the sum of over N246.6 billion into law.

The law makers approved the sum of over N82.7 billion as recurrent expenditure and over N164.6 billion as capital expenditure which amounts to over N246.6 billion.

The sitting which was presided over by the speaker kaduna state house of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Zailani accepted the report presented by the committee on budget appropriation and implementation before it was passed into law.

Draft Budget
It will be recalled that the state Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai had on 6th October presented the sum of over N237.52 billion as a draft budget for 2021.

The chairman house committee on appropriation and implementation, Hon. Ahmad Muhammad shokali of Zaria Kewaye constituency said the budget was increased with the sum of over N9 billion.

He explained that the increment was neccessary so as to accommodate requests made by most of the ministries, departments and agencies which was tabled before the house and as well will enable them carry out their activities effectively.

The lawmaker however assured the citizens of the state that the house would embark on oversight in other to ensure effective utilisation of the resources appropriated so that dividend of democracy is enjoyed by all.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna assembly has approved the revised budget of the 23 local government of the state.

The chairman of the committee on appropriation and implementation, Hon. Ahmad Muhammad of Zaria Kewaye constituency said the revision was necessary as a result of COVID-19 and increment in price of crude oil as well as reduction in value of additional tax.

The budget which was at the sum of N26.94 billion as earlier approved for the 23 local government in the state was revised to the sum of N7.5 billion.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

Workers embark on prayers in Niger state

Lateefat Ibrahim
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0

 

Workers in Niger State North Central Nigeria, have organised a special prayer on issues regarding the decision by the state government to slash salaries of state government Workers.

Hundreds of workers led by the Local Chapter Of  the Nigerian Labour Congress in Niger State, held the prayers session by both Muslim and Christian faithfuls at the premises of the labour office in Minna the State Capital on Thursday .

The Chairman of the NLC in the State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, stated that the prayers was organised for Allah’s intervention in the lingering crises with the state government on Workers welfare in the State.

Comrade Yunusa, further said , issues of reoccurrence of insecurity across the State was also part of the prayers submission.

A sacrificial lamb was later slaughtered a the end of the prayers session jointly organised by the local Chapters of NLC and TUC of Niger State in North central Nigeria.

State government workers in Niger State have embarked on indefinite strike after a failed agreement between the Labour Union and Officials of the State government on planned deduction of November and December 2020, Civil Servants Salaries in the State.

The Niger State Commissioner of Information and strategy, Mohammed Sani Idris, however pleaded with the Workers Union to embrace dialogue rather than embarking on the strike.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

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