Category: General

Stakeholders in Lagos State have appealed to government at all levels to collaborate fully with private health practitioners to make primary health care the bedrock of the healthcare delivery system.

The stakeholders, who made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, also said collaborative efforts were required to ensure affordable and attractive primary healthcare in the state.

NAN recalls that the state government recently restated its commitment to ensuring that the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) as the foundation of a vibrant healthcare system were functional.

According to the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the state government has invested time to conduct a needs assessment on the PHCs infrastructure to provide evidence-based information for improvement.

Abayomi noted that with more than 325 PHCs in Lagos state, the government recognised that functional PHCs were the foundation of a vibrant healthcare system.

He also acknowledged that at least 60 per cent of PHCs in the state are not in a very desirable state.

Abayomi added that the state has blueprints which would serve as the framework to transform all the PHCs.

“Construction will commence soon, and we believe that over the next three to four years, the PHCs will be transformed,’’ he said.

Similarly, the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, urged the three levels of government to collaborate fully with private health practitioners to further enhance the primary healthcare delivery system.

The National President of the association, Dr Kayode Adesola, who made the call in an interview with NAN in Lagos, noted that the partnership was critical to achieve universal health coverage and improved healthcare service delivery to citizens.

Adesola noted that most primary health centres in the country lacked critical equipment, poor facilities, shortage of skilled medical personnel, lack of power supply and ambulance services required to refer emergency cases to the state hospital, among others.

Adesola said the presence of private doctors was visible in all local government areas of the country.

He said they attended to over 70 per cent of the populace, noting that this should be leveraged upon by the government to bridge the gaps in the PHCs.

Adesola urged the Federal Government to prioritise the health sector, stressing that budget allocation to the sector should be increased to align with the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration to improve the sector.

Also, Alhaji Murisiku Akinsola, an activist, said an existing action plan of facilitating one PHC per ward across the country, should be backed by budgetary provision for such centres, from the local government.

Also, Mrs Toyosi Adeyemi, a trader at Igbogbo, Ikorodu, said shortage of health personnel, especially doctors and nurses, was a major reason many people prefer to visit the secondary and the tertiary healthcare system.

“Most PHCs in Lagos work eight hours per day for five working days in a week. Only a few have the capacity for 24/7 operation.

“Bayeku Primary Healthcare Centre has a spacious compound but houses two small buildings which are inadequate for the large number of patients that visit the facility.

“Recently, my neighbour was rushed there in the evening and was admitted to the centre.

“However, a few hours later, she was withdrawn from the centre and taken to a private hospital due to the deplorable condition of the health centre- no light, mosquito infested rooms and bushes overrun the facility.

“She said she felt unsafe and feared that her condition might worsen considering the environment.

“Most residents of Bayeku have shunned the centre. They visit Ikorodu General Hospital or the closest private hospital for care,’’ she said.

Adeyemi appealed to the Lagos State Government to ensure sustainable electrification and prioritise the upgrade of the centre to ensure access to affordable healthcare services for citizens.

In January, the state government, through the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, unveiled the upgrade of 20 PHCs in the five divisions of the state to enhance quality healthcare services.

The government said the move was to fulfil its promise of infrastructure upgrade in alignment with the THEMES agenda, which represents health and environment.

The government said the upgrade would provide a conducive environment for both the health workers and patients and enhance delivery of healthcare services to communities.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Lagos, A public affairs analyst, Mr Jerry Amao, says any erring Nigerian found guilty of negligence or economic sabotage, which could bring the country into disrepute, should be treated as criminal.

Amao said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

He also recommended that, henceforth, any government official found wanting in decision-making should be held responsible for any financial breach against the Nigerian government.

The consultant was reacting to the Oct. 23 victory by Nigeria, at a London High Court which set aside the arbitration award of January 2017 by PandID, a British Virgin Islands company against Nigeria.

He added that punitive action on any untoward act against the country should be countered with force.

According to him, those in position of responsibility and decision-making must, henceforth, be held liable for any misdemeanour and answerable for their actions.

‘’The tribunal identified several instances where key recommendations concerning the arbitration were not acted upon by the officers responsible, including Ministers of Justice and of Petroleum Resource.

‘’The court has come to Nigeria’s rescue this time, but it is clear from the judgement that if the heads of the relevant ministries had performed their duties effectively, this case might not have arisen at all,” Amao said.

The consultant opined that the court was ‘’very critical’’ of the Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement, (GSPA) to supply gas to a PandID project that was to be located in Calabar, Cross River State.

‘’One of the major lessons from the case is that the nation must ensure that contracts entered into by government are prepared by competent and experienced legal and other experts.

‘’The court was very critical of the GSPA and the obligations that Nigeria assumed under the contract,’’ the expert noted.

Recall that the country was triumphant in a London Court which set aside the arbitration award obtained in January 2017 by the British firm against Nigeria.

Originally, the award was about $6.6 billion but rose to about 11billion as of the date of the final judgement because of interest.

The PandID had instituted the suit against Nigeria before the arbitral tribunal, alleging a breach of agreement for the supply of gas to a project to be located in Nigeria’s Cross River State.

However, Nigeria was able to, successfully obtain leave of the London High Court in September 2020 to appeal against the tribunal award, the hearing which lasted eight weeks between January and March.(NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari (APC-Zamfara) on Saturday donated 40 android smartphones to All Progressives Congress (APC) social media handlers in the state.

Presenting the phones to the beneficiaries in Talata-Mafara at a one-day workshop for APC social media handlers, Yari urged them to promote peace building and political stability in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by Sen Yari’s New Media office.

The lawmaker represented by the Zonal Coordinator, APC Zamfara West Senatorial District Campaigns, Alhaji Sha’ayau Sarkin-Fawa, described the contributions of the social users in building the party in the state as successful.

“I am very delighted to be with you today, I appreciate your support and contributions for maintenance of peace and political stability in the state.

“This gesture is a recognition to your contributions in building the APC in the state.

“You know, social media handlers play a greater role information dissemination globally,” Yari said.

“I believe your support contributed immensely for the success of the APC in the state.

“Your activities are always promoting our great party, I want you to maintain the tempo in promoting peace building and stability.

“I therefore urge you to maintain your good efforts, you should always put nations’ interest first for peace sustainability in our dear country,” he explained.

In his remarks, the Director-General New Media to Sen. Yari, Almansur Almajir, said the workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of the participants.

Almajir commended Yari and Minister of State Defence and former Gov. Bello Matawalle for their support and cooperation in building the APC in the state.

“No fewer than 40 participants of thepis workshop were been drowned from the Six local government areas of Zamfara West Senatorial District,” he added.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman Zamfara APC social media crew, Muhammad Lawal and former Senior Special Assistant to Matawalle, Abdul Bala commended Yari for enhancing the capacity of social media handlers in the state.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has trained about 50 Nigerian Police officers to enhance the professionalism and ethical conduct of the Police Force.

Speaking at the training in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer, PPDC, Mr Jubril Shittu said that the training aimed to promote improvement in the justice system through training, capacity building, and information exchange.

Shittu said that “PPDC is not just engaging but also looking at improving case management and information management.

“PPDC is dedicated to enlightening Nigerian police officers on crucial legal frameworks which encompass the administration of criminal justice Act, the Police Act 2020, and the overarching Rule of Law.”

On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Anti Fraud, FCID, CP Akoh Gabriel, while thanking PPDC for the initiative, urged the participating officers to pay rapt attention so as to enhance their knowledge.

Gabriel said the training would help to improve the professionalism of the police as well as strengthen public trust in the Police.

According to him, the training will help for better understanding among the police and legal professionals to enhance the justice system.

“This training programme is an invaluable investment in the future of the Nigerian Police Force as it will help to promote the rule of law in Nigeria.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Public and Private Development Centre is a non-governmental organisation.

Through its ‘Access to Justice Programme’, the organization is committed to supporting the protection of human rights by ensuring easy and non-discriminatory access to courts of law and the transparency of judicial functionaries. (NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Barau Jibrin, has congratulated the Speaker of the Tanzanian Parliament, Rt. Hon. Tulia Ackson, on her election as the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Ackson was on Friday in Luanda Angola, elected as the 31st President of the global parliamentary body, making her the first female African to lead the union.

She defeated three other female African parliamentarians to emerge as president.

Barau, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ismail Mudashir, expressed optimism that Ackson would lead the body to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.

He also congratulated the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on his election into the Executive Committee of the IPU.

Jibrin described Akpabio’s election as a further confirmation of the importance of Nigeria within the comity of nations

” The election of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, into the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a further recognition of the importance of our country and her democracy within the comity of nations.

” I congratulate the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and indeed, all Nigerians for this feat as the National Assembly further engages in parliamentary diplomacy to achieve global peace and harmony,” he said.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Population Commission (NPC) with the support of the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF), has embarked on birth registration in Katsina State, targeting 797,209 children.

Mrs Ogbodo Adaku, UNICEF’s Focal Person disclosed this during the training of some ad-hoc registrants in Katsina on Saturday.

According to her, no fewer than 1,083 ad-hoc registrants were recruited to support in carrying out a massive birth registration drive across the 361 wards in the state.

She added that, “This massive birth registration drive is being organised in 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We are doing this because we want to register as many as 12 million children in Nigeria that are not visible. You and I know that once a child is not registered, by legal implication, that child is not visible, it does not exist.

“NPC having that mandate, we have to do everything to ensure that every child is registered, irrespective of their locality.”

According to her, even if it is the remotest part of the country, they have to ensure that the child is registered and issued a birth certificate, which means by legal implication, the child has been recognised.

“The child has been given an identity, and can comfortably say they are Nigerians, that’s the purpose of this massive registration drive with the support of UNICEF.

“We are here in Katsina to train the ad-hoc registrants. In the past, we were doing manual registration, but the world has gone digital.

“We want to ensure that vital statistics, which is the data generated from civic registration, is disseminated so that the government can use it for good governance and implement policies for economic development,” she said.

She pointed out that the NPC wants to have a format where it would generate statistics that can be applied with other government organisations, “That’s why we are transforming from manual to digital registration.”

According to Mrs Adaku, the ad-hoc registrants were recruited at ward level, saying that they are familiar with their community and they can help in the registration of children that are not registered at birth by the NPC.

“In Katsina, the target population of children that we are looking at registering during this birth registration drive is almost 800,000.

“And there are 361 wards in the state, in each ward, we recruited three registrants, making 1,083 registrants across the state to work within their wards.

“We are grassroot orientated organisation, and we work within the community, that’s the only way we can ensure that every child, whether born in the hospital, or at home is registered and given a birth certificate.

“In fact giving a legal identity. That’s the essence of this exercise we embarked with the support of UNICEF,” she revealed.

According to her, the NPC is working closely with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in terms of social mobilisation to inform people at the grassroots the importance of the exercise.

She added that all the necessary stakeholders were engaged in sensitising the public so that there will be no resistance. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Lagos, Oct. 28, 2023 (NAN) Abdulmumin Edidi, Representative, Nigerian Youth Parliament for Lagos Central Senatorial District, has advised the Federal Government to establish counseling units, specifically dedicated to drug abuse at primary healthcare centers.

Edidi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

He noted that the establishment of such units would assist the federal government in tackling the issue of drug abuse at the grassroots level.

According to him, these units will play a vital role in counseling individuals about the harmful effects of drug use on society and enlightening them on how to resist and prevent drug abuse.

He said it would also involve focusing on the grassroots level, particularly by educating parents.

Edidi noted that the counseling units would raise awareness and ensure that the message reaches the broader community.

“It is really important for the government to establish and strengthen these units at primary healthcare centres to ensure this menace is tackled properly.” he added.

Edidi recommended rehabilitating drug users instead of sentencing them to prison, saying imprisonment often worsen their situation.

He added that stiffer penalties should be handled out to drug traffickers, noting that such action would help in curbing the activities of traffickers.

“It is extremely important that when drug users are caught, they should be given the rehabilitation needed.

“Rehabilitation is needed in situations like that. It will change their orientation and mindset in the usage of drugs. This, in turn, will help them become better persons in the society.

“Dishing out prison sentences to them would only make them become worse. There is also a high chance of them mixing with the wrong crowd which would worsen their situation.

“Also, stiffer penalties like life imprisonment should be handled out to drug traffickers. It will serve as a stern warning to others and also discourage people from going into such harmful, inhumane and illegal business.” he explained.

Edidi also emphasised the potential role of technology in combating drug abuse, especially by incorporating advancing technologies and providing skill-building opportunities to the younger generation.

He, therefore, said that the country could effectively leverage technology as a tool to address drug abuse.

He recommended the implementation of a law mandating drug tests for individuals seeking political office as a proactive approach in tackling drug abuse across the country.

NAN reports that a grand finale for a debate among Junior and Senior Secondary Schools across Lagos Central Senatorial District will hold on Oct. 31.

The debate is advocacy programme on drug abuse amongst the students. Its goal is to establish drug free clubs in the schools which will serve as peer groups and safe spaces to curtail the issues of drug abuse in the schools. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigerian democracy has again shown its maturity, says a political support group based in the United Kingdom (UK), Bola Tinubu Support Organisation (BTSO-UK).

The group’s Director-General, Mr Ade Adeshina, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, while reacting to the judgement of the Supreme Court, affirming Mr Bola Tinubu as the duly elected president of Nigeria.

Adeshina noted that the process, starting from electioneering campaigns, proper elections and all through the judicial processes, demonstrated that Nigeria had come of age.

According to him, the Nigerian democratic experience has become the pride of Africa, particularly in the West Africa region.

“Nigeria is currently the world’s most populous black nation. The country is Africa’s biggest economy. And one of the world’s largest democracies.

“With the Supreme Court decision, Nigerians must not take for granted the country’s modest achievements,” Adeshina said.

He described the process, including the Supreme Court pronouncement, triumph for democracy and justice.

“A time to go back to the renew hope agenda to build the Nigeria of our dreams,” he added.

Adeshina said it was heartening to witness the democratic process in action, and validating the collective voice of the Nigerian people.

“With this affirmation, we can now move forward with renewed confidence in our chosen leader.

“President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law is an inspiration to us all.

“His dedication to the welfare of the nation and its citizens has not gone unnoticed. We look forward to a brighter future under his leadership,” he said.

Adeshina, however, cautioned those who might want to undermine the nation’s democratic process and sow discord to jettison such acts.

“It is time to accept the verdict and join hands with the majority. Let us focus on the task at hand; building a stronger, united Nigeria.

“For those whose pockets may be burning with ambitions of wealth, let us remind them that true wealth lies in the well-being of our fellow citizens.

“It’s time to embark on a journey of helping the needy and contributing to the prosperity of our great nation,” he said. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria