By Ifeanyi Nwoko

In a bid to scale up availability of medical oxygen in Nigeria and better preserve COVID-19 vaccines, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on Tuesday launched a 2.3 million dollar project in Borno.

The project, which is funded by the government of Japan, implemented by UNOPS and supported by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) was officially launched on Tuesday by Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno.

At the event. which held physically in Abuja and virtually, Gov. Zulum commended the Japanese government for the support to Borno and the North East.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project, which has a delivery period of 12 months will directly benefit nine hospitals and 139 Primary Health Centres in Borno.

Giving insights into the project, the UNOPS office in Nigeria in a presentation, pointed out that the goal of the project was to strengthen healthcare provision and meet acceptable standards of medical care.

It said that the project aligned strongly with Japans diplomatic policies in Nigeria as well as the National Strategy for the scale up of Medical Oxygen in health facilities (2017 to 2022) and contribute to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the presentation, under the project, two medical oxygen plants will be constructed, one each in the State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri and the Biu General Hospital.

Also, 23 Primary healthcare centres will be equipped with Solar Direct Drive Vaccine Refrigerators

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Shinozawa Takayuki, who joined virtually declared the commitment of the Japanese government to the project.

In his remark, the United Nations Resident Commission, Edward Kaloon said that the plants were indeed necessary in view of the high demands for oxygen occasioned by COVID-19.

He said that COVID-19 and other respiratory related illnesses exposed systemic weakness in global health systems as health facilities were confronted with high risk of not having adequate supply of oxygen.

Statistics show that every year 4.2 million children suffer from severe pneumonia in lower and mid income countries including Nigeria.

Therefore, this investment is timely and highly needed, especially in Borno and other parts of North East.

The two oxygen plants which will be construction by UNOPS will complement all other interventions to greatly improve COVID-19 severe case management system, build resilience of the health system and improve emergency health delivery in the state.

Thus Borno state will be better equipped to treat children with respiratory illnesses and respond to COVID-19, he said.

He therefor said that the project would support the implementation of the National policy of Medical Oxygen and would contribute to saving the lives of patients in Nigeria including lives of up to 120,000 under-five children annually.

While calling for the protection of all who would be working on the project, Kaloon thanked the government of Japan for the support which they have given.

The UNOPS Director in Nigeria Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, stressed that oxygen was a life-saving medical gas which is used for the treating illnesses and meeting other health system needs.

She said that the project was timely as demand for oxygen was on the increase: There is an increasing demand for medical oxygen, therefore this project will scale up oxygen storage and expand vaccine storage capacity of health centres.

In UNOPS, we believe that we are well positioned to drive an extensive oxygen response and increasing the capacity of health facilities to meet the desperate need of oxygen therapy.

We will continue to work with key stakeholders in the implementation of this project and we look for additional engagement with state regulatory bodies, she said.

NAN reports that the project however does not cover distribution infrastructure to transport oxygen to other healthcare facilities and biomedical equipment such as cylinders, masks.

The project also does not cover distribution and installation of the solar refrigerators to the beneficiary healthcare facilities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

South Korea on Tuesday expressed strong regret over Japans decision to release contaminated water into the sea from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Tokyo announced earlier in the day that it plans to start releasing massive amounts of radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years.

Koo Yoon-cheol, head of South Koreas Office for Government Policy Coordination, gathered an emergency vice-ministerial meeting at 10 a.m. at the Seoul government complex to discuss Seouls position and measures on Japans announcement.

The government expresses strong regret over the Japanese governments decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, Koo said in news.

He added that the government would take every necessary measure in line with the principle of keeping the South Korean people safe from the contaminated water from the Fukushima plant.

Seoul strongly urged Tokyo to ensure the transparent disclosure and verification of information related to the overall treatment process of the contaminated water.

In regard to Tokyos latest decision, we will clearly deliver our peoples protest to the Japanese government. We will demand specific measures from Japan to ensure the safety of our people and prevent damage to the marine environment, Koo added.

Koo also said the government would refer its concerns to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and request the international community to objectively review safety issues related to the Fukushima water release.

Seoul also plans to strengthen radiation checks on imported foods and inspections of origins for food imports, Koo said.

In response to what appears to be Washingtons consent towards Tokyos decision, Koo said he believes that the U.S. State Departments statement leaned more towards emphasising the need for IAEA verification.

We have delivered our concerns to the U.S., but the U.S. may react that way since South Korea is a state neighbour (of Japan) and the U.S. is located for more distant (than South Korea), Koo said.

The U.S. State Department said on a website that Japan has been transparent about its decision on the Fukushima water release and that it appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards.

Tokyo had been widely expected to announce its plan to gradually release into the Pacific Ocean more than 1.2 million tons of radioactive water stored in tanks since the 2011 meltdowns following an earthquake and tsunami.

Japan argued that it was the most realistic and relatively harmless disposal method, but the plan had sparked strong opposition and worries among the public in both Korea and Japan.

In a virtual press briefing for local media in March, a Japanese government official said Tokyo cannot continue to delay the disposal of contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant due to tank storage limits.

Later in the day, Seouls foreign ministry called in Koichi Aiboshi, Japans top envoy to Seoul, to protest Tokyos decision to release the contaminated water from the wrecked nuclear power plant.

Political parties also unanimously denounced Tokyo and demanded that Japan immediately revoke its controversial decision.

The unilateral decision to release contaminated water into the ocean despite opposition from the international community is a shameless and selfish act, Choi Ji-eun, the ruling Democratic Partys spokesperson for international affairs, said.

Won Hee-ryong, the governor of South Koreas southern island of Jeju, also said he would call in Japans consul general for the island and form a contingency commission to deal with the water release with heads of local governments in the southeastern region.

Civic groups in South Korea also expressed resentment toward the Japanese government and pledged to do everything possible to prevent what they call nuclear terror.

The Japanese government said it will gradually release radioactive water after diluting it to a level that is harmless to the human body.

But diluting will not change the total amount of radioactive materials released into the sea, an alliance of 31 anti-nuclear and environmental civic groups said in a joint statement.

The groups warned that the release of Fukushima water would become an irreparable disaster for humans beyond the marine ecosystem. (Yonhap/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Wife of President of Liberia, Mrs Clar Weah, has urged long-lasting and meaningful solutions with actions to end all forms of violence against women and ensure their empowerment across all sectors.

Weah made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the ECOWAS Parliament delocalize meeting in Monrovia, Liberia with the theme Empowerment of Women in the ECOWAS region.

According to Weah, in spite of the much-improved awareness of womens worth in society, a lot of work remains undone to ensure women across the ECOWAS region are given the proper recognition.

She, however, noted that now was the time when collective efforts needed to be taken to find lasting solutions to issues that affected all women and not just women in politics or business but all women in the region.

The theme of Empowerment of Women in the ECOWAS region, speaks of coming together to agree on a common approach.

For ensuring that no girl or woman in our region feels abandoned or deprived of any opportunity by virtue of her gender.

There are so many issues that require our attention and to which our focus must be clear, determined and dedicated and to which we must collectively begin to findlasting and meaningful solutions.

The issues such as Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) harmful practices, female genital mutilation, child marriages and teenage pregnancy remain high across the region, while access to reproductive health is low.

Sadly, it must be said that even where there has been progress in peace-building and security across the Member States over the last decade, this has not been translated into actions to end violence against women and girls, Weah said.

Weah, however, noted that in Liberia, the George Weah led government had made commitments through several policies in tackling rape and other forms of violence toward women and girls.

She, however, urged participants at the Joint Committee meeting to engage in the meeting with all seriousness in ensuring issues were properly debated upon and come up with salient recommendations

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Sidie Tunis said that ECOWAS on its part had made a clear commitment to prioritise gender equality and womens empowerment in its framework of the regional integration process.

Tunis said that had become urgent to move from words to actions, stating that the ECOWAS Parliament had also shown several commitments to ensuring women empowerment in the ECOWAS region.

At the just concluded 2021 1Extra-Ordinary Session held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from March 29 to April 2, the ECOWAS Parliament considered and adopted its Strategic Plan for the fifth legislature.

This plan identified the enhancement of gender equality and womens empowerment as a major strategic are under the parliaments participation programme.

This, if pursued vigorously, will make the ECOWAS Parliament gender-responsive and I pledge to do my best to ensure the achievement of that feat within the period of my mandate.

All these reflect a political will clearly affirm by all on the need to improve the status of women in our States and to ensure equal opportunity for women and men, she said.

According to her, it is, however, clear that there isstill a range of institutional,economic,and socio-cultural barriers to womens empowerment.

Politically, women are still not involved in all the decisions that affect the future at all levels: local, national and regional.

This is simply because they are not significantly present in all the elected bodies and assemblies where these decisions are made.

Socially, womens fundamental rights are still being overlooked. In many of our countries, women are still unable to exercise their freedom.

Including the right to live without the fear of violence, the right to education, the right to family planning, the right to own land and the right to choose their destiny, Tunis said.

Tunis, however, urged collective efforts to implement already existing laws to ensure the empowerment of women in the region.

Source: NAN News

Okoye Kingsley

The Senate on Tuesday on resumption from its two weeks recess, adjourned plenary to April 14, over death of two members of the National Assembly.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Senate Leader, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (APC- Kebbi) and seconded by Minority Leader, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia).

The distinguished chamber and our distinguished colleagues, the passing of two members of the National Assembly, Mr Haruna Maitala, who until his demise represented Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency of Plateau and who died on April 2, in a motor accident.

The second loss we suffered was Mr Suleiman Aliyu Lere, representing Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, who died on April 6.

Mr President, distinguished colleagues, I rise in accordance with our tradition, to move two motions:

One for the suspension of all other items scheduled for consideration on the order paper today.

And also another motion for this distinguished chamber to observe one minute silence in honour of the departed, I so move, Yahaya said.

President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while putting the motion to a voice vote which was unanimously adopted, described the demise of the two lawmakers as another sad development for the national assembly.

The Senators thereafter, observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased before adjourning plenary to April 14. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government has tasked women accountants on financial transparency, as they carry out their accounting obligations.

Mrs Yemi Ayoola, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Finance, gave the advice while speaking with the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), on courtesy visit to the ministry.

In a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, Ayoola said that the women accountants needed to rise up to the challenges of financial mismanagement, recklessness and waste in public service, to save the nations economy from collapse.

She said that there was the need for women accountants to use their innate talents as mothers and the ethics of their profession to effect positive changes necessary for ethical rebirth and financial discipline in public service.

According to her, women accountants have a vital role to play in bringing back sanity, transparency, due process and financial discipline to public service, to pave way for more sustainable growth of the economy.

As a senior member of SWAN, l want to acknowledge your various contributions to the growth of our society.

Your association, despite being non-profit has done a lot in assisting the less privileged, giving voice to the voiceless, raising the hope of the hopeless and standing against all forms of abuses against women, she said.

Ayoola urged the body not to relent in waging war against domestic and sexual violence, drug abuse, banditry, kidnapping, youth restiveness and other social vices capable of undermining the nations development growth.

She said that the government was prioritising the capacity building of its professionals in the state public service, including members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Ayoola noted that efficient service delivery was hinged on the availability of a competent and well-trained workforce, who should always be there to drive various development initiatives of government.

Earlier, SWAN President, Mrs Felicia Bamigbose, said the visit was aimed at showing solidarity and identifying with the success made by the permanent secretary as one of their members.

Bamigbose said that it was a thing of joy for the association, seeing one of its members become permanent secretary and also reaching the pinnacle of the profession as well as occupying a position often dominated by men.

We are proud of you. We thank God for your elevation, while we pray for divine wisdom and favour that will make you excel in this new position, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, has called on the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (PTF) to provide befitting accommodation for the increasing number of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Baba made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, when a delegation from the PTF led by its Executive Secretary, Mr Ahmed Sokoto, paid him a courtesy visit.

The police boss called for urgent steps to renovate and build modern structures in Police barracks by the PTF.

He described PTF as an intervention fund established by the Federal Government to assist the Nigeria Police in the areas of logistics, welfare and training.

Baba said that the force was in dire need of accommodation, noting that the Nigeria Police was growing in strength but not having additional structures to meet the accommodation need of its increasing personnel.

If you go into our barracks, you will understand that the structures are in deplorable state and so, there is an urgent need in terms of renovation.

I want you to look at, not only renovating the existing structures but to build additional ones in view of the spaces available in the barracks.

It is always good to have barracks to enable us mobilise our workforce within the shortest possible time in emergency security situations, he said.

The Police boss, however, said that there were a lot of policies discouraging barrack accommodation, saying that it was something to be given second thought.

Baba said the police would continue to interface with the PTF to present its logistics, training and retraining needs.

In his remark, the Executive Secretary of PTF said the visit was to congratulate the Acting I-G on his recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that it was no longer news that the Nigeria Police had over the years been faced with numerous challenges, making it difficult for it to perform optimally.

According to him, that is why the PTF was established to provide intervention for the Force to enable it secure the country.

Sokoto pledged the commitment of the PTF to build a well-funded, equipped and motivated Nigeria Police that would be responsive to the security challenges in line with global standards.

I want to assure you that we are at your service and always ready to work with you for the common good of the Nigeria Police and the nation in general.

We have gone far in trying to start making impact and so, we are assuring you that our impact will soon be felt, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has lost one Insp. Ambi John, attached to Operation Puff Adder, during a gun battle with suspected kidnappers.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the FCT, ASP Mariam Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said a joint team of operatives from the Command and Operation Puff Adder in response to a distress call, had engaged the heavily armed hoodlums in a gun battle.

Yusuf said that the late officer, after sustaining gunshot injuries during the operation, was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead while receiving treatment.

She said that the operatives had repelled multiple attacks by the suspected kidnappers in the wee hours of Tuesday along Dankusa, Angwan-Zegele-Zuba axis of the territory.

The PPRO said the Command had launched a strategic operation to rescue four persons abducted from Dankusa by the hoodlums who escaped into the forest bordering the FCT and Niger.

According to her, operatives from the Commands Anti-Kidnapping Squad has, however,made some arrests in connection with the abduction.

She said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of FCT, Mr Bala Ciroma had commiserated with the family of the officer who paid the supreme price in the service to the nation.

Yusuf pledged the commitment of the CP to ensure the security of lives and property within the FCT.

She, therefore, implored residents of the FCT to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress to the command on 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

She said the conduct of police officers could be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on 09022222352.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aminu Garko

The Police Command in Niger has arrested one Umar Jibril, for allegedly killing a cleric he claimed was his wifes lover.

Jibril, a resident of Enagi village, in Edati Local Government of the state, was arrested on Tuesday, according to Mr Adamu Usman, the Niger Police Commissioner.

Usman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the suspect was arrested on Monday, April 12, at about 0100 hours, based on credible information.

He added that the suspect allegedly stabbed to death one Alhaji Attahiru Alhassan, the Chief Imam of Edagi, with an iron rod.

During interrogation, the suspect claimed that while relaxing in front of his house, on Monday, the deceased walked past him and went towards his neighbours house.

He said that about the same time, his second wife, Aishatu Umar, also came out of the compound andindicated that she was going to the toilet, just behind the compound.

The suspect told the Police that after waiting for some time for her return, he went round to search for his wife and later heard her voice in the neighbours house.

He claimed that he entered the house and met the deceased with his wife, adding that he immediately left the scene and rushed to a brother, one Abubakar Abdulrahman, to inform him of what he had seen.

The suspect said that not long after, the deceased sent for him so that they could both discuss.

According to the suspect, in the course of the discussion, an argument ensued and he grabbed an iron rod and stabbed the deceased on the neck, leading to his demise.

The Police commissioner said that the suspect took to his heels after the incident and was pursued to Batati village in Lavun Local Government area, where he was arrested.

Investigation has commenced and the suspect will be arraigned, as soon as the investigation is completed, he told (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chimezie Anaso

The Police Command in Anambra says it has arrested six youths aged between the ages of 17 and 25 years suspected to be cult members.

DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said that the suspects were rounded up around Amikwo village in Awka, the state capital.

Ikenga said that the suspects were arrested during a ceremony where some youths were being initiated into a cult group.

He said that two locally made pistols and eight live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

The PPRO said that the suspects had confessed to being members of Black Axe Confraternity and had participated in the shooting incident of April 12, which resulted to the death of an unidentified man in Ukwuoji area of Awka.

He gave the names of the suspects as Ejinaka Chukwujekwu (17) Emeka Nwanna (18) Michael Ozuah (20) Chukwuma Obu (22) Onyemaechi Chijoke (25) and Ifeanyi Ebeze (25).

According to him, following credible intelligence at about 12 pm, police operatives attached to Anti-Cult unit of the command busted the Den of Cultists and Armed robbery gang in Amiwko Village, Awka and arrested six suspects

Exhibits recovered include two locally made pistols and eight live cartridges.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects are actively involved in the recent shooting incident at about 8:am, April 12, that resulted to the death of one yet unidentified young man at Ukwuoji, Awka.

They equally confessed to be members of Black Axe Confraternity and will be charged to court on conclusion of the investigations, he stated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Martha Agas

The Northern Governors Forum, has decried the killing of 12 army personnel in Konshisha local Government Area of Benue.

The chairman of the forum and Plateau governor, Simon Lalong, criticised the act in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Tuesday, in Jos.

He cited the act as capable of demoralising security personnel from giving their best in fighting insecurity in the country, especially as the incident occurred when the soldiers were on assignment to ensure the security of lives and property.

The chairman urged the Army not to be discouraged by the killings, but continue to carry out their legitimate duty of defending Nigerias territorial integrity and assisting in maintaining internal security, especially given the current escalation of criminal activities in the country.

He also appealed to the Army to remain professional, while observing caution and restraint in fishing out perpetrators of the dastardly act, saying that the act must not be allowed to happen again.

The chairman pledged the continuous support of northern governors and its collaboration with the Armed Forces and other security agencies, in the discharge of their duties.

He urged the public to assist security agencies with useful information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime, as well as to apprehend other criminals tormenting innocent citizens across the country.

He condoled with the Army and families of the soldiers over the loss.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the army on April 9, confirmed the killings of 12 of its personnel on April 9, while on a special operation mission in Benue.(NAN)

Source: NAN News