Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Team Edo has emerged the overall winners of the Rugby event in the ongoing 20th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Edo 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both male and female teams of the host state won the two gold medals.

NAN reports that the male team defeated Kano, Plateau and Delta states to clinch the gold.

They scored a total of 14 points to beat Kano state that had nine points while Delta placed third to win the bronze medal with four points.

Similarly, the female team scored 11 points to win the gold medal, Ogun won the silver medal with eight points while Delta scored seven points to win the bronze. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh will be held at Windsor on April 17, with no public access nor public procession beforehand, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Saturday.

The event is to be a ceremonial royal funeral, rather than a state funeral, which very much reflects the dukes wishes, a palace spokesman said.

A national minutes silence will be observed as the funeral begins at 15:00 BST at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor.

Members of the public will not be allowed to attend as the proceedings have been scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funeral will be shown live on television.

Given the current pandemic restriction which allows only 30 mourners to attend, the event will be reduced in scale. At this moment, there is no confirmation yet on the rest of the guest list.

In line with government guidelines and public health measures, there will be no public processions and the dukes funeral will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle, the palace spokesman said.

The Queen has approved the prime ministers recommendation that there be eight days of national mourning, to end on the day of the dukes funeral, the palace said.

During the national mourning time, union flags will remain at half-mast but the Royal Standard, which is flown when the Queen is in residence at one of the royal palaces, will be at full mast.

The Royal Family will observe two weeks of mourning and royal engagements will continue, with mourning bands worn where appropriate.

The Sky News reported that Prince Harry will be travelling from his home in the United States to attend, although his pregnant wife Meghan has been advised by doctors not to travel.

Earlier Saturday, gun salutes were held across Britain on land and at sea in memory of the duke who passed away on Friday at the age of 99.

The royal family website has asked people not to leave flowers and tributes at royal residences. The website encourages members of the public to consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes.

Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921.

He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

The couple had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

India on Sunday recorded its biggest-ever daily spike of 152,879 coronavirus cases.

This is as authorities launched a four-day vaccine festival to intensify the inoculation campaign in the country.

Fresh infections were five per cent higher than on Friday, when the country registered 145,384 cases, according to Health Ministry data.

The number of deaths rose by 839 in the last 24 hours, pushing the total death count to 169,275.

Meanwhile, a so-called Tika Utsav (Hindi for vaccine festival) is being organised in the country to inoculate the maximum number of eligible people against the virus.

The mass vaccination programme is to be conducted until April 14, following an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chief state ministers at a meeting on the medical crisis.

More than 100 million doses have already been administered to front-line workers and people above 45 in Indias vaccination drive, which began early this year.

However, several states have claimed they are facing vaccine shortages despite assurances from the government.

The surge in infections has forced many states, including the national capital New Delhi, to impose tight restrictions.

Such restrictions include night-time curfews, school closures and limiting visits to restaurants, theatres and other events.

The spike in cases has also led to hospital bed shortages including in the worst-hit state of Maharashtra, which accounts for over half of Indias active cases.

India, which at over 13.2 million has the third-largest coronavirus caseload after the United States and Brazil, saw a downward trend in infections from the end of 2020.

But the numbers began rising again in mid-February. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Voting for the first round of Benins presidential election began on Sunday at most polling stations across the country.

Approximately five million voters are expected to take part in the first round of voting at 15,531 polling stations throughout the country and 11 others in seven foreign countries.

According to the new electoral law, the President and Vice President are elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of five years and can only be re-elected once.

For this purpose, three pairs of candidates participated in this election.

The incumbent President Patrice Talon and his running mate Mariam Talata will face the opposition duo Corentin Kohoue-Irene Agossa of the Dynamics Restoring Confidence party (RLC) and Alassane Soumanou-Paul Hounkpe of Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE).

Polling started at 7.00 a.m. local time and was expected to last nine hours.

Talon on Sunday called on his fellow citizens for a massive turnout to fulfil their civic duty.

He made the appeal just after he cast his vote in the economic capital Cotonou, adding that polling is proceeding well across the country.

The polling of this day is a great act and I urge everyone to make his choice, most importantly to choose a good candidate that best meets the expectations of people of Benin, he said.

Seeking a second five-year term, Talon also said with confidence that Benin is in the process of writing a new page in its history. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje/Yahaya Isah

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi says his administration has succeeded in providing adequate security in the state by enhancing citizens involvement in the fight against insecurity.

Represented by the state Deputy Governor Edward Onoja, Bello made this observation at the Annual Lecture/Fellows Night 2021 of the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that his government, being youth-oriented, had been able to involve young minds in decision making on security issues.

He observed that the state was confronted with several security challenges prior to his assumption of office as governor in 2015.

He said that he assigned security roles to more than 5,000 young men and women in local governments to collaborate with security agencies and ensure adequate security in their communities.

Some of the measures taken by the government to tackle insecurity include clearing of highway bushes, equipping security agencies, engagement of youths in vigilance groups and incorporation of hunters into anti-kidnapping squad, he said.

He noted that his administration also involved citizens in the fight against insecurity through involvement of local government chairmen and traditional rulers in the security arrangement of the state.

He said that the kidnapping of his mother provided an opportunity for him to work hard to rid the state of all forms of criminality and make it safe for the citizens.

Upon my assumption of office as executive governor of Kogi, I saw it as a divine opportunity among others to rid the state of all crimes and criminality.

To achieve this goal, we decided to take a simple steps to frontally tackle crime in our society.

Some of which is highway vegetation control by clearing six metres in either side of the highway across the state.

This simple initiative improved visibility for travellers and eliminated high impulse of kidnappers that usually pound on unsuspecting travellers around blind spots of the highways to execute their nefarious activities, he said.

Bello announced that the state had bought and equipped no fewer than 200 security vehicles for the security agencies.

He said that the vehicles were strategically deployed across the state to collaborate with citizens to curb crimes.

He also said that the state invested in the use of technology to gather intelligence across the state as well as collaborate with responsible corporate entities in the state.

The former Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ahmed Danfulani, said that no nation could progress where a group of individuals constituted themselves as threats to the national ssecurity.

Danfulani, who spoke on the theme: Our National Security Predicaments: Implications for the Current Democratic Order, said the success of national security was difficult to appreciate in a state of fear and uncertainty.

According to him, the average Nigerian has no idea of what is national security and people take issues of national with levity.

He called for collective effort in promoting the Nigeria project and promote its national security.

The Secretary, Governing Council, Institute of Security and Strategic Studies, Dr Danladi Abdulhameed, said that the global terrorism index for 2021 listed Nigeria as the third most terrorised countries in the world after Afghanistan and Iraq.

Abdulhameed said the classification was hinged on the fact that Nigeria had been in a state of war against terrorism, farmers/herdsmen clashes, banditry and Kidnapping.

He said that while terrorist attacks could occur anywhere in the world, insecurity had remained the greatest threat to Nigerias budding democracy.

He said that several challenges have continued to besiege the nations democratic system such as insecurity which has claimed the lives and livelihoods of civilians, foreigners, security personnel and threatened our socio-economic and political entity.

It is on this note that we at the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies are committed to protecting our nations security so that the electorate shall have confidence in nascent democracy, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institute inducted Gov. Yahaya Bello to fellowship and also bestowed on him the Security Personality of the Year 2021 Award.

Also inducted to the fellowship is the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), Prof. Elias Bogoro. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ishaq Zaki

The Police Command in Zamfara says it has secured the release of 11 kidnapped persons in the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Muhammad Shehu, announced this in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday.

On April 9, the command, in collaboration with the state Ministry for Security and Home Affairs, secured the unconditional release of 11 kidnapped victims by a group who took them to a forest near Gobirawan Chali in Maru Local Government Area, he said.

He said 10 out of the 11 victims are natives of Kyakyaka, Tungar Haki and Gidan Ango villages of Gusau Local Government Area in Zamfara, while the other victim is from Kaduna State.

He said the release of the kidnapped victims was part of ongoing peace process enunciated by Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.

All the rescued victims have been debriefed by the police and later handed over to the Ministry for Security and Home Affairs that will reunite them with their families.

Investigation regarding the abduction of the victims has begun and the outcome will be made public, Shehu said.

He said the cocmand also repelled an attack by suspected bandits on Yarkala village in Rawayya District of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara and recovered weapons.

On April 8, police operatives attached to operation Puff Adder deployed to Rawayya-Yarkala axis were alerted of presence of large numbers of bandits who were moving to Yarkala village on an attack.

Receiving the distress call, the operatives mobilised and dislodged the bandits, as a result, they fled to the forest with possible gun shot wounds.

In the course of mopping up the scene, an AK-47 rifle marked 1983NI2328 and a magazine containing 10 rounds of live ammunition belonging to one of the fleeing bandits was recovered and is now in police custody, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammad Tijjani

The police command in Kaduna State has rescued 15 kidnapped persons and recovered 32 cows.

The commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said this in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna.

Jalige said that on April 9 at about 1525hours, gunmen suspected to be bandits blocked Buruku Birnin Gwari Road around Unguwan Yako forest in an attempt to kidnap occupants of two Volkswagen salon cars.

A swift response by the operatives of the command forced the marauding bandits to retreat and flee into the forest with bullet wounds, abandoning their victims.

The operatives however, searched the entire area and successfully rescued 15 victims unhurt ,he said.

He said that the drivers of the vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were receiving treatment.

Jalige said that the remaining victims have been profiled and subsequently reunited with their respective families.

He said rigorous patrol and manhunt for the fleeing bandits was of topmost priority to the command.

He said that on April 8, at about 0500hours, the command received an intelligence report indicating that some bandits were sighted around Dutsin Gaya village in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA), moving large herds of cattle strongly suspected to be have been rustled.

The command on getting the information as usual, operatives were mobilised to the area and engaged the bandits in fierce gun battle which forced them to take to their heels with bullet wounds while the operatives recovered 32 rustled cows.

Jalige reassured of the command relentless effort in securing public space and to create an enabling environment for legitimate business to thrive in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Akeem Abas

Sen. Rochas Okorocha(APC-Imo West) has called on Nigerians to collectively fight poverty to achieve the desired national development.

He made the call on Saturday during the grand finale of the 2021 Ibadan Week Celebration held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, was honoured with Outstanding Friend of Ibadan at the occasion.

NAN reports that Okorochas award was in recognition of his contributions to the education of indigent students through his free education programmes.

Okorocha said that poverty and injustice were the common enemies of Nigeria, saying Nigerians must rise up to find lasting solutions to the menace.

He said that the problem of poverty and injustice was still ravaging the nation, in spite of his little efforts in solving the problem.

I have built schools across the federation so as to gives access to poor children whose parent cannot afford to send them to school.

Despite this effort aimed at solving the problem, poverty and injustice are still ravaging the nation, he said.

Okorocha noted that it was difficult for poor and vulnerable children to go to school in Nigeria because of poverty, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to join hands in fighting the common enemy.

According to him, If all these children gathered here and many of them who have passed through my foundation were not given the opportunity of free education,they will have become problems to Nigeria.

He thanked the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, as well as Ibadan sons and daughters for founding him worthy of the award.

NAN reports that Okorocha had through his Rochas Okorocha Foundation established a college in Ibadan.

About 25,000 indigent children across South-West out of which 6,000 were from Ibadan, have benefited from the schools free education.

Chief Yemi Soladoye, the President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes(CCII), said that the annual Ibadan Week was to celebrate Ibadan indigenes and others who have contributed to its development.

He urged all Ibadan indigenes, both home and abroad, to continue to support the development of Ibadan as well as perform their responsibilities towards upliftment of Ibadan.

Other awardees at the event are Sen. Kola Balogun(PDP-Oyo South), Prof. Idowu Olayinka, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Mr Aderemi Oseni, Prof. Sabitu Ariyo, and Hon. Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye among others.

NAN reports that the event featured cultural display and homage paying to the Olubadan of Ibadanland. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has urged Kano students in different institutions across the country and abroad to always behave responsibly as potential leaders and citizens.

The governor gave the charge at the formal inauguration of the new Executives of the National body of the National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) on Saturday in Kano.

According to Ganduje, the newly elected leaders should also conduct themselves responsibly in order to enjoy the administrations continued support.

On our part, we shall continue to assist you so that you undertake your studies and finally you graduate successfully.You are already aware of our policy of free and compulsory primary to secondary education.

So we urge you to cooperate with the government so that we succeed in all our important policies. We say education is free because we dont want some people to be marginalised because of the economic position.

We want all our children to have access to education, whether you are rich or you are poor, that do not hinder you from sending your children to school. That is very very important to us as elected leaders.

And we say it is compulsory because some parents may decide not to send their children to school. This is not fair to the children and I am sure when the children grow, they will not forgive their parents, he said.

Ganduje also commended Kano students across various tertiary institutions for their good conducts.

Those students who behave very well and consider their education very important, after graduation, they end up being responsible and responsible leaders, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the states Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Kabiru Lakwaya, said the election was conducted in 2020, but the inauguration suspended due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

According to Lakwaya, the 2020/2021 election was the best of its kind as it was free, fair and acceptable to all stakeholders.

The National President of NAKSS, Mr Yahaya Usman-Kabo, a student of Kano State School of Technology, pledged to do everything possible towards the progress of the students.

He said he would carry all members of the association along in order to complement the support given to them by all stakeholders.

We must commend the governor for settling the unpaid registration and tuition fees for some of our members studying within and outside the country, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) is upscaling its service in line with healthcare needs of its various patients, an official has disclosed.

Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, Chief Medical Director of UCTH, disclosed this while conducting newsmen round the facility as part of his two years achievement in office as CMD.

He said that modern equipment have been installed in various departments in the hospital with a view to curb the migration of persons moving out of the state for medical services.

He said that in the Department of Radiology, his administration had acquired a Direct Digital Xray System, 4D Ultra Sound Scanner and a 32 Slight City Scanner.

He explained that patients who visited the hospital for radiologic intervention would not have to go outside the state for the service any longer.

The CMD said that the hospital has automated its laboratories, with the medical microbiology laboratory been a designated Magnetic Resonance Imaging laboratory in the state.

We have also introduced new services in the hospital, for instance, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, we have introduced laparoscopy surgery and histeroscopy surgery.
In the Dental Clinic, we have remodelled the clinic with state of the art machine so that nobody needs to go out of the state for his/her dental service anymore, he said.

The CMD also said that hospital was deploying an Electronic Health Information Management System with the aim of migrating from the paper clerkship system to an electronic system.

The level of work done is about 60 per cent because the financial module has been set up completely, and we are doing this from one department to the other.

The benefit of this is that there is going to be faster intervention times; there wont be any need to move paper from place to place anymore.

All a medical practitioner needs to do is to sit in the clinic, do the prescription for the patient without a paper and then the patient goes to the pharmacy for dispensation, he added.

The CMD, who said that charges for medical services in the hospital were still pocket friendly, noted that most of the funds used in equipping the hospital were from the internally generated revenue.

He expressed happiness that the hospital has benefited from a Federal Government funded 10-bed Intensive Care Unit under the COVID-19 intervention.

My passion is to build, improve and upscale the level of services we render in the teaching hospital, he said.

The CMD said that with the equipment in the hospital and better welfare package for doctors, same level of services rendered in foreign countries can also be rendered in UCTH.

On the current strike by Resident Doctors across the country, Ikpeme said the hospital was currently using the Consultants and other health professionals to attend to patients.

On COVID-19 fight in the state, the CMD said that the hospital worked in collaboration with the state government in providing the needed service to patients.

We provided manpower because our specialists where the ones training people in the state. We also opened up our four-bed isolation centre to the public.

It was in recognition of our contributions that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Federal Ministry of Health moved in to give us a bigger 30-bed Isolation Centre that is currently under construction.

We also have a molecular laboratory that we are setting up for COVID-19, but with appropriate configuration of the machine, it can take care of Ebola, Lassa and other diseases.

Once this laboratory is functional in about two months time from now, we dont need to send out collected samples for testing outside the state anymore, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News