Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

By Franca N Ofili

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Abuja on Saturday organised an awareness campaign walk to raise consciousness on medication-related errors and unsafe practices.

Mrs Ade-bimpe Adebiyi, Director of Hospital Services, Ministry of Health, who represented the Minister of Health,Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the walk was organised to sensitise the public on the dangers ofmedication errors and unsafe practices.

Ehanire cautioned Nigerians against self-medications, adding, such acts can causeincorrect self-diagnosis and delays in seeking medical advice when needed.

In the same vein, there are usually severe adverse reactions as well as dangerous drug interactions, among other effects.

Ehanire said that the country has regulatory bodies that handle issues of malpractice on health matters.

According to him, any case that was reported to the agencies would be sanctioned according to the law.

We are using this walk to sensitise the entire populace, that it is not enough for one to have headache and go to buy paracetamol from the pharmacy.

The person needs to visit the hospital to see a qualified doctor that will examine him and prescribe the right drugs, he said.

Mr Edi Idem, Patients Safety Ambassador, Patient Safety Movement Foundation said that the it was currently drafting the policy on patients safety for Nigeria and worldwide.

Idem said that the issue of medication error had taken centre stage, particularly as the year focused on medication.

According to him, in a country like Nigeria where people can buy over the counter drugs, such obnoxious habit must be discouraged.

We need to educate Nigerians on the dangers inherent in this kind of practice.

You need to know the drugs you are consuming, the consequences of these drugs.

We need to empower patients, individual families, so that they can ask the right questions.

So, today WHO wants to raise awareness globally, not only in our country, but across the world, Idem said.

According to him, the Bill of Rights for question was one thing, but a policy was needed to drive the action of regulators, government, individuals and stakeholders.

Idem said, WHO would participate to ensure that for every medication that one takes, anywhere in this country, there are rules or regulations guiding it.

The bill emphasises on the role of the various stakeholders, government, individuals and families.

We empower them in terms of increasing their knowledge and also empower them in terms of funding for certain aspects of mutations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that according to WHO, medication errors contribute to more than 3million deaths globally every year. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Nabilu Balarabe

The Yobe government on Saturday says it has expended over N2.9 billion on procurement of fertilisers from 2019 to date.

Dr Mairo Amshi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, stated this at a ministerial briefing in Damaturu.

She said that N1.5 billion of the amount was spent on procurement of 3,000 tones of NPK 20:10:10 fertilisers in 2021.

According to Amshi, distribution and sale of the fertiliser is ongoing through an open market at a subsidised rate of N13,000 per bag.

She also said that N1.4 billion was spent on supply of 7,500 tones of NPK 15:15:15 in 2020, adding that the commodity was sold to the farmers at N5,000 per bag, representing 40 per cent subsidy.

The government, she said spent N882 million on procurement of 40 tractors in 2019, adding it had been given as loans to large scale farmers at N11million each, payable within four years.

Amshi said the state in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), had vaccinated over 1.2 million cattle, sheep, goats and dogs within the period under review.

The commissioner said the states Livestock Development Programme is being supported by 135 veterinary surgeons, 47 animal scientists, five equipped veterinary clinics and 17 Area Veterinary/ Livestock offices across the state.

She said the state government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), set up livestock development centres at Jakusko/Nasari, Badegana and Gurjaje grazing reserves.

Amshi said the facilities were designed with boreholes, earth dams, veterinary clinic, feed lots, fish ponds, access roads, electricity, artificial insemination and milk collection units, among others.

Similarly, the commissioner said a Livestock Investigation and Breeding Centres (LIBC) had been established in Nguru to enhance livestock production.

To boost dry season activities, she said that over 2,000 hectares of land had so far been acquired for the take off of the 2022 LAVA irrigation scheme in some parts of the state.

Accordong to her, the state in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has established National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) North-East Outreach Station in Damaturu.

The state also secured approval to participate in the Federal Governments Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Programme ( L-Pres Programme). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government says it has trained more than 10,000 refrigeration technicians and provided Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and refrigerants identifiers in the refrigeration servicing sector to ensure effective ozone friendly.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, said this at the commemoration of World Ozone Day, (WOD), in Abuja.

Abdullahi said that the theme for the 2022 WOD was Montreal Protocol at 35: Global Cooperation Protecting life on Earth.

He said the theme highlighted the protocols positive impact on the Ozone Layer and Climate over the past 35 years.

The minister said that the theme also recognized its wider impact on climate change and the need for global cooperation to further address the challenges of Ozone Layer Depletion and climate.

He said that the government in line with the protocols ODS phase-out schedule, had assisted over 700 Large, Small and Medium Scale enterprises.

Abdullahi said that the assistance was in foam, refrigeration and air conditioning, aerosols and solvent sectors, adding that the effort was to convert to Ozone friendly substances and technologies.

He said that the commitment resulted in 100 per cent phase out of over 4,000 metric tonnes of ODSs, with high Ozone ODPs.

The Minister said that about 26 institutions, polytechnics and government technical colleges, were identified and equipped to serve as training centres on good refrigeration practices.

Therefore, we have trained the trainers from the identified centres and developed training manuals on good refrigeration practices.

These have also led to the training of more than 10,000 refrigeration technicians in the refrigeration servicing sector.

However, we have trained more than 850 chemical regulatory and enforcement officers on identification of ODSs, to ensure their effective control and provided the relevant agencies with ODSs refrigerants identifiers, he said.

Abdullahi said that the ODS phase out activities were achieved with support from the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol to meet its compliance obligations.

He said that under the refrigeration and air conditioning servicing sector, a lot had been achieved through the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The minister said that procurement of servicing equipment for two master training centres, 16 other training centres and a reclamation centre, among others had been achieved.

Abdullahi said that Nigeria had ratified the Kigali Amendment, adding that it had also come into force.

He said that the implementation of the amendment would provide an opportunity to adapt ozone and climate-friendly technologies and improve energy efficiency in the cooling sector.

In order to establish a regulatory framework for its implementation, my ministry updated the existing Ozone Layer Regulations (2009).

This is to include provisions and guidelines for the phase down of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) in line with the amendment.

The updated regulation is now known as The Ozone Layer Protection and HFCS Phase Down Regulation 2022.

We will continue to work with other relevant agencies for effective enforcement of the regulations, he said.

The minister was represented by the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health of the Ministry, Mr Charles Ikea.

The UNDP Programme Manager, Mr Oladipo Osibo, said that the ozone layer was important in protecting lives on earth.

Osibo said that the essence of celebrating the preservation of the Ozone Layer was to raise awareness on the importance of the ozone layer and other living things on the surface of the earth.

He, however, encouraged Nigerians to do all that could be done, by intensifying effort in ensuring that the earth was protected. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=================
Edited by John Amieyeofori/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Follow The Money (FTM) a Civil Society Organisation, has tasked politicians seeking elective offices in 2023 poll, to place the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the centre of their campaign.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Founder, FTM, said this at the SDG and Follow The Money Hangout, marking the 10 years anniversary of mobilising communities for impact driven campaign in 10 African countries on Saturday in Abuja.

Today is a global SDGs campaign called flip the script and FTM in all the 10 African countries was marking the day by mobilising citizens to take action by holding government to account and taking the SDGs to the grassroots, Lawal said.

He said there was the need to flip the script in terms of how Nigeria and Africa were working toward achieving the SDGs, saying that the current script was not working for Africa.

This, he said, was because the current script does not ensure justice, equity, gender equality, tackling poverty and ensuring that people do not go to bed with hunger.

He stressed the need to localise the goals and have citizens take ownership of them.

The political atmosphere presents a unique opportunity to flip the script, that is why our politicians must ensure that SDG is in the centre of the conversation as we go into campaign and the election.

So flipping the script is saying that let us mobilise more young people,lets educate and sensitise them,let us be more organised and not dwell on the last but use digital technology to change the narrative by taking our destiny into our hands.

We know that in a few weeks campaigns will start in Nigeria, so we are using this opportunity to say that as campaign season starts, and in the spirit of flipping the script, we must ensure that campaign messages are based on issues not sentiments.

If you look at the SDGs goals , it literally talks about ending poverty, ending hunger, providing justice, equity and fairness, it talks about gender equality, education, healthcare, job sustainable growth among others.

These are the issues that are plaguing the nation ; so if our politicians actually use SDGs to inform their manifesto, these are ideals that would address our problems, but most importantly provide opportunity for emerging solution, he said.

According to Lawal, the SDGsslogan is leave no one behind, so youths want a democracy and politics that leaves no one behind including people living with disability because they have a role in governance.

So for us, SDG can reform our democracy and our politics and we can take that into 2023 to flip the script so that we can have a script that will work for every Nigeria irrespective of where they are, he said.

He urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Card and vote on election day toprevent voter apathy.

He said that the FTM would mobilise more than 20,000 observers across Nigeria to monitor the electoral process, saying that Nigerias democracy would be stronger with the synergy of all stakeholders to make sure that the SDGs become household initiative to be achieved in 2030.

Mr Semiye Michael , Curator ,Global Goals Community Centre and Executive Director, DEAN Initiative, said Nigeria had lagged behind in the achievement of the SDGs, thus the need to take deliberate action towards them.

Michael said that a new data in education had jerked up the number of out-of- children from 10 million to 13 million indicating that the figure could be getting to N20million.

Today is what we call the SDGs birthday globally, a week of action is declared by the UN to intensify effort on the accelerated action needed for the achievement of the SDGs.

So around the world, different mobilisation activities will take place like we are doing here today.

This year, we call it flip the script to see what scripts we are leaving behind for instance, COVID ravaged the world and it has staled the action on the SDGs.

So we are trying to see how we can galvanise action, mobilise more supports and also make statements to leaders holding them accountable to their promises on SDGs, he said.

Michael said there was a challenge with data so the government needed to be deliberated in putting mechanisms in place to know the progress made and areas of intervention through concrete data and performance tracking. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) on Saturday, offered skills training for teachers in its schools to enhance their capacity.

The teachers were also drilled on security measures for their safety and that of students in their care.

The capacity development training with the theme, Creativity in Teaching Learning and Safety Measure, was held in Abuja and had participants from NAOWA nursery, primary and secondary schools.

In her speech, NAOWA President and wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, said educational development remained a key component of her administration.

Yahaya said that continuous training and retraining of staff would enhance their productivity, adding that the training seminar was the sixth in the series.

She said it was aimed at making the beneficiaries better and effective given the array of resource persons that delivered lectures in various areas.

She urged the teachers to justify the investment that had been made on them in the area of capacity development by putting in their best to teaching and learning outcomes.

To have an effective teacher, training and retraining is very important. Since coming on board, we have been organising the staff development series and this is the sixth series.

It is all aimed at making them better and effective teachers.

It is also a means for them to interact with other teachers because all the resource persons are also professional teachers in their own right.

So, it is also a way for them to interact and exchange ideas, and understand current trends in teaching methodology as well as teaching in the 21century.

The theme is apt and the topics treated are also apt with regards to current trends in education.

NAOWA has really invested in them by training them and ensuring that they have good welfare package. It is expected that they put in their best and be the best teachers that they can be, she said.

The Head, Staff Training Committee, NAOWA, Mrs Fatima Mohammed, said the training was organised for the teachers to learn more effective ways of imparting knowledge to their students.

Mohammed added that the training would also help them to match the teaching techniques of the past with new skills to produce a greater generation of Nigerians.

She said technological and infrastructural development have made it necessary for teachers to bring creativity into their daily activities to achieve the desired goals and ensuring that schools were safe and conducive for learning.

One of the resource persons, Mr Abdulrazak Muhammad, in his lecture titled, Safety and Security Measures in Schools said that safety of schools was paramount to educational development.

Muhammad, a former Secretary of FCT Universal Education Board, said the current security challenges had affected the nations educational system in some parts of the country.

It is very important that we create awareness among the stakeholders, teachers, students and administrators in order to enhance and ensure safety and security of children in schools, he added.

He said many schools and institutions all over Nigeria have porous security system, and were not adhering to standard security measures.

Muhammad said there must be strong understanding between host communities and schools, while government should provide adequate security for schools.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NAOWA president used the event to honour some members of staff with gifts for their dedication and commitment to duty. (NAN) ()

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

North East Women Forum for Peace and Stability (NEWFPS) a non-governmental organisation, has commended the Nigerian military for the sustained onslaught and recent successes against insurgents in recent time.

The group, in a statement by its Coordinator, Mrs Aishatu Jimeta on Saturday, urged troops of Operation Hadin Kai to remain focused against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

Jimeta also urged the military to ignore the Amnesty International (AI) on their negative reports on the activities of the Nigerian military in the Northeast.

She said the recent successes in the onslaught against the terrorists had confirmed promise made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, that Nigerians will soon smile.

As victims of insurgency, we, the people of the North East can testify that there has been considerable improvement in the security situation in our region.

Amnesty International report is more of diversionary and not intended to help the common people suffering from the activities of the terrorists.

Just this week three senior commanders of ISWAP terrorists were among several jihadist fighters killed in aerial bombardments by Nigerian fighter jets on their enclaves in Lake Chad.

Similarly, a notorious chief executioner of the Boko-Haram, Bashir Bulabuduwaye, who was responsible for slaughtering of all abducted persons condemned by the group, surrendered to the Nigerian troops.

These are some of the massive successes being recorded in our region after several years of unforgettable devastation, she said.

The group leader said the ongoing military operations had been paving ways for them to gradually return to their means of livelihood.

She said the women would plead with the armed forces not to be distracted.

According to her, the people are happy that their homes are gradually bouncing back to life, with most of them returning to their various means of livelihood. (NAN) ()

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Kemi Akintokun

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in partnership with the Cardiovascular Education Foundation, an NGO, has commenced a cardiac mission intervention targeted at offering treatment to patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, who spoke at a news conference organised on Friday to commence the programme said the intervention was a landmark event.

What we are doing here today is about interventional cardiovascular procedures that we have lined up for some of our less privileged patients in collaboration with Cardiovascular Education Foundation.

This is another landmark event for LASUTH and it is made possible because we are open for partnership, alliances and association with willing partners, and this has helped us over the years.

They have come to LASUTH at the right time because few months ago, we partnered an organisation to set-up a cardiac catheterization laboratory, which happens to be the first and only functional lab of its kind in any public institution in Nigeria.

Since the set-up of the laboratory, we have been doing cases but with this mission the scope of the lab will be put to good use because a lot of procedures are going on in the lab.

They are also working side by side with our experts withing so that skills can be transferred, he said.

Fabamwo commended the foundation for identifying with the hospital and providing medical interventions to patients.

The missioners in their kindness and magnanimity brought with them all the very expensive materials needed for some of the procedures.

The patients are paying virtually next to nothing for the procedures and this is a very commendable gesture he said.

He advised Nigerian to maintain healthy lifestyles to avoid cardiovascular diseases.

Speaking also, Dr Obi Emerole, the President of Cardiovascular Education Foundation said the aim of the partnership was to provide relief for patients who cannot afford the care they need.

Over the next week one week, we will be providing care to a lot of patients and this will include, Geographic Variation, implantation of pacemakers, implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) among others.

This is an opportunity for close to 20 patients who will not ordinarily be able to afford the care they need.

It is also an opportunity for skills transfer to some of the Nigeria based cardiologists and at the same time, we will be able to learn from them.

I must commend the effort of LASUTH cardiologists for having done the ground work so that this intervention can commence immediately, the U.S. based consultant cardiologists said.

Emerole said the foundation would continue to partner with the institution towards making LASUTH a premier destination for cardiovascular education training, research and patients care in Sub-sahara Africa. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=======

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Chief Imam of Area 10 Jummaat Mosque, Yahya Al-Yolawi, on Friday urged Muslims to always remember death and include it in their plans and agenda.

Al-Yolawi made this known, while delivering Jummaat Sermon titled:Significance of Remembering Death in Islam.

He said that constant rememberence of death reduces worldly material inclination from the hearts of people.

The cleric said that remembering that one would die one day leads to peace, contentment and helps in preparation toward it before it would be too late.

Al-Yolawi said that any person who chooses to forget or rules out remembering death in his day to day life would be delaying repentance until it was too late.

Muslims success or failure at the time of death depends on how much he prepared before that day. Preparing for death is a lifetime assignment.

It begins on the day one reaches the age of adolescence, where he will be responsible for his deeds for the rest of his or her life. Once death arrives, the opportunity to do well or worship ceases.

lt will be too late to repent and our final destination depends largely on the kind of beliefs and actions exhibited in this present life, he said.

Death is inevitable to every human- being, he said.

According to him, that Allah says every soul will taste death and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection.

Al-Yolawi, however, admonished muslims to fear Allah and ensure righteous deeds, noting that righteous deeds are the only preparation for death.

Allah, the most High says, Oh you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah, and whoever does that-then those are the losers.

And spend in the way of Allah from what we have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says my Lord, if only you will delay me for a brief term so I will give charity and be among the righteous.

But never will Allah delay a soul when time comes. And Allah is fully aware with what you do. The soul of the wrongdoers will be taken away severely. (NAN)
Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, on Friday, said that his coming to Abuja reminded him of his defeat during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)s presidential primary held on May 28 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Wike made this known at a book launch in Abuja.

The book, titled: Flowing Justice: Selected Leading Judgments of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, was authored by retired Justice Abdu Aboki and unveiled by the governor.

Wike said: I want to once again congratulate My Lord, Hon Justice Abdu Aboki JSC for giving me this opportunity to be here and to be the chief launcher.

But why I said My Lord did not do well is because if he had held this in Lagos or Kano, I would have been happy, he said

Wike said that when he arrived in Abuja and sighted the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, he recalled the presidential poll experience.

When I landed and then passed through the venue. I said I think My Lord intentionally wanted me to remember 28 and 29 of May of what happened.

Well, but life continues, he said jokingly.

According to him, today is my first time of coming to Abuja after losing election.

He said unlike Governor Bello who had visited Abuja for a number of time even after losing the All Progressives (APC) presidential primary, he had remained in his state.

I am not like Yahaya Bello who lost and he comes (to Abuja) everyday, he added.

He hailed Justice Abokis commitment to protection of justice and rule of law, noting that Justice Aboki is a consummate jurist who has left his name indelibly in the sands of time and judicial history.

While judges are of different social, economic and political persuasion, Honourable Justice Abdu Aboki prides himself among the progressive rank that stands up to what is right and just, and believes that the law and the constitution, as interpreted and enforced by the court must both protect and advance the unity and wellbeing of the nation and her citizens.

But responding, the governor of Kogi said among the governors in the Nigeria Governors Forum, both Wike and himself are different.

NAN reports that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged the presidential candidate in the primary that was conducted in Abuja on May 28 by the party.

Before voting began, one of the aspirants and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, had stepped down from the race and asked his supporters to vote for Atiku.

Atiku polled 371 votes to defeat his main challenger, Governor Wike, who scored 237 votes.

Former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes, while Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel and his counterpart in Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed, scored 38 votes and 20 votes, respectively.

Speaking further at the event, Governor Bello commended Justice Aboki for his immense guidance to him and his government in Kogi and prayed God to continue to preserve his life.

Bello noted that though it might seem the country was currently troubled, no democracy can be perfected as we have it today in the U.S. without encountering challenges.

Justice Aboki, who said he felt excited and elated after his retirement in good health, thanked everybody for attending the occasion.

He urged the Federal Government to promptly appoint replacement for those who have left the apex courts Bench, noting that those left behind would now be overburdened with his exit and that of those before him.

Aboki, therefore, advocated reforms, particularly the amendment of the constitution to reduce the number of cases filed at the Supreme Court.

He said certain interlocutory applications should not be countenanced by the Supreme Court, while other political cases, except that of the presidential election should terminate at the court below.

NAN reports that Wike, at the book launch, unveiled 200 copies of the book with a sum of N100 million.

The event put together by a group of senior lawyers, including Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, and Ahmed Raji, SAN, had in attendance a number of past and serving justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, politicians, traditional rulers, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=========
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News