Sahara Reporters Latest News Thursday 25th April 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 25/04/19
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E2%80%8B-adejumo-kabir%E2%80%8B target=_blank>Many Sins Of An Acclaimed Legend, General Tukur Buratai? By Adejumo Kabir?
‘Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both’ – Wright Mills
Yes, history is important because those who abandon their history are bound to repeat their dark pasts. While we need to teach our children history, we must be honest with the story we tell and not deceive younger generation with lies often written by politicians and top public office holders.
History is meant to teach us lesson about mistakes of the past to resolve our problems and should for no reason be manipulated by any individual and institution.
On April 17, the Nigeria Army took to its official Twitter handle that: A book titled The Legend of Buratai will be officially presented to school children on May 4th, 2019 at the FCT Library, Abuja.”
Explaining why the book became necessary, the author, Dr Abubakar Mohd Sani said it is to immortalize the life of Lt General T.Y Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff.
“The Legend of Buratai is a first and foremost a work of fiction that I hope will make primary and secondary school students to fully appreciate the life of General Buratai, one of the greatest infantry Generals to ever emerge in Africa”, he said. “The book will be presented to school children in Abuja, Lagos, Maiduguri, Kaduna and Yola. The book has already enjoyed so many good reviews by national and international scholars.”
Before then, Igbinedion University in Edo State had named its Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs after General Tukur Buratai while Ebonyi State University also named its Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies after him.
But, should we tell the story of Tukur Buratai without mentioning his many sins? No, the book is not complete except we also document how Boko Haram and bandits are killing innocent citizens under his watch.
Except we include how Boko Haram killed over 100 soldiers in Metele attack last year under the watch of an acclaimed legend. It took condemnation from the public before the Army officially admitted that its troops were killed.
We should document the massacre of Shiites in Zaria by soldiers in 2015 and also the killings of IPOB members in Onisha by soldiers in 2016. Perhaps, all of these qualified General Buratai as a legend.
Except the book includes how soldiers were used by politicians in the recent elections held across Nigeria and why he (Buratai) is yet to provide evidence to counter facts about his asset declaration scandal.
A Premium Times report revealed General Buratai’s illicit acts and how he illegally owned property in Dubai. Rather than tackle the issue raised against him, the acclaimed legend (Buratai) charged his men to storm the newspaper’s office to illegally arrest journalists. Could all these be criteria to be a legend in Nigeria?
Except the book reveals many sins of General Tukur Buratai, it will be disastrous for children to read such PR publication.
Adejumo Kabir is a student journalist at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
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target=_blank>PHOTOS: Buhari In Lagos To Commission Airport Road, Mass Transit Buses
President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode during the President’s working visit to Lagos, at the Government House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right), with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right); Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi (left); Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (2nd left) and Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (3rd left)
President Muhammadu Buhari (middle); Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (4th right); Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo States Governors, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (3rd right); Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right); Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu (right); Governor-elect of Lagos
President Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, exiting the Oshodi Transport Interchange amidst cheers after its commissioning, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, exiting One of the newly unveiled high and medium capacity Buses at the Oshodi Transport Interchange during the commissioning on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
President Muhammadu Buhari (3rd left); Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi (2nd right); Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (right); Governor-elect of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (2
President Muhammadu Buhari was in Lagos State on Wednesday to commission some projects by the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, outgoing Governor of the state.
Among the projects were the 10-lane Oshodi–Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, the 170-Bed ‘Ayinke House’ (Maternity Hospital)) at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja; the Oshodi Transport Interchange and 820 mass transit buses.
Joining Ambode to receive Buhari were governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, as well as Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor-Elect of Lagos.
Below are pictures from the President’s visit
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target=_blank>Police In Lagos Nab Two Young Men Fighting Over N30,000 After Stealing Female Pants
The Police in Lagos have arrested two young men for allegedly stealing a female underwear.
According to the information gathered from the Police, the two men are Friday Emmanuel, 21, and Obiora Nwabueze, 29.
The suspects were said to be arrested under the Mile Two Bridge, Lagos, by operatives of the Satellite Division after they had engaged each other in fisticuffs, following the failure of one of the parties to keep to the terms of agreement regarding the stealing of the panties.
Nwabueze had earlier agreed to pay Emmanuel N30,000 on succesful execution of the ‘operation’ — a promise he did not want to redeem after Emmanuel had fulfiled his own part of the deal.
According to a statement by Bala Elkana (DSP), spokesman of the police, when Emmanuel brought the panties, instead of paying him the agreed amount, Nwabueze attempted to take them by force, which and that caused a fight.
“During interrogation, Emmanuel regretted listening to his friend Nwabueze, who was pestering him to get him female underwears he desperately needed to become rich,” Elkana said. “Both suspects were Wednesday charged to Magistrate Court 23, at Mbah Road, Ajegunle, Lagos for conspiracy and stealing.”
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target=_blank>Re: Doctors Free To Leave Nigeria… You Can Quote Me, We Have More Than Enough
The Hon Minister of Labour and Employment
Dr Chris Ngige
Abuja Nigeria
24/4/2019
Sir,
I assume you don’t know Nigeria need at least (90-95) years to bridge the gap between doctors and patients.
Sir, I believe you are not aware of the current
Medical Crisis in Nigeria hence I forgive you but as a Medical doctor, a former Governor though your election was annulled and a Senator this is too much for me to bear.
Your likes are the reason why Nigeria is in a hole. This is the same reason you took to oath swearing at the dreaded okija Shrine which led to your tussle with the Uba brothers before the court of appeal removed you from office.
Sir, I will take you thru the chronological timeline and give details on our woes.
Sir, Over the last 58yrs, successive government officials in Nigeria which include you have simply refused to invest in healthcare.
Sir, As recent as January 2019 there was public world-class medical centre in Nigeria where cancer and other terminal illness can be treated until the recent commissioning we witnessed during the electioneering campaign but with what I know of government officials and kangaroo commissioning I assumed it is all lies.
Sir, I believe you will agree that the medical practice in Nigeria needs a serious upgrade, Engineering is mixed with Medicine all over the world to advance health care treatment but in Nigeria, it is non-existent.
Sir, How many Nigerian doctors have been exposed to these modern equipment?
Sir, How much is government investing in training our doctors?
Sir, do you know Morocco with 35.4 million people have 20 centres to treat 40,000 new cases of cancer every year. They are Located in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Oujda, and El-Hoceima, 11 of the 20 centers are public (with 9 are private centers)
As at today Nigeria with over 197 million people has no public world-class cancer care center that is working to the optimum. Once you are afflicted with it is near the end or look for millions to fly to India via begging on social media.
Sir we all know that any country that fails to invest in researches is bound to be many cases of misdiagnosis as we have today all over Nigeria.
The real details in Nigeria Healthcare sector is listed below.
The current population of Nigeria is 199,961,971 as of Wednesday, April 24, 2019, based on the latest United Nations estimates.
Nigeria population is equivalent to 2.6% of the total world population.
Nigerian government Fg and state budgeted only N8.38/day on her citizens in 2017 and the figure reduced in 2018 and went down again in 2019
Nigeria has 87,000 registered doctors on the Nigerian Medical Association’s register.
Nigeria has 35,000 registered doctors actively practicing out of 87,000.
Nigeria has 52000 registered doctors that are unaccounted for.
Nigeria has 24500 registered doctors practicing in urban areas where only 57.7m of the populace lives. A ratio of 1:2353 Physician : Patient
The standard of WHO for Physician : Patient is 1:600
Nigeria has 10500 registered doctors practicing in the rural area where 153.8m of the populace lives. A ratio of 1:14647 Physician : Patient
Nigeria needs extra 285,345 doctors to make 320,345 doctors to match a ratio of 1:600 Physician : Patient.
Nigeria’s universities produce less than 3000 doctors annually where a larger chunk seek greener pastures abroad.
Nigeria needs around 90-95 years to get the required numbers of doctors. A task which is as high as Mount Everest.
Nigerians spend a minimum of $1bn annually on medical tourism where 80% is remitted to the Indian medical tourism industry matching 27% of India’s earning annually from medical tourism
Nigeria’s 2019 budget allocated a paltry N366 billion representing 4.1% to the health sector contrary to the recommended 15 percent by African Union countries in the 2001 Abuja declaration which commits member nations to improve national health budgets.
Nigeria is in need of urgent help.
Ettu Mohammed writes from Lagos
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target=_blank>Nigeria’s Health Sector Requires Serious Surgery, Says Dogara
Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has lamented the state of the Nigerian health sector.
Speaking on Wednesday during a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Health, where two bills were presented at the National Assembly in Abuja, Dogara called for an overhaul of the health sector. The bills under consideration were a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Health Records Officers (Registration, etc) Act, CAP. H2 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Re-Enact the Health Information Practitioners Council of Nigeria for effective and efficient Health Information Management, to Regulate the Training, Practice and Management of Health Information System in Nigeria; and a Bill for an Act to Amend the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria Act, CAP 1.112, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Provide for the Role of the Chemist, the Regulation of Practicing Fees by Members of the Institute; and for Other Related Matters.“The ultimate aim of these legislations is to ensure that we have a more efficient service delivery in the health sector,” Dogara said.
“There is a compelling need for us to overhaul our health sector in view of the continuous public outcry against our defective health care delivery. The high number of Nigerians who go on foreign medical trips and the brain drain that we witness among our professionals in the sector, are indications that our health sector requires a serious surgical operation.”
Incidentally, Dogara’s comments came on the same day Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, said he was unconcerned about the migration of Nigerian doctors to other countries, claiming they were a source of foreign exchange.
Asked to comment on brain drain and if the deliberate recruitment of Nigerian doctors by foreign embassies is detrimental to the nation’s health sector, Ngige had said: “No, I am not worried about doctors leaving the country. We have surplus.
“If you have surplus, you export. It happened some years ago here. I was taught chemistry and biology by Indian teachers in my secondary school days. There are surplus in their country and we also have surplus in the medical profession in our country. I can tell you this. In my area, we have excess.
“Who said we don’t have enough doctors? We have more than enough. You can quote me. There is nothing wrong in them travelling out. When they go abroad, they earn money and send them back home here. Yes, we have foreign exchange earnings from them and not just oil.”
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and National Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) fired back hours after, though, with Adedayo Faduyile, the NMA President, precisely branding the comments as as “unfortunate”.
“That is an unfortunate statement which shows that he has done nothing in medical practice,” Faduyile had said.
“The World Health Organisation stated that, for optimal healthcare to be achieved, we need doctor/patient ratio of one to 600. In Nigeria, we have 40,000 doctors taking care of 200 million people. It’s unfortunate, we do not have enough doctors. Maybe he is looking at the monetary part, but there is opportunity cost. We have the maternal mortality that is about the highest in the world. To correct it, we need health professionals around.”
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target=_blank>APC Elders Pledge To Help Uzodinma Dislodge Ihedioha At Election Petition Tribunal
Elders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, under the auspices of Imo State APC Elders’ Council, on Wednesday said they would support Senator Hope Uzodinma in his bid to challenge the victory of Emeka Ihedioha, Imo Governor-Elect, at the Election Petition Tribunal.
The group gave the assurance in a communique issued at the end of its meeting, signed by Edmund Onyebuchi and Chief Benard Anyanwu, its Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively
In the communique, the group also assured other candidates of the party challenging the outcome of their respective elections at the tribunal of its unalloyed support
The elders expressed hope that the election petition tribunal will “restore Uzodinma’s mandate given to him by Imo people”.
The Council appealed to the judiciary to expedite judgment on the Imo North senatorial election, adding that it would respect the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the Imo West senatorial election.
“We are firmly of the opinion that the beginning of wisdom in Imo State politics is to fight any clandestine organisation that operates in a subtle way behind the scene and influencing the direction of election results,” the elders said.
“Therefore, we have hope that the election tribunal will restore Hope Uzodinma’s mandate given to him by Imolites, who courageously reaffirmed their commitments to APC as the vanguard of our national ongoing revolution under the leadership of our respected President, Muhammadu Buhari.”
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target=_blank>Senate Declines To Name Kogi Oil-Producing State
The Senate has said it will not recognise Kogi State as an oil-producing state because it does not contribute to the Federation Account. Isaac Alfa, the senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, had moved a motion at plenary on Wednesday entitled, ‘Need to Recognise Kogi State as an Oil-Producing State’.However, the lawmakers disagreed vehemently.
Alfa had said three oil companies — namely Shell BP (now SPDC), Elf (now Total Fina Elf) and Agip Energy — commenced oil exploration in Ibaji since 1952, precisely in Odeke, Echeno, Ihile, Anocha/Uchuchu, Omabo, Ikah, Iregwu and Ujeh, all in Ibaji of the present-day Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.He added that the companies collectively drilled 25 exploration wells, two appraisal wells and eight core drill wells in the entire Anambra Basin, out of which majority of the wells fall within Kogi State, “as these facts were made possible through a letter to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the former Manager, Drilling, NPDC-NNPC, Engr. Sam A. Uchola, on 21st November, 2003″.He noted that the exploration activities in Kogi and part of Anambra Basin were later abandoned until July 18, 2001, when the late Abubakar Audthen, the then Kogi Governor, wrote to the then Group Managing Director of NNPC to remind him of the earlier discovery of crude oil at Odeke, Echeno, and Anocha communities in Ibaji LGA.Alfa further recalled that on July 25, 2001, a team of geo-scientist and engineers was drafted to the area to carry out a preliminary investigation on the claims by the Kogi State Government and the resuscitation of the productive core wells, leading to the granting of an oil licence now known as Oil Prospecting Licence 915 and 916, to an indigenous company.“Orient Petroleum Resources Plc has been taking crude oil from OPL 915 since 2012 till date, and the percentages of crude oil in the OPL 915 among the three contesting states are as follows: Kogi, 53 per cent; Anambra, 23 per cent; Enugu, 17 per cent; and Edo, seven per cent,” he said.“The Senate regrets that there has been no drilling activity from the OPL 916, which jointly belongs to Kogi, Anambra and Delta states, while Orient Petroleum has fully drilled four oil wells at OPL 915 – Wells 1, 2, 3 and 4 – with Wells 3 and 4 incontrovertibly located in Ibaji in Kogi State, accounting for 53 per cent of the crude oil.”“There is a difference between oil-producing and oil-processing. They may be an oil-processing state but they have not contributed to the revenue of this country from oil. When they do that, they will become an oil-producing state.“This issue of oil-producing cannot be decided on the floor by a motion; it has to be decided by contribution to the Federation Account.”
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target=_blank>Lai Mohammed Explains The Nexus Between Illegal Mining And Zamfara Killings
Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, has blamed illegal miners for the killings in Zamfara State.Mohammed made the comments when he featured on the Nigerian Television Authority Programme, Good Morning Nigeria, in Abuja on Wednesday. On April 7, the Nigerian government had prohibited illegal mining operations in Zamfara State after nationwide protests over the killings, an action the Minister feels is justified.
“People begin to ask what is the nexus between instability in Zamfara, kidnapping and banditry and illegal mining,” he said.“There is a lot. For instance, if you are doing illegal mining, the more unsettled the area, is the better for you. We find out that a lot of ammunition and money were being turned out to the bandits so as to make the area ungovernable. The higher the rate of the crisis, the better for the illegal miners.”
Mohammed said the commencement of Operation Puff Adder, a full-scale security offensive against the bandits, has yielded results in the past weeks.“We have a harvest of criminals, many of them arrested, their actions neutralised and cache of ammunition recovered,” he said.“On April 14, they neutralised 11 kidnappers, recovered six AK-47, and 1,200 rounds of ammunition. Shortly after that, they were able to arrest those who kidnapped the Channels Television correspondent.”
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C2%A0 target=_blank>Otedola Fulfills $50,000 Promise To Christian Chukwu
Billionaire mogul Femi Otedola has fulfilled his promise of $50,000 to ailing football legend Christian Chukwu.
The money — to bankroll the medical treatment of former Eagles captain and coach in London (The United Kingdom) — was presented in Enugu by Philip Akinola, the Chief Operating Officer of Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd.
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Enugu State; Amaju Pinnick, Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); and renowned sports journalist Onochie Anibeze witnessed the presentation of the $50,000 (N18 million).
Chukwu, who is reportedly battling prostate cancer, will be flown to the United Kingdom next week.
The legendary philanthropist and oil mogul behind Forte Oil and Geregu Power Plant spoke to the Enugu Governor and the ailing football legend earlier today.
“The Governor just called to thank immensely. And I spoke with Christian Chukwu, too,” the billionaire told TheCable. He will be flown abroad next week. I told him he will be fine and I will make sure he’s provided with the best health services.”
Chairman Chukwu, as he was known in his footballing days, has joined a long list of beneficiaries of Femi Otedola’s large-heartedness.
Apart from sponsoring indigent students, helping those in need has become the pastime of the Lagos businessman.
Recently, Nollywood actor Victor Olaokun, who was involved in a ghastly accident and bedridden, received a €130,000 donation from Otedola! Olaokun is still receiving topmost medical care in Israel.
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‘He Hasn’t Done Anything In Medical Practice’ — Doctors’ Associations Blast Nigige Over ‘Unfortunate’ Comment
In response to the comments attributed to Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of labour and productivity, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and National Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) have described the ministers statment as “unfortunate”. On Wednesday, Ngige had said he was unconcerned about the migration of Nigerian doctors to other countries, claiming they were a source of foreign exchange.
Asked to comment on brain drain and if the deliberate recruitment of Nigerian doctors by foreign embassies is detrimental to the nation’s health sector, Ngige had said: “No, I am not worried [about doctors leaving the country]. We have surplus.
“If you have surplus, you export. It happened some years ago here. I was taught chemistry and biology by Indian teachers in my secondary school days. There are surplus in their country and we also have surplus in the medical profession in our country. I can tell you this. In my area, we have excess.
“Who said we don’t have enough doctors? We have more than enough. You can quote me. There is nothing wrong in them travelling out. When they go abroad, they earn money and send them back home here. Yes, we have foreign exchange earnings from them and not just oil.”
In response, however, Adedayo Faduyile, the NMA President, said Nigeria suffers from an inadequacy of doctors.
“That is an unfortunate statement which shows that he has done nothing in medical practice,” he said.“The World Health Organisation stated that, for optimal healthcare to be achieved, we need doctor/patient ratio of one to 600. In Nigeria, we have 40,000 doctors taking care of 200 million people.“It’s unfortunate, we do not have enough doctors. Maybe he is looking at the monetary part, but there is opportunity cost. We have the maternal mortality that is about the highest in the world. To correct it, we need health professionals around.”Dr. Olusegun Olaopa, NARD President, said Ngige spoke as a politician.“He spoke as a politician who does not know what is happening in the country,” Olaopa said. “The doctors we are losing are not fresh doctors but specialists. That means that Nigeria will continue to battle with shortage of specialist doctors.”
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