Teachers’ Union Maintains Neutrality In Cross River State Elections

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October 20, 2022

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has maintained its neutrality in the political clime of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.

In a jointly signed press statement, the chairman of the union, Gregory Olayi, and the secretary, Bassey Asuquo, denied media reports that the NUT endorsed the senatorial candidacy of Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Senator Jarigbe currently sits in Nigeria’s upper legislative chambers and represents the northern senatorial district of Cross River State, comprising five local government areas of Ogoja, Bekwara, Obudu, Obanliku, and Yala.

Senator Jarigbe would lock horns with the state’s incumbent governor, Professor Ben Ayade of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to win the ticket as the people’s representative in Cross River northern senatorial district.

In the statement, the officials maintained that the union was a political and would remain neutral in the political affairs of candidates.

“NUT in Cross River operates as a tripod at the state level, the south, central and north. For clarity, the chairman of the union and other teachers from the northern district paid a courtesy visit on Senator Jarigbe and we never endorsed him for senate,” it indicated.

According to the officials, the media report was a feeble attempt to blackmail and smear the good reputation of teachers in Cross River State.

It explained that the NUT functioned within the established code of conduct, stating, “the union has its workings and norms; an individual cannot decide on behalf of the union. The highest organ, which is the state’s wing executive council, normally takes our decision.”

The NUT officials stated that the union would never turn its back on the governor, noting “the leadership of NUT in Cross River can never work against Governor Ben Ayade, who is a teacher friendly governor and has been organizing re-training programmes and paying teachers’ salary promptly.”

The NUT urged the public to disregard the media report calling such as “misguided.”

After Six Weeks, UK Premier Liz Truss Resigns

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 20, 2022

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Weeks after taking over as the Prime Minister of Britain and successor to Boris Johnson, Liz Truss has resigned.

Truss announced her resignation on Thursday amid calls from within her Conservative Party to step down from the top job six weeks after she entered 10, Downing Street. Truss’s resignation was highly anticipated after her policies triggered massive economic turmoil, and backlash from several quarters.

In an address, Truss conceded that she could not deliver the mandate on which she was elected adding that a leadership contest would take place within the next week.

“I recognise that given the situation; I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party,” Truss said.

Truss, who assumed office on Sept. 6, sacked her finance minister and closest political ally, Kwarteng, and abandoned almost all her economic programme, which led to the pound crashing.

On Wednesday, Truss lost the second of the government’s four most senior ministers, faced mockery as she tried to defend her record to parliament and saw her lawmakers openly quarrel over policy, deepening the sense of chaos at Westminster.

Truss’s resignation comes at a time when Britain’s fiscal reputation has hit a rock bottom with the economy heading into recession and inflation at a 40-year high.

Below is the full text of her speech in Downing Street:

“I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability. Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills, Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent and our country has been held back for too long by low economic growth.

“I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. We delivered on energy bills and on cutting National Insurance. And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.

“I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.

“This morning I met the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady. We’ve agreed that there will be a leadership election, to be completed within the next week. This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security.

“I will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen. Thank you.”

Lagdo Dam In Cameroon Not Responsible For Nigeria Flooding – Federal Government

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Angel Gimalo

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October 20, 2022

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is not responsible for the flooding that has devastated parts of the country.

Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, stated this at the 2023 budget defence of the ministry in Abuja on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

He cleared the notion that the water resulting in the flooding is from Lagdo Dam, saying that the inflow from the dam to Nigeria is only one per cent.

“Yes the dam releases water; sometimes it releases water without notice and when they do that, it has impact on communities downstream.

“It is not the main reason you have flood in this country.

“The tributaries of River Benue are the main cause. And this year, the rains have been unprecedented.

“The trans-boundary water that even comes into this country from Rivers Niger and Benue constitutes only 20 per cent of the fresh water that flows into the country.

“Eighty per cent of the flood is water we are blessed with from the sky falling on Mambila and Jos Plateau.

“Most of this flow is from Nigeria,” he said.

However, the minister said that the Federal Government is not often informed by the Cameroonian Government on the annual release of water from Lagdo Dam.

“It took a lot of effort for us for them to sign an MoU to be informing Nigeria about releases.

“It was signed in 2016. Since then, every year, when the flood season comes it is the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency that calls them to know their level of water.

“We can not blame the flood this year on Cameroon. We can only blame them for violating the terms of the MoU,” he said.

Adamu further said that government would call for a review of the MoU.

On the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa which could serve as a solution to flooding, Adamu said that “whether we are able to do the dam or not, we will continue to have floods on the Rivers Niger and Benue Basins.

“There was a consultant that had been appointed by the previous administration to work on this dam.

“When I came into office, I checked the scope of work and the terms of reference. I was not satisfied that justice will be done to that design.

“You can not build a dam as important and strategic as Dasin Hausa on River Benue without a detailed feasibility and engineering design.

“I disengaged the consultant in 2016. It was one of the 116 projects that we had.”

He, however, expressed optimism that by March 2023, the dam would be completed.

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Bello Mandiya, had urged the ministry to find lasting solution to flooding around the country.

Kaduna State Conducts 63 Free VVF Surgeries In 9 Months

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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October 20, 2022

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The Kaduna State Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre at Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria, conducted free fistula repair surgeries on 63 patients between January and September 2022.

Dr Ado Zakari, the Director of Medical Services in the state’s Ministry of Health, made this known in an interview with Newsmen in Zaria.

Zakari, the only surgeon at the centre, said that the feat was possible because of the consistent support from the state government and other stakeholders.

He said that UNFPA supported the procurement of surgical consumables and post operation drugs and supplies for management of the VVF cases.

Zakari said that the centre has the potential of conducting 312 fistula surgeries annually with a dedicated surgeon and steady supply of surgery consumables.

He described VVF, commonly known as obstetric fistula as “a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder.”

It is caused by prolonged obstructed labour leaving a woman with uncontrolled urine, faeces or both.

According to Zakari, the rate of success, which stands at between 85 to 90 per cent, is changing the narratives of the survivors as some of the husbands who rejected them now accept and support them.

He explained that most of the patients were hitherto deserted by their husbands and some close relatives.

Zakari, however, said that husbands now accompany the patients to the facility following the successes of the surgeries.

“We hardly record recurrence of VVF after repair because we track the survivors to see what they are doing and ask them to report to us when they become pregnant.

“We link them to the nearest primary healthcare facility for antenatal care and ask them to come to the centre when the pregnancy is seven months- old.

”This is to enable them continue the antenatal care until delivery through a caesarean section,” he stated.

Swiss Prosecutors Appeal Against Acquittals Of Blatter, Platini

By

Emenike Agu

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October 20, 2022

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Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks to the media after a trial at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland July 8, 2022.

Swiss federal prosecutors have filed an appeal to overturn the acquittals of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and France footballing great Michel Platini on corruption charges, they said on Thursday.

Switzerland’s Federal Criminal had c cleared the two in July after a seven-year investigation in which both were booted out of the sport.

A judge said the pair’s account of a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ for FIFA to pay Platini 2 million Swiss francs ($1.99 million)for consulting work was credible, and serious doubts existed about the prosecution’s allegation that it was a fraudulent payment.

Prosecutors had said at the time they would examine the written verdict before deciding whether to appeal against the two, who were once among the most powerful figures in global soccer and had denied wrongdoing.

WMA seeks end to Healthcare discrimination against elderly

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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October 20, 2022

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The World Medical Association has urged governments and medical professionals around the world to unite and eliminate all forms of healthcare discrimination against the elderly.

The WMA in a new policy document, says that elderly individuals experience all kinds of discrimination in healthcare.

In a statement obtained by LN247, the association says the elderly may be perceived as a burden on healthcare systems.

“As a result, rationing of certain costly and time-consuming diagnostic or therapeutic procedures takes place and clinical trials often exclude patients of a certain age,” it added.

The WMA noted that health discrimination experienced by elderly individuals might harm their physical, mental and social well-being and contributes to deterioration in their quality of life, loss of autonomy, confidence, safety, and active lifestyle, which could, in turn, decrease their levels of health.

The association stated that an increase in longevity must be accompanied by the highest quality-of-care standards, and should promote health, reduce risk factors, and provide accessible, sustainable, and quality health and social services.

The emphasis, it noted, should be on patient-focused medicine that heals, cares for, alleviates, and comforts.

The association reiterated that dealing with discrimination against the elderly requires the involvement of professionals, institutions, healthcare systems, and authorities.

It urged physicians to strive to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life of all patients without any form of discrimination toward the elderly.

The body also urged governments, medical associations, and physicians as priority actions, to defend the human rights and health of all individuals, including the elderly, as well as to ensure that their dignity is respected.

It further enjoined governments to develop appropriate and non-discriminatory healthcare policies for the elderly based on the efficient use of available healthcare resources.

The WMA also recommended that governments should establish measures to eradicate discrimination against elderly individuals in healthcare and also provide sufficient resources which ensure adequate healthcare for elderly individuals.

WMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele in the statement, said, “The ageing of the population due to increased life expectancy is one of the main challenges of many health systems, putting a strain on these systems.

“Older people are often seen as recipients of help, care and financial support. But this is inaccurate because they make significant contributions to the well-being of their environment, which has a high social value.

“So our new policy underlines what we promise in the Physicians Pledge: ‘I will not permit considerations of age…to intervene between my duty and my patient’”.

According to the WMA president, biological age should never be used as a basis for discrimination.

He noted, “We want to see governments working to eradicate discrimination against elderly individuals in healthcare and we are calling on the medical profession to eliminate all forms of discrimination due to health and age.”

EPL: Man Utd Outclass Tottenham, Nunez Earns Points For Liverpool,

By

Emenike Agu

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October 20, 2022

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Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – October 19, 2022 Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes scores their third goal that was later disallowed

Liverpool maintained their new-found momentum as Darwin Nunez scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League, but high-flying Tottenham Hotspur suffered a reality check with a 2-0 loss at Manchester United on Wednesday.

Chelsea’s run of four successive league wins came to an end as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Brentford.

Impressive Newcastle United bolstered their place in the top-six with a 1-0 victory at home to struggling Everton.

Southampton eased some pressure on manager Ralph Hasenhuttl with a 1-0 win against south coast rivals Bournemouth to climb out of the relegation zone.

Liverpool’s 1-0 win over champions Manchester City at the weekend looked like lift-off for their stuttering season but they were made to work extra hard by West Ham.

In the end they were thankful for summer signing Nunez’s first Anfield goal for the club, a superb downward header in the 22nd minute from a cross by Kostas Tsimikas.

Nunez also rattled the post with a ferocious shot but West Ham could easily have taken a point.

Jarrod Bowen’s penalty was saved by Alisson just before halftime while Tomas Soucek and Said Benrahma both had great opportunities for the visitors late on.

Liverpool moved up to seventh with 16 points from 10 games, two points behind Newcastle and three behind Manchester United.

“I don’t stand here thinking it should be an easy game for us, but we got the result and I think we deserved the result,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who was red-carded during the win over City, said. “Luck hasn’t always been on our side but maybe today we had it, or Ali, however you want to look at it.

“It is three points more, massive.”

UNITED TAKING SHAPE

After a difficult start Man Utd are slowly taking shape under Dutch manager Erik ten Hag and they added Tottenham to their wins already against Liverpool and leaders Arsenal.

But for a clutch of superb saves by keeper Hugo Lloris, United would have won by more as Tottenham squandered the chance to move into second place with a dismal display.

United rained in 18 shots on the Spurs goal in the first half without scoring, but eventually went in front when Fred’s side-footed shot deflected past Lloris in the 47th minute.

The Reds kept up the pressure and deservedly put the game to bed in the 69th minute when Bruno Fernandes powered a strike into the net after another excellent flowing move.

Newcastle, who have lost only once all season and are beginning to look like contenders for a European place, edged out Everton with a goal by Miguel Almiron.

The Paraguay international curled a shot from the edge of the box into the top corner just past the half-hour mark to condemn Everton to a third consecutive defeat.

Chelsea kept a fifth clean sheet in succession in all competitions but Graham Potter’s side could find no way past Brentford who enjoyed the better of the chances in the west London derby.

They remain fourth in the standings on 20 points, three behind Tottenham with a game in hand, but already starting to drift off the pace set at the top and facing what is already looking like a tense battle for a Champions League spot.

“They had some chances, we had some, we finished the game stronger, but it was a hard-earned point against a team who make it difficult for you,” Potter, still unbeaten after replacing Thomas Tuchel in early September, said.

Che Adams’s first-half header earned Southampton victory at Bournemouth — their first win in six games moving them up to 14th place with 11 points.

Cancer: WHO unveils campaign to address needs of patients

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Cleopatra Okohai

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October 20, 2022

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The World Health Organisation has unveiled the first global survey to better understand and address the needs of all persons affected by cancer.

WHO in a statement said that the survey was part of a broader campaign, designed with and intended to amplify the voices of those affected by cancer, survivors, caregivers, and the bereaved.

According to it, the survey is part of WHO’s Framework for Meaningful Engagement of People Living with Noncommunicable diseases.

It said that the framework was a commitment to respectfully and meaningfully engage PLWNCDs in co-designing policies, programmes, and solutions.

“The survey results will feed into the design of policies and programmes to offer better well-being in the context of a cancer diagnosis and co-create solutions for the future,” it said.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO said that nearly every family globally was affected by cancer, either directly, one in five people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime or as caregivers or family members.

Ghebreyesus said a cancer diagnosis triggers a broad and profound effect on the health and well-being of all those involved.

“For too long, the focus in cancer control has been on clinical care and not on the broader needs of people affected by cancer.

“Global cancer policies must be shaped by more than data and scientific research, to include the voices and insight of people impacted by the disease,” he said

Mrs. Ruth Hoffman, President of the American Childhood Cancer Organisation said that recent studies have shown that nearly half of people diagnosed with cancer experience anxiety and loss of faith and may be abandoned by their intimate partners.

Hoffmann said that in low and middle-income countries, financial hardship and loss of assets can be experienced by 70 per cent or more of those affected.

“When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer, our lives changed drastically and in ways that we did not expect.

“The effects of cancer last a lifetime,” Hoffman said.

Also, Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO said that understanding and amplifying the lived experiences of people affected by cancer can create more effective and supportive systems.

Mikkelsen said that yet, the needs and preferences of people with cancer and their caregivers remain unknown to many providers and policy-makers.

“We are making a long-term commitment to place people affected by cancer properly at the center of the agenda, to co-create better solutions.

“This campaign will include four phases: releasing the global survey, hosting national consultations, presenting best practices and implementing community-led initiatives.

“We are ready to open a new chapter and improve the well-being of people affected by cancer,” the director said.

Mikkelsen said that the ambition of the global survey was to reach more than 100,000 responders from 100 countries.

The director said a majority of the responders lived in low- and middle-income countries.

Mikkelsen said that the survey results are expected in early 2023 and, thereafter, used to shape policies, programmes, and services for people affected by cancer globally.

LASG orders Somolu Printers to provide environmental clean-up plan

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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October 20, 2022

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The Lagos State government has directed printers in the Shomolu community located in the Shomolu Local Government Area of the state to provide an environmental action and clean-up plan, with consideration for the people and the environment within 14 days.

The directive was issued after a published investigative piece that captured how the activities of the printers using all sorts of diesel generators for their businesses in the area leave residents of the community with deadly air and noise pollution.

The story titled: ‘Lagos community where printers laugh to banks but leave residents with deadly air, noise pollution’, published last September exposed the attendant effects of air and noise pollution coming from the poorly maintained generators on the health of Somolu residents.

The General Manager of the government agency responsible for environmental matters in Lagos, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, who gave the directive, warned the printers under the aegis of the Association of Professional Printers, Shomolu, that it will no longer be business as usual, noting that the agency will not tolerate non-compliance of businesses with environmental laws.

By law, the agency is expected to protect, manage and monitor the Lagos State environment from all forms of noise and air pollution.

Speaking after having a meeting with the printers association in Somolu, Fasawe said the state government was more determined to promote sustainable environmental management practices in Lagos communities.

The government, she said, would also ensure that the quality of ambient air residents breathes is not negatively impacted by industrial or commercial business activities.

“The agency has renewed her drive of ‘closing the loop’ and discouraging business as usual in environmental practices. It has directed that the association must provide an environmental action and clean-up plan, with consideration for the people and the environment.

“The monitoring exercise will continue in the area and will be extended to other parts of the state with similar business interests,” the LASEPA GM said.

Fasawe decried the rate of air pollution in Lagos, stressing that most Lagosians live in unhealthy public space that increases their risk of diseases like asthma, pneumonia, and heart attack amongst others.

“Thus, the laudable intervention of the agency through the “Eko Clean Air” initiative, strategically designed to protect the environment and mitigate the hardships of climate change to save people from various health challenges emanating from environmental pollution, will continue to be propagated.

“Eko Clean Air is, therefore, an advocacy and behavioral remodeling tool conceived to ensure pollution prevention in Lagos, leveraging on information dissemination amongst stakeholders, through a bottom-up and inclusive approach, towards raising awareness on pro-active and collaborative measures for adequate monitoring and mitigation of air pollution in Lagos.

“The ‘Eko Clean Air’ campaign on improved air quality and physical activity engagement brings about practices that support evidence-based advocacy for healthy climate-resilient public space in Lagos.

“The regulation and interaction with our shared environment should therefore be guided by the tenets of the people, planet, and profit in order to promote harmonious coexistence.

“The agency in addressing air pollution through advocacy and public enlightenment sessions is a way of ensuring compliance to the state’s environmental laws, regulations, guidelines and standards with sanctioning as the last resort for failure to comply with set agreements or truce reached,” Fasawe said.

The chairman of the association, Mr. Femi Adenekan, who led other executive members of the association to the meeting acknowledged the challenges and promised to work with LASEPA to ensure a lasting solution to the menace of air and noise pollution in Shomolu community by immediately setting up an Advocacy Committee Team amongst its members.

Adenekan promised to identify the users of the smoky and noisy generators amongst them in the area.

He requested a two months moratorium period to address the issue amongst its members.

The chairman said the association would invite LASEPA management to a Town Hall meeting to sensitise its members on air and noise pollution after the moratorium period.

He asked the agency to commence enforcement thereafter for non-compliant facilities.

Adenekan urged its members to avoid night operations and restrict all activities to daytime while also enjoining them to embrace soundproof generators and service them regularly to reduce air and noise pollution.

LS Lowry’s Going To The Match Sells For £7.8m At Auction

By

Koko Lawrence

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October 20, 2022

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An LS Lowry painting described as an “iconic masterpiece” has been sold at auction for a record-breaking £7.8 million.

Going To The Match depicts a bustling throng of football fans gathered at the former home of Bolton Wanderers.

It had been loaned to The Lowry gallery in Salford by the Players Foundation.

But the foundation said the financial crisis meant it was forced to sell the 1953 work, raising fears it could be lost from public display.

The buyer has been confirmed as The Lowry arts centre, securing its future at the gallery.

It was among a series of paintings that went on sale at Christie’s earlier, and sold for a hammer price of £6.6m with an additional buyer’s premium of £1.2m.

The total sum is a new record price for a work by Lowry sold at auction.

The sale was previously the subject of controversy, with the Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett insisting any new owner must keep it “free to access”.

Lowry chief executive Julia Fawcett said the purchase was made possible “thanks to an incredibly generous gift from The Law Family Charitable Foundation”.

She added: “We look forward to bringing it home to Salford, where it can continue to delight and attract visitors to the Andrew and Zoë Law galleries at The Lowry.”

Andrew Law, who founded The Law Family Charitable Foundation with his wife Zoe, and has donated to the Lowry over the years, said the couple were “delighted” to have facilitated the purchase.

He added: “This LS Lowry painting belongs in Salford on public view, close to his birthplace, where he was educated and where he lived.”

Dennett, who wrote to prominent local figures and business leaders asking for help to buy the work, said: “I am delighted our campaign to save this critical and important painting has successfully resulted in The Lowry securing it tonight.

“We emphatically believed Going to the Match should remain on public view.

“For the city of Salford in perpetuity for generations to come, for residents and visitors to our great city.”

Lowry, who died in 1976, spent much of his life in Salford and his work is strongly associated with the city.

Going To The Match is one of several football subjects painted by Lowry, who was always keenly interested in sport.

Many of the pictures have either direct or imaginary links with Burnden Park, the then-home of Bolton Wanderers, which was only a few miles from where the artist lived.

It won Lowry first prize in a 1953 exhibition, which was sponsored by The Football Association, and was last auctioned in 1999, when it was acquired by the charity for about £2m.