Roe Vs Wade: Abortion pills to become next battleground in US reproductive fight

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June 27, 2022

The fight over reproductive rights in America is set to shift to a new dimension, namely abortion-inducing pills, as conservative US states enact abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s bombshell decision.

With little other means at its disposal, the Biden administration will focus on expanding access to abortion pills for women living in states where the procedure is banned or restricted — while those states and powerful conservative groups are sure to mount legal challenges to prohibit their use.

Hours after the high court shredded 50 years of constitutional protections for abortion rights on Friday, President Joe Biden ordered health officials to make sure abortion pills were available to American women.

“I will do all in my power to protect a woman’s right in states where they will face the consequences of today’s decision,” he said in a televised address to the nation.

The abortion pills, which can be used without significant risk to terminate a pregnancy up to 10 weeks’ gestation, already account for half of all abortions carried out in the United States.

Demand is set to soar further after 11 states mostly in the Republican-led conservative South moved to severely restrict or fully ban abortion, with others set to follow suit.

Already Saturday, some activists rallying outside the Supreme Court in the US capital Washington held up posters with instructions on where women can get abortion pills, while others chanted “My body, my choice.”

Rebecca Gomperts, a Dutch physician who runs Aid Access, an Austria-based organization that provides abortion pills over the internet, is confident that the situation now faced by American women is not as tragic as it was 50 years ago, before the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling of 1973 that enshrined abortion rights in America.

“The abortion pills cannot be stopped,” Gomperts told AFP in a phone interview. “So there is always access to a safe abortion if a woman has an unwanted pregnancy.”

But after Friday’s ruling, that may be easier said than done.

9-Year-Old Appeals To World Leaders To Help To End Child Abuse

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 27, 2022

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Halima Abdulkareem, a nine-year-old child advocate, has appealed to Commonwealth leaders to join forces to end child abuse and molestation in Africa and in the world.

Halima, an African made the appeal at the Women’s forum at the just concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali.

The child, who appeared to be the youngest member of the forum, was recognised by Prof. Ruth Kattumuri, Senior Director Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development at the Commonwealth of Nations.

Kattumuri invited the child advocate to make a short remark at the meeting.

In an interview with the LN247 on Sunday, the child advocate appealed to all to contribute to end of the menace.

“Every day, one out of 10 African children is molested and has no voice to speak out.

“For more than two years, I took it upon myself to be the voice of the silent majority of children that are molested and abused without getting justice.

“We all need to stand against child molestation because every single child molested has lost the right to life, the right to education, and also the right to safety,” Halima said.

Halima, an ambassador of the United Nations Rescue Service, has authored a book: “Child Abuse and what you need to know’’.

She said the book, which is yet to be made available publicly, would be distributed to schools to enlighten pupils about child abuse.

JUST IN: Olukayode Ariwoola Appointed Acting Chief Justice

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Angel Gimalo

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June 27, 2022

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The Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Has Been Appointed The Acting Chief Justice Of Nigeria By President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ariwoola Succeeds Justice Muhammad Tanko Who, Suddenly, Resigned Monday Morning, Allegedly On Health Grounds.

Ariwoola Was Appointed A Justice Of The Supreme Court Of Nigeria In 2011.

His Confirmation Is Subject To The Approval Of President Muhammadu Buhari Who Is Expected To Forward His Name For Screening To The Senate.

Many Insist That Tanko Did The Honourable Thing By Resigning, Especially, After The Scandalous Spat, A Few Days Ago With 14 Justices Of The Supreme Court Who Indirectly Passed A Vote Of No Confidence In Him.

BREAKING NEWS: Justice Muhammad Resigns As Nigeria’s Chief Justice

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Angel Gimalo

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June 27, 2022

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The Chief Justice Of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, Has Resigned.

Justice Muhammad Resigned On Sunday Night, Citing Ill-Health As The Reason For His Decision.

Information Also Has It That Arrangements Are Ongoing To Swear In The Next Most Senior Justice Of The Supreme Court, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, As The Acting Chief Justice Of Nigeria.

According To Reports, A Formal Announcement Will Be Made Shortly.

Until His Resignation, Reports Had It That Justice Muhammad Was Seriously Ill.

Last Week, 14 Justices Of The Supreme Court Had Written Him A Letter To Lament The Decrepit State Of Affairs In The Apex Court.

In The Leaked Letter, The Justices Accused The Cjn Of Refusing To Address The Issues Despite Drawing His Attention To Them.

They Complained Of A Lack Of Residential Accommodation And Vehicles At The Court.

The Justices Decried The Lack Of Legal Research Assistants, Despite The Magnitude Of Cases Being Adjudicated.

Expert warns Hepatitis C, B Infections can spread through dirty public Toilets

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Cleopatra Okohai

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June 27, 2022

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A medical researcher, Dr. Dan Onwujekwe, has urged Nigerians to pay attention to the hygiene of the public toilets they use, warning that Hepatitis B and C infections could be acquired from them.

He noted that people could acquire the viral infection if there is direct contact with the blood or open sores of a person who had been infected

According to the expert, people should disinfect public toilets with bleach before using them to avoid exposing themselves to the risk of infections.

Dr. Onwujekwe who is a Retired Chief Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, said people could acquire infections such as hepatitis B and C from public toilets if the seats are contaminated with blood or faecal matter.

According to him, COVID-19 has taught the world a lot of things and the need for people to be health-conscious anywhere they are.

He noted that many people are not aware of the risk involved in using public toilets without disinfecting the seat with bleach or detergent.

The researcher explained, “There are infections that you can acquire from public toilets.

“People should know that when the seat is contaminated with blood or faecal matter, infections like hepatitis B or C that don’t die off immediately can be acquired.

“If a person with a wound or cut sits on it and the wound gets contaminated with that fluid that was dropped there, then the person that uses it afterward could acquire hepatitis B or C from such a toilet seat.

“So, the simple thing is to disinfect the toilet seat before using it. It will render it safe because these things die off when seats are disinfected.

“But a lot of people don’t do that. When they go and acquire other infections, they will come and tell you it is a toilet infection. But it is not.”

According to him, hepatitis B and C don’t die off quickly unlike HIV which dies off quickly when it is exposed to the air.

“Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, caused by virus types including A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are commonly prevalent forms of viral hepatitis.

“The common factors associated with transmission of both HBV and HCV infections are the same including exposure to infective blood, injection drug use, and reuse of syringe, except that HBV infection can also be caused by sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission at the prenatal stage,” he said.

Dr. Onwujekwe maintained that public toilets should constantly have disinfectants and 10 per cent bleach so that users can wipe their seats before using them.

“Those who manage the toilets should be educated on the importance of keeping it clean at all times and making disinfectants available, especially 10 per cent bleach.

“These simple measures will reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis and protect the other users,” he said.

Continuing, he said infectious diseases including HIV, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis are great global public health concerns.

According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, about 20 million Nigerians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and C.

Dr. Onwujekwe urged the government at all levels to create effective community-based health education programs to create awareness among the public about routes of transmission and prevention from viral hepatitis.

Afghanistan Quake: Pakistan Sends Relief Material

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Angel Gimalo

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June 26, 2022

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Cargo planes from Pakistan and Qatar carrying relief material for Afghan earthquake survivors have landed at the Khost airport, officials said on Saturday, as rescuers struggle to deliver aid to remote regions in the wake of Wednesday’s devastating earthquake.

Thousands have been left homeless or injured by the magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Paktika and Khost provinces, which state media said killed 1,150 people. An aftershock on Friday took five more lives.

The United Nations children’s agency representative in Afghanistan said 121 children were among those killed and that figure was expected to climb.

Authorities have now ended the search for survivors from the earthquake that also wounded nearly 2,000 people in what is being billed as the deadliest disaster in nearly two decades.

People in Paktika province have been desperate for food, shelter and drinking water, as humanitarian aid slowed down due to poor infrastructure as well as diplomatic and financial isolation of the Afghan government led by the Taliban.

Survivor Dawlat Khan in the district of Gayan in Paktika province said five members of his family were injured and his house was destroyed in the earthquake.

“We are facing many problems. We need all kind of support, and we request the international community and Afghans who can help to come forward and help us,” he said.

Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador in the Afghan capital of Kabul, said relief goods dispatched by Pakistan on Saturday were handed over to Taliban officials.

“It was our duty to help our Afghan brethren at this difficult time,” he said.

Overstretched aid agencies said the disaster underscored the need for the international community to rethink its financial cut-off of Afghanistan since the Taliban seized the country 10 months ago when US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war and occupation.

That policy, halting billions in development aid and freezing vital reserves, has pushed the aid-dependent economy into collapse and plunged Afghanistan deeper into humanitarian crises and near famine. Nearly 75 percent of the Afghan economy was supported by foreign aid before the Taliban takeover.

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission To Issue Petroleum Prospecting Licences To Awardees

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Angel Gimalo

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June 26, 2022

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In fulfillment of the promise made early this year, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 in Abuja, issue Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPL) to successful awardees of Marginal Fields in the 2020 Bid Round, pursuant to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

Chief executive of the Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, made this known in a statement.

Komolafe said NUPRC will also unveil the Implementation Template for the Host Communities Development Trust for commencement of the provisions under Section 235 of the PIA, 2021, to positively impact against restiveness in the host communities; and in the process guarantee seamless operations, boost investors’ confidence and provide enabling environment for sustainable development of the country’s hydrocarbon resources.

Transportation Ministry Working Towards Reducing Cargo Dwell Time At Port

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 26, 2022

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The minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, says she would put processes in place to ensure that shipping companies promptly refund container deposits paid by importers and agents.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with maritime stakeholders including terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders and others in Lagos, Saraki frowned at the high cost of doing business at the nation’s seaports, vowing to reverse the trend.

She said, she would work with other stakeholders to reduce cargo dwell time at the port, while assuring stakeholders of sustained communication and engagement to make the ports more productive.

“The maritime industry is a major engine room in our national economy and as such, we must ensure that infrastructure is adequate and that there’s synergy across the industry while providing access to all our stakeholders.

“And communication is the first step to solving any business problem. So, we are here to talk with our stakeholders. This town hall meeting will hopefully bridge any communication gap and drive the sector to a greater height.

“The enterprise architecture we plan on implementing will ensure that the communication is dynamic and not stagnant and integrate into the ministry’s plan.

At Federal Ministry of Transportation, we value all our stakeholders as partners in governance and business,” Saraki said.

The stakeholders commended Saraki for convening the meeting and assured her of full cooperation to reposition the maritime industry for greater productivity.

Demolition: Federal Capital Territory Minister Says Sanity Will Be Restored

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Angel Gimalo

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June 26, 2022

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The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has expressed satisfaction with the renewed enforcement activities of the FCT Task force on City Sanitation.

Bello, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the activities of the task force were aimed at ensuring the restoration and maintenance of sanity in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

Bello said, ”there would be no sanity in the city without enforcement.

”All the demolitions and other forms of enforcement, especially those affecting high profile persons that the Task force did, had no reason for me to intervene.

” Honestly, I appreciate you all for what you are doing. All the demolitions; all the arrests that you have done, no big man could call me to stop you, because they know I don’t do so

“That’s why they don’t talk about it. So, just go and do your work.

“What I’m telling you is exactly the feeling of the Commander- in- Chief also, because we have to enforce.

“Without enforcement, it’s not possible, the difference between us and animals is enforcement simply, and we in the administration have to try our best to help you.”

Earlier, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said the authorities were really feeling the impact of the task force, as their work was very palpable and appealing to the stakeholders.

According to Adesola, ”this couldn’t have been possible without the political will and support of the FCT Minister, who always wants the right thing to be done.

“I have always been seeing the face of Mr Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister and Head of Task force on City Sanitation, as the faces of all of you.

” So it is good we are seeing you all today. We are really feeling you, because we are seeing the work that you are doing.

“On the service delivery platform, I am always there, and the feedback we received from you is worth encouraging and appealing.

”What we are telling people now is that we have to obey and comply with the law.

” I thank the Minister for receiving you personally; this is to tell you that you have all the moral support, political support and what is left is for you to do more.

” Make sure you deal according to the law, and don’t do anything out of vengeance. Please, we assure you of our total support, financial support or otherwise.”

Also, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, reassured that the Police and other security agencies involved in the enforcement drive would not relent on working towards maintaining the sanctity of the territory.

He, however, appealed to the FCT Administration to continue to support them to keep the tempo.

Responding, the minister’s aide, Attah, said for the minister to receive the task force showed that they did not disappoint those who chose them from their various security agencies and FCTA departments to do the enforcement work.

N375bn Export Grants: Organised Private Sector Exporters Association Appeals o National Assembly To Expedite Ratification

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 26, 2022

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The Organised Private Sector Exporters Association (OPEXA) has appealed to the National Assembly (NASS) to urgently ratify the approval of the N375 billion Export Expansion Grants (EEG) for exporters.

The N375 billion represents the backlog of the EEG from 2017 to 2020, whose payment was delayed due to budgetary constraints.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the disbursement in form of Promissory Notes, which will become effective after the ratification by NASS.

Mr Jaiyeola Olanrewaju, the Executive Secretary of OPEXA in a statement on Saturday urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the ratification process to boost the country’s export sector.

“We sincerely appreciate the gesture shown by Mr President and the Vice President to support the non-oil export sector.

“We also commend the intervention of both the Ministers of Finance and Industry, Trade and Investment, who tabled the issue of the EEG backlog at the cabinet.

“We now appeal to both the houses of the NASS to expedite the ratification of the approval given by the Federal Executive Council to provide relief to the exporters who have been starved of liquidity.

“This appeal becomes more urgent in view of the fact that the ratification will be the beginning of another long process,” he said.

He said after the ratification, imput of other relevant stakeholders like the Debt Management Office, International Auditors (Peat Marwick) and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council would be required.

“No doubt, this process takes a while,” he said.

According to Olanrewaju, it will be pertinent to note that the Presidential Committee on Continuous Audit (PICA) had earlier carried out a validation exercise on the claims.

He said that the exercise included physical inspection of the facilities of beneficiary companies.

He commended effort by the government to reform the EEG policy, adding that actual implementation of the policy was most desirable.

“It was the report by PICA that the Ministry of Finance presented via a memo to the FEC for approval.

“It is the same report that is now before the National Assembly for ratification.

“A timely disbursement will help millions of Nigerian farmers who rely on the export sector for funds through the planting and harvest season for 2022.

“OPEXA notes that reform of the EEG policy is commendable, however, what is needed now is its actual implementation.

“The government needs to show sincerity and commitment to generate confidence in its policies,” he said.

The executive secretary said the exporters embraced the new policy in good faith by investing in export processing factories and made commitments to foreign buyers.

He said that the non-oil export sector had agro-allied linkages and supports the livelihood of over 11 million Nigerians directly and indirectly.

“It is vital for diversification of Nigerian economy and revenue base,” he said.