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Primary Healthcare Agency Pledges More Support To Sokoto State

Olasunbo Okoromi
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Primary Healthcare Agency Pledges More Support To Sokoto State

The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, says the agency will continue to provide more support to Sokoto State.

Dr Shuaib made the pledge when he paid a courtesy visit to Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Sultan of Sokoto.

According to him, despite the huge investment of Governor Tambuwal on Primary Healthcare still, the state is yet to have a commiserate improvement on indicators.

“So when you look at the routine immunisation and antenatal coverage you will find that there is still a commitment that is desired in terms of how to meet indicators so that the quality of health of citizens in Sokoto State can be improved.

Dr Shuaib noted that engaging with the State government and traditional institutions has been the only way forward to understand problems at a community level and provide more primary healthcare access to the grassroots level with the minimum available resources provided by the government and other development partners.

Responding, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, expressed his appreciation to Dr Faisal Shuaib and other development partners for the support given to the state.

He said the support has been measurable and more helpful to healthcare service delivery in the State.

Governor Tambuwal assured them a continuous collaboration on all the areas of coverage of the support that was intended to offer to the State.

He appeal for more support to Sokoto from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and other development partners to address the challenges of low immunisation rates, maternal mortality and all other associated health-related issues.

 In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar the III, thanked the team for the visit.

He noted that traditional institutions look forwards for more many meaningful engagements.

The Sultan assured the team that their doors are always open and would continue to do their best to enlighten people for the benefit of having a healthy society.

W.H.O Deputy Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Alex Chimbary and UNICEF Chief of Health Country office, Dr. Eduardo Celades, expressed their happiness on the State government and Sultanate council commitments to work with NPHCDA and partners to ensure effective Healthcare Services delivery.

Nigerian Senate Approves Six Additional Law School Campuses

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Nigerian Senate Approves Six Additional Law School Campuses

The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill to increase the number of Nigerian Law School campuses in the country from  7 to 13.

The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc) Act by establishing the campuses for the Nigerian Law School, and for other related matters” was sponsored by Kogi West Senator Smart Adeyemi.

The passage of the Bill followed the adoption of the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that considered the Bill.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, presented the report.

According to the Bill, campuses of the Nigerian Law School and their locations include Bwari Law School Campus, FCT, Abuja;  Kabba Law School Campus (Northcentral); Jos Law School, Plateau State (North Central); Yola Law School Campus, Adamawa (Northeast), Maiduguri Law School campus, Borno State (Northeast); Lagos Law School Campus (Southwest) and Ilawe Law School campus, Ekiti  State (Southwest).

Others are Kano Law School Campus (Northwest); Argungun Law School Campus, Kebbi State (Northwest), Enugu Law School Campus, Enugu State (Southeast); Okija Law School Campus (Southeast); Yenegoa Law School Campus, Bayelsa State (Southsouth); Port Harcourt Law School Campus, Rivers State (Southsouth) and Orogun Law School campus, Delta State (Southsouth).

According to the Bill, “There shall be established a minimum of two campuses in each of the six geopolitical zones, as specified in the schedule to the Bill.

“Subject to the provision of subsection 3, of this section, creation of additional campuses of the Nigerian Law School shall be approved by the National Assembly through legislation whenever the need arises.”

The Senate resolved that the Bwari Law School should be for the Federal Capital City, while the proposed campuses in Kabba, Kogi State and Jos, Plateau state would take care of the North Central zone.

The committee said: “That in view of the exponential increase in the number of law graduates from our universities and even foreign universities, coupled with the backlog that existed over the years, this legislative intervention measure is not only apt and timely but paramount;

“That without prejudice to the establishment of the Law School Campus in Port-Harcourt, the provision for additional campuses in the six geopolitical zones of the federation in this Bill is appropriate as it has not tampered with the seven existing campuses p, established by administrative responsibilities of the Council of Legal Education;

“That the existing campuses are overstretched and the infrastructures are not enough to accommodate thousands of law students graduating from the universities;

“That apart from the statutory requirement for the creation of additional campuses, it should be strictly on the basis of need assessment and fulfilment of other indicators, such as convenience, and accessibility by lecturers, staff and students, availability of office, lecture theatre and hostel facilities, proximity to courts and law offices; and

“That the Federal Government should, as a matter of priority, provide adequate resources for the funding of the infrastructural needs of the Law School campuses, across the country.”

New York Joins Blue States Easing Covid Rules, Drops Indoor Mask Mandate.

faith Jegede
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New York Joins Blue States Easing Covid Rules, Drops Indoor Mask Mandate.

New york’s Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the state is dropping its stringent indoor mask mandate on ending a requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of full vaccination or require mask-wearing at all times, and marking a turning point in the state’s coronavirus response, according to three people briefed on her decision.

The decision will eliminate a rule that prompted legal and interpersonal clashes over mask-wearing, especially in conservative parts of New York.

Hochul’s decision will let the mask mandate lapse but it remains unclear whether the governor would drop the separate mask mandate issued in New York schools that is set to expire in two weeks.

The easing of New York’s pandemic restrictions on businesses comes as Democratic-led states from New Jersey to California have announced similar moves this week, in a loosely coordinated effort that is the result of months of protests, back-channel discussions, and political focus groups.

The trend began with Governor of New Jersey Philip D. Murphy who began the effort last fall, weeks after he was stunned by the energy of right-wing voters in his blue state, who nearly ousted him from office in what was widely expected to be an easy re-election campaign. Arranging a series of focus groups across the state to see what they had missed, Mr. Murphy’s advisers were struck by the findings: Across the board, voters shared frustrations over public health measures, a sense of pessimism about the future and a deep desire to return to some sense of normalcy.

He lifted the mask mandate for schools in his state on Monday.

But slowly, as case rates began to fall again in January, conversations between Mr. Murphy’s aides and senior officials in other states began to pick back up.

Finally Democratic voters, were wearying of the restrictions, growing increasingly impatient with mandates and feeling ready to live with the risk that remained. As cases plummeted, the public health dynamics were shifting.

Last week, they took their concerns to the White House. As members of the National Governors Association gathered for a meeting in the East Room, several asked President Biden to provide clear guidelines for their states to move from the crisis footing of a pandemic to a recognition that the virus was here to stay — and that it could be managed without completely upending daily life.

“What does the road from pandemic to endemic look like, and how do we keep score?” Mr. Murphy, the association’s vice chairman, later told reporters, describing the discussion. “There was broad agreement that’s the task before us.”

Viral Video: Veritas Varsity To Investigate The Classroom Hair Cut

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Viral Video: Veritas Varsity To Investigate The Classroom Hair Cut

The management of Veritas University, Abuja, on Wednesday said it was investigating a video that showed a lecturer of the school shaving the hair of a student in the classroom.

The Spokesperson of the institution, Evelyn Obekpa, disclosed this in an interview with news correspondent in Abuja.

The PUNCH reports that a viral video had revealed a yet to be identified lecturer of the institution shaving the hair of a male student with scissors in a classroom.

Though the cause of the lecturer’s action has not been disclosed, the school vowed to launch an investigation into the situation.

Obekpa said, “We are aware of the video, however, we are investigating the incident.”

Lagos Launches Eye Health Program In Secondary Schools

Olasunbo Okoromi
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Lagos Launches Eye Health Program In Secondary Schools

The Lagos State Government has launched the Secondary School Eye Health Programme; the first of its kind in Nigeria.

This is in continuation of its effort to reduce visual impairment and blinding eye conditions amongst students, particularly pupils of Secondary schools in Lagos,

Speaking at the launch of the program at Oregun Junior High School, Ikeja, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi noted that the Secondary school eye health program is one of the strategies of the State Government through its Blindness Prevention Program to reduce the burden of childhood blindness in Lagos State.

He explained that the Secondary School Eye Health Program has four main components including; training of teachers on vision screening in all the state secondary schools starting with the junior secondary schools; installation of vision screening board in all the state secondary schools; equipping of all secondary schools with vision screening kits and management and referrals of students with eye conditions by the Blindness Preventive Team.

He said: “Vision impairment affects people of all ages and children are not left out. The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts. Visual impairment from uncorrected refractive error has immediate and long-term consequences. It can hamper performance, reduce productivity and generally impair quality of life.

Abayomi enjoined teachers to also use the opportunity offered by the secondary eye health program to examine their eyes stressing that the program is for students, teachers and school staff alike.

The Commissioner who noted that that WAEC performance of schools in Lagos has increased from 39 percent to 80 percent, attributed the excellent performance to the hard work and dedication of teachers adding the feat is a testimonial of the successes of various education policies being implemented in the State. “I can also assure you that this secondary school eye health program will further enhance the performance of our students”, Abayomi concluded.

Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye explained that the School Eye Health Program was launched in the year 2006, and held in primary schools on IBILE basis to carry out eye screening for the pupils.

He added that the scope of the program was expanded in 2012 to include training of teachers and installation of vision screening board in all the state primary schools.

The Permanent Secretary noted that it was in furtherance of the bid to address the burden of visual impairment and ensure better blindness prevention program coverage, that secondary school eye health program was launched.

“The Secondary School Eye Health Program started with the training of teachers in the Junior Secondary schools; these training commenced last week and will be ending on the 11th February 2022. So far, 306 teachers have been trained and 175 vision corridors have been installed. It is our expectation that after the training all the teachers will be able to carry out the vision screening assessment”, he stated.

He noted that beyond the School Eye health program, the Lagos State School Health program also addresses health issues that could militate against better learning experience including componets such as the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Dental Care, Personal and Environmental Hygiene and Mental Health Care.

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji laud the collaboration between the Lagos State Ministries of Health and Education which resulted in the birthing of the expanded School Eye Health Program – the Secondary School Eye Health Program.

He added that the program will help alleviate the sufferings of students with visual impairments and ultimately improve the academic performance of secondary school pupils in the State.

The high point of the event was the presentation of eye glasses to students, vision screening kits to trained secondary schools teachers and unveiling of the vison corridor at the Oregun Junior High school.

ASUU Strike: Gombe State Varsity Observes Nine-hour Lecture-Free Day 

Rhoda Onuzulike
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ASUU Strike: Gombe State Varsity Observes Nine-hour Lecture-Free Day 

The Gombe State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, embarked on a nine-hour lecture-free day in response to the directive of ASUU National Executive Council. 

Arising from a congress on Tuesday, Chairman of Gombe State University Chapter, Suleiman Jauro, said the lecture-free period would take place between 3pm to 12am, adding that it was geared towards drawing the attention of the government to honour its agreement.

Jauro revealed that the GSU chapter is committed to abiding by the decision of the National Executive Council on the continuation or otherwise of the strike.

According to him, “We just held a Congress now on the directives of National Executive Council to assess the level of implementation of the 2009 agreement in the Memorandum of Action which we have with the government and they have been reneging on this.

“As a result of that Congress was convened and some resolutions were taken; our members are displeased with the level of implementation of this agreement and as a result of that we have voted for the resumption of the suspended strike action that was suspended in December 2020.

“To show our displeasure we have declared today (Tuesday) as lecture-free day, effective from 3pm to 12 midnight.”

While harping on the need for government to stop the impending strike action, he called on the public to appeal to the authorities to forestall the consequences of the mass action.

“We are going to NEC, in the University of Lagos, on 13th February the National Executive Council of the union will decide what action to take, and our branch here is fully ready to abide by the decision.

“Government can avert this looming strike by implementing the agreement we have with them. We call on the general public to prevail on the government to do the needful, to honour the pact they have with us,” he added.

Federal Executive Council Approves N12 Billion For Airport Equipment

Angel Gimalo
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<strong data-src=Federal Executive Council Approves N12 Billion For Airport Equipment" title="Federal Executive Council Approves N12 Billion For Airport Equipment" />

The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N12.097 billion for the award of contract for the replacement of weather measuring equipment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of this week’s meeting of the council, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the decision to replace the equipment was in line with the current administration’s policy of renovating decayed infrastructure at the country’s airports.

Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed and Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika during the virtual FEC Meeting held at the Council Chambers, State House Abuja.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN and Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika during the virtual FEC Meeting held at the Council Chambers, State House Abuja.

“Today in council, a memo was presented by us in aviation for the replacement of our AVO bridges and the amount of the contract to be awarded is N12, 097, 215, 800.09 including 7.5 percent Value Added Tax. The duration of the contract is 12 months.

“This contract is not only for supply but it is also for installation and maintenance including spare parts and this has been approved by council.

“This is part of all that we have been doing to re-activate the failing infrastructure within the country and of course, Lagos being a major airport in the country, this will make passenger facilitation easier and safer as well as add value and create more efficiency within the system of that particular airport.”

Sirika said the renovation process will be replicated in other airports across the country.

JAMB Shifts UTME Registration Deadline To February 26

Rhoda Onuzulike
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JAMB Shifts UTME Registration Deadline To February 26

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has rescheduled the registration for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry for Saturday, February 19 to February 26, 2022.

Though the board initially stated it would not reschedule its registration process, following the suspension of the verification portal for the National Identity Number of the National Identity Management Commission due to hitches.

A statement by JAMB’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, explained that the one-week postponement was to allow for more fine-tuning of the upgraded and more user-friendly procedures for candidates’ registration.

The statement read in part, “The process, which will be concluded within the one-week extension period, is also aimed at accommodating feedback from candidates and other stakeholders alike.

“The board wishes the general public to note that it is ever-ready to provide world-class services to Nigerians.

“Further to the above, the new and improved procedures for the 2022 UTME registration will be made available on the board’s website, its weekly bulletin as well as other media outlets on Monday, February 14, 2022.

“The candidates are by this notice urged to follow keenly the procedures for registration as will be announced by the board.”

JAMB also insisted that prospective candidates would have no choice but to register with their respective NINs for the 2022 examinations despite the challenges reported in 2021.

FIFA ‘Inundated’ With 17 Million Requests For World Cup Tickets

Emenike Agu
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FIFA ‘Inundated’ With 17 Million Requests For World Cup Tickets

Fans have sought 17 million tickets for this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar, Fifa said on Tuesday (Feb 8), making it more than five times over-subscribed.

Higher prices being demanded for the best tickets – which cost up to US$1,600 (S$2,150) for the final – and controversy over Qatar’s bid did not deter followers of the world’s most popular sport.

“Fans across the globe have proven their enthusiasm,” Fifa said.

Demand was highest from the host country of the November-December event. But Fifa said it had been “inundated” with requests from Argentina, Brazil, England, France, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Some 1.8 million tickets were sought just for the final which will be held in the 80,000 seat Lusail stadium on Dec 18, the world body said.

Tickets for the game will cost between 605 riyals (S$220) – for some Qatari residents – and 5,850 riyals. The top price is more than 45 per cent higher than best places for the 20118 final in Russia, which was won by France.

The cheapest final tickets for international fans are 2,200 riyals, about a third more expensive than last time and some fan groups have complained about the prices.

Organisers said about 3.3 million tickets for all games will be available. Qatari residents, including its army of migrant workers, will pay as little as US$11 for a ticket to less popular games.

Fifa, which hopes to make more than US$500 million from tickets, broadcasting rights and other World Cup commercial revenues, said fans who were successful in a computer lottery would be told by March 8.

Qatar braces for visitor deluge

After the 20 days of applications closed Tuesday, Fifa said it will check applications before tickets are allocated in a computer draw.

Qatar has been preparing for 11 years for the first World Cup in the Arab world and the first held in the traditional winter months of the top football nations. The date was moved because of the scorching summer temperatures in the Gulf.

It has spent billions of dollars on a building blitz including seven new stadiums and refurbishing one, all in a 50km radius of central Doha

The Lusail stadium is to be inaugurated next month but many surrounding skyscrapers are still engulfed in cranes.

Qatar has also faced questions over its rights record – especially conditions for migrant workers who built the stadiums – and what fans can expect.

Rights groups say hundreds of workers have died in accidents and the heat. A number of national teams staged protests over rights concerns during qualifying matches.

Qatar authorities say conditions and labour laws have changed drastically over the past decade and they have been “unfairly” criticised.

The tiny state is expecting up to 1.2 million visitors but as it does not have enough hotel rooms, thousands of fans will be housed on cruise ships during the event.

“The first Fifa World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world will be an extraordinary event,” according to Nasser Al Khater, Qatar’s chief organiser who has promised that everything will be ready.

Fifa released the figures as Qatar marked a National Sports Day holiday. Former England star David Beckham, now an ambassador for the Qatar organisers, appeared at a women’s football tournament in the Gulf state. No spectators were allowed however.

Hasan al-Haj, who was jogging with his daughter at the Education City complex in Doha, said he had applied for tickets for five matches.

“There is not a fever yet, we can see there is still a lot to do, but I know a lot of people here who applied. This is going to be an important event. We will discover the world and the world will see what Qatar can do,” he said proudly.

Fifa and the organisers have not said what they will do if the coronavirus pandemic surges again but insist they have plans.

Nigerian Government Partners Japanese Agency On Power Expansion Projects

Angel Gimalo
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Nigerian Government Partners Japanese Agency On Power Expansion Projects

The Nigerian Government is partnering with the Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA on the implementation of transmission expansion programme.

The programme is aimed at expanding the power transmission network to support the rapidly expanding industries in Lagos and Ogun States.

Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu while receiving the JICA delegation in his office in Abuja, assured them of government’s resolve to ensure that best practices are applied particularly to infrastructure development in the electricity supply industry in Nigeria.

He noted that transmission is a major stake of government which is targeted at raising operational capacity to an appreciable level particularly at areas where industries are rapidly expanding.

According to him, consultancy services for line route studies, environmental and social impact assessment and social management plan for the proposed JICA transmission projects in Lagos and Ogun states have been completed.

Senior Representative JICA, Nigeria office, Sasaki Taigo and team lead said their mission was to confirm the content of loan agreement and project memorandum of the Lagos and Ogun power transmission system improvement project with relevant Ministries and implementation Agencies.

He said meetings with relevant authorities will commence with the aim of having the loan agreement signed in March 2022.

The Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme to be carried out by the Transmission Company of Nigeria through a loan of $200million to be obtained from the JICA is to provide about 203km high voltage transmission lines and six high voltage substations which cover five Local Government Areas in Ogun State and one Local government Area in Lagos State with appropriately 200 communities affected.

The counterpart funding for compensation of Project Affected Persons, Consultancy services for line route studies, environmental and social impact assessment, environmental social management plan for the proposed JICA transmission projects in Lagos and Ogun states is reflected in the 2021/ 2022 appropriation of the Ministry.

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