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Kaduna State Eye Centre Begins Corneal Refractive Surgery

By
Olasunbo Okoromi
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Doctors at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna have been commended for successfully launching Corneal Refractive Surgery (CRS) services, using the Laser Machine- the first of its kind- in a Nigerian public hospital.

Speaking on the essence of the Corneal Refractive Surgery Services at the National Eye Centre Kaduna, the Chief Medical Director, Doctor Mahmoud Alhassan said they intend to bridge the technology gap between Nigeria and Europe and as well, reduce medical tourism. “We promise to give evidence-based care to our  patients here in Nigeria .”

The CMD disclosed that the centre’s Doctors,  surgeons and support staff have undergone training and retraining severally. Speaking with newsmen during the routine one-month follow-up on all the five pioneer patients treated via Corneal Refractive Surgery, one of the patients, Aisha Suleiman Abdullahi, who had a refractive error and had used glasses for three years said prior to the surgery, she had doubts but was encouraged.

Earlier, Dr Peter Jiya, a Consultant Ophthalmologist with the National Eye Centre explained that Corneal Refractive Surgery is not a new procedure, saying over 9.5 million people in the United States of America and more than 40 million worldwide have had Corneal Refractive Surgery (CRS) in the last 25 – 30yrs.  He explained that CRS is a laser procedure in which the cornea, the windscreen and the transparent part of the eye are reshaped (sculpted) so as to finally allow images of objects of regard to be focused clearly on the retina.

According to him, refractive errors are common clinical conditions where people are unable to see very well. This, he said, is because of the eye’s inability to focus images on the retina. He stated that the acceptable standard remedy for refractive errors after diagnosis and clinical investigation (Refraction), is the use of prescribed corrective lenses (glasses) which are given for better sight.

 Dr. Jiya also said the surgery is the first of its kind in Nigerian public hospitals and is done at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna in collaboration with a foreign Corneal Refractive Surgeon from Algeria on the service. He further stated that initially, several patients were screened but, five of them were found fit and were prepared for the procedure.

Yaya Bello’s Candidate Wins APC Primary Election in Kogi

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced Ahmed Ododo as the winner of Kogi governorship primary election held on Friday ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election

Ododo,a former Auditor General of Kogi State, who was earlier endorsed by Governor Yahaya Bello as his preferred successor, scored 78,704 votes in the direct primary election conducted by the ruling party.

Thuggery: INEC Threatens To Cancel Results Of Crises Ridden Areas In Kogi

The Chairman,APC Governorship Primary Election Committee in Kogi State, Governor Mohammed Bello of Zamfara State conducted the exercise.

Recall that the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mohammed Asuku along with six other aspirants withdrew from the Governorship race ahead of the APC primary.

Similarly,Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Friday secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for his second term bid.

Uzodinma, the sole contender in the primary election that took place in Owerri, polled 63,618 valid votes.

The Chairman of the seven-member 2023 Governorship Primary Election Committee, Rear Adm. Williams Kayoda (rtd.), disclosed that 64,667 delegates from the 305 wards of the 27 Local Government Areas were accredited for the poll.

Kayoda stated that the exercise was conducted in compliance with the party’s Constitution, the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended), the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the guidelines provided by the national leadership of the party.

Banana Island Building Collapse: Lagos Government Says Building Had No Approval

By
Angel Gimalo
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The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, says no approval was given for the construction of the seven-storey that collapsed in Banana Island on Wednesday evening, April 12.

The construction workers were said to be on the sixth floor of the building attempting to lay the seventh floor when the building caved in, trapping so many of the workers.

In a statement released by its Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, the Lagos state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said an investigation has commenced into the incident. The statement read;

“PRESS RELEASE

LASG INVESTIGATING COLLAPSED BUILDING IN BANANA ISLAND

An unapproved 7-floor building under construction has collapsed in Banana Island, Lagos State, this evening.

Few who sustained injuries are being treated. There is no fatality. This unfortunate incident happened while casting was being done.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins was immediately on site to assess the situation and flag- off investigation.

We ask members of the public to remain calm and expect further information from the ministry as we know more.

Mukaila Sanusi

Deputy Director, Public Affairs”

Observers Optimistic Of A Credible Supplementary Polls In Sokoto

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Accredited Observers, have expressed optimism that the Sokoto state National Assembly supplementary election will be free, fair and credible with arrangements put in place by critical stakeholders in the conduct of the election.

Leader of the Observers, made up of ten Civil Society Organisations, CSO, Ambassador Prince Emeka, at a press in Sokoto who said they have seen the readiness of INEC, with regards to the modalities towards ensuring a peaceful and credible elections.

They appeal to voters to shun vote buying and any form of electoral fraud because men of the ICPC and EFCC will be on the prowl to arrest perpetrators of such crimes.

According to him, the INEC stakeholders meeting with all and sundry in attendance cleared all grey areas concerning preparations and conducts of the supplementary election as electoral materials was distributed in the presence of all stakeholders concerned.

Banana Island Building Collapse: Update

By
Angel Gimalo
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One body has been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed building at 1st Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) workers’ search and recovery efforts unearthed the remains of the adult male hitherto unaccounted for by site supervisors.

The excavation of the site, using the architectural designs, continues. The site has been divided into quadrants for a painstaking search and rescue operation. Quadrants 2 and 3 have been levelled to ground zero, with the search operation completed. Quadrant 4 is ongoing.

Twenty-five people were rescued from the site when the building went down on Wednesday. They are all doing fine.

When a roll call was conducted by the site supervisors, everyone was accounted for. Nobody could ascertain whether the victim, whose body was found this morning, was on the site – as of the time the roll call was taken.

Gbenga Omotoso

HC, Information & Strategy

#BuildingCollapse
#ForAGreaterLagos
#AGreaterLagosRising
#LASG

Rescheduled Mock-UTME Notification slip Ready – JAMB

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed candidates who had registered for the 2023 optional Mock-UTME and could not sit the examination which was held on Thursday 30th March, 2023 on account of technical challenges to print their Notification Slips from Friday, 14th April, 2023 for the rescheduled mock examination coming up on Tuesday, 18th April 2023.

In a statement, JAMB Head of Public Affairs and Protocol officer, Fabian Benjamin, Also use the opportunity to inform the general public that the 2023 Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME) will hold between Tuesday 25th of April and Wednesday, 3rd of May, 2023.

The Board also said that the rescheduled Mock-UTME is only for candidates who indicated interest at the point of registration to sit the examination but were not successful during the exercise on account of technical challenges.

It urged candidates for the rescheduled Mock-UTME to visit https://www.jamb.gov.ng and click on “SUPPLEMENTARY MOCK UTME SLIP PRINTING” on the menu bar to know the time and venue of their examination.

JAMB Mock Examination Experiences Hitches In Ekiti

JAMB further disclosed that the
rescheduled supplementary Mock-UTME Notification Slip would contain the Candidates Registration Number, Venue, Date, and Time of the Examination to enable them locate their centres before the examination easily.

And therefore enjoined them to be at their centres one hour before the examination for biometric verification, adding that the commencement time for the rescheduled examination as contained in their Notification Slips is sacrosanct.

Nigeria, Aviation Solutions Group Sign MOU to Boost Capacity

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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In order to further raise the status of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria as a world class training institution in all areas of Aviation training, the Ministry of Aviation on Thursday in Vilnius, Lithuania, signed an Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with Aviation Solutions Group (ASG), a multi service provider group for global aviation.

The ASG which is the largest aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance provider globally, will help NCAT in areas of competencies, training and certification in order to position the College as a Regional Training Centre for Africa in civil aviation.

ICAO, Qatar to partner Nigeria on aviation varsity

The MoU also has as part of its deliverables the provision of assistance to NCAT for the acquisition of three Full Flight Stimulators and certification of one B737NG Full Flight Simulator.

ASG and its affiliates are also to provide ground handling service, maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) and other training services for the College.

Signing the MoU on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole described the event as a watershed, as the collaboration is expected to create new vistas of opportunities for the College in particular and the Aviation sector in general.

He informed the ASG Management that Nigeria was the ultimate destination and hub of Aviation in Africa, and any investment in the sector is an investment worth the while and not misplaced.

He further stated that the Government of Nigeria would continue to invest in the Sector, as the collaboration with the ASG is a sub-set of the Aviation Master Plan envisioned by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and approved by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

Speaking on the event, the Business Development Executive of ASG, Amb. Vygaudas Usackas lauded the collaboration and assured of the readiness of the company to ensure the implementation of the MoU to the letter.

He described Nigeria as a very important country in Africa with huge potential and a ready market for aviation, and disclosed that the Group had robust relationships with some domestic airline operators in Nigeria to whom the Group has been offering some mutually beneficial services.

The Permanent Secretary and the Delegation, which included officials of the Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and NCAT, were later taken on tour of the facilities of the Group.

Saudi Arabia Inflation Rate Eases To 2.7% In March

By
Angel Gimalo
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Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate softened to 2.7 percent in March, against 3 percent recorded in February, primarily driven by a slight decrease in the prices of food and beverages, according to the latest report released by the General Authority for Statistics. 

The inflation rate in the Kingdom stood at 3.4 percent and 3.3 percent in January 2023 and December 2022 respectively.

The GASTAT report noted that the month-on-month decline in Saudi Arabia’s consumer price index was affected by a 0.4 percent decrease in food prices.

It added that household equipment and maintenance prices also fell by 0.5 percent in March compared to the previous month.

However, on a year-on-year basis, the Kingdom’s inflation rate continues to rise in line with the global trend, as it stood at 2.0 percent in March 2022. 

The report pointed out that the rise in Saudi Arabia’s consumer price index in March compared to the same month of last year was driven by the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels which went up by 7.4 percent. 

Prices of food and beverages went up by 2.3 percent year-on-year, while transport prices edged up by 1.8 percent. 

While housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel prices increased due to the rise in actual rentals for housing by 8.7 percent, which in turn was affected by the increase in apartment rental prices by 22 percent.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s wholesale price index declined by 2.7 percent month-on-month in March, but it went up by 1.1 percent on an annual basis. 

According to the report, the annual increase in the WPI index was primarily driven by higher prices of food products, beverages, tobacco, and textiles which went up by 5.1 percent in March. 

Prices of agriculture and fishery products increased by 3.0 percent year-on-year, while prices of other transportable goods went up by 1.3 percent. 

Despite the looming scare of inflation and a potential global economic crisis, the International Monetary Fund raised its expectations for Saudi Arabia’s economic growth this year by 0.5 percent to 3.1 percent, compared to 2.6 percent in January.

In October 2022, the IMF stated that Saudi Arabia would remain the fastest-expanding economy among the Group of 20 countries, despite the turmoil caused by rising inflation and soaring interest rates.

Algerian Parliament Approves New Law To Tighten Control Over Media

By
Angel Gimalo
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The Algerian parliament has approved a new media law that tightens control over the work of journalists and imposes new restrictions.

While the government said the law is key to ensuring the free exercise of media activity under legal controls, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the law included “negative chapters” that constitute a violation of press freedom.

The law prohibits the Algerian media from receiving any funding or material assistance from any “foreign entity”.

Communication Minister Mohamed Bouslimani said the law aims to “enshrine freedom and pluralism of the press” and “protect it from all forms of deviation”.

The new law de facto excludes dual nationals from the right to own or contribute to the ownership of a media outlet in Algeria.

“Some chapters are positive, some others represent a violation of press freedom, such as revealing sources to the judiciary, if requested, restricting access to any funding,” Khaled Drareni, the representative of RSF in North Africa, said.

Unlike the old law that required formal authorization from the Ministry of Communication to create a newspaper, the new one is much easier in that it says journalists can set up a media outlet by only making a statement.

Earlier this month, a court in Algeria sentenced Ihsane El Kadi, a prominent journalist, to five years in prison. Ihsane, a vocal critic of the government who was arrested on Dec. 24, has been accused of receiving foreign funding.

Container Volumes: Saudi Ports Book 21% Rise In March

By
Angel Gimalo
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Saudi Arabia’s ports witnessed a 21.14 percent increase in container volumes to 693,523 twenty-foot equivalent units in March 2023 from 572,475 TEUs in March 2022, according to Saudi Ports Authority, also called Mawani.

The increase was fueled by a 17.74 percent gain in exports in March 2023 to 195,495 TEUs last month from 166,045 TEUs in the year-ago period.

Imported containers rose 37.5 percent to 224,221 TEUs in March 2023 from 162,876 units.

Transshipments registered a 12.83 growth to 274,807 TEUs against the previous year’s 243,554 units.

The monthly cargo tonnage in March equaled 26,102,998 tons, indicating a 5.81 percent uptick from 24,670,510 tons in the previous year.

The cargo tonnage included 523,513 tons of general cargo, 4,588,115 tons of liquid bulk cargo and 13,594,542 tons of dry bulk cargo.

Food volumes also jumped 37.52 percent last month to reach 1,487,327 tons, up from 2,045,428 tons in the corresponding period a year ago.

The data revealed that livestock imports saw a 496.26 percent yearly spike, hitting 623,644 cattle heads from 104,592.

Moreover, while vehicle volumes climbed 11.42 percent in March compared to the same period in 2022, the number of vessels that dropped anchor at Saudi ports increased by 12.52 percent.

As for passenger traffic, it saw a 21.16 percent yearly rise, amounting to 104,575 passengers from 86,308 passengers, showed the data.

However, the growth rate of the overall container traffic of Saudi ports paled ahead of the February 2023 figures. It clocked a 7.76 percent increase in container traffic in February 2023, handling 622,837 units compared to the same month a year earlier.

There have been several initiatives by Mawani to further develop the national maritime sector, optimize its operational efficiency, and create an effective regulatory and legislative environment that facilitates streamlined processes.

These activities align with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s objective of transforming Saudi Arabia into an international logistics hub linking three major continents.

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