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WHO Laments Abuse Of Antibiotics By Users, Estimate 10 Million Death By 2050 As A Result Of Abuse

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The World Health Organization, WHO, has lamented the abuse of the usage of Antibiotics  stressing that antimicrobial resistance may lead to 10 million deaths by 2050 if urgent actions are not taken to reduce its burden.

The WHO expressed this concern on Friday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, through Dr Laxmikant Chavan, Technical Officer of AMR, WHO Nigeria Office, at the Seventh Annual Conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.

Emphasizing on the threat the abuse poses, the WHO said the increasing use of antimicrobial medicines is dangerous, explaining that the total global antibiotic consumption in humans, animals, and agriculture increased by 30 per cent between 2000 and 2010.

It, however, declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.

AMR is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) to change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat, thus increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.

Chavan said AMR leads to increased cost to deliver health care, especially in the cost of newer expensive antibiotics and other drugs, cost of additional investigations, and extra length of stay at the hospital, among others.

“The cost of AMR to national economies and development is significant. Under a worst-case scenario, AMR could cause a reduction in Gross Domestic Product equal to that of the 2008 financial crisis.

“ However, the economic impacts would be worse in lower-income countries and would likely last longer.

“AMR is putting the gains of Millennium Development Goals at risk and endangers the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

The expert expressed worry over the increasing use of antimicrobial medicines.

He said the total global antibiotic consumption in humans, animals, and agriculture increased by 30 per cent between 2000 and 2010, from 50 billion standard units to 70 billion standard units.

He noted that the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, lack of clean water, sanitation and hygiene, poor infection and disease prevention and control, poor access to quality, affordable medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics, lack of awareness and lack of enforcement of legislation are driving AMR globally, including Nigeria.

“In 2010, at least 63,200 tons of antibiotics were consumed by livestock, partly driven by growing country GDPs and an increased demand for animal food products,” he disclosed.

Chavan urged the media to play a crucial role in shaping public perception and creating awareness for responsible reporting on AMR issues.

“Blame Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Ambition For Crisis” – Ondo State  Government

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Despite the truce brokered by President Bola Tinubu among warring parties in Ondo State Government political crisis, blames and counter blames still reign between the loyalists of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and those of his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Ondo State Government on Friday blamed the crisis on the Governorship ambition of Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, which has generated tension and crises in the State.

Commissioner for information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju claimed that following Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s ill health, Aiyedatiwa was desperate to take over from him.

Ademola-Olateju, who made the statement during an appearance on Arise News’ The Morning Show on Friday, dismissed claims of the Governor’s incapacitation to perform official duties.

According to her, Akeredolu remains fully functional despite his absence from public appearances and the State Government House.

While acknowledging the Governor’s recovery from a “very bad” somatic ailment, Ademola-Olateju downplayed concerns, attributing them to political noise.

“This (noise) is needless, totally needless. This is just about ambition. Too much is going on in Ondo State, but the political noise has drowned everything because it is just based on ambition and this is unfortunate. Governance is not a circus, governance is not a joke.”

The Commissioner criticized Aiyedatiwa’s handling of the situation, stating, “He has gone about it in a very bad way. He has polarized the State Executive Council, he has divided the State.”

Expressing disappointment over Aiyedatiwa’s actions following a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu, Ademola-Olateju said, “I expected that he will come back and rally the troops, so that we face the issue of governance in Ondo State.” He did not fo that, apparently, based on the Commissioner’s submission.

“It’s Bad Omen” – Obi Decries Exit Of Investors From Nigeria

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, Peter Obi, has decried the exit of credible international firms from Nigeria as a bad omen and not good for the country.

Obi said in his X handle that the departure of three global firms in the health and energy sectors says a lot about the state of affairs in our country.

“A few months ago, I lamented about the exit of the international Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from Nigeria. GSK remains a top global pharmaceutical manufacturer and has had 51 years of operations in Nigeria, the reason for their exit being that there was no longer any perceived growth in Nigeria anchored on productivity.

“Today, Procter & Gamble (P&G), the world’s largest personnel care and household products company, makers of iconic brands like Pampers, Gillette, etc, is again leaving Nigeria, for the same reason GSK left.

Following this also are FMCG and top Energy firm,  Norwegian behemoth Equinor which has sold off its Nigerian business. Developments associated

“Fifteen years ago, P&G, as they are commonly called, viewed Nigeria as a strategic country of importance and invested millions of dollars in an ultra-modern chain supply structure in Agbara which, sadly, is now up for sale.

The LP standard bearer noted that “The presence of these iconic companies in any economy is not only that they signify trust and confidence, as well as believe in medium to long-term socio-economic prospects of such countries, but they massively create jobs, invest in Research and Development, as well as pieces of training which smaller players in the industry learn from and adapt.

According to him, they help, to a great extent, to develop local talents for both local and global jobs.

“The exit of these top global companies basically shows that our medium to long-term prospects strategy is in the negative, our investment profile is not attractive and our business environment is deteriorating continually. The declining purchasing power of Nigerians is nose-diving every day.

“In the face of the absence of the rule of law, and a conducive business environment, it will be difficult to retain such iconic companies and talk more about attracting new ones.

He finally charged “Governments at all levels in Nigeria must therefore take immediate steps to ensure that institutions of governance are put in place and actively engaging to show that the situation is reversed.

Sanusi Slams NNPC: Where’s The Dollar? Knocks Tinubu As ‘Petroleum Minister’

By
James Orji
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister, a former Emir of Kano state, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said.

The president had only appointed Heineken Lokpobiri Minister of State for the ministry amidst speculation that he had appointed himself Minister of Petroleum.

The former emir who called for the probe of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL commented on Thursday in Abuja while delivering his remarks at the Bank Directors Summit organised by the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria.

He described the Mele Kyari-led oil company as the most ‘opaque’ company in the world, saying its account must be audited due to its failure to remit necessary funds into the coffers of the federal government.

According to him, the country will not be experiencing Dollar scarcity if the NNPC has remitted adequate revenue from oil sales to the federal government.

NNPC must be made accountable, he said.

Sanusi: “Why is the NNPCL not able to bring in dollars? Am sorry this is the question that cost me my job and I will continue asking this question until NNPCL fixes it up or until I die. Where are the dollars? We need to shine a light on the NNPCL. The finance minister cannot tell you because he doesn’t have a monitoring system that reports to him. The finance minister can’t tell you how many barrels of petrol we produce and export. It is only the NNPCL that can give those figures. The finance ministry needs to know how much oil we produce daily, how much we sell, and where the money is going.

“We are no longer paying subsidies so where are the dollars? It was under recovery during the subsidy era and that has been stopped, so where is the money? This was the issue I raised for which I was suspended, well you can suspend me again. The NNPCL is the most opaque oil company in the world. When I was in the central bank for 15 years, they had not been audited. We have to follow the money from production to export to return, where is the money going? We paid N11tn in subsidy and there is no accountability up till now. The National Assembly called the NNPCL to bring the documents, but they refused.

He added, “By the way, let me advise that the idea of the President becoming a petroleum minister is not a good idea. The last president was the minister of petroleum for eight years.   When I was governor of the central bank we had a minister of petroleum so when I talk about the NNPCL, I could attack Diezani Madueke. Now, nobody can talk about petroleum because for eight years if you talk, you are attacking the president. We need that buffer, somebody has to be there, so a minister has to be there who is held accountable by Nigerians.”

President Tinubu predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari made himself Minister of Petroleum during his eight years in office amidst criticism from not a few Nigerians who described the action inappropriate.

NIMASA DG Calls For Contributory Pension Fund For Dockworkers

By
James Orji
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NIMASA Dock Workers

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh has called for the establishment of a contributory pensions fund for dockworkers in the country.

The NIMASA boss made the call during the milestone maiden edition it hosted for Dockworker’ in Lagos recently.

With the theme of the event being “Healthy Dockworker, Better Productivity”, the event was an opportunity for stakeholders to appreciate the efforts of Nigerian dockworkers at the center of the nation’s import-dependent economy, and focus on ways of improving their health and general well – being.

Delivering his welcome address at the event, Jamoh, charged employers of labor to ensure all dockworkers are enrolled on contributory pension schemes, while also emphasizing the need for operators of Oil and Gas Terminals to allow only approved stevedores aboard their installations, to ensure compliance with relevant international guidelines and conventions.

According to him, “As we celebrate today, it is important to put in perspective the plight of dockworkers who spend the greater part of their working life at the ports, with little or nothing to show for it. As employers of labour, you must endeavour to put in place a Contributory Pension Scheme for dockworkers and ensure prompt remittances of both Employers and Employees contributions at the end of each month”.

Speaking on compliance with stevedore inspections, he stated, “This occasion presents me with an opportunity to express the need for operators in the private jetties and Oil & Gas Terminals to grant operational access to the Stevedoring Contractors appointed by the Honorable Minister of Transport, to carry out stevedoring activities in assigned operational areas”.

On his part, the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, in his address, he thanked the NIMASA Management for organizing the event to celebrate Nigerian dockworkers in recognition of the important role played by them.

In attendance at the event were representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; Nigerian Ports Authority; Seaport Terminal Operators Association and the National Association of Stevedoring Operators (NASA).

Internationally, July 7th is marked as ‘The Global Day of Action’ and is organized by the International Dockworkers’ Council, IDC, and International Transport Workers’ Federation, ITF. It aims to raise awareness of port working conditions and emphasize the importance of collective bargaining rights

Unity Bank: Somefun Demands “Stringent Laws’ Against Gender-Based Violence

By
James Orji
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The managing director of Unity Bank Plc, Tomi Somefun has called for comprehensive policy actions that will dismantle the structures that enable gender-based violence in Nigeria.

The chief executive of the commercial bank spoke at the Ebony Life Cinema, the venue of the film screening in Lagos.

Supported by Unity Bank, the BECKMA movie premiere by ARDA Development Commuications Inc. was held to highlight issues of Gender-Based violence and driving positive change in society.

Speaking, Somefun stated that the Bank is committed to partnering with the movie premiere and putting the power of the brand behind BECKMA as the event brings sustainability and gender equality to the front burner.

Represented by Unity Bank’s Group Head of Compliance, Patricia Ahunanya, Somefun noted that “9 percent of women aged 15 to 49 had suffered sexual assault at least once in their lifetime and 31% had experienced physical violence,” citing a recent study by UNDP in Nigeria.

Somefun stated further: “Gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue, but a societal ill that demands our collective attention. It is high time for us to step forward and advocate for comprehensive policy actions that will dismantle the structures allowing such atrocities to persist”.

She added, “I urge policymakers to enact stringent laws against gender-based violence, ensuring swift and severe consequences for perpetrators. Our homes and various organisations must also be a catalyst for change, inspiring others to follow suit.”

While commending the ARDA Development Communications Inc. for their initiatives to promote gender equality and empowerment in line with SDG5, Somefun assured of the Bank’s commitment to sustainable initiatives and further collaborative initiatives and advocacy programmes for the elimination of gender-based violence.

Kaduna Bombing Deliberately Targeted Women, Children, Says Gumi

By
James Orji
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Controversial Islamic Cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi says the drone bombing by the Nigerian Army of Tudun Biri of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state was deliberate.

The bombing which took place on Sunday killed at least 120 people leaving many others in critical condition in the hospital.

The Nigerian Army has described the bombing as a mistake, saying the drone was on the trail of terrorists.

The incident has elicited serious condemnation from not a few Nigerians who also called for a probe.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a probe of the incident, vowing to punish those culpable. The federal government has also promised to start rebuilding the affected community next week.

Gumi however insists that the Army deliberately targeted civilians, including women and children who were killed and injured during the accidental drone attack.

The cleric who has been clamouring for dialogue with terrorists said the bombing was a confirmation of his suggestion that the kinetic approach alone cannot be the solution to the problem of terrorism in the northern part of the country.

He said his warning that northerners are deliberately being killed by the military in the war against insurgency has not been heeded.

According to him, “I kept telling you not to invite people who see war as a solution but people refused to listen. Here it’s now. War is never a joke because it affects everybody. I warned you on this but you keep saying they should be killed.

“It’s you that will be killed. That bomb was meant to target the families of some people so as to kill their children and wives. I have been to a village where women and children were massacred in a remote forest.

“Many people have been bombed. Nobody said anything until it came nearer to the city. I have been saying that whatever is between us, whether it is bandits or Boko Haram, there should be peaceful negotiation.”

OPINION: Nigerian Politicians Destroying Our Young Girls

By
The Source
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0

By Sam Amadi, Ph.D

Terrible things happen in Nigeria. We have lost the present, and we want to lose the future.

I just left Transcorp Hotel Abuja after my news analysis at Arise News TV. As I stepped to the lobby of the hotel, I saw a bevy of pretty young girls in their early 20s crowded in a corner. They were all skimpily dressed as if they were commercial s&x workers. The time was 10.30pm.

One of them rushed to greet me. “Good evening sir”. She was one of my students. I recognized her clearly because she had a slight disability and I paid attention to make sure she followed the coursework. I was shocked. I recognized three of those hotly dressed pretty young girls as fresh graduates of my department.

What are they all coming to do at this kind of Hotel, at this hour, and dressed in this manner? Of course, I think I know what it is. A Nigerian politician or man of means have arranged them for his pleasure and those of his friends and acquaintances.

Everyday, our girls are disoriented by these politicians who have neither shame nor conscience because they have access to power and money.

We pride ourselves that we have a large youth population and that is a huge asset. But the truth is that we have a large hardware. The software is highly corrupted. Why do we intend to organize these adolescents into the life of immorality?

This reminds me of the experience I had as a Special Adviser to Senate President. Once, we went to open a new government house built by a Governor in one of the southeast states. The Governor arranged a special reception for us. When we got to the venue of the so-called reception, I was shocked. Tens of very young girls sourced from the nearby university – between 17-22 years- were already dancing with top Government officials.

I screamed and accosted the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly. He boldly answered “Man Sammy, these adolescents are our counterparts”. Wow. What? I requested to be taken back to the hotel. That was the end of the reception for me. I couldn’t believe that someone will arrange first year students for an entourage that has the Senate President and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. We are finished.

These politicians have done more harms than you can imagine. They have destroyed the economy. They have destroyed infrastructure. They have, also, destroyed the morality and the viability of our human capital.

How can such young girls who are debased that early rise up to be moral champions of tomorrow? How? Pretty difficult.’

Dr. Amadi, a political analyst, is a Law Lecturer at the Baze University, Abuja.

Right Groups Seek Justice For Late Salami, Lament Neglect, Delay By LASG, Police In Finding His Murderers

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A Coalition of Civil Society Groups under the aegis of Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights, CHSR, has lamented the neglect and continued delay in unraveling those who gruesomely murdered Sheriff Ishola Salami at Moba Town, Ajiran, in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The late Salami who was the Youth Leader in Ojomu Community in Ajiran, Lagos, was killed on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, by unknown assailants. This  prompted a coalition of Civil Society Groups namely: Frontline Socio-economic Research Centre, FSERC, Campaign Against Impunity, CIA, Centre for the Physically Challenged and Peoples Rights, CPCPR, Community Women Initiative, CWI, and Workbond Initiative Network, WIN, to embark on advocacy and submission of several petitions to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government led by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu and Security Agencies to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

The Coalition has  lamented that the Police in Ogombo, Eti-Osa, Lekki and Area ‘J’ Police Command of Lagos State have failed to thoroughly investigate the murder of Salami.

At a Press Briefing Thursday, the Coalition, in a Statement signed by Comrade Alex Omotehinse, Shina Loremikan and other Groups in the Coalition stated that following the murder of Salami, it had made representations to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos via a petition to draw the attention to the indifference of the police and apparent lack of commitment to investigate the incident which was duly reported at Ogombo Police Station.

The statement also stated that the Coalition had made an advocacy together with the Wife of the deceased, Mariam Ishola Salami, by submitting separate petitions to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, through the Lagos Office of the agency, and they are yet to get a favourable response.

The Coalition stressed that they are deeply touched by the pain of the immediate family of the deceased, alleging that the Police authority in Lekki axis of the State appears to be uninterested in investigating the murder which was perpetrated in broad day light.

“The immediate family members of the deceased are worried and frustrated by the delay that is increasingly assuming a deliberate ploy to shield the perpetrators of the heinous crime from justice.

“The deceased who is the breadwinner of the family left behind his critically ill aged mother (who unfortunately died in her inconsolable state in the last week of October, 2023), his wife Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Sinata (5years), Ayisha (4 years), and Arafat (2 years).

“We are now convinced that 8 months after the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami, the police authority in Lagos State has failed in its statutory duty of investigation in spite of the fact that the incident was duly reported at the Ogombo Police Station, Lekki.

It is indeed sad that the family members of the deceased have, in the last 8 months, been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice.

“We are therefore by the submissions of these petitions requesting that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command act without further delay in activating investigation into the murder. We are also requesting that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the National Human Rights Commission should demand urgent action leading to thorough investigation into the gruesome murder without further delay”, the Statement Reads.

Imo PDP Crisis: Ugwu Remains State Chairman – National Body

By
The Source
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Charles Ugwu

By Gideon Njoku

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has affirmed Engr. Charles Ugwu, as the only recognised State Chairman.

The State Chapter of the Party has, for months, been badly afflicted by crisis which factionised the Party into two. This situation was one of the reasons which led to the Party’s embarrassing performance at the Governorship election held on November 11, 2023.

Its candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, performed so badly that he lost even his Local Government Area.

Those who thought the crisis will be over on the conclusion of the Governorship election missed it. The crisis is, instead, spreading like wild fire in the harmattan, sadly, still centred on Anyanwu.

A few days ago, the faction, allegedly, loyal to Anyanwu announced  the suspension of the State Chairman from office. This earned a counter from the faction loyal to the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, a former Governor of the State who was removed from office after eight months by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Even though Ihedioha has been quiet since he withdrew from the Governorship race, and left the ticket for Anyanwu to pick, a majority of PDP members in the State remain loyal to him.

But on Thursday, in a statement, the NWC dismissed the suspension of Ugwu by the Anyanwu faction as null, void and of no effect. It said in the statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, that Ugwu  remains the PDP Imo State Chapter Chairman.

Following is the statement by the NWC.

PDP NWC Dismisses Purported Suspension of Imo State Chairman, Enngr. Charles Ugwu

“The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Imo State Chapter of our Party, Engr. Charles Ugwu.

“The NWC at its 579th meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 declared the said suspension as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with laid down Rules and the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)

“The NWC therefore charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and teeming supporters of our Party in Imo State to be guided accordingly.

“The NWC enjoins all Party members in Imo State to remain united and continue to work together in the overall interest of our Party.

“Signed:

“Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary”

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