Author: The Nation

The House of Representatives has resolved to curtail the outbreak of Anthrax discovered in a farm at Gajiri Village, in Niger State by directing relevant government agencies to arrest the outbreak.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep Adamu Tanko (PDP-Niger) on the floor  of the House in Abuja on Tuesday.

In the motion, Tank noted that the report of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development concerning the presence of anthrax in Nigeria was disturbing.

He said the laboratory test conducted on the collected samples by the Navonal Veterinary Research Institute, confirmed the first reported case at a livestock farm.

He said similar cases of the diseases were confirmed in Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo with symptoms, including sudden death and blood oozing from natural body openings

These include: nose, ear, mouth, and anal region and spread through affected livestock, bush meat, and contaminated environments.

He expressed concern over the potential spread of the disease to other livestock farms in the country and its possible impact on public health,

He said Anthrax might affect humans in direct contact with affected animals and contaminated products, with potential inhalation, through spores or wounds.

He said there was need for proactive measures to prevent spread of Anthrax in Nigeria and protect the health and livelihoods citizens by placing public health precautions in place.

He called for strict surveillance and monitoring of livestock farms, as well proper disposal of infected animals and contaminated materials.

He commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in addressing the issue.

This according to him was by implementing necessary measures to contain the spread of Anthrax and protect both livestock and human health.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in implementing effective surveillance, vaccination.

Others include awareness campaigns to contain the outbreak and provide adequate resources and support to affected communities, including compensation for losses incurred due to the outbreak.

The House also urged the National Centre for Disease Control to put in place measures that will stop the further spread of anthrax.

The House also  mandated the committees on Agricultural Production and Services | and Legislative Compliance when constituted to monitor.

Read Also: Nigeria confirms first case of Anthrax

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government confirmed the first case of Anthrax in Nigeria after disclosing on Monday that the disease was detected in a farm in Niger State.

Making this known in a statement, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it “is deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.”

It added that “On July 14, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger.

“The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway Suleja LGA Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings – anus, nose, eyes and ears.

“A Rapid Response team comprising of federal and state One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals. (NAN)

The President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors(NARD), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife Chapter, Dr Anthony Anuforo, has assured the citizenry that immediately the Federal Government pays members’ salaries, their current strike would be called off.

Anuforo gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ile-Ife.

He said that the NARD Ile-Ife branch has been engaging the University management since March 2023 when they called their attention to unpaid salaries, adding that some of them have been owed since January 2023.

The NARD President commended the efforts of the immediate past interim Association for trying its best to get the salaries paid and pledged that his team would strive further to get the salaries paid.

According to him, there are unpaid hazards allowances since 2017, COVID-19 allowances, and salary arrears, among others.

Read Also: OAU resident doctors begin strike today

Anuforo called on stakeholders to intervene on the matter to get the University management “to pay our members”.

He noted that the ultimatum given to the federal government on resident doctors’ national strike ends on Wednesday, but regrets that their demands have not been met.

Anuforo said the present NARD management that took the mantle for the past two weeks, is doing all in its capacity to ensure the payment of owed salaries.

“I believed that the strike will give the Federal Government the momentum to expedite action on the payment and other allowances.

“The government should do its best on the health sector by increasing the budgetary allocation for health,” Anuforo emphasised.

Anuforo pleaded with the populace for understanding, adding that the strike was for the benefit of both the doctors and patients because a hungry and angry doctor is a dangerous doctor.

“Let government take care of members of the association, then the doctors will in turn take care of patients,” Anuforo urged.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that while the strike is on, only Consultants are currently attending to patients.

(NAN)

The Anambra State House of Assembly, has urged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, to construct more permanent internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps to cushion the effect of flooding in the riverine areas of the state.

The House resolution followed a motion, moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Mr Noble Igwe, representing Ogbaru Constituency l, at plenary on Tuesday.

Igwe said that there had been a regular annual overflow of the bank of River Niger leading to flooding of the adjoining communities.

He lamented that previous administrations did not provide adequate measures to curb the menace of flood on affected victims.

“The devastating effect of the flood on lives, properties and activities within the affected region are enormous

“It is worrisome that people are normally displaced from their homes for some months on annual basis with the attendant hardship on their lives and health.

“Children and aged persons have become vulnerable to threatening hazards associated with non-provision of adequate holding camps for such emergencies.

“Therefore, there is an urgent need for intervention. The state government can establish a standard holding centres for flood displaced persons at strategic places to contain such anomalies,” he said.

In her views, Mrs Nkechi Ogbuefi, representing Anaocha Constituency l, said that women and children were the most affected in cases of flooding.

“The floods usually force hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and majority of these people are women and children.

“Due to the lack of shelter and camps, women and children are malnourished and they contend with water-borne diseases like cholera, malaria and dysentery.

“There is the need to construct permanent IDP camps in those riverine areas with humanitarian assistance and medical services to safeguard their health and safety,” she said.

Contributing, Mr Anthony Muobike, representing Aguata Constituency ll, said that there was the need to prioritize proactive measures to prevent the flood from affecting people and properties in state.

Also speaking, Mr Patrick Udoba, representing Anambra West Constituency, urged the Federal Government to start immediate dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue and other rivers across the country.

Read Also: Anambra community leaders petition Soludo over alleged threat

He said that the dredging would curb the challenges of perennial flooding and its resultant loss of lives and property.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, urged the relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of flooding to do the needful.

“The Assembly called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to establish more permanent holding centres for flood victims in each of the riverine areas in the state,” he said.

The house adjourned until July 20 for plenary.

(NAN)

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has declared Wednesday a public holiday in commemoration of Hijrah 1445 AH,  the Islamic New Year.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by Mr Mudashiru Oyedeji, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties.

As contained in the statement, the governor would preside over a special match past on July 22, at Osogbo township stadium  as part  of activities lined up  to mark the Islamic year.

Adeleke congratulated the entire Muslim Ummah on the celebration of the new calendar year.

Meanwhile, the governor will also on Wednesday swear-in his newly appointed Commissioners

Read Also: Assembly to complete screening of Adeleke’s nominees Monday

In another statement signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to the governor, the ceremony would hold at the Local Government Service Commission building, Government Secretariat, Osogbo by 10 am.

(NAN)

The First lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja officially immortalised the late Mrs Maryam Babangida by renaming the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) after her.

The first lady who commissioned the former National Women Development Centre as Maryam Babangida National Centre also unveiled her First Lady’s portrait and a compendium of activities of First Lady and Wives of Governors of Nigeria 2015-2023.

She said the sterling contribution of late Maryam on the lives of ordinary Nigerians and described her as a matriarch who has impacted women, especially those in rural areas and in Africa as a whole.

“Her Excellency the late Maryam was an icon who redefined the scope of women’s participation in national development and through her pet programme Better Life for Rural dwellers touched ordinary lives especially at the rural areas.

“I am happy that I was part of the ninth National Assembly Senate when the bill for the renaming of the centre was passed and assented into law.

The Vice President’s wife, Hajia Nana Shettima, two sons of late Maryam Mohammed and Amino Babangida, The Director General of the centre, Dr Asabe Bashir, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Monilola Udoh were among the dignitaries that graced the occasion.

Udoh, said the bill for the change of name was passed by the Senate on March 29, 2023, while the House of Representatives passed the same on April 5, 2023.

According to her, the renaming is in line with the amendment of the National Centre for Women Development Act, Cap. N15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to enhance the functions of the centre.

She said: “The government under the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the bill by assenting to it in May 2023.

“By this information, we want our esteemed partners, the general public and indeed the media personnel to take note of the changes and help publicise it to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and even beyond.”

Asabe Vilita-Bashir, the Director-General of the centre, noted the huge contribution of the late first lady, especially her “Better life for Rural Women” project, which impacted the lives of women nationwide.

“Maryam Babangida is someone that Nigerian women will not forget her and we are doing this to encourage other women leaders to emulate her virtues, commitment and support to women.

“This will serve as an inspiration to all women in leadership positions to do more for Nigerian women and will be recorded by history,” she said.

Moji Makanjuola, the Chairman, Implementing Committee for Infrastructure and Renaming of the centre, said: “Renaming of the centre is significant for women. There is something that should remind us about yesterday to enable us to do our today better.

“We need to start putting history into perspective, if we don’t do that, we will lose sight of who we are as a people, country, nation and tribe.

Read Also: First Ladies gather in honour of Maryam Babangida

“What has been achieved here is that collectively, Nigerian women spoke with one voice that we want a change that will give us a focus on what we are doing as women in development.

“I pray that the centre expands beyond where we are today and it will be a citadel of hope for the Nigerian women and indeed black women around the world.”

Also, Hajiya Aliyu, a beneficiary of the late Maryam Babangida’s programe, “Better life for Rural Women”, said the renaming of the centre was apt in recognition of its impacts on the lives of Nigerian women.

“This will remind people and other first ladies that are coming to do better than her and not to come and go after several years without doing anything for the Nigerian women.(NAN)

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declined  to extend its July 10 interim order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),  Hudu Ari, pending the hearing and determination of substantive motion.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, who refused to extend the order in a suit filed by Sen. Aishatu Dahiru, also known as Binani, adjourned the matter until July 24 for hearing of the originating summons served on the defendants in the open court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Binani had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, sued INEC, Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 3rd respectively.

NAN reports that Binani was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18 Adamawa governorship election.

In the suit, the applicant is seeking the interpretation of Section 144 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and a preservative order seeking the maintenance of status quo in the matter pending the determination of the suit.

Binani’s counsel, Michael Aondoaka, SAN, in the ex-parte motion earlier filed, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the matter was before a tribunal and it was time-bound.

He, however, said that the star witness to his client, Hudu Yunusa Ari, was being harassed and prevented from giving evidence before the tribunal which if continued, would jeopardise the case of his client at the tribunal.

He then urged the court to halt the harassment of the star witness in the petition before a governorship election petition tribunal challenging INEC’s declaration of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Adamawa Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, as winner on Sunday, April 16.

Aondoaka told the court that according to the relevant laws, since Binani had  been declared by the INEC, the declaration could only be legally and authentically  reversed, if the need be, by a court of competent jurisdiction or a tribunal.

Upon resumed hearing, INEC’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that Binani had not served the defendants with the July 10 order of the court.

Jacobs, who also told the court that, the defendants had not been served with the originating summons filed by Binani, challenged the competence and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter in a counter affidavit to the motion.

Read Also: Court orders INEC to suspend Adamawa REC’s trial

He told the court that the life span of the interim order elapsed on July 18 (today) but Aondoaka argued that the interim order had not elapsed as the defendants had not shown cause as directed by the court.

According to Aondoaka, counsel to INEC cannot say he was not served with the processes of the court as he had joined issues in the matter.

Justice Okorowo, who refused to extend the order, adjourned the case until July 24 for hearing.

NAN reports that INEC is seeking the prosecution of the suspended REC for declaring Binani as winner of the rerun poll on April 15.

(NAN)

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, affirmed Mr Ahmed Ododo as the lawful candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Kogi having validly resigned his appointment from Kogi civil service before contesting the primary election.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu affirmed Ododo as the APC candidate while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Mr Abubakar Achimugu, also of the APC challenging the candidature of Ododo.

Achimugu anchored his suit  on the grounds that Ododo and his running mate, as at the time they contested the primary election to fly the flag of APC in the Nov. 11 election in Kogi, were still public servants in the state civil service.

In the judgment, Justice Egwuatu held that contrary to the claim of Achimugu, evidence showed that Ododo resigned his appointment more than 30 days before participating in the APC primary.

The judge said that exhibits tendered by the defendants showed that while Ododo’s resignation letter was received by the Office of the Kogi governor on March 8, that of the 3rd defendant, Mr Salami Deedat, was received on March 9.

“I have examined the letters of resignation filed by the defendants, they were addressed to the Kogi governor and were duly received and signed.

“A resignation letter becomes effective once it is received and accepted by the relevant authority. It is not when the authority replies the letter that it becomes effective.”

The judge held that where a letter of resignation has been received and duly signed, it takes effect and the employee would not be held responsible if the employer continues with the payment of salary.

The court said it was convinced that the defendants resigned their appointments as Auditor-General for Local Governments and Commissioner for Local Governments respectively before contesting the primary election.

“I am satisfied that they resigned their appointments from Kogi government on March 8 and 9 respectively more than 30 days before the April 14 primary election.

“I hold that this suit is bereft of any merit and accordingly dismissed,” the judge said.

Earlier, the court dismissed the preliminary objection of the defendants claiming that the suit was statute barred having not filed it within 14 days as required by law.

The judge agreed with the plaintiff that the cause of action actually occurred on April 14, when Ododo and Deedat contested the primary and not when they purchased the expression of interest and nomination form.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had on April 15, declared Ododo winner of APC primary election to elect a candidate for the party’s for the Nov.11 governorship election in the state.

Miffed by this,  Achimugu approached the court asking that the primary election be nullified and Ododo be disqualified from contesting the governorship election on grounds that he was still an employee of the Kogi government when he contested.

The plaintiff in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/584/2023, claimed that Ododo breached Section 182 of the Constitution, Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Article 7 of the APC’s Constitution in participating in the April 14 governorship primary of the APC.

Achimugu argued that Ododo’s failure to resign his appointment with the Kogi government, 30 days to the primary, made him ineligible for the Nov. 11guber poll.

Listed in the suit as defendants were the APC, Ododo,  Deedat and INEC as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants.

Amongst the issues brought before the court for determination was  whether Ododo and Deedat were eligible to participate in the governorship election slated for Nov. 11.

This was in view of the fact that both at the time of submitting their nomination and expression of interest forms, were still  civil/ public servants and employees of Kogi government.

This they said was contrary to the provisions of Section 182 (2), Section 84 (10) and (11) of the Electoral Act, 2022 Guidelines for the nomination of candidates.

The plaintiff said that if the answer was in the affirmative,  the court should amongst others declare that Ododo and Deedat were not qualified or eligible to have participated in the primary election.

This was on the grounds of being persons both employed in public service of Kogi, having failed and neglected to resign, withdraw or retire from employment at least 30 days to the April 14 when the primary election was conducted.

Read Also: Ododo represents Kogi’s interests, says Governor Bello’s CPS

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining Ododo from parading himself as gubernatorial candidate of the APC.

“An order restraining APC and INEC from dealing with Ododo as the governorship candidate of the APC.

 “In the event Ododo was declared winner of the Nov.11 gubernatorial election before the case was fully determined, the certificate of return issued to him by INEC should be withdrawn.”

 Mr Josiah Daniel-Ebune, counsel to Achimugu, told newsmen after the court proceedings that he would brief his client on the judgment to know the next line of action.

(NAN)