Category: Northern Reports

Stakeholders from the civil, private and public sectors have urged politicians, particularly those seeking elective positions in the coming general elections to put healthcare in the front burner of their agendas.

They noted that as politicians move around seeking votes, it is important they place a premium on the health of the citizens, ensuring that every Nigerian has unhindered access to quality healthcare services without incurring catastrophic costs.

Speaking during a town hall meeting to commemorate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, organized by the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), the Chairperson of the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), Mrs. Chika Ofor said: “We are here today to state that the health system is not working; many Nigerians are dying – women, children and men. A lot of people do not trust the health system. We are here to discuss how to make health cheaper, and at the same time have the necessary quality to save Nigerians because, without health, every other sector fails.

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“We do not know who will win the election, but there are things that are paramount to save Nigerians. We want to tell the politicians and let them make a commitment so that when they enter as our leaders, we can remind them of their promises.”

The Executive Secretary of HERFON, Dr. Celestine Okorie added: “When you look at the health sector and our health indices, you can see that it is very poor; women and children are dying, doctors are migrating out of the country, primary health care centres are just dysfunctional. We want to ask them (politicians) about their plans and manifesto for the health sector.

“In this town hall meeting, we have representation from the people with disabilities, market women, experts, professional associations etc. Political commitment is key to achieving Universal Health Coverage.”

•Eye surgeries conducted for 100 persons

More than 10,000 residents of Kano, mostly the less privileged, have benefited from the medical outreach by Jigi Jagaban, a group supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima in the 2023 general election.

The Development Support International (DSI) and local health partners with support from Jigi Jagaban free healthcare have been in Kano for a week-long medical outreach at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital, Kano.

The health mission ended yesterday, featuring free medical consultants on eye retraction and surgeries, blood pressure, diabetics and mother care. There was also free distribution of drugs and glasses.

DSI Medical lead, Dr. Adebola Odewunsi, said the intervention was part of the commitment of Tinubu to bridge the barrier between wellness and social status.

Odewunsi explained that the strategic focus of the outreach was to bring healthcare services to the grassroots and afford free care to indigenous people who could hardly afford healthcare services in Kano metropolitan city.

“We have conducted eye surgeries for 100 persons. We also have a general out-patients unit where regular ailments like hypertension, Malaria, and diabetic patients are seen. There are free medicals given to people. We want to let Nigerians know that under the administration of Bola Tinubu, these are things they would expect on regular basis, especially at the grass root level. It is an initiative meant to engage the people at the grassroots and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians,” Odewunsi said.

The Coalition for Regional Development and Good Governance, has hailed the appointment of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State as the Northwest Coordinator for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign.

The civil society group, in a statement  by its Executive Director, Attahiru Samaho, described the appointment as a well deserved one.

He noted that  Matawalle is a great mobiliser in the Northwest and the county at large when it comes to politics and human management, describing the appointment as a round peg in a round hole looking at the recent light of political events done by the  in the zone.

The statement reads: “His Excellency Bello Matawalle ingenious disposition to governance has made him the best among all the politicians of the Northwest extraction in the eyes of the electorate and this is going to be an added advantage to the soaring and towering popularity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress(APC) flag bearer in his bid to take over the baton from President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.”

The statement stressed that  Matawalle’s victory at the polls in the past in Zamfara State and the attendant dispensation of uncommon and unmatched leadership that entrenched the development transformation of the state in just four years has endeared him not only to the of Zamfara State but the entire Northwest.

It stressed that a great grassroots mobiliser like  Matawalle can coordinate and direct their Campaign train in the Northwest, Team Tinubu/Shettima can go to bed with their eyes closed as victory from the entire Northwest was sure.

The statement said overtime, record has shown that any presidential candidate that can win the Northwest with a landslide will eventually emerge victoriously in Nigeria’s presidential elections

“As a group we acknowledge the effect of the indefatigable, pragmatic and workaholic Governor of Zamfara State,  Bello Matawalle on his appointment as the Northwest Coordinator of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC),” the statement said.

An Abuja based businessman, Nasser MK Ahmed has inaugurated a campaign group for the actualisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

Addressing a  crowd at the unveiling of the campaign outfit, -Nasser 4 Tinubu/Shettima, Ahmed said Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from the Tinubu presidency  whom he described as a pacesetter and achiever.

Former Commissioner of information and Communication in Kogi State, Dr. Tom Ohikere  is the Director General of the group.

The Lokoja-born businessman/politician stated that Tinubu alongside his runningmate, Senator Kashim Shettima will address all the problems plaguing the country if elected into power, adding that they both possess the requisite experience to turn the fortune of the country around.

“Next year’s general election is very crucial for the country and Nigerians must not toy with it. A lot of people have been putting themselves forward canvassing to lead the country but we have decided to pitch out tent with the Tinubu/Shettima ticket,” he said.

Ahmed said his decision to back  the ticket was based on the calibre of the candidates , which he said are  experienced hands in governance compared to others jostling for the plum office.

Read Also: Tinubu promises to end banditry, terrorism in Northwest

“We have carefully appraised those putting themselves forward for the presidency and I am pleased to inform Nigerians that the Tinubiu/Shettima ticket scored very high considering what they have been able to do in their respective states of Lagos and Borno as  governors,” Ahmed said.

He particularly eulogized Tinubu, whom he praised for his political sagacity considering the role he played in  the emergence of the APC in 2014.

“We are witnesses to the role Asiwaju Tinubu  played in not only bringing progressives forces in the country together, we also saw his efforts in the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Until then, no one believed it was possible to defeat the PDP but Tinubu led all progressives’ elements to pull it off,” he said.

The businessman  added that the  APC presidential candidate will bring to fore the same template that he used in developing Lagos if elected, saying Nigeria needs a consummate administrator of Tinubu’s calibre .

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The House of Representatives has been urged to ensure the prompt passage of a Bill proposing amendments to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Yemi Akinseye-George made this call in Abuja while commending the Senate for its speedy passage of the Bill.

Akinseye-George, who is the President of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), said prompt passage of the Bill by the lower chamber would aid speedy dispensation of justice and strengthen the nation’s democracy.

He noted that the Bill, as passed by the Senate, has removed obstacles such as trial-within-trial amongst others, that usually cause delay in criminal trials.

Some of the innovations contained ACJ Bill, he said, include the abolition of the practice of trial-within-trial; continuation of hearing when a trial judge dies, is transferred or posted or otherwise unable to continue with a trial, and the establishment of sex offender register in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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Others are the filing of defence witness deposition; recording of demeanour of witnesses; and dispensation to a Justice of the Court of Appeal to conclude part-heard criminal case.

Akinseye-George added that the Bill also seeks to harmonize the provisions of non-custodial sentences with those of the Nigeria Correctional Service Act, 2019, which recognizes the prime position of the Correctional Service as the agency responsible for implementing non-custodial sentences in the country.

He said: “The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) commends the leadership of the Senate and the distinguished senators for their commitment to justice sector reform in general and to the strengthening of the criminal procedure system in particular.

“By passing the ACJ Bill 2022 which contains several innovative provisions the distinguished senators have made clear their strong determination and political will to consolidate the country’s democracy by strengthening the system of criminal justice administration which is one of the major instruments for promoting accountability and rectitude in the country,” he said.

Yobe State government has reconstructed 138 out of 178 Primary Health Care Centres destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

Governor Mai Mala Buni at the inauguration of the Gwange Primary Health Care Centre in Damaturu, yesterday explained that his commitment to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the primary healthcare centre was informed by the level of destruction that Boko Haram inflicted on the health sector in the state.

The governor said he was particularly happy about the event because it was one of his immediate declarations when he took over as the governor of the state.

“During my swearing-in on May 29, 2019, I made it very clear that healthcare delivery will undoubtedly be a key priority of our administration and we would rehabilitate, upgrade and establish at least one functional Primary Healthcare Centre in each of the 178 political wards in the state to make healthcare delivery accessible and affordable.

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“This became necessary following the mass destruction of public structures including health facilities, schools, electricity, and water sources by the Boko Haram insurgency. Similarly, this administration is determined to reform the health sector generally for a total transformation in healthcare delivery across the state,” he said.

Governor Buni said his administration has already institutionalised the training of the midwives, adding that one person from each of the 178 political wards in the state would enjoy a full scholarship for the foundation programme.

This, he said, will bridge the gap between human resources for health in the state.

He also announced the bill for the establishment of the Yobe State Emergency Medical Ambulance Service Agency has already been sent to the House of Assembly.

The ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto state said it is optimistic of retaining power in 2023 with the calibre of candidates presented by the party.

The state’s Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal boosted that the process that produced its candidates was credible, fair and just to all.

According to him” all our candidates have one positive pedigree or the other that stand them unique as electorate best choices.

“We had a smooth and rancour-free primaries processes and none of the governorship aspirants felt aggrieved to dump the party unlike others in the opposition who lost almost all their aspirants,” he said.

Sanyinnawal, a former BBC Hausa Service correspondent, said the party was determined to ensure peaceful and violent free campaigns.