Category: South West

Lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly Desmond Elliot has launched a free health insurance for his constituents.

The initiative is in partnership with the Community Development Committee (CDC) in Surulere Local Government.

According to Elliot, the pilot phase of the scheme will take care of 250 beneficiaries, with plans to enrol 250 others quarterly.

He said: “Beneficiaries were selected from the 43 Community Development Associations (CDAs) and members of the CDC in Surulere I, and they will enjoy free health care courtesy of the Desmond Olusola Elliot (DOE) Office.

“Many of our elderly ones need medical care but they can’t afford it, especially knowing how the country is today. It is even difficult for some to eat. That is why we have introduced this health insurance scheme for them. This would be a pivotal scheme that will spring roll and blossom into what you will see in almost all local governments.

“The target is to have 1,000 beneficiaries in this first phase but we are stating with 250 to test the waters. We are reaching out straight to the grassroots through the CDCs to the CDAs, not having just a particular set of people being beneficiaries.

“I also urge my friends and well wishers to contribute to this noble cause because it’s obvious the money goes straight to the insurance firm which manages it and ensure everybody becomes beneficiaries.”

CDC Chairman Wemimo Odumosu lauded Elliot for keying into the idea and responding promptly.

The CDC State Chairman Usman Hamzat, who corroborated Odumosu’s stance, said ‘it is not common, we have never seen it this way in any other local government. Taking care of people’s health is more important than giving money. That is why we should appreciate our lawmaker’.

Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area Bamidele Yusuf noted that the initiative shows what good political synergy can achieve.

Representatives of GOXI Micro Insurance Scheme and TOP-T Medical Centre were on ground to administer the scheme to beneficiaries.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reorganisation of the management of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) for effective service delivery.

Under the approved structure, four new departments – Estates Services; Housing Finance and Accounts; Management Services; Project Implementation and Research and Innovation Development – were created.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa remains the FHA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, the agency said in a statement by its Director, Press and Public Relations Mr Boade Akinola.

The Executive Director, Business Development, Abdulmumin Jibril will now move to the Research and Innovation Development Department, while the former Executive Director, Housing Finance and Corporate Services, Ekpenyong Maurice has been moved to the Management Services Department.

The newly appointed Executive Directors include Babakobi Mohammed Hauwa, Estate Services; Adamu Kure, Housing Finance and Accounts; and Chinonso Sam-Omoke , Project Implementation.

“The objective of the new structure of the Authority is to enhance the implementation of the maintenance of FHA Estates across the country which will generate new businesses and jobs in the construction industry in pursuance of the Federal Public Assets Maintenance Policy approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

It concluded that the expansion of the FHA “will bring a lot of advantages which include attraction of new investments in the construction of new estates across the country and generation of new jobs and businesses, in line with Mr President’s promise of taking One Hundred Million Nigerians out of poverty”.

Over  $100 million has been earmarked as initial investment in a new university to be established in Osun State.

Speaking about the project, the Founder of Gboleru University, Prince Tajudeen Gboleru, said he set up the institution to contribute to knowledge, economic and human capital development of the state.

He said the university would place a premium on teaching students to acquire practical experience required at the workplace.

Gboleru said: “It is time universities started teaching students in ways that more resemble the actual workplace.”

He said the university would serve three functions, which include: preparing students for decent and qualitative employment, to achieve personal growth, and to contribute to the betterment of the society.

Gboleru said over $100 million had been earmarked as initial investment in the project, adding that over 150 hectares had been acquired on the Gboleru Estate Eko Ende Road in Ikirun.

He said other regulatory approvals are being processed to ensure a smooth take-off of the institution.

He said arrangements were in place for the new university to partner All Saints University College of Medicine, Canada.

Gboleru said: “The effort will complement the efforts of the state government to ensure availability of qualitative and affordable education to all sons and daughters of Osun State.”

Doctors under the aegis of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) in Kwara State, yesterday began seven days warning strike.

NAGGMDP Chairman Dr. Saka Agboola announced the association’s decision after an emergency congress in Ilorin.

He said the association had given the government ultimatums concerning members’ welfare.

“This is to give room for engagement with the government on some of the agitations, including good conditions of service, especially in the payment of new remuneration to members of the union.

“We have responsibilities to our families, our neighbours and even to our patients. There is need to remunerate the doctors to get efficient output,” Agboola added.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, said: “We urge our doctors to consider immediate suspension of the action.”

The Army has handed over 20 suspected internet fraudsters to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office.

The suspects, according to the commission’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwajaren, were arrested during a raid by the Army at Ijagun, Odogbolu, in Ogun State.

The suspects include Azeez Busayo, Olubor Winner, Amusa Abdulhakeem, Osoko David, Diyaolu Damilola, Olunlade Olamilekan, Amaje Armstrong, Akorede Tope and Owonifari Sanwiyu.

Others are Ganiyu Sodiq, Onasanya Adeniyi, Ajayi Adesola, Asenuga Ayotomiwa, Bamgboye Quadri, Ayede Oluwaseun, Oseni Ismail, Olaniyan Emmanuel, Akanni Olaleye and Onasile Sunday.

Uwajaren said that the items recovered from the suspects included 11 vehicles, 29 phones and suspected hard drugs.

“The vehicles recovered from them are still in the custody of the Army.

“Nineteen of the 20 arrested have been indicted by the investigation which is still ongoing,” he said.

The EFCC spokesman, however, said the suspect will be arraigned as soon as investigation is concluded.

A prominent politician, Sen. Hosea Ehinlanwo, is dead.

The former legislator, who represented Ondo South District in the Senate between 2003 and 2011, died at his home in Abuja after a brief illness, according to a statement by his son, Soji. He was 83.

A lawyer and former councillor, Ehinlanwo was an associate of the former National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) Minister of Communications, the late Chief Olu Akinfosile.

He taught at the famous Lagos City College, Sabo, Lagos, the Department of Business Administration, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

He worked at the then Bulgarian-owned Globe Fishing Industries Limited, rising to the position of assistant general manager before he left in 1979. When Oluwa Glass Limited was established, he became its personnel/administrative manager and was later appointed as secretary to the board.

He was involved in the establishment of the then Ilaje Ese-odo Community Bank where he was the executive chairman.

While in the Senate, he was the chairman of the Population and National Identity Card Committee and the Navy Committee. He was also a member of the Ethics Committee, Army, Petroleum – Upstream and Downstream —and Constitutional Reform Committee.

He was until his death the Baba Ijo of C&S Church Movement.

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja has again led public health institutions, as it successfully performed its first LASER Lithotripsy on October 28.

LASUTH now has a full upper tract endoscopic and LASER facility, which can be accessible by the residents of Lagos State and its environs.

The Professor of Urology, LASUTH, Prof. Stephen Ikuerowo, said the LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) treatment would save patients the pain of opening up their Upper Urinary Tract during surgery.

He said the LASER treatment is deployed through the urinary tract of the patient where the stone is broken and flushed out.

Ikuerowo confirmed that LASUTH is the first public hospital to deploy LASER treatment for kidney stones in Lagos, and arguably in Nigeria.

Speaking about the cost implication of the treatment, he noted that the treatment in hospitals outside Nigeria takes a huge chunk from patients’ finances. However, comparatively, patients in LASUTH will pay less than half of what obtains in private hospitals in the country.

A Consultant Urologist at the Unit, Dr. Oluwaseun Akinola, explained what this new development means for the health care system in Lagos and Nigeria.

He said: “Before now, the care for kidney stones had not been readily accessible, but the current management of LASUTH, under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, has now made it possible, as the first surgery was carried out today by a complete team of local health professionals. He pointed out that this new development for patients would mean, access to more affordable health care, less scars and a faster recovery rate that allow patients to leave for home in two days.”

Dr. Akinola, therefore, encouraged the public to care for themselves by making it a habit to drink at least three litres of water on a daily basis, since 90 per cent of kidney stone cases are caused by dehydration.

He advised them to reduce salt intake and generally maintain a healthy lifestyle. He further enjoined them to visit the hospital immediately they feel abnormal pains because if left untreated, kidney stones can develop into serious diseases that may cause total kidney collapse and eventual loss.

Lagos State Government yesterday announced a 38-day diversion of traffic at Ogunmokun Road in Mushin, to accelerate work on the first phase of the Lagos Red Line Mass Transit, which traverses Oyingbo-Agbado.

The six weeks diversion, which is slated to begin on November 7, will last till December 31.

A statement by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said that the diversion was a part of the traffic management plan for the construction of the Mushin Overpass, adding that the middle lanes would be cordoned off for construction, to ensure safety.

He said motorists would be diverted to the lanes on both sides of the road to minimise inconvenience.

The commissioner said that traffic signage would be mounted and traffic management personnel would be deployed to guide movement during the construction.

In a bid to formulate better agricultural policy in fulfilling the goal on food sufficiency, job creation and industrialization, the Ogun State Government in collaboration with German Cooperation (GIZ) has reviewed its agricultural policy which was enacted in 1989.

Speaking during the official handling over ceremony of the policy document in Abeokuta, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina said the State Government’s current  Agric policy  supercedes what obtains in the old policy.

Dr. Odedina noted that there is need to develop  a  framework that would stand the test of time, to cater for the current and future agricultural policy.

The Commissioner described the move as a foundation to enhance  the sector for improved production, adding that local, national and international stakeholders in the  agricultural sector were duly consulted  for their inputs during the review.

”We are receiving a document here today that we reviewed together with GIZ who is our partner. It’s another milestone that we are reviewing a policy established since 1989. In the next 20 to 30 years, we are going to be relying on it because we are using it to lay a good foundation for the future of agriculture. We are still going to present it to the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly”, he said.

Speaking, a  stakeholder in the policy review, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo said the development was to transform the State’s agricultural sector in line with the best global practices,  hence, consultations were made to all the States in the country that have agricultural policy, as well as local farmers and other stakeholders to obtain suggestions, opinion and other inputs.

This current document allows some innovations in the front burner of agriculture. So, anyone that wants to go into any sector of agriculture, in ICT, climate smart agriculture, agro-forestry, green house technology, this current document recognizes all of that and many others”, he submitted.

On his part, the GIZ representative, Barr. Akinropo Omoware, said the idea is to have a policy that would drive the agricultural process better in the State, pointing out that  implementation of  the policy would have multiplying positive effects on the agricultural sector with attendant value-chain opportunities.

Contributing, the Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ogun State chapter, Prince Abiodun Ogunjimi, applauded the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his passion and commitment towards improving agriculture in the State, advising government to expedite action on making the policy a law that could be implemented and sustained.

Governor Dapo Abiodun has pledged not to keep improving the quality of healthcare services at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, through collaboration among government, the private sector, and well-meaning individuals.

Abiodun made the vow while commissioning a well furnished state-of-the-art  Eye Centre donated to the Hospital by the Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation ( KAAF) in Sagamu.

Abiodun said that the government had made giant strides in delivering quality services, which are evident across the health facilities in the state, including the state-owned teaching hospital.

The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker.

He described the  KAAF Eye Centre as conducive and equipped with standard facilities that will provide Ogun residents with qualitative Ophthalmic services.

“We are happy that this project has come to fruition today. Our government continues to make landmark achievements in the health sector through collaboration with well-meaning individuals, development partners, and the private sector.

“This facility donated  by KAAF is befitting enough as a learning environment, a postgraduate training centre and for research purposes, which will put OOUTH in the pride of place as a reputable teaching hospital and a first choice for residents in Ophthalmic services.”

Governor Abiodun said the realization of the  Eye Centre was a consequence of the Health Sector’s innovative financing, which he disclosed is one of the strategies deployed to ensure that common people have accessible and quality eye care services.

While appreciating the donor for investing in the Teaching Hospital for the benefit of Ogun residents, Abiodun appealed to high-networth citizens of the State to emulate the benevolent gesture.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman, OOUTH Board, Dr. Taiwo Hassan, revealed that the eye unit of the institution had fallen behind in terms of international standards, saying the enabling environment for public-private partnerships created by the Dapo-Abiodun Administration has changed the narrative.

Speaking earlier, the donor, Sir Kensington Adebutu, who was represented by Aaare Kola Oyefeso, said the investment was borne out of the need to provide standard eye care facility in the State for the benefit of mankind, calling on the management of the teaching hospital to make judicious use of the facility.

On his part, Honorable Oladipupo Adebutu, said it was important for well-meaning individuals to join hands with government to facilitate the rapid development of the health sectors, adding that the Eye Center was one of the many philanthropic gestures of the donor.