Category: Uncategorized

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

An international non-governmental organisation, United Purpose, has handed over 500 handwashing facilities to Primary Healthcare Agencies in Benue and Cross River States to support the fight against COVID -19 pandemic.

The donation was done through the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) to select Primary Health Care Facilities in 41 Local Government Areas in both states along with a three-month supply of soap.

Programme Manager for RUSHPIN, Mr. Nanpet Chuktu, said an assessment of health facilities was done by the organisation to identify those in dire need of the intervention.

In a statement, he explained the RUSHPIN Programme had been promoting improved sanitation and hygiene practices in both Benue and Cross River states.

According to him, the provision of these emergency handwashing facilities is one of the ways the programme is supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in both states.

“The distribution of these 500 emergency handwashing facilities in Benue and Cross River States is a measure to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic within the state.

“The RUSHPIN programme has responded to this emergency by providing 500 hand washing facilities to these primary healthcare centers in Cross River and Benue states, as they will be first responders to those in need of medical attention at community level.

“These hand washing facilities will be distributed to health centers across the 41 Local Government Areas in both states (Benue – 23 LGAs; Cross River – 18 LGAs) along with a 3-month supply of soap.

“The availability of these emergency handwashing facilities will help reduce the rate of health care worker transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

READ ALSO: Lagos deploys handwashing stations

“Hand washing with soap has been shown to prevent transmission of lots of infectious diseases and this has especially been highlighted during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there has been a limited level of investment on the part of the government in providing sanitation and hygiene facilities in institutions such as schools and healthcare facilities.

“Hand washing is not just about fighting coronavirus. We urge the state government to invest in more sustainable sanitation and hygiene infrastructure for health centers and schools, this is essential for good health.

“In the face of COVID-19 and the need to strengthen the health sector preparedness, our donor the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is supporting us to make sure that about 500 Primary health Care centers are equipped with Handwashing stations,” he said.

RUSHPIN Programme is an initiative of the Federal Government implemented with funding support from the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF)/Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC).

United Purpose (UP), an International NGO headquartered in the UK, is the executing agency for the programme in Nigeria.

RUSHPIN uses the ‘Community-Led Total Sanitation’ approach, to empower communities to collectively change their sanitation and hygiene behaviour, ensuring that every community member uses a toilet and practices good hygiene.

Lucas Ajanaku

The President/Chairman of the Council, Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN), Prof Charles Uwadia has said quackery remained a challenge in the information technology (IT) profession and urged new inductees not to take anything for granted on their knowledge of the profession.

Speaking virtually at this year’s IT Assembly organised by the Group, the president, however, urged the inductees to channel their energy and talents on positive things that would be of benefit to various organisations and the nation, pointing out that CPN decided to focus on 5G technology because of the various opportunities its adoption will bring to the economy.

The forum had as its theme: ‘’Adoption of 5G in Nigeria: The Technological and Regulatory Challenges.’’

According to Uwadia, 5G, which has been touted as the next frontier of investment, has the potential to drive  growth and social inclusion in the country’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, which contributes more than fossil oil and gas to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He, however, argued that the adoption of the 5G network is not without its own challenges, and this was the reason for the choice of the theme of the forum, which hinged on the technological and regulatory challenges associated with the adoption of the 5G.

Prof Uwadia said some of the challenges bothered on the future of frequency bands, deployment and coverage, device support, security and privacy, digital infrastructure challenges, outdated regulatory policies, commitment to actions that promote the long-term growth of the digital economy, misgivings and health concerns against it, among other issues.

The gathered IT professionals and practitioners in Nigeria and diaspora with the objective of discussing and strategising on emergent issues in Information Technology in order to come out with recommendations and decisions that will impart positively on the industry and the nation.

He said: “The yearly Assembly has become an instrument of promoting and uplifting the profile of the profession.  Also, this platform has assisted in raising the profile and enhances the visibility of the profession in Nigeria. I am of the firm opinion that we are gradually gravitating towards a time in which  Information Technology will not only be the driver of operations in the private and public sector of the economy, but will also contribute meaningfully to the Gross Domestic Product as well as being a foreign exchange earner for the economy.

“When we selected this theme in September 2019, COVID-19 was virtually unknown to the world. We also never anticipated that there was going to be so much conspiratory theories surrounding 5G networks. However, it was apparent that 5G was going to play a critical role in moving the nation rapidly toward a digital economy.

“Fifth-generation wireless (5G) is the latest iteration of cellular technology, engineered to greatly increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks. 5G is important because it has the potential to support millions of devices at ultrafast speeds; it is also capable of transforming the lives of people around the world.

“Other advantages of the 5G network include, improving accessibility, extending the reach of mobile broadband, improving safety, health and security, support for business innovative ambitions, creating new markets, transforming supply chain management, and creating smarter and more efficient manufacturing sector.

“There is no doubt that the adoption of 5G, which has been touted as the next frontier of investment, has the proficiencies and potentials to drive economic growth and social inclusion. Presently, Nigeria’s ICT sector contributes more than oil and gas to the GDP. To demonstrate its seriousness on the 5G migration, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) midwifed the non-commercial trial of the 5G network in November 2019.

Speaking on the challenges of the technology, Prof Uwadia said: “It is for this reason that the 2020 IT Professionals’ Assembly we looked at the technological and regulatory challenges associated with the adoption of 5G viz-a-viz the future of frequency bands, deployment and coverage, device support, security and privacy, Digital Infrastructure challenges, outdated regulatory policies, removal of impediments to the expansion of digital infrastructure, commitment to actions that promote the long-term growth of the digital economy, misgivings and health concerns against it, among other issues.”

Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

The Osun State Government on Monday approved conditional ease of lockdown in four local government area of the state.

The State Government had lockdown the four local government namely; Ilesha East, Ilesha West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West on Tuesday, 7th July 2020 upon discoveries that community transmission of the coronavirus was active in that axis of the State.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji on Monday night announced the conditional ease of lockdown in the four local government areas.

Prince Oyebamiji appreciated the people of Ijeshaland for the level of compliance to the lockdown directive. However, he lamented that there were reports of breaches and violations.

The State Government also appreciates the efforts of the Joint Task Force that oversaw the enforcement of the week-long lockdown, as well as the services of healthcare workers and media professionals.

The SSG stated that, “Based on undertakings and assurance received from traditional and religious leaders as well as civil society groups within the axis, that compliance with safety guidelines shall be strictly adhered to going forward; the State Government has approved a CONDITIONAL EASE of lockdown in the four local government areas with effect from the midnight of Monday 13th July 2020.

Read Also: COVID-19: Osun enforcement team arrests violators of lockdown

“Physical meetings and mass gatherings in any form remain banned in that axis and indeed throughout the state till further notice.

Notwithstanding the ease of the lockdown, enforcement of safety protocols – especially the use of nose mask in public places – must be continued in the axis, and non-adherents will be sanctioned. He ended.

AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

The female staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mrs. Yemi Awolola, who was last week arrested for alleged child torture and sexual abuse in Kaduna, has been remanded in prison.

This came as Senior Magistrate Court 3, where Mrs. Awolola was charged for child torture, on Monday adjourned her case till August 27, 2020 for hearing.

Chief Magistrate Bashir Shitu Yusuf, who presided over the case with court registration number: KMD/204XB/2020, had earlier denied the accused bail filed.

Mrs. was charged before the Court alongside her daughter and a house help, both of whom are minors of about 15 years of age.

The Nation recalled that, the staff of NNPC group in Kaduna, was arrested on Monday, July 6, for allegedly applying hot object on the genitals area of one 14-year-old house help, Princess Michael, over alleged stealing and hiding of food items in her house, an offence that contradicted Kaduna State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2018.

Fielding questions from the newsmen outside court room, the immediate past Chairperson, International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) who is the complainant, Barrister Bukola Ajao, said, the accused has pleaded guilty to the allegation leveled against her, hence, the decision of the court to adjourn the case till August 27.

Giving the background to the case she said, “I got a call from a colleague, one Barrister Toyin on July 9, that a girl of 14-year-old, one Princess Michael was on admission at Harmony Hospital, Narayi, Kadun, with series of burn all over her body.

READ ALSO: Female NNPC staff held for alleged abuse of 14-yr-old girl

“So, I went there immediately. But, there was someone from another NGO called GIWAC, Uziah on ground before my arrival at the hospital.

“We interviewed the girl and she narrated her ordeal. We then agreed to switch into action the following morning and she was invited to Barnawa Police Station from where we are where we are now,” she said.

Father of the girl, Michael Augustine, shared how her daughter became house help in the house of Mrs. Awolola who had promised to enroll her in school as a result of unrest in his community.

“It all started when some gunmen in April, 2019, attacked our village, Kutura station, Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State where my elder brother and his son were gruesomely murdered,” he said.

The father of four, where patience was second, said that development made him sent his daughter to stay with her younger sister, Esther Moses, Danfulani, a mother of two who coincidentally lost her husband to gunmen in another attack in Kajuru Station in the same local government area in September 2019.

According to Esther, who also present in court, “we enquired about the woman before we allow the girl to go and stay with her. People said she was a nice woman and that cleared our doubt about the safety of the girl. We were so happy that the girl will continue her education under the care of her master. We are sad that, what started peacefully has brought us this far”, she said in tears.

Meanwhile, wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Ummi El-Rufai, who came to witness the preceding in court, commended the decision of the Magistrate court saying, issue of child abuse would not be tolerated in Kaduna state.

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Polytechnic lecturers have demanded an immediate release of all promotion arrears owed by both federal and state institutions.

The lecturers also demanded the payment of salaries owned by state institutions like Abia, Imo, Benue, Osun, Ogun and Edo states.

The lecturers under the umbrella body of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) described as “obsolete salary regimes” being enforced in states like Zamfara, Jigawa and Borno state.

President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, urged the mentioned states to release the withheld salaries of its members and implement an appropriate salary regime for them.

The union also asked the Federal Government to rectify all the anomalies associated with and reported in the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus forces ASUP to suspend planned strike

Ezeibe said: “We demand the rectification of all anomalies associated with and reported on IPPIS;

“Release of the arrears of minimum wage consequential adjustments to our members in Federal institutions and implementation of the law in states;

“Release of all promotion arrears owed members by both federal and state institutions;

“Recall of victimised union officials in affected institutions and cessation of further acts of victimisation in the sector;

“Reconstitution of the dissolved governing councils without delay and setting up of visitation panels for the institutions;

“Release of the reviewed Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service;

“And the resumption of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation.”