The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) on Monday commenced a 48-hour strike in a dispute overpay.
Balpa said almost all British Airways flights, totalling hundreds, were cancelled and an estimated 195,000 customers would be affected.
The association said 8.50 a.m. scheduled flights was cancelled, and passengers would be offered a refund or a later flight.
The strike has been labelled one of the biggest in the airline’s history.
Balpa added that a one-day strike would cost the airline about 40 million pounds (49 million dollars).
In July, the pilots declined an offer by British Airways of an 11.5-per-cent pay rise over three years.
However, British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz urged Balpa to continue talks to end the strike.
“The discussions must continue, they must be unconditional,’’ he told the BBC.
The management of the airline said in a statement on its website “we understand the frustration and disruption Balpa’s strike action has caused our customers.
“After many months of trying to resolve the pay dispute, we are extremely sorry that it has come to this.’’
London’s Heathrow airport will be worst affected as it is British Airway’s busiest hub.
Balpa’s general secretary Brian Strutton, said “British Airways has to wake up.
“Pilots had to accept significant pay cuts during difficult times, and now that the airline was making money, it should give something back to its pilots.
“It is time to get back to the negotiating table and put together a serious offer that will end this dispute.’’
He announced that a second strike is planned for September 27.
A former presidential candidate in Nigeria, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, and leaders of the Nigerian community in Cape Town have met to proffer a solution to recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cape Town, South Africa, comprising Nigerian entrepreneurs, professionals and the Nigerian community led by Mr Cosmos Echie, the acting President of the Nigerian Community Western Cape.
In a communique after the meeting, held in the form of an interactive session, the group preferred to describe the attacks as Afrophobia.
“It was unanimously agreed that the crisis is detrimental to the spirit of African renaissance, affirmation of black heritage, progress and development. Afrophobia compromises everything that the recently brokered intra-African trade – Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement — represents and aspires to deliver,” the communique added while faulting the attacks.
According to a copy of the communique made available to our correspondent on Monday, governments of Nigeria and South Africa are urged to guide against provocative comments.
The South Africa’s President, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, was also asked to apologise to Nigerians and other countries whose citizens were attacked.
The South African government was also advised to trigger series of actions necessary to de-escalate the brewing conflict.
This, the experts said, would ensure that bilateral trade agreements between the countries would not be affected.
Part of the communique read, “Officials of the government of South Africa must immediately desist from making any further pejorative and incendiary comments targeting Nigerians and their country and instead publicly commit to taking preventive and surveillance measures that will foreclose a repeat of Afrophobic attacks of Nigerians and other African nationals.
“The President of South Africa, Cyril Remaphosa, should rise to the demands of leadership and reach out to the President of Nigeria to trigger the series of dialogue and actions necessary for swift de-escalation of the brewing conflict between their two countries.
“The President of South Africa should offer a sincere public apology to Nigeria, other countries affected by the attacks and the entire continent for the tragic hostility and harm perpetrated against their citizens.
“The President of South Africa should send a sharp signal to South Africans and the continent by visiting the victims of the Afrophobia attacks to empathize with and reassure them of their safety in South Africa and the government should consider paying compensations for losses sustained in the attacks.
“South Africa and Nigeria should agree a mutual legal assistance cooperation scheme for tackling cases of crimes occurring among their citizens.”
It also read, “The Nigerian High Commission and Nigerians in South Africa should design a fact-based campaign to widely convey the accurate and positive narrative of the value they contribute to their host country. For example, South Africans must be made aware that more than 18 per cent of lecturers in their higher institutions are Nigerians. A significant percentage of medical personnel in rural hospitals are Nigerians. Most Nigerians and Nigerian-owned businesses operate responsibly in legitimate and professional practices in South Africa compared to the less than one per cent of cases of shadowy activities.
“The Nigerian government should make visible effort to guarantee the safety and security of South Africans and their businesses in Nigeria.
“The umbrella organisation of South Africa- based Nigerians will be encouraged to launch a business platform to support the formalising processes for as many informal businesses of Nigerians as possible in order to better capture the value and impact being created and contributed to South Africa’s economic and social landscape.”
The communique added, “Ezekwesili promised her expertise in personally working with the NCWC to ensure that their goal to help achieve the formalising platform.
“The leaders of South Africa-based Nigerians will collaborate to promote a citizens diplomacy programme to foster stronger personal and business relationships between Nigerians and South Africans.”
Other members of the delegation that met with the former minister are Mr Fuster Ludjoe, current financial Secretary of NCWC and the founding leader of Nigerian community group in Cape Town; Mrs Ebiere Joseph-Akwunwa, Public Relations Officer, NCWC; Mr Chukwudi Nwokeabia; Mr Kiisi Women;
Mr Samson Famuyiwa; Mr Sunday Ekene, Chief Welfare Officer, NCWC; and assistant welfare officers of NCWC.
Others are Mrs Felicia Feni, Treasurer of NCWC; Chief T.A Odutayo, who represented the Yoruba community in Cape Town; Chief Vincent Nzekwe; Mr Simon Odumegwu, Chairman and General Secretary of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Western Cape; and Pastor Barry Wuganaale, leader of the Ogoni community.
Nigeria’s population is growing at a scary rate and experts say it is having a significant effect on the environment. Ugandan journalist Shifa Mwesigye, in this special report for The Nation, examines this challenge and suggests the way out.
At 11 am, Elizabeth heads out into the hills where she meets her friends from the neighbourhood. They descend onto the forest in their village of Burak in Shongom, Gombe State to cut down trees and collect firewood for preparing meals for their families. Here they meet tens of other women and children collecting firewood.
When Elizabeth’s mother was her age 20 years ago, the forest was sprouting down the hills and neighbouring their farm. They didn’t have to move long distances to collect firewood. Today, Elizabeth has to walk at least 4 kilometres to collect the firewood because the forest has been destroyed so much and the bare land turned into agricultural and settlement zones.
The demand for fuelwood in Shongom has grown because according to the state’s website, the population in Gombe State increased from 158,339 in 1990 to 2.8 million people by 2015, increasing demand for cooking energy. Secondly, businessmen cut down trees and transport them to the cities where it is used as fuelwood, timber for making furniture and building houses for the ever-increasing population that requires housing.
“In this area, the demand for fuelwood outstrips supply and hence, the risk of deforestation in this part of the country expands at the rate of 1 kilometre per year, which has brought about irreversible damage to the environment,” states Ibrahim Yahaya a researcher at Gombe State University.
The increasing population of Nigeria, which stands at 200 million people today, is eating up its environment and biodiversity – everything that provides food, energy, medicines, genetic resources and a variety of materials fundamental for people’s physical well-being and for maintaining culture. While the Nigerian government continues to bank its hopes on oil revenues for supporting human and economic development, a large unchecked population will be detrimental to these hopes.
To stop this man-made environmental destruction and loss of resources much depends on scaling up the use of contraceptives to meet the targeted contraceptive prevalence rate of 36 per cent and reduce the population growth. If not, it will be difficult, even with higher oil prices, to make major gains in living standards for the poorest of the poor if other natural resources which people depend on are depleted.
“There is a false belief that economic development is the panacea for sustaining an ever-increasing population,” says Professor Dolapo Lufadeju, coordinator of Rotarian Action Group for Population and Development. “Persistently high fertility in developing countries like Nigeria, if not checked, will outpace available renewable and non-renewable resources leaving people at risk of hunger and water scarcity.” Dolapo is convinced: “Nigeria must invest in a robust family planning campaign and make contraceptives available to women who want to limit or stop having children to reverse this pressure on the environment.”
Robert Walker, the president of the Population Institute says the promotion of voluntary family planning services represents a valuable and cost-efficient opportunity for Nigeria. With a population of 200 million which is projected to reach 411 million by 2050, if all family planning needs were met, population growth could be expected to decline considerably.
The extent of the problem
The geographical area of Nigeria is by nature limited to 923,768 sq. km which represents a fixed factor. Yet the population is increasing to occupy and exploit this fixed factor. The growing population and its activities are slowly destroying the very environment that supports human life. A rapidly growing population not only increases pressure on marginal lands, over-exploitation of soils, overgrazing, over cutting of woods, soil erosion, silting, flooding; but also increases excessive use of pesticide fertilisers causing land degradation and water pollution. The effects include deforestation, desertification, wildland fires, and loss of biodiversity, land and air pollution, climate change, sea-level rise and ozone depletion.
According to Okafor Samuel Okechi, a researcher with the University of Nigeria, the country’s temperature mean increase from 1901-2005 was 1.1°C while the global temperature in the same time rose “only” 0.74°C. This was accounted for by the level of deforestation in the country which had been attributed with the 87 per cent of the total carbon emission of the country.
Compare this loss to the 550 million hectare Amazon Rain Forest. Also referred to as the Lungs of the Earth, it sucks up about 90 billion tons of carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen needed by humans. The current wildfires which are set by humans either intentionally or accidentally are just part of the deforestation eating up the Amazon. Farmers and cattle grazers are encroaching on it too. In just six months this year, the Amazon has lost 344,468 hectares of its forest cover to human activity according to Washington Post.
In 1990, Nigeria had a population of 95 million people. By 2000, the population had increased to 122 million people and today it stands at 200 million. Currently, Nigeria accounts for 2.35 per cent of the world population with every 43rd person calling himself a Nigerian anywhere in the world. So in the last 28 years, the population of Nigeria has more than doubled, creating a huge demand for land for agriculture, fuelwood, water and housing – all of which are harnessed from the environment. This threatens the country’s rich diversity of forests and wildlife, including at least 899 species of birds, 274 mammals, 154 reptiles, 53 amphibians, and 4,715 species of higher plants.
The predominantly rural population in Nigeria depends mainly on fuelwood to meet basic energy needs for cooking and heating. According to statistics from FAO, Nigeria produces about 1 million tons of charcoal annually of which 80 per cent is consumed in the cities. Fuelwood and charcoal account for about 50 per cent of the national primary energy consumption.
In Africa, fuelwood accounts for over 80 per cent of primary energy needs. FAO further reveals that over 50 per cent of all wood produced in the world is used for energy. Importantly, 85 per cent of all wood fuel is collected by women and girls.
Nigeria also faces a multitude of climate-related threats. Drought in the North and flooding in the South could severely affect food production while rising seas could displace millions of people living along the coast or in the Niger Delta. Climate change could also increase the number of refugees fleeing to Nigeria from the Sahel.
Family planning as a cost-effective solution
Conservationists consider renewable energy, public transport and lower consumption as the environmental solution. Reforestation can help to curtail soil erosion, revitalise regional watersheds, restore critical bio-habitats for endangered species and help to alleviate water scarcity.
Yet there is no doubt that better access to wider availability of modern contraception provides an important part to a long-time sustainable solution.
Over 150 reproductive health and environment organisations from 170 countries, including Nigeria, have come together to support a global campaign Thriving Together that aims at increasing awareness of the link between environmental conservation and family planning. The organisations in Nigeria supporting this campaign include Rotarian Action Group for Population and Development, Health Reform Foundation Nigeria and SIRP Nigeria. Through engagement in maternal and child health and family planning, RFPD aims to foster improvements in human well-being and dignity, women’s empowerment and a sustainable balance between population and environment.
“Having been engaged in maternal and child health and family planning for a quarter-century, RFPD is looking to now increase collaboration with agencies and organisations in environmental protection and climate activism. The potential synergies between these two fields are clearer than ever. We are delighted to see the amount of progress made in recent years regarding awareness about the relation between population and the environment!” Professor Robert Zinser, RFPD Co-Founder
To improve the situation, RFPD is supporting the government by training doctors, nurses, community health extension workers in the provisions of professional family planning services. Rotarians will train staff in stock management and ensure that contraceptives are transported and stocked in 4000 health care centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital of Abuja.
“By easing access to contraceptives at the nearest health centre and staffing them with competent, well-trained personnel responsive to clients’ needs, we are not only helping women choose their family size, but this is also a sustainable conservation practice,” RFPD-coordinator Dolapo adds.
Robert Walker, the president of Population Institute says that even if population growth had no impact on the level of greenhouse gas emissions, the case for incorporating family planning into climate change discussions is still compelling. Preventing unintended pregnancies helps women and families adapt to climate change. When families are struggling to survive in the face of drought, flooding or rising seas, smaller families are more likely to survive and, hopefully, thrive.
Population scholars John Bongaarts and Brian C. O’Neill argue that helping women avoid unwanted pregnancies will slow population growth which in turn could reduce global carbon emissions by 40% or more in the long term.
Parties to the dispute over the February 23 presidential election won by President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are to know their fate this week, The Nation learnt on Sunday.
The Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) must give judgment in the suits instituted by the parties not later than September 14, as provided in Section 134 (1) to (3) of the Electoral Act, the petitions having been filed on March 18.
Apart from Buhari and the APC, other litigants are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar. They are challenging Buhari’s victory.
Although the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has up to September 14, 2018 as provided in Section Section 134 (1) to (3) of the Electoral Act, the petition having been filed on March 18, 2019, the verdict may be delivered on Friday, September 14 being Saturday.
A reliable source told our correspondent: “We are aware that the court is working towards September 13, 2019 for the judgment.
“You know they (the court) have up to September 14, by virtue of the provision of the Electoral Act, the petition having been filed on March 18 this year.
“So, we are comfortable with the date, because it is still within time. It will afford the petitioners the time to work on their appeal.”
The PEPC, sitting in Abuja, last sat on August 21, 2019 and adjourned for judgment after entertaining final submissions from lawyers to parties.
Presiding Justice Mohammed Garba, announced, while adjourning proceedings on August 21, that parties would be notified when the court decides on a date for judgment.
Some lawyers to parties in the case said they were yet to be informed by the court about a date for judgment.
“My friend, we have not heard from the court. You know we were last there on August 21 for the final adoption, following which the court adjourned for judgment and promised to inform parties.
“As I speak, we are yet to be informed. I don’t know if others ave been sent hearing notice. But we are yet to receive any,” a senior lawyer to one of the parties said.
The petitoners’ legal team had last week written the PEPC and prayed that it, among other things, promptly deliver its judgment in their petition.
While making their final submissions on August 21, Buhari and the APC, the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC), who are respondents to the petition, noted that the petitioners failed to disprove the claim that Atiku is not a Nigerian by birth and as such was not qualified to contest the election.
Buhari, APC and INEC described the petition by Atiku and the PDP, challenging the outcome of the election as worthless and time-wasting. They noted that the petitioner, in prosecuting the petition, starved it of necessary evidence and urged the court to dismiss it with substantial cost.
Three northern states governors Aminu Masari (Katsina), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) have jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Governor of Maradi Region in Niger Republic on best approaches to addressing the security challenges in their domains.
The Director-General, Press Affairs to the Zamfara governor the governor, Yusuf Idris, dropped the hint in Gusau yesterday.
He said that the meeting was called at the instance of Maradi Region Governor Mallam Zakari Oumoru.
Idris said that the meeting, which was held at the Government House, Maradi, dwelt on trans-border crimes, especially banditry, kidnappings and cattle rustling in the four states which share common borders.
The director-general stated that the participating states agreed to maintain good neighbourliness and cooperation among themselves, while jointly addressing the issue of security.
He said that the MoU agreed to uphold the renewed efforts of the three Nigerian states and Maradi of Niger Republic in curbing the menace of armed banditry within their borders.
Other areas covered by the MoU included, the governors’ resolve to join hands in the fight against banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed robbery within the affected borders for the purpose of having peaceful states.
In his remarks, Matawalle described peace, dialogue and reconciliation as necessary tools of curbing the insecurity situation in the four states.
He explained that his administration had adopted dialogue with bandits after very wide consultations and later created contacts with men of the underworld, which led to a joint meeting with all the groups.
The governor further said that the peace process had yielded positive results, as peace had since returned to the state.
The heads of security agencies, including the army, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) in the participating states were present at the meeting.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said over 90 public property were unlawfully appropriated by former government officials.
The governor has set up a 15-man committee, chaired by ex-Chief Judge Justice Raliat Elelu to clean up the state and ward off environmental disasters. The initiative is under the Kwara State Social Assessment Vulnerable Indicator (KW-SAVI) Parameters — a key part of AbdulRazaq’s plan.
Secretary to the committee is Shuaib AbdulGaniyu, an assistant director in the Governor’s Office. It will be inaugurated today by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Mamman Saba Jibril.
On the misappropriation of public property, AbdulRazaq said a report by the Senator Sulaiman Ajadi Committee, which he set up to look into the handling of public assets since 1999, lamented that with the illegal acquisition, Kwara was unable to accommodate dignitaries visiting the state.
“The (Senator Ajadi) committee did a very good job. They submitted two reports and we’re waiting for the final report. It is unfortunate that from my little reading of it …people just shared government property as if it was their fiefdom. They did not even think for one second that it was government property,” AbdulRazaq told reporters.
“…some of them just live in those houses without paying …while most of them only started paying after the election …to the extent that the state government does not have enough …to accommodate dignitaries and traditional rulers from other states … That’s how they shared the property and we are looking at more than 90 properties … We’ll …make sure the proper thing is done.”
The governor said the Raliat Elelu committee would look into environmental issues, such as unlawful dumping of waste and other violation that hurt planning and endanger public health.
“We have also set up a committee …headed by Justice Raliat Elelu to look at the issue top down on environment and once they submit their report things will start changing. If you drive through our major roads, you will see rubbish … But give us time all these will be a thing of the past,” the governor said.
There are so many celebrities in the Nigerian movie industry who are still not married at 40 years and above.
While some deliberately choose not to tie the knot, others have tried and failed.
Although not married, these women are doing greatly in the entertainment industry.
Here is our list of eight female celebrities who are unmarried at 40 and above
Eniola Badmus (42-yr-old)
Eniola Badmus
Eniola Badmus who turned 42 on Saturday, September 7, 2019 was born in Lagos Nigeria . She had her basic and secondary school education in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.
She proceeded to the University of Ibadan where she studied Theatre Arts and then Lagos State University where she graduated with an M.Sc degree in Economics
This single actress came into limelight in 2008 after she featured in the film Jenifa, a very successful seasonal show whose main character is played by another popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele.
Rita Dominic (44-yr-old)
Rita Dominic
Rita Dominic is an award-winning actress who was born on July 12th, 1975.
44-year-old Dominic, was born in a royal family of Nwaturuocha, and was the youngest of four children.
She graduated from the University of Port Harcourt, where she studied Theatre Arts.
Her first movie “A Time to Kill” came out in 1998, and since then Rita Dominic has acted in more than 100 Nollywood productions.
She co-stars with all the most popular Nollywood actors, like Ramsey Nouah, Stephanie Okereke, Mike Ezuruonye, Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Olu Jacobs, and many others.
There were a lot of reports and photos of Rita Dominic getting married.
However, a majority of the photos which the media use as evidence are simply photos from movies , where Rita Dominic plays a bride.
In real life, she is still single. The actress confessed that she wants her future husband to love her for who she is and not because she is famous, and revealed that she would never marry someone because of his riches either.
Kate Henshaw is one of the most popular and talented actresses in Nollywood.
She was born in Cross River State and the oldest of four children. After completing her primary and secondary school in Lagos and Calabar, she spent one year at the University of Calabar reading remedial studies, and then majored in Medical Microbiology at the School of Medical Lab Science, LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital) in Lagos. Henshaw worked at the Bauchi State General hospital. In 1993 Henshaw auditioned for the lead role in the movie When the Sun Sets and was handed the role. This was her first appearance in a major Nollywood movie.
However, not much has been said about her relationships, she was once married to Rod Nattal back in 2000 and the two split. She’s been unmarried ever since then.
Eucharia Anunobi (54-yr-old)
Eucharia Anunobi
Popular Nollywood actress Eucharia Anunobi is a movie producer and pastor.
She was born on May 25th, 1965. Currently, Eucharia is 54 years old. Her birthplace is Owerri, Imo State.
Anunobi has a degree in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management Technology in Enugu.
She further got another education in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she studied the English Language.
Her first prominent role was in the series “Glamour Girls” in 1994. Acting turned out to be the occupation of her life, and she starred in more than 90 other movies, which include her most famous productions “Abuja Connection”, and “Letters to a Stranger”. Now, she serves as a pastor at the church in Egbeda.
Anunobi is not in a relationship. She got married to her first husband, Charles Ekwu, in 2000, but they divorced in 2006. Unfortunately, in August 2017, Anunobi’s son passed away at 15.
Genevieve Nnaji (40-yr-old)
Ace actor, producer and movie director Genevieve Nnaji was born in May 3, 1979.
In 2005, She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in making her the first actor to win the award.
Nnaji was born in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, and grew up in Lagos. She is the fourth of eight children, she was raised in a middle-class family; her father worked as an engineer and her mother as a nursery school teacher. She attended Methodist Girls College (Yaba, Lagos), before transferring to the University of Lagos, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in creative arts. While at the university, she began auditioning for acting jobs in Nollywood.
However, recently, a picture of herself and Lynxxx surfaced online which has sparked loads of questions and guesses, Genevieve does not really disclose her personal life to the media often.
She has a daughter, Theodora Chimebuka Nnaji, whom she gave birth to when she was 17 years old.
Bimbo Akintola (49-yr-old)
Bimbo Akintola
Bimbo Akintola was born on May 5th, 1970 in Ibadan, Oyo State. She dreamed about acting from the young age and successfully completed the Theater Arts program at the University of Ibadan.
The debut movie of Bimbo Akintola was “OWO BLOW”, where she starred together with Femi Adebayo. This movie came out in 1995. Her next big work was “Out of Bounds.”
Critics and fans highly praise the talent of Bimbo Akintola, and she has been awarded multiple times for her ability to portray any character on the screen.
Despite her career successes, Bimbo Akintola was never married, and she did not have any children.
She is strongly against the social stereotype that every successful woman should have a man by her side.
She sees nothing wrong being single and encourages women who want to have biological children to have them regardless of their marital status, as she believes that single mothers can successfully raise their children if they are emotionally and financially stable.
Bukky Wright (52-yr-old)
Bukky Wright
Bukky was born on the 31 March 1967 to a Christian father and Muslim mother in Abeokuta.
She attended the University of Lagos, earning a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
She began her acting career in 1996. She has featured in several Nollywood movies of Yoruba and English languages, including Wale Adenuga’s Television series Super story. Besides acting, she runs a Fashion house and Clothing line, B Collections and a beauty spa, B Wright.
Bukky’s marital life has been a subject of controversy.
Bukky Wright’s first husbands was Gboyega Amu, the marriage brought them, two children. But for some reason, the union was broken, and the actress started a relationship with Rotimi Makinde.
After few years Bukky Wright reportedly began dating famous journalist Femi Davies. The relationship ended after a year, and she moved on.
Bolaji Saheed, a music promoter, reportedly became the fourth husband of the actress, the marriage also ended. After that, she met her fifth husband, US-based Adewale Onitiri, this marriage recently crashed.
Faithia Williams (50-yr-old)
Faithia williams
Faithia Williams popularly known as Faithia Balogun was born on February 5, 1969
She was born in Ikeja in February 1969. Her ancestry is from Okpara, Delta State.
She attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Lagos state, where she obtained the West African School Certificate before she proceeded to Kwara State Polytechnic where she received a diploma certificate.
She has starred, produced and directed several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.
She was formerly married to veteran nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun.
Their marriage hit rock bottom few and she has remained unmarried ever since.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has vowed to end yellow fever in the state.
About 600 residents in Duguri district of Alkaleri Local Government were vaccinated following outbreak of yellow fever in the area.
State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, on Thursday confirmed three cases of yellow fever in Alkaleri and Tafaw Balewa local governments.
Four students of the College of Education, Waka-Biu, in Biu Local Government of Borno State were reportedly killed while 12 were hospitalised after a trip to Yankari Game Reserve in Alkaleri.
However, the governor who spoke during a media chat to mark his 100 days in office, said his government requested vaccines from the World Health Organisation.
He said six million doses of vaccines were needed to stop yellow fever.
The governor said the outbreak followed the large population of monkeys around the Game Reserve, adding that government had procured vaccines.
Mohammed said some partners had granted N6 billion support. “We are on top of the situation…
The governor said N673 million had been disbursed in health care, adding that over N227 million had been spent.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State Dr. Ramatu Aliyu has advised politicians to guard their utterances and ensure a violent-free poll.
Aliyu spoke in Abuja when members of the Kogi State House of Assembly visited her, saying although the primaries had been won, it was not yet time to rest.
The minister of state noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would work for the continuity of Governor Yahaya Bello.
In a statement by her Special Assistant Media, Austine Elemue, the minister said: “We came out successful during our primaries, but it is not yet Uhuru … The era of divide-and-rule in Kogi State is over because we are now one big family…
“The governor should …trust us … we are now one family ready to work for the continuity of our governor. Legislators should go back home and talk to their people for them to win their trust…
“But more importantly, guard your utterances…Prove to Nigerians that Kogi governorship election is …violent-free, just as we witnessed during the primaries. There will be no snatching of ballot boxes to prove a point to the opposition. I appeal to you to remain calm,” she said
Assembly Speaker Matthew Kolawale observed that the state ought to have developed more than Lagos as the oldest capital city of Nigeria, just as he regretted that leadership failure had been a major drawback of the state.
He hoped that with her appointment, she would change the narrative, and appealed to the Federal Government to site a seaport in Kogi.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has said the people resolved to vote out ex-Governor Mohammed Abubakar, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for non performance.
State party Chairman Hamza Koshe Akuyam, who spoke during a media chat organised by Governor Bala Mohammed to mark his 100 days in office at the weekend, said besides non performance , the former governor was no indigene.
The PDP chairman added that non-imposition of a candidate allowed delegates to choose freely among aspirants contesting the party’s ticket in the state.
He said the party’s free and fair primaries led to the election of Mohammed as flag bearer.
Akuyam said the ability of PDP to select a credible candidate was also a factor.
“Now, the people of Bauchi know that there is a difference between a tenant and the landlord. A tenant does not repair the house he is renting. The former governor was a tenant, so, he could not work for the progress of Bauchi because he was a tenant, so we brought in the son of the soil and drove him out so that the people of Bauchi will have relief,” he said.
Speaking on the election of Mohammed as flag bearer, he said: “The first thing we did was we allowed delegates to freely choose among the contestants; the PDP did not impose any candidate …so the people were able to vote Bala Mohammed to be the candidate … going by his charisma and experience in politics.”
Akuyam added that the determination of Mohammed made it easy to vote out the former governor.
The chairman noted that the PDP-led government was celebrating the governopr’s 100 days in office because the people had seen what the governor had been doing…
He said PDP was highly impressed that Mohammed had not disappointed.
Akuyam noted that Abubakar was the first governor to lose election after serving just a tenure in the history of Bauchi.
At 11 am, Elizabeth heads out into the hills where she meets her friends from the neighbourhood. They descend onto the forest in their village of Burak in Shongom, Gombe State to cut down trees and collect firewood for preparing meals for their families. Here they meet tens of other women and children collecting firewood.
