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Tag: Nigerians

  • Osinbajo to Nigerians:Let’s stop blame game, make sacrifice

    Osinbajo to Nigerians:Let’s stop blame game, make sacrifice

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday charged Nigerians to be ready to sacrifice for Nigeria towards achieving greatness.

     

    Osinbajo specifically urged them to stop the present blame game.

    The Acting President spoke at the Interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja as part of activities marking the 2017 Democracy Day.
    The theme of the service was: ‘The Dry Bones Shall Live Again’ Ezekiel 37:11.
    Recalling the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37, the Osinbajo said Nigerians must not be like the politician and cleric in the story that looked the other way when they saw the man that was attacked by thieves.
    He urged them to emulate the Good Samaritan, a nobody that took compassion on him, poured oil on his wounds, bandage him and took him to the hospital.
    He said “When we look on our country it is not the state that fell that is the story but the story is how the people reacted when you see the nation that needs to be helped.
    “While the politician and cleric look the other way when they saw the man that was half dead, the Good Samaritan had compassion on him, bandage him and took him to the hospital.
    “Who truly loves the nation, is it the priest that said a prayer walked past, or the politician that looked and walked past or the Samaritan that took the wounded to the hospital, paid some money and said treat him, on my return I will upset the bill.
    “The nation requires those that can make the sacrifices to make it great, they are those whom Jesus spoke about, people that may not be of note but prepared to make the nation great again. Some are doctors, teachers, young graduates.
    “There is sacrifice of integrity against corruption, when you speak against corruption it fights back so you must be ready to make sacrifice no matter how highly placed or small you are. Teachers who are prepared to teach, doctors who are prepared to provide health services no matter what.
    “Make the sacrifices required to make our nation great whether you are a leader or a follower,”he stated
    Before concluding his speech, the Acting President prayed to God to speedily heal President Muhammadu Buhari and bring him back safely.
    He also prayed for grace on those willing to make sacrifices to make the nation great again.

  • Poor Nigerians get free treatments

    The Federal Government has conducted a total number of 4,349 free surgeries and 17, 793 health screenings to poor Nigerians across the country, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.

    Speaking in Abuja, he said the Ministry had set a target of 10,150 free surgeries and screenings to assist the poor.

    Also, the ministry provided over 200,000 nutrition for Nigerians suffering from malnutrition in the northeast. The intervention has since become a project, the Health Sector Nutrition and Emergency Response, delivering comprehensive health interventions and emergency services in the troubled region.

    The Minister said:“The government must pay for those who cannot afford healthcare.”

    Adewole said the programme was a promise by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, as part of its pro-poor universal health coverage agenda.

    The Minister said the programme tagged, “Better Health for All” was ongoing and would be scaled up in the year.

    ‘’You would recall that in July 2016, the Federal Ministry of Health launched the Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) Programme to carry out surgeries and screenings to indigent Nigerians across the Country.

    “The programme was borne out of plan to respond to the critical needs of the people and deliver on the mandate of promoting health with focus on Access, Affordability and Demand,” he said.

    Adewole said the Programme encapsulates a set of initiatives developed as a strategy to actualise the vision of the administration to produce quick and visible impacts that will affect the lives of every Nigerian, especially the most vulnerable and the poor in the society.

    The six components of the programme are surgical interventions, Screening of Nigerians for major Diseases, Revitalisation of PHCs, Mutual Health Assurance, Treatment of 200,000 Severely Acutely Malnourished children and operationalising the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    The programme sought to deliver 10,150 surgeries to the indigent Nigerians among which are Herniorrhaphy 4,240, Cataract Extraction  2,300 Cleft Lip & Palate Repair  450, Club Foot Repair100, Keloid Cryotherapy  80, VVF Repair  300, Myomectomy /Hysterectomy   840, hydrocoelectomy  840 and  Correction of refractive errors + glasses 1000.

    The health screenings cover 22,000 cancer: 10,000 cervical, 10,000 breast  and  2,000 prostate, 42,000 Diabetes Mellitus; 42,000 Hepatitis B Virus as well as  60,000 Mass De-worming.

  • Another batch of 165 Nigerians return from Libya

    Another batch of 165 Nigerians return from Libya

    No fewer than 165 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya on Thursday aboard a chartered Nouvelair aircraft with registration number TS-INA.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aircraft landed at 5.01 p.m at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The returnees were made up of 97 males, 54 females, 11 children and three infants.

    They were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya.

    The returnees were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Addressing newsmen, Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, the Director-General of NEMA, said the agency in collaboration with IOM was working to ensure that Nigerians stranded in Libya were brought back home.

    “We are here to ensure that they are well received. We feed and give them money to enable them get back to their respective destinations,” Maihaja said.

    The director-general, represented by Mr Suleiman Yakubu, the Zonal Coordinator, South West, NEMA, however advised Nigerian youths to develop the mentality of staying back home and helping to build the country.

    “Those of them who have gone and come back will testify that it is better here, especially now that we are in the era of the change mantra.

    “A lot of initiatives have been put in place by the present administration to ensure that life is better in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    Maihaja added that various state governments, particularly Edo State had initiated skills acquisition schemes to help rehabilitate and reintegrate the returnees into the society.

    According to him, a similar scheme which is being put in place by the IOM will take off in July, as the organisation has already informed other stakeholders about the development.

    Two of the returnees who simply gave their names as Owen and Ehis, told NAN that they spent more than seven months in detention in Libya after they were sold into slavery by militias.

    They thanked the Federal Government for facilitating their return to Nigeria and pleaded with the government to assist them in getting their lives back.

    NAN reports that the returnees who were given a stipend of N17, 100 each were later transported to the Jibowu Park to find their way to their respective destinations.

    NAN recalls that two batches of 258 Nigerians voluntarily returned from the North African country on May 11 and May 16 respectively.

     

  • Labour warns against coup, says Nigerians will resist it

    Labour warns against coup, says Nigerians will resist it

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) said on Tuesday  that any attempt by the Nigeria military to topple the current democratic dispensation in the country will be resisted by the working people  and all Nigerians who Laboured  to bring about democratic change in the country.

    In a statement signed by the National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the union said all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations must rise up and kick against any form of military intervention, adding that the recent rumor should be considered as an aberration.

    “It will be recalled that our military, indeed all Nigerians have condemned coups in Africa and even outside the continent, a feat that was commended at the level of the international community. To hear that the military is nursing such a misadventure, even if by rumours only must be seen as ignoble.

    “One beauty of democracy is that there is freedom of speech, at least it has allowed us to challenge our thieving politicians at all levels. This is not the case with the military which does not possess any iota of democratic blood, with their exhibition of autocracy and brute force.

    “We wish to sound it that workers and the masses of Nigerians laboured and sacrificed greatly to enthrone democracy that has now been hijacked by a negligible few that have now become the lawmakers, the governors and so-called political leaders to the detriment of the working class and citizens of the country.

    “Let it be known that the people have voted for democracy and will strive to protect it.  What should be paramount to all progressive Nigerians now is how to move the country forward and not to distabilise it. We know who caused the problem of the country.

    “Truly, Nigerians are abreast of the fact that we have a serious challenge with the present democracy and the crop of leaders that we have at various levels of government. It is a challenge all of us must strive to correct, certainly not by coup.

    “The military, mainstream politicians and privileged Nigerians should be careful not to throw the country into another political pandemonium and disappear into thin air leaving the masses to suffer.  Let the rumour be what it is, a rumour. Nigerians are no longer ready for any hoodwinking. We have come of age,” TUC stated.

  • Nigerians to enjoy internet on Lufthansa flights

    Lufthansa Airlines and Austrian Airlines will offer high-speed internet on many of their short and medium-haul flights.

    Passengers have choice among three service packages at three, seven or twelve euro.

    This means a seamless internet connectivity from the long-haul flights like from Nigeria that have been equipped with this  technology for a while now.

    Internet access will be available on Eurowings flights in a few weeks’ time. Up till now, 19 Lufthansa A320 family fleet aircraft, as well 31 Austrian Airlines and 29 Eurowings aircraft have been fitted with the necessary Wifi technology and satellite antennae for this service. Additional ones are in the process of being equipped.

    This new high-speed technology has been successfully tested in the past months on both Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines flights.

    The internet access works simply via Wifi using the passengers’ own mobile devices. The offers range from messaging services through surfing the net and even to video streaming.

    Customers can choose from one of three service packages. On Lufthansa flights, they comprise FlyNet Message for three euro FlyNet Surf for seven euro and FlyNet Stream for twelve euro per flight.

    Austrian Airlines will offer the same services at the same prices  under the names my Austrian FlyNet Message, my Austrian FlyNet Surf and myAustrian FlyNet Stream. Passengers can either pay via credit card or payment services such as

    PayPal. Soon it will also be possible to make purchases by using Air Miles or via roaming partners.

    The internet provision of the Lufthansa Group airlines and their technology partner Inmarsat uses the most advanced broadband satellite technology (Ka-Band) and offers seamless and reliable coverage on short- and medium-haul flights via the Inmarsat network Global Xpress (GX). The internet service provider and partner of Inmarsat is Deutsche Telekom. Lufthansa Technik is responsible for fitting the systems and components, as well as dealing with the required aviation regulations and other statutory authorizations.

    They are currently equipping the entire Airbus A320 family fleet of Lufthansa Group Airlines  Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Eurowings. Lufthansa Systems is providing the necessary technical infrastructure for internet connection on board. This includes the network operation in the aircraft  the technical prerequisite for Wifi on board  as well as the provision of the required software for the operation of each airline’s respective internet portal, through which the passenger gains access to the net.

  • 90 Nigerians deported from S/ Africa

    90 Nigerians deported from S/ Africa

    The South African government on Friday deported 90 Nigerians for committing immigration-related offences in the country.

    DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command confirmed the development in Lagos.

    Alabi said the deportees ,who were all men,  landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 3.30pm.

    He said they were brought back to Nigeria aboard a South African Airways aircraft with registration number BBB712 from Johannesburg.

    “This afternoon, about 3.30pm, 90 Nigerians were deported from South Africa for committing immigration-related offences, Alabi said.

  • Chamber urges journalists to emphasize enterprise, innovation among Nigerians

    Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has urged journalists to emphasis on the spirit of enterprise and innovation of Nigerians rather than recession.

    Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, President of ECCIMA, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.

    He said that although the country was gradually getting out of recession, there was need to project those new enterprise and innovative ideas that Nigerians had come out with to survive the out-going recession.

    “We are now having a change in the economic narrative of the country.”

    The chamber boss noted that Nigerians had been creative now than ever before, especially finding ways to manage their businesses and homes better.

    “Our youths are highly enterprising in the entertainment, creativity and art world; thus, fighting their way from the national market to the global stage,’’ he said.

    According to Chime, that is the new spirit of Nigeria and Nigerians which people must discuss and journalists must write and promote.

    “Promoting these new enterprise and innovation will further create jobs, wealth and check restiveness,’’ he said.

    The chamber boss, however, commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for maintaining sound fiscal and monetary policies.

    “I must thank Mr President for creating the space and empowerment to fight corruption.

    “Also, I am not forgetting vast majority of Nigerians who had joined the anti-corruption crusade of the government to ensure that public funds are no longer used for jamboree.’’ he said.

     

  • Wealth of five richest Nigerians can end poverty in Nigeria -OXFAM

    The Inequality report released by Oxfam International on Wednesday, revealed that the combine wealth of five richest Nigerians, put at $29.9 billion, could end extreme poverty in the country.

    The report, entitled ‘Inequality in Nigeria, Exploring the Drivers and obtained in Abuja, exposed the large and growing gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria.

    It revealed that the benefits of  the nation’s economic growth had been captured by a few wealthy elite at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians.

    According to the report, the economic inequality is a key factor in the conflict in the North-Eastern states of the country.

    Oxfam International also disclosed that Nigeria’s richest man earned 8,000 times more in one day than a poor Nigerian would spend on basic needs in a year.

    It said that more than 112 million people were living in poverty in Nigeria, yet the country’s richest man spent one million dollars a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune.

    According to the report, Nigeria is one of the few countries where the number of people living in poverty is on the increase despite the growth of the economy.

    The report also indicated that 69 per cent of people now live below the poverty line in North-Eastern states, compared to the 49 per cent in the South-West.

    It also showed that women were not being captured on the benefits of economic growth because they tended to be employed in low-skilled, low-paid informal jobs.

    According to the organisation, women represent between 60 per cent and 79 per cent of Nigeria’s rural labour force but are five times less likely to own their own land than men.

    It further stated that women were also less likely to have had a decent education, noting that over three quarters of the poorest women in Nigeria had never been to school.

    The report said that poor people did not benefit from Nigeria’s wealth because of high level of corruption and the excessive influence big business and some wealthy elite had over government and policy making.

    According to the report, public office holders steal estimated 20 trillion dollars from the treasury between 1960 and 2005, while multinational companies receive tax incentives estimated at 2.9 billion dollars a year.

    This development it said was three times more than Nigeria’s entire health budget.

    It further revealed that small and medium size businesses and workers in the informal sector, however, faced multiple taxes.

    “Despite being Africa’s biggest economy, the share of the national budget allocated to education, health and social protection is one of the lowest in the region.

    “In 2012, Nigeria spent just 6.5 per cent of its national budget on education and just 3.5 per cent on health.

    “By comparison, Ghana spent 18.5 per cent and 12.8 per cent, respectively in 2015.

    ‘’As a result, 57 million Nigerians lack safe water, over 130 million lack adequate sanitation and the country has more than 10 million children out of school.“ it stated.

    Commenting on the report, Mr Celestine Odo, Good Governance Programme Coordinator for Oxfam in Nigeria, said extreme inequality was undermining the economy and fermenting social unrest.

    According to him, Nigerian leaders must be more determined to tackling this terrible problem.

    Odo said that it was an irony that Nigerians were living in poverty in spite the abundance of wealth in the country.

    He said it was important to free millions of Nigerians from poverty by building a new political and economic system that would work for everyone and not just a fortunate few.

    “The government can make a start by tackling corruption, ensuring big business and wealthy individuals pay their fair share of tax, investing in vital public services, and protecting the rights of women,” Odo said.

  • 1,268 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya in five months — NEMA

    1,268 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya in five months — NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 1,268 Nigerians had voluntarily returned from Libya from December 15, 2016 to May 16, 2017.

    Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, the Director General, NEMA, made the disclosure while receiving a fresh batch of 258 Nigerians who arrived on Tuesday in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the returnees arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a chartered Libya Airlines Airbus A330-200 with registration number 5A-LAU at about 8:30pm.

    They were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials of NEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    Maihaja, who was represented by Dr Onimode Bandele, the Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, said the fresh returnees came along with 20 children and infants.

    He said the returnees were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya.

    According to him, another batch of Nigerians is expected back on May 25, and the exercise will continue as long as those stranded in Libya are willing to return home.

    “Since December 2016, we have been able to bring back 1,268 Nigerians and the exercise will continue in collaboration with the IOM.

    “The Federal Government is collaborating with the various state governments to rehabilitate and reintegrate the returnees,” he said.

    Also speaking, Ms Julia Burpee, Public Information Officer, IOM, said the organisation had facilitated the return of over 7,000 Nigerians from various countries in the past 16 years.

    She said the organisation would assist the returnees to get back on their feet and would provide assistance to others willing to leave the North African country.

     

  • ‘4.7m Nigerians under threat of Type 2 diabetes’

    •CU researchers: disease threatens more people

    A study by researchers at Covenant University, Ota has suggested that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – a chronic condition that affects metabolism of glucose in the body – now affects over 4.7 million Nigerians aged 20-79 years.

    A statement by the institution’s Deputy Director, Media & Corporate Affairs Emmanuel Igban warned that the study showed that the disease will threaten more people without an effective public health response, higher public awareness and lifestyle changes, including healthy diets and physical activity.

    The researchers found that 40 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed, and that deaths occur in one 1 in five diabetes patients admitted to hospital with complications from the disease.

    These complications can affect the heart, kidney, brain, eyes, blood vessels and nerves, according to the statement.

    Over the last 30 years, type 2 diabetes has increased by 440 per cent to 4.7 million cases – or 5.7 per cent of all Nigerians. This rate is up to three times higher than the neighbouring countries of Cote d’Ivoire (2.3 per cent), Ghana (1.9 per cent), and Senegal (1.8 per cent).

    The researchers highlight how the understanding of type 2 diabetes in Nigeria and many African countries is hindered by shortfalls in routine health data, and how this hampers an effective response in various settings. They call for more research, especially in Northern Nigeria, where data is particularly scarce.

    The lead researcher, Dr. Davies Adeloye, said: “The last nationwide survey of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria was conducted in 1997. Most findings reported on type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria since then have been based on modelled estimates from neighbouring countries with relatively more detailed data on the disease.

    “We have, therefore, systematically synthesised the best evidence on type 2 diabetes mellitus across all geo-political zones in Nigeria to guide relevant evidence-based public health and policy response in the health sector.”

    Their findings have been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open. A full copy of the research paper can be accessed at: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/