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Cholera: Tinubu orders cabinet to set up committee on emergencies
President Bola Tinubu has directed the establishment of a cabinet committee to oversee the Cholera emergency operation centre operated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made this known yesterday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
The Minister said the cabinet committee comprises members from the Federal Ministries of Health, Finance, Water Resources, Environment, Youth, Aviation, and Education.
He added that the committee’s efforts are in addition to the state government’s support to ensure Nigeria makes progress in reducing open defecation and other developmental issues aiding cholera spread.
“The Council approved a cabinet committee comprising the Federal Ministries of Health, Finance, Water Resources, Environment, Youth, Aviation, and Education, as some of our children will be returning to school.
“In addition to this, the state government will be co-opted to ensure Nigeria makes progress in reducing open defecation, as cholera is a developmental issue that requires a multi-sectoral approach,” Pate explained.
Meanwhile, some states have adopted strategies to overcome the prevalence of cholera. These include chlorination of water, and awareness and education of the people on proper hygiene.
The Gombe State government said though the state is free of cholera outbreak, it has started distributing chlorine to the 11 local government areas as part of measures to mitigate cholera spread.
Its Waste Manager, Gombe State Environmental Protection Agency (GOSEPA), Dr Umar Musa, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, said the targeted areas are wells, stagnant ponds and reservoirs, while areas that fetch water from rivers would get aqua tabs.
He explained: “Chlorine will destroy pathogens in water which contain the bacterium called Vibrio Cholerae which causes cholera infection and other water-borne diseases.”
The manager, who said the chlorine distribution would continue until December, added that 110 trained personnel are handling the distribution.
“The use of chlorine was the preventive method Gombe State also adopted in 2023 and it yielded positive results because there was no single case of cholera recorded.
Also, the Anambra State Government, which said it had not recorded any case of cholera, through its Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said in Awka, the state capital that the ministry has, nevertheless, activated Emergency Response Teams across the 21 local government areas.
“Emergency response teams are also actively conducting surveillance in communities in the 21 LGAs to promptly identify and contain any potential cases.
“We have commenced public campaigns to raise awareness about cholera and emphasise preventive measures in homes and communities.
“The media has been engaged to disseminate crucial information and educate the public about the signs, symptoms, and preventive strategies for cholera,” he said.
For some schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), precaution is the watchword.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, called on the FCT Primary Health Care Board to put in place measures to guard against the outbreak of cholera epidemic that has ravaged some states in Nigeria.
The minister made this call while taking briefs from the Director of the FCT Primary Health Care Board at the 190th FCT Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting in her office.
Mahmoud, who expressed satisfaction over the non-reported case of the epidemic in the nation’s capital, however, warned that as the seat of government necessary measures should be put in place to avoid any outbreak of the disease.
“I am indeed delighted that no case of the cholera epidemic has been reported in any of our primary healthcare centres across the six area councils in the FCT.
“However, that does not give us room to relax because this is the seat of government. The FCT Primary Health Care Board should put in place measures to guard against any outbreak of the disease.
“By now, I was expecting the board to commence radio jingles in different major languages and sensitization programmes in our schools, markets, mosques and churches. We should not give room for the outbreak before we start the fire brigade approach. That will not be acceptable,” she warned.
When NAN visited some of the schools yesterday in Gwagwalada, it observed that most schools have water drums and soap at designated places for pupils and teachers to wash their hands.
The move, they said, is to ensure availability of potable water for the pupils and others.
The Assistant Headmaster, Administration, Pilot Science Primary School, Mr Ismaila Gishe, said the Local Education Authority (LEA) recently provided plastic water drums and purifiers to purify the water before the pupils could drink it.
The Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday urged relevant government agencies to collaborate with local governments for proactive measures in containing the spread of cholera in the state.
The House’s members, led by the Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), made the call during plenary.
Elemide commended the state government for its prompt intervention through the purchase of protective kits meant for the prevention of the spread.
He solicited the collaboration of relevant agencies and the Department of Public Health and Sanitation at the local government level.
Earlier, Wahab Haruna (APC-Yewa North I) had underscored the need to enforce compliance with public health precautions and promotion of hygiene by private food vendors to save the citizens.
Haruna who is Chairman, House Committee on Health, also explained the need for residents to take precautions to halt the spread of the disease.
In Oyo State, some residents of Ibadan, said the disease outbreak had compelled them to reconsider their eating habits and develop mechanisms to keep up with the situation
A motor mechanic at the Scout Camp area of the town, Mr Wale Adeyemi, says others like him feel hit the most being artisans.
According to him, since artisans rarely cook at work, they depend on food vendors but now they have started bringing food from home.
“One can’t expect people like us to cook when we are at our workshops. We buy food to eat as the only food most of us have at home is dinner.
“We have food hawkers who come daily to sell to us but now, many of us don’t patronise them again.
“Now, as my wife is packing the food for the children, she’s packing mine along. I also take garri and groundnuts or bread to ensure I have at least two meals at work.
“I’m not buying food from anyone until the government announces there’s no more cholera in Ibadan,” he said.
A pepper seller at Challenge, Mrs Basirat Lawal, likens this period to the days of COVID-19, as she recalled the precautionary measure of the COVID-19 days being replayed.
Lawal says she’s practising regular handwashing and mindful of where she buys her cooked foods.
“Since I heard about the cholera incident and learnt it started from drinking tiger nuts, I have stopped buying zobo from my customer.
“If I don’t bring food from home, I buy food from just one person because I trust her cooking hygiene, or I simply buy bread and coke.
Meanwhile, a barber, Mr Ahmeed Yinusa, described the experience restraining him from eating from different sources as the toughest in his over 30 years of existence.
The Army Council on Thursday approved the promotion of 35 Brigadier Generals and 73 colonels.
A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu on Friday said the Brigadier Generals were promoted to the rank of Major General, while the colonels were promoted to Brigadier General accordingly.
Those promoted to the rank of Major General include, Brig Gen A Garba Acting Provost Marshal Nigerian Army, Brig Gen UM Alkali Deputy Chief of Administration, Directorate of Veteran Affairs (Army), Brig Gen AGL Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen IA Ajose Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 North West Operation FANSAN YAMA, Brig General NB Ebulue Headquarters Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig Gen LG Lepdung Commander Operation WHIRL STROKE, Brig Gen OA Awolo Director Military Training Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig Gen UG Ogeleka Commander Nigerian Army Space Command, Brig Gen OA Fadairo Commander 12 Brigade, Brig Gen OD Williams Commander 22 Brigade , Brig Gen JR Lar Commander 32 Brigade, Brig Gen AG Mahmuda Commandant Warrant Officer Academy, Brig Gen VD Beryo Commander Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Brig Gen AOD Okoro Director Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes, Brig Gen SO Adejimi Director Movement Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, Brig Gen TT Sidick Director of Finance Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig Gen MCE Ejike Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen MF Babayo Commander Sector 3 North East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen H Yanet Commander 51 Signal Brigade and Brig Gen MK Gara Army Headquarters Department of Training.
Also promoted to the rank of Major General are Brig Gen BP Koughna Deputy Chief of Military Affairs, Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs, Brig Gen I Otu Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig Gen AO Adegbite Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Brig Gen IE Ekpeyong Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Brig Gen AA Idris Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Brig Gen SA Gumel Nigerian Army Resource Centre Strategic Management and Policy Studies, Brig Gen MT Jinadu Commander 82 Division Ordnance Services, Brig Gen SA Jimoh Deputy Director Tender Board Department of Procurement, and Brig Gen UT Opuene Deputy Director Policy and Plans Defence Intelligence Agency, among others.
Officers promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General are Col SM Iliya Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col O Igwe Commander 78 Supply and Transport, Col NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Col UR Okoroji Commander 404 Engineers Brigade, Col GS Oyinwola Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Col S Ahmadu Defence Intelligence Agency, Col CI Nwonyi Commander 81 Division Provost Group, Col AS Aliyu Commander 1 Division Military Intelligence, Col T Garba Commander 77 Supply and Transport Brigade, Col K Imam Commander Army Headquarters Garrison Ordinance Services, Col NS Onuchukwu Chief Medical Director 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Col A Musa Commander 108 Division Equipment Support, Col DM Baba Office of the National Security Adviser, Col OA Obochi Defence Headquarters, Col PAJ Ebuk Commander 1 Division Supply and Transport, Col IP Omoke Office of the COAS Directorate of Procurement and Col P Elayo Headquarers Department of Space Administration.
Others elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are Col NI Abdullahi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Col JC Mbanefo Army War College Nigeria, Col IO Amah Department of Operations Defence Headquarters, Col M Jimoh Defence Headquarters Garrison, Col TA Ayoola Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations, Col SA Jimoh Office of the Chief of Army Staff Department of Procurement, Col OC Ameni 103 Division Equipment Support, Col OU Okwuosa 2 Division Medical Hospital and Services, Col AO Odubiyi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Col NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, among others.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, while congratulating the newly promoted senior officers and their families, also charged them to redouble their efforts to justify their elevation and the confidence reposed in them.
He further tasked the newly promoted officers to lead their subordinates by example and evolve “out of the box” ideas and innovations to speedily tackle contemporary security challenges bedeviling the nation. He added that they must remain committed to their oath of allegiance to defend the nation at all times and maintain unalloyed loyalty to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
French former boxing world title holder Thierry Jacob has died at the age of 59, the mayor of his home city Calais announced on Friday.
Jacob took the WBC super bantamweight title in 1992, defeating Mexico’s Daniel Zaragoza in front of his local fans in Calais.
“We begin this day with sad news. Thierry Jacob died overnight, so young,” Natacha Bouchart, mayor of the northern port city, announced on Facebook.
Jacob turned professional in 1984, retiring a decade later with a 39-6 record, losing his WBC title at his first defence against American Tracy Harris Patterson in New York.
One of his sons, Romain Jacob, followed him into the ring, claiming the European super featherweight belt in 2014.
AFP
The South East chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has canceled a birthday celebration planned for Oyo State Governor, Chief Abiodun Makinde, following the tragic deaths of over 30 children in a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan.
The event, organized under the Ali and Onyinyechi Foundation by the PDP National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa, was scheduled to take place at Re-Meritona Hotel, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Announcing the cancellation, the chairman of the occasion, Senator Sam Egwu, explained that the decision was made to honor the deceased and sympathize with their families.
Egwu stated: “My friend, Governor Makinde, had prepared to be here with us today. In fact, he sent an advance team two days ago. However, given the tragic incident in Ibadan, it is inappropriate for a state in mourning to have its governor celebrating a birthday.
“Some families, due to this incident, no longer know the meaning of Christmas. They are grieving, and it would be wrong for us to be rejoicing while they mourn. This is a painful but necessary decision.”
Egwu assured attendees that the event would be rescheduled, and a new date would be communicated.
Chief Ali Odefa, the event’s chief organizer, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy in Ibadan and the subsequent cancellation of the celebration. He noted that the occasion was also meant to launch a book about Governor Makinde, whom he described as a friend and leader.
“This incident hit close to home for me, as the location where it occurred is just seven minutes away from my house in Ibadan,” Odefa said. He directed that all posters and billboards for the event be taken down.
Representing Governor Makinde, Prof. Emmanuel Echiegu conveyed the governor’s condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of Oyo State. He also commended Chief Odefa for choosing Ebonyi State for the celebration and encouraged him to reschedule the event at a later date.
The tragic stampede has cast a shadow over the festive season in Oyo State, prompting mourning and solidarity from across the nation.
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