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UNICEF, Partners Handover Medical Oxygen Plant to Rivers State Government

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By Gloria Ikibah 
 
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with IHS Nigeria, the Government of Canada and Government of Rivers State has handover of a cutting-edge medical oxygen plant and oxygen delivery devices to the General Hospital in Eleme, in Rivers State.
 
According to UNICEF Representative, Cristian Munduate, this significant milestone represents a major advancement in the ongoing efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
 
“This initiative follows a comprehensive, nationwide assessment of oxygen needs in health facilities across all 36+1 states, conducted jointly with the Federal Ministry of Health (and CHAI in select states). This assessment stands as the largest of its kind ever conducted globally. The Federal Ministry of Health used these findings to strategically determine the placement of oxygen plants across the country.
 
“The handover of this newly built Oxygen Generation Plant marks a crucial advancement in our mission to supply medical-grade oxygen to healthcare facilities.
 
“It is a profound honor and privilege to stand before you today on the achievement of this significant milestone. We gather here to officially hand over the medical oxygen plant, along with the oxygen delivery devices, at the General Hospital, Eleme, to the Rivers State Government. This represents a remarkable step forward in our shared commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child health in Rivers State and across Nigeria.”
 
The medical oxygen plant installation is a groundbreaking achievement, providing a critical life-saving intervention for newborns and children suffering from pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. 
 
This plant stands as a beacon of innovation and resilience, promising to save countless lives, improve health outcomes, and serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country.
 
According to recent data, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of neonatal mortality globally. Investments in healthcare infrastructure, such as the facility being commissioned today, are crucial in reversing this trend and demonstrate a firm commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
 
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Rivers State for their unwavering support and collaboration,” added Cristian “We also express our deepest appreciation to our donors, IHS Nigeria, and the Government of Canada for this partnership. This is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal – ensuring the health and well-being of every child and mother in this state.”
 
“We are proud to support UNICEF and contribute to an initiative which is designed to strengthen healthcare services and help support the Federal Ministry of Health meet demands for effective oxygen therapy in Nigeria. The initiative aims to improve healthcare accessibility and delivery of services and strengthen treatments for illnesses across our host communities.” Said Mohamad Darwish, the CEO of IHS Towers.
 
“A steady and reliable supply of medical oxygen contributes to the successful treatment of patients at all levels of the health care system.  Medical oxygen is an essential life-saving medicine in surgery, as well as for trauma, heart failure, asthma, pneumonia, and maternal and childcare. Canada is proud to partner with UNICEF, IHS and the Government of Rivers State on this important initiative, which is leading to strengthened health systems in Nigeria”, said James Christoff, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria.
 
As the plant is handed over to the Rivers State Government, UNICEF is confident that it will be maintained and utilized effectively to maximize its impact. The State’s decision to operationalize the plant using the public-private partnership model is particularly commendable and, if properly executed, promises long-lasting benefits.
 
“UNICEF remains committed to supporting the government in this endeavor through continuous capacity building, provision of technical expertise, and monitoring progress,” Cristian stated. 
 
“Today, we celebrate more than just the inauguration of a new oxygen plant; we celebrate hope, progress, and the promise of a healthier future for every child in Rivers State. We look forward to witnessing the positive changes that this plant will bring to the lives of many families and the entire populace.
 
“Additionally, UNICEF advocates for the urgent deployment of health workers to the newly established level two newborn unit within the same facility. This unit is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, supported by UNICEF and USAID. An urgent deployment and launch of the newborn unit will potentiate the advantages of having these two innovations in the facility to provide high-quality services to the newborns of Rivers State.
 
“Congratulations once again on this remarkable achievement. Together, we will continue to work towards a world where every child has the chance to survive, thrive, and lead healthy and productive lives,” concluded Cristian.
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BREAKING: Jubilation As PDP Wins All 30 LGs In Osun State(See winners)

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, has announced that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won all the local government and councillorship positions in the just concluded local government elections in the state.

The Chairman of the Commission, Hashim Abioye, made this announcement via a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday evening.

Abioye stated that PDP candidates secured all the councillorship seats in all 332 wards in the state, as well as the chairmanship elections in all 30 local government council areas.

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The names of the PDP chairmanship candidates and their respective local government council areas:

Babalola Wasiu Kayode – Boripe

Okunade Oluwafemi Adesanya – Egbedore

Adeyenuwo Rotimi John – Ife Central

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Agboola Francis Olajire – Obokun

Azeez Lateef Adeniran – Isokan

Aina Abayomi Adesina – Boluwaduro

Sodiq Samuel Oluwapelumi – Ola Oluwa

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Ajibade Oluwatoyin S. – Irepodun

Adebanjo Oladiti Tunmininu – Ilesa West

Ibironke Alade Adegboye – Atakumosa East

Aroke Muyiwa Aderemi – Ife South

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Kolade Obafemi Kolawole – Olorunda

Moshood Adekunle Kabiru – Iwo

Awotunde Abiodun Sarafadeen – Ifelodun

Akande Taiwo Adekunle – Osogbo

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Dada Feyisayo Ajibola – Atakumosa West

Amodu Taiwo – Ede North

Atolagbe Kayode Olayinka – Ifedayo

Akande Michael O. – Ife North

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Adeyekun Taiwo Adebayo – Oriade

Adeniran Adenike Felicia – Ayedaade

Afolabi Oyekola Lukman – Ede South

Odunyemi Haruna Bukola – Ife East

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Jooda Ambali Babajide – Irewole

Adewale Adeyinka Oluwaseun – Odo Otin

Ogunbiyi Solomon Akinyemi – Ayedire

Raimi Adenike Nafisat – Ejigbo

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Adebisi Jayeola Nasir – Ila

Ilesanmi Taiwo Sunday – Ilesa East

Alade Aderemi Fatai – Orolu

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DSS arrests three for assaulting operatives during LSHA crisis

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested three persons linked to the alleged assault on its officers during the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly, following the removal Mudashiru Obasa, as Speaker

Apparently sensing danger, some lawmakers had mobilized their supporters to the Assembly Complex, but these supporters allegedly attacked some DSS officers who were invited by the Assembly leadership to secure the facility. Security sources revealed that “after extensive analysis of CCTV footage, we were able to clearly identify three of the suspects”.
“The suspects, Ibrahim Olanrewaju Abdulkareem, a photographer and two others attached to the Assembly’s Seargent at Arms, Adetu Adekunle Samsudeen and Adetola Oluwatosin Fatimoh, a lady, were consequently tracked and arrested during the week in different parts of Lagos,” The trio have since confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court, the source said.

It would be recalled that the Lagos Assembly had in a leaked memo dated 14th February, 2025 and addressed to the DSS Director in the State, and Heads of other Security Agencies in Lagos State, told the Security Agencies in Lagos that, there was credible information to the effect that, Obasa had planned to forcefully reinstate himself today, February 18, 2025.
Accordingly, the Assembly management, held the view that, the development posed “a potential security threat” to it and its members.

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Police seal OSSIEC office, officials nabbed, says chairman

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has claimed that the police have sealed off the headquarters in Osogbo.

In a video post on the OSSIEC X handle, Abioye accused the police of also arresting election officials and blocking journalists from covering the local government election.

According to him, several OSSIEC officials were detained while on their way to polling units on Saturday.

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Attempts by our correspondent to reach Abioye for further details proved abortive as his telephone line was switched off.

The OSSIEC chair, in the post, assured voters that materials had been deployed to affected areas.

So far so good, the reports have been positive and the conduct has been very smooth and peaceful as against the false alarm raised by the police. Everywhere is calm,” Abioye said.

“The only thing is that in some of the areas in which materials are supposed to have arrived for voters to cast their votes, we had reports of police arresting our officials.

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“I don’t know on whose order because there is no court order that warranted the arrest of officers of our officials.

“As it is, we have deployed materials to those units because we have enough on the ground.

For our people in the media community, I want to apologise for the inadequacy of the tags and the jackets because we have enough but the police sealed our office and that was not warranted at all.”

Abioye’s comments come after police had called for the local government election to be called off by the state government, citing a security threat.

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In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday, the Police said it received credible intelligence indicating a likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.

The police explained that reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, are mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace and undermine the democratic order.

However, the Osun State government acknowledged the police’s advice but insisted on going on with the election.

Channels Television reports that the election eventually went on as scheduled on Saturday.

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