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Diphtheria: Reps Direct Education Ministry To Strengthen Health, Safety Protocols In Unity Schools

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By Gloria Ikibah
The  House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to take immediate and decisive measures to
strengthen health and safety protocols in all federal unity colleges, with particular
attention to addressing the situation at King’s College.
Th House also applauded the Lagos State Government, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and other health authorities for their swift and commendable response, and encourage continued collaboration
between federal and state agencies to safeguard the health and well-being of
students.
This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent Public Importance by Rep. Akin Rotimi on “THE OUTBREAK OF DIPHTHERIA IN KING’S COLLEGE, LAGOS”, on Tuesday at plenary.
The House also called upon the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the NCDC to intensify diphtheria vaccination and awareness campaigns in schools across the country to prevent future outbreaks.
The House also direct the Federal Ministry of Education to undertake an urgent and comprehensive review of health infrastructure in unity colleges and establish a clear and effective
framework for responding to infectious disease outbreaks in educational institutions.
In his lead debate, Rep. Rotimi expressed deep concern over the incident, citing significant lapses in infection prevention and control measures in federal unity colleges.
The lawmaker called for urgent action to address the recent diphtheria outbreak at King’s College in Lagos, which resulted in the death of a 12-year-old student and hospitalized several others.
He noted that the outbreak exposes the Federal Ministry of Education’s responsibility to ensure the health and safety of students in its institutions.
According to him, the  data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), shows 24,804 confirmed cases of diphtheria across 25 states in Nigeria between week 19 of 2022 and week 04 of 2025, resulting in 1,269 fatalities across 18 states.
The House further directed the NCDC to establish and implement a structured disease surveillance system within all federal unity colleges to ensure early detection and rapid response
to infectious disease outbreaks.
Members also recommended that the Federal Government provide appropriate compensation to the family of the deceased student, in recognition of the tragic loss suffered and the duty of care owed to students in federal institutions.
The House observe a moment of silence in honour of the deceased student and extend
heartfelt condolences to his family and the King’s College community.
The lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its committees on Health and Basic Education to engage with
relevant agencies, including the NCDC, to assess and enhance infection prevention andemergency response measures in federal schools.
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Tinubu nominates Melvin Ayogu to CBN board, requests Senate approval

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President Bola Tinubu has nominated Melvin Ayogu to the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria and has sought Senate confirmation for the appointment.

The Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this in a statement on Wednesday.

Tinubu also sought Senate confirmation for Nwakuche Ndidi as controller-general of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

He said the requests, conveyed in letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, were read during Tuesday’s plenary.

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Tinubu had previously nominated Robert Agbide, Ado Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, Urom Eke, and Olayinka Aliyu to the CBN board in February 2024.

However, on February 29, 2024, the senate confirmed four people as members of the board of the CBN after Eke rejected the offer, citing “conflict of interest”.

Tinubu replaced Eke with Ruby Onwudiwe on March 13, 2024; however, a day after, reports circulated that the president withdrew her nomination over political affiliation with the Labour Party, an opposition of the All Progressives Congress.

The decision reportedly followed pressure mounted on the president by members of the APC, as Onwudiwe publicly supported Peter Obi, who contested on the LP platform against Tinubu, at the 2023 presidential elections.

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LSHA crisis: Tinubu meets Obasa, Meranda at Presidential Villa

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Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have arrived the State House, Abuja, to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The legislators who arrived in two coaster buses had been allowed into the President’s office area to wait for the meeting.

Both the reinstated Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, and the ousted one, Hon Mojisola Miranda, were also sighted in the team.

While Meranda arrived with her colleagues at some minutes past 2pm, Obasa arrived separately at about 2:50pm.

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The meeting may not be unconnected with the recent leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.

It would be recalled that Hon. Obasa was impeached as Speaker by a majority of his colleagues, but he was latter reinstated after the intervention of the political leaders especially the Governor’s Advisory Council, (GAC)

Despite the Speaker’s reinstatement, it was gathered that the bad blood as a result of his impeachment is yet to be over.

The Nation

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Fubara’s Letter To Rivers Assembly Over S’Court Verdict Is ‘Useless’-Wike declares

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has discribed as “useless” the letter sent by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the Rivers State House of Assembly, requesting a meeting regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on the state’s political matters.

During a conversation with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, voiced his disapproval, emphasizing that Speaker Martins Amaewhule and other members of the Rivers Assembly are independent individuals who deserve respect.

Wike argued that instead of issuing a public letter to invite the lawmakers, Fubara should have contacted Amaewhule and his team directly by phone to schedule a private meeting at a convenient time.

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