All Posts in "Day: February 15, 2023"

Diphtheria Spreads, Kills 40 In Nigeria

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 216 cases of diphtheria in the country, with 40 deaths in the fifth week of this year.

The agency said that the cases were reported in four states: Kano (211), Yobe (two), Lagos (two), and Osun (two).

Majority of the deaths were recorded in Kano State (38), while Lagos State recorded two deaths, according to the agency.

The NCDC’s report on cholera also showed that from January 2 to 29, 2023, a total of 429 cholera cases were recorded from 11 states, with 17 deaths in four states.

The deaths were recorded in Cross River (seven), Ebonyi (five), Niger (two), and Abia (three) states.

The states with the 429 confirmed cases of cholera are, Cross River (242), Ebonyi (86), Niger (38), Abia (35), Ondo (10), Katsina (five), Bayelsa (five), Sokoto (three), Zamfara (three), Osun (one), and Kano (one).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Speaking during a webinar on Monday, with the theme: Diphtheria Outbreak in Nigeria: A Case of Re-Emergence or Improved Surveillance, the Lead of the Diphtheria/Pertussis Technical Working Group at the NCDC, Dr. Bola Lawal, said the agency was supporting the response activities in Kano, Lagos, Yobe, Osun, Yobe, and Katsina states.

Lawal also said of the 216 confirmed cases of diphtheria, 27 were fully vaccinated, 84 were unvaccinated, and 20 were partly vaccinated.

He said, “Kano State has recorded 396 suspected cases with 211 confirmed cases; Yobe State has recorded 78 suspected cases with two confirmed cases; Katsina has 34 suspected cases but no confirmed case yet; Lagos has recorded 14 suspected cases and two confirmed cases; Osun has one confirmed case so far.

“We have also recorded 40 deaths with a case fatality rate of 18.5 percent. Of the 216 confirmed cases, 184 (85.2 percent) were aged two to 14 years from both sexes.”

Noting there was low immunisation for the pentavalent vaccine, poor surveillance and limited laboratory capacity to properly diagnose the disease,the agency added that it was supporting intensified activities to conduct routine immunisation among children under two years, particularly in Kano State.

The agency said there have been harmonisation of surveillance and laboratory data from across states and laboratories with the sensitisation/training of clinical and surveillance officers on the presentation, prevention, and surveillance for diphtheria in states where rapid response teams were deployed.

Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, NCDC’s Director General, said: “Surveillance is everybody’s responsibility; it is not just enough to see. If you see something suspicious, report it to your local government, report to NCDC, and then they can investigate.”

On the cholera situation across the country, the NCDC reported, “Six states – Cross River (242 cases), Ebonyi (86 cases), Niger (38 cases), Abia (35 cases), and Ondo (10 cases) account for 96 per cent of all cumulative cases.

“Fifteen local government areas (LGAs) across nine states: Ebonyi (four), Cross River (three), Ondo (two), Bayelsa (one), Abia (one), Katsina (one), Sokoto (one) Niger (one) and Zamfara (one), reported more than five cases each this year. The National multi-sectoral Cholera Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to monitor response across states,” it added.

admin by — February 15, 2023 in Health 0
Polls: New Lagos CP Warns Officers, Criminals

The new Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa has read a riot act to criminals and policemen serving in the command.

CP Owohunwa further warned political thugs to desist from any criminal act as he promised to deal ruthless with them.

The new commissioner who took over from Sylvester Abiodun Alabi said he has not come to Lagos to play but to work. I have collected the command template from the former commissioner of police that I will study.

He said that during Alabi’s tenure, he provided the requisite leadership which stabilized the internal security space in Lagos State. Sir, for your service and achievements, you shall remain eternally celebrated in the history of the Command and indeed, the Force.3.

“I promise that under my watch, I will be hard on deviants within the fold of the State Police Command who continually bring us into disrepute and pitch us against the citizens we are paid to serve and protect.

“Such elements are encouraged to embrace the tenets of self-discipline in the common good or be ready to for the consequences. An undisciplined officer is a threat not only to the policing family but to the community and the State he serves.

”My leadership will be founded firmly and strictly on discipline and professionalism, and you should please all return to your jurisdictions and deepen the lecture on this to your men. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

“So let me sound this warning as loudly and clearly as possible. If you perform your duties within acceptable ethical and professional standards, you shall have my back in the line of your duties. But if you exceed the permissible ethical and professional bounds, you shall be dealt with firmly. Let no officer be in doubt on this in relation to my leadership.

“Lagos State Police Command under my watch will be manifestly hard on criminals and their networks but civil with law abiding citizens and respectful of their rights. In this regard, in due course sets of actions that will address issues impacting on seamless police-public trust and partnership will be initiated and details of this and the broad policing action plans for the state will be shared with you. When this is done, my expectation will be for all of you to key into it and adapt your policing approach accordingly.”

admin by — February 15, 2023 in News 0
Naira Redesign: Supreme Court Joins Katsina, Lagos, Cross Rivers, Others In Suit Against FG

The Supreme Court of Nigeria,Wednesday, joined the Attorneys General of Katsina, Lagos, Cross Rivers, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Sokoto states as co-plaintiffs in the suit challenging the naira redesign policy of the Federal Government.

The state governments had through their AGs applied to be joined in the suit.

Three Northern states- Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, had in a motion ex-parte filed on February 3rd, prayed the apex court to halt the Central Bank of Nigeria naira redesign policy.

Besides,the apex court joined Bayelsa and Edo states as co-respondents in the matter.
Justice Inyang Okoro, leading a 7-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court ordered the plaintiff to amend the originating process to reflect the co-plaintiffs joined in the suit.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous ruling on February 6, granted an interim injunction restraining the FG, CBN, commercial banks etc from implementing the February 10, deadline for the old 200, 500 and 1000 Naira notes to stop being a legal tender.

It further held that the FG, CBN, commercial banks etc must not continue with the deadline pending the determination of a notice on notice on in respect of the issue on February 15.

admin by — February 15, 2023 in Law/Human Rights 0
Nigeria’s Oil Output Increases To 1.258 mb/d

 

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC,says Nigeria’s oil production has rose month-on-month, MoM, by 1.9 per cent to 1.258 million barrels per day, mb/d, in January 2023, from 1.235 mb/d recorded in December last year.

The cartel,in its February 2023 Monthly Oil Market Report, MOMR,however, disclosed that on a year-on-year, YoY, basis, the January output was a massive 10 percent drop from the 1.399 mb/d in January this

According to the report, Nigeria, beat Angola that produced 1.050 mb/d to become Africa’s leading producer while Equatorial Guinea comes last with 55,000 barrels per day during the period.

Nigeria’s oil output in January 2023 remained significantly short of the 1.8 million barrels per day allocated to the country by OPEC.

Recent oil production data released by Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC,saidcondensate oil production for December was 178,313 barrels per day bringing total oil production to 1.4135 million per day during the month.

 

admin by — February 15, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
Decarbonization:We’ll Preserve Finima Nature Park, NLNG Assures

Nigeria LNG has reaffirmed its commitment to conserving nature and preserving wetlands at its Finima Nature Park on Bonny Island as part of plans to promote decarbonization and green culture.

The company stated this on the heels of the Federal Ministry of Environment’s commendation to NLNG and Finima Nature Park during the celebration of World Wetlands Day,a statement said.

The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, congratulated NLNG for managing and sustaining the country’s natural ecosystem and for its recognition as a Star Wetland Centre.

The minister commended the company and the centre for championing wetland preservation, enlightenment, and education in Nigeria and winning the first edition of the international Star Wetland Centres award in the last quarter of 2022 at the RAMSAR COP14 Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Star Wetland Centre award, organised by the Wetlands Link International (WLI), recognises the commitment and dedication of organisations, their staff and volunteers for their hard work to educate and inform people about the greatness of wetlands.

The Finima Nature Park was one of the 23 centres recognised out of 304 centres under Wetlands Link International.

According to the WLI, the 2022 award is the first planned after 30 years of cooperation among centres to show the world what makes an excellent wetland education centre. The WLI also stated that the winners had shown excellence according to their means in wetland Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness (CEPA).

NLNG’s General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Andy Odeh, said NLNG is dedicated to creating a sustainable environment for future generations.

He said the company is implementing a decarbonization to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and to produce cleaner energy.

He also emphasized the company’s commitment to the philosophy behind the Finima Nature Park, which acts as a carbon sink due to the vegetation’s CO2 sequestration abilities. The Company is also dedicated to protecting the park and promoting eco-tourism for a positive impact on the socio-economic life in Bonny.

The park, managed by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), was established in 1999 as part of NLNG’s response to global environmental concerns and the need for a more sustainable environment.

admin by — February 15, 2023 in Environment 0
Court Remands Suspected Killers of Fatinoye’s Family, Others In Prison

An Abeokuta Chief Magistrate Court, has remanded in prison custody for sixty days, the suspected killers of Abeokuta couple, Kehinde and Bukola Fatinoye and their only surviving son, Oreoluwa.

The suspected killers, Adekanbi Lekan, Odetola Ahmed and Adeniyi Waheed were remanded in Oba correctional center, while their accomplices, Fadairo Temitope and Adekanbi Adenike, the girl friend and mother of the mastermind, Lekan, were remanded in Ibara Correctional Center.

The suspected buyers of a vehicle stolen from the deceased compound, Owolaja Anuoluwapo and Usman Azeez,were also remanded in Oba prison for sixty days.

They were slammed with11-count charge bordering on murder, conspiracy to commit felony, arson, stealing, escape from lawful authority, amongst others.

The remand for sixty days in the first instance, according to the Chief Magistrate, Chief Magistrate Esther Idowu,was pending the legal advice of the Department of Public Prosecution,DPP.

admin by — February 15, 2023 in Crime/Metro 0