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Nigeria to sign more bilateral air service agreement in 2021, Aviation Minister

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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The Federal Government is making moves to sign more Bilateral/Multilateral Air Services Agreement in the year 2021 for the benefit of air travellers and the nation at large.

Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika disclosed this in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation for the 2021 Budget defence.

In a statement issued by Sani Datti on behalf of Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation Mr James Odaudu, Sirika said the Federal Government in the year (2020) had signed the instrument of ratification of BASA with USA, India, Morocco and Rwanda.

“More Bilateral/Multilateral Air Services Agreement would be signed in 2021 for the benefit of our nation”.

The Minister said that the Aviation Ministry has proposed N 78 Billion for capital expenditure and the emphasis will be focused on the implementation of the Aviation Roadmap as approved by President Muhammed Buhari.

He further disclosed that
“the aviation Road map which would be implemented through Public, Private Partnership (PPP) includes: establishment of National carrier; Establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility; Development of Agro Cargo Infrastructure; Establishment of Aviation Leasing Company; Search and Rescue and Establishment of Aerospace University with support of International Civil aviation Organisation (ICAO)”.

The Minister expressed appreciation for the cooperation which the Ministry has continued to enjoy from members of the National Assembly in the provision of funds for its projects and programmes.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman house Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji said the committee expected maximum cooperation from the Minister and Chief Executives of the agencies under the Ministry’s supervision in providing all the relevant documents that would help facilitate the scrutiny of the budget process.

According to him, the aim of the Committee is to assist the Ministry in carrying out its laudable programmes. This, he said can only be achieved through mutual cooperation.

SSANU Elects New Leaders

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

By Ekaette Ibuot

The Senior Staff Association Of Nigerian Universities SSANU has elected new
Members of the National Administrative Council, NAC to pilot the affairs of the union in the next four years.
The new administrative council consists of fourteen members with Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim as National President. Their emergence came at the end of SSANU’s 2nd Quadrennial National Delegate Conference held in Abuja.

Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, National President

Dr. Leku Ador Leku, National Deputy President

Alhaji Audu Isa, Vice President, North East

Abdussobor Salaam, Vice President, West

Ken Njoku, Vice President, South East

Abdulmalik Yunus, Vice President North West

Azuma Chetan, Vice President South-South

Emmanuel Nyiyongo, Vice President, North Central.

Emmanuel Item, National Treasurer

M. J. Akanbi, National Financial Secretary

Jafar Bage, National Public Relations Officer

Aliyu Adamu, National Internal Auditor

Agnes Nti, Women leader

Remilekun Sanni, Deputy Women leader.

In his acceptance speech, the new national President SSANU, Comrade Haruna Ibrahim who thanked the delegates of the conference for believing in him, pledged his commitment to reposition and rebuild the union.

Haruna said ” Today, you have used your votes to commit me to the onerous task of rebuilding, repositioning, and retooling this Union. You will all agree with me on this, in view of the myriads of challenges and toothaches bedeviling the union in recent history. Conscious of our challenging circumstances and the many bitter experiences we have had as a Union, I want to state that the task ahead us, every one of us, is no mean task. It is not going to be a walk in the park. But it is possible to reposition SSANU; rebuild friendship; forge new alliances; inject patriotism, restore and shore up confidence among the ranks of SSANU membership. Yes, it is possible to start a new beginning.”

He further said ” The past few months have witnessed an intense but peaceful effort on the part of all contestants to emerge victorious. But today, I declare that we are all victorious; SSANU is victorious. The future of SSANU is assured and bright by the grace of God.
As I congratulate us on this feat, please be assured that the days ahead of us shall be momentous. In the coming days, the new NAC will unfold a road map that will guide our short, medium, and long term projections. We will no longer walk in darkness. The commencement of the great and golden era of SSANU is now”

Yellow Fever: WHO Supports Delta , Enugu States Government To Tackle Outbreaks

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delta and Enugu states to investigate and respond to the recently reported deaths from an outbreak of Yellow Fever.

It would be recalled that the Ministries of Health for both states notified the NCDC on 02 and 03 November 2020 respectively of cases presenting with symptoms indicative of viral hemorrhagic fever. As at 06 November 2020, three samples from Delta and one from Enugu tested positive for Yellow fever at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Laboratory and NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory, Abuja. Additional blood samples have since similarly tested positive, hence, an outbreak of Yellow Fever was confirmed.

With the onset of the current outbreak, epidemiologists, and other health professionals in WHO, NCDC and NPHCDA are working in support of State public health teams or Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) that have been organized and trained in each of the affected States. Outbreak investigation is ongoing in each state through the RRTs under the coordination of respective State Ministries of Health. Hospitals have been identified in each state and capacitated to manage patients who develop symptoms and complications.

Initiating a response to the outbreak, Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Emmanuel Obi during the EOC meeting after definitive diagnosis of the disease said that the disease had been reported from Etteh-Uno and Umuopu communities in Igbo-Eze north LGA. He indicated that the state RRT had done an outbreak investigation and identified those so far affected. He promised to facilitate a reactive Yellow fever mass vaccination intervention for the affected and neighboring LGAs.

Meanwhile, sensitization campaign is being implemented in the communities with reported cases on avoiding daytime mosquito bites, keeping home surroundings clean and clearing mosquito bleeding areas. People who develop symptoms are being encouraged to urgently seek medical help at nearest health facilities.

Nigeria has been battling successive yellow fever outbreaks since September 2017. The NPHCDA, with assistance from WHO has been applying and obtaining donated vaccines through the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, established in 1997, to manage the provision of emergency vaccine supplies to countries during major outbreaks to conduct reactive vaccination campaigns in response to outbreaks. This year, proactive vaccination campaigns were planned for most at risk states including Delta. The Delta campaign that was supposed to start by the end of the month of November 2020, has now been brought forward and started on 10 November, 2020 the affected LGAs.

Speaking on the outbreak, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo says that Nigeria is one of the countries implementing Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy. This strategy is being steered by WHO, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to protect at-risk populations, prevent international spread and contain outbreaks rapidly.

“As part of EYE strategy, Nigeria has developed a 10-year strategic plan for the elimination yellow fever epidemics. Through this strategy, the country plans to vaccinate at least 80% of the target population in all states by 2026”, Dr Mulombo said. The Delta statewide proactive vaccination campaign was planned under the EYE strategy.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus spread through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitos. This type of mosquito bites during the day. Some of those infected develop serious symptoms, including high fever, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains, headache and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Some die from the complications of internal bleeding and organ failure.

Infection with Yellow Fever virus is easily prevented by a vaccine that provides immunity for life. Large epidemics of yellow fever occur when infected people introduce the virus into heavily populated areas with high mosquito density and low vaccination coverage. In Delta State, for example, all cases have no history of Yellow fever vaccination, including a one-year-old baby.

Investigations further revealed that adults who bring their children for immunization have always refused to receive yellow fever vaccination when offered by health workers.

UNICEF, WHO Calls for emergency action to avert major measles, polio epidemics

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

…Estimates US$655 Million (US$400 million for polio and US$255 million for measles

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued an urgent call to action to avert major measles and polio epidemics, as COVID-19 continues to disrupt immunization services worldwide, including in Nigeria.

While leaving millions of vulnerable children worldwide at heightened risk of preventable childhood diseases. 

WHO and UNICEF also estimated that US$655 million (US$400 million for polio and US$255 million for measles) are needed to address dangerous immunity gaps in non-Gavi eligible countries and target age groups.   

 
 
The WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hinted that, “COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on health services and in particular immunization services, worldwide

“But unlike with COVID, we have the tools and knowledge to stop diseases such as polio and measles. What we need are the resources and commitments to put these tools and knowledge into action. If we do that, children’s lives will be saved.”

More so,the UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore stated that, “We cannot allow the fight against one deadly disease to cause us to lose ground in the fight against other diseases.

“Addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic is critical. However, other deadly diseases also threaten the lives of millions of children in some of the poorest areas of the world. That is why today we are urgently calling for global action from country leaders, donors and partners. We need additional financial resources to safely resume vaccination campaigns and prioritize immunization systems that are critical to protect children and avert other epidemics besides COVID-19.”

In recent years, there has been a global resurgence of measles with ongoing outbreaks in all parts of the world.  Vaccination coverage gaps have been further exacerbated in 2020 by COVID-19. In 2019, measles climbed to the highest number of new infections in more than two decades.

Nigeria remains at risk of both polio and measles outbreaks due to the inadequate improvements in increasing the routine immunization coverage in children receiving lifesaving vaccines. Nigeria was declared free of the wild poliovirus in August 2020.

Measles also continues to be among leading cause of death and disability among children, with first dose of measles vaccination coverage of only 54 percent (NDHS 2018) in Nigeria. Nigeria is conducting supplemental immunizations to prevent outbreaks.

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative said, “Immunization is the best way to secure the future of our children. It is very safe, effective and available at all government health centres.

All caregivers and parents need to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated and protected from childhood killer diseases – including ensuring that all doses are taken, so that the vaccine can be effective”.

Similarly, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative also hinted that, ‘We must continue to engage traditional and religious institutions, as well as other key stakeholders at the community level, to stay vigilant and keep up vaccination rates to avert a resurgence of the wild poliovirus – and to address the continued threat of the vaccine-derived polio and other vaccine preventable disease outbreaks, including measles”

Poliovirus transmission is expected to increase in Pakistan and Afghanistan and in many under-immunized areas of Africa, according to WHO and UNICEF. Failure to eradicate polio now would lead to global resurgence of the disease, resulting in as many as 200,000 new cases annually, within 10 years. 

Strike: FG Moves To Unify ASUU, SSANU, NASU As One Entity

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

… Laments On Sectional Interest In Varsity Education

… Says Undergraduates Are At Receiving End

The Federal Government has started the process of bringing all unions under the university system into one unifying body. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed made this known in Abuja at the 2nd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities SSANU.

According to Rasheed, the polarization of the university system, where each of the Union comes up with their individual demands to the Federal Government was constituting bottlenecks for government to accede to their demands.

He also attributed the phenomenon to why university education in Nigeria can’t match up to their peers abroad, academically.

According to him, talks were on to convince the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to invite all the various unions to a round table, to see reasons why they needed to come under one umbrella.

Among the unions expected to key into the new proposal includes the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities NASU, the National Association of Academic Technologists NAAT and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities SSANU.

He argued that there was need for the unions to enter into negotiations with the government with one accord, rather than a segmented approach.

While appealing to the conscience of the unions, the NUC Scribe said it is regrettable that most times government and individual unions lock horns negotiating for better welfare packages for the staff at the detriment of the students.

He said, “No university in the world can operate effectively insolation, it is frustrating that the University system in Nigeria have been polarized by various unions, you have NAAT, ASUU, SSANU all negotiating for different things.

” Most times, while one group is negotiating with government, others are warning up for strike unless their demands are met”.

Rasheed also disclosed that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has secured the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to dispatch visitation panels to all public universities in Nigeria.

He explained that the need arose following the ugly incidents that trailed the University of Lagos, where the Pro-Chancellor, Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council ordered the sack of the former Vice Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

He said the respective panels which will soon be inaugurated are expected to tour the universities and bring back a ten year report, in two separate batches of five years each.

Also, following the resignation of Wale Babalakin as Chairman of the universities renegotiation committee, the Federal Government has reconstituted an eight man Committee to harmonise and finalise existing agreements between government and the unions.

The NUC scribe said letters of appointment will be handed to the appointees by Tuesday or Wednesday this week.

Recall that while issues of 2009 Joint renegotiated agreement and NEEDS Assessment programme is yet to be resolved in most of the public universities, the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government have been engaged in a battle of wits over the controversial Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System IPPIS, even before the lockdown necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic broke out globally.

On the other hand, SSANU accused the federal government of not implementing agreements the both parties entered into Since 2001.
According to the Union, government lack regards for memorandum of Understanding, which according to the union, is against ILO laws.

Amaechi Defends Transportation Ministry 2021 Budget

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has presented a proposed budget of Two Hundred and Five Billion, One Hundred and Sixty One Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety Two Naira to the National Assembly for 2021 Fiscal year.

In a breakdown, Land has N204, 316, 793, 527, Marine – N845, 088, 965 while overhead – N359, 799, 999).

This is contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Transportation Mrs Ogbonna, Anastasia and made available to journalists.

The Statement states that while making his presentation before the Joint Committees of Land and Marine Transport (Ports and Harbour, Inland waterways and Marine Safety and Education), Amaechi said that the aims and objectives of next year’s budget is to make significant progress on all ongoing projects, to complete as well as deliver modern railway services that will provide efficient and cost effective alternative transport system that will engender economic growth and create job opportunities for the citizenry.

He said that “the Lagos – Ibadan Standard Gauge line which is at 92% completion stage requires US $656 million for purposes of works involving construction, signaling and telecommunication systems, power supply scheme and construction of pedestrian and overpass bridges. These according to him, will be financed 100% by the Federal Government of Nigeria and does not form part of the China Exim Bank loan”.

He further stated that “on the implementation of the Ibadan – Kano rail which is the outstanding segment of the Lagos – Kano rail project, one of the conditions precedent to signing of the loan agreement was the release of an advance payment in the sum of US $ 964 million by the Federal Government of which the sum of US $ 218.7 million has been released as part payment leaving a balance of US $ 645.3 million. He further informed that to finalize and sign the loan agreement, the advance payment has to be made available to the China Exim Bank, adding that this can only be achieved through adequate budgetary provision in the 2021 budget and subsequent years”.

Furthermore, he disclosed that as part of Government’s drive to achieve economic growth through intermodal transportation, some railway projects which have been approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement/Federal Executive Council are set to commence by year 2021.
These projects include:
i. The Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt – Maiduguri (Eastern narrow gauge railways), with integration of a Deep-Sea port in Bonny and a Railway Industrial Park in Port Harcourt.
ii. Construction of the central railway from Itakpe – Abuja,
iii.Construction of a 378km single track rail line from Kano through Kastina – Jibiya with a 20km extension to the commercial border town of Maradi in Niger Republic.

NLC Demands Immediate Release of COVID-19 Palliatives across the country

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0
NLC-President-Comrade-Ayuba-Wabba.
NLC-President-Comrade-Ayuba-Wabba.

…Orders Government to investigate perpetrators of hoarded Palliatives

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate release of all COVID-19 palliatives and relief welfare materials and provisions stored in warehouses across Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba and made available to journalists, the organized labour says, it has
followed with keen concern the unfolding incidents across the country of mass storming and looting of relief welfare materials and provisions stored away in different warehouses.

The statement stated that these relief palliatives and provisions are believed to have been procured by government to relieve citizens of the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the associated hardship.

It is obvious that the palliative provisions that were procured by government for immediate distribution to the mass of our people at their critical time of need and to assuage the hardship occasioned by the lockdown were hoarded and held back by some government officials. The reasons for this have not been made known to the public. We also understand that many of the palliative provisions are already getting rotten in the warehouses where they were stored.

The Statement further states that While NLC condemns the ensuing mass looting of both the Covid-19 palliatives and non-Covid-19 palliative materials, it equally deplore the conduct of some government officials who stored away relief materials that should have been distributed to the masses of our people at their very trying times of need.

The Nigeria Labour Congress calls on the Federal Government to investigate the conduct of those who hoarded the palliative provisions.

In order to forestall riotous plundering of the remaining relief palliatives, the Nigeria Labour Congress demands that the Federal Government should order the immediate release of all the welfare provisions and materials to citizens.

This directive should apply to state governments many of which are chiefly culprit in this regard. The statement finally states that Government officials cannot afford to create a scenario that precipitate mass unrests at this very delicate and fragile milieu in global history.

Economic Development An Antidote For Crime Reduction and Better Security , Says Amaechi

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has reiterated that the only way there can be drastic reduction in crime and better functionality by the security agencies in Nigeria is when there is infrastructural and economic development using the railway transportation as a case study.

He made this at a lecture delivered to participants of the National Defence College, Course 29, in Abuja.

A statement signed by the Director Of Press Federal Ministry Of Transportation Mr Eric Ojiekwe stated that the Minister gave several instances where there was chaos and unrest by some aggrieved Nigerians and the way he tackled the issue as a Governor

“To create jobs we had to construct the railways and roads. This process saw a lot of Nigerians being engaged and insecurity dropped drastically.

In the education sector, we employed, 13,200 teachers, we set up a banana farm with a capacity to employ over 500 persons everyday and this saw a lot of jobless youths being engaged.

We did a lot of infrastructural development and employment, like in Rivers state we built Over 350 Primary schools which was not just to improve the standard of Education and enlightenment but create employment also.

We built a big health Centre that was acknowledged by news agencies like CNN and Al Jazeera.
The massive infrastructural development in the Railway sector has employed so many Nigerians not forgetting that in 2011/2012, the out of school children In Nigeria was 10 million which has been reduced to about 3 million .

”From 2000 we had major security crisis and the reason given was that they were fighting for their right and the uneven-distribution of national resources. They began to bomb pipeline, take oil and engage in kidnapping”.

When I came back, the first thing i did was to meet with security chiefs and the then commander Brig Bello. I told them that the reason why there was insecurity In Rivers state was because of the state of the economy which gave rise to youth unrest in the region” Amaechi further added.

Speaking further on the connection between economic development and defence in the light of security challenges, he said,
“the only way the army can rest and the police do their job effectively is when the economy begins to work.

When people are properly engaged with different activities they won’t think of engaging in criminal activities.

The Army is not suppose to give Internal Security but the Police is overwhelmed by the level of crime rate hence the Army has consistently been rescuing Nigerians.

Economic growth reduces crime and when there is no crime, the Military and police can rest” Amaechi added.

# EndSARS: FCT Senator Distance self from protest, cautions youth

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0


A Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the National Assembly, Sen. Philip Aduda on thursday distance himself from the #EndSARS protest that turned violent in the nation’s Capital.

He made this known while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja, while noting that, youths in the FCT have the right to protest, but not outside the context of law.

Aduda, however, expressed shock over a picture being circulated on the social media, where he was being portrayed as supporting one of the youths who claimed to be spokesperson for Abuja natives.

He, therefore warned the youths not to cause trouble in the name of protesting #EndSARS in Abuja.

According to him; ” protest is allowed by the law, not violence. I support the #EndSARS protest but youths must not make it look as if it is war.

“I am not part of violence protest especially the recent one in some parts of Abuja, because I am a leader does not means that I will support something that is outside the law. Let us adhere strictly to law and bad tendance” he said.

“We had a meeting with minister of the FCT and he appreciated the efforts of stakeholders, he is even considering to set up a committee that will address cases of grievances occassioned by the #EndSARS protests” he said.

TVC Razed By Suspected hoodlums

By
Ola Akinola
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0

Suspected hoodlums have set fire to Television Continental (TVC) at Ketu, Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that a popular talkshow programme, YourView, was on when the hoodlums besieged the station.

The programme host, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, who said the hoodlums entered in a van, asked to go on a commercial break.

The station had since then been stuck.

Videos online confirmed by workers at the station said the assailants set fire to the station over its connection to a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

It would be recalled that temper rose when soldiers besieged the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night and opened fire on protesters.

However, an eyewitnesses claimed that seven people were confirmed dead and many injured.

The incident has been greeted with outrage all over the world.

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