Flowerbud News

Month: October 2023

  • Flood submerges Otuoke-Onuebum Road in Bayelsa

    Otuoke-Onuebum road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa has been taken over by flood, as vehicles now pass through Elebele road, a  longer distance, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    NAN reports that Otuoke is the home town of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    A staff of the Federal University Otuoke (FUO), Mr Clever Ogbodi, told NAN in Otuoke on Friday that passengers were paying N400 instead of N250 from Otuoke to Yenagoa.

    Ogbogi appealed to the Bayelsa government to come to the aid of the community for the sake of FUO students, who are directly affected.

    “This was how it happened in October 2012 when flood took over the whole community; Up till now, there is no proper preventive measure put in place by government.

    “We are expecting the government to come up with necessary measures to mitigate future occurrence, but it is a matter of regret that such measures are not in place.

    “I am calling on all relevant authorities to look into the matter because we cannot be experiencing this terrible situation every year,” he said.

    Also commenting, Mr Azibator Omonibo, a passenger, wondered why the situation remained the same even after the intervention fund that was given to the state in 2012 to tackle it.

    Omonibo expressed concern over the suffering of the people and urged the government to live up to its responsibility of preventing flooding and rehabilitate the road.

    A taxi driver plying the road, Mr Kalawole Adebutu, said that the road was already in a bad shape before the flooding.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to assist the people of Bayelsa as the state government was unable to find a lasting solution to the problem.

    Adebutu said that the youth in the community were the ones sandfilling the road, adding that commercial drivers were paying them from their little profit.(NAN)

  • India: village bars Muslims from growing beard, praying publicly

    An Indian village has banned Muslim rituals, including growing beards, praying publicly and giving children Islamic names after a calf died allegedly at the hands of a Muslim boy, Telegraph reported.

    The report further stated that the youth was consequently barred from entering the village. The consultative body of the village also barred Muslims of the village from praying outside their homes.

    “It is unconstitutional. I will speak to the village’s leader in this connection,” said a junior magistrate.

    “We have been keeping Hindu names since partition and do not wear skull caps or keep beards,” said a local Muslim leader. “Since there is no mosque in the village, we travel around 8-10 km to Rohtak city to offer prayers on Fridays and other occasions”.

    Earlier in August, a Muslim family home was attacked by a mob in India. Two accused persons were arrested under the prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.

    The article originally appeared in Telegraph

  • Healthcare: FG pledges support for innovation guarantying quality

    Healthcare: FG pledges support for innovation guarantying quality services

    Mr Ife Adebayo, the Special Assistant on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, says the Federal Government under the present administration will support any innovation that will guarantee quality services Nigerians.
    Adebayo stated this at the “Innovating for Health’’ event organised by Health Innovation Hub, an NGO, in Abuja on Friday.
    He explained that the government would not stand in the way but would stand along the way to achieving any innovation that would impact on the lives of Nigerians.
    He said that the current administration had launched and supported various innovative projects in different sectors to make businesses and lives easier for people.
    The special assistant urged those seeking for innovation to get legislative backing to ensuring that such was legalised by the constitution.

    “Anybody seeking for any innovation should collaborate with the National Assembly to have legal backing,’’ he said.
    Dr Kunle Kakanfo, a Founder of the hub, had earlier said there was need to try innovation in health sector to make healthcare services accessible and available to people.
    Kakanfo explained that such innovation would eliminate the process of timing and unnecessary delay in health facilities.
    He said that his NGO which had done a lot on capacity building had started working with other organisations to achieve innovation in health sector.
    “We need to widen space for stronger action and opportunities, use of technology is one of it but not the only way to improve the healthcare services, it involves mode of service delivery.
    “Customer is a king they say; and it is also in the health sector therefore we must do everything possible to satisfy our clients.
    “There is no point of waiting for innovation on new drugs and vaccines from Europe; we can do that ourselves here in Nigeria.
    “India has done it; that is why the country is a health tourism destination today,” he said.
    Kakanfo assured that his organisation would collaborate with governments and private sectors to open conversation to drive this change.

  • Sales of baby: NAPTIP arrests Sweden based Nigerian, 2 others

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested a Nigerian based in Sweden for allegedly buying a two month old baby.

    The NAPTIP’s Director of Investigation and Monitoring, Mr Josiah Emerole made this known in Abuja on Friday, explained that the case involved a 43-year=old Stephany Bassey who lives in Sweden.

    He said that NAPTIP was notified of the case by the officers of the Intelligence and International Cooperation (IICU), adding that the suspect was nabbed after she was handed over by the Embassy of Sweden in Nigeria.

    “The suspect went to the Embassy to procure travel documents for a two month old baby boy whom she claimed was her child.

    ”She claimed to have become pregnant for her husband in Sweden but that medical examinations could not detect the pregnancy over there.

    “Then she was advised to return home to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state where the pregnancy will be detected and she will be assisted to deliver safely.

    “According to her, on her return, the baby was detected by a midwife in Uyo and that due to too much fat in her body, scan and other medical examinations did not detect the baby therein,” he explained.

    Emerole added that the suspect did not breastfeed the baby and the DNA conducted showed that there was no biological relationship between the suspect and the baby.

    The spokesperson disclosed that another suspect, Mrs Ifeoma Obinwa was also nabbed for allegedly inflicting grievous body injury on her 14 year old house help in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja.

    He said that the victim who had lived with her since 2015 was not enrolled into school and was always being physically and emotionally abused.

    According to him, the victim is always being beaten by the suspect with sticks, wire and sharp objects and such treatment had left wounds and scars on her body including her head.

    “The last incident that led to the suspect’s arrest happened on Sept. 12, 2018 when the suspect who accused the victim of beating her child allegedly placed a knife on fire until it became very hot and then placed it on the victim’s thigh and buttocks.

    “And that caused grievous body injuries and the victim was also left untreated until operatives of the agency rescued her.

    Emerole also told newsmen that one Mrs Sandra Obiosio from Rivers state, who lives in Jabi, Abuja was also arrested for maltreating her 14 year old house help who was brought from Nasarawa.

    He said that the little girl who looked malnourished was allegedly subjected to all manner of abuse and ill treatment.

    He added that the victim narrated that “she goes to bed 1am to 2am and wakes up at 4am daily” and the suspect did not enroll her in school as promised before she was engaged.

    The director noted that all the cases were contrary to various sections of the trafficking in persons enforcement and administration act 2015.

    He said that as soon as the investigation was concluded, the cases would be charged to court.

    Speaking to newsmen, one of the suspects, who was allegedly involved in buying of baby, insisted she gave birth to the baby claiming that her pregnancy could not be detected in Sweden because it was ectopic until she came to Uyo.

    On why she did not breastfeed the two month baby, the suspect claimed she had no breast milk to give to her child.

    Another suspect, Obinwa admitted to the allegation of using hot object on her house help, saying that she did that out of anger.

    The third suspect, Obiosio, however, vehemently denied maltreating her house help.

  • Buhari to new DG DSS: Have we ever met before?

    By Ismaila Chafe

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja met, for the first time, with the newly appointed Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, when Bichi was ushered into the president’s office by protocol officials, he was asked by the president if they had met before.

    The new DG, however, `confessed’ that he was seeing President Buhari face-to-face for the first time in his life.

    NAN reports that the meeting of the president and the DSS boss went into a closed door session.

    President Buhari on Sept. 13 appointed Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).

    Bichi, who replaced Lawal Daura, the former DG of the DSS, is a core Secret Service operative, said Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media.

    He attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.

    The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.

    Bichi had undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.

    The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.

    In the course of his career, Bichi had worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.

    He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.

    Bichi also served as Director at State Service Academy

  • French court upholds magazine fines over topless Kate photos

    By AFP

    PARIS: A French court Wednesday dismissed an appeal by the editors of gossip magazine Closer, who were fined 45,000 euros ($53,000) for publishing pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless in 2012.

    The court in Versailles near Paris upheld the maximum fines imposed by a lower court last year, which found Closer guilty of invading the privacy of Prince William’s wife Kate.

    It also confirmed that the celebrity magazine had to pay 100,000 euros in damages to the royal couple.

    PHOTO: PEOPLE

    PHOTO: PEOPLE

    Closer published the grainy snaps of Kate wearing only bikini bottoms while on holiday with the prince at a chateau in the Luberon region of south-eastern France in September 2012.

    The pictures caused outrage among the British public and the royal family, which filed a criminal complaint and obtained a court injunction preventing further use of the images.

    Topless Kate Middleton photo case back in French court

    Even the British tabloids, usually voracious in their appetite for pictures of the royal family, declined to publish the images when they were first circulated.

    In a letter read out in court in May last year, William said the case had brought back “particularly painful” memories of the paparazzi hounding his mother, the late princess Diana who was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997 while being pursued by photographers.

    PHOTO: FILE

    PHOTO: FILE

    Lawyers for Closer editor Laurence Pieau and publisher Ernesto Mauri argued that the pictures of the royals were in the public interest and conveyed a “positive image” of them.

    But the court of appeal rejected that argument and ordered both Pieau and Mauri to pay 45,000 euros in fines.

    The court also upheld the fines handed to the two photographers suspected of taking the shots.

    They were ordered to pay 5,000 euros each, and warned they faced additional 5,000-euro fines if they reoffended.

    Kate Middleton’s dress resembles one from horror classic

    Closer’s lawyers had asked the court to either cancel or reduce the fines, arguing that they were excessive for a privacy case in France where fines and damages usually reach just a fraction of that seen in the United States or Britain.

    Girl names Mary, Alice, Victoria and boy names Albert, Arthur and Fred on the list PHOTO:REUTERS

    Girl names Mary, Alice, Victoria and boy names Albert, Arthur and Fred on the list
    PHOTO:REUTERS

    But the prosecution had argued that the editors’ fines were commensurate with their offence and the penalties imposed on the photographers should be stiffened rather than eased.

    “There was an absolutely unacceptable breach, not only of the privacy and the private lives of these two individuals, but also of the dignity of a woman,” French prosecutor Marc Brisset-Foucault told the court.

    The royals, who have three children, had yet to react to the appeal court decision.

    They had initially sought 1.5 million euros in damages, but said last year said they were “pleased” with the court’s verdict.

    Culled from The Express Tribune

  • INEC lauds U.S. IRI support toward credible General Elections

    INEC lauds U.S. IRI support toward credible General Elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commended the U.S.-based International Republican Institute (IRI) for sustained support toward a hitch free and credible elections in the country.

    The Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mr Kassim Gaidam made the commendation on Wednesday in Yola while speaking at a workshop organised by IRI in collaboration with U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), for critical stakeholders on Election Violence Mitigation in Adamawa.

    Gaidam said that election violence had been a source of concern to the commission in its effort to deliver credible election.

    “Let me commend the IRI, which since 1998 has been a helpful partner of the commission. We appreciate all your efforts and assure that the commission is committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible election with the help of all stakeholders.

    “In collaboration with other partners, the commission is engaging youths across board in areas of sensitisation through workshops and seminars on the need to avoid violence during elections.

    “We, as a commission are mindful of the fact that a violence free election is an acceptable election and so will continue to do everything to ensure peaceful elections,” Kassim said.

    The Resident Programme, the Director of IRI, Mr Sentell Barnes said that the institute was committed to improving participatory democracy by helping in addressing factors militating against it such as election violence.

    “Violence in elections is a scourge that has deterred many, especially women, youth and persons with disability from participating in politics.

    “IRI is committed to improving the participation of marginalised groups by addressing the factors that hinder them, hence this meeting,” Barnes said.

    Barnes said that the IRI was involved in the programme in four states- Adamawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Sokoto. (NAN)

  • Brain-drain: 50% of Nigerian doctors serving abroad – Don

    Brain-drain: 50% of Nigerian doctors serving abroad – Don

    A don, Prof. Christopher Obionu on Wednesday said brain-drain had adversely affected the health sector as 50 per cent of Nigerian doctors were currently practicing abroad.

    Obionu made the assertion during his presentation as the at the 36th Faculty Day Lecture at the National Postgraduate College in Lagos.

    The theme of the lecture is:“Setting the Priorities Right: Addressing the Challenges of Human Resources for Health in Nigeria’’.

    Obionu said that the health sector was no longer enjoying good times as most of its trusted personnel were leaving in droves to other countries due to some prevailing circumstances.

    “It is also instructive to note that about 50 per cent of Nigeria trained doctors are currently practicing abroad leaving a gap of brain drain in the health sector, this must be addressed.

    “ Nigeria faces critical and complex challenges of Human Resource for Health (HRH) which includes among others, non-availability of adequate pool of competent human resources in the right mix.

    He said that Nigeria currently have about 72,000 doctors to cater for about 180 million people, which he lamented was burdensome on the medical and health professionals.

    “This shows how the medical personnel have been overstretched with many of them having little time for diagnosis.

    “It also bothers on our retention to provide health care to the citizen in places where the services are needed,’’ he said.

    Obionu said that researches had revealed the likely reasons for the emigration of Nigerian doctors, a situation he called for an urgent redress.

    “Nigeria Health Watch, reasons for emigration to other countries by Nigerian doctors range from better facilities, work environment, and higher remuneration, to career progression, professional advancement and better quality of life.

    “Addressing these challenges of HRH will therefore not only enhance health system but also increase performance by dealing with some human resources-related crisis in the health sector,’’ he said.

    Obionu said that the shortage of health care professionals and their uneven distribution in the country was compounded by accelerated migration of health workers to other countries and away from the rural poor communities.

    “Aside the case of Nigerian doctors trooping abroad, we are also battling with the rural-urban migration of our health personnel which largely left those at the rural areas not cared for medically.

    “In lieu of this, we urgently need to reduce unnecessary lapses and setbacks that have bedeviled the health system in recent times.

    “The various reasons that have been given for the factors influencing brain drain among the medical personnel in Nigeria must be dealt with.

    “The reasons which are better work condition, which is 87 per cent and desire for better life about 75 per cent are revealed as the most important reasons for emigration,’’ he said.

    Giving his recommendation, Obionu urged government to encourage specialty in medical profession and the establishment of more training centres and medical training institutes.

    “To bridge the gap in the health sector, government needs to encourage specialisation in necessary specialty areas and also regulate specialist training for Nigeria.

    “There is also a need to establish more centres for training specialists and give certification of more courses in health sector.

    “There is also a need to provide facilities for manpower development and also review residency training programme and  we need to enforce continuing professional education.

    ”’There is need for us to reduce inter-professional conflict by giving a clear cut job description and standards of practice and resolve leadership role, and encourage team work, equity and social justice,’’ he said.

    Responding to the recommendations, Prof. Chikaike Ogbonna, the Vice Chairman of National Postgraduate College said that the decay in the health sector had built up over time.

    “The decay is a test of time, so it is not an issue of an emergency kind of thing. It is an issue that all stakeholders must agree that there is a problem.

    “Not only agreeing about the problem but that the problem has to be tackled. We have to work as a team; we have to press on the government to do the right thing.

    “Although it is not an issue of money, it is an issue of resourcefulness, but I want to say that money comes first before resourcefulness.

    “We need to invest more in the health sector to keep faith in the system and achieving the set targets, so the way to start is those policies that are on ground monitored and enforced,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • More Nigerians have access to cell phones than proper sanitation – UNICEF

    .Says Nigeria loses N455bn annually due to poor sanitation

    The United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF) has said that with about 150 million mobile subscribers in Nigeria, 97.2 million internet users and 81 per cent penetration, only 97million Nigerians have access to improved sanitation.

    According to Mr. Zaid Jurji, Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) department of UNICEF, Nigeria losses N455 billion annually due to poor sanitation practised around the country.

    Speaking  during  a media dialogue on WASH organized by the  Federal Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the European Union, EU, and UNICEF on Monday in Port- Harcourt,  Jurji,  said that the real cost that Nigeria losses annually amounts to N455 billion due to poor sanitation which results in deaths, low productivity and ill health suffered by Nigerians.

    He said “Nigeria losses N455 billion every year as a result of poor sanitation which escalates to deaths,  stunting, malnutrition, loss of dignity, insecurity, low productivity and loss of GDP”.

    Jurji explained that access to basic water and sanitation services in the Nigeria facilities such as communities, school, Hospitals, and markets/parks are 20.4 per cent, 17 per cent, 22.7 per cent and 12.4 per cent respectively adding that 47 million Nigerians still practise open dedication.

    He lamented that sanitation sector in Nigeria is severely under resourced, with only 19 per cent of WASH budget annually. It would be very difficult to meet the Sustainable development goals, in 2020.

    “Only 20.1 per cent of households have a fixed place for unleashing facility with soap and water. 10.4% households have suffered diarrhea in the past 6 weeks, 75 per cent are children under five years.  Only 6.4 per cent of households at likely to practice proper handwashing (with water and soap), at critical times.

    “The key issues of the sanitation sector in Nigeria includes; low political and financial commitment, so private sector participation, weak institutional arrangement and limited technical know-how, lack of technology to meet geographical condition

    “Nigeria has a population of 198 million and 93 million children. 1 million Nigerian under the age of five die annually as a result no proper sanitation. 20.4 per cent of the population have access to basic water and sanitation services. That is those using improved sanitation facilities.

    “17.0% of schools have access to basic supply and sanitation services that is schools with functional and improved toilets and latrines available at all times. 22.7% of health facilities have basic water supply and sanitation services. 12.4% of markets and motor parks have basic water supply and sanitation services” Jurji added

    While stressing that only 11 per cent of the systems meet the minimum requirements for WASHCOM, frequency and tariff, the UNICEF boss added that  about 130 million people in Nigeria are without proper access to sanitation.

    “34.6% (66million), have improved latrines. 4. 4 per cent (8.4 million Nigerians have improved latrines, private, functional and accessible to the people. 20.4 per cent (39 million), unimproved latrines, Hygienic separation of human faeces from Huma contact.

    “5.5% schools have basic gender sensitive WASH services, functional water facilities and durable improved toilets with separate blocks for males and females available. 49.3 per cent schools have at least one improved toilets and latrines. 33.6 per cent  health facilities have hand washing facilities with soap and water. 43.2 per cent health facilities have functional improved water supply in the premises” .

    Earlier, Engineer Emmanuel Amatemeso, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Rivers State, who represented the Commissioner for Resources, Kaniye Ebeku, commended UNICEF and partners for what they are doing in the state but urged them to increase funding in the state because of the peculiar nature of the state.

    Rivers State, he said that Rivers State has a peculiar area that makes it very expensive to transport materials to project sites and added that there is need for UNICEF and partners to beef up their activities in the state.

    On her part, Eliana  Drakopoulos, Chief of communication ,UNICEF,  in her remarks said that the WASH program aims at improving feeding, hygiene and sanitation to reduce stunted growth and malnutrition in Nigeria adding that UNICEF will focus more in ensuring early education for children and reduce violence against children.

    She added that 130 million of the Nigeria total population lacks access to proper sanitation, with 93 million children where 1 million children under age five dies annually and 1 out of every 4 routinely vaccinated”.