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By Flowerbudnews

Enugu: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has deployed 750 personnel and 16 vehicles for its end of the year intensive operation codenamed “Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes”.

The Sector Commander in FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Adeyemi Sokunbi, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday after briefing all staff of the Command on the operation.

Sokunbi said that a total of 430 Regular Marshals and 320 Special Marshals had been deployed to man various road corridors and strategic locations in the state.

He said that the Command also deployed two motorbikes and16 vehicles, which included: an ambulance with full complement of medical facilities and a recently received tow truck from the FRSC headquarters.

According to him, Operation Zero will run between Dec. 15 (today) and end on Jan. 15, 2024; and all regular and special marshals will fully be involved without any leave or pass given to any personnel.

The sector commander said that the Command before now had identified 22 critical traffic build-up points in the state that needed daily manning to ensure traffic flow, adding: “we have effectively deployed personnel on shift bases to these points.”

He said that the Command had notified and is currently carrying its stakeholders, sister security agencies and even construction companies, that might provide us with a bigger tow truck if need be, along in this operation.

Sokunbi said that recently he met with the state’s Federal Controller of Works, adding: “I received assurance from him that palliative work will be done on some portions of Enugu-9th Mile-Nsukka-Obollo Afor Road within few days to make it passable”.

He noted that the Federal Controller of Works also assured opening up all as well as newly constructed portions of all Federal Highways within the state to ensure free flow of traffic.

He said, “We are ready to fully carry out this year’s Operation Zero, we have made adequate deployment and sensitization to our stakeholders and sister security agencies to assist us in reducing road crashes this festive season.

“The objectives of the operation included: to reduce road traffic crashes (both fatality and injuries) to the barest minimum; prompt response to road traffic victims and quick removal of obstruction to allow for free flow of traffic.

“Free flow of traffic in all strategic and critical corridors within the state especially the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha, Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt, Enugu-Abakaliki and Enugu-9th Mile-Nsukka-Obollo Afor Federal Roads.

“There will be aggressive enlightenment using all known channels of communication be it one-on-one interaction with motorists, going to talk to passengers early before they set out for their journeys, various media engagements and issuing out road traffic advisory.”

The commander also said that FRSC personnel would watch out for vehicle overloading, vehicles conveying humans and animals together as well as for drivers engaging in distracted driving by using phones or engaging in text messages on the roads.

He said that FRSC patrol vehicles would monitor reckless/dangerous driving, speeding, lack of lane discipline on the road and other road violations with a view of correction and education of motorists against such practices.

He said: “I appeal to road users and travelers to set out their journey on time. This is to create enough time to attend to any unforeseen circumstance or development while on the journey.

“Night journeys should be avoided due to its inherent dangers. If there is a crash at night, getting rescued is difficult; the driver can doze off on the steering-wheels and men of the underworld could also attack the vehicle.”/ Flowerbudnews

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu: The Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, says that the Enugu Multi-Sectoral Plan on Food and Nutrition is ready for implementation to check stunted growth and underweight infants and children.

Mbah said this on Friday while flagging-off a two-day advocacy sensitization meeting for Women in Policy Positions and Wives of Political Leaders in Enugu State on “Zero Water and Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes”.

The sensitisation was organised by Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA) in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

The governor’s wife, who was represented by the Commissioner for Children, Gender and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, noted that the multi-sectoral plan would soon be implemented to ensure the state kick-out malnutrition even from the on-set of life.

According to her, some critical policies the government has already implemented to show its commitment towards infant and maternal protection is “the free child and maternal care programme”.

“Another programme is the establishment of crèche to support adequate six months exclusive breastfeeding by nursing mothers for civil servants,” she said.

The governor’s wife noted that she remained committed to see Enugu State children feed well and develop to maximum potential despite the severe impact of food scarcity ravaging the world especially Africa, with Nigeria making the top list.

“Today, through our collaborations and collective efforts, we will achieve a process that will, in turn, produce responsible individuals who will take over our society in the near future, and this will make for a better society,” she added.

Speaking, Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), noted that one of the most effective ways to stimulate a healthy workforce starts with maternal and child wellbeing being propelled by exclusive breastfeeding.

Ani-Osheku noted that the best immunization vial to be given to the child leading to a healthy social and psychological development is solely exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and after that mixed with soft food for another one year.

According to her, there was a need to push to give breastfeeding mothers compulsory paid maternity leave for six months and the father a compulsory paid paternity leave for him to assist his nursing wife and bond properly with the new-born child.

She said: “The objectives of the sensation included: To create awareness among women in policy making positions on the burden of malnutrition and mobilise them as change agents in the state.

“To identify opportunities and barriers to implementation of the state Strategic Plan and other nutrition policies in the state; and to develop action plans on demand creation for investment in nutrition, steps to support and roll out complementary infant and young child feeding.”

The executive secretary noted that exclusive breastfeeding had a lot of great benefits, which are: reduced illness of the infant; build-up immunity of the infant; reduced out of pocket expense of the family; and checking of breast and ovarian cancers.

She also called for the support of family members, colleagues and co-workers, bosses and employers of labour for all breastfeeding mothers around them.

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Collaborating, Mrs Ngozi Onuora, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, noted that the exclusive breastfeeding rate had continued to decline for some years in Enugu State, adding: “It moved from 37 per cent in 2018 to 11 per cent in 2021”.

“What this means is that 89 per cent between ages of 0 and six months are denied the uncontested benefits that come with exclusive breastfeeding in the state,” Onuora said.

She noted that UNICEF was committed to partnering with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to implement evidence-based interventions that address the root causes of malnutrition in infants and children.

“This includes promoting exclusive breastfeeding; ensuring access to nutritious foods; and providing essential health services to mothers and children. There are, however, great expectations for 2024 and beyond.

“Therefore, I urge each of you, in your influential positions, to champion policies that prioritise maternal, infant and young child nutrition,” she said.

One of the participants, Mr Finian Ali, State Coordinator, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, Enugu State Chapter, said that there was a need for fathers to support the nursing mother and child with an adequate and balanced diet.

Ali noted that the baby and mother needed the emotional and socio-economic support of the father as well as his buy-in to ensure that the family did not lack during exclusive breastfeeding periods.

“The father, during the period of exclusive breastfeeding, should help in some house chores to reduce the burden of the nursing wife and create time for the exclusive breastfeeding mother to feed the baby properly,” he said.

Among the lectures delivered included: Overview of the Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitute by Mrs Ogechi Ude from NAFDAC; and Effective Breastfeeding/Optimal Infant and Young Child Nutrition Among Working Mothers: the need for extended paid maternal and paternal leave in Enugu State among others.

The highpoint of the meeting was the presentation of an Award of Excellence on Positive Change and Community Development on the governor’s wife, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, for her strong commitment to infant, child and maternal wellbeing in the state.(Flowerbudnews)

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu:   A police advocacy group, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), has cautioned students against joining cult groups and criminal gangs that would ruin their future.

The POCACOV Team Lead for Nsukka, Mr Dozie Akomas, gave the warning while speaking to cross sections of students and community members of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) at two separate venues in the institution on Friday.

Akomas also urged the students to resist the temptation of engaging in alcohol and drug abuse.

“POCACOV is appealing to you to resist pressures that will take you into belonging to unlawful societies and indulging into substance and drug abuse as well as other forms of negative vices.

“These negative tendencies and life-style are capable of making you not be focused to actualize your dreams, pursuits and goals in life as a champion,” he said.

According to him, you ought to know your friends and the company you keep as they can help make you or deviate you from a successful and focused life.

The POCACOV team lead also spoke on healthy life and habits as well as on positive coping methods as it affects improvement of their mental and body health through regular exercise.

He also advised students on drinking safe water regularly to overcome the effect of climate changes (dehydration) as this may make them vulnerable health-wise.

Some of the students, who spoke during the engagements, expressed happiness with the move, while commending the Nigeria Police on the initiative.

Mr Obinna Nwosu, a student of UNN, said that POCACOV had presented the Nigeria Police in a good light and “as a friend”.

“We are delighted with the initiative which is purely on changing mindsets and attitudes rather than arresting and prosecuting,” Nwosu said.

Another student, Miss Joy Anike, said that the engagement had taught her a lot; adding that she would strive to get focused in life in order to make a great future.

POCACOV is a Nigeria Police initiative and a Public Relations tool of the Nigeria Police as well.

The non-kinetic initiative is working with different stakeholders and multi agencies and galvanizing their partnership as well as enhancing participation towards problem solving for safe, peaceful and secure communities.

POCACOV uses its extensive advocacy measures to help cut conveyor belts and supply chains of vices and criminality capable of shutting young minds from becoming a champion. (Flowerbudnews)

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has offered automatic employment to a corps member serving in the state for donating 101 wheelchairs to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

Mr Chikumega Nwanga, an indigene of Ebonyi State, was posted to the Ministry of Special Duties, Lafia for his primary assignment.

In a speech at the distribution of the wheelchairs on Friday in Lafia, the governor lauded the corps member for embarking on a project that would bring succour to the lives of PWDs.

He directed the Head of Service, Mrs Abigail Way, to present an appointment letter to the corps member to appreciate his kind gesture.

Sule also offered half a million naira to the corps member and directed all the ministries, departments and agencies to offer employment to PWDs, in line with the State Government’s policy.

“I want to thank you sincerely for the wonderful job that you are doing.

“When we did our youth service, we wanted to excel and do something special that we could be identified with.

“You have already paid your due and you have identified yourself as someone who has a lot of commitment, selflessness and initiative for this country.

“For you to leave Ebonyi State and come to another state and donate wheelchairs to PWDs is indeed a wonderful thing and we are really proud of you.

“I want to tell you that you have got automatic employment in Nasarawa State because you have accepted the state as your second home by this kind gesture,” Sule said.

The governor also advised the beneficiaries not to sell the wheelchairs, but use them to ease their movement problems.

In a remark, Margret Eleyo, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Humanitarian Affairs and Non-governmental Organisations, said the ministry would put machinery on ground to ensure that the items were used for the purpose they were meant.

Eleyo commended the corps member for the gesture and described his exceptional dedication to transform the lives of the vulnerable as uncommon.

The donation of the wheelchairs was co-sponsored by Beautiful Gate Handicap Centre, Jos.

In an address of welcome, the Nasarawa State NYSC Coordinator, Abdullahi Jikamshi, said the donation was part of the Community Development Service (CDS) carried out by the corps members.

Jikamshi said that the commission had impacted immensely in various sectors, ranging from education to sanitation and health, amongst others.

He expressed gratitude to the governor for being present to personally witness the event.

He said that the governor demonstrated the commitment of his administration towards inclusivity and community development by being part of the ceremony.

He also thanked the Centre for supporting NYSC and appealed to other organisations and public-spirited individuals to support the scheme in its effort to add value to the country. (NAN)

Four healthcare workers have been jailed after they were caught on camera physically and emotionally abusing an elderly patient, reports The BBC on Thursday.

While Ame Tunkara and Morountaro Adefila were found guilty of ill-treatment and wilful neglect and sentenced on December 8 to four months in prison, Danny Ohen and Bridget Aideyan were also found guilty of the same offences and sentenced to six months and four months, respectively, on November 14.

The police revealed that the workers were caught on camera manhandling the 89-year-old woman who had vascular dementia and could not speak

In February 2020, the woman’s family had secretly installed a camera and recorded footage over four days after noticing bruising on her arm.

It showed the woman being handled roughly, hit with a pillow, and treated with a lack of dignity and respect.

The woman meanwhile sadly passed away in October with a police official saying “she should not have spent any of her remaining years suffering such ill-treatment.”

Lecturers in Nigerian tertiary institutions have complained that they are rotting away due to neglect and abandonment by the federal authorities as well as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, for participating in the eight months strike.

In an interview, a lecturer who has taught for 27 years, Prof. Ilami Kramah, of the Rivers State University of Science, said hunger and mounting debts have taken a toll as some of them have died.

Lecturers in most Nigerian universities, under the umbrella body, ASUU, in February 2022 downed tools for eight months over several unmet demands by the Federal Government.

During the period, public universities were shut across the country.

The National Industrial Court affirmed the validity of no-work-no-pay policy in a judgement on a suit filed by the Federal government against ASUU.

Kramah said since the strike was called off none of the lecturers has received any salary for the period the strike lasted.

The very painful aspects are that neither the leadership of ASUU nor the Federal Government is picking our calls anymore, or making any moves towards the outstanding salaries.

“Many of us are now living from hand to mouth. Many lecturers have since died out of hunger, frustration, depression and debts. Many are rotting away. Some of us are with families and no more younger to also flee the country,” he said.

The media team of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked reports that he collapsed on Thursday at the colloquium to mark his 61st birthday in Abuja.

Reports had claimed that the former Akwa Ibom governor collapsed during the event and had to be rushed to the National Hospital

But the media team, in a statement signed by Eseme Eyiboh, debunked the reports, describing the claims as “fictionalised extensions of the Senate President’s assertion of being tired at the end of the programme”.

The rumours have been fanned by some social media news channels with notoriety for the dissemination of phony news flashes.

“It is disconcerting that the conjectures on the wellbeing of the Senate President came after he was celebrated by the crème-de-crème of the nation’s leadership at the colloquium that was focused on defining a legislative agenda for Nigeria.

“Akpabio spoke on his feet for more than 30 minutes. As the programme ended and President Bola Tinubu left the venue, his expression to some of those around him that he was tired was escalated to a fainting spell or collapse.

“Some adventurous purveyors of lies, in their thrilling escapade of fiction, even claimed that he is currently in a critical condition at the National Hospital, Abuja.

“This is wholly untrue and I declare firmly that besides saying he was exhausted to the hearing of those around him, he was certainly not rushed in a stretcher to the national hospital or indisposed.”

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