By David Adeoye

The Oyo State Government has warned purveyors of fake news to leave the state or risk sanctions.

Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde, said this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday.

The statement was a reaction to some online publications speculating that the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was burgled last week.

The state government however described the report as fake news, stressing that there was no iota of truth to the claim in the story.

It admonished newsmen to always seek clarifications from relevant authorities to avoid the allure of fake news.

“Checks with all arms of security at the secretariat confirmed that the story was fake, unfounded and indeed an outright lie.

“Indeed, the original publisher of the story, Mega Icon, was so mischievous that he didn’t crosscheck the purported story with any government official.

“He only added a line debunking the story after an official of the SSG had questioned the veracity of the fake report.

“He had claimed to an official of the government that he had to publish the fake news because he was once shunned by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Surprisingly, Sahara Reporters lapped up the fake news, an indication that the integrity of the media houses is at stake.

“The story not only failed the simplest tests that newsmen worth their onion subject news stories to, it raised all the red flags of fake news, as it claimed that no arrest had been made without stating which police station the alleged burglary was reported to and by whom.

“The fake news had also gone ahead to state that imaginary valuables were carted away without stating what and what was stolen.

“Sadly, the purveyors of the fake news have also let down their readers by not being able to provide further details days after publishing the initial lie,” the statement read in part.

The state government further advised information carriers to always ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties, stressing that responsible and ethical journalism espouses truth and the sanctity of facts above fiction.

It threatened that anyone who deliberately publishes fake and concocted report would be made to face the wrath of the law.

“There are constitutional stipulations that guide against publication of falsehood.

“We find it appalling that a media house worth its name would publish a story that has no basis and is not in any way close to reality.

“In fact, we can no longer doubt the fact that the purveyors of this fake news are out to blackmail the government in an attempt to rubbish the initiatives of the administration in the security sector.

“We want to, however, state categorically that the state will ensure no offender goes unpunished, as there are constitutional provisions against the publication of falsehood by the press despite the fundamental freedom of expression,” it emphasised.

The statement said the administration can no longer condone the excesses of mischief makers. (NAN)

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) on Friday call on Nigerians to continue praying for peace, unity and stability of the country.

Mrs Laraba Shoda, the National President, NCWS, made the call in her New Year message to Nigerians on Friday in Abuja.

Shoda said the call was imperative to foster unity and address security challenges in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As our nation enter 2021, I want us all to pray for peace and stability in our country.

“We should remain fervent in prayers for the peace of the nation and learn to speak positive things about the nation for good things to begin to happen.

“Let’s pray for a better year in 2021. Let’s hand over Nigeria to God to reposition in accordance with His Will and Glory,’’ she said.

Shoda also said that Nigerians, especially women, should pray in their homes for divine intervention on the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and the world at large.

The president noted that women and children were believed to have a special place in the heart of God, therefore, we should continue to pray for God’s mercy over the pandemic.

“There is no doubt that these are trying times in our nation and I am optimistic that it will pass by God’s grace.

“The insecurity situation and the global pandemic have posed serious challenges to the nation and the world at large, especially as it affects health, religion, wellbeing of Nigerians and the socio-economic development of the country.

“I also call on Nigerians to take responsibility at this critical time, adhering to the precautionary measures, protocols , and guidelines released by various strata of government to prevent community spread of the virus as we celebrate the New Year,” she said

Shoda called on Nigerians to have faith in God, support one another and cooperate with government to contain the spread of the disease in the country. (NAN)

By Bolaji Buhari

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday visited Surulere Maternal and Child Care Hospital, where he spent time with babies born on New Year’s Day and their mothers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baby Derrick, a male, the First Baby of the year at the hospital, was born at exactly 12:42 a.m. on Friday and weighed 3.6 kg at birth.

Gbajabiamila congratulated Derrick’s mother, Mrs Immaculata Ozumba, on the safe delivery and the family for the “great gift from God’’.

The speaker then gave various gifts including; cash, bags of rice, cartons of noodles and diapers to the baby and his family

He later went round to see other babies born shortly after Baby Derrick and equally gave them gifts as well as their parents.

Gbajabiamila settled the delivery bills of all babies born in the facility on Friday as well as some other patients who could not pay their bills.

Received by Mrs Aduke Odutayo, Medical Director of the Community Hospital and other staff, the speaker commended the management of the facility for doing their best to improve healthcare delivery in the area.

He promised to support the hospital to further enhance healthcare delivery at the hospital and others in the constituency.

Speaking to the NAN, Ozumba said she was surprised by the speaker’s visit and the show of love to her baby and the family.

Ozumba, who could not hold back her tears of joy, said the coming of Derrick had brought blessings to the family through the speaker’s visit and gifts.

“Honestly, I lack words; I could never have imagined that the speaker will visit my baby, let alone giving us all these gifts.

“Derrick has brought blessings for us; I am extremely happy and grateful to Mr Femi Gbajamiala and I pray that God will bless and always guide him,’’ she said.

The speaker after the visit to the hospital, embarked on an inspection tour of his on-going and just-completed constituency projects in Surulere.

Some of the projects he inspected to ascertain their completion level and quality, were the expansion of Babs Animashaun road and bridge and rehabilitation of a network of roads at Ward F, including Martins and Elizabeth roads.

Others are; on-going construction of Gbajabiamila General Hospital, Iyun Road; renovation of Stadium Grammar School, ICT Centre at Ajigbeda Senior Girls’ High School and work on a 250-capacity stadium at Obele Oniwaala.

He also inspected on-going work at a hostel at the University of Lagos.

Speaking during his visit to Babs Animashaun Road, Gbajabiamila commended the pace of work and quality of the project.

He urged the contractor handling the expansion of the road as well as contractors handling his other constituency projects to work harder to deliver the projects on schedule without compromising quality.

“Please try and work harder and deliver the project as early as you can without compromising quality. That is the most important thing,’’ he said.

Speaking, Mr Idris Adeoye, Project Manager, Global Legend Integrated Ltd., the company handling the project, gave an assurance that the firm would deliver on schedule.

Adeoye said the delivery period was fixed at December 2021, according to the contract.

He, however, said that they would deliver the job two months before the deadline. (NAN)

By Justina Aura

The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has advised parents to register their children at birth to enable government to effectively plan for the future and for national development.

She made the call on Friday when she visited Karu Primary Healthcare Centre in the FCT to welcome the First Baby of the Year 2021 at the centre.

The baby boy, weighing 3.3kg, was born at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1 into the family of Mr and Mrs Adamu Abubakar, an indigene of Biu Local Government Area of Borno.

Represented by Dr Mairo Almakura, the Special Assistant to the President on African First Lady’s Peace Mission, Buhari said birth registration was fundamental to creating data that would assist government to keep track of the number of children in the country and make provision for their development.

The first lady also advised pregnant women to always go for ante-natal care, practice exclusive breastfeeding and embrace family planning to protect their health and wellbeing of their children and the family at large.

Mrs Justina Maka, the Nurse who delivered the first baby, said “he is in a healthy condition.”

The father of the baby, Mr Aliyu Adamu, thanked the first lady and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and promised to follow the instructions of health professionals in caring for the baby.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said 22 healthcare facilities across the FCT were involved in the search for the baby of the year, of which, the Primary Healthcare Centre in Karu came first.

Tallen, who was represented by Mrs Jummai Mohammed, the Director, Child Development in the ministry, assured the public of government’s support to improving the lives of women and children. (NAN)