NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Centre trains, tasks journalists on disability-inclusive justice issues
Health

Centre trains, tasks journalists on disability-inclusive justice issues

166 total views today

 

By Kemi Akintokun

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) says there is need for  journalists  to improve their reporting and coverage of disability-inclusive justice issues.

According to it, equitable access to the justice system and a comprehensive review of legal processes to better serve persons with disabilities (PWD) is imperative.

Mr David Anyaele, Founder of CCD and the Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Disability Issues, spoke on Tuesday at a capacity building workshop for media practitioners with the theme, “Effective Reportage on Disability Inclusive Justice System”.

The training was organised with the support of VOICE.

The workshop is part of the implementation of the group’s project titled “Enhancing access to justice, democratic governance and promoting political participation among women, elderly and youths with disabilities in Nigeria “.

In his presentation on the topic: ‘Understanding Disability Rights and Advocacy’’, Anyaele said journalists need to understand the issues that affect PWDs  to enable sensitive and appropriate reportage of disability-issues.

Anyaele said that journalists need the right knowledge, using the right terminologies to produce quality reports about disability issues and rights.

He urged journalists to use their reports to advocate the rights of PWDs.

Ms Christiana Njoku, the Project Officer of CCD, also highlighted the need to build media capacity on how to report PWD issues using the correct terminology.

“When issues of PWDs regarding accessing justice is reported rightly, PWDs will be confident enough to come out to speak.

“So, the media should portray PWDs issues correctly such that media practitioners can make their reportage inclusive for PWDs.

“Media partitioned should be able to portray, and use the right technologies when it comes to portraying issues of PWD and when issues of PWD are portrayed,it should not be something that comes out once in a while,’’ Njoku said

She also urged the media to make stories of PWDs more visible in the media space especially issues facing PWDs in the area of justice.

While delivering her presentation on the topic: ‘Media Ethics and Responsibility in Disability-Inclusive Justice Reporting’, Ms Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher of BONews Service, highlighted the need to mainstream disability-rights issues into topical issues in the newsrooms.

“It is important to spotlight issues regarding persons with disabilities, and also note that disability can be mainstreamed into topical issues.”

“If there is limited knowledge of disability issues it will be difficult for journalists to provide quality and indepth reportage of disability issues’’.

Oladunjoye urged journalists to be fair, balanced and accurate in their reports, avoiding stereotypes and biases.

“When reporting on disability-inclusive justice issues, it is important that the right stories get out there, and not sensationalism.

“We know the numerous challenges that exist when PWDs seek to access justice are cumbersome and could be frustrating, and our responsibility as journalists should be to promote accessibility in the process.”

Mrs Florence Austin, Finance/Admin Manager,CCD, asserted that PWDs have the right to access justice and such should be upheld.

“We expect media practitioners present at this training to prioritize issues of disability gap reportage as well as mainstreaming disability in their activities and programs to sensitize the general public.

“It is our mandate and we are interested in pursuing such an interest.

“CCD will not relent on what we are doing in promoting disability inclusion, the right of persons with disability and we are open to media collaboration, support and partnership.

“We are promoting right base approach and together we will all be able to build an inclusive society that doesn’t discriminate and doesn’t leave anyone behind but promotes inclusion and participation for all,” Austin said.

Miss Angela Okon, a participant, said the training had further enlightened her on current trends within the disabilities space.

According to her, she has learnt some terminologies she can use and those that can be sensitive.

She commended CCd for the initiative in championing issues on disabilities. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

How smart is `Climate Smart Agriculture’ .to environment, food security
Entertainment

How smart is `Climate Smart Agriculture’ .to environment, food security

325 total views today

By Ebere Agozie, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

With the impact of climate change being felt on food systems around the world, and with the contribution of agriculture to global emissions also gaining attention, experts are focusing on climate change.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to managing landscapes, cropland, livestock, forests and fisheries that address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change.

However, stakeholders have expressed concern that the term could be used to green-wash industrial agricultural practices that could harm food production in the future.

Though climate smart agriculture is gaining attention and acceptance among stakeholders, including researchers and policy makers, there is growing concern about what smart ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ really is.

With most of the world’s largest fertiliser and synthetic agrochemical manufacturers among the promoters of climate change, it the sincerity behind the said Climate Smart Agriculture comes under scrutiny.

According to an ActionAid Nigeria report, some governments and NGOs also worry that pressure to adopt Climate Smart Agriculture could lead to complications in the food systems of developing countries, with its attendant negative fallouts.

These worried stakeholders say that their agriculture systems have not contributed as much to the problem, but that going the Climate Smart Agriculture way could actually limit their ability to effectively adapt to the climate challenges ahead.

They argue that there are no identifiable yardsticks for determining what ‘Climate Smart’ is, since entities that could be destructive to the climate, the farmers, and the environment, also freely use the word Climate Smart Agriculture.

Mr Bowie Attamah, a legal practitioner and an environmentalist said promoters of industrial scale mono-cropping were jumping on the ‘Climate Smart’ bandwagon, claiming that they proffer solutions to climate change.

“The same so-called ‘green revolution’ industries that have been widely criticised for their significant contribution to climate change and their negative environmental and social impacts on farmers and food systems.

“The have simply re-branded themselves as ‘Climate Smart’ and continued as before.

“Synthetic fertilisers, for example, contribute significantly to climate-change greenhouse gases while large-scale industrial livestock production has been shown to be a major contributor to climate change.

“Ultimately, there are no means to ensure that ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ is actually smart for the climate, for agriculture, or for farmers,’’ he said.

Attamah said that synthetic fertilisers contribute to climate change as the creation of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers is energy-intensive, burning large amounts of fossil fuels and leading to high CO2 emissions.

“When applied to the soil, they can release Nitrous Oxide (N2O), a highly potent greenhouse gas that has 298 times the atmospheric warming effect of CO2’’, he said.

“There are, therefore, significant concerns that destructive agribusinesses are able to use climate rhetoric and the general confusion over the term ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’, to provide ‘green-wash’ cover to their activities.

“This enables them to expand into new markets such as Africa while undermining local economies, ecosystems, seed diversity and farmers, in the process.

“So, I’m skeptical when I hear people who are destroying the environment claiming that that they also practice climate smart agriculture’’, Attamah told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

However, stakeholders have advocated the embrace and growth of organic and agroecological farming practices to enhance the health of the environment and its habitants, as well as food and nutrition security on the African Continent.

Experts say agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems.

They believe that farmers and food security would be better served through the implementation of specific, meaningful and tested strategies such as agroecology.

Prof. Olugbenga AdeOluwa, the Coordinator, Organic and Agroecology Initiative (ORAIN), said that needs to upscale its organic and agroecology practices to bring the continent to the forefront of having a secure food system and safe environment.

AdeOluwa also said that there is a need to improve local development for export business in organic agriculture to improve the continent’s GDP.

“Capacity building of strategic practitioners in the organic agricultural sector of Nigeria is needed to contribute to food security, income generation, employment, systems resilience, among others”, he said.

Another expert, Mrs Joyce Brown, Programme Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), said that promoting agroecology would protect the environment, the earth and help in attaining food security.

Brown said that another reason for promoting organic and agroecological practices is due to the understanding that industrial agriculture is not healthy.

She, therefore, urged government sensitise the masses on the economic importance of organic and agroecology farming.

“Other methods of farming destroy the ecosystem and the introduction of GMOs also will lead to loss of biodiversity even as climate change contributes its own impact to the agriculture food system,” she said.

Experts have argued that agricultural production systems in many developing countries, which are usually far less industrialised, have done the least to contribute to the global problem of climate change.

They argue that supporting their agriculture to adapt to changing weather conditions should be the greatest priority, and that they should not be obliged to take on more than their ‘fair share’ of mitigation commitments in agriculture.

They say developed countries, which have intensive production and high consumption models of agriculture, should consider changing their agricultural practices, while allowing developing countries to focus on their adaptation needs.

They say climate smart agriculture should not be a proxy to force developing countries to carrying more than their fair share of climate change mitigation, nor to let developed countries off the hook.

The idea of climate smart agriculture may sound appealing to many organisations and governments but should be approached with caution because of the risk of harmful green-wash agricultural practices.

There is a great need to make a distinction between developed nations, who are largely responsible for climate change, and developing nations who are the least victims of this phenomenon. (NANFeature)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Nigeria enacted anti-torture law to punish errant officers- Jeddi-Agba
General News

Nigeria enacted anti-torture law to punish errant officers- Jeddi-Agba

223 total views today

By Ebere Agozie

Nigeria has enacted the anti-torture act to prohibit and punish acts of torture committed by public officers.

Mrs Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, the Solicitor-General of the Federation made this known at the sensitization and advocacy session for Law Enforcement Agencies, MDAs and relevant stakeholders. on United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The definition of torture under the relevant legal frameworks pertains to acts committed by public officials, particularly Law Enforcement, which inflicts pain or suffering, whether mental or physical on individuals in their custody.

“ Therefore, the Federal Government prioritises initiatives aimed at preventing torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment,’’ she said.

She said the government and stakeholders had the inherent responsibility to support measures aimed at unequivocally rooting out torture in Nigeria, in line with UNCAT and OPCAT.

“We are currently reviewing the Anti-Torture Act and Regulations to expand the definition of torture and improve mechanisms to discourage and eradicate torture in places of detention.

“These places include any deprivation of liberty in Nigeria like the police stations, prisons and other detention facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and any other places where persons are not permitted to leave at their own will.

“It is not enough to punish perpetrators for committing acts of torture, the government also has the responsibility to ensure restitution and rehabilitation of victims of torture’’.

She encouraged participants to work as champions of the federal government’s policy against torture, shun the use of torture against citizens and institute anti-torture measures.

“I want you to demonstrate commitment and dedication towards eliminating torture by collaborating and cooperating to speak with one voice against the perpetrators of torture, and for all who suffer at their hands, at your various institutions.

She said the programme would focus on strategic interaction between stakeholders to address concerns and challenges associated with implementing anti-torture measures in compliance with international obligations.

“This sensitization event was initiated in fulfilment of the mandate of the committee and the federal ministry of justice, as part of measures to eradicate the use of torture by public officials,’’ she stressed. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

======

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

State institution students to start loan applications in June — NELFUND
General News

State institution students to start loan applications in June — NELFUND

231 total views today

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says it plans to start entertaining loan application from students attending state-owned tertiary institutions on June 25.

The Managing Director, NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr said this at a news conference on the Post-Application Launch in Abuja on Thursday.

Sawyerr also said that over 60,000 students from federal tertiary institutions had successfully registered since the application launch.

He said from this application, 30,000 had successfully applied for the loan, saying however, no approval had been granted so far.

“Since the launch of our student loan application portal last Friday for students in Federal institutions of higher learning, we have witnessed an extraordinary surge in applications, with over 60,000 submissions since inception.

“The overwhelming response serves as a testament to the critical need for financial assistance among our student population, and we remain committed to addressing this urgent demand.

“In line with our commitment to democratise higher education, we are excited to announce that NELFUND will commence accepting applications from students attending state-owned tertiary institutions in three weeks,” he said.

He added that over 90 per cent of federal institutions had so far submitted their students’ details to NELFUND.

He encouraged the remaining two federal universities and five federal polytechnics to expedite the process to ensure that all eligible students have access to its financial support.

He urged all state institutions to submit their students’ data immediately, as requested, to facilitate a smooth and seamless application process.

Sawyerr added that the Fund would also launch the skill acquisition programme six months from today.

He said the skills programme was designed to prepare students to meet the demands of market through fostering entrepreneurship of the young people.

“Beyond financial assistance, NELFUND recognises the profound importance of equipping our youth with practical, market-relevant skills.

“Six months from today, we will launch a comprehensive skills acquisition programme, providing training in various vocational and technical fields.

“This programme is designed to prepare students to meet the demands of the modern job market, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among our young people.

“We are going to be working with existing centres in the right standard to give the right level of training to Nigerians,” he added.

Speaking on the challenges being faced, Sawyerr said no ICT platform was devoid of challenges saying however, that the Fund had been able to address challenges being experienced by applicants. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba Inuwa

Identity management is key to boosting national security- Minister
Defence/Security

Identity management is key to boosting national security- Minister

259 total views today

By Yahaya Isah

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says identity management is a key to safeguarding the nation’s national security architecture.

Tunji-Ojo stated this when the President and Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria, Dr Illiyasu Gashinbaki, led his team on a courtesy visit to him on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that identity management was the foundation of any nation, saying that the prevalence of identity theft in Nigeria was alarming.

“Unearthing the truth about identities is crucial for addressing critical issues.

“Recently, we uncovered 2,400 non-Nigerians with fake National Identity Numbers attempting to acquire Nigerian passports. This passport symbolises our sovereignty and identity as Nigerians,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister said that the two key responsibilities of the Interior Ministry included enhancing national security and preserving citizenship integrity.

“Therefore, must build capacity to conduct forensic analysis domestically, eliminating the need to travel abroad for such services,” he said.

The Minister highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the institute and enhancing the integrity of national document.

“The integrity of our documents is crucial for national pride and security. Many individuals holding Nigerian documents are not Nigerians.

“For instance, we recently arrested a British Airways crew member with a Nigerian passport procured in London, who turned out to be Ugandan,” Tunji-Ojo added.

On Nigeria’s reputation, Tunji-Ojo stated that Nigerians were among the most law-abiding people he had encountered with.

“With over 200 million citizens, our correctional centres house about 70,000 inmates, including approximately 25,000 convicted individuals.

“This simply means  that only 0.035 per cent of Nigerians are in custody, reflecting the law abiding nature of the vast majority. But unfortunately, the actions of a few have tarnished our national image,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo  added that through collaboration with the institute, the ministry aimed to uphold the highest standards of document verification and forensic analysis to protect and serve the nation better.

Earlier, Gashinbaki said that the purpose of the visit was to express the institute’s desire for continued partnership with the ministry to serve the nation better.

He said that the goal of the institute was to establish independent laboratories to conduct forensic analysis to ensure impartiality and adherence to scientific protocols in legal cases.

“We have also witnessed numerous building collapse due to inadequate testing of structures and product specifications, particularly from countries dumping substandard products in Africa,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Prioritise policies supporting holistic youth devt., NGO urges Tinubu
General News

Prioritise policies supporting holistic youth devt., NGO urges Tinubu

214 total views today

Prioritise policies supporting holistic youth devt., NGO urges Tinubu

By Aderogba George

An NGO, Advocacy for Positive Behavioural Patterns Initiative (APBPI), has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise policies that support holistic development of the country’s youth.

Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NGO, Mrs Christiana-Adedoja Tanimola, stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Tanimola said that investing in the younger generation of the country was crucial for the nation’s growth, prosperity and stability.

According to her, Nigerians envision a country where the young people thrive, reach their full potential and contribute positively to the society.

Tanimola said that Nigerians were in need of a country where youths would be empowered to become responsible citizens and leaders, and where Nigeria would become a model for positive behavioural patterns globally.

“On behalf of APBPI, we congratulate you on your first anniversary in office. We acknowledge your efforts to address the challenges facing our nation.

“As a behavioural-based non-profit organisation focusing on promoting positive values among young Nigerians, we urge your administration to prioritise policies that support the holistic development of our youths.

“We believe that investing in the younger generation is crucial for our nation’s growth, prosperity and stability,’’ she stated.

Tanimola particularly recommended to the president policies that would promote positive behavioural patterns among teens and youth, and enhance access to quality education and skill acquisition.

She also called for improved healthcare and social welfare services for young people as well as empowering them to become responsible citizens and leaders.

The executive director also urged Tinubu to address the issues of mental health and wellbeing of young Nigerians, and reduce crime and criminal activities among them.

According to her, the establishment of modern libraries in all the 774 local government areas in the country will provide young people access to knowledge, information and resources, thus aiding their development.

Tanimola said that the NGO had observed that some ministries and agencies were supporting great initiatives for the youth.

She said that with sustained support in this direction, the young people would achieve great things and contribute positively to the nation’s development.

Tanimola, however, said that the NGO would be looking forward to seeing meaningful policies and initiatives that would benefit the younger generation and position Nigeria as a leader in positive behavioural patterns. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

FCCPC engages market leaders on rising food prices
Economy/Business

FCCPC engages market leaders on rising food prices

307 total views today

 

Investigation

By Yusuf Yunus

Lagos, May 29, 2024 (NAN)The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday engaged market leaders and traders in Lagos to investigate the persistent increase in food prices across markets.

Mrs Suzie Onwuka, Head, Lagos Office of FCCPC, revealed the reasons for meeting with market leaders of Mile 12 Market and Oke-Odo Market, Ile-Epo in Lagos, while briefing newsmen.

Onwuka explained that the engagement aimed to gather insights directly from stakeholders to understand the factors contributing to escalating food prices, a major concern by consumers nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission’s investigative mission prioritises consumer protection and competition issues, particularly regarding the affordability of food commodities.

She highlighted insecurity, particularly its impact on agricultural produce, and the removal of fuel subsidies as a major factor influencing the rising cost of transportation which subsequently added to food prices.

According to her, the practice of hoarding grains during dry seasons and releasing them during rainy seasons for planting purposes exacerbates price fluctuation and sustains high prices.

She stressed the importance of stakeholders’ collaboration in addressing the challenges and stabilising food prices for consumers.

Alhaji Shehu Usman, Chairman of the Mile 12 International Perishable Market Association, affirmed the market leaders’ commitment to collaborating with the Lagos State Government in agricultural ventures to enhance food security.

Usman highlighted efforts to secure land for farming activities, including tomato cultivation, to complement existing produce.

Addressing the inflationary trend, Usman clarified that there was no deliberate price manipulation within the market.

He attributed the spike in food prices to disruptions in agricultural activities caused by insecurity.

This, he added, led to the movement of some Northern farmers from their base to Internally Displayed Camps (IDPs), due to security threats posed by bandits.

Alhaji Taofik Olorunkemi, the Baba-Oja of Oke-Odo Market in Ile-Epo corroborated Usman’s views regarding the hike in prices of food items

He emphasised the challenges posed by the high cost of transporting goods from farms to urban centres and the continuous increase in food prices with each new produce entering the market.

Olorunkemi also highlighted the influence of the removal of oil subsidies on food prices and expressed concerns about the reluctance of the youth to pursue farming opportunities due to modernisation.

The market leader commended the federal government for the provision of adequate security measures to safeguard farmers and agricultural operations.

He emphasised the need for a secure environment to enable effective cultivation.

Meanwhile, some market traders who spoke to newsmen, said they feel the pains of Nigerians but more painful that they would have to sell based on the cost price.

They urged the federal government not to relent on its various intervention programmes, aimed at reducing the pains of Nigerians. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

 

Foundation sensitises school girls on menstrual hygiene, distributes free pads
Health

Foundation sensitises school girls on menstrual hygiene, distributes free pads

341 total views today

By Kemi Akintokun

In a bid to promote menstrual hygiene in schools, the HOJ Foundation, an NGO, on Tuesday sensitised and distributed sanitary pads to schools in commemoration of the 2024 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28, to raise global awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.

Mr Bismarck Oji, the Executive Director of the foundation, said menstrual health hygiene was pertinent to the general wellbeing of girls and women in the society.

Oji noted that there was need to intensify awareness on good menstrual hygiene due to the several risks associated to poor hygiene during menstruation.

He added that some schools within the Isolo-Oshodi Local Government Area (LGA) benefited from the programme tagged” Pad Up Our Girls, Keep Them in School”.

Some of the schools include Ansarudeen College, Isolo; Livingspring Hi-Grade College Isolo; Effortswill College, Ejigbo; Spring School, Okota; Airforce Secondary School, Ikeja and Jeed Trinity College, Ilasamaja.

He said:”Menstrual hygiene is for everybody and this is because whatever affects our girls and women affects the society.

“We are here to sensitise our girls in schools that menstruation is a natural process that should not stop girls from going to school and the importance of good menstrual hygiene.

“Some of the girls are yet to start their menstrual circle while some have started, this is to prepare those who are yet to start their menstruation and educated those who have already started on the importance of good hygiene”.

He, however, urged government to subsidise pads to ensure availability and affordability for girls and women in the Country.

Students of Ansarudeen College, Isolo, Lagos

 

Speaking also, Mrs Uchena Ofomata, the Programme Coordinator in charge of Women and Health at the foundation, urged government to provide free sanitary pads for girls, especially those in public schools.

Ofomata said the present economic situation has made it impossible for some girls to get access to pads, therefore, resulting to tissue paper, cloths and a times deprive them of learning in school.

“We are out to sensitise girls because at this age, some of them feel bad about menstruation and there is the need to educate them on good hygiene to prevent infection.

“Another thing is availability of pads for some girls whose parents cannot afford it due to the present increase in prices of commodities generally in the country.

“We want the government to either subsidise the price or give free monthly pads to secondary school girls, especially those in the public school,” he said.

She affirmed that HOJ foundation would continue to empower women and youths, and provide interventions on health related issues for people within its locality.

Precious Chimezie, a JSS 3 student of Livingspring Hi-Grade College, commended the foundation for the sensitisation and free menstrual pad, noting that it further increased her knowledge.

“We have been taught about puberty and menstruation in my school but this programme has given me more enlightenment on how to handle pad, duration of usage and good hygiene,” she said.

Speaking also, Oreoluwa Koiki, a JSS 3 student of Ansarudeen College, said the pad up our girls programme by HOJ foundation was very educating.

“I have been able to learn more things about menstrual hygiene that will keep me in check when I am in my cycle,” she said. (NAN)

 

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

 

 

FOU seizes goods worth N2bn DPV, arrests suspected fake officer
Defence/Security

FOU seizes goods worth N2bn DPV, arrests suspected fake officer

196 total views today

 

By Aisha Cole

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted various contrabands with Duty Paid Value  (DPV) of N2.2 billion.

It also arrested a suspected fake customs officer, who allegedly defrauded many rice dealers.

The Controller in charge of the zone, Comptroller Kolapo Oladeji, made the disclosure to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said that 20 suspects had been arrested in connection with the seized goods.

According to him, the smuggled goods were seized from April 19 to May 28.

He listed the seized goods to include 914 Jerry cans (25 litres  each) of Premium Motor Spirit  – equivalent of 22,850 litres –  and 10,372 of 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice as well as 27 units of imported used vehicles.

 

 

He said that the seized good also included 2,152 cartons of foreign frozen products, six units of imported used trucks and 625kg of Cannabis Sativa.

“The sum of N81.8 million was recovered through meticulous documentary checks on goods which already exited with low duty payments. It  would have escaped the coffers of the Federal Government,” he said.

Oladeji said that tougher days for smugglers had just begun.

He said that smugglers  undermined Nigeria Customs Service’s efforts at revenue generation.

He said that the unit also arrested a self-acclaimed customs officer, who until his arrest, had been defrauded  unsuspecting citizens.

He said that the suspect claimed to be the officer in-charge of rice auctioning.

“His arrest was made after some of his victims reported his illegal claims and activities,” Oladeji said.

He said that he had visited traditional leaders within the zone for partnership which, he said,  led to the quantum of seizures recorded within his six weeks in office.

The FOU boss said that the seizures were made at Ojo-Odan, Ijebu-Ode, Badagry, Agbara, Idiroko and Oyo, among other axis.

He commended officers and men of the command for their efforts, and praised sister-agencies for cooperation.

Oladeji advised smugglers to embrace legitimate businesses.

He said that smuggling was negatively affecting the health of Nigerians, adding that some  smuggled goods were transported in contaminated vehicles, motorcycles and cement trucks. (NAN)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ijeoma Popoola

FMC Ebute Metta expands services, begins specialised care — MD
Health

FMC Ebute Metta expands services, begins specialised care — MD

728 total views today

By Kemi Akintokun

Dr Adedamola Dada, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta in Lagos State, says the hospital has started giving specialised care to further expand its services to patients.

Dada, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday,
said the specialised care included laparoscopy and pin hole surgery.

NAN reports that laparoscopy is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis, using small incisions with the aid of a camera, while a pin hole surgery is a minimal invasive treatment for gum recession.

He said: “We have started some highly specialised care and services and one of it is the laparoscopy surgery.

“We also have the pin hole surgery.

“We sent some doctors to learn these techniques, and they are already back and they have been able to do many abdominal surgeries with very minimal pain and quick recovery.

“Usually when patients undergo surgery, the abdomen is open through incision but rather than doing that, we use technology to transmit the entire arrangements of the abdomen to a camera.

“A surgeon is able to operate on a patient through this technology and we have been able to do a lot of abdominal surgery with this technology.

“Some of the surgeries include appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis, as done in other climes.”

On other strides the hospital achieved in the last one year, the medical director said the hospital is currently building a cancer centre to ensure more people have access to care.

He added that a new clinical building inaugurated in January had expanded the hospital’s bed space to 420 beds and also featured its In vitro fertilisation (IVF) centre.

“We are building a cancer centre which is going to be one of the best in West Africa; we have gone to the UK to do pre-shipment inspection of equipment so we can match specification with production.

“We have built the outpatient component of the cancer centre, the bunker is ongoing, and in a couple of months, Nigerians will have access to it and this will revolutionise cancer care in the country.

“We are in the stage of equipping our IVF centre and we also constructed our trauma ward within the one year of this present administration.”

According to the medical director,  the hospital is guided by the four key policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to achieve the feats in the last one year.

He said the policy centred on good governance, unlocking the value chain, health security and  strengthening the health sector.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

 

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