By Olatunde Ajayi

Eighty paramedics and patrol officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the South-West states are currently undertaking life-saving rescue training to reduce road crashes.

The FSRC Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu, while declaring open  the two-day training on Wednesday in Ibadan, said the activity sponsored by Ford Foundation would enhance the capability of the commission’s personnel in crash management.

Biu said the training would cover practical sessions on CardioPulmonary Resuscitation, basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, management of road traffic injuries and transportation of casualties.

The Corps Marshal, who was represented by Assistant Corps Marshal, Clement Oladele, said the training signified unwavering commitment of the FRSC to its mission of ensuring safer roads and fuller lives.

“The comprehensive curriculum of this programme reflects the commitment of the corps to equip its personnel with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to excel in the demanding field of road safety and crash response.

“The impact of this training on the participants will undoubtedly enhance their ability to administer Iife-saving measures promptly and effectively,” he said.

Also speaking, the Acting Oyo State FRSC Sector Commander, DCC Tunde Adewale, said the training would equip FRSC paramedics and patrol operatives with necessary skills, knowledge and resources to safe lives and serve the public better.

Adewale noted that the selected participants would be trained to pass the training down to other officers at their respective units to expand the knowledge of rescue operation among officers.

He urged road users to avoid over confidence while driving and always drive defensively with reasonable speed.

In her remarks, the Regional Director of Programmes, Ford Foundation, Joy Ezezebor, said the training was in line with the foundation’s commitment to ensure safety of lives on the roads.

Ezezebor said that Oyo State was selected for the training due to its population and key position in the country.

“Road safety should be seen as share responsibilities, dedication, collaboration and continuous learning.

“Emergency response is a collective effort and we must continue to strive to ensure that every life is protected,” she said.

The programme training consultant, Dr Davidson Okuobeya, said the participants would be exposed to modern and international standard techniques on management of road traffic injuries, anatomy and physiology of human body for professional rescue operation.(NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Lekki residents and stakeholders have paid tributes to the late Chairman, Victoria Garden City Property Owners Residents Association (VGCPORA), Mr Gihan Mbelu.

They described him as a community developer, an environmental sustainability enthusiast, a visionary leader with deep passion and commitment of youth development and community advancement.

They spoke during a night of tributes organised for him on Tuesday in Lagos, following his shocking demise on April 26.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mbelu, until his passing, was not only the Chairman, VGCPORA, but was vice president, Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA).

Mbelu, aged 42, was reportedly found dead in his car within the community after purchasing water and soft drinks.

His corpse has since been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

Noheem Adams, Majority Leader representing Eti-Osa Constituency 1, described the late Mbelu as the driving force that brought government down to the people of VGC and the people to government.

He said the late VGC chair expended every efforts to addressing obstructions at the canals and stood for the truth in all things.

“The shoes he is leaving behind are too big to be filled and today would be recorded as the saddest day in 2024 for me.

“The kind of person he was, I had envisioned that he would one day be one of those to lead the country due to his immense leadership capabilities,” he said.

Alhaji Sulyman Bello, President, LERSA, said his contributions to the discourse surrounding the development of the Lekki region was always very compelling.

Bello said relating with Mbelu would leave one in awe and wonder as he dished out facts, data and incontrovertible point of view without being combative, all for the development of VGC and the entire Lekki-Epe region.

“As long as it was for humanity, Gihan would give it a try as he was a very oriented problem solving individual.

“His type is not very available in every generation or even a lifetime and he would be sorely missed by us all,” he said.

Mrs Idunu Oyebelu, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, VGCPORA, said his passing left profound gap in the hearts of everyone.

She said throughout his tenure as chairman, his visionary leadership and tireless efforts was very instrumental in shaping the VGC community.

According to Oyebelu, under Mbelu’s stewardship, VGC witnessed tremendous transformation, infrastructural development and made giant strides in environmental sustainability.

“Mbelu’s leadership was marked by a deep sense of purpose and compassion.

“May his memory serves as a source of comfort and make us uphold the values that he embodied particularly his spirit of service.

“We will continue to build on the foundation he laid,” she said.

Mrs Morufat Yusuff, General Manager, VGCPORA, stated that the late VGC chair did everything to ensure a drug free environment within the VGC community.

She listed some of the achievements during his tenure to include fostering a safer and healthier environment, the installation of efficient energy feature lighting, the VGC recycling hub to drive environmental sustainability.

“He also facilitated efficient access control, identified opportunities to optimise expenses and was deeply committed to the safety and wellbeing of all VGC residents.

“He increased security surveillance and we had commenced installation of CCTV cameras with 150 installed and 64 ongoing to be commissioned in August.

“He forged partnership with government entities to resolve issues, mitigated flood risks and this is such a sad occurrence that our hearts cant fathom. He would be sorely missed,” she said.

Mrs Jane Phillip-Odey, Secretary, VGC, said the late VGC chair though gone, left impacts, developmental activities and legacies that would never be forgotten.

“Let us honour his memory, cherish the time we had with him as we pay tribute to him who would forever be in our hearts and memories,” she said.

Mr Adejo Adehi, Head, VGC Basketball community, said the late Mbelu ensured that the youth were engaged in sporting activities to take their minds off drugs and any other vices detrimental to mental health and general wellness.

He said his passing would leave a great void but his legacy, dedication and vision would continue to inspire the youth to build a thriving community of lasting impact.

“You would be deeply missed but your memory would live on and we pray you find comfort that your legacy would continue to flourish,” he said.

Mr Ishan Mbelu, brother of the deceased, lauded the entire VGC community for giving a youth the opportunity to lead and serve.

“On behalf of the family, I would like to thank you all again and I want to say we are proud of the community and love you all,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Felicia Imohimi

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently reverse the removal of the council from government funding for effective and efficient veterinary practice regulation.

VCN Vice-President, Prof. Matthew Adamu, who made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, said the reversal would boost operational efficiency of the council.

Adamu said that VCN was not a revenue generating agency rather a council saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and overseeing the training and practice of the veterinary profession for the well-being of humans.

He said that the removal of VCN from government funding in 2023 based on implementation of the 2022 Oronsaye’s committee report was impacting negatively on the council’s regulatory mandate with regard to wholesome practices.

NAN reports that Steve Oronsaye panel on the restructuring and rationalisation of federal agencies, parastatals and commission recommended the merging, subsuming and scrapping of agencies with similar functions.

The don said that staff members of the council were currently passing through hardship as they had yet to receive their salaries from January to date due to lack of personnel overhead cost and capital funding.

“Government has been the major funder of the council; unfortunately, last year, government, through Oronsaye’s Committee report, decided to take away VCN from budgetary funding including personnel overhead cost and capital funding.

“VCN is the oldest regulatory professional body in the country saddled with the responsibility of training and practice of veterinary medicine in the country.

“VCN is the oldest regulatory professional body in the country saddled with the responsibility of training and practice of veterinary medicine in the country.

“Its responsibility of training veterinary medicine in the 11 accredited veterinary schools in Nigeria and the practice of veterinary medicine across the 36 states and FCT is suffering because of lack of funding.

“We appeal to government to quickly bring back council to government funding so that we will be able to live safely and healthy without having diseases that will affect our animals and equally get to human population.’’

Adamu said the implication of the council’s removal from the Federal Government budget was that it would affect the profession, affect human health and the environment as a whole.

The vice-president, who identified veterinarians as essential health workers, said issues concerning the council’s should be prioritised in order to guide against exposing the populace to infectious diseases.

The academic said that VCN was supposed to regulate abattoirs operation across the country.

He, however, regretted that the council staff members were unable to carry out such responsibility at the moment due to paucity or lack of government funding.

According to him, the implication of non-regulation of abattoirs and other veterinary premises is that if a diseased animal is slaughtered the health and well-being of human will be jeopardised.

Adamu said that 80 per cent to 90 per cent of diseases affecting human emanated from animals.

“If the country is able to take care of animal health effectively humans will live healthy and safe.

“Government should revisit VCN’s removal from budgetary funding and reverse it as was done to Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and other regulatory bodies.

“The reversal will do a lot of good to the nation in terms of public health.

“Most diseases affecting a human, that is, 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the epidemics the world has suffered in the past 40 years are from animals and if we are able to take care of animals problem human lives will be saved.

According to him, ‘One health’ is practiced globally at the moment and the principle is human, animal medicine and environment interaction because diseases do not operate in a vacuum; it is an interaction between the three.

“Therefore, if government decides not to fund the council and we run into problem in regulating veterinary medicine practice, we are bound to run into serious challenge as a nation, ” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

FUA/CJ/

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Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo