Headlines

President Bola Tinubu has named Dr. Mansur Kabir as the new Chairman of the board of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control and reappointed its Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Moji Adeyeye.

He also appointed a new Director-General for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Olajide Idris, who replaces Prof. Ifedayo Adetifa.

Idris assumes office on February 19, 2024.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the appointments in a statement on Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu approves leadership changes in health and social welfare sector.’

The President approved the appointment and reappointment of board chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers for eight agencies under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

They include Prof. Abba Zubairu and Dr. Saleh Yuguda as board chairperson and CEO, respectively for the National Blood Service Commission; Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Dr. Fatima Kyari as board chairperson and CEO, respectively for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; Wasilat Giwa and Ibrahim Ahmed as board chairperson and CEO, respectively for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Dr. Babajide Salako and Dr. Tosan Erhabor as Board Chairperson and CEO, respectively, of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

He also appointed Prof. Adamu Bakari as Chief Medical Director of Moddibo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, and Prof. Reuben Eifediyi as CMD of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.

The appointments are “in furtherance of his determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian public health administration and to manifest his commitment to deliver affordable and quality care to all Nigerians under governance and regulatory frameworks commensurate with international best practice,” said Ngelale.

New NCDC Chief, Idris, received his MBBS degree from the University of Lagos’ College of Medicine, after which he obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Ivy League’s Yale University in Connecticut, United States of America.

He served as the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State from 2007 to 2019, after serving as the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2007.

The New NBSC Chairperson, Prof. Abba Zubairu, has served as the Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic in the United States of America, following a long career in which he served as a Resident Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital as a Post-Doctoral Fellow.

He undertook a Clinical Fellowship at the Harvard Medical School’s Transfusion Medicine Programme during which he obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Science at the same institution.

The New MDCN CEO, Kyari, is an ophthalmologist and Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Medicine who obtained an MBBS degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, after which she obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of London’s School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She also obtained a Doctorate in Public Health from the same institution.

Ngelale noted that the President expects the new leadership to “substantially raise the standards of healthcare service delivery for the exclusive benefit of all strata of the Nigerian population.”

Owing to the high cost of historical underperformance in the health sector, the President anticipates “the immediate and effective implementation of new policy frameworks to reposition the sector under the able leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Pate,” the statement read.

The Police Command in Gombe State says the mobile Police Barracks located at 34 PMF Squadron along Kwami town, has been razed by fire.

The Commanding Officer, Federal Fire Service, Gombe State and Deputy Controller of Fire, Ayuba Jonah-Sule, said the incident occurred on Thursday.

Jonah-Sule, said the whole buildings which include armoury and others were affected, estimating an N100,000,000 loss.

“It is a fire involving a 25-bedroom compound, covering an area of about 200 by 100 metres.

The whole building including the armoury and others. The fire was extinguished by the use of one medium Jet of water working from FFS 193 and state fire service in attendance and the Nigeria Police Force.

The situation is under control”, he said.

This fire incident is coming barely a week after the state Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, approved the release of N5m to support victims of a fire incident at Blacksmith (Makera) shops in Gombe Main Market.

Shops were on December 25, 2023, razed by ire leading to the destruction of equipment and goods worth millions of naira.

The House of Representatives has resolved to stop sports betting in the country, and urged the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act, 2005.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at plenary in Abuja on Thursday

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting.

According to him, weak or neglected regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.

Nwogu added that it had also led to strain or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends and family, financial problems, legal issues, and job loss due to excessive loss or debt.

“Betting has given rise to increased crime rate and eventual suicide,” he said.

He harped on the need for campaigns to prevent the negative social impact of lottery and underage participation.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct comprehensive nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.

The House also mandated the Committee on Inter–Governmental Affairs to conduct a Public Hearing on the dangerous effects of sports betting in Nigeria.

It urged the committee to report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

NAN reports that data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of 15 dollars daily.

NAN reports that NLTF), Nigerians spend an estimated 975 million dollars daily on online sports betting, which amounts to about 356 billion dollars annually.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is considering relocating some of its units to Lagos.

This was revealed in a document seen by The Nation on Thursday, February 15.

According to the memo dated February 14, 2024, the decision was made to improve service delivery, lower operating costs, and fully utilize its assets in Lagos.

The document reads: “In line with our objectives of improving organizational efficiency, driving industry growth, and managing office accommodation in Abuja, we are exploring the possibility of relocating certain units to Lagos.

“This initiative is driven by the need to enhance our service delivery, reduce operational costs, and make adequate utilization of our assets in Lagos.

“Consequently, we are requesting that each department identify and provide a list of units that can operate independently with minimal supervision.

“Submissions on the above are expected on or before the close of business on Friday 23rd February 2024. This is submitted for your further necessary action, please.”

The memo was signed by Dr Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu on behalf of the Commission.

The Bola Tinubu-led federal government has hinted on plans of adopting State Police to curb the worsening security situation in the country.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday.

The minister spoke after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Idris, the possibility of creating a state police structure will, however, be further discussed.

He further said that a lot of work needed to be done, and the President and State governors have agreed on working out the modalities on the idea.

Details shortly…

In a widely circulated video on Thursday, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was seen refusing to shake hands with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, during Governor Duoye Diri’s inauguration for second term in Bayelsa State on Wednesday.

Obaseki and Shaibu have been on loggerheads allegedly over the deputy governor’s decision to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

In the video which was shared by Symfoni, Shaibu was seen shaking hands with dignatries who start with Obaseki at the venue of the inauguration.

When it got to Obaseki’s turn, the governor chose to wave despite that his deputy stretched his hand for handshake.

Shaibu is vying for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship ticket while Obaseki is believed to be backing  Asue Ighodalo.

Youths in Delta state are currently protesting alleged brutality and extortion by the Nigerian police.

In now viral videos, the protesters were seen with different placards, including one with the inscription, ENDSARS NOW.

They called on the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to weigh into the matter.

An X user, who shared the videos said police brutality in the state had been on the rise.

“Heavy protests are ongoing in Ughelli against police brutality which has become rampant!!,” the user wrote.

Quoting the post, the spokesperson of the Delta Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, explained that the protest was triggered after the police arrested four boys who could not establish ownership of the unregistered car in their possession.

The spokesman said some youths attacked the officers in the process, injuring one officer on the head and damaging the force patrol vehicle.

He warned youths to stay calm, insisting that no amount of their protests would deter the police from performing its constitutional duties.

He wrote: “Regarding the ongoing protest in Ughelli, the Command wishes to inform members of the public that yesterday 13th February 2024, Policemen from Ughelli Area Command intercepted an unregistered Benz GLK without a plate number in Ekuigbo community, the men confronted the four boys who could not establish ownership of the car.

“In an attempt to arrest them, some of the youths attacked the Police, destroyed their vehicle, and broke the head of one of the officers. Nine of the suspects were arrested and will be charged to court. Youths are advised to stay off any protest because it won’t deter us from doing our job.”

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, on Thursday defended himself against a series of allegations of misappropriation of party funds raised by the embattled National Treasurer of the party.

Abure said it’s not true that the party has collected over N3.5 billion as revenue into its account.

The Chairman spoke on Thursday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show concerning the ongoing crisis in the party.

LeadingReporters gathered that the suspended party Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah, had accused Abure of denying her access to the party’s financial records and bank accounts.

Oparah equally demanded that Abure should render account of party funds in excess of N3.5 billion, being proceeds of sale of forms and sundry fund raisers for the 2023 general election.

According to her, the chairman had so far rejected all entreaties to open LP’s books for scrutiny since the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms closed.

As a response to the allegations, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Labour Party slammed a six-month suspension on Oparah.

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Mr Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a media briefing, saying that the suspended Treasurer is a mole who was being used by dissidents to cause disaffection in the party.

However, Abure has now challenged Oparah to make available the record on how she arrived at the sum of N3.5 billion as money generated during the election.

He said, “It’s not true that she said that the party has collected over N3 billion. I want to make it abundantly clear, we already have an audited report, made by a certified auditor of the party. The party has an external auditor who has reviewed all the records. And we have all the audited statements of accounts of the party from 2022 to 2023.

“All these records are available; the audited statement of account, I have it here.

“The total money, in summary, that entered the party account between 2022 and now is N1.3 billion; nothing more, nothing less.

“We also got N700 million, which were the campaign funds that went straight to the campaign organization for the campaigns. I didn’t know and I cannot reconcile where she got the N3.5 billion that she talked.

“I want to challenge her that she should make the record available where she arrived at the sum of N3.5bn as money generated during the election.”

Operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday,  February 14, 2024, arrested 14 (fourteen) suspected internet fraudsters in a training center of potential internet fraudsters in Makurdi, Benue State.

The operatives, acting on intelligence, arrested the suspects in a three-bedroom apartment allegedly serving as a training centre for internet fraud trainees along Achusa Road, Makurdi.

The suspects are: Asongu Terungwa, Aese Sonter,Nyoosu Terungwa,John Kator, Udi Micheal Aodona, Terungu Mnyam, Iorwuese Terhide, Ule Francis, Imoter Gloor Emmanuel and Samuel Lubem.

Others include: Wergba Tertamge, Erukaa Ephraim, Agenale Franklin and Abechi Toryila.

Items recovered include: laptops, ATM cards, phones, one Firman Generator and a Toyota Corolla car.

The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.