Two European countries, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, have added to 39 other countries declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The certification follows a sustained, century-long effort to stamp out the disease by the two countries, the health agency said on Wednesday, March 29.

Azerbaijan has a population of about 10 million people, while there are nearly 10 million in Tajikistan.

The two countries beat Nigeria, which parades over a quarter (27 per cent) of global malaria cases and deaths to becoming free of the disease.

Report shows how Nigeria loses over 200,000 people, including women and children, and more than half a trillion naira to the disease yearly.

There are over 220 million people in Nigeria.

“The people and governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked long and hard to eliminate malaria,” WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said while declaring the two countries free of the scourge in a statement on Wednesday.

WHO noted that certification of malaria elimination is its official recognition of a country’s malaria-free status.

The certification is granted when a country has shown – with rigorous, credible evidence – that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least the past three consecutive years.

According to the WHO, malaria control efforts in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were strengthened through a range of investments and public health policies that enabled the governments, over time, to eliminate the disease and maintain malaria-free status.

The agency explained that for more than six decades, both governments guaranteed universal primary health care and vigorously supported targeted malaria interventions – including prevention measures such as spraying the inside walls of homes with insecticides, promoting early detection and treatment of all cases, and maintaining the skills and capacities of all health workers engaged in malaria elimination.

“Both Azerbaijan and Tajikistan utilize national electronic malaria surveillance systems that provide nearly real-time detection of cases and allow for rapid investigations to determine if an infection is local or imported. Additional interventions include biological methods of larvae control, such as mosquito-eating fish, and water management measures to reduce malaria vectors.”

With the certification for both countries, the WHO European Region is now two steps closer to becoming the first region in the world to be fully malaria-free, said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in former Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase as the new chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Arase’s swearing-in preceded the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and came two months after the Senate confirmed him as chairperson of the PSC.

Buhari had forwarded Arase’s name to the Senate for confirmation in line with sections 153 (1) and 154 (1) of the constitution as amended.

Arase, 65, who retired in 2016, was the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (from April 2015 to June 2016).

He served in various capacities, including head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the foremost intelligence-gathering unit of the Nigerian police.

The president also swore in five board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), namely; Murtala Kankia from Katsina State (North-West), Zephaniah Bulus from Nasarawa State (North Central) and Farouk Umar from Yobe (North East).

Others are Taofik Abdulsalam from Ondo (South West) and Prof. Juwaria Badamasi from Kogi State (North Central).

Senator Dino Melaye, who represented the Kogi West Senatorial District, during the 8th National Assembly, has indicated an interest in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State.

The former lawmaker made this known in a campaign poster captioned “no more stealing and killings”, tweeted on his official Twitter handle on Wednesday.

It would be reported that the move came barely a month after Atiku Abubakar was defeated in the presidential election.

Melaye was one of the spokespersons for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Council, PCC, during Atiku’s campaign.

Atiku of the PDP was, however, defeated by the current president-elect, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Following the commencement of the Ramadan fast, the prices of foodstuffs have increased tremendously in Kaduna.

During the presidential and governorship election, prices of foodstuff and perishable goods had greatly reduced amid the naira redesign debacle, which brought about scarcity of new currency.

However, since the beginning of Ramadan, and with the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor to all commercial banks in the country to start issuing old notes, the prices of foodstuffs have increased beyond expectations.

Mrs Mary Andrew, who sells in Central Market Kaduna, said that she could not sell up to N10,000 a week during the new notes scarcity because nobody had cash.

She said now that money was in circulation, she had to increase the price to meet up the period she lost.

Also, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, who sells yam, expressed confidence that the market for his yam is gradually returning to normal because, at least, this period is a bit better than a few weeks ago.

“During Naira scarcity, nobody was coming to buy yam. No money, and I am not ready to give out my yam on credit. So, few people that came with cash, I tried to sell cheap for them because I needed cash. But now, since I have access to my money in the bank and can withdraw, the exact price I want to sell my yam is what I quoted for buyers,” he said.

Mrs Paulina Atabo, who sells millet, corn and other ingredients, said there is a slight price increase because since the election, nobody, no businessman or woman, has travelled to buy from other states and resell because everybody is afraid of what may happen after the election.

According to her, what they are selling now are the stored items before the election, as they are still observing people’s mood towards the election.

The Appeal Court in Abuja has set aside the decision of the Osun State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal.

The Court upheld the election of Ademola Adeleke as the governor of Osun State.

Details later…

Abia businessman, Steven Ukpabi has gifted a new Whip, Prado Jeep to Prof. Nnennaya Oti who was the returning officer for Abia state Governorship election and the vice chancellor of federal University of Technology, Owerri.

The businessman shared on his Facebook page the photo of the car he ordered for Nnennaya for making sure that the state election was free and fair.

This came after March, 18th gubernatorial election in Abia that Dr. Alex C. Otti of L.P emerged victorious.

According to Steven, the car will arrive Nigeria next month, he wrote;

“For your outstanding service to the people of Abia, I hereby request for this Prado to be delivered to Mrs Nnenna Nnennaya Oti immediately it arrives Nigeria next month.

“Thank you for your service in Abia.”

The Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola has allegedly jetted out of Nigeria to have a secret meeting with the controversial President-elect of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to a reliable media platform, People’s Gassette, the CJN, in order to avoid any suspicious by members of the public disguised himself as disabled and was seen being wheeled on a wheelchair into a London hotel for secret meeting with Bola Tinubu.

A Supreme Court source said Mr Ariwoola wanted to meet Senator Tinubu to discuss issues that may arise from the budding legal challenge to his declaration as president-elect.

Recall the the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has filed a petition in the tribunal seeking to have the court disqualify Tinubu for drug – related issues. A move many legal pundits believe is a hard hit beneath Tinubu’s belt

The petition may seek for testimony from American Government relating to drug related issues which Tinubu was said to have forfeited hundreds of thousands of dollars in what looked like a plea bargain.

Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was quoted by People’s Gassette to have been sighted in London pretending to be a physically-challenged old man, in what Supreme Court sources said was a clandestine preparation for a meeting with President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Mr Ariwoola’s movement was exposed to The People’s Gazette as Mr Tinubu was arriving in London for what his team claimed was a relaxation trip after a hectic campaign that preceded his declaration as Nigeria’s president-elect last month. But Mr Tinubu kept his trip to London secret until it was exposed on Wednesday afternoon by Sahara Reporters, which said the trip was a medical emergency.

The Gazette learnt that Mr Ariwoola departed Nigeria on March 11 via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He was pushed in a wheelchair through the terminals to board a British Airways flight, our sources said.

Upon arrival in London, Mr Ariwoola, 64, was also wheeled into a hotel downtown, where he has remained ever since. But immediately after checking into the hotel, Mr Ariwoola abandoned his wheelchair and started moving around the facility unaided. The Supreme Court head is not known with any physical disabilities.

“He has been moving about in the hotel without any wheelchair,” a source familiar with the CJN’s activities at the London accommodation told The Gazette. “He was standing on his own in the elevator just yesterday.”

The Gazette learnt that Mr Ariwoola repeatedly picked up food ordered via delivery services at a mid-level lobby, including Uber Eats and Deliveroo. It was unclear whether or not he placed the orders by himself or how he paid.

With Mr Tinubu now in Europe, he would be meeting Mr Ariwoola in a secret arrangement to discuss issues unknown to Nigerians, our sources said.

“The CJN deliberately left the country more than a week ahead of Tinubu to avoid any suspicion about why both of them disappeared at once,” a source familiar said. “That is why he travelled secretly and Tinubu also travelled secretly.”

Shortly after Mr Tinubu’s trip was reported, his media aides issued a statement saying he was going to be in Paris and London briefly before heading to Saudi Arabia for prayer rites. His return date was not disclosed.

But many Nigerians expressed immediate doubt about the statement’s credibility, especially as it was not volunteered before the trip was uncovered.

“They thought that they could secretly move the president-elect abroad without anybody knowing about it,” a source said. “That’s one of the several mistakes they made on this matter, asides from the belief that they could allow the Chief Justice of Nigeria to move about in a London hotel for several days undetected after going through the trouble of disguising him in a wheelchair.”

The Gazette has temporarily withheld the CJN’s photos and the specific hotel he stayed in to protect a source central to this story.

A Supreme Court source said Mr Ariwoola wanted to meet Mr Tinubu to discuss issues that may arise from the budding legal challenge to the declaration as president-elect, including whether or not he should be worried about the petitions recently filed by opposition parties.

“The CJN would either assure Tinubu of victory in court or tell him that he should be worried about the dimension the petitions may take through the court stages,” the source said under anonymity to avoid facing administrative action for divulging privileged information to reporters. “But we may never know what they actually discussed after their secret meeting.”

“I am reluctant to start thinking about the objective of their meeting right now,” the source added. “But any fair-minded person will easily admit that both of them meeting in a foreign corner to discuss something that Nigerians will not know about is highly suspicious and should be unwarranted.”

Festus Akande, a spokesman for the Supreme Court, abruptly hung up when The Gazette requested comment about Mr Ariwoola’s secret trip to London.

The National Judicial Council declined comments about Mr Ariwoola’s suspicious activity. Mr Tinubu’s spokespersons also declined comments on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Ariwoola’s apparent affinity with Mr Tinubu has continued despite the raging challenge to the declaration of Mr Tinubu as president-elect and the ultimate role the Supreme Court is expected to play in the legal battle.

Two main opposition candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar have this week filed petitions against Mr Tinubu’s emergence, saying the process that led to the decision of the electoral office INEC was fraudulent and unconstitutional.

Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar
Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar
Mr Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the February 25 election, also sought disqualification of Mr Tinubu on the grounds of his involvement in illicit narcotics dealing in the United States between the 1980s and 1990s.

As Nigerians debate the strength of both petitions against Mr Tinubu, they’re also voicing an even more critical concern about the credibility of the Supreme Court as an arbiter of untainted justice.

Besides the court’s recent contentious judgments that severely blunted the court’s reputation — chiefly the decision to return Hope Uzodinma as governor in Imo despite coming fourth in an election and the enforcement of Ahmad Lawan as APC candidate in Yobe North Senatorial District despite not participating in the primaries — critics are also saying Mr Ariwoola’s conduct has done little to inspire public confidence in the Supreme Court under him.

In November 2022, Mr Ariwoola openly praised Seyi Makinde for working internally to sabotage the candidacy of Mr Atiku Abubakar. The Supreme Court denied Mr Ariwoola’s statement, but video evidence contradicted the denial. Mr Ariwoola was later questioned by the State Security Service, which feared the comments could threaten the country’s stability.

Still, both Mr Ariwoola and the Supreme Court have repeatedly assured Nigerians that justice would be dispensed fairly as dictated by the Constitution. A spokesman recently said Mr Ariwoola could be expected to dispassionately empanel justices for Messrs Abubakar and Obi’s petitions when they get to the Supreme Court later in the year.

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

The auditorium of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, ICC Abuja was filled to capacity as well wishers from all walks of life converge to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Pastor Mrs Onome Anyiam.

The colorful atmosphere of white and purple with music and good ambience characterized the occasion.

Pastor in Charge, RCCG Region 10, Pastor Jide Akiode who took the sermon from Psalm 89 vs 1 admonished the celebrant that she enjoyed God’s unfailing mercies as no one turns 60 twice but once in a lifetime.

Pastor Akiode charged christians not to have a sense of entitlement to God’s mercies, “If God does not answer prayers he will still remain God and still exist”.

He admonished the celebrant not to forget God’s mercies even at 60 but keep on waxing strong for kingdom work.

“What you have enjoyed for 60 years is pure mercy, if he is merciful unto you, you live. Psalm 103 vs 3.”.

Also, the Pastor in Charge, RCCG FCT Province 11 and husband of the celebrant, Pastor Richard Anyiam eulogized the celebrant with praise and showers of love described Pastor (Mrs) Anyiam as a true example of a virtuous woman.

“My wife exemplifies the picture of a virtuous woman, an entrepreneur per excellence, she can turn sand into gold, she is 7 women in one, untiring, for 24 years she is a stranger to sickness, she is the best soup maker allover the world, energetic and has the fear of the lord and I have never regretted marrying her, she is a pillar and formidable pillar in my ministry”.

The celebrant, Pst (Mrs) Onome Anyiam whose joy knew no bounds was full of praises to God almighty for clocking 60 and expressed her profound appreciation to the Redeemed Family.

She explained that the grace of God has kept her till date though the journey of life has not been easy but God saw her through.

She further stated that 60 is her next level and her path will continue to shine in subsequent years to come.

“The word of God says in proverbs 4vs18 that but the path of the just is as the shinning light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day, so it means that 60 is my next level it means at 70, I will shine brighter than 60 and my path will continue to shine on daily basis until I see Christ in glory”.

The Wife of the Continental Overseer, Rccg, Pastor Mrs Odeyemi showered prayers and blessings upon the celebrant, her family and the church at large.