The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the return of 5403 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to the home after their stay in Camps.
The returnees include 1517 in Mafa , 750 in konduga, 1200 in Ngamboru and about 1,936 are due to return to Dikwa
This is coming at a period Governor of Borno State Kashim Shettima and a team of NEMA North East zonal staff led by Zonal coordinator Muhammed Kanar spent the night in Bama in order to fast track the reconstruction of homes and other structures to facilitate the return of residents displaced by insurgency.
A statement by North East NEMA Spokesperson Abdulkadir Ibrahim noted that the team delivered food items on behalf of the Director General of NEMA Muhammed Sani Sidi; adding also that the Zonal Coordinator also promised to provide building materials in line with the needs assessment conducted by NEMA and Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA).
By Iliya Kure Kaduna (Nigeria) — A 4-member team of Development and Investigative Journalists in Kaduna (of which this reporter is among) have challenged Sight Savers International to take journalists to Iri community in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, to carry independent investigations on new cases of river blindness in the community in the last four years.
The team was reacting to a press release issued by Sight Savers International on Tuesday, debunking a story on ‘risk of contracting river blindness in Iri community’ carried by the team members’ media.
In a statement, the team of the journalists, comprising of Iliya Kure, Ibrahima Yakubu, Mohammad Ibrahim, and Bashir Bello) say they still stand on facts highlighted by their stories, emphasising “that what our various media outlets carried was indeed a report reflecting the truth about our findings in Iri community.”
The team wondered why Sight Savers International was influencing journalists to ensure that their (Sight Savers International) press release sees the light of the day – just to discredit the media reports.
Find below full media statement by the team of journalists.
Risk of River Blindness In Kaduna: We Stand By Our Stories
We are a 4-member team of ‘Development and Investigative Journalists’ that do their work professionally, and in line with ethics of the profession.
We report our stories on the following media: The New York Times, The Oslo Times, E-Global (Portuguese), Voice of America, Deutsche Welle (Radio Germany), The New Nigerian Newspapers, Peoples Daily Newspapers, The Nigerian Pilot Newspapers, and Africa Prime News Online.
No doubt, we visit communities and report our findings on various media platforms – other media organisations curl and report our development and investigative stories.
Due to journalistic quality of our work, media organisations have asked their reporters in Kaduna to do follow-up on stories we investigated.
It came to our notice that on Tuesday, 20th September, 2016, Sight Savers International has issued out a press release, purporting that the story our various media organisations published after we visited Iri community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State to be false.
We want to say that as a team, WE STAND BY OUR STORIES, that what our various media outlets carried were indeed reports reflecting the truth about our findings in Iri community.
Let it be known that we are a team of journalists with integrity, if any is in doubt, they should enquire further about our character and the kind of stories we write.
During the visit to Iri, we conducted interviews with residents, and found a number of people who became blind in the last four years, most of them are retirees and children who came back to the village after serving the country from various locations – they only became blind when they returned home. From their testimonies, there is no way anyone can link the cases to older ones, especially the cases of people below the age of 20 years.
We also established absence of recent surveillance visit to Iri by any government official, or development partners, including Sight Savers International to the community prior to our visit. Sight Savers International should tell the world the last time they were in Iri prior to our visit.
The Mectizan distribution system is run by youth in the community. The youth go to Local Government Secretariat in Kajuru to collect the drugs and distribute same to residents without external supervision. No one can attest whether the right dosage is administered or not, creating a gap.
The Monitoring & Evaluation unit of the LGA have in 2015 discovered a case of river blindness in Agwala community, Afogoh District.
The LGA has knowledge of a researcher from ABU Zaria who conducted a survey in 2015 in Unguwan Fada community and confirmed cases on people, as well as the black flies carrying the causative agent.
We naturally would not have respondent to the press release, but what is worrying is the way Sight Savers International is going about to discredit the stories we did.
When Sight Savers took its press release to the NUJ Press Centre in Kaduna on Tuesday 20th September, 2016, they were openly cajoling some journalists in order to carry their press release. Do they have to cajole anyone for a press release to be treated?
When issues of this nature arise, one would have expected Sight Savers International to hold a press conference, where they will make public their findings, and avail journalists the opportunity to ask questions; this will throw more light on the issue, but instead they chose the wrong path.
We challenge Sight Savers International to take journalists to Iri and give them free access to interview the residents. The journalists should also be taken to the two rivers, very early in the morning and let the journalists come out with independent opinion on the issue.
Our story which followed journalists standard was done in good faith to draw attention of relevant authorities and stakeholders to act on the issue. If Sight Savers International is among agencies and organisations that visited Iri community after our stories – it is good that they visited, because they were not doing so before. They have woken up to their responsibility of surveillance.
We have done stories as a team that attracted intervention from well meaning individuals and organisations, these stories which can be verified include;
1. The plight of pregnant women in Unguwan Kanti community in Igabi LGA, plus absence of water in same community. – As a result, today the community have a borehole sunk by Nigerian Army General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Kaduna. – A student NGO, ENACTUS of Kaduna Polytechnic have also constructed the first West African Earth Dam in the community. – A health based institution (Womenhood School of Health Science Kaduna) is working with the community to train some women in skill attendance for childbirth delivery.
2. The poor state of emergency unit of Doka Hospital, along Kaduna-Abuja expressway. – A call for expression has been published by Kaduna State Government to upgrade the Hospital to Trauma Centre.
3. An investigation on absence of Doctors (on night shift), in 3 General Hospitals in Kaduna metropolis. – Today patients can speak about some of the changes they are witnessing in the investigated hospitals.
4. The plight of pregnant women in Kakura community in Chikun LGA, plus absence of water in same community. (A fellowship, conducted with other journalists) – As a result, today 2 boreholes are being sunk in the community by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Kaduna. Thank you.
Signed Iliya Kure Ibrahima Yakubu Mohammad Ibrahim Bashir Bello
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (a Non-Governmental Organization), has called on opinion and religious leaders to champion the cause of tolerance, respect and understanding amongst their faithful, towards achieving a peaceful society.
Commemorating the 2016 International day of Peace, a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday by the Northern Coordinators of the Foundation, Rev. John Joseph Hayab and Sheikh Halliru Maraya noted that, this year’s theme, ‘The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace” was timely, considering the importance of Peace to societal growth and development.
They called on Nigerians to build bridges of peace amongst the diverse ethnic and religious differences in the country.
The statement pointed out that, “it is high time for Nigerians and mankind to put aside their differences and to realize that, they are all created by God and are ancestrally descendants of Adam and Eve which make them members of One Family under God.”
The statement which was signed by the Foundation’s Media and Communications Officer, Richard Pius Garba, advised Government at all levels to continue to give priority to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
The International Day of Peace is observed around the world on every 21st September to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and also among people.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Sightsavers Nigeria, a United Kingdom registered non Governmental Organization has on Wednesday debunked recent reports that new cases of River blindness has been discovered in parts of Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria.
A statement by the organization’s programme Officer, Abdulkadir Isah while denying earlier media report that hundreds of people were at risk of rivers blindness in the State, pointed out that a survey covering epidemiological, entomological and ophthalmological investigations was conducted to ascertain the claims but was found out to untrue.
Isah however noted that 80 percent of all types of blindness could be prevented and cured, adding that since the establishment of the foundation about 30 years ago, it had restored over nine million sights, as well as trained over 5000 primary eye care workers.
According to him, “Teams of surveyors used standard methodologies such as rapid assessment blindness examinations and skin snip samples to check communities for the disease.
“Surveyors also carried out a search for black flies, the vector of the disease, and their larvae along river banks in the communities and laboratory examinations of the flies for presence of onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of the disease.
“The result of the survey showed an absence of adult black fly in the communities and the analyses of the skin snip tests were negative for the disease, proving that there is not a presence of river blindness in these communities.
“The ophthalmological investigation showed a blindness prevalence of 2.5 percent. It was found that three of the eight blind people were blind as a result of optic atrophy attributable to river blindness, but all three people were above 50 years of age, thereby indicating that these are not new cases of river blindness.
“Sightsavers has been operating a river blindness drug distribution programme and assessment programmes to reduce the number of people contracting river blindness and also monitor the occurrence of new cases”, the statement highlighted.
In July 2016, a five member team of investigative reporters came up with a report of hundreds at risks of contracting river blindness in Kaduna state. They reported that, there are new cases of river blindness in in Iri District of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. They also noted that, Cases of river blindness are not new in the State, especially to communities around Kajuru, where certain rivers continued to breed black flies which cause the blindness.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Paralympics Teams that represented Nigeria at the RIO 2016 Paralympics games have been described as worthy Ambassadors that have brought glory to the country more than any other team that had ever represented the country in previous tournaments.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa gave the commendation at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport on Wednesday while welcoming the second batch of the Team from RIO 2016 Paralympics Games.
Spokesperson of the ministry, Tolu Makinde in a statement noted that the Permanent Secretary also described the nostalgia experienced through their epic performance as indescribable, saying, Nigeria’s National Anthem was sung 8 different times at the Podium while its flag was flown 12 consecutive times to the admiration of sports loving people all over the world.
According to Ohaa, the feat achieved was as a result of their commitment, hard work, determination and total focus; adding that, “appreciation of their efforts would not end in the settlement of all their claims and entitlements which had been paid by the ministry but promised that the Minister of Youth and Sports Barr Solomon Dalung, will in no distant future, at a befitting grand occasion lead them to our Sport-loving President.”
While commending the coaches and handlers for a job well-done, he posited that they have left their imprint in the sand of times by being the best team in Africa.
Abuja (Nigeria) – Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday during the plenary read two correspondences from the President, Mohammadu Buhari for the confirmation of the appointment of members of the of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
According to the President, in presenting the nominees for confirmation into the board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, he depended on section 34 of the Electric Power sector Reform CAP E7 LFN.
The names presented for confirmation for NERC are Professor Akintunde I. Akinwande – Chairman, Sanusi Garba – Vice Chairman, Nathan R. Shanti – Commissioner, Dr. Moses Arigu – Commissioner, Dafe C. Akpeneye – Commissioner, Professor Frank Okafor – Commissioner and Dr. Musiliu O. Oseni – Commissioner.
Those presented for the board of the NCC are Senator Olabiyi Durajaiye – chairman, Sunday Dare – Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management; Aliyu Sa’ida Abubakar – Non executive Commissioner, Clement Omeiza Baiye – Non executive Commissioner, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono Obia – Non executive Commissioner, Pastor Ezekiel Yissa – Non executive Commissioner and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume – Non executive Commissioner.
Although the Senate was expected to consider the requests of Mr. President for the confirmation of Chairman and members of the Niger Delta Development Commission and also the confirmation of the appointment of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as listed in the order paper, both requests were declined to another legislative day.
By Iyakale Yakubu A Nigerian youth undergoing the one year compulsary National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Deinabo Obiechina has organised a sensitisation rally on mental illness in Jos, north-central Nigeria.
The rally conducted in the popular Jos main market (terminus) and Gada-biu market, was part of her community development project required by the programme.
In an address, Obiechina lamented that mental illness has not been recognised as an issue, dispite the fact that it is one of the major causes of death in the society.
Obiechina expressed worry that in Nigeria, “Many people have the wrong impression that mentally ill people are only those on the streets, who are wearing dirty clothes and picking dirt, it is beyond that.
“Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar amongst others are also mental illness causing deaths in our society,’’ she said.
The rally according to her was to create awareness on the signs of mental illness which can aggravate to complicated cases and are life threatening.
“This project is in partnership with quintessential health care centre for expertise and financial support, seeking help from professionals and sharing with someone you can confide in is a step in addressing mental illness,’’ she added.
A passerby, Comfort Karik, commended the corps member for using her time, energy and resources to give back to the society in a positive way, noting that some Corp members may use their resources for nefarious acts which would be detrimental to their health and the society at large.
Salilat Latif, an NYSC inspector in Jos, urged Nigerians to support the efforts of corp members, saying many communities in Plateau have mentally ill people that were uncomfortable to seek for help because of the fear of being stigmatized as mad.
Talk about a shrinking population. A survey of Japanese people aged 18 to 34 found that almost 70 percent of unmarried men and 60 percent of unmarried women are not in a relationship.
Moreover, many of them have never got close and cuddly. Around 42 percent of the men and 44.2 percent of the women admitted they were virgins.
The government won’t be pleased that sexlessness is becoming as Japanese as sumo and sake. The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has talked up boosting the birthrate through support for child care, but until the nation bones up on bedroom gymnastics there’ll be no medals to hand out.
Far from getting together and getting it on, the sexes are growing apart. There are now many more virgins than in 2010, when the last study was conducted and when only 36.2 percent of men and 38.7 percent of women said they had never had sex.
The study, released Thursday, was conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.
The institute has conducted the same survey every five years since 1987, when the proportion of unmarried men and women who said they had no partner stood at 48.6 percent and 39.5 percent, respectively.
There was no accounting for the discrepancy between the genders, except perhaps for the age-old problem of men and women having different understandings of the word “commitment.”
The surveys did not ask about same-sex partners.
The institute said the increase in singles was particularly sharp for people in their late 20s, the age at which science tells us women are most fertile.
Asked about their hopes for the future, there seemed to be recognition that families are what humans are destined for. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents said they want to get married “sometime in the future.”
But 30 percent of the 2,706 men sampled and 26 percent of the 2,570 female respondents said they were not currently looking for a relationship.
“They want to tie the knot eventually. But they tend to put it off as they have gaps between their ideals and the reality,” said Futoshi Ishii, head of the NIPSSR’s population dynamics research department. “That’s why people marry later or stay single for life, contributing to the nation’s low birthrate.”
Boosting the birthrate is one of the coveted goals of the Abe administration, which has declared it will raise the fertility rate from the current 1.4 to 1.8 by 2025 or so. The government hopes to achieve this by making it easier for families to raise children, such as by increasing the places available at nursery schools.
The survey suggests it may also have to find a way to play cupid.
Meanwhile, the same study found that the number of children among couples who have been married for between 15 and 19 years averaged a record-low 1.94.
But in a plus for female empowerment, it also showed the ratio of women who returned to work after having their first child exceeded 50 percent for the first time.
The study, conducted in June last year, covered 8,754 single people and 6,598 married couples across the country.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the return of 5403 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to the home after their stay in Camps.
