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...supports Femi Falana over legal action
A human rights activist, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, has strongly condemned alleged inhuman treatment on an activist and lawyer, Barrister lnibehe Effiong by Uyo Correctional Centre officials, saying their action was against the stipulated law guiding their professional conduct by forcefully shaving Inibehe's hair without his consent.
Comrade Sulaiman also threw its weight behind the position of a human rights lawyer, Barrister Femi Falana over his plan to institute an action against the Uyo Correctional Centre officials for their inhuman treatment of Barrister Effiong.
Sulaiman who is the Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) described the action of Uyo Correctional Centre officials as unprofessional,Illegal, ungodly, unconstitutional, barbaric, brutal, provocative, uncivilized and crime against God and humanity, which the lovers of democracy and justice should rise up to condemn in its entirety.
Barrister Effiong, was convicted by the Acting Chief Judge of Akwa-Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, to one month imprisonment for contempt of Court facie curiae, without trial on July 27,2022, while defending his client before the Court.
Sulaiman, in a statement received by Nigerian Newstrack, disclosed that his group (CHRSJ) is weighing the option of dragging Justice Ekaette Obot before the National Judicial Council (NJC), because her emotional and selfish decision has brought great stigma to the judicial system of the country among the comity of democratic nations of the world.
While commending Barrister Femi Falana,SAN, Barrister Ebun Adegboruwa,SAN, Barrister Jiti Ogunye,Chief (Barrister) Abdulfatai Abdulsalaam (Liberty), Lawyers Arise for Justice under the leadership of Barrister Tope Temokun and Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, Comrade Lanre Suraj and host of others, who rose up in defence of Barrister Inibehe Effiong over his present travail, he declared Barrister Effiong as a "Prisoner of Conscience"
According to the statement, "Barrister Inibehe Effiong was subjected to another persecution in Uyo Correctional Centre. I am using this medium to call on the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola whose his Ministry is in charge of the Correctional Centre in the country to fish out the officers that were involved in such a dastardly and undemocratic act against the fundamental rights of Effiong with the sole aim of killing him (Effiong).
" Mr. Aregbesola should set up an Independent Investigation Committee to look into the remote cause of the inhuman treatment meted on Barrister Effiong in Uyo Correctional Centre".
Sulaiman who doubles as the Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), declared that Justice Ekaette and Correctional Centre officials involved in the inhuman treatment of Effiong, were planning to return Nigeria to the dark days of despotic Military era, which all lovers of democracy and truth and defenders of human rights should rise up to curtail.
He quoted Barrister Falana as saying that "Justice Ekaette refused to make available the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order of the record of proceedings of the Court in order to make it difficult for Effiong to explore his fundamental rights of applying to Appeal Court for reviewing of Justice Ekaette's one month conviction and sentence imposed on Effiong".
The action, the legal luminary said "contravenes section 36(7) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended".
According to the Statement the warrant signed by the Judge directed that "Effiong be held in Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre, Akwa Ibom throughout the duration of his prison term".
"But the order of the Court was secretly varied recently as Inibehe was forcefully transferred to Uyo Correctional Centre in handcuffs even though there was no violence on his part,adding that at the Uyo Correctional Centre, Inibehe was forced to sit on bare floor while his head was shaved together with his beard and Effiong was thereafter subjected to more horrendous humiliation and paraded before all prison inmates".
His words: The brutal torture meted out to Inibehe by the prison officials in Akwa Ibom State constitutes a violent violation of his fundamental right to dignity guaranteed by section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
"It is painful to note that the unprovoked violence unleashed on Inibehe is a sad reminder of the case of Minere Amakiri, then a reporter with Nigerian Observer, the old Bendel State owned newspapers whose head was shaved with a broken bottle in 1973 on the orders of Alfred Diette-Spiff, the then Military governor of the State".
"Apart from challenging the egregious infringement of the fundamental right of Inibehe to the dignity of his person and fair hearing we shall press for the prosecution of the officials who inflicted torture on him contrary to the provision of section 2 of the Anti Torture Act of 2017. The penalty for the offence of inflicting torture on any person in Nigeria is 25 years imprisonment without any option of fine”, he said.
... as Amuzu donates water projects to Abeokuta communities
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Chief Oladipupo Adebutu has called on residents of the state to vote for candidates of the party during the 2023 general elections, saying this is the only sure way of benefiting dividends of democracy.
Adebutu, who made the call while handing over two water borehole projects donated to Omida-Isaga and Igbehin communities in Abeokuta, by the party’s House of Representatives candidate in Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Chief Toyin Amuzu, said, lack of basic amenities in the state would become a thing of the past, when PDP takes over power in 2023.
According to Adebutu, “the problem of water shortage and lack of basic amenities in Ogun State would soon be a thing of the past, if residents elect responsible and credible candidates put forward by PDP to represent the people and man the affairs of the state, in the 2023 elections”.
Adebutu said he was not surprised at the many feats of Amuzu in Abeokuta South, describing him (Amuzu) as a selfless and responsible individual whose passion for a better society cannot be waved aside.
He said, “his passion to meet the needs of the people even when not holding any political position is worthy of emulation” stressing that “it is obvious that Amuzu is a man with a good heart and special love for the people”.
According to him, “Chief Toyin Amuzu has single-handedly commissioned about ten water borehole projects from his personal purse to ease the pains of water shortage in different communities. If such a man is given a political position, it is very sure that the people would be his major priority” Adebutu said.
He described Amuzu “as a reliable and selfless individual who has proved himself worthy of a public office”.
While the Balogun Egba, Chief Sikirulai Atobatele and the Director General of Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organization, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo commissioned the two boreholes, the Senatorial candidate of the party in Ogun Central, Chief Olumide Aderinokun thanked the donor stressing that the PDP is known for making life better for citizens.
He urged the people to support Amuzu’s good deeds and elect him and others, for them to continue touching lives and improving the communities with good policies and programmes of the PDP.
Inhabitants of Omida-Isaga and Igbehin communities could not hide their joy as they said they have suffered from water shortage before Toyin Amuzu came to their rescue and gave them succour.
The donor, Amuzu, who is the house of Representatives candidate of the PDP in Abeokuta South Federal Constituency assured that he would continue to ease the pains of the people with necessary projects, that would have positive impact on their lives.
Data obtained from the National Universities Commission on Friday revealed that a total of 33 private universities were approved by the regime of the federal government within 16 months.
The period under review is January 2021 and April 2022.
While 21 of the private universities were approved in 2021; 12 were approved during the present strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Prior to the establishment of the 33 universities, the total number of universities in Nigeria was 186 comprising 49 federal universities; 59 state universities and 78 private universities.
Private universities established in 2022 include Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe state; Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno state; Margaret Lawrence University, Delta state; Khalifa Ishaku Rabiu University, Kano; Sports University Idumuje Ugboko, Delta state; Bala Ahmed University, Kano; Saisa University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto state; Nigerian-British University Hasa, Abia state; Peter University Acina-Onene, Anambra state; Newgate University, Minna, Niger state; European University of Nigeria in Duboyi, Abuja and North-West University, Sokoto.
Some of the private universities approved in 2021 include Opfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara; Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Imo; Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa; Al-Istiq ma University, Sumaila, Kano; Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo; Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River; and Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo.
Others are NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna; Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau; James Hope University, Lagos; Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano; Capital City University, Kano; Ahman Pategi University, Kwara; University of Offa, Kwara; Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger; Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja and Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa,among others.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Programme Director, Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin noted that while private universities have their benefits; they shouldn’t take the place of public universities.
“The failure of the government to efficiently manage the public university system gave rise to the birth of private universities in Nigeria. While one cannot fail to admit the importance of private universities, it is very important to note that not everyone in Nigeria can even afford payment of fees in public institutions, not to talk of private fees who charge exorbitant fees.
“However, the government should ensure that sanity is returned to the administration of our public institutions. For instance, ASUU has been on strike for months now and nothing has been done.”
The body of Happiness Odeh, a student of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta allegedly raped and killed has been found in the bush along Iperu road.
Odeh, who won the Miss MAPOLY beauty contest on August 3, 2022 was said to have been abducted on her way to Ipara, in Ode Remo.
It was gathered that the beauty queen was kidnapped along Iperu road by some unknown persons who it was gathered, raped her before killing her in cold blood.
The MAPOLY Students Union (MAPSU), has confirmed the incident.
According to a statement signed by the Students Union President, Sodiq Ajani and the Public Relations Officer, Joy Okolie, the deceased was kidnapped three days ago while going to visit a movie location.
“Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Students Union (MAPSU) announces the untimely death of Miss Happiness Odeh, a Mass Communication student of MAPOLY.
“According to reports, she was abducted along Iperu road to her destination. The deceased left Abeokuta three days ago to visit a movie location at Ipara, Ode-Remo, with the consent of her parents.
“Contrary to the rumours flying around, her death is not related to her status as the new Miss MAPOLY. She won the award on the 3rd of August and the movie location she attended has nothing to do with the beauty pageantry on campus.
“We commiserate with her family, friends and colleagues. May Almighty God grant us all the fortitude to bear this painful loss. Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord,” the statement read.
Speaking with newsmen on Saturday, the Students Union President said the murderers took away the victim’s phone.
According to him, the police have commenced investigations, making efforts to get the assailants arrested.
Ajani informed that the body of the slain student had been deposited at the morgue of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
“It was so pathetic. The kidnappers killed her and went away with her phone. Her body was found inside the bush along Iperu road. The body has been deposited at the mortuary. We were at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, yesterday with the parents. May God rest her soul,”
Nigeria, Africa’s biggest wireless market, is moving ahead with a proposed 5% tax on voice calls, mobile data and text messages to tackle a mounting fiscal crisis.
Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed announced the implementation of the tax, delayed since last year, in an emailed statement that highlighted the government’s strained financial picture. As of April, Africa’s biggest crude producer spends more on debt servicing than it brings in revenue.
“Although Nigeria is celebrated as the largest economy in Africa, translating this wealth into revenues remains a challenge,” Ahmed said. The statement did not say when collections of the levy, which is in addition to a 7.5% value-added tax on calls and data, will begin.
Communications Minister Isa Pantami earlier this month asked the government to reconsider the tax on the grounds that it could slow the expansion of one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.
A similar tax introduced by West African neighbor Ghana was blamed for a slowdown in mobile-money revenue by MTN Ghana in its first half results. Ghana, also facing a fiscal crisis, introduced a 1.5% e-levy in May to boost government revenue and reduce its burgeoning budget deficit.
Nigeria has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world, at 6% in 2019, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The government generated 1.63 trillion naira ($3.8 billion) in revenue in the four months through April, against 1.94 trillion naira in debt service payments for the period.
Exxon Mobil Corp. renewed two deep-water leases in Nigeria for 20 years, among the first permits granted under the country’s new oil and gas law.
The US energy giant extended its rights over two oil blocks at a ceremony on Friday in the West African country’s capital, Abuja. It also renewed production-sharing contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Co., it said on its Twitter account.
The permits for the so-called Oil Mining Leases 133 and 138 were due to expire in 2026 and 2027, but were renewed early under sweeping legislation passed last year known as the Petroleum Industry Act. The licenses contain deep-water fields from which the Nigerian government is eager to extract more oil and gas. “These extensions enable us and our partners to unlock the potential value in these OMLs and to bring forward additional investment,” Exxon said.
Three other deep-water leases were renewed at the same ceremony in “a major step” toward boosting production, the NNPC said on its Twitter account. Output in Africa’s largest crude producer has been declining consistently over the past 18 months, with the government blaming rampant theft from the onshore pipelines that crisscross the Niger Delta.
Other companies with interests in the five extended licenses and production-sharing contracts include Chevron Corp., Equinor ASA, Total Energies SE, Shell Plc and Cnooc Ltd.
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says negotiations between the federal government and kidnappers who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train did not yield the expected result.
He said this on Friday in an interview published by BBC Hausa.
On March 28, a Kaduna-bound train was attacked by gunmen, with several persons killed, injured and abducted.
Relatives of the abducted victims have held several protests in the country, urging the government to rescue their loved ones.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, met with the relatives of the abducted victims in Abuja, where he assured them that efforts were on to ensure the safe rescue of the 31 persons said to still be in captivity.
Speaking on the government’s efforts, Shehu said it is wrong to say that nothing has been done to secure the release of all the captives.
“The important thing is that the government, since the occurrence of the incident, has been working very hard. Some are visible, while some are not,” he said.
“It is to the advantage of the relatives and to the country at large to see all the victims are rescued.
“Whoever says the government isn’t doing anything or isn’t making any effort to rescue them perhaps doesn’t know the effort the government is putting in order to rescue the abductees.
“Don’t forget that right from the start of it, the leader of the terrorists demanded that his pregnant wife should be released from captivity.
“The federal government took the woman to the hospital where she gave birth to twins, and after she gave birth, he was shown that both his wife and children were in a good health condition and then they were handed over to his parents.
“After handing them over, they came up with a different issue that there are about six or seven of their children in Yola, Adamawa, who the government sent a plane to pick up.
“We expected that if we gave them the children, they would release all the victims in their custody. Then, they demanded money.
“So, people should not say the government is doing nothing.”
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has tendered apology to Catholic faithful over a remark he made while defending his appointment as Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
Addressing reporters at Aso Rock on Tuesday, Lalong had said as a born, baptised and confirmed Catholic, who has the highest award from the papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him there was anything wrong being the lead campaigner of the ruling party, especially over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“For those who are talking about Muslim-Muslim ticket, I don’t even know where they are. I Hold a Papal Night and as a Catholic, everything we do, we do it and we send the advice to the Pope. The Pope has not told me that what I’m doing is bad as Director-General,” he had said.
His comment had attracted widespread condemnation, especially from Catholic faithful who blamed him for dragging the Holy Father into the murky politics.
They had called for his immediate suspension from the Church for alleged blasphemy.
But in a letter to the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ Conference, Lalong said he accepted that he erroneously linked the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics.
While promising to be of good conduct, the governor sought the forgiveness and understanding of the church.
“I have followed with some shock and deep regret, the reactions that have trailed my appointment as the Director-General of the Campaign Council for the presidential candidate of our party, the APC, Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate, Ibrahim Shettima.
“The appointment, understandably was received with mixed reactions across the Christian community, who genuinely feel aggrieved by the decision of our party to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“While many people commended me for the appointment and saw it as a way of remaining within the system to fight for our own interests, others cast aspersions on it on the grounds that our faith had been insulted and denigrated.
“In the course of this, many of my opponents turned the issue into a political weapon with some spreading rumours and questioning the integrity of my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight.
“In trying to make my case, I have granted interviews to justify why I believe that the appointment did not in any way undermine my commitment to the Catholic Church.
“During the week, in the course of defending myself, I had cause to make reference to my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In the process, I made reference to the Holy Father. I now realise that this was an error on my part and has caused some level of concern and even embarrassment to many, especially Members of the family of Papal Knights to which I belong.
“I now understand that I may have overreached myself in the course of trying to defend my personal decision in accepting this appointment and thus, the reference to the holy father was not intended as an act of disrespect to his exalted and revered office.
“Your Grace, by this written letter, I wish to tender my unreserved apologies and ask for their understanding and forgiveness from my brothers in the Catholic faith and, through you, the entire members of the Bishops’ Conference, our Fathers and our leaders.
“My commitment to the Catholic faith, to which I belong, remains unreserved and undiluted. I will continue to uphold the banner of my faith in public life as I have done over the years.
“You may recall, Your Grace, that in the last five or thereabout years, I have been at the forefront of facilitating our dialogue as politicians with you our fathers in the faith. I remain committed to this and pray that you will continue to encourage us as we ascend the slippery slope of politics,” the letter read.
Bandits have attacked the convoy of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 12, Audu Madaki, killing one of his police guards.
The AIG who was said to be on his way to Abuja from Bauchi when his vehicle was ambushed also sustained injury.
Sources said the attack happened between Barde and Jagindi area in Kaduna State on Tuesday at about 2.30pm.
A source at the Zone 12 headquarters said Madaki was shot at and injured during the attack while his orderly was shot dead.
The AIG is said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital while security has been beefed up around the Zone.
Another source revealed that armed police personnel had been drafted to the area to comb the bush in order to fish out the terrorists.
Several efforts to get a confirmation from the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Thomas Goni, were futile as he did not answer his call.
Meanwhile, the federal government has described the attack on the convoy as an attempt by terrorists to score “a psychological point”.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, spoke on the incident while reacting to a question on the attack.
He said, “On the issue of the attack on the AIG in Bauchi, I need further information from the IG as to the circumstances of the attack. But what I know is that bandits would always want to make this kind of spectacular attack just to score a psychological point.
“But I know that the government is taking the job of security very seriously. As you can see, even today, the minister of the FCT has told you exactly what he is doing to ensure that security is improved.”
The minister said the success of the military had not received wide reportage as the terrorist attacks.
“I know that there have been quite a few successes by the military in overrunning the bandits around Abuja in the last couple of days.
“Regrettably, it’s like when the military is having the upper hand, they are not given the same kind of media coverage as when the bandits attack,” he said.
Nigeria's broadcast regulator has fined Multichoice Nigeria Ltd, part of a South African pay-TV group, and others 5 million naira ($12,013) each for airing a BBC report that it said "glorified the activities of bandits and undermines national security."
The National Broadcasting Commission said in a statement on Wednesday that the outlets had until Aug. 30 to pay.
It also fined local channel Trust TV, part of the group that owns the prominent Daily Trust newspaper, for its own report on banditry.
"The Commission wishes to seize this opportunity to advise broadcasters to be circumspect and deliberate in the choice and carriage of contents deleterious to Nigeria's national security," NBC said in a statement.
The Daily Trust quoted its management as saying, "We wish to state unequivocally that as a television station, we believe we were acting in the public interest by shedding light on the thorny issue of banditry."
"This story is overwhelmingly in the public interest and the BBC stands by its journalism," the BBC said in an emailed statement.
Multichoice had no immediate comment.
Armed criminals, known locally as bandits, have kidnapped thousands of Nigerians over the past two years.
Free speech and democracy activists in Africa's most populous country have raised the alarm over what they say are erosions to freedom of expression in recent years, including last year's ban on social media platform Twitter.
Nigeria has a presidential election in February in which deteriorating security nationwide could play a prominent role.
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Federal government has confirmed the procurement of 10 vehicles worth N1.14 billion for the Niger Republic.
Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, said this on Wednesday after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
The minister said Nigeria has a policy of assisting its neighbouring countries.
On Wednesday, David Hundeyin, a journalist, released a document online indicating that the president approved the fund on February 22, 2022, while the contract to supply the 10 units of Toyota Land Cruisers were awarded to IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited for the neighbouring nation.
The document showed that N1.145 billion was released for the purpose.
Speaking further on the procurement, Ahmed said even though Nigerians have the right to question, President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the purchase, also has the right to make his assessment of situations and act accordingly.
“Let me just say that over time, Nigeria has had to support its neighbours, especially the immediate neighbours to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us. This is not the first time that Nigeria had assisted the Niger Republic, Cameroon or Chad,” she said.
“The president makes an assessment as to what is required based on the request of their presidents. Such requests are approved, and interventions were provided.
“It is to enhance their capacity to protect their countries, as it relates to security and also to Nigeria.”
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday met some of his colleagues elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and some other party faithful who were behind his presidential campaign.
The meeting held at the Rivers Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, was the first by the group after the party’s special national convention which produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
A member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Jerry Gana, spoke with journalists, on behalf of the group, after the meeting.
Gana said, “We know that developments will unfold and when they do, we shall brief Nigerians. We have met together for the first time after the primaries of the PDP.
“We have frankly reviewed matters among ourselves; we want to confirm we are solidly together as a group.”
Those who attended the meeting included Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Also in attendance were former Governors Donald Duke of Cross River State, Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State, Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State.
Others are former PDP Deputy National Vice Chairman, North, Senator Suleiman Nazif; former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Adoke; and a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, Tajudeen Yusuf.
The 2021 viral hepatitis scorecard by the World Health Organisation indicates that an estimated 998,000 children under five years in Nigeria are chronic carriers of Hepatitis-B antigen.
The scorecard also showed that not less than 11,679,000 other Nigerians are chronic carriers of viral Hepatitis-B.
The scorecard, obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, looks at data from the African region but focuses on Hepatitis B and C, both of which cause liver cirrhosis and cancer.
It discovered that in 19 countries, more than 8% of the population is infected with Hepatitis B, while in 18 countries, more than 1% of the population lives with Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents, leading to a range of health problems, some of which can be fatal. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E.
In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common causes of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
The Hepatitis B virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections, or exposure to sharp instruments.
The scorecard showed that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of people who are chronic carriers of the deadliest strain of the virus among the listed 47 member states in the African region.
It noted that Nigeria’s prevalence of the anti-hepatitis C virus is at 1.3%.
The report noted that while Nigeria has a national hepatitis treatment programme and a national strategic plan for viral hepatitis, the hepatitis B immunisation coverage is at 58%.
According to the WHO, Africa accounts for roughly 70% of all hepatitis B infections worldwide. It can take decades after infection by the virus before an individual starts manifesting symptoms.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said, “Hepatitis has been called the silent epidemic, but this scorecard is sounding an alarm for the region and the world to hear.
“We must do better and stop this disease from stealing away our children’s future. There is a safe and effective vaccine that provides nearly 100% protections against Hepatitis B, one of the virus’s most lethal strains. We must ensure that all African children are vaccinated within 24 hours of their birth and are followed up with two or more doses of the vaccine. “
Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, has said one of the many reasons some airports are restricted to sunrise – sunset flight operations in Nigeria is to eliminate or mitigate the safety implications and challenges of night operations.
He spoke just as it emerged that Nigerian airlines lose at least N4.3bn annually due to the inability of most airports to operate for 24 hours.
Our correspondent reports that apart from the major international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, other airports in Nigeria are tagged sunset airports as they cannot operate beyond 6 or 7 p.m. daily.
The DG, represented by the Director of Airports and Aerodrome Standard, Tayib Odunowo, spoke at the 26th conference of League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents held in Lagos, with the theme: “Sunset Airports: Economic and Safety Implications.”
Some of the challenges he itemised that are militating against 24-hour operation are inadequate infrastructure; airports poor financial outlays; security risks and threats; inadequate Airport and ANS Infrastructure; traffic level; airline capacity among others.
He disclosed that Nigeria needs over N1.5 trillion Naira or 5 billion US dollars to fix the airport infrastructure gap in the country, quoting the African Development Bank (2019) report.
He said, “There are issues involving fire cover, primary and secondary power sources, provision of communication, navigation and surveillance aids, automatic weather stations and now-casting equipment among others.
He however said the challenges can be addressed by developing Air Navigation Services (ANS); Airport infrastructure; developing Ancillary Infrastructure; Aerotropolis and others.
He noted that maintenance and service delivery at many airports in Nigeria are still seen as a great disincentive to travelling and tourism, advising that a lot needs to be done to make the airports economic tools for Nigeria’s development.
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ibom Air, George Uriesi, stated that airlines are bleeding because of lack of 24 hours flight operations to major routes in Nigeria.
In his presentation on “Maximising Runway Utilisation: A Nigerian Airline Perspective,” he disclosed that the country’s carriers are losing an average of N4 million per flight, N12 million in every flight, N360 million in 90 flights and N4.3 billion annually on every flight to sunset airport operations.
He said while aircraft are designed to operate for 24 hours, they are underutilised because of the operational restriction caused by the absence of required facilities to operate for 24 hours at most airports in Nigeria.
To address the problem, Uriesi appealed to the government to prioritise airfield infrastructure and provide the necessary Instrument Landing System (ILS) and accompanying accessories for every airport, while also keeping the aerodromes open to meet the needs of airlines and other users.