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  • Nigerian Health Agency Sets Up Special Covid-19 Vaccination Sites Across Country

    The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Shuaib said that the sites were set up to ensure that every Nigerian who had received the first jab completes the process.

    “We acknowledge the possibility of some people relocating from the states where they took their first doses.

    “For this reason, we have made provision for special vaccination sites that could accommodate administering their second doses,” he said.

    He noted that some of these previous sites may also not be available due to some circumstances.

    Shuaib advised Nigerians to visit the NPHCDA website (www.nphcda.gov.ng) to locate vaccination posts close to them for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    ”There have been cases of mild, moderate, and severe adverse effects since the vaccination campaign was officially rolled out.

    “These side effects include pain and swelling at the site of vaccination to more serious symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, fever, dizziness, and allergic reactions.

    “A total of 10,027 cases of mild Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) have been reported as of May 30″, while 86 cases of moderate to severe incidents have been reported. All these individuals have since fully recovered,” Shuaib said.

    According to him, five states have the highest records of AEFI namely: Cross River (1,040), Kaduna (1,071), Lagos (796), Yobe (555), and Kebbi with 525 cases.

    Shuaib added ”indeed on my part, the side effects following the second dose was much less than the first dose.

    “We continue to advise that all Nigerians who have received their first dose should check their vaccination cards for the date of their second dose.

    ”They are to proceed to the same health facility where they got their first jab, to ensure full protection against COVID-19.”

  • UCH Health Workers Commence Indefinite Strike

    Non-doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), University College Hospital, Ibadan Branch, on Tuesday commenced an indefinite strike.

    The union, made up of other professionals in the health sector embarked on the strike to protest the non-payment of five-month salaries of some of its members.

    This pronouncement was made at a press briefing by the NUAHP Chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, who said that the last time the affected members, which include over 300 staff, collected a salary was in December 2020.

    “It is on a sad note that I stand before you this morning to address the press on the current situation of our health system in the country and more especially in UCH as regards the welfare of staff who invariably are members of this noble union.

    “It should be noted that we have been silent for too long until it became glaring that silence is no more golden.

    >“We have therefore decided to speak aloud for well-meaning Nigerians to be aware of the dilemma of poor and helpless health professionals in UCH.

    “See members of this union who were employed in the year 2020 have not been collecting salaries from the beginning of this year till date,” he said.

    The NUAHP chairman further alleged that dialogue with the teaching hospital’s management had not yielded any positive results.

    Consequently, the professionals agreed to call for the indefinite strike in order to press home their demands.

    “While we wait endlessly and hopelessly, all financial responsibilities are not waiting as the affected staff have to feed their various families, pay school fees, pay rent among many other responsibilities in the face of the prevailing economic situation in the country.

    “Resident doctors who were in the same shoe with our members have been paid a month’s salary.

    “This union has been magnanimous and understanding to the extent of encouraging her members to work despite the non-payment of salaries.

    “Things have so degenerated to the extent that workers who have worked with zeal and total commitment must go on strike before they can be considered for their pay,” he said.

    Ripples Nigeria had reported that resident doctors of the hospital, on May 1, embarked on an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries and non-enrollment of some members on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

  • Simi, Adekunle Gold Celebrate Daughter In New Single

    Nigerian celebrity couple, Simi and Adekunle Gold, have released a new single to celebrate their daughter, Adejare Kosoko who turned one on Sunday.

    The couple titled their new single: “Happy Birthday,” a song that is aimed at inspiring the child.

    The new album was released exactly one year after the smash hit, “Duduke” was released.

    Simi and Adekunle Gold tied the knot in 2019.

    The couple are renowned for maintaining a low-profile lifestyle.

    Watch the music video below.

  • Kwara Govt To Spend N14bn On Education

    The Kwara Government will inject N14 billion into the state’s education sector this year.

    The governor’s Special Adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Sa’adu Salahu, disclosed this at a media briefing organised by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to mark Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s second anniversary in office.

    He said: “Having paid the Universal Basic Education’s backlog of counterpart funds, the government now has N14 billion in its kitty to improve the state of infrastructure at the basic education level in the state.”

    Salahu said the governor had activated the state economy through prudent management of the available resources.

    The governor’s aide added: “By ensuring prompt payment of pensions, workers’ salaries, teachers inclusive, the governor has activated the state economy.

    “Workers and teachers were home for six months during the COVID-19 lockdown and they received their salaries in full.”

  • Borno Govt Uncovers 21 Nurses, Other Health Workers With Fake Certificates

    Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has directed the sanctioning of 21 health workers due to forgery of certificates, following a staff verification exercise.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Maiduguri by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, who confirmed that the verification also uncovered 91 ghost staff and N23 million being wrongly spent monthly.

    Chairman of the committee, Dr. Joseph Jatau revealed this on Monday, in Maiduguri, while presenting the committee’s report to Gov. Zulum at the governor’s office annex at the Musa Usman secretariat.

    Dr Jatau explained that among those with fake certificates were nurses, other medical and support staff.

    The chairman also disclosed that 91 ghost workers were discovered in the lists of health workers in the state, who had either resigned or withdrawn from service, but their salaries were still being paid in their names.

    Similarly, the committee found that some dead, retired, and absconded staff were being consistently promoted, with salaries also paid in their names, Gusau said.

    He explained that the committee made 13 recommendations that would help reposition the health sector for optimal healthcare service delivery in the state.

    “Anyone that fakes certificates in nursing and other medical courses is capable of killing people.

    Only God knows how many people they might have harmed or even killed. Honestly, we shouldn’t let this go, we should ensure appropriate actions are served to the culprits.

    “I cannot be lenient on matters involving life and death. Importantly also, we have to employ measures to avert future occurrences”, Zulum said as he received the committee’s report.

  • Lagos, Ogun Sign MoU To Set Up Joint Development Commission

    In a bid to accelerate development, the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Ogun State Government have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission.

    This agreement was finalised and signed on Monday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Governor Dapo Abiodun, at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The harmonious relationship between the two states was aimed at transforming key areas of mutual interests, including security, commerce, urbanisation, infrastructure and solving boundary disputes, Sanwo-Olu noted.

    He said, “This is a game-changer that will transform the urban agglomeration that exists between Lagos and Ogun states. We are driven by the desire to stimulate socio-economic growth, bridge development gaps, and ensure that Lagos megacity status is complemented by pervasive infrastructural development even in boundary towns.

    In a bid to accelerate development, the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Ogun State Government have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission.

    This agreement was finalised and signed on Monday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Governor Dapo Abiodun, at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The harmonious relationship between the two states was aimed at transforming key areas of mutual interests, including security, commerce, urbanisation, infrastructure and solving boundary disputes, Sanwo-Olu noted.

    He said, “This is a game-changer that will transform the urban agglomeration that exists between Lagos and Ogun states. We are driven by the desire to stimulate socio-economic growth, bridge development gaps, and ensure that Lagos megacity status is complemented by pervasive infrastructural development even in boundary towns.

    “It has become obvious that the best way to accelerate socio-economic development in both states is by embracing a more collaborative approach for growth, development, and urban sustainability. Regardless of the challenges, we are determined to build more liveable and stable cities,” he said.

    In his comment, Abiodun stated that this initiative was to ensure the provision of good governance and infrastructure to the citizens of both states.

    He said, “The common goal is to provide good governance and make life more meaningful for the electorate; that is our driving force. We must never forget that, as Nigerians, we are all interconnected in one way or the other; and the fastest way to accelerate socio-economic growth and create an equitable society is by uniting to combat our challenges.”

  • NBC To Quiz Radio Presenter Over Assault On Interviewee

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has invited Mr Ahmed Isah, the Chief Executive Officer of Human Rights Radio, over an alleged assault.

    Mr Ekanem Antia, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, NBC, made this known via a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

    ”The NBC, as a regulatory body for broadcast media, is concerned over the recent happening at the Human Rights Radio and deemed it fit to invite Isah,” he said.

    The deputy director further explained that the invitation would enable the commission to know the circumstances surrounding the situation that led to the assault.

    “As a regulatory body for the broadcast media, the NBC cannot overlook this.

    “Broadcasting should guarantee fairness for all citizens and a broadcaster should grant a right of reply to every citizen before passing judgment.

    “That is why the commission decided to send a letter of invitation to the CEO of Human Rights Radio and the anchor of the popular ‘Brekete Family’ radio programme, Ahmed Isah, to come to NBC and explain the circumstances surrounding his actions.’’

    He, therefore, urged broadcasters to recognise the power they have and exercise such with great responsibility and sensitivity.

    Ripples Nigeria gathered that Isah, known as Ordinary President, was captured in a BBC Africa Eye documentary slapping a woman who allegedly set a young girl’s hair on fire over a witchcraft allegation.

    She reportedly tied the girl’s hands and legs, poured kerosene on her head, and ignited a fire.

    Isah in a video that surfaced online got enraged while interviewing the woman and slapped her.

    Fortunately, the child is alive but her head suffered severe damage.

     

  • Health Workers Give Gov El-Rufai 48-Hour Ultimatum To Recall Sacked Nurses

    The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) on Wednesday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to recall the sacked nurses in the state.

    The governor had on Tuesday ordered the prosecution of three nurses who allegedly disconnected the oxygen supply of a two-month-old baby in a hospital incubator in the state.

    He also directed the sack of nurses, university lecturers, and other workers who did not report for work or joined the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) strike on Tuesday.

    In a statement signed by its President, Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, MHWUN asked El-Rufai to tender an unreserved public apology to Nigerian workers.

    Josiah described the governor’s actions as “barbaric and primitive.”

    She accused Governor El-Rufai of disregarding extant labour laws and circulars that regulate the employment of public servants whose appointments are clothed with statutory flavour.

    The statement read: “We particularly call on all workers and citizens of Kaduna State to tag Tuesday, 18th May 2021 as a sad day for democracy and a day of mourning when an elected governor threw away the constitution he swore to uphold and embraced thuggery.

    “We call on the entire citizens of Kaduna State to particularly remember this day so that when this same man come calling to beg for votes to go to the retirement home of former governors – the Senate or for any other elective position, he should be rejected out rightly as there is no room for anarchist in a democratic society.

    “Meanwhile, we call on our members nationwide to remain alert and await further directives on this matter as “an injury to one is an injury to all” and “injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.”

  • Senate Mandates NIMC, Education Ministry To Review Policy On NIN Registration For Students

    The Senate on Tuesday mandated the Ministry of Education, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to review the implementation of the National Identity Number (NIN) policy.

    According to the Senate, this was with the aim of extending the JAMB registration deadline or suspending this requirement for prospective students until there is a seamless and well-organised process for obtaining the NIN.

    This resolution was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra) during plenary.

    The motion is titled “The need to address the untold hardship caused by the introduction of NIN as compulsory requirement for JAMB registration”.

    Another resolution of the upper chamber was a mandate on the Ministry of Education and NIMC to introduce and streamline a simple and decentralised NIN registration process where students would be able to obtain their NIN in their various accredited school premises.

    Ripples Nigeria had reported that the JAMB recently made NIN mandatory for students seeking admission into universities of their choice.

    Raising Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, Ubah said the action ” is inconsiderate and a premature decision”.

    He said “For JAMB to include NIN as a precondition for registration of UTME candidates in 2021 is inconsiderate.

    ”This action is an inconsiderate and premature decision that has further complicated the already rigorous process of both registering for JAMB examination and procuring the NIN.

    “JAMB initially attempted to start the implementation of this policy in 2020/but had to postpone it owing to technical problems and irregularities bedeviling the process of obtaining NIN from NIMC.

    ”From all indications, these technical hitches are yet to be addressed; the long queues at NIMC centres are a testimony to the fact that a well-organised process is yet to be put in place to ease the stressful process of registration.

    “The board (JAMB) already has enough logistical and technical problems to tackle.”

    Seconding the motion, Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra) said it was a very straightforward motion and apt.

    “This has come when we have to show concern for what is happening on students presenting NIN before they are registered for JAMB.

    “Mr President, remember that the whole of last year was taken over by COVID-19 and that restricted a lot of movement and it made it impossible for many students to have access to NIN.

    “Telling our students now that they cannot register for WAEC and GCE because they do not have NIN is actually very insensitive on the part of JAMB and NECO.

    “Mr President I want to state very clearly that the awareness on NIN has not been felt. There is no public enlightenment, many people don’t even understand what NIN stands for.

    “The awareness has not been taken to the grassroots; the enlightenment has not been taken to schools; it has not been taken to universities and tertiary institutions.

    “Therefore many children and many students don’t even know the need for them to have the NIN, they don’t even know that the NIN is a requirement for them to participate in NECO and GCE.

    “Schools should not make NIN as a requirement for participation in any examination,” Ekwunife said.

    The resolutions were unanimously adopted by the senators after a Voice Vote by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.

  • Nigeria leads Africa, Attracts $195m Healthcare Investment In Five Years

    Nigeria’s healthcare sector in the last five years attracted the highest healthcare Private Equity and Venture Capital investment deals in Africa.

    This is according to data obtained from Africa Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) April report on PE and VC deals.

    Out of the 97 volumes of PE and VC deals reported worth $1.3 billion from 2015 to 2020, Nigeria accounted for 15 percent ahead of Morroco, Egypt, South Africa and Ghana.

    The 15 percent share of deals amounts to about $195 million based on Ripples Nigeria estimate.

    Morroco came in second as its healthcare accounted for 11 percent share of the PE&VC deals to Africa.

    This was followed by Egypt with a deal volume of 10 percent as South Africa and Ghana made the top five list with 8 percent volume of deals each.

    Nigeria’s growing population and seemingly low commitment by the Federal government on healthcare delivery has made the country a very attractive market for healthcare Investors.

    “The demand for healthcare services in Nigeria is high and will increase with the growth of the population. Unfortunately this rising demand cannot be covered by Nigeria’s weak healthcare system today,” Anthony Abou Nader in June 2019 told a group of healthcare Investors inviting them to invest in Nigeria.

    He also projected bigger investment in the next four years for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

    Also, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) estimated health financing gap of US$66 billion per annum in Africa.

    The report noted that Nigeria along with many other African countries are yet to fulfil the agreement to allocate 20 percent of its national budget to healthcare, hence present a huge opportunity for private investors to rewrite the narrative.