Fear Grips Kano Residents over Discovery of 2 Polio Cases

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Barely few weeks after the discovery of 3 polio cases in Borno State, there is growing anxiety among residents of Takai and Tofa Local Government Areas of Kano State.

It was also learnt that following the discovery of two compatible polio cases, one in each of the local councils, by the health officials saddled with the responsibility of immunizing under five children against the life threatening virus in the State.

During a visit by members of Journalists for Health (JFH) weekend to the affected LGAs in the State, it was learnt that the suspected compatible polio cases were discovered during the April round of Immunization Plus Days (IPDs).

Following the report, the authorities swiftly swung into action for the required medical analysis to ascertain the status of the suspected cases.

While the case in Takai Local Government Area was confirmed negative, it was gathered that the symptoms of the compatible polio case at Gajida settlement in Tofa local government had the possibility of being positive, but quite unfortunate; the test was inconclusive when the victim passed on.

A nephew of the victim who lives together with the boy prior to his death, Mallam Muazu Gajida confirmed the incident to Journalists, describing it as unfortunate.

A Zonal Coordinator representing the State Ministry of Health in Tofa area, Hajiya Aisha Usman Hassan confirmed to our correspondent that after health officials took blood sample of the under five year old boy for necessary diagnosis, it was suspected

She said, “unfortunately, on their way back to get his blood for the second test, the boy was reported dead.

The development had since created fear in the minds of many residents of the area considering the fact that the boy had mingled with many of his age mates prior to his ill-health and eventual death.

The situation increased appetite of parents of the area for immunization against polio during the just concluded Immunisation Plus Day in the State as many of them were desperately presenting their wards to vaccinators for proper immunisation.

When contacted on telephone, the State Director of Emergency Operation Centre under the State Ministry of Health, Dr Imam Wada Bello, allayed fear of new polio cases in the entire state.

Bello described the just concluded IPDs in Kano State as “successful”, saying that the exercise was gearing towards sustaining status of 17 months polio free in the State.

He added that another round of the house-to-house polio immunisation exercise would be conducted in the next two weeks to prevent transmission of the virus from Borno and other neighbouring States.

Recession: Tambuwal, Dogara, Udoma, Others Discuss Budgetary Reforms

Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, are among key stakeholders lined up to discuss possible reforms of the budgetary process as a path of getting Nigeria out of economic recession.

The forum is the Gallery Colloquium organized by OrderPaper.ng, Nigeria’s premier independent parliamentary reporting newspaper set to hold on Monday, September 26, 2016 at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Gallery Colloquium which is convened to address contentious issues on the Budget will feature members of the National and State Assemblies, Heads of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Media, Development Partners, and the private sector, among others, all of whom would share ideas, perspectives and experiences on the Appropriation process as dictated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Other key stakeholders lined up as panelists for the event include Sen. John Enoh, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance; Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts; Sen. Shehu Sani, Chairman, Senate Committee on Domestic and Foreign Debts; and Mr. Victor Muruako, Acting Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC).

Others are the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi; Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of Centre for Social Justice (CENSOJ); Hassan Idayat, Executive Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West Africa; Imoni Amarere, Managing Director of AIT News Services; and Sen. Chris Anyanwu, a two-term former senator and media owner.

According to Mr. Oke Epia, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of OrderPaper.ng, “the theme of the Colloquium is deliberately chosen to expand the conversation on how to get Nigeria out of economic recession through the budgeting process and make the annual appropriation law deliver in the overall interest of the majority of Nigerians.”

The Colloquium, tagged ‘The Gallery’ is a signature programme of OrderPaper.ng conceived to provide a platform for various stakeholders in the democratic project to cross-fertilize ideas and proffer suggestions and solutions on thorny issues bordering on the triumvirate of Legislature; the Executive; and the Electorate.

OrderPaper.ng is Nigeria’s premier multi-platform media company dedicated to reporting, tracking and archiving activities of the legislature as an arm of government for the digital generation. As the first authentic and independently-driven online medium of interface between citizens and elected representatives, its mission is to deepen democratic growth and development.

Nigerians Urged To Respect National Symbols

Nigerians, including residents of Ikeja area of Lagos State have been urged to respect all the nation’s national symbols such as the National Anthem, National Pledge, Nigerian Passport, Currency, Coat of Arms amongst others.

Speaking during the 5th celebration of National Ordinance Day recently, which was set aside to sensitise Nigerians about the national symbols, the Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Lagos State, Mr. Waheed Ishola stated that the symbols are part of the unifying factors of the country.

The sensitization programme started at the premises of Ikeja Local Government Secretariat before the team moved round several places in the area.

Ishola added that Nigerians should be passionate about the symbols, saying that an average American could die because of the American flag.

On the economic recession in the country, he advised Nigerians to persevere and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

He stressed that the federal government was trying to revive the nation’s economy and that the downturn in the country’s economy is due to the fall in the price of oil in the international market and the alleged various embezzlements by some former public office holders.

“The government is fighting corruption and ensure that all our money that were siphoned in the past were brought back. The government said that ‘change begins with me,’ it will start with us, so we must change our attitude.

“We must respect our national symbols because they signify, who we are. They bind us together as a people,” he said, adding that the participants at the walk included members of staff of NOA, members of WAI Brigade and other volunteers.

AMBSAM Foundation Compensates Victims of Epe Boat Mishap with N3.5 Million

The management of ABSAM Memorial Foundation has compensated the
families and relatives of the dead victims of a boat mishap that occurred in Epe area of Lagos State during the March 2015 general elections, numbering seven with N500,000.

ABSAM is an acronym of the victims of the incident including Prince Kunle Adewale, son of Epe traditional ruler and Deputy Director, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos State; Mr. Olawale Mogaji, a consultant with Lagos Eko Education Project; and Mr. Gbolahan Mogaji, a former public servant with the Lagos State Agriculture Development Authority.

Others were Mr. Muiz Bello, a former staff of Chevron and a chairmanship aspirant of Epe Local Government Council, and Mr. Shamsideen Agoro, the Personal Assistant to Mr. Muiz Bello.

They were in their mid and late 40s. The boat operator and his two sons, however, survived the mishap.

A member of the foundation, Mr. Waidi Ogunnorin, said during the presentation of the cheques to the beneficaries at a conference room of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday, that the foundation was established in memory of the victims, and that the efforts of the deceased should not be in vain.

“I therefore, on behalf of the foundation, urge you to use the money judiciously for the purpose of which it was given. Efforts are on-going to make sure that this type of presentation will be a continuous exercise,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, a member of the Board of Trustees of ABSAM, Hon. Abiodun Tobun described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the victims had been destined to die the way they did.

Tobun, who is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, revealed that a memorial park would soon be established in honour of the deceased and that they would be regarded as heroes of democracy, while advising the families to take solace in God.

Present to receive their cheques during the brief ceremony were Mrs. Taiwo Mogaji, Mrs. Mojisola Agoro and Mrs. Taiwo Kareem.

Beneficiaries that were absent included Vivian Ufoma Salau, Monsurat Olabisi Bello, Olabisi Mogaji and Adewale Yesirat Adefunke.

A mother of a victim of the mishap, Shamsideen Agoro, Mrs. Mojisola Agoro, who spoke to journalists at the event, thanked the management of ABSAM Foundation and said that she missed her son so much.

She thanked God that her son was diligent and that he never hurt anyone before his untimely death.

“My son was loved by everyone. When he wanted to start working with Muiz Bello, I said they should tell him that my son was not an area boy and that he came from a good family.

“He was introduced to Bello by one of our relatives, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He promised to help me with whatever I needed before his demise,” she said.

Also present at the event were some members of the foundation including Chief Wale Mogaji, Princess Remi Adebowale, Mr. Bode Gabadin and the General Secretary of the foundation, Mrs. Yinka Ayeyemi.