News

South-West Govs Elect Sanwo-Olu As Chair, Adopt Common Agenda

Published

2 weeks ago

June 10, 2024

Eric

Regional economic integration, food production and regional security are the main items that top the agenda at the meeting of the South-West Governors’ Forum held in Lagos on Monday.

At the meeting held behind closed doors in Alausa, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the host, was unanimously elected to lead the Forum as chairman.

Sanwo-Olu stepped into the position, following the vacancy occasioned by the death of the former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who chaired the regional caucus.

Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) were all physically present at the meeting, which lasted for four hours. They all paid their last respects to the memory of the late Akeredolu, who passed away last December.

The Forum reviewed security across the region, pointing out that South-West had been relatively peaceful in the Southern part of the country. They, however, used to platform to renew their call for creation of State Police to further strengthen safety in the region.

They agreed on the need to forge a security cooperation in order to enhance economic development and free movement within the region.

The Governors also called for more collaboration between security agencies and Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun Corps.

The Forum commended the House of Representatives and members of the Southwest caucus in the National Assembly for their efforts at passing the South-West Development Commission Bill, urging the upper chamber of the federal parliament to speed up the bill passage.

To expand food production and agricultural development, the Forum also directed their respective States’ Commissioners for Agriculture to immediately come together and develop a comprehensive agricultural template that would leverage on each State’s comparative advantage.

Rising from the meeting, the Forum, through its chairman, Governor Sanwo-Olu, read the 11-point resolution adopted in the communique signed by all the six Governors.

Sanwo-Olu said: The Southwest Governors’ Forum, at its meeting today, June 10, 2024, deliberated extensively on contemporary issues in the South-West States and resolved to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR on the groundbreaking of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, and the proposed Lagos to Sokoto road. We, however, encourage the Federal Government to rehabilitate other federal infrastructure in the region.

“On security, the Forum commends the relative peace in the South-West region and notes the collaboration between all security agencies and the Amotekun Corps. We reaffirm our full support for State Police. We acknowledge the efforts of the Federal Government to strengthen food security. We decide that Commissioners for Agriculture of all the South-West states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each State’s comparative advantage.”

On lingering disagreement on Minimum Wage, the Forum said it was in support of the efforts of the Federal Government, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Organised Private Sector to resolve the wage dispute, while urging continued engagement with the Labour Union.

The Governors said they believed the outcome of the negotiations for better wages would reflect true fiscal federalism.

The Forum hailed the Federal Government’s efforts on exploration policies on mineral resources, but called for collaboration with States in the process to grant leases to investors.

The South-West Governors adopted a popular song composed by Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, titled: “Ise wa fun ile wa”, as common anthem across the six States. They condemned, in strong terms, nefarious activities of a group of people agitating for Yoruba nation, stating that the region remained an integral part of the country.

“The Forum agrees to strengthen the DAWN Commission on operational efficiency and charges the Commission to focus on economic integration, cooperation and investment promotion of South-West states. To that end, each State is mandated to appoint a State focal person,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Source: lagosstate.gov.ng

News

We’ve No Confirmed Cases of Cholera – Osun State Govt

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2024

Eric

The Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Health Matters, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, has said the state is yet to record any confirmed case of cholera, describing the report of 11 confirmed cases of Cholera in Osun state as inaccurate.

Dr. Akindeleade the clarification contrary to the claim in the report, Osun recorded 13 suspected cases of cholera, adding that all turned out negative upon a laboratory assessment, and assuring the people of the state of adequate preventive measures by the government to prevent the occurrence, and respond to the outbreak if ever a case is recorded.

“Osun State Government through the Ministry of Health, has proactively reactivated and established the Public Health Rapid Response Team (PHRRT) and Cholera Technical Working Group (CTWG) respectively, to ensure adequate surveillance and risk communication activities in order to guarantee the health of the citizens,” he disclosed, adding that “Though, Osun is yet to record any confirmed case of Cholera, adequate preventive measures have been put in place to prevent the occurrence, and respond to the outbreak in case we eventually record a case.”

Speaking further, Dr. Akindele noted that the State Government is exploring the media to sensitize the public on preventive measures against cholera while surveillance mechanisms across the 30 local government areas and border towns has been heightened to fight the spread of the disease.

“Thirteen (13) sample(s) collected so far. All 13 samples sent to laboratory, of which 13(100%) were negative, 0 positive and no pending result,” he pointed out, adding that “Cholera RDT kits and Transport media has been strategically distributed to some Health Facilities across the 30 LGAs.”

He said the Ministry of Health will continue to intensify public awareness on the prevention of cholera and what to do when symptoms develops, calling on the media not to pander to sensationalism at a time like this but rather focus on the dissemination of information that will save lives.

News

Christ Embassy Church Building Razed by Fire

Published

6 hours ago

June 23, 2024

Eric

The Christ Embassy building in the Oregun area of Lagos has been razed by fire.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning.

Thick black smoke was still billowing from the white edifice, according to TheCable report.

Personnel of the Lagos state fire and rescue service were on the scene to put out the fire.

Police have cordoned the area to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Vehicular and pedestrian movement on the street where the church is located have been halted for the moment.

Worshippers told TheCable that morning service was immediately moved to Corner Stone, an annex of the church, due to the inferno.

A couple of worshippers said an electrical spark may have been responsible for the fire.

Led by Chris Oyakhilome, Christ Embassy is one of Nigeria’s biggest churches.

News

Cholera Outbreak: Death Toll Hits 24 in Lagos

Published

2 days ago

June 21, 2024

Eric

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi said the cholera death toll has risen to 24.

Abayomi disclosed this in a post on his Instagram handle on Friday.

He also has confirmed 35 cases out of the 417 suspected cases across 20 Local Government Areas in the state.

The Commissioner said the situation report as of June 19, 2024, indicated, “417 suspected cases, 35 confirmed cases, and 24 recorded deaths.”

He advised residents to ensure personal and environmental hygiene.

He advised, “Let’s adhere strictly to personal and environmental hygiene. Let’s stay safe #ForAGreaterLagos”

The cases were reported from Agege, Badagry, Ikeja, Mushin, Ajeromi-Ifelofun, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Alimosho, and Eti-Osa.

Others were Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Apapa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos mainland, and Surulere.

Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by ingesting the bacteria— Vibrio cholerae — in contaminated water and food. Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea, and the severe forms of the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.

In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more frequently in areas with poor sanitation.

The World Health Organisation on Thursday announced a spike in cholera in several regions of the world, with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of 2024.

WHO said the Eastern Mediterranean Region reported the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the Southeast Asia Region, and the European Region.

The global health body, however, noted that there are no reported cases in the Western Region, according to its bulletin released on Wednesday.

It said it exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines by March but was able to exceed “the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time in 2024.”

The Punch