Fed Govt tackles HIV, malaria, TB with $933m from Global Fund.

Fed Govt tackles HIV, malaria, TB with $933m from Global Fund.

The Federal Government yesterday said it had taken steps to further reinvigorate the nation’s healthcare service delivery with the disbursement of Global Fund’s $933 million to relevant agencies to tackle human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Malaria, and Tuberculosis (TB).

The fund is expected to be utilised by the implementing agencies between this year and 2026.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, announced this while disbursing the funds to the agencies yesterday in Abuja.

Recipients of the Global Fund grant include: the National Agency for the Control of AIDS – $10,663,394.00 (HIV/AIDS); the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP)- Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) – $30,038,555.00 (HIV/AIDS); the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP)-FMOH, $122,390,772.00 (Tuberculosis); Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), $340,095,438.00 (HIV/TB (C-Grant); the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP)-FMOH, $80,877,025.00 (Malaria); the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), $315, 933,900.00 (Malaria); the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme-FMOH, $42,557,406.00 (RSSH); and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, $4,100,440.00 (RSSH).

The minister said the Global Fund resources were meant to boost Nigeria’s efforts at meeting the Global 95-95-95 by 2025 for notable improvement in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

A statement by the ministry’s Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe, reads: “The Coordinating Minister of Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has launched the Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) 2024-2026 implementation period in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

“Speaking at the official launch of Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria at the Abuja Continental Hotel, the minister stated that the allocated resources of $933 million to Nigeria for the 2024-2026 implementation period would help mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

He said: “In approving the sector-wide programme, the President essentially directed that the health outcomes of Nigerians should be better than what it is and that we should all collaborate, Federal Government with state government alongside development partners.”

Pate assured Nigerians that the resources donated would be used judiciously.

Recipients of the Global Fund grant include: the National Agency for the Control of AIDS – $10,663,394.00 (HIV/AIDS); the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP)- Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) – $30,038,555.00 (HIV/AIDS); the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP)-FMOH, $122,390,772.00 (Tuberculosis); Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), $340,095,438.00 (HIV/TB (C-Grant); the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP)-FMOH, $80,877,025.00 (Malaria); the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), $315, 933,900.00 (Malaria); the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme-FMOH, $42,557,406.00 (RSSH); and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, $4,100,440.00 (RSSH).

According to Pate, the expected results, which all the principal recipients are committing to, is to achieve the 95, 95, 95 by 2025, notable improvement in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Fed Govt earns N1.49b from rail transport in Q3 2023.

Fed Govt earns N1.49b from rail transport in Q3 2023.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said the Federal Government generated N1.49 billion from passenger fare for rail transport in the third quarter 2023 (Q3 2023).

NBS made this disclosure in its document tagged: “Rail Transport Data (Q3 2023),” yesterday.

According to the document, the revenue by 108.25per cent from the N715.09 million earned in the Q3 2022.

The data said, “In terms of revenue generation, N1.49 billion was received from passengers during the reference period, showing an increase of 108.25per cent from the N715.09 million recorded in the same quarter of the previous year.”

NBS also noted that in Q3 2023, a total of 594,348 passengers travelled via rail system, relative to 500,348 reported in the corresponding quarter of 2022, indicating a growth rate of 18.79per cent.

It said the volume of goods/cargoes transported in Q3 2023 stood at 81,963 tons, compared to 33,312 tons recorded in Q3 2022.

 According to the document, similarly, N286.78 million was collected from goods/cargos conveyed in Q3 2023, up by 181.58per cent from N101.84 million received in Q3 2022.

NBS added that other receipts amounted to N119.22 million, indicating an increase of 1.05% in Q3 2023 from the N117.98 million collected in Q3 2022.

Ganduje extends open invitation to Kano Gov, Yusuf, NNPP members to join APC.

Ganduje extends open invitation to Kano Gov, Yusuf, NNPP members to join APC.

The National Chairman of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Thursday extended an open invitation to the only New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State and his party supporters to join the party.

Ganduje stated this during a stakeholders meeting with party members at the Presidential/State campaign office in Kano on Thursday.

The former Governor said the party would commence e-registration and the target was to have highest number of membership from the state and also one party state.

He said talks have reached advanced stage with other smaller parties nationwide and more Governors, lawmakers would soon dump their parties and join the ruling party.

According to him, “our hands are open for other political parties to join our party. We call on the Governor of Kano State and all the supporters of NNPP to join our party. We are assuring him of a very good environment in our party, the APC. His coming to the party will strengthen the APC at the state and national level and will drive development to Kano State as the most populous state in the federation.

“If we can do it at national levels, why can’t we do it at the state level?

“We will soon commence e-registration and our target is to have highest number of membership in Kano and to have one party state in Kano.

“We are in talks with smaller parties to dump their parties and join the APC. And soon, Governors, Senators and others would join our party,” Ganduje however stated.

Present at the stakeholders meeting were the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, former House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Kano State party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas among other party chieftains.

Reps plan amendment to strengthen PIA, NEITI Acts.

Reps plan amendment to strengthen PIA, NEITI Acts.

The House of Representatives has said it is planning to amend the Petroleum Industries Act (PIA) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act in order to strengthen them for maximum performance in the extractive sector.

Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikeagwuonu Onyinye Ugochinyere, announced this at a meeting with officials of NEITI yesterday in Abuja.

The lawmaker said the House was working on introducing key amendments to the PIA to make it have stronger provisions for clean energy transition.

He said: “We are also focused on reviewing the NEITI Act, to grant NEITI statutory powers to implement the findings of their investigation, and possibly execute the recommendations of their report.

“We are also considering granting NEITI powers to prosecute those found to be in breach of extant laws, strengthening the governance structure of NEITI, placing more emphasis on crucial disclosure requirements of EITI, especially as they relate to contract transparency and beneficial ownership, independent funding for NEITI, timely review and action on reports by the National Assembly, among others.

“We are also working with sister Petroleum/Oil and Gas Committees with a view to ascertaining those who operate extractive industries in Nigeria, to deepen transparency and public oversight of the industries through the House. “

“We also seek to pursue the recovery of public funds that were either mismanaged, wasted or yet to be remitted from the extractive industries.

“It is also our desire to ensure that there is accountability on the part of state-owned extractive industries to ensure that greater value and revenue is derived from the sector for the good of the nation and to foster a sustainable energy transition.”

Uhochinyere explained that as part of efforts to ensure the success of the House legislative agenda, the committee had secured the partnership, support and commitment of over 70 lawmakers as co-sponsors for critical Bills which seek to review some provisions of the NEITI Act.

He said this would lead to full realisation of the NEITI objectives, as well as the expansion and achievement of the desired transparency in the extractive industry.

Benue Govt. orders refund of excess WAEC/NECO charges.

Benue Govt. orders refund of excess WAEC/NECO charges.

The Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency (BSEQAA) has directed school principals in the state to immediately refund the excess WAEC/NECO handling charges paid by SS3 students.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Francis Terna, gave the directive on Thursday, when he visited some schools in Makurdi, the state capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Terna had engaged some students in SS3 in the schools visited to ascertain what they paid as WAEC and NECO examination fees.

Having ascertained the facts, he instructed the principals to refund the excess charges to the students without delay.

He further directed all the schools to adhere strictly to the approved handling charges of N5000 per student.

He also advised the schools’ authorities to desist from such sharp practices, adding that failure to comply with the government’s directive would be met with appropriate sanctions.

Terna said that the state government was fully committed to upholding high standards and ensuring academic excellence.

According to him, the agency will continue its random visit to schools to monitor their operations.

He restated the government’s directive that no SS3 student should be admitted during the second term to avoid disrupting the academic calendar.

NAN further reports that the BSEQAA boss also inspected form masters’ registers, schemes and record of work as well as lesson plans.

The schools visited included RCM Primary School in Tiosha, UBE Junior Secondary School, Naka Road, NKST Secondary School, Naka Road and Mount Carmel College, Makurdi.

Boko Haram destroyed over 90 percent of houses in Borno – Zulum.

Boko Haram destroyed over 90 percent of houses in Borno – Zulum.

The governor of Borno state, Prof Babagana Zulum, has revealed that over 90 percent of houses in Borno state were destroyed by Boko Haram.

He said fortunately in the last twelve years, his predecessor and himself have so far rebuilt more than 30-40 per cent of such houses in the state.

Zulum said despite the effort by the administration, the state still has a huge significant deficit, amounting to not less than 500,000.

The governor said this on January 25, in Abuja at the International Organisations for Migration’s (IOM) housing design award ceremony titled, ‘Home after Crisis’, which brought together about 1,600 designers, architects, engineers from over 100 countries.

He said: “The Government of Borno and that of the Northeast would provide the political will needed to partner with IOM and other organisations in order to build more homes for the families of Displaced communities. Very soon, we would be entering into an agreement with IOM to see how we can partner together and build more houses.

“The security situation In Borno state has improved by over 90 per cent, we are doing very well, we have many safe areas so we are going to do everything possible to ensure that houses are built and communities resettled in a dignified manner, according to the Kampala convention.

“When it comes to the deficit of housing in Borno state, I can’t give a specific figure but I can say that almost 90 per cent of our houses were destroyed by Boko Haram but within the last 12 years, beginning with my predecessor till date, I think we have built more than 30-40 per cent but we still have a huge significant deficit, amounting to not less than 500,000.”

Chief of Mission IOM Nigeria, Laurent De Boeck said the organisation is working on constructing about a million houses in Maiduguri and Yola using the winning designs of the competition.

He added: “We have already started building the housing prototypes in Maiduguri, we would soon do the same in Yola.

“As for the prototypes we have looked into accessing some lands where the safety is offered and then we start building. The spectacular thing is that it is low cost, using local materials, we are training the population there to also build themselves and recycle what exists around them like metals for covering the houses.

“We have the aim of a million houses in Maiduguri and Yola but we hope that it would also go further to other parts of the country because we are working with the private sector for potential support. So we are hoping that we can shape how houses are built not only in the Northeast but Nigeria.”

The three winning designs from the competition won €10,000 Euros in Total with the first and second positions won by Nigerian architects and the third by a German team and the teams won €5000 for the first prize, €3000 for second and €2000 for the third.

Bello preaches tolerance as Ohinoyi gets staff of office.

Bello preaches tolerance as Ohinoyi gets staff of office.

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, formally presented the staff of office and an official car to the new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Anaje, who was installed on January 8, 2024.

Bello, at the ceremony held at the Ohinoyi’s palace in Okene, urged the new Ohinoyi to be a traditional ruler for all Ebira, irrespective of clan and religion.

The governor also promised his continued support for the monarch, while thanking the other contenders to the throne for accepting the choice of Anaje.

“I want to seize this opportunity to commend those who contested with the new Ohinoyi for displaying a good spirit of sportsmanship. I also call on all Ebiras to sheathe their swords to boost the attainment of the desired development in Ebiraland,” Bello added.

Responding, the Ohinoyi pledged to embrace all Ebira people irrespective of the clan, religion and other differences.

He called for the establishment of the North Central Development Commission to address the question of marginalisation of the region of the country.

He also called for the establishment of the state Ministry of Religious Affairs to enhance collaboration among adherents of various religions in the state.

The governor had on January 8 announced the appointment of Anaje as the new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

It was reported that no fewer than 75 persons, including a female professor, Angela Okatahi, the first female professor in Egbiraland, had applied for the vacant stool of the Paramount ruler of Egbiraland.

The 75 aspirants were later pruned down to seven.

 They were a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Dr. Philip Salawu; a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Ataba Omolori; and a retired military general, Yusuf Amuda.

Others are Momoh Shaibu, Prof. Ibrahim Onuwe Abdulmalik, Dr. Ahmad Tijani Anaje and Mr. Ahmed Momohjimoh.

The Ohinoyi stool became vacant in October last year following the demise of 94-year-old Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Ibrahim, was the second Ohinoyi or the fourth independent traditional ruler of Ebiraland.