TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kano

  • JUST IN: Another prominent professor dies in Kano

    JUST IN: Another prominent professor dies in Kano

    Prof. Balarabe Maikaba, a prominent scholar and former Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), is dead.

    Maikaba died on Sunday at a private clinic in Kano metropolis, after a brief illness.

    A relative of the deceased, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the deceased, who was diabetic, complained of fever on Saturday.

    “When he complained of fever, we rushed him to the hospital where he died not long ago. We are already moving to the Abattoir cemetery where he will be buried,” he said.

    Maikaba played a prominent role in the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication of BUK into various departments and its subsequent upgrade to the status of a Faculty.

    He served in various capacities, including Head of Department, Dean of the Faculty and other key academic positions in the university.

    Maikaba also played a prominent role in the development of commercial digital television and Radio FM stations in Kano and Jigawa States, and also contributed to the growth of the Hausa Film Industry (Kannywood).

    Maikaba’s demise is the latest in a series of deaths recorded in Kano metropolis in the past few weeks.

    A former Commissioner of Education, Aminu Yahaya, had earlier died Sunday morning.

    Aminu Yahaya’s brother, Muhammad Yahaya, who confirmed the death, had said that the deceased complained of fever and died few hours later.

  • HARVEST OF DEATHS IN KANO: BEYOND COVID-19

    By Onche Odeh

    The harvest of deaths in Kano just brought to the fore what has been hitherto happening in Nigeria. Beyond COVID-19, Nigerians have been dying in thousands per hour and being buried silently with no attempt to resolve the root causes of their deaths, most of which are obvious. Nigeria currently ranks top in the list of countries with highest deaths from Malaria. Common malaria?, you may want to curiously query. Yes. Figures from the WHO revealed that in 2018 alone (a year before the COVID-19 outbreak), 228 million cases of malaria were recorded globally. 405, 000 of those affected could not survive it. About 24% of these deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

    While this is happening, it is pertinent to also point out that Nigeria with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV as at 2018 had the second largest HIV epidemic in the world. Unfortunately Many of the people living with HIV in the country are unaware of their status. Worse still, the low levels of access to antiretroviral treatment continues to put even those who know their status and in need of treatment on the brink, meaning many deaths in Nigeria are still directly linked to AIDS.

     

    Alongside this Nigeria is classified ad the country with the fourth largest tuberculosis epidemic in the world. Their case is made even more precarious as most of them are prone to tuberculosis. This is a huge problem as HIV and TB co-infection is now becoming an increasing concern for people living with HIV.
    Records have shown that about 63,000 people living with HIV in Nigeria are infected with TB each year. On the flip side, an estimated 407, 000 people who tested negative to HIV in Nigeria have found to get infected with TB each year ( in case you are thinking TB is synonymous with HIV).

    Out of the HIV negative persons with TB, an estimated 115,000 HIV people die each year while an estimated 39,000 HIV positive people also die annually.
    You may not appreciate what it means for 154,000 people to be dying each year from a single cause. The figures become real only at times like this when burials are allowed in few cemeteries like the case in Kano.
    Meanwhile, we have not talked about the case of the over 59,000 women who die each year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

    Meanwhile, in the past year, Nigerian recorded the highest number of under five children who died from pneumonia. If you are wondering how, this is it: An estimated 162,000 children died of pneumonia in 2018, the year just before COVID-19 outbreak. This translates to 443 deaths per day, or 18 deaths per hour.
    If nothing, the outbreak of COVID-19 has revealed the frail health of many Nigerians, as most of the deaths recorded do far revealed underlying health issues among the deceased. It has also revealed the weakness in Nigeria’s health system.

    The COVID-19 outbreak may have simply helped to put numbers to the death of ‘ordinary’ people in Nigeria unlike in the past when only the death of a ‘big person’ was taken note of. In most cases the ordinary person is made to believe that the death of their loved one is the will of God. Cases abound of how doctors, nurses and other health care personnel would easily give up on a patient even where there is enough opportunity to salvage things.
    COVID-19 may just be the biggest opportunity for countries like Nigeria to unmask and resolve the real causes of needless daily deaths in Nigeria.

     

    Onche Odeh is a Communication Development Expert /Strategist

  • Tension in Kano over mysterious death of professors, bankers, editor, others in 24hrs

    There is tension in Kano State over reports of eleven prominent persons who reportedly died within the last 24 hours.- TheNewsGuru (TNG) has published series of report on mysterious deaths in Kano in the past few days.

    Among those listed in new death recorded include, foremost economist, Prof. Ibrahim Ayagi; professor of physiology, Prof. Aliyu Abdullahi Umar Dikko; the Regional Manager of First Bank in Kano, Abdullahi Lawal; erstwhile Managing Director (MD) of the Defunct Continental Merchant Bank; and Mallam Musa Ahmad Tijjani, ex-Editor of Leadership Sunday and Triumph newspapers among others (See list).

    The cause of death is not yet known, but it might not be unrelated to the novel coronavirus outbreak in the state.

    The coordinator of the Kano technical response team for COVID-19, Dr Tijjani Hussaini, confirmed the deaths.

    However, he said the deaths cannot be linked to COVID-19 until investigations are completed.

    Meanwhile, the COVID-19 testing laboratory in Kano state has remained shut for the past three days following reported lack of testing materials.

    Some of the staff in the laboratory were also said to have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the shutting down of the facility.

    Governor Ganduje of Kano State has said the situation in Kano State was becoming terrible by the day as cases of COVID-19 pandemic continue to increase in the state.

    This is as the state took samples of fresh 44 persons for testing, while issue of deaths among the elderly has not been settled.

    “But as the situation gets serious, we are surely on top of it, but this requires putting up a testing machine in Kano by the federal government.

    Governor Ganduje, however, assured that nobody that tested positive was in serious need of a ventilator; hence the situation is still manageable.

    He said in order to punish offenders of the current lockdown, they have established ten mobile courts to try anybody found wanting.

    Ganduje explained that they usually transport the samples of suspected cases to Abuja which takes almost 7 hours and in most cases, the samples get wasted, forcing them to look for other samples.

    Governor Ganduje who commended Kano people for observing the total lockdown said the initiative was the only remedy to stop the pandemic.

    “We are appealing to the federal government to as they support Lagos and Ogun States also come to the rescue of Kano State quickly.”

  • (Update) FG agrees to evacuate relatives of 70-year-old mother in-law from Covid-19 ravaged Kano

    Mrs Sadinat Ahmed mother in-law of a victim of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC alleged negligence that led to her son in-law’s death due to Covid-19 complications has finally gotten succour from Federal Government to help evacuate her daughter and grandchildren from death ravaged Kano State.

    Recall that the TheNewsGuru.com, TNG had reported the alarm raised by the Abuja based lady that her son died because of the negligence of Kano NCDC.

    A source privy to this development revealed that a powerful relative of the deceased contacted the FCT ministry and there are positive moves to evacuate the lady’s daughter and grandchildren from Kano.

    The lady had raised the alarm via an audio clip that went viral in the early hours of Saturday where she narrated her ordeal.

  • COVID-19: High Profile Deaths in Kano State

    COVID-19: High Profile Deaths in Kano State

    Following the alarming spread of the novel coronavirus in Kano State, many lives have been lost owing to the virus.

    These deaths recorded include some prominent figures as follows:

    1- Prof Ibrahim Ayagi the CEO of Hassan Gwarzo School

    2- Alh. Dahiru Rabiu Former Kano Grand Khadi

    3- Dr. Musa Umar Gwarzo the dad of Mahmoud Gwarzo

    4- Mal Musa Tijjani the former Editor of Triumph Newspaper.

    5- Alh. Adamu Isyaku Dal former Subeb ES

    6- Alh Salisu Lado.

    7- Haj Shamsiyya Mustapha

    8- Haj Nene Umma

    9- Alh. Garba Sarki Fagge.

    10. Dr. Nasiru Maikano Bichi Secretary Student Affairs NWU.

    11- Prof. Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology department BUK.

  • [Video] Kano’s mysterious deaths rise to 640 in seven days, investigation still inconclusive

    [Video] Kano’s mysterious deaths rise to 640 in seven days, investigation still inconclusive

    The fears that Kano, Nigeria’s most populated state may lead the Covid-19 pandemic in the country to an alarming rate is fast becoming real – an official of the state has confirmed that the ‘unusual deaths’ in the state has risen to 640 in just seven days.

    This development confirms a report published by TheNewsGuru (TNG) on cases of unusual deaths in the state which is yet to be directly linked to the deadly Coronavirus that is threatening the world at large.

    Speaking on Channels TV about the increasing deaths in the state, the Deputy Coordinator, Kano State Covid-19 Response, Dr. Sabitu Shuaibu clarified that the 640 death was recorded in the last one week and not in two days as insinuated by some person in the social media.

    He added, “Let’s say about an average of 100 deaths daily from Kano metropolis, but don’t forget that around 50% of the Kano population are within the metropolis; we can agree that there are deaths going on, but we also understand that there are deaths going on from other causes. We are saying that we are putting up a system to investigate if there is a link between Covid-19 and the deaths.

    “There are deaths going on, it may include Covid, but people are also dying or other causes.”

    Watch video

    Though the deaths in the state have not yet been linked to the deadly coronavirus disease.

    Khalid Munir, a resident in Kano, said he was deeply concerned about the situation because cases of Coronavirus in the city were rising.

    “Who knows what is killing people? The development is causing people to panic and no one knows what is going on.
    “The index Coronavirus case for example went to a lot of places even Friday prayers before he was confirmed positive, so a lot of people might be walking around with Coronavirus and dying from it and not even know,” he said.

  • Top banker dies of COVID-19 complications in Kano

    Top banker dies of COVID-19 complications in Kano

    A Regional Manager with a first generation bank (name withheld) in Kano has died of suspected COVID -19 complications.

    According to a report by The Nation, the late banker took ill on Friday and was first admitted at a private clinic from where he was referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital .

    Family sources said the deceased, who was in his early 50s, was rushed to a private clinic after he suffered high fever, intermittent cough and respiratory hiccups without getting medical care.

    According to sources, he was placed on oxygen on arrival at the private clinic and the treatment was discontinued after he displayed no signs of stability.

    One Hajiya Salma Ahmed, who claimed to be a mother- in-law of the deceased, in a viral audio, painted a gory picture of how the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) frustrated attempts to secure a helpline.

    Hajiya Ahmed said “the family had called the “Kano NCDC” line several times but couldn’t get through.

    They finally got to “Abuja NCDC” and were assured that officials in Kano would visit the patient to take his samples.

    She said: “But no one visited up till my son-in-law died in agony.”

    She expressed worries that her daughter and other family members might also have been infected.

    Details shortly…

  • Erudite Prof of Economics, Ayagi dies at 80

    Erudite Prof of Economics, Ayagi dies at 80

    Erudite Professor of Economics, Ibrahim Ayagi died a few hours ago.

    The Kano-born fire spitting Professor of Economics was born on August 8 1940 will be remembered more by Nigerians for the frontline role he played in rejecting IMF conditionalities in the 1980s during military president Ibrahim Babangida regime.

    Details as to how he died are still sketchy.

    Details to follow

  • COVID-19: What we are doing to ensure Kano does not turn another epicentre – FG

    The Federal Government said it had moved into Kano State to intervene in the outbreak situation and prevent it from becoming the next epicentre in the country.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this on Thursday during the press briefing by the task force.

    The SGF also disclosed the PTF had instructed the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to proceed to Kano and, in conjunction with the state government, mobilise for immediate contacts tracing to contain the speed of the spreading of the disease.

    He also mentioned concerns over the refusal of private healthcare facilities to comply with the directive get accredited by the Federal Ministry of Health before proceeding to commence treatment of cases related to COVID-19, noting that this posed serious danger, not just to the health and life of the personnel working in such facilities, but to those of their loved ones as well as the general public.

    On the situation in Kano, Mustapha said: “The situation in Kano is still being assessed and monitored closely. Based on preliminary findings, the PTF has directed the NCDC to send an enhanced support team, mobilize resources for contact tracing and immediately ensure that necessary steps are taken in conjunction with State Government to contain the spread of the pandemic in Kano and stop the city from becoming the next epicentre”.

    Speaking on non-compliance to instructions by privately owned healthcare facilities, he said: “The PTF views with some measure of concern the non-compliance by private medical facilities with the directive to seek accreditation before treating COVID-19 related cases.

    “The highly infectious nature of COVID-19 if not well managed in purpose-built facilities and specialists, pose a lot of danger not just to the medical staff in such hospitals but also to other patients and loved ones at home. We therefore appeal strongly to operators of private medical facilities wishing to continue to treat COVID-19 cases to apply to the Federal Ministry of Health urgently, for accreditation”, he said.

    He, however, appealed to all Nigerians to continue obeying all the advisories issued so far to stay safe from the danger of contracting the dreaded disease, charging further that these were the times that all citizens need to show love and concern to each other, especially towards those categorised as the most vulnerable among the population.

    “I encourage you to comply with all the advisories and to continue to be your brothers’ keeper especially given the unintended impact of the lockdown on the poor, the needy, the aged, the vulnerable, persons living with disabilities and the sick. This is the time to show the essence of the fear of God and love for humanity in us.

    “​The PTF notes that the number of cases reported have risen to 873 across 25 states and the FCT with 197 discharges and 28 fatalities. I have mentioned these numbers in order to underscore the need for citizens to comply with advisories strictly so that we can slowdown the spread of the virus. These advisories still remain the most effective way of flattening the curve.

    “Thee issue of stigmatisation still persists and it is counter-productive to our efforts. This disease does not discriminate on status, creed, tribe or color and anybody can be infected.

    “It is my humble appeal that once you are infected by this disease, you should immediately report to appropriate medical facilities in your own interest and the interest of your loved ones.

    “COVID-19 is not a condition and there is no need to stigmatise anybody. I must remind all of us that over 90% of infected persons recover from this disease. In this regard, I urge all those who have recovered from this disease to tell their stories.”

  • Nigeria records 38 new Covid-19 cases, 23 in Kano alone

    Nigeria records 38 new Covid-19 cases, 23 in Kano alone

    Nigeria has been hit with 38 new cases of Coronavirus, taking its overall total to 665.

    In the report released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Monday, Kano has a whopping 23 new cases, with Lagos not having any.

    Of the figures released by NCDC, Gombe, a new entrant into the league of states with the virus, has five cases, Kaduna, three; Borno, two; Abuja, one; Sokoto, one and Ekiti, one.

    “Thirty-eight new cases of #COVID19 have been reported; 23 in Kano, 5 in Gombe, 3 in Kaduna, 2 in Borno, 2 in Abia, 1 in FCT, 1 in Sokoto and 1 in Ekiti.

    “As at 11:10 pm 20th April there are 665 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Discharged: 188; Deaths: 22,” NCDC said.

    How State Stands

    Lagos-376

    FCT-89

    Kano-59

    Osun-20

    Oyo-16

    Edo-15

    Ogun-12

    Kwara-9

    Katsina-12

    Bauchi-7

    Kaduna-9

    Akwa Ibom-9

    Delta-4

    Ekiti-4

    Ondo-3

    Enugu-2

    Rivers-2

    Niger-2

    Benue-1

    Anambra-1

    Borno-3

    Jigawa-2

    Abia-2

    Gombe-5

    Sokoto-1