TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerians

  • Over 3 million Nigerians benefit from NYSC’s health rural dwellers initiative – DG

    Over 3 million Nigerians benefit from NYSC’s health rural dwellers initiative – DG

    The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Brigadier General Ahmed has disclosed that over 3 million Nigerians have benefited from the scheme’s health put in place some years ago.

    The DG revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja, during the flag-off of special medical outreaches under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) organized as part of activities to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Scheme.

    He expressed that, since its establishment five decades ago, the National Youth Service Corps has remained an enduring platform for the mobilization of human and material resources for the actualization of the Nigeria of our dream.

    “Like other developing countries, Nigeria faces challenges in its health sector, but concerted efforts are being made by various stakeholders, including the NYSC, with a view to making the system more functional.

    “As a Scheme that has continued to expand its frontiers in the delivery of services to Nigerians, NYSC launched its Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in 2014. It is a platform through which Corps medical personnel comprising Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Dentists, amongst others, provide free and quality health care for the people, especially the rural poor.

    “I am pleased to report that, so far, over three million Nigerians have benefitted from this initiative. The outreach being flagged-off today comes just five weeks after a similar one we conducted at the IDP Centre, Malaysia Garden, Abuja, where people came out in large numbers to receive free treatment for various medical conditions. We made other special interventions such as the administration of vaccines, sensitization of the community on HIV/AIDS prevention and sanitation, among others.

    “It is gratifying to note that Her Excellency, the First Lady, has shown more than a passing interest in the success of the HIRD. We are still relishing her benevolence in donating this high-capacity ultra-modern mobile clinic that is deployed here today. I am pleased to report that the facility, which was handed over to the Scheme a year ago, has greatly enhanced the efficiency of our health interventions.”

    He, however, pledged that the scheme will not relent in sustaining the initiative to ensure more Nigerian especially rural dwellers benefited.

    In her address the Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar revealed that available records have shown that the programme, which is carried out every quarter of the year in all the States of the Federation and the FCT, has brought succour to over four million beneficiaries, who could not have afforded medical bills.

    “This special edition of the HIRD is organized in further demonstration of the commitment of the Scheme to putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians, and a reflection of its relevance in the trajectory of nation building.”

     

  • Some male celebrities bankrolled by ‘sugar mummies’ – Nedu

    Some male celebrities bankrolled by ‘sugar mummies’ – Nedu

    Nigerian media personality, Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, popularly known as Nedu, has claimed that he is aware of some of his colleagues who are being bankrolled by rich sugar mummies.

    According to him, older married lovers sponsor some Nigerian male celebrities’ flashy lifestyles and projects.

    He stated this on the latest episode of The Honest Bunch audiovisual podcast co-hosted by him.

    Nedu said, “These days, men dey go for girls wey get money pass them. In fact, all these things wey we dey talk, men dey even do worse these days. I know want mention some people wey e be say for this our industry, you know their names, wey e be say na women dey bankroll their lifestyles.

    “And there is nothing bad in it. The same way wey e be say nothing dey bad in man bankrolling a woman.”

     

  • 30 years not enough to clean Theodore Orji’s mess in Abia – Ohanaeze

    30 years not enough to clean Theodore Orji’s mess in Abia – Ohanaeze

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has said that 30 years would not be enough to clean up the Theodore Orji’s ‘political Dynasty’s mess’ which governor Okezie lkpeazu inherited in 2015.

    The group said, it pertinent to put the facts straight regarding the ongoing public spat between the State’s outgoing Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and his predecessor, Senator Theodore Orji over unpaid salaries.

    A statement signed by its Secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro noted that as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, it’s focused on good governance in Igboland as well the overall wellbeing of the Igbo Nation.

    lsiguzoro while conceeding the fact that payment of workers’ salaries as and at when due, next to security, is the basic duty of any Government, Senator Orji should be the last person to tackle Governor Ikpeazu based on his own abysmal record.

    “Rather than become a distraction to the incoming Labour Party, LP, State Government in Abia State under Dr Alex Chioma Otti, through his unwarranted verbal attacks on Governor Ikpeazu, Ochendo, who has been retired from politics, alongside his son, the former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedu Orji, by the Obidient movement’s Tsunami, should be contritely seeking the forgiveness of God and the people of Abia State, whose destiny he has actively mortgaged in the past 24 years of his being in power in the state.

    “In fact, 30 years will not be enough to clean the mess the Ochendo political Dynasty put Abia State in. At Ikpeazu’s inception in office on 29th May, 2015, Abia State was virtually a ” failed state” in terms of Infrastructural decay, insecurity and near absence of investments and economic development.

    Ohanaeze recall that it was under Theodore Orji, that the Anambra State born business magnate, Prince Arthur Eze made an embarrassing statement that, ” Abia State stinks”.

    “Unfortunately, Ochendo, as Governor lacked the guts to either reply Arthur Eze or stop the stench that Abia State then was.

    “Yet, by installing his son as Speaker, as well as several other subterranean moves including planting of moles, Orji held the state to ransom thereby sabotaging Governor Ikpeazu’s genuine efforts at uplifting good governance in the state.

    “As such, people who don’t have the right information find it hard to appreciate the modest achievements of Governor Ikpeazu because the rot left behind by Ochendo was of immense proportion.

    The group urged Ikpeazu, to be focused to the end and allow posterity to judge all as he is regarded as the best amongst the three Abia elected.

     

  • Akpabio visits Hilda Baci as she breaks Guinness world record

    Akpabio visits Hilda Baci as she breaks Guinness world record

    Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, visited Nigerian chef, Hilda Bassey Effiong, popularly known as Hilda Baci, who broke the Guinness World Record for longest cooking hours.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Hilda broke the record, which was previously held by Indian chef, Lata Tondon on Monday morning.

    Shortly after she clinched the record, Godswill Akpabio made it to Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos State, the venue of the hisorical moment.

    He cheered her and promised to reward the 27-year old Akwa Ibom State citizen.

    Akpabio in his tweeter handle said “I was this morning accompanied by my colleagues Senators-elect, on a solidarity visit to an Akwa Ibom child, Hilda Baci, who is set to break the Guiness Book of record as the Chef with the longest cooking duration in the world.

    ”I pray for her success and I promise to reward her at the end of the event. I thank her for exhibiting the Can Do Spirit of the Akwa Ibom child”.

  • FG airlifts 2,371 stranded Nigerians from war-torn Sudan

    FG airlifts 2,371 stranded Nigerians from war-torn Sudan

    The Federal Government has so far evacuated 2,371 Nigerians stranded in war-torn Sudan.

    Dr Onimode Bandele, Director of Special Duties, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) gave the figure in Abuja on Saturday when 125 stranded Nigerians arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    The batch was the 15th set of Nigerians the Federal Government airlifted back to the country.

    They were airlifted from Port Sudan.

    Bandele, who welcomed the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, said there were no more stranded Nigerian women and children in Sudan.

    He said arrangements were already made to airlift the remaining Nigerians stranded in Sudan who are mainly male, adding that another batch of evacuees would arrive later on Saturday.

    Representatives of the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, among others were on ground to receive the returnees.

  • 2,246 Nigerians evacuated from Sudan – NiDCOM

    2,246 Nigerians evacuated from Sudan – NiDCOM

    Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says a total of 2,246 Nigerians have so far been evacuated from Sudan.

    Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated this on Friday in Abuja, while giving updates on the Federal Government’s evacuation efforts since May 3.

    He said on May 3, 94 evacuees, comprising 78 males and 16 females, boarded NAF C130 plane, while 274 boarded Air Peace plane from Aswan Airport, Egypt.

    Balogun said on May 5, 130 Nigerians also boarded Tarco Airline, while on May 6, 131 evacuees boarded the same airline from Port Sudan, with 102 boarding the same airline from Port Sudan on Sunday.

    He further said 410 Nigerians boarded Max Air and 322 Azman Air, both flights from Aswan Airport on Sunday.

    Balogun said two flights from Tarco Airline evacuated 133 passengers, with seven children and nine infants, and 126 passengers, also with 12 children and 41 infants, from Port Sudan on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

    He further stated that 123 Nigerians boarded Tarco Airline on Wednesday from Port Sudan, while 136 boarded the same airline on Thursday.

    He, however, said that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was expected to give the details of the 264 passengers aboard Tarco Airline as well as the 128 and 136 evacuees in separate flights.

    Meanwhile, the NiDCOM Chairman, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, received the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, in her office in Abuja.

    Ikechukwu expressed his university’s willingness to absorb some of the students recently evacuated from Sudan and give them concessions in the area of tuition.

  • Sudan crisis: 834 Nigerians arrive Abuja

    Sudan crisis: 834 Nigerians arrive Abuja

    A total of 834 Nigerians stranded in conflict-ridden Sudan, on Sunday arrived the pilgrims terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The airport terminal witnessed a large turnout of parents, as well as relatives of the returnees, welcoming them with happiness.

    Dr Sani Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, while receiving the returnees, said more stranded Nigerians would be back in the country in few days.

    He explained that three flights arrived the nation’s capital with a total of 834 returnees.

    “As of this morning, we received three flights, Azman Air brought in 322 persons, Max Air brought in 410 persons, while Tarco Airline from Port Sudan came in with 102 persons, making a total of 834,” he said.

    He said that the delay in the release of some of the returnees luggages in Wadi Halfa, in Sudan, had been settled and their luggages came in with them on their flights.

    He added that the sick ones among them had also been taken to the clinics for proper check-up, before releasing them to go to their respective homes.

    He added that a mop-up session had been put in place to bring back more stranded Nigerians in Sudan.

    “If you know any of your colleague that was left behind, kindly let us know,” he added.

    The returnees who were filled with joy, sang the national anthem in appreciation of the Federal Government’s efforts in bringing them back to the country.

    One of the returnees, Master Najeed Hassan, a medical student of Sudan International University, expressed appreciation to the government for their safe return.

    “I thank the Federal Government for taking care of our feeding over there and ensuring our safe return.

    “I, however, wish to return to Sudan once the war is over to complete my education, because I just have seven months to graduate,”  he said.

    Officials of the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, NEMA, NAPTIP, NIDCOM, Refugees Commission, Port Health officials, Police, among others, were all on ground to receive the returnees.

  • Overlapping inter-agency functions affecting evacuation of Nigerians from war torn Sudan -Gbajabiamila

    Overlapping inter-agency functions affecting evacuation of Nigerians from war torn Sudan -Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said overlapping inter-agency functions is affecting evacuation of Nigerians from war torn Sudan.

    Gbajabiamila stated this
    as he welcomed colleagues back to plenary on Tuesday.

    According to him, there was also inter-agency disagreements due to overlapping functions, hampering the ongoing efforts.

    He said: “Over the last few weeks, the Republic of Sudan has descended into war. Unfortunately, this rapid descent into the carnage of violent conflict has entrapped many Nigerians resident in that country.

    “Efforts are underway to ensure that our citizens resident in the Republic of Sudan, as students, business people and in other vocations, are evacuated quickly and safely.

    “I have requested the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to invite the honourable minister of Foreign Affairs and officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to appear before the House to give an account of the status of evacuation efforts.

    “The House is aware of ongoing difficulties with the evacuation efforts and the federal government’s response to the developments in the Republic of Sudan. We are also mindful that some of these difficulties flow from interagency disagreements arising from overlapping mandates and the absence of established operational guidelines for such circumstances. While our priority is to ensure the welfare and well-being of our fellow citizens caught in this war, we must further revisit the statutory and other frameworks that have left us seemingly unprepared to respond promptly and effectively.

    “The conflict in the Republic of Sudan reminds us once more of the fragility of nations. In pursuing our political objectives, we must never lose sight of the fundamental truth that in war, everybody loses; in peace, everybody can win.

    “All our personal, partisan and sectional interests must always succumb to the overarching and overriding interest of ensuring the unity and stability of Nigeria. If we fail in this regard, nothing else will matter, and none of us will be absolved in the judgment of history.

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  • Sudan: Bus transporting Nigerian students catches fire

    Sudan: Bus transporting Nigerian students catches fire

    On Monday, one of the buses that was transporting stranded Nigerians from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, to Port Sudan, where they were scheduled to enter Saudi Arabia, went up in flames.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports that a total of 26 buses had departed from Al Razi at midnight and were en route to Port Sudan with the stranded Nigerians.

    “One of the buses conveying some 50 Nigerian students from Sudan with a tag number (Katsina 1) heading to Port Sudan as part of the second batch of FGN evacuation got damaged due to excessive heat from one of the vehicle’s tyres.

    “Dr Hashim Idris Na’Allah, the chairman of the Nigerian Elders’ Forum in Sudan, was one of the passengers in the said bus, which contained a total of 50 students (49 males, 1 female).

    “The incident happened around 2:30am Sudan time.

    “The driver stopped the bus near an RSF checkpoint, just before the tire exploded causing a fire to start.

    “All the passengers escaped unhurt.

    “Forty out of the 50 passengers were later distributed to the other buses evacuating the students, while the remaining passengers spent the night where the incident happened alongside the driver at the RSF checkpoint.

    “The students said the RSF really did their possible best to help the passengers and offered them with cups of tea in the morning before they left,” Daily Trust reports that Sani Aliyu who is in Sudan disclosed.

    Fortunately, the passengers were able to continue their journey to Port Sudan despite the mishap.

    More than 1,000 Nigerians have been left stranded and are being evacuated through the Port Sudan route due to the challenges encountered in getting the first set of evacuees across the Egyptian borders.

    The group of stranded Nigerians has been stuck at the borders for five days after being denied access into Egypt by officials. The flights scheduled to airlift them to Nigeria are already waiting, but the stranded Nigerians have been unable to enter Egypt to board their flights home

  • JUST IN: NANSS, finally confirms evacuation of all Nigerian students from war torn Sudan

    JUST IN: NANSS, finally confirms evacuation of all Nigerian students from war torn Sudan

    Nigerian students remaining in Khartoum, Sudan, have all been evacuated from the raging war in the country.

    This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the National Association of Nigerian Students Sudan.

    The statement, signed by the NANSS Public Relations Officer 1, Amal Mohammed Pantami, said: “This is to inform the general public that all the remaining Nigerian students have been evacuated from Khartoum today Sunday 30th April, 2023.

    “There were a total of 26 buses, and each bus contained about 50 people.

    “We continue to ask for everyone’s prayers, and we hope all the students are able to reach Nigeria safely.

    “We are ever grateful for your continuous support and prayers.”

    JUST IN: NANSS, finally confirms evacuation of all Nigerian students from war torn Sudan

    Nigerian students remaining in Khartoum, Sudan, have all been evacuated from the raging war in the country.

    This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the National Association of Nigerian Students Sudan.

    The statement, signed by the NANSS Public Relations Officer 1, Amal Mohammed Pantami, said: “This is to inform the general public that all the remaining Nigerian students have been evacuated from Khartoum today Sunday 30th April, 2023.

    “There were a total of 26 buses, and each bus contained about 50 people.

    “We continue to ask for everyone’s prayers, and we hope all the students are able to reach Nigeria safely.

    “We are ever grateful for your continuous support and prayers.”