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Tag: Nigerians

  • Ignore calls for restructuring, Gov Yahaya Bello tells FG, Nigerians

    Ignore calls for restructuring, Gov Yahaya Bello tells FG, Nigerians

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Thursday called on Nigerians to disregard calls for the restructuring of the country, describing such calls as mere political deceit.

    The governor made the call in Lokoja, the state capital, during a meeting with leaders of the organised labour.

    He described those behind the agitation for the nation’s breakup and restructuring as national enemies, stressing that Nigeria “under President Muhammad Buhari is on the path of restoring its lost glory.”

    Bello appealed to Nigerians to support the Federal Government in its determination to right the wrongs of the past, noting that the President had since assumption of office made practical efforts to unite every segment of the country.

    He said, “Every country has its unique challenges, but is making effort to overcome these challenges collectively irrespective of its cultural, religious or political differences.”

    “Nigeria is a blessed country with the prospect of a great nation,” the governor added.

    Bello noted that his administration had since assumption of office in the state taken bold steps to improve critical infrastructures such as road, rural electrification, water and quality health-care for the people of the state.

    The governor explained that Nigeria would benefit more as a united nation with diverse ethnicity living and working together as one.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that several influential Nigerians have advocated for urgent restructuring of the country to move her forward.

  • Nigerians in US condemn Bello’s hospital shooting

    Nigerians in US condemn Bello’s hospital shooting

    The Nigerian community in the U.S. has condemned the shooting on Friday of seven people at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Centre in New York by Nigeria-born Dr Michael Henry Bello.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Bello, 45, shot dead a woman on the 17th floor of the hospital and injured six others on the 16th floor, before allegedly killing himself, the New York Police Department Commissioner James O’Neil, said.

    The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), in a statement issued by its President, Solomon Bakare, said the Nigerians in the U.S. are the best of their kind.

    “The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN, Inc.) condemns, in strongest terms, the senseless and shocking shooting of seven innocent people by Dr Henry Bello at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital on Friday, June 30, 2017.

    “On behalf of the Nigerian Community in New York City, we offer our sympathies and condolences to the family of Dr Tracy Sin-Yee Tam, the physician whose life was unjustly taken by this senseless shooting.

    “Our thoughts and prayers also go to the other victims, most of whom are still undergoing treatment for their injuries, as well as to the entire staff and patients of the Bronx Lebanon Hospital, who have been needlessly traumatized by Dr Bello’s heinous act.

    “We like to state categorically that Dr Bello’s dastardly act is by no means reflective of the exemplary service and professionalism of thousands of Nigerian physicians and other health care practitioners all over the United States, who have dedicated their lives and careers to saving lives and are highly respected in the medical field.”

    Founded over 25 years ago, the OAN is a New York based not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

    The Nigerian organization has also been at the forefront of encouraging Nigerians to make positive contributions in the U.S.

    “OAN is also the arrowhead of the Nigerian Independence Day Parade Committee, which is a coalition of Nigerian religious, professional, and socio-cultural organizations that plans the annual Nigerian Independence Day Parade in New York City.

    “These organizations include Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Nigerian Nurses Association, Nigerian Lawyers Association, Nigerian Social Workers Association, and various religious and Nigerian ethnic associations.

    “OAN also sponsors seminars and symposia on various topical issues, and has received several awards, proclamations, and citations from City, State, and Federal elected officials for its work,” the statement read.

    Bello, who hailed from Auchi, Edo State, was going to be fired by the hospital, after reports of sexual harassments, but instead chose to resign in February 2015 in lieu of termination.

    He went into the hospital, his former workplace, wearing a white lab coat with an AR-15 machine gun hidden underneath and asked for a specific doctor on the 16th floor.

    However, when he was told the doctor was not there, he started shooting at everyone and tried to set himself on fire before allegedly committing suicide.

    Of the six people wounded in the shooting, two had been transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital by Sunday as they had injuries to the brain and liver and remained in critical but stable condition.

    Four patients – medical residents, a medical student and a patient – remained at Bronx-Lebanon, where they were in stable condition recovering from injuries to the abdomen, neck, thigh and hand, hospital officials said.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Again, UK repatriates 28 Nigerians for committing immigration offences

    The United Kingdom Government on Thursday deported 28 Nigerians for immigration offences.

    According to the spokesman for the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, the deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, a few minutes after 12pm.

    He said the group comprised 21 males and seven females, who were brought back aboard a chartered Titanic Airways with registration number AWC-761/2.

    He added that they were received by officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the Nigeria Police Force, and officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

    “They were profiled by immigration authorities and were each given a stipend to facilitate their transportation to their respective states,” Alabi said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that in the last two weeks, about 57 Nigerians have been deported from various countries in Europe while over 1, 500 were deported from other countries around the world in the last one year.

  • Embark on regular eye check to avoid blindness – Optometrist advises Nigerians

    Dr Samuel Udoetuk, an optometrist, has advised the public to embark on regular eye check in order to prevent blindness.

    Udoetuk gave the advice in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Gwagwalada (FCT) at the free eye screening organised by J.A Eagle Hospital.

    He said that the aim of the free eye screening was to educate and eradicate blindness in the rural areas where it was found to be common.

    “To avoid blindness, a person should visit the hospital at least once in a year for proper eye check.

    “And if anything is detected, it can be treated immediately to avoid complications that might lead to blindness.

    “During any eye check, a lot of things will be looked out for to detect if there is any pathology in the eyes.’’

    He listed some of the common eye diseases to include glaucoma, cataract, long and shortsightedness among others.

    According to him, glaucoma is an increased pressure called intraocular pressure of the eye; it could damage the optic nerve which transmits images to the brain.

    Udoetuk said that if the damage continued, glaucoma could lead to permanent vision loss, adding that without treatment, glaucoma could cause total blindness within a few years.

    He said; “cataract which is a clouding of the lens in the eye and which leads to decrease in vision, often developed slowly and could affect one or both eyes.

    “In cataract, the patient may notice some symptoms such as faded colours, blurry vision, halos around light, trouble with bright lights and trouble seeing at night.’’

    According to him, if any of these eye diseases is noticed early, it goes a long way in preventing the possible cause of blindness.

    He said the screening which would last for one week was another opportunity for residents of FCT to know their eye status.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Reps to honour Anthony Joshua, seven Nigerians who won UK Parliamentary seats

    Federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives just before adjourning plenary for the Sallah break on June 15 resolved to honour some Nigerians in the United Kingdom for making the country proud with their political and sporting exploits in recent time.

    The lawmakers who also sent ‎collective congratulatory messages to the newly elected UK parliamentarians.

    The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Rita Orji (PDP, Lagos), titled; ‘Congratulatory Message to Some Notable Nigerians in the diaspora’.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the seven Nigerians who made it to the UK parliament are: Chuka Umunna, Bim Afolami, Fiona Onasanya, Chi Onwurah, Kate Osamor, Kemi Badenock and Helen Grant, as well as Anthony Joshua who also won a boxing heavy weight match against Vlademir Klichko of Ukraine.

    Speaking on the exploits of the Nigerians at plenary, Rita Orji mentioned one of the compatriots as Oluwayemi Jenkins who she said has Nigerian heritage and has worked for various government departments in the United Kingdom ranging from the Customs and Excise, UK Border Agency and Immigration Enforcement at both strategic and operational levels.

    “She was awarded the Home Office Advisor of the year in 2014 and was named in the Queen’s Honors list as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her work in securing the borders of the United Kingdom.

    “She is the immediate past President of the Association of British-Nigeria Law Enforcement (ABLE) Officers, a position she held from 2008-2016 during which she worked assiduously to change the negativity towards Nigeria and Nigerians in the United Kingdom

    “She raised awareness and facilitated best practices between British and Nigerian Law Enforcement Officers and has continued to work with the Nigerian High Commission and Nigerians in Diaspora to raise awareness on issues of Immigration.

  • Emir of Kano calls for peace, unity among Nigerians

    Emir of Kano calls for peace, unity among Nigerians

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on ‎Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of their religious or ethnic affiliations.‎

    Sanusi made the call on Tuesday during traditional Hawan Nasarawa at the Government House, Kano. ‎

    The Emir advised adherents of the Islamic faith to practice the lessons of Ramadan for peace to continue to reign in the country.‎

    He also urged the state government to enlighten the people of the state, especially the youths on the importance of peace.‎

    ‎Sanusi called on the state government to provide pesticides to farmers whose crops were affected by insects and pests in some local government areas of the state.‎

    The royal father then called on ‎government to ensure sanitation in order to avoid flooding.

    ‎In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State thanked the Emir for his contribution for peaceful, stability and unity in the state.

    “We are very grateful for your call on peaceful co-existence due to‎ the position of Kano as the centre of commerce and industry.‎

    “We also want to emphasise the need for peaceful co-existence because it is the tool for achieving unity and progress as no nation can make progress without unity,” he said.‎

    He said that the government and the people of the state are having a cordial relationship with the ‎heads of other ethnic groups.

    Ganduje added that the state government had completed two hospitals with 500 beds in the state.

    “We completed two hospitals with 500 beds ‎and we provided them with state of art equipment,” he said.

    ‎He further urged all Nigerians to contribute immensely to the development of the country and pray for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Spain deports 23 Nigerians for breaking immigration rules

    The Spanish Government on Tuesday deported 23 Nigerians for committing various offences in the country.

    They were deported barely five days after 34 Nigerians were sent home from six European countries for committing immigration-related offences.

    NAN reports that 34 Nigerians were jointly deported by six European countries on June 22 for committing immigration-related offences.

    The deportees were sent back home from Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, Austria, Belgium and Hungary.

    NAN gathered that the new set of deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos, at about 6.40 a.m on Tuesday.

    The new deportees, comprising 21 males and two females, were brought back in a privilege style aircraft with registration number EC-IZO.

    DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development to NAN.

    Alabi said that the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    He said that others also on ground to receive them were officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    According to him, nine of the deportees, who were deported for drug-related offences, were handed over to the NDLEA.

    He said that two others, who were deported for criminal offences, were handed over to the police.

    Alabi said that the remaining 12 deportees, accused of breaching the country’s immigration rules, were profiled and allowed to go to their respective destinations.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Nigerians angry with Buhari for sending them voice message in Hausa language

    The voice message released by President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians, felicitating with them on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr has generated sharp criticisms of the Buhari-led government.

    TheNewsGuru.com published yesterday that the presidency relayed the Buhari’s voice message to Nigerians to debunk reports that he is suffering from speech impairment.

    There had earlier been reports in the social media claiming that the President is suffering from speech impairment and memory loss.

    Some Nigerians, however, expressed mixed feelings about Buhari’ s message with some civil rights organisations and prominent individuals berating the President for speaking to Nigerians in Hausa at a time the country is in dire need of ‘unity’.

    It’ s propaganda, says Junaid Mohammed

    A member of the House of Representatives during the Second Republic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, wondered what the President ’ s handlers intended to achieve with the Buhari’s voice message.

    He stated, “ Other than propaganda, I wonder what they ( President ’ s handlers ) intend to achieve by putting out such an audio clip ( message) at this time . The President needs our prayers and we sincerely pray for his quick recovery and safe return . ’’

    The message doesn’t address issues confronting the country – Odumakin

    Yinka Odumakin , said he expected the President to have cautioned Arewa youths against their ultimatum to the Igbo , noting that instead , Buhari simply danced around the issue.

    He said, “ The statement is so flat; it did not address specific issues on the ground. In view of what is going on in the country now, I would have thought he would have appealed to those, who are issuing notices to quit against some other tribes, to desist from doing such a thing.

    Odumakin berated the President for voice message which was sent in Hausa in the recording, saying that was not good enough. ’’

    “ Addressing the nation at this time in Hausa does not bring inclusiveness. I don’t think it’ s good enough for the President of a multi-ethnic nation to have made a national address in the language spoken by a section of the country, ” he said.

    No difference between Buhari, Nnamdi Kanu –Jonathan ’ s ex -aide

    Reacting to the President ’ s message, a former Special Assistant on Social Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Reno Omokri, on his Facebook page, condemned Buhari for addressing Muslims in Hausa.

    Omokri stated, “ In a country, whose official language is English, President Muhammadu Buhari broadcasts his Sallah message in Hausa! Would Trump ( whose origin is German) address America in German? So what about all those Nigerians who can’t speak Hausa?

    How would it have been if President Olusegun Obasanjo had released a Christmas broadcast to Nigerians in Yoruba or if President Goodluck Jonathan had done so in Ogbia?

    “ How can a national leader address Nigerians in a sectional language? Nigeria has never had a leader as divisive as Buhari! There is no difference between President Buhari and Nnamdi Kanu.

    The message is an insult to Nigerians – Fani-Kayode

    Reacting to the voice message former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-kayode, said it was not President Buhari that spoke in the Sallah audio recording, and that it was an insult to Nigerians for the President to have spoken in Hausa language.

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  • 9ice vs Falz: Nigerians react

    The uproar over a controversial song released by 9ice titled Living Things has elicited interest on social media. In the upbeat song, 9ice praised youngsters who are perceived to have ill-gotten wealth. Speaking in an interview, Falz condemned Nigerian artistes who glorify fraudsters in their songs subtly making reference to 9ice’s Living Things.

    In his reaction, 9ice affirmed that he wasn’t glorifying fraudsters in the song. According to him:” 0It’s just Falz opinion and perception about the song or about Nigerian artistes singing about such songs. The song is not a negative song it’s a positive song. The people mentioned in the song are socialites. If he has any problem with them, up .he can report them to EFCC and they will takeup That’s not beef; he made a statement and stands to be corrected”

    A cross section of Nigerians have reacted to the issue on social media

     

     

  • Over 100 Million Nigerians cannot afford treatment in public hospitals – Dogara

    Over 100 Million Nigerians cannot afford treatment in public hospitals – Dogara

    ….Pushes for NHIS coverage for poor, unemployed Nigerians

    Over 67 percent of Nigerians, which amounts to over a hundred million poor families, cannot afford to pay hospital bills for treatment of illnesses such as malaria in public health facilities, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has disclosed.

    He added that if Nigeria must achieve its national health objective of providing health for all, a situation where poor and vulnerable families in Nigeria do not have access to basic health services must be addressed by extending the coverage of national health insurance to them.

    Dogara, who was speaking while declaring an investigative hearing to examine the compliance rate of Health Maintenance Organisations to the NHIS contributions and utilization of funds by the healthcare providers and alleged inhuman treatment of enrollers open at the National Assembly on Wednesday, also called for creativity and innovation by actors in the health insurance sector to bring in more participants in the scheme.

    He said, “Regrettably, there is no mechanism to protect vulnerable families from the catastrophic effects of the exorbitant cost of healthcare services in Nigeria. Poor families, who constitute over 67% of our population, (well in excess of 100 million Nigerians), cannot afford to pay hospital bills even for treatment of malaria in public health facilities, nor for routine ante-natal services.

    “If we must achieve desired outcomes and changes, there is a compelling need to expand the coverage levels of NHIS, currently estimated to be about 4-5% of Nigerians, mostly in the formal sector. A scenario where even this abysmally low coverage is attributable to those in paid employment and other types of formal sector creates suspicion of lack of creativity and innovation on the part of key actors in the Health insurance industry in Nigeria, especially HMOs.”

    The hearing was organised by the House Committee on Healthcare Services

    He noted that the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which was established in 1999 with the overall purpose of securing universal coverage and access to adequate and affordable healthcare in order to improve the health status of all Nigerians, cannot be overemphasized as no nation can achieve a healthy milestone in the health sector without having such a health finance scheme mandated to check health emergency, reduce out-of-pocket spending for health services and avert what would otherwise be a national health crisis.

    Calling for a repositioning of the National Health Insurance Scheme, he said NHIS and the delivery partners have been subjected to various criticisms, challenges and complaints ranging from untimely payment by Healthcare Providers from the HMOs to unsatisfactory health services to enrollers.

    However, he added that selection of adequate and efficient methods of financing, in addition to organisational delivery structure for health services, is essential if a country is to achieve its national health objective of providing health for all and the way a country finances its health care system is a key determinant of the health of its citizenry.

    “Health care in Nigeria is financed by tax revenue, out-of-pocket payments, donor funding, and health insurance (social and community),” he said, while calling on relevant stakeholders to make contributions towards achieving the goal of the National Assembly to address the challenges, and proffer ideas towards resolving areas of concern so that drastic changes can be made for a better healthcare delivery system in Nigeria.