Owing to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s performance on primary healthcare delivery, Borno State has emerged winner of the maiden Primary Healthcare Leadership Award both at the national and regional levels for the year 2022.

The win entitled Borno to receive a prize of $700,000 for winning the national champion award and another $500,000 for winning the northeast zonal champion award. The combined prize amounted to one million, two hundred thousand dollars ($1.2m).

The presentation took place on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Primary Healthcare Leadership Award was held for the first time and it was initiated by the Nigerian Governors Forum in collaboration with UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation and the National Healthcare Development Agency.

The award aims at recognizing and rewarding states that have made significant progress in the delivery of primary healthcare services.

The competition is open to all states in the country with winners selected based on a set of criteria that include leadership and governance, service delivery, human resources for health, logistics support for healthcare providers and monitoring and evaluation components.

At the award presentation, Governor Zulum thanked the organizers for the recognition and said the award would inspire his administration to continue to prioritize healthcare delivery, to ensure all citizens have access to quality and affordable healthcare services.

The Zulum administration has established and renovated over 200 healthcare establishments across Borno’s 27 local government areas and has recruited close to 1,000 medical doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and lab technicians deployed to healthcare centres.

UNICEF’s country representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, and the Managing Director of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, in their separate remarks urged stakeholders to work harder towards addressing challenges of the Nigerian primary healthcare system.

They cited a lack of personnel, infrastructure and nutritional deficit among children, particularly, in the rural areas.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has said nothing can stop the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29.

Abubakar disclosed this while urging Nigerians to pray for Tinubu’s administration to succeed.

He spoke at a roundtable engagement with traditional and religious rulers which was organized by the World Bank on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said: “There must be change because in the next few days or weeks there will be a new government; what can we contribute to that government to stabilize?

“Whether anybody likes it, it must take place, a new government is coming on May 29, so what can we do besides prayers, because we believe in the Almighty, we believe in God that gives and takes.

“After that so what? What do we do to help the government stabilize and move the country forward?”

He charged Nigerians to be united and work towards ensuring equity and justice.

Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity says his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration created 12 million new jobs in agriculture alone.

Shehu made the statement on Channels TV’s ”Sunrise Daily” programme, as he stressed that the administration did well in many sectors including power, security, anti-corruption fight among others.

He said the previous administration spent $5 billion on the purchase of foreign rice, but under Buhari, no money has been budgeted for the same purpose.

The presidential spokesman said; “In agriculture alone, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) is talking about 12 million new jobs, look at what we did in agriculture, this administration inherited just four functional fertilizer processing companies, we have 52 that are working today.

“And this shifted the supplies of fertilizer to these 12 million new rice farmers, today rice farmers alone domestically produce rice. This country has achieved food sufficiency, we have diversified the economy, we are no longer a monocultural economy.

“This country had spent $5 billion before this administration every day to buy foreign rice, today no one US Dollar leaves the Central Bank of Nigeria for foreign rice.

A Nigerian woman, Tola Azeez, has claimed that the Nigeria Police Force is yet to pay her N5million she is entitled to after a court ordered that she receives compensation for being assaulted.

She was captured in a video which went viral weeks ago, being flogged with cane by policemen in uniform in Iwo, Osun state.

The victim dragged the officers and entire police force to court to seek justice and she won the case. The court then ordered police to pay her N5million for damages.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that there are many fraudulent ways traders and other members of the public can be defrauded online.

The commission advised traders to beware of various online tactics aimed at defrauding them.

The commission made these disclosures during its telecom consumers sensitization program themed “ “Shine Your Eyes- No Fall Mugu” held on Thursday.

The event which was held at Araromi spare parts market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had market leaders, NCC officials and representatives of telecoms providers, security agencies and journalists in attendance.

Head of Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mr. Banji Ojo, while addressing the traders said that there are many ways people can be defrauded online or through telephone conversations.

He advised the traders to be wary of applications they downland and people they communicate with online.

He said the sensitisation became necessary given the various cases of fraudulent activities aimed at defrauding members of the public online by hackers and fraudsters.

“There are many ways to defraud you online. Do not open applications you don’t know. Do not give your password to anyone, even your children.

“It is dangerous to share your information with someone you don’t trust online.

“That is why we are saying that open your eyes and shine your face. No bank will call you to ask you to reveal your bank details on the phone”.

President of the Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers Association, Olanrewaju Maruf Ishola in his remarks, thanked the commission for bringing such an educative program to the market.

“This program is very important. As you can see, our people came out in their numbers to attend. They have listened and have learnt a lot.

“We love the program. It is very helpful. We want to thank the NCC for bringing it to our doorstep. We look forward to having more programs of this kind.”

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board have released names of successful candidates for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercises.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the Board, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, on Monday in Abuja, disclosed that the Computer-Based Test for successful applicants will hold on Thursday across the federation.

The secretary said that applicants are to visit the Board’s portal at “cdcfib.career” to check for successful candidates’ names.

He said successful applicants should proceed to print their invitation letters and be at their respective designated centres on or before 6:30 am on Thursday for accreditation.

Ahmed said those shortlisted are also required to carry with them to their centres; originals and photocopies of either of the following means of identification.

“National Identification Slip (NIN Slip), international passport, voter’s card or driver’s licence.

“Applicants are also to ensure that they follow strictly the information contained in their invitation letters,” he said.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has approved 25th November, 2023 for the conduct of local government council elections in the state.

This is contained in a letter of notice with reference number YB/SIEC/GEN/03/V.II dated 11th May 2023 and addressed to the Executive Chairman, Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission by the Secretary to the State Government, Baba Mallam Wali.

The letter read, “I am pleased to convey the approval of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni CON, for the conduct of Local Government Elections on 25th November 2023.”

Maidawaarewa had reported that Governor Buni dissolved the 17 local government caretaker management committees following the expiration of their tenure in office.

The SSG, Wali, had, announced the dissolution last Thursday and directed the Chairmen, Caretaker Management Committees to hand over the affairs of their respective local governments to the Directors of Personnel Management.

Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA) is set to launch a mobile application for the agency.

Dr. Mohammed Goje, YOSEMA executive secretary, disclosed this to MAIDAWAAREWA, noting that the application is 100% completed and will soon be available on Google store and other platforms for accessibility.

According to him, the creation of the application is aimed at bridging the gap in communication between the agency and victims of disaster and other emergencies.

He explained that the application will help people of the state to communicate timely and effectively with the agency in reporting emergency situation, while also assist the agency to respond swiftly.

He said it will also help the agency in tracking victims of disaster and vulnerable people who are in need of emergency intervention and support.

Highlighting some of the features of the application, the executive secretary said that the application is flexible and easy to use for all.

Goje added that the application will operate using mobile network services.

The Anambra State Police Command said it has raided a camp occupied by hoodlums in the Ogbaru Local Government Area and arrested two persons in connection to the killing of two US Consulate officials on Tuesday in the area.

The state police commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng, stated this on Thursday during a press conference in Awka, Anambra State.

Echeng said police operatives moved swiftly immediately after the command got information of the attack. He said the operatives combed the area and raided a camp used by gunmen in the area and found that it had been totally deserted, but were able to arrest two persons, who are now helping police in their investigation.

READ ALSO: I extend our nation’s condolences to US Embassy over killing of officials – Buhari

He said: “As you are probably aware, a team of officials from the Lagos Consulate of the United States of America and their police escorts (USA) were ambushed on 16/05/2023.

“Consequently, a joint team of Mobile Policemen and troops of the Nigerian Navy stationed in Onitsha was immediately deployed to the area. Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the joint security team sighted and engaged the assailants in a shot-out, but they escaped through a nearby forest.

“Yesterday – 17/05/2023, joint security forces comprising police tactical teams from the command and troops of the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigerian Navy raided a camp in Ogwuaniocha community of Ogbaru LGA, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants, but discovered that it had been deserted. Two persons of interest were arrested and they currently assisting the police in the investigation. The criminal camp was razed down by the joint security team.”

The CP said the arrested men have had their contacts traced through their phone conversation and that the command is gradually closing in on the killers.

Asked about the level of cooperation the command has received from the US government since the incident, Echeng said the US embassy has been cooperative and has also helped the command with needed information on the officials and their mission to Anambra.

He said this was not the best time to apportion blame about whether the officials sought security clearance from the command before coming into the state or not, adding that the priority now is to get the perpetrators to face the law.

He stated: “The preliminary investigation conducted by the command, following the incident, revealed that five male officials of the USA consulate and four armed Mobile Police escorted from Lagos on a mission to assess the impact of erosion in Ogbaru LGA were travelling in a convoy of two vehicles when they suddenly came under attack by armed men who targeted them with gunfire and set their vehicles ablaze.”

The release by the CP further revealed the identity of the officials who were involved in the attack.

They include; Jefferson Obayuwane (RTD DSS personnel), Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila, Avwuvie Kaye Monday, Bukar . A. Kabuiki – (Police), Emmanuel Lukpata – (Police), Friday Morgan -(Police) and Adamu Andrew – (Police).

“Regrettably, seven persons (including three of the consulate officials and four Mobile Police escorts) were murdered during the attack, while two other officials of the consulate are yet to be found.

“The deceased police officers include Inspr. Bukar Adams, Inspr. Friday Morgan, Inspr. Adam Andrew and Inspr. Emmanuel Lupata all of Squadron 23, Police Mobile Force, Lagos. No USA citizen was among the casualties.

“Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased persons have all been recovered and deposited in a morgue while the state police command and other security agencies are working round-the-clock, in concert with the Government of Anambra State, to find and rescue the missing officials. In this regard, I call on members of the public who can provide information about the identities and locations of the culprits, to kindly assist the police with such information timeously.

“On behalf of the Anambra State Police Command, I wish to seize this opportunity to condole the families and friends of the deceased persons as well as the USA Consul over this tragic incident. May I assure you all of the resolve and determination of the command and other security agencies to track down the perpetrators.”