News
48 doctors displaced by the recent flood in maiduguri

48 doctors displaced by the recent flood in maiduguri
By: Bodunrin Kayode
48 doctors were badly affected by the last flood which took over the city of Maiduguri and some parts of Jere council areas of Borno state.
These practicing members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) were completely displaced with their families from their homes by the raging waters from the Alau dam such that some of them had to seek for solace in 36 camps recreated for internally displaced people (IDPs) from flood.
Chairman of the NMA Dr Bukar Baki gave this revelation recently while having an exclusive interview with this reporter on the celebration of the world physician day at the NMA Secretariat in Maiduguri.
Dr Baki said that the executive did their best in ensuring that they visited the affected doctors who fled their homes from the flood waters and empathized with all of them individually.
“As a matter of fact, we gave them all the support they needed to make them fall in line with our standard of provision of welfare of our members.
” incidentally most of them who found themselves in IDP camps were involved in the provision of services to the entire populace which was affected by the sudden surge of water from Alau dam.
“This meant we had to activate our humanity support system for other flood affected residents to be involved in an instant outreach services to hundreds of residents in various camps that needed instant medical care.
“We even made sure that hot meals were cooked for the idps for the first one week of the flood. And that went a long way to help people out of despair.” Said the chairman.
The Chairman noted that the annual physician week is set aside by the United Nations to celebrate doctors and understand their contemporary challenges even as they proffer solutions to some of them.
Speaking on the peculiar challenges affecting his members, the Chairman regretted that brain drain is one glaring problem which occurs as a result of the lingering disparity between practitioners in the country and others outside who work in much more conducive environments.
“Brain drain is our major problem in this part of the country. We have just about 800 doctors providing services to people in the entire state and you know what that means. It puts a stress on individual doctors who do the jobs of many.
” This is what results into burn out which in most circumstances is a very strong factor responsible for the state government loosing many doctors to other states with more personnel and remunerations.
“Health care should be paid across board because health is not on the exclusive list in terms of remuneration. So in response to your question, we would be glad if the federal government can take over the payments of remuneration doctors as they have done in the judiciary to ensure sanity and stability.
” The state govt loosing lots of medical doctors yearly and this is worrisome to us because one doctor is left to hundreds of patients in a day and you know what that means to the mental state of that practitioner. That is the only way to mitigate the problem.” He stressed.
On arrears for his colleagues, Baki said that the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) salary structure was revised and implemented from January this year but they are yet to see the corresponding response to this on their pay slips.
No doctor however lost his life to the flood which came about as a result of the sudden collapse of the Alau dam 25km away which collapsed and emptied itself into the city centre destroying the homes of over 200,000 people.
48 doctors displaced by the recent flood in maiduguri
News
Fresh Babcock graduate found dead in hostel, police begin investigation

Fresh Babcock graduate found dead in hostel, police begin investigation
By: Zagazola Makama
The Ogun State Police Command has commenced investigation into the sudden death of a 20-year-old fresh graduate of Information Technology from Babcock University, Ilisan Remo.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the deceased, identified as Akawa Boluwatife Samuel, was brought to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital by his roommates on Wednesday and was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty.
Police detectives who visited the scene said one of the deceased’s roommates, Adili Leonard Chimdindu, disclosed that Boluwatife had complained of cold and difficulty in breathing on July 27, and was advised to visit the University Medical Centre.
According to him, they were on campus to complete their clearance process ahead of graduation, and the deceased had planned to return home soon.
He further stated that the deceased was in good spirits the previous night and played games on his laptop until around 11:00 p.m. He was, however, found unresponsive by morning.
Photographs of the deceased were taken, and the statement of his elder brother, Akawa Toluwanimi John, was recorded.
The body has been deposited at the university morgue for autopsy and preservation, while investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death.
Fresh Babcock graduate found dead in hostel, police begin investigation
News
Community leader decries terrorists’ occupation of 7 Plateau communities

Community leader decries terrorists’ occupation of 7 Plateau communities
By: Michael Mike
The Waziri Mushere and community leader in Plateau, Chief Yohana Margif has raised alarm over terrorists’ current occupation of seven villages in Mushere community after displacing the inhabitants from their ancestral homes.
Margif in a statement issued on Friday, expressed his shock over the new development, and listed the occupied villages as Hokk, Kaban, Kadim, Nawula, Dulu, Mbor and Margif.
According to him, the seven communities, which are all in Mushere Chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state were recently attacked and ravaged by the terrorists, who killed many of the inhabitants and displaced thousands.
He said that for over three months now, the beleaguered communities had been under relentless terrorist attacks and siege, forcing them to flee their incestral homes to take shelter at Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps.
Margif said that the Fulani invaders, who have taken over their villages, are shockingly building their tents with their cattle gracing on their farms with impunity.
He noted that this was in spite of the state government’s claim that no part of the state was under terrorists’ occupation.
He said: “Am still in a state of shock by the governor’s claim that no part of Plateau State is under the control of bandit terrorists.
“My people have been forced to live in the wilderness at this critical period of the year when they are supposed to be in their farms.
“The terrorists who were previously called unknown gunmen are now known, as they have now set up tents in our lands on which their cattle are grazing, which is visible for everybody to see,” he said.
The Labour Party chieftain and gubernatorial hopeful, who lost his bid for the Plateau State governorship seat in the 2023 elections, stressed that terrorists who have built tents and are openly carrying guns around can no longer be regarded as unknown.
He said that the reality on ground contradicted the governor’s assertion as these communities have been practically and brazenly taken over by terrorists, who have usurped their lands and livestock.
“Enough is enough of this, government has abdicated its responsibility of protecting its citizens for too long.
“Now that the terrorists’ identity is known, let the relevant authorities direct the security agencies to go after them, so that our people can return to their ancestral homes.
“The Plateau State government must take immediate and decisive actions to restore peace and security of the communities because the people deserve protection, justice and the right to live in their ancestral homes without fear,” he emphasised.
Margif suggested that government should immediately direct security agencies to flush out the terrorists from the seven affected communities and smoke them out of their well-known sanctuaries in surrounding hills.
He also urged relevant authorities to take decisive steps to address the humanitarian challenges by providing relief to the distraught inhabitants who are currently taking shelter at lDP camps.
Community leader decries terrorists’ occupation of 7 Plateau communities
News
Gombe Gov. urges corps members to support state devt

Gombe Gov. urges corps members to support state devt
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Friday urged corps members deployed to the state to contribute meaningfully to its development during their service year.
He made the call while declaring open the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Orientation Course at the temporary NYSC orientation camp in Akko Local Government Area.
The governor represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Inuwa Ibrahim, described corps members as critical stakeholders in nation-building.
Yahaya noted that the immediate past set of corps members had contributed significantly through community development projects, youth mentorship, and empowerment programmes.
“As you serve in Gombe State, I encourage you to be part of our developmental process, contributing to the transformation of our state and the empowerment of our youth.
“Your predecessors did well in nation-building, and it’s our collective responsibility to continue on this positive path,” he said.
He assured the corps members of a safe and conducive environment to enable them serve effectively and impact their host communities positively.
“Gombe State is a safe haven, and we guarantee a conducive working environment for your activities and programmes during your service year,” Yahaya added.
In her remarks, Mrs Chinwe Nwachuku, the NYSC State Coordinator in Gombe, urged the 940 corps members to participate actively in all camp activities as a foundation for their service year.
She encouraged them to adhere to camp rules, shun negative behaviour, and uphold the core values of the NYSC.
Nwachuku also appreciated the Gombe State Government, stakeholders, and residents for their continued support and commitment to the success of the NYSC scheme in the state.
Gombe Gov. urges corps members to support state devt
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