Zulum Embarks on Resilient Tour of Gwoza

…Pledges Swift Security Measures

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has assured that no community in Gwoza Local Government Area will fall into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents.

The governor also announced that Bita, which was recently displaced would be resettled tomorrow (Friday) back to their community.

Governor Zulum gave this assurance on Thursday during a visit to the Emir of Gwoza, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Idrissa Timta, at his palace.

“Deliberate measures have been taken to protect Gwoza, Limankara and Bita. From now on, we will not allow any community to be displaced. Instead, more communities will be resettled,” Governor Zulum declared.

He added, “I have just visited Limankara and assured residents that steps have been taken to safeguard the town. We have provided the Civilian JTF with logistics to ensure the people are well protected.”

The governor informed the Emir that he would remain in the area until security situation stabilises.

The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Idrissa Timta, expressed gratitude for Governor Zulum’s leadership and commitment to the security and welfare of the people.

He highlighted security as the most pressing challenge in the area and urged both federal and state governments to deploy additional troops and equipment to protect communities.

“Security is our major concern. We urge the military to launch a massive onslaught on the insurgents’ enclaves,” the Emir stated. “I appeal to the Federal and Borno State governments not to allow Gwoza fall.”

The Emir also condemned the actions of individuals undermining peace efforts and warned against the spread of fake news on social media. He commended the Brigade Commander of 26 Task Force Brigade and the Commanding Officer of 192 Battalion for their efforts in restoring peace.

…Zulum Pledges Swift Security Measures

Governor Zulum earlier visited Limankara, a community nine kilometres from Gwoza, to reinforce the resilience of residents. Addressing the people, he promised immediate government intervention to prevent displacement or insurgent attacks.

“I assure the people of Limankara that significant improvements in security will be seen within the next 24 hours. Given its strategic importance, we will not allow this town to be displaced,” Governor Zulum said.

“This town has never been displaced, even at the peak of Boko Haram insurgency. Why should we allow it now? Before I leave, I will engage with the military and Civilian JTF to ensure full security.”

Governor Zulum was accompanied on the visit by the member representing Gwoza at the State Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Buba Abatcha; Brigade Commander of 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General N. I. Abdullahi, Special Advisers, and other senior government officials.

Zulum Embarks on Resilient Tour of Gwoza

UMTH now largest hospital in nigeria

By: Bodunrin Kayode

In an era where demands for bed spaces in some Government Hospitals have become a major challenge in Nigeria, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) has added 272 more beds to its centres to become the largest in the country.

While making this assertion recently, Professor Ahidjo noted that the drive to accommodate more patients is meant to meet the growing demands for affordable admission of patients who need special care from the region.

He told the gathering of the committee of 72 Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria (CCMDFTH) who came to attend their 110th regular meeting in Maiduguri that the UMTH now has 1,577 bed spaces scattered in all the new ans old centres of the facility and may add more when the three new proposed centres come to existence.

Reeling out a breakdown of the bed spaces available for in-patients and referrals, Ahidjo said that in 2023, the bed spaces were about 1,305 but as at this week, it has risen to 1,577 making it the largest in Nigeria in terms of in-patients admission capacity.

The CMD commended the Minister of Health and social welfare Professor Mohammad Pate for supporting the steady growth of the hospital which suffered a terrible flood tragedy last year adding that his “team spirit” aimed at targeting goals is exemplary as it has helped in the recovery process from the water due to the collapsed Alau dam..

The CMD equally commended Governor Zulum for the N500m support he gave the hospital last year during the tragedy of the flood which devastated the Borno state capital damaging key infrastructures like the UMTH.

” We are grateful to the Governor for coming to our aid at a time when all our oxygen plants were damaged by the flood. We used that fund to repair one of them and we are using it now. Other facilities damaged include the kidney centre, fire service, our fence and many more including the tarred road in front of the administrative block which were repaired from that fund.” said Prof Ahidjo.

While welcoming his colleagues from all over the federation, Ahidjo announced that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu ICT centre commissioned in the Hospital is the “first medical ICT” facility in the country because of its unique nature.

Other facilities commissioned include: the Professor Jibril Aminu heart care centre which has the capacity to accommodate open heart surgeries and the largest interventional radiology centre in Nigeria.

Additionally, the 150 bed Dr Abubakar Umar Garbai stroke centre meant to handle all manner of strokes was commissioned to light up the occasion for many seniors present at the celebration of another set of new projects at UMTH.

Also in a bid to ease the stress of relatives of patients, the guests witnessed the sod turning ceremony of a hospital guest house where residents can pass the night while waiting for their loved ones on admission get better.

Zulum, relieves first 50 kidney patients from the burden of paying for kidney operations

Addressing the gathering, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum announced a donation of N250m for 50 patients with kidney challenges awaiting transplant.

This is part of a proposed one billion naira the Governor announced to support the handling of the challenge to be spread across the year to keep about 200 residents with the problem alive..

This amount will be renewed after three months to ensure that more patients receive the needed support for consumables during such operations until the remaining N500 million is disbursed in two more separate instalments.

“I am pleased to announce that the Borno State government will deposit the sum of N250 million to support kidney transplants for 50 patients. I am ready to contribute N1 billion as the government’s contribution towards supporting the less privileged indigene of the State ,” Zulum stated.

“The Borno State government therefore pledges to support this initiative and is ready to provide all the partnership required to sustain the provision of kidney transplant to less privileged patients at UMTH. This is only the beginning—I promise to do even more,” he added.

Governor Zulum commended UMTH for its strides in specialised healthcare, particularly its recent successful kidney transplants stating that “I was told both the patients and donors are doing very well. Indeed this is a landmark achievement and a great relief to patients most importantly to those who cannot afford the cost of transplant,” he remarked.

Speaking on the State Emergency Medical and Ambulance Services (SEMAS), the Governor confirmed that ten new fully equipped ambulances would be deployed across health facilities by the week’s end. This, he stressed, would bolster the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.

“As a Government, we pledge our full support for the sustenance and scale-up of the Maternal and Newborns Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative programme. We view it not as a stand alone initiative, but as a critical complement to our broader health reform agenda,”.

“We are committed to ensuring that the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative succeeds in providing comprehensive antenatal care, emergency obstetric services, skilled birth attendance, postnatal follow-up and routine immunisation to protect our children from preventable diseases,” he stressed.

Also present at the occasion were National Assembly members, Elder statesman Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, permanent secretary federal ministry of Health kachollom Daju, former Deputy Governor of Borno, Usman Durkwa, Chair of the committee of CCMDFTH Prof Emem Bassey and over 70 of his colleagues and the represented of several health partners of the UMTH.

UMTH now largest hospital in nigeria

Nigerian Workers Abandoned in CAR Get Succour at Nigerian Embassy
…Reps Committee Begins Probe of Incident

By: Michael Mike

The stranded Nigerians in Central Africa Republic CAR have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.

It will be recalled that through a viral video, some Nigerian miners called for help, which elicited immediate intervention from officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security who accompanied them from their location to the capital.

The journey to Bangui took a number of days with the Nigerians, alleged victims of a Chinese National and a Nigerian agent who hired them for work in that country and abandoned them there without paying their renumeration for 11 months,

A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun said obviously traumatised, weak and distressed, they (the stranded Nigerians) had called for help to be rescued.

He said: “They are now in the safe hands of officials of the Nigerian Embassy who will arrange their return back home.”

He added that: “They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and staff of both countries , the Nigerian Embassy, the CAR Security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories.

“The agent who lured them into the job scam, is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted .”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations has launched a thorough investigation into a viral video depicting some Nigerians in the Central African Republic (CAR) alleging abandonment and passport seizure by a Nigerian businessman, purportedly linked to a Chinese company.

A statement released to the press and signed by the committee’s Chairman, Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu, assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted to uncover the truth behind the allegations.

The statement read: The Committee regrets the unfortunate situation the Nigerian workers are being subjected to in CAR and assures that a comprehensive investigation is currently ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to their ordeal.”

The Committee clarified that Abdulrauf Ademola, the businessman accused in the video, has refuted the allegations of passport seizure, unpaid salaries, and abandonment. It further stressed that Ademola is not affiliated with the Chinese Embassy or the China General Chamber of Commerce.

It added that: “His (Ademola’s) actions or inactions should not be linked to the embassy or Chinese enterprises doing their legitimate businesses in Nigeria.”

The committee stated that China-Nigeria relations have flourished over time, yielding significant results across key sectors, including trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, human capital development, and people-to-people partnerships.

It urged the media and the public to report on China-Nigeria relations in a fair, balanced, and truthful manner, reflecting the mutual solidarity between the two nations.
End