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Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control

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Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control

Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control

…Awards scholarship to 446 students 

By: Our Reporter

The Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abdulkarim Lawan, on Friday appealed to the Federal Government and the military authorities, especially the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor to fast track efforts in the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity by troops of “Operation Hadin Kai’ restore civil authority in Guzamala and Kukawa Local Government Headquarters which are still under the full control of Boko Haram.

Lawan stated this at the official flag off  ceremony for distribution of Phase IV Scholarship worth N5 million to 446 indigenous students of Guzamala studying at various tertiary institutions after they were displaced by insurgents in the last six years.

The occasion which took place at the Kashim Ibrahim College of Education Multi -Purpose Hall in Maiduguri, was attended by traditional rulers, the academia, politicians and many displaced students from Guzamala.

Following activities of insurgents, Lawan who is the longest serving Speaker in Nigeria, initiated a scholarship scheme to deserving students which was coordinated by Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan Scholarship Committee (HALSC) chaired by Comrade Wakil Sheriff.

Addressing the gathering,  the Speaker appreciated the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other criminalities in Borno and the North East in general.

He however said, “the entire Guzamala Local Government area where i hail from is still under the control of Boko Haram sect as there is no presence of troops or civilians as I speak, while in Kukawa which is the Council Headquarter, we only have presence of civilian population with no military presence. 

“There is no single existence of civil authority in Guzamala, not to even talk of Military presence in the Council Headquarter and its surrounding communities, our people including our District Heads, stakeholders who are here with us are still taking refuge in camps and host communities located in Nganzai, Monguno and other neighbouring local government areas including Maiduguri metropolis for the last six years.

“Our people are desperate to go back home, it is unfortunate that this is not the first time I have been agitating for military presence in Guzamala and surrounding communities to enable my displaced people take the advantage of Governor Babagana Zulum’s move in Reconstruction and Resettlement, but to no avail. I insist that Guzamala is still a no -go -area”. He lamented.

While urging the benefitting students to take their studies seriously, Lawan pledged that the gesture is a continuous one, so as to enable most of the displaced students to meet their immediate school needs.

He therefore commended the chairman of the scholarship committee, Comrade Wakil Sheriff and his team for doing a thorough job during the selection process, which he noted, was devoid of political or ethnic consideration.

Also Read: Gombe Govt. inaugurates healthcare mobile app to enhance…

The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Bukar Zanna appreciated the Lawmaker for giving hope to the hopeless, and solicited support and prayers for the Speaker to succeed in his political career, and for God to restore peace not only in Borno, but the country as a whole.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Scholarship Committee Chairman, Comrade Sheriff said, the Speaker has initiated a good number of physical projects that has direct bearing on the lives of the majority of the people, but could not actualize due to the unfortunate activities of Boko Haram that destroyed all communities, including means of livelihood in the council. 

However, he intimated the guests that in the quest to support human capital development, and in accordance with the Borno State Government 25 – Year Development Plan of Governor Zulum, Rt. Hon Lawan has been giving stipend to indigenous students studying in various tertiary institutions within and outside the state and beyond as his constituency projects.

“Since our inauguration, which gave us the mandate to collect databases of students, scholarships have been awarded to over 350 students during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd phases. I am glad that today, we are witnessing the phase IV of the scholarship award to 446 students, consisting of 432 undergraduates and 14 post graduates.

“Among the beneficiaries of today’s scholarship award are 213 students from University of Maiduguri, 29 students from Borno State University and 7 students from other universities across the country.

“We also have 120 students from colleges of Education, Agriculture and Health, Mohammed Goni College of Law and Islamic Studies (MOGOLIS) and 77 students from Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri who are beneficiaries of this gesture today”. Sheriff said.

Apart from the scholarship, Sheriff informed that the Speaker under his Foundation has facilitated admission of indigenes to many tertiary institutions and ensures that tuition and other fees are paid for new students.

The Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Mohammed Mustafa Kukawa, who is the Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Governor Zulum, said the gesture is apt, as it will alleviate the immediate economic hardship faced by students while in school. 

In a goodwill message, numerous stakeholders including Umar Sheriff, a Lecturer from College of Agriculture in Maiduguri who benefited from the first batch of the scholarship scheme thanked the Speaker for his humanitarian assistance, and urged the students to use this golden opportunity in order to better their future. 

Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of Awards to the Speaker as the ‘Best Humanitarian Lawmaker’ by various Student’s associations.

Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control

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Health

New UNAIDS Report that Debt Crisis Has Left Health Chronically Underfunded in Africa

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New UNAIDS Report that Debt Crisis Has Left Health Chronically Underfunded in Africa

By: Michael Mike

Growing public debt is choking sub-Saharan African countries, leaving them with little fiscal room to finance health and critical HIV services, a new report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

The report said domestic revenues, debt relief and development aid: Transformative pathways for ending AIDS by 2030 Eastern and Southern Africa/ Western and Central Africa, shows that the debt crisis is putting in jeopardy progress made towards ending AIDS.

It added that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the largest number of people living with HIV, with more than 25.9 million people of the 39.9 million living with HIV globally. The region’s success in having reduced new HIV infections by 56% since 2010 will not be sustained if fiscal space is constrained.

The report, released ahead of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, showed that the combination of growing public debt payments and spending cuts set out in International Monetary Fund agreements in the next three to five years will, if unaddressed, leave countries dangerously under resourced to fund their HIV responses.

The UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said: “When countries cannot effectively look after the health care needs of their people because of debt payments, global health security is put at risk,” adding that: “Public debt needs to be urgently reduced and domestic resource mobilization strengthened to enable the fiscal space to fully fund the global HIV response and end AIDS.”

The report said debt servicing now exceeds 50% of government revenues in Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia, adding that even after debt relief measures, Zambia will still be paying two-thirds of its budget on debt servicing between 2024 and 2026.

It said there has been a noted decline in HIV response spending since 2017 in Western and Central Africa, from 0.3% of GDP in 2017 to just 0.12% in 2022.

It said Western and Central Africa will need to mobilize US$ 4.18 billion to fully fund the HIV response in 2024. This will climb to US$ 7.9 billion by 2030 unless efforts are scaled up today to stop new HIV infections.

While US$ 20.8 billion was available for the HIV response in 2022 in low and middle-income countries through both domestic and international sources, this funding was not enough to sufficiently finance the HIV response. Western and Central Africa for example had a funding shortfall of 32% in 2022.

In 2024 alone, Eastern and Southern Africa will need to mobilize almost US$ 12 billion to fully fund the HIV response. This amount will climb to around US$ 17 billion by 2030 unless new HIV infections are reduced.

It said to enable increased domestic resource mobilization for countries to respond effectively to their pandemics, sub-Saharan African countries will need to strengthen their tax systems, including closing tax exemptions which currently cost countries an average of 2.6% of GDP in lost revenue across the region. Donors need also to scale up financial assistance for health and the HIV response between now and 2030, while creditors should offer debt relief to heavily indebted countries to ease the burden.

Byanyima said: “World leaders cannot let a resource crunch derail global progress to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”

New UNAIDS Report that Debt Crisis Has Left Health Chronically Underfunded in Africa

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Borno begins closure of temporary idp camps in maiduguri and Jere flood areas

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Borno begins closure of temporary idp camps in maiduguri and Jere flood areas

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Borno state government has commenced closures of temporary internally displaced peoples (IDP) camp created for residents displaced by flood.

A source within the Borno health sector partners told this reporter that closure and merger of camps have started today to enable people return to their homes after the water goes down.

He said that the government made this decision to discourage residents not affected coming to swell the camps and creating tension for those who are already traumatized by the tragedy.

” All camps (apart from Gubio, Bakasi and Teachers Village) will be closed by Thursday 19th September 2024. Gubio, Bakasi and Teachers Village will continue to operate for the next one week, or 2 weeks maximum.” He hinted.

In another development, the Borno State Government is providing N10,000 one pay-off, 25kg of rice and 1 carton of spaghetti per individual IDP affected by the flood tragedy to go home.

“Families without a place to relocate to will temporarily be moved to Gubio, Bakasi and Teachers Village camps.

“The government will, on eventual closure of Gubio, Bakasi and Teachers Village, give N100,000 to each IDP family for recovery.” He said.

On mapping and assessments, the source noted that the government is conducting a mapping and assessment exercise of areas that were damaged by the floods to guide the plans to relocate some of the affected IDPs when the 3 camps are eventually closed.

” Humanitarian partners are conducting similar assessments. The exercise must be coordinated with the government on the drivers seat.

Additionally ” the world health organization (WHO) pointed out that the mapping should carefully be done in consideration of the upcoming cholera vaccination in Borno.

“The WHO has actually received 500,000 doses of cholera vaccine to be administered in the general area where the flood affected.”

The Borno government has stooped direct distribution of cash and non food items (NFIs) to IDPs by humanitarian partners.

Instead, partners are urged to share with the government the stock of NFIs and cash that they would like to distribute to IDPs, then, the government will consolidate and distribute same.

Data and information management
Henceforth, all data will be consolidated and shared out by the government.

Meanwhile the Commissioner of information Usman Tar has said that about 40 percent of the camps have received their palliatives and would be expected to go home soon.
L

Borno begins closure of temporary idp camps in maiduguri and Jere flood areas

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Borno Floods: FG Deploys Experts to Test for Hazardous Chemicals

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Borno Floods: FG Deploys Experts to Test for Hazardous Chemicals

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has deployed a team of experts to help mitigate the effects of the flooding that ravaged parts of Borno state.

The government also announced that experts will carry out continuous water sampling and tests and identify sources of hazardous chemicals, and take proactive measures to prevent waterborne diseases in the state.

The recent flooding in Borno State, caused by the breakdown of the Alau Dam, has resulted in unprecedented devastation, with over 30 lives lost, 23,000 residential houses destroyed, and 414,000 people displaced, critical infrastructure, including bridges, roads, electricity systems, healthcare facilities, and schools, severely damaged, including approximately one million people losing their source of livelihood.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, noted that he led key officials of the ministry to pay a condolence and sympathy visit to the state last Friday, towards mitigating the adverse effects that may occur as a result of the unfortunate flood incidence.
Lawal stated that it is important to focus on the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive response to mitigate the resultant environmental challenges posed by the flood.

He said: “During the condolence visit, I informed the Governor that the Federal Ministry of Environment will send a team of experts from the relevant department, agencies and projects to collaborate with Borno State Government in addressing the impacts of the flood.”

The minister highlighted that the ministry has consequently deployed a team of experts from the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, the Department of Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management, the Department of Forestry; the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-arid Landscape Programme Project, the Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Project, the National Park Services, and the Environmental Health Council to help in mitigating the effects of the flooding.

He said: “The above team will carry out continuous water sampling and tests, identify sources of hazardous chemicals, and take proactive measures to prevent waterborne diseases. Similarly, the team will maintain continuous sampling of water sources which is essential for monitoring water quality, identifying contamination, as well as taking proactive measures to maintain public health and safety in the state. All agencies under the Ministry in Borno State have been directed to collaborate with the State Government to mitigate the effects of the flood disaster.
“So far, 100 drums of 40kg of chlorine has been deployed to Borno State to disinfect water sources, ensuring safe drinking water and preventing waterborne diseases like cholera. Furthermore, the Ministry will deploy 30,000 flyers to sensitise the public on best sanitation and hygiene practices which include proper waste disposal, frequent handwashing, and personal hygiene to reduce the spread of infections.

“Beyond immediate short-term response, the Ministry will also work closely with Borno State Government to develop comprehensive flood mitigation strategies and early warning mechanisms to safeguard against future recurrences. We will also explore avenues for collaboration with international partners to strengthen the State’s capacity for disaster risk management and climate adaptation.”

The minister commended Borno Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum for his swift response in mobilising resources and ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected communities.

He said: “I am confident that under His Excellency’s capable leadership, Borno State will emerge stronger from this tragedy and the resilience of its people will once again shine through.
“I hope that together, the Federal Government will strengthen its resolve to build resilience against such environmental challenges in the future.”

Borno Floods: FG Deploys Experts to Test for Hazardous Chemicals


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