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FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has intensified the fight against antimicrobial resistance, which is estimated to lead to a global US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030, with the launch of the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector on Thursday
Speaking at the Launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako noted that a lot still needs to be done for the environment sector to come up to speed and be at par with other One Health sectors with regards to AMR management. He said: “It is in this context and in line with the mandate of the ministry that this policy on national antimicrobial resistance for the environment sector has been developed.”
The Minister said: “You will agree with me that antibiotics play a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable disease all over the world. However, resistance to previously potent antibiotics has become a major problem of major public health significance requiring a range of interventions and multidisciplinary approach. This growing trend of resistance to antibiotics calls for global action to monitor and control unnecessary use of antibiotics in humans and animals which eventually gets to the environment.”
Salako added that: “Antimicrobial resistance is not only a public health threats, it has huge implications for global economic wellbeing and security, affecting both developed and developing countries. AMR is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the ten top threats to global health. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), AMR is a global crisis that cannot be understood or addressed separately from the triple planetary crisis.”
He noted that: “The report of the 2022 Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report highlights alarming resistance rates among bacterial pathogens that causes the deadliest infections with other pathogens like virus, fungi and protozoa also becoming resistant. This report shows that AMR threat is growing at an alarming rate making treatment challenging with longer hospital stays, increased mortality and higher healthcare cost. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.”
The Minister said: “Nigeria as a responsible member of the global community is committed to adopting a holistic approach to addressing AMR to ensuring all of sector involvement, no duplication and efficient use of scarce resources. To achieve this, and protect public health, food security and the environment, the recognition of the interconnectedness between human, animal and environmental health in line with the One Health principles is central.”
Salako noted that: “In this regard, the Federal Ministry of Environment has embarked on a number activities aimed at laying a solid foundation for AMR surveillance in the environment sector of our country. This includes: AMR situation analysis in environment sector conducted in 2020 including laboratory and capacity needs assessment of environmental reference laboratories domicile with NESREA to pave way for setting up AMR surveillance in the environment sector and provide recommendations for strengthening capacities for AMR surveillance within the sector.
“Establishment of the Integrated National Environmental Health Surveillance System (INEHSS) in 2022 for real time environmental health and sanitation scientific data collection and processing for informed policy decisions, planning, monitoring, evaluation, early warning signals and response to environmental health challenges including disease outbreak. The INEHSS provides a premise for AMR surveillance in the environment considering the unsound release of antimicrobial residues in our environment.”
He revealed that with collaboration with other stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Environment intends to create AMR surveillance system in the environment sector by integrating AMR into INEHSS which is an existing surveillance system in the environment sector, in order to provide timely alerts on AMR spread; regulate the discharge and distribution of antimicrobials into the environment; promote public knowledge and awareness on AMR and implication of indiscriminate Antimicrobial Discharge (AMD) into the environment; establish national standards for monitoring and controlling antimicrobials in the environment through the development of
roadmap for monitoring AMR in the environment, standards for Antimicrobial residue, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARG) and Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria (ARB) discharge into the environment
He said this includes database of all allied industries, institutes, healthcare facilities and farms in Nigeria and most importantly strengthening of Environmental Health Officers’ capacity to track the activities of the culpable facilities.
On his part, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Representative Ad-Interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Koffy Kouacou Dominique said: “The antimicrobial resistance scourge affects humans, animals, plants, and the environment. It is estimated that 10 million people would die annually by the year 2050, and the economies of nations negatively affected if this challenge is not mitigated.”
He insisted that: “It is therefore important for countries to put in place actions that will reduce and control this scourge.”
Dominique added that: “Antimicrobial resistance which is a One Health issue needs to be tackled by all sectors. It is for this reason that the FAO in 2022 supported the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop the National AMR Policy and the National Strategic Plan (2023 – 2027). This support was also to assist in enhancing the capacity and capabilities of the environment sector to participate actively in development and implementation of multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary AMR control plans at the national and subnational levels.”
FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
News
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
By: Zagazola Makama
Reckless disclosure of sensitive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations by social media users has compromised ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the Lake Chad region, forcing Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters to relocate from monitored locations, reliable security sources told Zagazola Makama.
The social media handler had posted that the United States Air Force ISR aircraft, which has flown missions over the Lake Chad basin for three consecutive days, again returned on Saturday to conduct surveillance on ISWAP’s “Mantiqah Krinwa” in northern Borno. The aircraft, as with previous sorties, was tracked taking off from Accra, Ghana.
The operational gains, however, were undermined when a social media handler, identified as Brant Philip on Twitter (X), published the real-time flight paths and details of the ISR operations that were expected to remain covert.
The sources said that although ISWAP fighters were not recently concentrated in Krinwa, the ISR media leaks had unsettled the group, prompting a tactical movement from Dogon Chikun to Bulabulin in an apparent attempt to avoid potential air interdiction in identified locations.
“Once the details of the ISR mission were posted online, the terrorists became aware of the surveillance and began repositioning. These kinds of leaks directly endanger operations and personnel,” a security source said.
Another source noted that online exposure of such highly sensitive military activity compromises not only Nigerian security efforts but also partner operations.
“People on social media must understand that sharing operational intelligence, especially in real time, is not content, it is sabotage. Terrorists monitor these platforms too,” the source added.
Social media users, bloggers and open-source enthusiasts must exercise restraint and avoid amplifying sensitive information that could compromise missions, or empower terrorist networks.
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
By: Zagazola Makama
The death toll from Friday’s multiple motor accident in Katsina-Ala, Benue State, has risen to nine, while four injured victims are currently receiving treatment in hospital, officials have confirmed.
The crash, which occurred on the Katsina-Ala axis, involved several vehicles after an alleged deliberate obstruction of the expressway by two members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the two drivers – Stephen Kahungur, of Gbor community, who drove a Toyota car with registration number Benue MKD 569 TJ, and Saater Vihiga, of Ammafu Village, who drove a Toyota Carina with registration number Benue AX 896 MKD – were arrested for allegedly blocking the highway and causing the fatal chain collision.
Also arrested was the Chairman of the NURTW Katsina-Ala branch, Aja Vanger, who was said to have mobilised the suspects to block the road.
The three suspects are currently in custody.
Authorities say investigation into the circumstances surrounding the obstruction and the fatal crash is ongoing.
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
Police Scorpion squad arrests two notorious kidnappers, recovers three vehicles in zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the Scorpion Squad have arrested two notorious kidnappers and armed robbers in Zamfara State and recovered three suspected stolen vehicles.
The operation, coordinated by ACP Victor O. Godfrey, was carried out on Nov. 25 following what security sources described as actionable digital reconstructive intelligence.
The suspects, Dalhatu Bashiru (aka Yellow), 38, and Chidiebere Nwadigo Emmanuel, 34, both ex-convicts, were apprehended for their alleged involvement in multiple kidnapping and car-snatching operations across several states.
Recovered from the suspects were: A black Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. JUX 578 AA, A grey Toyota Corolla, Reg. No. JUX 890 AA, an ash-coloured Toyota Camry (Pencil Light), Reg. No. APR 459 AE
According to sources, the suspects confessed to participating in several high-profile criminal operations, including the Jan. 18, 2024 abduction of Mr. Segun Akinwumi O. near Rita Lori Hotel, Garki, Abuja.
In that incident, the victim was kidnapped from his residence and taken toward Kano. While en route, the gang allegedly dispossessed him of his ATM cards in Kaduna, where ₦500,000 was transferred from his bank account.
Luck ran out for the gang after they were intercepted at a filling station in Kaduna. Three members escaped, but Chidiebere, Dalhatu (Yellow), and another suspect, now at large were identified. Their accomplice, Chinanza Philip Okoye Michael, was arrested, the victim rescued unhurt, and his vehicle recovered.
Investigations further revealed that the arrested suspects had previously been apprehended in November 2023 for similar offences and arraigned at the High Court, Kwali, but allegedly returned to crime while on court bail.
Police operatives also recovered three Beretta pistols from the suspects.
Security authorities said the suspects confessed to snatching over 20 exotic SUVs within Abuja.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fleeing suspect.
Police Scorpion squad arrests two notorious kidnappers, recovers three vehicles in zamfara
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
Police arrest own inspector, brother over alleged attack and forceful seizure of corpse in Benue
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