Sick nation ! Sick leaders !! Aisha Buhari condemns foreign medical treatment

Aisha Buhari, Nigeria’s first lady, has condemned the practice of spending the nation’s resources abroad via medical tourism.

She said she does not believe in Nigerians travelling abroad to receive treatment because “we have all it takes” for world-class medical services.
Aisha said this on Wednesday when she inaugurated Cedarcrest Hospital — where Yusuf, her son, was once treated — in Abuja.

“I believe in making Nigeria a better place to be,” she said, adding: “I don’t believe in spending our resources abroad. We have all it takes to have a hospital like this, from manpower to personnel.”
Aisha said her son “almost lost his life” but the hospital saved him.
“Even after he was flown abroad for further medical attention, they (hospitals and surgeons abroad) did not do anything for him,” she added.
“They asked where the accident happened, where the surgery took place, I said Nigeria, they said excellent.”

In 2017, her husband spent a total of 152 days in a London hospital treating and undisclosed ailment.
He travelled on two different occasions.
Similarly, Yusu was treated abroad after he suffered injuries from a bike accident in Abuja.
He was first treated in Cedarcrest hospital but was later flown abroad for further treatment.
Aisha, who announced his return to the country after the medical trip, did not reveal the country he was treated in.

The first lady has made controversial comments in recent times, forcing commentators to conclude she is aiming her dig at her husband. - Cable Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen attacks: Death toll rises to twenty-five

The death toll from Fulani herdsmen attacked on communities in Gwer -West Local Government area has increased to 25 people.

Suspected Fulani militia launched a midnight attacked on settlements in Mbakyondu, Sengev and Mbakpa districts in Gwer -west local government on Thursday.

The Fulani herdsmen were armed with sophisticated weapons shot and killed many harmless farmers and set their houses ablaze.

The Police spokesman Moses Yamu, a DSP, issued a press statement and said eight (8) bodies of Tiv farmers had been found in the forest following the attacked.

But a member of the community Francis Ugbede, who spoke to the The Nation on phone, said more than bodies are missing and so over 25 persons have been killed during the midnightattacked.

He said more bodies were being recovered from the thick forest and many other are in the hospital with high degree of injuries.

Mr. Ugbede said there is likely hood the death toll may increase as result of missing persons . - The Nation

Terrible !!! ‘Only 28 pupils registered for common entrance exams in Zamfara’ – Minister

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has disclosed that only 28 candidates from Zamfara State registered for the 2018 National Common Entrance Examination.

Adamu, in a statement released in Abuja by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Priscillia Ihuoma, also said the Federal Government was worried about the low number of candidates seeking admission into its 104 colleges across the country.

Pleading with state governments, heads of schools and interest groups to persuade school-age children in the areas with low registration to register for the examination, he said that a directive had been given to leave the portal open for registration until April 13.

Adamu said the report of a stakeholders’ meeting held recently indicated that Taraba, Kebbi and Zamfara states had the lowest number of candidates who registered for the entrance examination. While Taraba had 95 candidates, Kebbi had 50.

The release read in part, “Ahead of the 2018 National Common Entrance Examination for admission of candidates into the 104 Federal Government colleges onSaturday, April 14, the minister has expressed worry over low registration for the examination so far.

“According to him, the report of a meeting of major stakeholders in the education sector said candidates registered in 2018 stood at 71,294 as against 80,421 that wrote the examination in 2017.

“The report further shows three states with the highest number of pupils registered so far are: Lagos with 24,465 candidates, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 7,699 and Rivers State with 4,810 candidates respectively. On the other hand, three states with extreme low registration are: Zamfara with only 28 candidates, Kebbi, 50 and Taraba, 95 candidates respectively.”

The minister said the examination would go on as planned and urged state governments, parents, heads of schools and relevant interest groups in areas to take steps to remedy the situation. - Daily Post

UI students protest hike in accommodation fees

Students of the University of Ibadan (UI) on Thursday embarked on a protest against a 114 per cent increment in their accommodation fees.

DAILY POST learn that the accommodation fee was increased from N14,000 to N30,000.

The medical students are, however, expected to pay N40, 000.

It was gathered that the students, early morning of Thursday, locked some halls’ gates to express their displeasure over what they considered as “inhuman development” from the school authorities.

One of the affected medical students, who gave her name as Bolanle told journalists that, “All medical students are presently protesting against this hike. The ABH gate is presently under lock. The university increased the fee without any improvement in the state of things.”

Another student who begged not to be named disclosed that “nothing has been done as the reason for the increment. I doubt if this university is still a federal university.”

However, spokesman of the university, Mr. Toye Oladejo, who confirmed the development in an interview with DAILY POST, said that the institution was aware of the plight of the students.

He noted that the students should endeavor to cooperate with the university to give them the best.

Oladejo who said that all hands were on the desk to address the issue, also informed DAILY POST that a meeting to be presided over by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Idowu Olayinka has been fixed for next Tuesday.

The spokesman remarked that various stakeholders, including students, management, parents and alumni are expected to attend the meeting where issues bothering on the welfare, fees increment, among others would be discussed.

Oladejo said “The university of Ibadan is aware of the plight of the students, it is true that the students protested against the increment.

“We are aware; we want the students to cooperate with the university, a meeting has been slated for Tuesday next week. The meeting will have in attendance the VC, management, students, alumni partners and other stakeholders.” - Daily Post

Treasury's Tax on sugary soft drinks comes into force

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy, announced by former chancellor George Osborne in 2016, was originally expected to raise £520m in its first year, with the money to be spent on school sport.

A tax on sugary soft drinks has come into force, with the Treasury having slashed its forecast for the revenue it will raise.

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy, announced by former chancellor George Osborne in 2016, was originally expected to raise £520m in its first year, with the money to be spent on school sport.

That figure has now been revised down to £275m after major manufacturers cut the amount of sugar in popular brands to avoid the tax.

The levy will see drinks containing five grams of sugar per 100ml taxed at 18p per litre, and those with more than eight grams per 100ml taxed at 24p per litre.

The Treasury says the levy will reduce childhood obesity by encouraging manufacturers to cut the sugar content of their products, or to sell smaller amounts.

Major brands, including the manufacturers of Lucozade-Ribena and IRN-BRU, responded by cutting the sugar content of their main products and in some cases replacing them with sweeteners.

Coca-Cola has also cut the sugar in a number of its brands, but is not altering its Classic Coke recipe, meaning a can could cost around 10p more.

Around 60% of the UK population is overweight, with approximately one in-four people obese, and sugary soft drinks account for around 20% of the sugar consumed by children.

Public health bodies say the tax will help tackle levels of obesity, particularly in children.

"We hope it will have two impacts," Deborah Shipton of NHS Health Scotland told Sky News.

Public Health England welcomed the tax, citing new figures which it says show that a child has a rotten tooth removed every 10 minutes in England.

Evidence of the effectiveness of sugar taxes elsewhere in the world is mixed.

Mexico saw an initial reduction in the amount of sweet drinks sold when it introduced a levy, but estimates of the long-term impact of the tax are based on projections of sales had it not been introduced.

There are concerns too that a "pleasure tax" on sugar will disproportionately affect the poorest people.

Prince Charles shocked radio listeners when asked about a royal rumour ; 'don't believe that crap!'

The Prince was asked the question during a radio interview in Australia.

The Prince of Wales turned the air blue when asked if it was true that he takes his own personal lavatory seat with him when he travels abroad.

He snapped: "My own what?" before adding: "Oh, don't believe all that crap."

The claim was published in a new biography, Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion And Defiance Of Prince Charles, by Tom Bower.

But it has been circulated for years as one of his many alleged habits and eccentricities.

The mythical lavatory seat was said to be covered in soft, white kid leather and taken everywhere with him.

It has also been claimed that the Prince travels with his own personal supply of Kleenex Velvet lavatory paper.

On Wednesday, the Prince's director of communications, Julian Payne, referred to the rumour on Twitter.

He wrote: "The Prince and the Duchess's tour of Australia and Vanuatu begins: 30 engagements, 7 days, 1 Commonwealth Games, 0 personal loo seats."

The seat is one of the Prince's many alleged habits and eccentricities for which he has long been lampooned. UK Telegraph

Met Police to increase use of stop-and-search powers over London stabbings

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick has given her backing to officers to deploy the Section 60 power where there is intelligence gangs are engaged in violence.

Scotland Yard is to make more use of a controversial stop-and-search power to curb tit-for-tat gang feuds fuelling a surge in violence which has seen 55 murders in London this year.

The tactic - which allows an officer to stop someone without needing “reasonable suspicion” they are involved in a crime - was criticised by Theresa May in 2014 for damaging community relations.

Today Ms Dick, speaking as police battle a surge in gun and knife violence in London, told the Standard she was concerned use of the power had fallen in recent years. 

She said: “I think it can provide protection particularly when you have gangs in tit-for-tat activity. If they see a lot of police officers out on the street it definitely suppresses problems.”

The Commissioner’s comments came as violence continued across the capital with six more teenagers, including a 13-year-old boy, wounded in five separate knife attacks in just over 90 minutes. 

Ms Dick announced yesterday that a new task force of 120 officers would tackle the surge in violence and officers would use Al Capone tactics to target violent offenders “for any crime."

Martin Griffiths, the lead trauma surgeon at the Royal London Hospital in east London, tweeted this morning: “Tired after another brutal night managing stabbed children.

"Proud to serve my community in this amazing unit, but wondering how many children have to die before we stop squabbling and invest in youth.”

32-year-old Man jailed two years for stealing tin tomatoes

A man identified as Austine Ibe has been sentenced to two-year imprisonment by an Oredo Magistrate Court for stealing 75 cartons of tin tomatoes valued at N315,600.

Ibe was said to have committed the offence on October 14, 2017 at No. 4 Butcher Street, off Forestry Road, Benin City, Edo State.

The items were stored at a warehouse belonging to one Paul Okafor.

Ibe was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and break-in and entry.

He was found guilty on guilty on both charges by the presiding Magistrate, F.E Akhere.

Prosecuting Council, Patrick Agbonifo, had earlier informed the court that the offences were punishable under sections 414(1) and 390(9) of the Criminal Code 48 Vol II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 now applicable in Edo State.

Magistrate Akhere sentenced the accused to two years imprisonment without an option of fine. - The Nation

Fela’s daughter, Motunrayo reveals those who betrayed late musician

Motunrayo Anikulapo -Kuti, one of the daughters of late Afro music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has revealed that her father’s trusted friends betrayed him.

She said her father trusted the wrong people while he was alive.

She said this in a post she shared on her instagram page, @ motunrayoanikulapokuti, on Thursday.

There, she also lashed out at those telling her that her father’s money was not her money.

She noted that the people her father trusted in his last days made her angry.

Sharing a picture of Fela and some friends in a vehicle, she wrote, “This picture brought tears to my eyes; thinking about the people he trusted in his last days makes me angry.

“After all these suffering, some useless hopeless hypocrites will be tell me having my father’s money is not my money.

“I know you are hypocrites because if I work and suffer for my children and they say such to me, I won’t only be heart broken I will be sad the rest of my life.

“My father said in his own words, I won’t allow my children suffer the way I did. I am a proud daughter and I appreciate everything you did FELA.

“Everything I will ever do today is for my children, anything I put my hands to. As for me I don’t need much only to live longer.” - Daily Post

Illegal migration : EU, Edo partner on solution

The European Union Parliament says it will partner Edo Government to evolve solution to illegal migration which is common to the union and the state.

Dr Josef Weidenholzer, Chairman, Sub-committee on Human Rights, EU Parliament, made this known when he led a delegation of the Parliament on a visit to Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in Benin on Friday.

Weidenholzer said that helping the state to curb illegal migration would strengthen existing ties between EU and Nigeria and create a win-win situation for both.

“We want to improve the stable relationship EU has with Nigeria and set up a common agenda in tackling trafficked migration since the people are actually forced into the phenomenon.

“We are here to find a common solution because there is no point in just sharing the problem. I think we have to share the solutions,’’ he said.

He commended Obaseki for the positive approach and structures he was putting in place to curb illegal migration from the state, adding that the EU was ready to give needed support.

“It is a good starting point on the part of the governor if he wants to create an enabling environment for people in Edo to see a future in the state.

“We are here to give the support; Edo can become a model for a new relationship between Europe and Africa,” he said.

In his response, the governor said that EU could help in investigating and getting intelligence in tracking and prosecuting traffickers, but that more importantly, should give hope and skills to young people being trafficked.

He said that his government had started to resolve the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration but needed additional support for training.

“Just imagine, we need to give technical or vocational training to 3,000 to 5,000 young men and women; where are the teachers, where are the facilities?

“We need massive support, not necessarily cash but the skills and the knowledge; in that way, we can give hope to young men and women that they are not useless to themselves.”

Obaseki stated that his government was providing concrete data and projects, adding that the administration was involved in agriculture, logistics and vocational training to create employment for the youths.

He noted that Benin Technical College for instance, was a work-in-progress and that there was anticipation that it would be near completion before the end of the year.

“The workshops and laboratories have to be furnished; we have to recruit teachers, and they need to be sent abroad for training.

“So, these are some of the areas they can provide technical support to provide skills for our young people,” the governor said. - NAN