Kuje General Hospital In Danger: No Water, No Electricity

April 11, 2022

All is not well at the General hospital in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as the hospital, for a couple of weeks now, has no electricity and water.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters said that medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel now attend to patients without water to clean up. Even the patients too have no water to take care of essential needs and some of them are resorting to engaging water vendors to buy water in jerricans from outside the hospital premises.

“We are seriously facing general infections and other outbreaks as a result of unclean and smelly bodies and environment,” a laboratory attendant lamented.
It was learnt that the last time the hospital enjoyed electricity was the middle of March this year, and that the small generating plant is put on only when surgery is being carried out in the theatre.
It was learnt that once it is the night, the hospital is thrown into total darkness with staff and patients resorting to using local torchlight.
Efforts by our reporter to talk to the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Udofiah Paskal failed because he was said to have traveled out of Abuja to attend a Conference somewhere.
Top officers would not speak to newsman, though they were mumbling complaints about the poor condition of the hospital.

One of the medical officers was overheard saying that the situation is quite unfortunate, and asked: “what exactly is happening. We held a session of meeting with MD (Medical Director) of the hospital nearly three weeks ago and we could not reach a reasonable conclusion. It’s obvious we were just called out to be informed of management intention and not to proffer solutions to the menace of some ugly trend we are faced with in the hospital.”
This was even as another top officer complained bitterly about the poor condition of the hospital, “where we attend to about 150 Antenatal patients every week? Where we perform surgery on daily bases without minding where to keep the patients even when there are no bed spaces? In the same hospital where they can discharge two day post operative patients or transfer a post operative woman and her baby to female or male ward in order to perform another surgery not minding the wellbeing of the staffs and patients. Can someone just ask me where all these money are entering? Nobody cares about our wellbeing, all they care about is doing surgeries and attending to multitudes Antenatal cases. Even all the sisters hospital in the FCT don’t have the numbers of Antenatal patients we have. Are we meant to be suffering on duty? Working in an unconducive environment and expecting the best.”
“Fellow colleagues, let’s come together and fight for our right. Enough of all these please.”

Economic Heat Hits First Bank, Forces It To Reduce Operation Hours In Branches

Greenbarge Reporters

April 10, 2022

First Bank of Nigeria can no longer pretend against the biting economic situation in the country as it announced reduction in operation hours at most of its branches nationwide.

In a statement made available on its official website today, April 10, the bank said that the new development will take from Monday April 11.

“We have revised our banking hours across all our locations. The revised opening and closing hours will be effective from Monday, 11 April 2022.”

The bank said that while some of its branches will maintain the status quo, other branches will function between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm., 8:00 am and 2:00 pm, 8:00 am and 1:00 pm and 10:00 am and 3:00 pm accordingly.

Though the bank did not state the reason for the action, it is believed that it took the decision to cushion the effect of the increasing cost of diesel with which it powers many of its branches.

The development also comes in the wake of the incessant national grid collapse that has over time left the country in darkness, forcing organizations to heavily rely on diesel for their operations.

In March, the pump price of diesel hit a record high of N800 per litre, with the new price showing a significant increase from N225 per litre sold in January 2021.

Mostly used by large and medium sized businesses to run their daily operations, the price of diesel, which is largely unregulated, has surged by over 113% in the last 14 months.

Saudi King Distributes Ramadan Food Baskets To 4,620 People In Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

April 10, 2022

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed 770 Ramadan food baskets in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, benefiting 4,620 people.

In a Tweet today, April 10, the Saudi authorities said that the food baskets represent the framework of Ramadan “Eta’am” initiative, which aims to distribute around 157,000 food baskets weighing more than 8,000 tons in 19 countries.

The authorities said that the gesture is part of the relief and humanitarian efforts being implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, during the month of Ramadan.

Minister Summons Security Meeting Over Rising Cases Of Kidnapping, Banditry In Abuja

Editorial staff

April 10, 2022

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has held an emergency security meeting with the heads of the various security agencies across the Territory over the rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in the nation’s capital.

At the meeting today, April 10, the minister charged the security agencies to work in synergy to mitigate the seeming increase in criminal activities in the Territory.

This was eve as the FCT Police Commissioner Babaji Sunday said that the Police command has already put in place measures to stem the tide of criminality in the nation’s capital and will also evolve better strategies to combat crime in the FCT.

“We were summoned, all the security heads in the FCT for an emergency meeting where we deliberated a lot on the spate of kidnappings and banditry at the suburbs of the FCT…and we going to improve on our synergy and further strategize on what we have discussed. We have assured the house that they will see changes.”

The Police Commissioner also spoke on the need for residents of the Territory to provide actionable intelligence to security agencies in their battle against criminality in the FCT.

“You know we cannot be everywhere and like the popular saying, security is everybody’s business. We expect the residents to always be security conscious, give us actionable intelligence which we will act upon.”

He called on residents to form neighborhood watches within estates and local communities to minimize the activities of criminals in those locations, saying that actions from such neighborhood watches made up of credible members of the community will assist greatly in slowing down the actions of criminals.

He also advised commuters to go to recognized motor parks within the city to board vehicles saying that boarding unregistered commercial vehicles exposes them to dangers in such unregistered vehicles in crimes known as “one chance.”

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Security, Ambassador Salihu Mohammed said that the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) was also working hard to clamp down on unregistered commercial vehicles used for the crime of “one chance”.

“Directorate of Road Transport is doing a lot on the issue of “one chance”. We know the profile of “one chance” vehicles, most of them are not registered or they use tinted glasses”. He called on commuters to avoid such vehicles”.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, the police AIG in charge of Zone 7, Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier Genenera M. T Usman, the Commandant of NSCDC FCT Command, Dr. Peter Maigari and other security and senior officials of the Administration.

Only Way To Unblock Blocked SIMs Is To Link To NINs, NCC Explains

Editorial staff

April 10, 2022

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has made it clear that the only way subscriber whose Identity Module (SIM) cards are barred from making calls can be unbarred is for them to link with the National Identification Numbers (NINs).

A statement taoday, April 10 by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde said that the explanation has become necessary in view of a viral web link (https://bit.ly/NCC-Sim-Unbar-Gov-Ng) being circulated on social media and on some websites.

“The link and accompanying narrative represent patent misinformation and disinformation certainly designed to mislead the general public about the SIM cards that are barred from making calls, due to non-linkage with NIN at the set deadline.”

Dr. Adinde said that the misleading, “viral message mischievously displays NCC logo and ostensibly promises members of the public that, by clicking the web link and following further instructions in that regard, subscribers with barred SIM cards can unbar such SIMs across mobile networks without a valid NIN.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NCC wishes to state categorically that it never issued such statement, directing subscribers or indicating that subscribers can unbar their SIM without a NIN. As such, the originators and peddlers of the spurious message were out to mischievously mislead unsuspecting members of public. Therefore, their message should be disregarded.

“The NCC is the national regulatory authority for telecommunications in Nigeria, and it is co-driving the process of the NIN-SIM linkage with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as directed by the Federal Government.”

The spokesman said that the Commission will not, under any circumstance, act contrary to Federal Government’s directive to MNOs to bar SIMs cards not linked to NINs at the expiration of the last deadline given for the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.

“Having disclaimed the false viral message, the Commission wishes to officially inform affected telecom subscribers on how they can get their SIMs actively connected to make calls.

“First, for subscribers that have not registered for their NIN, what to do is to get their SIM registered at accredited centres across the country and then link the NIN with their SIM cards through channels provided by their service providers.

“Secondly, for subscribers with registered NINs, what to do is to simply go and link the NIN with their SIMs through channels provided by their service providers.

“The NCC, therefore, uses this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM Linkage to among others, strengthen security situation in the country, assist in other socio-economic planning activities of the government, as well as to always advance the course of consumer protection from falling victim to the antics of cyber fraudsters.”

Adinde also disclaimed news making the rounds in social media that the Commission recruiting, saying that there is no such thing at the moment.

“Accordingly, the advertisement indicating there is ongoing recruitment at NCC, which is circulating on Twitter, and through polymerization, may have been diffused to other social media networks, is a scam and should be disregarded.”

I Have A Vision Of New Nigeria, Says Pastor Tunde Bakare As He Declares For Presidency

Greenbarge Reporters

April 10, 2022

Leader of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare has declared his intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

The cleric, who said that he is the best candidate to address the problems affecting Nigeria, said: I have a vision of a new Nigeria and I will play a leading role as we approach the Nigeria of our dreams.”

Pastor Tunde Bakare announced his presidential ambition at the virtual meeting where he unveiled Project 16 to Nigerians in Diaspora, with the theme: The portrait of a new Nigeria, organized by the PTB4Nigeria in diaspora group.

The serving overseer of Citadel Global Community Church warned that the south should not be set against the north, Christians against Muslims ahead of the 2023 general election.

“The PTB brand is a rallying point for all Nigerians. I have a vision of a new Nigeria and I will play a leading role as we approach the Nigeria of our dreams.”

This is coming a few hours after the Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi expressed intention to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2023 general election.

Amaechi disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress thanksgiving.

Poor Governance Creates Weak Economy, Hostile Business Environment – Osinbajo

Greenbarge Reporters

April 10, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that poor governance and lack of institutional capacity create a weak economy, private sector performs sub-optimally because the business environment is hostile.

He said that such poor governance results in creation of fewer jobs even as housing stocks fall, adding that where private people do not build houses for rent as tenants fail to pay rent they can remain in the accommodation for years without paying rent because the court system is too slow and they cannot be legally evicted while the court process subsists.

Speaking at the opening of the 21st meeting of the National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) in Abakaliki, Professor Osinbajo said that governance and institutional capacity account for the difference between performing and poorly performing economies.
According to the Vice President: “it is the lack of good governance and weak institutional capacity in the poorer and less performing economies that largely account for the difference between the poor and rich countries.”
“The way that public institutions and agencies perform public affairs and manage public resources, and also how they manage the participation of citizens, and ensure equity and the rule of law, are what makes the difference between the poor and rich, performing and non performing countries.”
The Vice President said that where accountability is weak or non-existent and poor performance or misconduct have no real consequences; poor performance then becomes systemic, the result is that delivery of public goods is ineffective.

He said: “every public service is affected, whether it is collection of taxes, or delivery of social investment programmes, public education, health services, obtaining trade facilitation approvals or just passports or drivers’ licence, public running of power services or delivery of petroleum products.”

He advised the meeting to come up with solutions to the country’s development challenges, saying: “every one of these problems is human. They can be solved by human beings. Every country that chooses to solve its governance and institutional problems has, in effect, chosen to develop and prosper.”
He cautioned against acts of dishonesty, saying that lack of transparency and making bureaucratic corruption the norm will lead to “backwardness and poverty of the majority.”
The Vice President also recommended that synergy amongst all tiers of government “remains of paramount importance at this critical time when we continue to face the challenges of recovery from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, now compounded by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.”
This was even as Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State thanked the Vice President for his commitment and loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as his love for the State.

“There is a certain ecstasy that follows you whenever you are in Ebonyi State.”

2023: PDP Southern Governors Insist On Zoning Or Nothing

Editorial staff

April 9, 2022

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Southern Governors have insisted that the party should zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the southern part of Nigeria for equity and fairness.

The southern governors of the opposition party expressed their position on the issue of zoning while briefing newsmen after their meeting at Akwa-Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who spoke on behalf of the governors, said they had watched with keen interest developments in PDP regarding zoning, but they had no reason to change their earlier stand.

“Our position is that first, we are committed to the unity of our party and we have worked hard to make sure that this party remains a strong and viable vehicle to ‘rescue’ Nigeria come 2023.

“Be that as it may, we want to draw your attention to the fact that we have agreed as Southern Governors in Lagos and also in Delta that this party has to respect the zoning principle as enshrined in our Constitution.

“And to that effect, we feel that the best thing to do is zone the presidency to the South, and we stand on that position.

“We have not seen any reason to change our position, because the Party was founded on the basis of equity and justice.

“We also think that equity and justice are important pillars that will ultimately stabilise our politics towards our journey in rescuing Nigeria,”Mr Ikpeazu said.

Asked if the governors would reconsider their position if making the party’s ticket open would allow PDP win in 2023, Ikpeazu said “you haven’t told me why zoning will not give us victory.”

Also fielding questions on speculations that the PDP Zoning Committee has already made the ticket open, Ikpeazu said that the southern governors do not work on speculations.

On arguments that the ticket was made open because of the number of aspirants that had purchased forms or the need to retain ticket in the North, Mr Ikpeazu said that the party must be firm in its decision and do whatever is seen to be true and fair.

“Let me tell you something, if you want to take a position of policy, you don’t look at problems in their face and take decision. You take a decision and remain firm on that decision.

“We think that what this country is lacking today is our ability to dispense equity and justice. It may be difficult, it may be a bitter pill but we need to stand with the truth.”

At the meeting were governors of Enugu, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Abia and Oyo States.

Source: NAN.

2023: I Will Defeat Tinubu, Others For APC Presidential Ticket, Gov Yahaya Bello Boasts

Editorial staff

April 9, 2022

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed confidence that he would emerge as the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election.

He said today, April 9 that he is sure of defeating the likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmedd Tinubu and other aspirants seeking to clinch the APC presidential ticket for 2023.

Governor Yahaya Bello who was answering questions at the second GYB annual seminar for political and crime correspondents and editors, said that he is not afraid of Tinubu or any other aspirant, boasting that he would defeat them all at the APC presidential primaries and go ahead to win the 2023 presidential election.

The Governor added that he has not less than 16 million ready votes from Nigerians and he is sure of becoming a champion.

“To answer your question on whether I am scared of other contestants for the presidency; you mentioned Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others. I will say ‘no. I am not scared of anybody in the contest for the APC presidential ticket.

“Tinubu and others are founding members of the APC, but foundation is not enough. I will defeat all the other aspirants because I have all it takes to be a champion. My performance in Kogi state will speak for me.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi today, April 9, declared his intention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to vie for the Presidency of the country.

Buhari To Goodluck Jonathan: Thank God You Escaped Calamity

Editorial staff

April 9, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed gratitude to God for the survival of his predecessor, ex President Goodluck Jonathan from a recent road accident in Abuja.

In a message from a President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu today, April 8, Buhari also sympathized with Dr. Jonathan for the loss of his two personal staff in the accident. He prayed for the repose of the deceased aides and urged their families to see their demise as a sacrifice for the nation.

The President expressed gratitude to God for having President Jonathan escape unhurt from the accident.

He advised the former President “not to be distracted from his frequent local and international travels which are linked to peace building at home and abroad.”

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