Brazilian President Lands In Hospital With Intestinal Blockage

January 3, 2022

FILE PHOTO: Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro adjusts his protective face mask REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has landed in a hospital in São Paulo with a suspected intestinal blockage.

According to a statement today, January 3 from the government, the 66-year-old was admitted for treatment after complaining of “abdominal discomfort,” the statement said.

He was said to have been flown to the hospital from Santa Catarina, where he was holidaying on the southern coast of Brazil.

Bolsonaro is doing well, according to the government, which has promised further updates once the president’s medical examination is complete.

The right-wing populist politician was diagnosed with an intestinal blockage back in July, after which he spent several days in a São Paulo hospital.

This time around, Bolsonaro’s doctor Antônio Luiz Macedo interrupted his own holiday in the Bahamas to return to Brazil to treat the president, g1 reported.

Macedo operated on Bolsonaro after a knife attack during the 2018 election campaign left him in a critical condition.

At the campaign event in September 2018, a mentally ill man stabbed Bolsonaro, seriously damaging his abdomen.

The former army captain continued campaigning from hospital and won the presidential election a month later.

Bolsonaro has been forced to undergo several operations since he took office in early 2019, including surgery to repair his intestinal tract. Source: dpa/NAN.

2023: I Want To Be President Of Nigeria, 38 Year Old Woman Declares In Lagos

Editorial staff

January 3, 2022

A 38-year-old female media entrepreneur, Mrs. Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, has declared her intention to seek a political party’s nomination to contest next year’s presidential election.

Okunnu-Lamidi, Founder, Slice Media Solutions, who made the declaration today, January 3 at news conference in Lagos, said that she had become the arrowhead for the intervention of her generation’s interests across the nation for politics and good governance.

“I seek to change the direction of our country, because time and chance will happen to all of us and the time for action is today.

“We need a better class and a better crop of leaders that are selfless, disciplined, and bound with integrity, and above all, who love the country and are invested in her future.

“I am here to activate all people, the old, the poor, the rich; to unite around a common ideal on the basis of a consensus about a superior national development agenda,” she said.

According to Okunnu-Lamidi, her interests include 70 per cent youths who are often disenfranchised and have not taken their rightful place in choosing the government of Nigeria.

She expressed disappointment that Nigeria had missed important milestones in building the nation.

She said it was more pertinent that Nigerians must begin to think differently in the way things are done and the way they interact with each other.

She said: “We are all guilty for surrendering to temporary powerlessness, we can and must start to think differently.

“We sing often about our heroes past. These are people who entered the governance of Nigeria by design or by chance at very young age to take over from the colonial power that ruled Nigeria.

“This again is a generational inflection point for the nation.

“A nation desperate for leadership needs the young, the strong, those who have vision, those who have ideas, those who have a united Nigerian identity and a belief in this country.

“The people of Nigeria believe in Nigeria, they should not be led by leaders who don’t.

“We have to keep fighting for what we believe in, and above all, never lose hope. If you were waiting for a sign, this is it,” said Okunnu-Lamidi, who was yet to join any party.

Okunnu-Lamidi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Human Resources Management from the University of Bolton and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Project Management (MSc) from Heriot-Watt University.

Source: NAN.

Promotion Galore At University Of Abuja: 118 Smile Into New Year, 2022

Editorial staff

January 1, 2022

The Governing Council of University of Abuja has unleashed promotion on the institution, affecting 118 staff, comprising 43 lecturers and 75 non-teaching staff.

A statement from the Head of Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, gave a breakdown of the list as including four of the academic staff that were promoted to the rank of professor, 10 that were promoted to the rank of Associate professor and 19 that were promoted to the position of senior lecturer, even as four were elevated to lecturer 1 and six to lecturer 11.

Dr. Habib said that the approval of the promotion was given at the 91st Regular meeting of Council held on December 2 and 3, 2021.

“Those newly promoted to the rank of professor following the receipt of favourable external assessment report of their publications include Dr. Oluwafemi Rufus Adebisi (Animal Science); Dr. Isa Mohammed Abdullahi (Public Administration); Dr Jude Nduka Omeje (Veterinary Medicine) and Dr Sulaiman Alabi Yusuf (Linguistics).

“Similarly, out of the 75 non-teaching staff in the list, 9 were promoted from Senior Assistant Registrar to Principal Assistant Registrar; 6 were principal executive officers, 15 higher executive officers, and 20 secretarial officers. “There were also 15 technologists and 10 staff from the Accounting unit.

The Vice- Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, according to the statement, said that the promotion was a testimony to their continued dedication, hard work and discipline.

Professor Na’Allah said that the University Management, with the support and guidance of the Council, is determined to ensure that no staff who merits promotion is ever denied such a privilege.

“At the University of Abuja, hard work, integrity and dedication of staff to duty mean a lot to us. So we shall continue to provide enabling environment to all our staff to work harder, be more dutiful, and be able to carry out their responsibilities with utmost integrity so as to help us achieve our dreams of joining the league of world-class universities soon,” the Vice Chancellor said.

Bandit Leaders, Kachalla, Auta, Others Killed In Military Raids In Zamfara Forest

Editorial staff

January 1, 2022

Wanted bandit leaders, Alhaji Auta, and Kachalla Ruga, have been killed in a forest in Zamfara State.
Report reaching us said that the notorious bandit Commanders met their waterloo after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft, under Operation Hadarin Daji, acted on credible intelligence, and bombarded their enclaves, at Gusami Forest and Tsamre Village in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the State, last night.
It was learnt that multiple airstrikes by the NAF jet, which were carried out in the early hours of today, January 1,also eliminated Auta, and Ruga’s gang.
Sources confirmed that dozens of bandits who had converged at late Auta’s residence, for his burial were also struck by missiles of the military jet, with an unconfirmed number killed in the process.
A military intelligence officer said that follow-up airstrikes conducted by the NAF fighter aircraft on fleeing bandits and those who took cover under trees within the area, resulted in heavy casualties on the side of the criminals.
“For now, the whereabouts of other notorious bandits like Alhaji Nashama, Shingi and Halilu who may either be incapacitated or on the run remain unknown.”
Intelligent sources also said that aggressive bombardments by NAF aircrafts, have in recent times been very precise and effective in hitting bandits’ enclaves, eliminating their leaderships and followers, in the process.
“These operations have reassured citizens of the commitment and dedication of the military and other security agencies, towards bringing the threats posed by banditry under check, in no distant time.
“The citizens, especially around the affected communities, are enjoined to continually provide security agencies with credible information that will go a long way towards tackling the threats to their lives and livelihood.”
Source: PRNigeria.

First Lady, Aisha Buhari, Welcomes First Baby Of 2022

Greenbarge Reporters

January 1, 2022

The First Lady, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, early hours of today, January 1, welcomed into the world, the First baby of the year, 2022.

The representative of the First Lady, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on African First Ladies Peace Mission, Dr. Mairo Tanko Almakura, presented some gifts to the Baby of the Year, named Baby Esther Bemi. The gifts were received by her parents, Madam Esther and Mr. Hosea Bemi.

The First Lady’s representative also presented gifts to the Bwari General Hospital, where the baby was delivered, and other babies at the hospital
The Chief Medical Director of the Bwari General Hospital, Dr. Abdulahi Anate, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for the effort she is making towards improving the lives of mothers and their children through the Future Assured Programme.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady, advised mothers across the country to take adequate care of their babies and ensure their healthy growth and development through immunization, exclusive breastfeeding, and provision of proper nutrition.
Dr. Aisha called for the use of proper weaning foods for healthy growth and brain development of babies.
“I wish to congratulate the hospital, the parents of the First Baby, and indeed all other babies born in Nigeria today.”
She also called on mothers to note the importance of ante-natal, hospital deliveries, and post-natal care to address the challenges of maternal and child mortality, as well as maintain basic sanitation and hygiene, space their births, register their children at birth and enroll their children to school at the appropriate age.
Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, who was represented by Director, Gender Affairs of the Ministry, Mrs. F. K. Bulus said that the event was meant to create awareness on the importance of healthy living for mothers, and newborn babies.
She said that the Ministry has created a platform to meet with all First Babies each year as part of activities to mark the World Breastfeeding Week and called on the parents of the First Baby to embrace exclusive breastfeeding as the first vaccine against all forms of diseases.

Housemaid Disappears With 2-Year Old Baby From Church In Lagos

Greenbarge Reporters

January 1, 2022

A family in Lagos state is searching for their two-year-old son, Praise Otojareri, who was allegedly taken away by the house help, simply identified as Favour, on December 19.
The father of the missing boy, Moses Otojareri said that sometime in November, a man who his wife knows very well came to their house in Aguda, Surulere, with two girls and said they were in need of a job.
He said that his wife who runs a salon decided to employ Favour to cater for their two children, a nine-year-old daughter, and their two-year-old son.
He said that on December 19, his wife, two children and Favor left for church, saying that while in church, his wife who is a hairdresser received a call from a customer who needed her at her shop.
He said that his wife left the church and gave instructions to Favour to come to the shop with the two children after the close of service.
Moses Otojareri said that immediately after his wife left, Favour went to the children’s church and asked the teachers to release Praise to her.
The teacher, who has seen the baby boy come with Favour and his mum to church released Praise to her.
The father said that his wife became worried after she waited for hours and did not see them in her shop.
”After some hours, a call came in asking ”Are you Mummy Favour and Praise?’
“She said yes, that she had been looking for Favour and her son for some hours now. The man said they are at Ibafor in Mowe and that Favour said she missed her way that she was going to her sister’s house in Ikotun.”
Moses Otojareri said that his wife told the adults who called to help her hold Favour and her son that she was on her way to meet with them. He said his wife asked them to drop Favour and her son Praise off at the nearest police station after the adults informed her they were still going to a further distance.
”By this time, some people had gathered saying they wanted to beat Favour up as they suspected it was a case of kidnapping. However, an Alfa came in and asked them not to beat her.
“The Alfa said he was going to take the children to the Mosque with him. “He collected my wife’s number and called her to inform her that he has taken favour and my child to the Mosque.
“While they were heading to the Mosque, the Alfa said Favour told him that she was going to Ikotun to go and see her sister.”
The father said that the Alfa took the children to a Mosque and then decided to say his prayers. He said the Alfa later told his wife that after his prayers, he returned to where he left Favour and Praise in his Nosque and did not see them again.
“He said that he only saw the bag Favour carried that contained Praises’ clothes.”
Moses Otokareri said that his wife on arriving the Mosque, raised an alarm, and also alerted the police.
The Alfa was arrested. She also led the police to the home of the sister whom Favour claimed she was going to see. The said sister who denied any family ties with Favour was also arrested.
He said the matter has since been reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department Lagos state and that up till now, no word has been heard from Favour or his son.
He said that Favour who is about 14 years old, speaks four languages, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Benin Republic fluently. He said Favour is from Imo state.
He appealed to any member of the public with useful information on how to find his child to call this number 07082873611 or contact the nearest police station.
Source: LinderIkeji.

Dismissed Colonel, Danladi Hassan, Floors Nigerian Army At Appeal Court

Editorial staff

December 31, 2021

The Nigerian Army has lost its bid to upturn a judgment compelling it to reinstate Colonel Danladi Ribah Hassan who was compulsorily retired from the service in 2016.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a judgment today, December 31, dismissed the appeal by the Nigerian Army, former Chief of Army Staff, and others for lacking in merit.

Nigerian Army had failed to obey an order of Industrial court for reinstatement of Colonel Danladi Ribah Hassan, a military Commander who led troops in recapturing Bulabulin and Damboa from Boko Haram in August 2014.

The National Industrial Court in Abuja had, in January 2019, ordered the immediate reinstatement of Colonel Hassan, one of the 38 officers compulsorily retired in 2016 by the Nigerian Army for no obvious reasons.

The trial judge, Justice Sanusi Kado, had held that with the failure of the Nigerian Army to convince the court of the disciplinary ground for compulsorily retiring the claimant, the said letter of compulsory retirement was null and void and of no effect.

But, the appeal court, in a unanimous judgment today, December 31, read by Justice Stephen Adah, resolved the two issues, raised for determination, against the appellants and upheld the judgment of the National Industrial Court of January 8, 2019.

The judgment was on the appeal marked: CA/A/299/2019, filed by the NA, the Nigerian Army Council, the COAS, the Armed Forces Council; the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd); Lt. Gen. Tukru Buratai (ex-COAS) and Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hong Garba. Listed as respondents were Hassan and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The Appeal Court, in dismissing the appeal by the Nigerian Army and others, held that, as against the claim by the appellants, Hassan complied with the condition precedent, as required under Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act, before approaching the court.

It further held that the appellant’s claim that the decision of the lower court was a perversity could not be sustained, because it was based on the evidence presented before it by parties.

“The lower court had elaborate consideration of all the facts, both from the accusers, the accused person and their witnesses before coming to the conclusion that the exercise of compulsory retirement was done in error.

“It was in that respect that the court now held that the compulsory retirement of the claimant was declared null and void; letter of compulsory retirement also set aside and he was ordered to be reinstated and a letter issued to that effect, reinstating him into the Nigerian Army with all rights and privileges.

“There is no piece of evidence that is contrary to what the court has said. So, there is nothing that is perverse by the findings of the lower court.

“The law is that where the lower court makes any finding of facts and there is nothing that is adverse, that is contrary to justice, or any thing that orchestrated injustice on the line of the consideration of the lower court; where the court has made correct and straightforward findings of facts, this court has no business interfering with it.

“The trial court did excellently well in this case, and we have no need to interfere with the findings of the court.

“It is in this respect that we come to the conclusion that this appeal is lacking in merit. It is grossly lacking in merit, and it is hereby dismissed.

“The decision of the lower court is upheld and all the decisions made therein, are also sustained,” Justice Adah said.

Source: PRNigeria.

No One Can Use Insecurity To Dampen My Focus To Reposition Nigeria, Buhari Vows

Editorial staff

December 31, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that no amount of insecurity contrived to derail his focus will work, saying “I assure you that we will remain resolute in our commitments and shall continue to press ahead with our programmes and plans.

“The persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country may have threatened to becloud the incremental gains achieved in the real sectors of the economy and in the administration’s overall objective to position the nation on the irreversible trajectory of sustainable growth and progress, but we remain undaunted.”

The President, in his New Year message to Nigerians today, December 31, expressed gratitude to God for yet another Year attained “as a country, united by a common destiny and resolute in our determination to overcome the several challenges along the path to build the great and prosperous Nation of our dream.”

Buhari also saluted the courage and resilience of all Nigerians, which he said, was evident in 2021 “as this nation, like other countries of the world, faced significant challenges that occurred as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts to restore the global economy and social order.”

President Buhari comforted the citizens, saying: “the path to nationhood is often fraught with unpredictable difficulties and challenges.”

According to him, most tried and tested nations have often prevailed through dogged determination, resilience, concerted commitment to unity, and the conviction that the whole of the nation, standing together against all odds, is by far greater and would ultimately be more prosperous and viable than the sum of its distinguishable parts.

Buhari Queries National Assembly Over “Worrisome” Changes In 2022 Budget

Editorial staff

December 31, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has raised eyebrow over what he called “worrisome” changes which the National Assembly made in the 2022 national budget.

The President, who signed the budget into law today, December 31 “for its implementation to commence in January 2022” said he would revert to the national assembly soon to correct all the anomalies.

Buhari complained that most of the projects inserted into the budget by the national Assembly “relate to matters that are basically the responsibilities of State and Local Governments, and do not appear to have been properly conceptualized, designed and costed.”

The President listed other “worrisome changes” to include the following:

“Increase in projected FGN Independent Revenue by N400 billion, the justification for which is yet to be provided to the Executive;

Reduction in the provision for Sinking Fund to Retire Maturing Bonds by N22 billion without any explanation;

Reduction of the provisions for the Non-Regular Allowances of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Navy by N15 billion and N5 billion respectively. This is particularly worrisome because personnel cost provisions are based on agencies’ nominal roll and approved salaries/allowances;

Furthermore, an increase of N21.72 billion in the Overhead budgets of some MDAs, while the sum of N1.96 billion was cut from the provision for some MDAs without apparent justification;

Increase in the provision for Capital spending (excluding Capital share in Statutory Transfer) by a net amount of N575.63 billion, from N4.89 trillion to N5.47 trillion. Nevertheless, provisions for some critical projects were reduced. These include:

Reduction of N12.6 billion in the Ministry of Transport’s budget for the ongoing Rail Modernisation projects,

Reduction of N25.8 billion from Power Sector Reform Programme under the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and

Reduction of N14.5 billion from several projects of the Ministry of Agriculture, and introducing over 1,500 new projects into the budgets of this Ministry and its agencies.

Inclusion of new provisions totaling N36.59 billion for National Assembly’s projects in the Service Wide Vote which negates the principles of separation of Powers and financial autonomy of the Legislative arm of government.

The changes to the original Executive proposal are in the form of new insertions, outright removals, reductions and/or increases in the amounts allocated to projects.

Provisions made for as many as 10,733 projects were reduced while 6,576 new projects were introduced into the budget by the National Assembly.

Reduction in the provisions for many strategic capital projects to introduce ‘Empowerment’ projects. The cuts in the provisions for several of these projects by the National Assembly may render the projects unimplementable or set back their completion, especially some of this Administration’s strategic capital projects.

Many more projects have been added to the budgets of some MDAs with no consideration for the institutional capacity to execute the additional projects and/or for the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.

It is surprising that despite the National Assembly increasing projected revenue by N609.27 billion, the additional Executive request of N186.53 billion for critical expenditure items could not be accommodated without increasing the deficit, while the sum of N550.59 billion from the projected incremental revenues was allocated at the discretion of National Assembly.”

President Buhari reiterated that he signed the 2022 Appropriation Bill into law to enable its implementation to commence on 1st January 2022. “However, I will revert to the National Assembly with a request for amendment and/or virement as soon as the Assembly resumes to ensure that critical ongoing projects that are cardinal to this administration, and those nearing completion, do not suffer a setback due to reduced funding.”

Buhari Mourns Security Personnel, Civilians Killed By Insurgents, Bandits In 2021

Editorial staff

December 31, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has remembered and honoured gallant Military, Police Officers and other security agents who have lost their lives in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria nation against both internal and external aggressors.

In his new year message to Nigerians today, December 31, the President also remembered and commiserated with civilians who lost loved ones as a result of insecurity in different parts of the country.

He assured their families that their sacrifices would not be in vain, stressing that every life matters and every single death caused by any form of insecurity is a matter of personal concern to him, both as a citizen and as the President of this great country.

“We remain fully committed to upholding the constitutional provisions that protect all Nigerians from any form of internal and external aggression.”

He emphasised that the issue of Security in the country remains at the front burner of priority areas that his Administration has given utmost attention to.

“As a follow up to our promise to re-energize and reorganize the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police, it is on record that this Administration has invested heavily in re-equipping our military in line with upgrading the platforms and firepower required to tackle the current challenges being faced in the country.

“The net results of these efforts have been the number of insurgents and bandits who have willingly surrendered to our Security Forces and continue to do so through various channels and the Safe Corridor created for that purpose.

“Government, however, realizes that victory on the battlefield is just one aspect of sustainable victory. We know that to fully win this war, we must also win the peace and real security lies in winning the hearts and minds of the affected citizens.

“To this end, working with our international partners and neighbouring countries, we would be deploying multi-faceted solutions that will be targeted at addressing human security at the grassroots, before it leads to insecurity.”

In his government outlook in 2022, the President said that it would intentionally leverage ICT platforms to create jobs, while ensuring that the diversification of our economy creates more support to other emerging sectors.

“I am proud to announce that several foreign investors are taking advantage of our ranking as one of the leading start-up ecosystems in Africa to invest in our digital economy.

“We have given the utmost priority to fighting corruption and other related offenses which have been a bane to the growth and prosperity of our dear Nation. We have made major strides and breakthroughs through the innovative use of technology and forensics in the investigative and prosecutorial procedures with commendable results to show that the anti-corruption drive of our Administration is succeeding.

“In the meantime, the accomplishments that have been recorded so far can be traced to the dedication of the Nation’s anti-corruption Agencies who have received the necessary support needed to effectively prosecute their duties.

“Despite our challenges in 2021, it was also a year in which the Administration executed successfully, key projects, programmes, and initiatives to fulfil the promises made under the Security, Economy Anti-corruption (SEA) agenda.

“As we welcome 2022, let us, with hope, envision a year of continued progress against our combined challenges arising from security and socio-economic issues.

“As it is said, the past is but a story told, the future will still be written in gold. Let us be united in our fight to keep our Nation united against all odds and with gratitude, celebrate life in this new epoch.”

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