Category Nigeria News

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving access to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) healthcare services across Nigeria.

He called for urgent action to upgrade Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, with a specific focus on ENT care to address the rising cases of hearing loss and shortage of specialised medical personnel in the field.

The Vice President stated this on Thursday evening when he received a delegation from the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON) led by its President, Aliyu Mohammed Kodiya, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shettima told the team that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was determined to tackle key challenges in the ENT sector, including inadequate infrastructure, lack of equipment, and a growing wave of medical brain drain.

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“A huge chunk of our population suffers from hearing ailments, but due to social stigmatisation, many are reluctant to come forward for treatment. The challenges you are highlighting are real, and the government is committed to going beyond cosmetic interventions,” he said in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, on Friday.

Senator Shettima acknowledged the critical shortage of ENT specialists nationwide, saying there may not be up to 500 ENT surgeons in this country if immediate action is not taken.

“That is the reality we face today. Even our young doctors are migrating to Europe and other regions, but we are working to create an enabling environment for them here.”

He emphasised that government support would not only focus on acquiring equipment but would also prioritise the training, welfare, and retention of medical professionals in the field.

“The problem goes beyond equipment. Procuring medical devices without the manpower to operate them would amount to nothing,” VP Shettima added, urging ORLSON to continue investing in the training of new specialists.

In recognition of his support for the sector, the Vice President was conferred with the honourary title of ‘Ambassador of the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria’ by Kodiya.

Earlier, ORLSON’s president drew attention to the alarming global and national statistics on hearing loss, describing it as a growing public health crisis.

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He cited data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicating that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people globally will experience some degree of hearing loss, with over 700 million requiring rehabilitation.

“This condition imposes an estimated global financial burden of over $1 trillion annually due to lost productivity, healthcare costs, and social exclusion,” he said.

Kodiya also noted that Nigeria’s National Policy and Strategic Plan for Ear and Hearing Care, launched in 2019, expired in 2023 without full implementation, calling it a missed opportunity to develop a sustainable hearing health framework.

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has ordered the remand of a private security guard, Joel Monday, at a correctional centre for allegedly defiling, impregnating, and maltreating a 16-year-old girl.

Monday was arraigned on offences bordering on unlawful sexual intercourse, physical abuse, and intimidation, contrary to Section 31 (2) of the Child Rights Law of Ondo State, which prescribes life imprisonment for offenders.

The victim, whose identity was withheld, narrated how her quest for a better life led her from Cross River State to Akure, where she eventually fell prey to Monday’s alleged abuses.

The teenage girl said he gave her pregnancy prevention pills after every encounter.

“I came to Akure because life was very hard for my family back home, and I wanted to assist my sick mother. My mother has five children and our father didn’t take care of us. So when a man called ‘White’ told me I could find better opportunities in Akure, I followed him,” she said.

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She disclosed that she initially secured employment as a housemaid with one Mr David for a year and was promised ₦180,000 as salary. However, she was only paid ₦50,000.

“My mother had warned me not to stay longer than a year, but after being cheated, I couldn’t return home,” she said.

The teenager said that while searching for another job, she met Monday, who allegedly offered her accommodation and promised to help her secure better employment. However, that marked the beginning of her ordeal.

“He promised to get me a better job with higher pay, and since I had nowhere to stay, he offered to house me. That was when he started making sexual advances. I resisted several times, but he later started forcing himself on me. After every encounter, he would give me pregnancy prevention pills,” she narrated.

She revealed that Monday claimed to be a police officer and threatened her, saying no station would believe her story or arrest him.

The victim said she eventually got pregnant in August last year, and when Monday found out, he turned violent, calling her a prostitute and accusing her of ruining his plan to marry his fiancée.

“Due to his constant maltreatment, I confided in a woman on our street and told her everything. She advised me against abortion and took me to Emmanuel World Children’s Foundation, where I was cared for until I gave birth on April 30 this year,” she added.

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Monday’s counsel, A. I. Musa, did not dispute the paternity of the baby, but appealed to the court to consider the welfare of the child and the teenage mother.

He said, “My lord, this court is not just a court of law but also a court of justice and a court of children. One party is a minor and the other a baby. “The child’s welfare must be prioritised. Since the defendant earns ₦150,000 monthly, he is ready to cater for the mother and child.”

However, the complainant’s counsel countered the plea, insisting that the accused should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The minor is hardworking and not wayward, which is why she came to Akure to work in the first place. If the court fails to punish the defendant, it may send the wrong message that justice is no longer obtainable,” the lawyer submitted.

In her ruling, Magistrate Grace Alphonso ordered that the minor and her baby be temporarily placed in the custody of Emmanuel World Children’s Foundation, pending family tracing and confirmation that her biological mother in Cross River is capable of caring for her.

The magistrate further directed that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, while the original file should be kept at the registry of the State High Court.

A suspected vandal was electrocuted while attempting to steal armoured cables from an underground power installation at the Jigawa State Secretariat New Complex in Dutse on Wednesday.

According to the Jigawa State Police Command, the incident occurred at around 10:00 a.m. and was reported by officials from the Ministry of Works.

“A distress call was received regarding an unfortunate incident at the State Secretariat,” the command’s spokesperson, Shiisu Adam, said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “A team of officers led by the Divisional Police Officer of Dutse Division responded swiftly to the scene.”

Upon arrival, the officers found the lifeless body of an unidentified male adult beneath a concrete slab covering armored cable wiring. Preliminary investigations suggest that the man was electrocuted while attempting to vandalize the high-voltage power installation.

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“The body, which had already started decomposing, was evacuated to the Dutse General Hospital for medical examination,” SP Shiisu added.

The Police Command condemned the act, warning the public about the dangers of tampering with electrical infrastructure.

“This incident highlights the grave risks associated with vandalizing public property, especially installations connected to live electricity,” the PPRO noted. “We urge the public to steer clear of such hazardous and illegal activities.”

He further emphasized the commitment of the police to safeguarding public infrastructure and ensuring safety across the state.

“We are calling on residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or movements in their communities to the nearest police station. As the investigation continues, further updates will be made available,” SP Shiisu said.

Authorities have not yet identified the deceased, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether he acted alone or was part of a larger network of vandals.

Unknown gunmen have abducted a traditional ruler in Kogi State, Oba James Ogunyanda, the Obalohun of Okoloke, from his residence in the early hours of Thursday.

The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. in Okoloke, a quiet community in Yagba West Local Government Area, when a group of heavily armed men invaded the monarch’s palace.

A source, who identified himself as Lucky Omoyele, said the attackers overpowered palace guards before whisking the traditional ruler away to an unknown destination.

He revealed that the kidnappers have yet to make contact or issue any ransom demands.

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Omoyele added that concerned residents have since gathered at the palace to pray for the monarch’s safe return and are calling on the government to take urgent action.

The abduction is one of several recent incidents that have heightened insecurity in the area and left residents in a state of anxiety.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident and said an investigation is ongoing.

A joint task force comprising security operatives and local vigilantes has reportedly launched a manhunt to locate and rescue the monarch.

Also reacting, the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Tosin Olokun, condemned the abduction in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Adeyemi Sunday.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service swiftly contained a minor fire outbreak on Wednesday afternoon at Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital, located on Iju Road, Ifako Ijaiye, in Lagos.

The director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident and the emergency team’s response.

The fire, which broke out in a nursing room on the second floor of the hospital’s main three-storey building, was reported at approximately 15:20 hours.

Emergency responders arrived promptly and successfully doused the flames, preventing the fire from spreading and causing further damage to the facility.

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According to the statement, the incident was confined to the room where it originated due to the rapid intervention.

No casualties were recorded, and there was no disruption to healthcare services.

Normal operations have since resumed, with medical services to the public continuing without interruption.

The director noted that an investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.

Fire Alert!

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has successfully doused a minor fire incident that occurred in a nursing room on the second floor of the main three-storey building at Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital, located on Iju Road, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos.

The fire, which.. pic.twitter.com/b0yfWbDw9P