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  • Sallah: Passengers decry hike in transport fare

     

     

     

    Passengers

    By Olatunde Ajayi

    Ibadan, June 15, 2024 (NAN) A good number of those travelling from Ibadan to Lagos and other cities by road on Saturday condemned the hike in transport fares.

    The passengers, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, lamented the manner the fares up.

    They said the fares moved farther away from what they used to be before the Sallah celebration.

    Those of them whom a NAN correspondent met at Ojoo and other motor parks visited in Ibadan said transportation fare to most destinations had increased by at least 35 per cent.

    At the motor park at Iwo road in Ibadan, transporters were discovered to be charging N3,000 and N3,500 for buses and N4,500 for cars going to Lagos.

    This was against N2,000 and N2,500 respectively charged before festive season.

    A commercial bus driver, Mr Nurudeen Akanbi, however said it was a normal thing for transportation fares to go up during the festive period.

    He nonetheless noted that the fares would always return to normal after the celebrations.

    “Passengers may even need to pay more while returning to their base after the celebrations, because there will be a big rush to catch up with work on resumption day,” the driver warned.

    He also attributed the hike in transportation fare to the recent petroleum subsidy removal which had jacked up prices of fuel and motor spare parts.

    Some passengers at the motor parks, however, condemned the sharp increase in the transport fares, saying it would affect their budget and other plans for Eid-el-Kabir.

    Mrs Rofiat Adeoye, a traveller, said she had planned to get some gift items for her relations on her trip to Lagos.

    ”But due to the increase in the transport fare, I cannot do that again because intra-city transport fares would have gone up in Lagos too,” she said.

    Another passenger, Mr Akeem Gbadegesin, urged governments to assist travellers with subsidised transportation initiatives across all routes during any festive season.

    “Commercial operators are using the rush period during the celebrations as an opportunity to exploit people,” he said.

    NAN reports that passengers, who could not afford the fare, were seen leaving the parks and moving along the Ibadan-Lagos expressway.

    This was with the hope of getting cheaper means of transportation though private vehicle owners who would take them along to use the money gained to augment the fuel purchased.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    TUN/OJI/OLAL
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    (Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and Olawale Alabi)

  • Sallah: Jandor seeks prayers to end current economic hardship

    Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor)

     

    Sallah: Jandor seeks prayers to end current economic hardship

    Sallah
    By Adeyemi Adeleye
    Lagos, June 15, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) has urged Muslims to intensify prayers to end the current economic hardship in the country.

    Adediran made the call in his congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Gbenga Ogunleye, to Muslims on Saturday on the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    He urged Nigerians, especially Lagos residents, to remain steadfast in faith that the current hardship would be short-lived.

    Congratulating the Muslim Ummah in the state on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, Adediran said that the essence of the celebration was about obedience and total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah.

    He said: “The unwavering trust exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim by his willingness to sacrifice his son as a show of total respect to God is an assurance to all Lagos residents that whosoever put his trust in God will not be put to shame.

    “The good people of Lagos State must remain steadfast in their faith and hope in God that the much anticipated breath of fresh air in will soon become a reality.

    “As we celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, I enjoin all the Lagos State Muslim Ummah to keep praying and trusting God that the current economic hardship will be short-lived.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    AYO/IKU
    Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

     

     

  • Oyo govt. issues health alert over suspected cholera cases

    Alert

    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

    Ibadan, June 15, 2024 (NAN) The Oyo State Government on Saturday in Ibadan called for more vigilance and the adoption of precautionary measures to prevent a potential cholera outbreak in the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, made the call during her visit to a private hospital in Ibadan where two persons with suspected cholera cases were receiving treatment.

    She pointed out that cholera is a bacterial infection spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person.

    Ajetunmobi remarked that cholera is highly infectious and can cause severe diarrhoea with severe dehydration, adding that it may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting and fever.

    “The two suspected cases in Ibadan, which have been tracked down to a private facility, are male workers at a construction site at Lekki Peninsula in Lagos State.”

    She however assured that there was no cause for alarm as the Ministry and other partners were on top of the situation.

    Ajetunmobi disclosed that the state government’s response efforts, through the Ministry, were aimed at ensuring the state does not record casualties from the cholera outbreak in Lagos State.

    “The response efforts include: promotional jingles in English and Yoruba, running in different media houses; an immediate inauguration of the Cholera Technical Working Group; putting active isolation management centres in place; and sensitisation of the gatekeepers and other well-established community structures,” she said.

    The Commissioner therefore appealed to all to be safety-conscious and always drink water only from clean sources, and practise good personal hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap and water.

    She warned that anyone with the listed symptoms should not indulge in self-medication but present themselves at the nearest healthcare facility immediately.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    CC/OLAL
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    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • FRSC deploys 1200 officers for Eid-el-Kabir in Osun

    FRSC deploys 1200 officers for Eid-el-Kabir in Osun

    Sallah
    By Joshua Oladipo
    Osogbo,June 15 ,2024 (NAN) No fewer than 1,200 personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Osun have been deployed to strategic locations in the state to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    Mr Inyang Umoh, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Osogbo.

    Umoh said that the officers, which comprises of special and regular marshals, would help in maintaining orderliness on the highways to ensure road users comply with safety rules during and after the celebration.

    “We will not tolerate any reckless driving during and after the Sallah celebration. Our men are out there to ensure that motorists comply with safety regulations.

    “We have visited media houses, motor parks, churches, mosques, among others to spread the message of defensive driving during this period,” he said.

    According to him, the command has increase its enlightenment campaign towards ensuring zero free accident on highways.

    “The message is clear that motorists should embraced defensive style of driving, be disciplined while on wheels which will help in minimising road mishaps,” he emphasised.

    Umoh also said that ambulances and towing vans had been deployed to strategic locations in the state for emergency.

    He called on transport unions to educate their members on the need to be safety conscious to avoid loss of lives and property. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    JOO/VE/IKU
    Edited by Victor Adeoti/Tayo Ikujuni

  • Eid-El-Kabir: Gov. Abiodun urges Muslims to embrace virtues of Prophet Ibrahim

    Eid-el-Kabir: Gov. Abiodun urges Muslims to embrace virtues of Prophet Ibrahim

    Eid-El-Kabir

    By Abiodun Lawal

    Abeokuta, June 15, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Dapo Abiodun on Saturday in Abeokuta urged the Muslim faithful in Nigeria to use the occasion of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration to reflect on the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim.

    In his goodwill message, through his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, Abiodun said they should strive to emulate his unwavering faith, obedience and dedication.

    He emphasised the importance of submitting to the Almighty God and prioritising spiritual well-being over worldly desires.

    The governor highlighted the significance of selflessness, compassion and the willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of faith and the betterment of humanity.

    “This special season serves as an important reminder to all adherents for total submission to the Almighty God and the need to prioritise spiritual well-being over worldly desires.

    “It is also a period of sober reflection on the importance of selflessness, compassion and the willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of our faith and the betterment of humanity,” he said.

    Gov. Abiodun added that Sallah presented an opportunity for Muslims to gather with their families, strengthen their bonds, and share in the blessings of the festive period.

    “It is a celebration of virtues and a time to express our appreciation to God ,for His countless favours and to seek His forgiveness and guidance.

    “May this Eid bring us closer to our Creator, foster unity and harmony within our communities and inspire us to be beacons of compassion, generosity and righteousness.

    “May God accept our prayers, our acts of worship and our sacrifices during this blessed time,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    LKA/OLAL

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    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

     

  • Cholera outbreak: Ogun govt. announces precautionary measures

    Measures
    By Yetunde Fatungase
    Abeokuta, June 15, 2024 (NAN) The Ogun government on Saturday in Abeokuta announced precautionary measures to prevent a possible outbreak of cholera in the state, following events in several states of the country.
    Special Adviser to Gov. Dapo Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, in a statement said the governor was seriously concerned about the development.
    ”We have to take action in view of the need to protect the people in the state, considering the proximity to Lagos and the degree of interactions between the two states,” he said.
    Akinmade said precautionary measures have been put in place especially as the Sallah holiday approaches.
    He reeled out the measures as including the directive about toilets, stipulating that all houses must have toilets.
    “Any house without a toilet should identify a room to be converted to a toilet. Residents are given three to six months of grace for compliance.
    “All petrol stations must have functional public toilets with running water as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
    “All garages, parks, markets and mechanic villages must have functional toilets with running water.
    “All schools (public and private) should have public toilets with running water,” he said.
    Akinade added that, in addition to these measures, residents are advised to drink only safe water which is either boiled or chlorinated.
    He also advised proper hand-washing with soap after each toilet visit and before handling food, just as all fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly with safe water.
    The governor’s aide further that government has advised that all foods should be cooked properly.
    ”Also, people should endeavour to buy and eat only food that is hot and cooked with water from reliable sources.”
    Akinmade assured that the Ministry of Environment would see to the strict compliance of all the measures as violators would be made to face the wrath of law accordingly. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    YAF/OLAL
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    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Cholera: Children facing substantial health risks – UNICEF

    Cholera: Children facing substantial health risks – UNICEF

    Cholera
    By Victor Adeoti
    Osogbo, June 15, 2024 (NAN) The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says recurrent cholera outbreaks in the Nigeria are critically affecting children and the population at large.

    This is contained in a statement by Celine Lafoucrier, Chief of Lagos UNICEF Field Office, on Saturday in response to cholera outbreak in Lagos and other parts of the country.

    Lafoucrier said that children faced substantial health risks, particularly those under five who were prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rate.

    She urged government to focus on the provision of clean and risk-free water to prevent the spread of cholera in the country.

    According to her, despite the state government’s efforts to provide water to its population, the current outbreak demonstrates the need for an urgent government focus on ensuring the water provided to the population is clean and risk-free.

    “Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies.

    ”And this include provision of high-standard water and sanitation facilities as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks.

    ”There should be campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large”, she said.

    Lafoucrier said that good water and sanitation infrastructure play a crucial role in reducing disease outbreaks, such as cholera, which causes an estimated 100,000 deaths annually.

    “Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions are fundamental in preventing and responding to cholera epidemics.

    “Safe water supplies, hygienic sanitation, and effective water management are key elements in this effort.

    “Ultimately, preventing cholera centers on good sanitation and hygiene practices.

    “Key actions include proper disposal of faeces, eliminating open defecation, and ensuring access to potable water.

    “Regular hand washing with clean, running water and soap is vital.

    “Additionally, avoiding the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors is important to reduce the risk of cholera infection”, she said.

    According to her, safer water can annually prevent 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea, 500,000 deaths from malaria, and 860,000 child deaths from malnutrition.

    She said that it could also protect 10 million people from serious illnesses like lymphatic filariasis and trachoma.

    Lafoucrier, however, said that disease outbreaks ultimately hinder Nigeria’s progress in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.

    “These outbreaks strain Nigeria’s health system, diverting limited resources from essential services like routine immunizations and maternal and childcare, undermining universal health coverage.

    “However, outbreaks also present opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s health system.

    “Prevention is more cost-effective than cure; thus, communities should establish systems that promote key hygiene practices, transforming them into a cultural norm,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannnews.ng)
    VE/IKU
    Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

  • Abdulrazaq releases 23 inmates, reviews 18 Lifers’ cases 

    Inmates
    By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

    Ilorin, June 15, 2024 (NAN) Gov. AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara has released 23 convicted inmates to “enable them enjoy the Eid-el Kabir festival at their various homes”.

    A statement by Mr Adegbulugbe Olumide, the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Correctional Service, Kwara State Command, said on Saturday in Ilorin that the governor decided to extend his hands of love to the inmates.

    “The governor visited the facility and freed some inmates ahead of the Eid-el Kabir celebration.

    “In addition, the cases of 18 lifers were reviewed with 10 commuted to 21 years imprisonment, six commuted to 10 years, while two were commuted to two years.

    “A female inmate serving seven years had the term reviewed to six months,” he said.

    Olumide stated that the Governor also paid the transport fares of those freed, to enable them go to their various destinations.

    According to Olumide, the reduction of terms, and the release of inmates, were based on health status and the belief that they had turned into better citizens.

    “The Controller of Corrections in the State, Mr Danmairomu Ayodeji, while reacting to the governor’s gestures, appreciated him for the good gesture.

    “He advised the inmates to be worthy ambassadors of their various homes and never go back to crime.

    “Danmairomu used the opportunity to applaud the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, for giving him the enabling environment to operate,” he said.

    He quoted Nababa as applauding the State Ministry of Justice for a job well done, noting that the  exercise would reduce congestion in the custodial centre. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    FATY/ETS
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  • WED: Sterling One Foundation, partners clean up Elegushi Beach

     

    Environment

    By Fabian Ekeruche
    Lagos, June 15, 2024 (NAN) Sterling One Foundation and its partners on Saturday converged on Elegushi Beach, Lekki, for a national clean-up to mark the World Environment Day (WED) 2024.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 270 people defied the rain to participate at the clean-up aimed at environmental sustainability and the conservation of the ocean.
    Speaking at the event, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, the Chief Executive Officer, Sterling One Foundation, said the exercise was part of the culture of the foundation and Sterling Bank on environmental sustainability.
    Ibekwe noted that beaches are not just scenic spots for relaxation but vital ecosystems that support marine life and contribute to the overall health of the planet.
    “Unfortunately, they are also among the most impacted by pollution, with plastic waste and other debris posing severe threats to marine organisms and the environment at large.
    “Today, we come together not just to clean a beach but to make a statement. We are declaring our commitment to environmental sustainability and our dedication to preserving the natural beauty of our surroundings
    “Each piece of litter we pick up today is a step towards a cleaner, healthier planet.
    “As we work together today, let us also remember the importance of spreading awareness about proper waste disposal and the impact of pollution,” she said.
    According to her, education and continuous action are key to creating lasting change in the environment.
    “We must inspire others in our communities to join us in this effort, making environmental responsibility a part of our everyday lives,” Ibekwe said.
    She expressed gratitude to all the volunteers, environmental activists, and organisations who participated in the exercise.
    “Your participation and enthusiasm are a testament to the power of collective action. Let us use this momentum to drive more initiatives, foster greater community involvement, and ultimately make a significant impact on our environment.
    “Together, we can create a cleaner, more sustainable world for future generations.
    “Let this clean-up be a reminder of what we can achieve when we unite for a common cause.
    She advised Nigerians to be intentional about personal hygiene to combat the outbreak of cholera in some states in the country.
    Also Speaking, Mrs Tari Taylor, the Senior Special Assistance to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Environment, lauded Sterling One Foundation for the clean-up initiative.
    Taylor said that Lagos residents are rising up to the ownership of their environment.
    She expressed joy in seeing young volunteers in their numbers defying the rain to clean up the beach.
    According to her, the initiative resonates with Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s vision of a transformed Lagos.
    Mr Samuel Onosanya, Head of Business Retail, Mainland. Sterling Bank, said that the exercise is part of initiatives of the bank in giving back to the environment.
    Onosanya said the national clean up would take place in about 20 states of the federation to underscore the importance of the environment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    FBO/JNC
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    Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

  • Gov. Idris pays off bill for pilgrims’ sacrificial rams