Connect with us

News

Mohammed Lauds NEDC’s Humanitarian Intervention In Bauchi State

Published

on

Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Thursday, applauded the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for execution of viable projects through its humanitarian intervention in the state.

Mohammed made the commendation during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP) organised by the commission in collaboration with the state government.

Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the commission for embarking on the construction of 500 mass housing project in the state and the rapid intervention in provision of primary schools across the 20 local government areas of the state.

“I want to also express my sincere appreciation to NEDC for providing food and non food items for distribution to indigent people of the state.

“The provision of COVID-19 medical relief items to the state by the commission is also appreciated,” he said.

READ ALSO: N2.6 Trillion Debt: Reps Summon NNPC, NDDC For Investigation

The governor, who was represented by Mr Hashimu Yakubu, Special Assistant on Special Duties, said the state government accorded premium to the stakeholders’ meeting and, therefore, gathered highly important personalities in the state to attend.

This, he said, would avail the commission the opportunity to brainstorm with critical stakeholders in the state towards formulating a master plan that would be the pride of all.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, NEDC, Mr Mohammed Alkali, said that NEDC was established by President Muhammadu Buhari as a direct response to the devastation caused by the insurgency in the the North-East.

Alkali said the commission was charged with the responsibility to recover, stabilise and develop the region, among others.

He explained that the master plan shall contain programmes and schemes that would promote and facilitate the physical and socio-economic development of the North-East, as well as estimate the time and cost of implementing the programmes and schemes.

According to him, The NEDC consultation of Critical Stakeholders in Bauchi State, was for a State-wide Consultative Meeting on the draft of the 10-year Stabilization and Master Development Plan of the NEDC.

He added that the meeting was to allow for meaningful interaction and inputs from the stakeholders on the various aspects of the plan before its final adoption as a workable blueprint for the wholesale development and rehabilitation of the North East region ravaged by insurgency.

READ ALSO: NEDC Begins Construction Of 500 Housing Units In Bauchi

“Today’s joint consultative meeting with all representative groups of stakeholders in the state will be followed by finalisation of a draft master plan that will eventually be presented for validation.

“The essence of having these diverse stakeholders under one roof here, therefore, is to harness their individual and collective inputs to enrich the process and align with inclusiveness and bottom-up policy of the NEDC.

“The proposed 10-year NESDMP consists of 10 Pillars, which will encompass the relevant aspects of Policies and Programmes of Bauchi State Government and those of other Partners,” he said.

News

10 Years After, Troops Rescue Chibok Girl With Kids

Published

on

Troops of the Nigerian Army in the North-East have announced the rescue of Lydia Simon, a Chibok girl who had been held captive by Boko Haram terrorists for 10 years.

This was made known in a statement by the Department of Army Public Relations on Thursday.

Millitary authorities said Lydia was rescued along with her three children by troops conducting Operation Desert Sanity III, around Ngoshe in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Kills Two In Fresh Chibok Raid

According to the statement, Lydia was on serial number 68 among the abducted missing Chibok Secondary School girls.

She was five months pregnant at the time of her rescue and claimed to be from Pemi Town in Chibok.

The statement added that Nigerian Army troops deployed for counter- terrorism and counter- insurgency operations in the North Central on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 successfully ambushed and neutralised three terrorists, who were on a mission to wreak havoc.

Statistics released by parents of the abducted schoolgirls showed that 271 students were kidnapped but 57 girls escaped shortly in 2014, while 103 were released through the intervention of the Federal Government.

Similarly, 20 others were freed through the efforts of the state government.

However, 92 students are still in captivity.

Continue Reading

News

EFCC Obtains Arrest Warrant For Yahaya Bello

Published

on

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC ,on Wednesday was granted a warrant by a Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State.

The warrant was issued following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC.

In his ruling on the motion, Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that the former governor be produced before him on Thursday, April 18, for arraignment.

He said, “It is hereby ordered as follows:

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing and/or issuing a warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant to bring him before this honourable court for arraignment.

“That case is adjourned to the 18th day of April 2024 for arraignment.”

Earlier, a Lokoja High Court restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the immediate past governor of Kogi State.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Kogi Gov Visits Yahaya Bello Amidst EFCC Siege

Meanwhile, the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, on Wednesday, helped the embattled former governor of the state escape arrest by operatives of the EFCC.

The PUNCH correspondent, who was at the ex-governor’s residence, observed Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at about 2:30 pm on Wednesday.

About two hours later, at exactly 4:20 pm, Ododo’s entourage drove out with Bello in the governor’s car.

About 10 minutes after the governor and former governor left, EFCC operatives laying siege to Bello’s home retreated from Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

Continue Reading

News

Hiccups: What You Need To Know

Published

on

By Silver Yeibake 

Hiccups, or singultus, are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle. It is an abnormal breathing pattern.

Normal breathing is possible as the diaphragm, a muscle directly under the lungs that separates the chest from the abdomen, works together with other chest muscles by contracting and relaxing in a controlled manner, allows air to enter and leave the lungs at a fixed amount and rate.
Irritation of this major muscle makes it contract involuntarily, causing a sudden intake of air, which is then stopped by the vocal cords (a set of soft tissues in our throat that is involved in voice generation) closing, resulting in the the characteristic “HIC” sound

Hiccups are normally harmless and transitory, but they can be annoying and disruptive. The condition usually lasts a few minutes but can persist for up to 2 days.

READ ALSO: AUTISM: What You Need To Know

Although the specific cause of hiccups are not always evident, they can be provoked by several events such as eating too rapidly, eating large meals, consuming carbonated beverages, hot ir spicy food, indigestion, excessive alcohol intake, smoking, bad odours, abrupt temperature changes, emotional stress and pregnancy.

Frequent and prolonged hiccups (lasting more than 2 days) are triggered by diseases like oesophagitis (inflammation of the gullet), pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), pleurisy (inflammation of the coverings of the lungs), stroke, brain tumour, thyroid disease, kidney disease, some epilepsy medicines, nicotine gum, chest and abdominal surgeries.

READ ALSO: Food Poisoning: What You Need To Know

To relieve hiccups, several measures are designed to disrupt the abnormal breathing pattern and restore normal respiration. These include breathing into a paper bag, sipping ice-cold or hot water, holding of breath, taking of deep breaths, eating a spoonful of sugar, sit down and lean forward over the knees, suck on a slice of lemon.

When hiccups are prolonged (chronic forms) or are severe enough to affect sleep, rest, eating, drinking, or other important functions, the patient should consult competent medical experts for proper evaluation and treatment is necessary.

Dr. Yeibake, Weriwoyingipre Silver, a
Senior Registrar, Faculty Of Pediatrics, West Africa College of Physician (WACP), writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Continue Reading

Trending