Month: September 2023

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

At its 8th meeting held in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on September 9, 2023, the Northeast Governor’s Forum expressed its concern about the new dimension of growing banditry in Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states as a result of the concerted efforts of the military bandits from other parts of the country. The governors called on the federal government to intervene. With this new development, it’s evident that Adamawa State is doing well among the six states in the northeast sub-region in internal security. How did the Governor Fintiri-led government achieve that? Through planning and strategies or just sheer luck?

The Adamawa state government has employed three approaches. First, the Fintiri-led government looked at the areas affected by Boko Haram’s senseless insurgency. Then, the government developed excellent and feasible post-war programmes and projects with a comprehensive implementation strategy that fast-tracked the healing of the war’s scars. The government restored basic infrastructure and local economies, returning the affected communities to their peaceful and productive pre-war status.

A simple example is the burbling economic activity in townships like Mubi, Michika, and Madagali. Secondly, after the restoration of basic infrastructure and integration of the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people, the government employed a quick rehabilitation of agricultural land, places of worship, health centres, bridges, and schools, including the creation of productive employment for the teeming unemployed citizens, especially young people and women.

Over the years, most developmental efforts in many states emphasised urban development at the expense of rural development, which has led to a substantial rise in inequality among Nigerians—inequalities beget insecurity. What the Fintiri-led government did was balance urbanisation and rural areas’ needs. While Adamawa state’s capital, Yola, is gradually being transformed into a working city that accommodates all segments of society and provides basic and modern infrastructure, other local governments are getting what they should have in agriculture, basic electricity, healthcare, and human development. What the government did was equate each community’s basic infrastructure needs with youth employment needs to curtail crime.

For example, when the notorious Shila Boys re-emerged, the Fintiri government used a soft and hard approach: the government provided young people with cash grants, loans, and training on new skills through the Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA) and the Adamawa State Social Support Programme (ADSSSP). While those who refused to change their ways were dealt with the hard way by law enforcement agents. Another approach that helped Governor Fintiri sustain the success recorded in its internal security management- the government reinforced its more knowledge-based approach, thus the coming onboard of Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, Secretary to the State Government Awwal Turkur, and Chief of Staff Dr. Edgar Amos, etc. These people are well-read and have been through the mills in their respective fields.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), community security seeks to operationalise human security, human development, and state-building paradigms at the local level. This is the concept the Fintiri government used to douse tension due to farmer-herder conflict in some communities. However, there is a theory that says no one can experience perfect security because individuals or states are not perfectly secure or completely insecure, but the Fintiri model of community engagement, local people’s parley, and provision of basic needs has helped Adamawa State curtail farmer-herder conflicts, peaceful co-existence, youth restlessness, assurance of safety, absence of fear, etc. within the state. The Fintiri model of internal security management is working; other states in the northeast sub-region can copy it.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A wedding celebration in Moroccan village saved a newly married couple and some of their relatives that attended the party from the Friday’s deadly earthquake.

The couple and their families were said to have been enjoying a traditional music in an outdoor courtyard when the traumatic incident occurred.

Our reporters learned that the newly married couple were identified as Habiba Ajdir, 22, and apple farmer Mohammed Boudad, 30.

The Daily Reality gathered that the earthquake had claimed the lives of  hundreds of innocent people and destroyed properties worth million of dollars.

It was reported that the marriage was due to take place at his village of Kettou on Saturday, but by custom, the bride’s family held a party the night before the wedding.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive for the immediate settlement of insurance entitlements owed to the families of officers and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending the nation. 

This directive, which underscores the government’s commitment to the welfare of its armed forces, was announced by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, during the opening of the Combined Second and Third Quarters COAS Conference on Tuesday in Abuja. Lt.-Gen.

Lagbaja emphasised the paramount importance of the welfare of troops and their families, pledging to strengthen existing welfare arrangements to improve the well-being of both active service members and their loved ones. 

He outlined several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the lives of military personnel and their families, including the provision of suitable living quarters and the introduction of the ‘Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers Scheme’ to provide affordable, high-quality post-service homes. 

Furthermore, the Chief of Army Staff assured that the Nigerian Army would prioritise the medical care of injured soldiers and continue to support the widows and next-of-kin of those who had fallen in service to the nation. 

Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for his directive to promptly settle all pending insurance payments owed to the families of deceased servicemen and for his strategic guidance of the Armed Forces. 

He took the opportunity to reiterate the unwavering loyalty and commitment of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

This directive and the commitment of the Armed Forces leadership underline the government’s recognition of the sacrifices made by its military personnel and their families, affirming its dedication to their well-being and the nation’s security.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly stealing over 20 motorcycles in the state.

The man, identified as Bello Mohammed alias Faruk Manja, is a resident of Bakaro Area of Bauchi metropolis.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi state command, Ahmed Wakil, stated this in a statement he made available to journalists in the state.

Wakili said the other suspect, Kabiru Danfulani, conspiring with Manja in carrying out that nefarious acts for over four years were at large.

He added that the suspect confessed during interrogation that he and his partner (Danfulani) have stolen over 20 motorcycles over the period.

The statement read, “The Command has arrested a two-man squad that specializes in snatching motorcycles and has been carrying out their nefarious activities for about four years within Bauchi and other neighbouring States.

“On August 24, 2023, at about 6.30 am, one Aliyu Muhammad Gidado, male, of old Airport Road GRA, Bauchi, reported at B’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Bauchi metropolis, that on the same date at about 4 am, he discovered that Bello Mohammed alias Faruk Manja, male (30) of Bakaro area of Bauchi and Kabiru Danfulani, a male of Muda Lawal Bauchi, now at large, criminally conspired among themselves and trespassed into his house and stole his motor-vehicle Honda Civic, golden colour with reg no. MSA-350-PD valued at N640,000;00, alongside a skeletal motorcycle green colour, with the value yet to be ascertained.

“On receipt of the report, a team of detectives led by the DPO B’ Division, CSP Holman Simon, swiftly swung into action and circulated the incident to various Police patrol teams/divisions within and outside the State.

“Subsequently, in their process to escape with the stolen vehicle along Maiduguri-Bauchi road, Police operatives drafted to Soro Division led by the DPO, Soro Division, SP Aliyu Goni, intercepted the motor vehicle and arrested one of the culprits.

“During interrogation, the first suspect voluntarily confessed to having been a motorcycle snatcher for about four years and approximately stole 20 Jincheng robber motorcycles and carried such menace in different areas of Bauchi and Yobe States respectively, while the second suspect is now at large.”

Wakil added that the stolen vehicle and the skeletal motorcycle have been recovered from the suspects and further investigation is in progress.

By Fadhila Nuruddeen Muhammad

The journey towards becoming a doctor often begins in childhood, driven by a deep desire to help others and positively impact people’s lives. For many, like myself, the path may take unexpected turns, leading to different callings. I recall my childhood fascination with medicine, even playfully emulating the role of a doctor in my school days, using improvised tools such as cloth face masks and hand gloves to “perform surgery” on classmates’ pens. I’d then transfer the ink from one tube to another, all to save my classmates from running out of ink. Life has a way of guiding us, and for me, that path led to journalism.

Tijjani Ibrahim, however, followed his childhood passion to become a committed and dedicated young medical doctor. His journey was filled with promise, but it took an unfortunate turn when he was diagnosed with advanced Chronic Liver Disease, Liver Cirrhosis, a consequence of Hepatitis B Viral Infection in June 2023.

Dr Aisha Danbatta, a medical consultant at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, explained Hepatitis B as a global health challenge that targets the liver, causing both acute and chronic illnesses. “This virus can be transmitted through various means, such as from mother to child, unscreened blood transfusions, exposure to contaminated materials, sexual contact with an infected partner, and even through saliva. Unlike HIV, Hepatitis B has a longer lifespan, making it easier to transmit.”

Dr Danbatta emphasised the prevalence of undiagnosed cases due to a lack of immunisation, leaving many unaware of their condition. Those diagnosed often struggle to afford vital tests like viral load measurements, which determine the quantity of the virus in the blood and assess the extent of liver damage. Physical examinations, ultrasounds, and fibroscans are also crucial in evaluating liver fibrosis and scarring monitoring the progression of the disease.

Dr Tijjani was first at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was doing his house job and diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis at the same hospital in June this year. The cost of his treatment was quite high, and he could not afford it. The National Hospital Abuja could only support his medical bills by creating an official memo. He was later transferred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

Hamza Danyaro, a friend of the late Dr Tijjani Ibrahim, explained that “his return to Kano was motivated by the hope that the National Medical Association (NMA) Kano State chapter could provide support. However, it was revealed that to benefit from their assistance, he needed to complete his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), pay his dues, and work for at least a month or two before becoming eligible.”

“Tijjanii was not strong enough to go through these. Instead, we rallied to seek help from dignitaries such as politicians, the House of Representatives members of his local government in Kumbotso, and organisations. Unfortunately, the lengthy protocols inherent in today’s politics prevented direct outreach,” Danyaro added.

Tijjani was left with no other option than to seek funds. His friends organised the fundraising. The campaign was expected to raise a sense of urgency and necessity to help support a young medical doctor with funds to support his medical bills. This kind of transparency can prompt people to contribute to the cause. But only a tiny amount was raised after several days of campaigns.

Fauziyya D. Sulaiman, a philanthropist with a heart of gold, shared her disappointment on social media, writing, “It’s unfortunate that despite our community boasting politicians and business leaders among us, we couldn’t muster N25,000,000 to support Tijjani. If this were about some trivial matter, you would have seen some of us at the forefront. This is undeniably a disgrace.”

Dr Khalid Sunusi Kani, a medical doctor and health advocate, penned an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmad Tinubu through Solacebase online newspaper. In this heartfelt letter, he expressed the critical need for Dr Tijjani Ibrahim’s services in Nigeria, emphasising the pressing issues within the country’s healthcare sector and the alarming rate of “brain drain syndrome.”

He wrote, “Your Excellency, Nigerians too are in desperate need of his services, looking at the manpower deficit in the health sector and the rate at which we suffer from ‘brain drain syndrome.’ I strongly believe Nigeria and Nigerians are unprepared and cannot afford to lose someone like Dr. Tijjani Ibrahim.”

Chronic Hepatitis B places individuals at a high risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, leading to severe health consequences. In July 2023, the World Health Organization revealed that 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2019, with 1.5 million new conditions occurring yearly. While there is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B, medicines can effectively slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce the incidence of liver cancer, and improve long-term survival.

Dr Tijjani Ibrahim died on September 6, 2023. His dedication to the medical field and his efforts to make a difference in the lives of others will be remembered and cherished.

Witnessing a doctor who devoted his life to saving countless others facing such challenging circumstances is genuinely disheartening. He dedicated his life to the mantra of ‘One Life, One Liver,’ yet our society struggled to come together to save his life. In a world where trivial issues on social media can garner an astonishing number of likes, it’s heartbreaking that Tijjani needed just 25,000 people to contribute a mere dollar each or someone who can just pay the total amount.

Tijjani’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of rallying together to support those in need, especially those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Let us reflect on this unfortunate situation and take it as a call to action. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that the heroes who dedicate their lives to saving others do not suffer in silence.

“One Life, One Liver”: A heartfelt tribute to a fallen hero leaving an indelible mark on the world. May Allah rest his soul, amin.

Fadhila Nuruddeen Muhammad is a social media influencer based in Kano and can be reached via fadhilamuhd@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, has said that Nigeria is exploring ways to improve trade and investment relations with India.

She said that Nigeria was making efforts to woo various Indian entrepreneurs who are already doing business in Nigeria.

The minister stated this during a bilateral meeting with the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in the ongoing G-20 Summit in India.

In a statement, Uzoka-Anite said: “Our trip here has so far been fruitful and Nigerians should be proud of our achievement here. We signed an agreement on Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Limited (InfraCorp) and Invest India.

“We also signed another agreement between the Nigerian Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy and the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. We have also secured investment commitments from multinationals like; SkipperSeil Group, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Bharti Enterprises, Indorama Petrochemical Limited amounting to several billions of dollars.”

She further stated: “We have more than 130 Indian companies that are active in Nigeria from manufacturing to hospitality to oil and gas, and healthcare sector.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Bayero University Kano announced on Monday a final extension of the student registration exercise for the 2022–2023 academic session. 

This extension, contained in a statement signed by the university’s deputy registrar, Lamara Garba, comes after careful consideration of appeals from various stakeholders, including the governments of Kano and Jigawa states as well as student union bodies. 

The university’s management expressed its heartfelt appreciation to these stakeholders for their unwavering support, especially in covering the registration fees for indigent students. 

The extension of the registration period was approved during a meeting held on Monday, September 11, 2023. 

Students now have until the stroke of midnight on Saturday, September 30, 2023, to complete their registration. 

The university added that it is important to note that there will be no further extensions beyond this date and that any student who fails to register by the deadline will not be permitted to sit for the first semester examination of the 2022–2023 academic session.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed greif over Morocon earthquake tradedy that claimed the lives of thousands of people and destroyed properties worth millions of dollars.

Buhari disclosed this Monday in a personal letter to King Muhammad the VI, the ruler of Morocco with whom he said he had a good working relationship while in office.

A statement, issued by Garba Shehu, explained that the letter, sent to the Royal Palace in Rabat in Morocco, was personally signed by the former President.

The former President said: “It is with a deep sense of sadness that I write on behalf of my family and myself to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to you and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck your country on 8th September 2023.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives destruction of property caused by the earthquake. I stand in solidarity with Your Majesty and the people of Morocco in this difficult time and pray for the swift recovery of those who were affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may Allah bring peace and solace to those affected.

“While extending, once again, my condolences, please accept, Your Majesty, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem,” Buhari added.

By Bello Hussein Adoto

Medicine is a sacred profession where trust is vital. Yet, fakes and their accomplices undermine this trust and put everyone at risk. Medical doctors must stand up and sanitise the system first by not promoting quackery.

Meet Abawulor Omenka, a 35-year-old Nigerian who made headlines after presenting a second-class upper degree in Medicine and Surgery to Covenant University Medical Centre, Ota, Ogun state, for employment.

For those who don’t know, medical degrees are not classified. It is either you pass or you don’t. There is no first-, second-, or third-class, as you have in education, law, engineering, and pharmacy programmes.

So, for Mr. Omenka to present a second-class upper degree shows something was wrong. True to suspicion, he was found to be a fake doctor and handed over to the police. Omenka’s case is symptomatic of how doctors contribute to quackery, deliberate or not.

The role of doctors in quackery is subtle yet significant. For instance, Omenka, in his interview, talked about the different hospitals he has worked for. One of his interviewers told The Punch, “…he (Omenka) had worked at the hospital owned by some of our colleagues that we know. We put a call across to them, and two of them actually confirmed that they knew him very well. I told them he was trying to apply as a medical officer, and they told me he worked with them as an auxiliary nurse or, better put, as a hospital assistant.”

Imagine if he had earlier been reported to the police or the Nigerian Medical Association and removed from circulation. He wouldn’t have had the guts to apply to be a medical officer at a hospital.

Beyond that, doctors should not allow their hard-earned certificates and licenses to be used to register clinics run by unqualified individuals. Many quacks wouldn’t have had clinics to experiment on patients without doctors registering the clinics for them.

The practice of quacks using a doctor’s license to operate their clinics is well established. As Professor Shima Gyoh, a former provost of Benue State University College of Health Sciences, told the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, “A lot of these illegal clinics are run by cleaners in the hospitals; I knew some who started clinics without approval. What they do is you start a clinic, you ask a doctor to stand behind you and register the clinic in his name, then you pay the doctor something. Instead of the doctor inspecting what you are doing, he does not do that, and then you continue to run your clinic independently. Yet, you are not a doctor.”

Moreover, doctors are honourable people who should not be found near quacks and quackery. Yet, some doctors help quacks run their clinics. The quack will open a clinic and handle common illnesses while the trained doctor comes in for the severe ones. This partnership gives the quack a veneer of legitimacy, which allows him to attract more patients and handle even bigger cases.

Another factor is economical. I know things can be challenging for doctors, especially those in private practice. They must establish standard hospitals, hire competent staff, meet regulatory standards, and offer quality services. All these cost money.

Nevertheless, the need to balance the chequebook does not excuse hiring untrained hands as cheap labour or training them to become health workers themselves. The male trainees graduate to become ‘doctors,’ while the female ones are called ‘auxiliary nurses.’ Whatever that means.

Let’s be clear. I don’t have a beef with medical doctors. If anything, I am grateful for their remarkable job in the face of limited resources and an overwhelming workload. My aim is to call on them to sit up and excise this cancer eating into their noble profession.

Of course, fakes are not exclusive to the medical profession. Bogus certificates and fake professionals are around us in the form of fake doctors, fake lawyers, fake soldiers, fake engineers.

Nevertheless, patients place enormous trust on their caregivers and doctors should know better than to endorse quackery. They are trained, more than most, to know the value of health and wellness and respect the sanctity of their patients.

They have read tonnes of materials, done lots of practicals, and spent years doing exams upon exams to show they have studied human functionality and diseases and can apply the training to treat people. They shouldn’t be found contributing to quackery in any form.

Medicine should have no room for quackery. Human life is too sacred, and the burden of care is too great for those not qualified by training, experience, and certification to play poker.

One could say that doctors and non-clinical health workers can work together in a task-shifting, task-sharing arrangement. This way, routine, low-skill tasks can be shifted to health workers like community health extension workers (CHEWs) and health technicians so that we can have better use of our depleted workforce and ensure that everyone gets quality healthcare. I agree with this arrangement.

In a task-shifting, task-sharing arrangement, everyone knows their job. However, what some doctors do currently is not task-shifting or task-sharing. What they do instead is aiding and abetting an aberration fast becoming a norm. This needs to stop.

Bello Hussein writes from Ilorin via bellohussein210@gmail.com

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State, witnessed a devastating boat accident on Sunday, leaving 24 lives tragically lost and many more in distress. 

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago expressed his profound shock at the incident and has since called for immediate safety measures. 

The accident occurred between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. in communities situated between Jebba and the Kainji dam. Most of the victims were women and children.

Over 30 individuals have been rescued so far, thanks to the combined efforts of the marine police, local divers, and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. 

Governor Bago, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, conveyed his deep condolences to the affected families.

He described the incident as “terrible and undesirable” and prayed for the souls of the departed to rest in Aljannah Firdausi. 

Expressing his concern, Governor Bago called for the mandatory use of life jackets by anyone boarding a boat in the state.

He strongly condemned overcrowding on boats, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to safety guidelines. The exact number of passengers on the ill-fated boat is still unclear, but reports suggest that many were not wearing life jackets, which may have contributed to the tragedy. 

The Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Area, Jibrim Muregi, confirmed the ongoing efforts by divers to rescue victims and recover more bodies from the scene.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, led by Alhaji Salihu Garba, is collaborating closely with local authorities and divers in search, rescue, and recovery operations. 

As the rescue operation continues, the affected communities are plunged into mourning, with residents anxiously searching for their missing loved ones.

The cause of the boat mishap remains unknown, underscoring the urgency of improving safety measures and enforcing strict compliance with regulations governing water transportation in the state.