News

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) lamented that no fewer than fifty medical doctors leave Nigeria for better jobs abroad every week. 

NMA also decried the wave of brain drain that recently hit Nigeria’s health sector. 

Dr Rowland Ojinmah, the National President of NMA, disclosed this to journalists during the opening ceremony of 2022 Abia Physicians’ Week. 

Lamenting the sad development, Ojinmah urged the government to intervene and end the worrisome trend. 

It was gathered that the poor working conditions of doctors in Nigeria would be unconnected to why the doctors decided to leave the country. 

Ojinmah asked the government to fix the hospitals if they truly wanted to reverse the trend.

He stated,” The Governors are sleeping; They should not be waiting for the Federal Government alone. 

They should fix General Hospitals in their states to take care of the health needs of the citizenry at the local levels”.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

WhatsApp, a messaging platform, has been inaccessible to millions of users globally. As a result, thousands of users have reported being unable to send or receive messages.

The Daily Reality understands that since 8:30 am, 12,000 faults have been reported. The estimated number of affected users is substantially large.

Although messages are not delivered, users can still launch the application and read previous conversations.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has on Monday postponed a decision on the Federal Government’s request for a stay of execution of the court’s ruling ordering the release of Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu.

When both parties are ready, Justice Haruna Tsanami said they would be informed of the judgement delivery date.

Recall that the Federal Government argued before the Court of Appeal that Kanu is a threat to national security and must be detained in order to keep the peace.

The Daily Reality understands that Kanu had previously shown that he was a flight risk when he left the country after being granted bail on the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to the Federal Government’s attorney, David Kaswe, who was arguing the motion for a stay of execution of the October 13 judgement rendered in Kanu’s favour.

He said, “My Lords, our concern, the concern of the Federal Government, is the threat the release of Kanu poses to the security of this country and its political, social, and economic activities. We will not be able to lay hands upon him if he is allowed out of detention and finds his way out of the country.”

He, therefore, prayed to the court to make Kanu remain in custody pending when the Supreme Court would eventually determine the pending appeal.

However, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Kanu’s primary attorney, asserted that the military had wrongfully invaded his client’s ancestral home and that only God’s grace had kept Kanu from dying.

Having disobeyed the October 13 judgement, he informed the court that the government was in contempt of court.

Despite what the Federal Government claims, Ozekhome claimed that only his client’s release could guarantee peace and tranquility throughout the entire nation, not just in the South East.

“My Lord, the action of the Federal Government in respect of Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court. It is also an invitation to anarchy, and I humbly urge this court to dismiss the application for lack of merit,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) frowned at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) decision to block Muslims from entering its camp to make a bank transaction or any other business in the camp located along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

MURIC also claimed that RCCG thwarts Muslims from entering the camp to check their WAEC, JAMB and other examinations.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola who frowned at the development disclosed this in a statement Monday and also demanded the relocation of examination centres from the RCCG camp.

“Our office has been inundated with complaints from Nigerian Muslims who have been denied access into the Lagos-Ibadan expressway camp of the RCCG.

“Among the complainants are Muslims who registered for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as well as other examinations.

“Attempts by the candidates to enter the RCCG camp in order to check their examination centres are always rebuffed by RCCG security men who turn them back at the gates with clear messages that Muslims are persona non grata inside the camp.

“The second group of Muslims who are not allowed to enter are those who opened bank accounts in some of the banks located inside the camp like Eco Bank, Unity, Guaranty Trust Bank, FCMB, United Bank for Africa, Zenith and Access Bank. This ugly trend has been on for quite some time but the complaints have increased in number recently.

“It is even more interesting to note that those behind this obnoxious practice are Yoruba Christians while the victims are Yoruba Muslims. Those who talk about religious tolerance being rampant in Yorubaland have therefore missed the point.

“But the difference is the case in matters concerning religion where they operate as Christian or Muslim groups or as corporate entities. The same Christian teacher who lives in the same house with many Muslims without any problem is the same teacher who will snatch the hijab from the head of a female Muslim student in the school.

“Simply put, there is no religious tolerance in Yorubaland. That is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

“The RCCG camp saga cited above is one good example. RCCG has used opportunities at its disposal to build a big camp on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. It has also equipped the camp with necessary infrastructural facilities including a university, schools, clinics, banks, residential houses.

“MURIC acknowledges the right of RCCG to do all these but at the same time members of the public should be given access to them. Failure to allow that access robs RCCG of an important quality and role in social relations, namely, neighbourliness and service to the people. Afterall many other entities have such facilities and keep them open to the public.

“As a way forward, we demand, first and foremost, the relocation of all public examination centres from the RCCG camp. This camp should be delisted by WAEC, JAMB, NECO and other examination bodies for practising religious apartheid.

“Any individual or institution that applies to examination bodies to host examinations must give access to the public, particularly the candidates. Anything to the contrary is arbitrary and alien to the culture of education. A situation whereby candidates of a particular religion are shut out of the premises of the examination venue is unfair, unjust and unacceptable by any standard.

“We advise Muslims to stop going inside the RCCG camp. It is private property where Muslims are not welcome. Muslims residing in the vicinity should patronise banks and other business concerns located outside the camp.

“However, we warn that banks and other business concerns located within RCCG camp may start losing their Muslim customers if they continue within RCCG camp. Our advice to the banks id to engage RCCG authorities in dialogue on this matter,” Akintola said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Three people were reportedly killed as unknown gunmen descended on Tse-Ikem, Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the incident, which happened twice, took place on Friday and involved a young man while the other one that led to the death of two people took place on Sunday.

A community leader, who confirmed the development to the Daily Trust on the condition of anonymity, said the incident which occurred near Arufu rural town caused pandemonium among the residents.

“On Sunday October 23, 2022 at about 6 pm, Mr Aondona Saai and Mr Avalumun Ukerchia Adaa all of Tse-Igbur in Ukemberagya of Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council ward of Logo LGA were murdered at Tse Ikem on the road near Anawah settlement between Chembe and Anyiin road,” the community leader said.

Solome Tor, the Chairman of Logo LGA, Salome Tor, confirmed the development to journalists in the state.

He said, “On Sunday at about 5 pm, two men on a motorcycle with a lady were ambushed by those who butchered them.

“They (gunmen) left the woman and she ran into the bush, so that was how we were able to know what happened.

“There have been selected killings of people and the target is the men not women per se… we have a high patrol of security agencies. Even on Friday, they killed one young man and burnt his motorcycle.”

At the time of filing this report, the police in the state said they were yet to receive any report about the happening.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A prominent Pakistani journalist and TV presenter, Arshad Sharif, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi.

Arshad Sharif’s wife, Javeria Siddique announced the demise of her husband on Twitter in the early hours of Monday, October 24, 2022.

“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers,” she tweeted.

She appealed to the public to respect her family’s privacy and desist from sharing pictures of her husband’s last moment on social media. She also said politicians and the media are not allowed with cameras in their home.

“Pls @Twitter remove last picture’s of my late husband @arsched from ur social media site. Politicians and media are not welcomed with cameras inside our house,” she pleaded.

As at the time of writing this report, authorities of Kenya and Paskitan are yet to officially confirm the development.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) reportedly stormed the enclaves of Boko Haram and slaughtered six of its members, whom the ISWAP described as “infidels”, on weekend.

This is not the first time, in an inter-rivalry clash, that the ISWAP carried out a successful attack against Boko Haram, causing the group huge casualty and loss of weapons.

The development is believed to have been dragging Boko Haram insurgents down to their knees as they continue to count losses from the clashes.

It was gathered that the ISWAP had stormed the enclaves of Boko Haram insurgents in Gajibo, a town situated 95km northeast of Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The ISWAP once vowed to battle more with Boko Haram than even with the Nigerian troops, worsening the rivalry clashes with bloodshed.

A counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, said the attackers also recovered five AK47 riffles from the Boko Haram terrorists.

Experts and analysts believe that the worsening of inter-rivalry clashes between ISWAP and Boko Haram may lead them to irreversible self-destruction.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, slammed his critics who claim he is unhealthy.

The presidential candidate argued that he is healthy and capable enough to occupy the highest office in the land.

Tinubu stated this in Kano during a meeting with businessmen in the state on Saturday.

He said, “I am not running for 100 yards or 500 yards; I am running for presidency. I’m not competing for WWE Wrestling. If I go out there, they would say he is sick. I’m standing before you, do I look like a sick man?” Tinubu asked.

“To everyone of you who had come out today, I say a big thank you. Thank you for walking and spending your time for a better Nigeria. Walking for the mission and the vision of a prosperous country. You have done it with your expectation, that this country must be inclusive and serve you as a nation.

“For everyday I spend as your President, when elected I promise you with strong determination that you will not be disappointed. Your hope is renewed. Our nation will be accomplished.

“You will be successful as Nigeria will be successful. Thank you for your strong effort and raising the hope of other millions that will come after you. Thank you. God bless you and God bless our country,” he said.

Tinubu also promised not to disappoint his supporters if elected President.

By Muhammad Aminu

Dubai authorities have opened a unique modern nine-in-one library that gulped over $272 million to establish.

The library named after Dubai’s ruler ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum Library’ is at par with the pantheon of world-class book repositories such as London’s British Library and Egypt’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Al Maktoum announced the construction of the new library in 2016, which now houses more than 1.1 million print and digital books in its 54,000 square-meter facility.

CNN reports that the library has a beautiful oasis of calm contemplation, where visitors can curl up with a good book, plug in laptops for study or work, or marvel at the rare manuscripts and first-edition books displayed in the exhibition space.

The library reportedly houses nine separate libraries containing almost all areas of expertise, from sciences to arts and entertainment.

“The facility is home to nine separate libraries, dedicated to everything from media and the arts to business titles, international periodicals, maps and atlases, books for children and young adults, and a collection of precious archival treasures,” it said.

“The collection of works is still being built, but it already boasts some impressive numbers. Alongside its multilingual print and digital books, visitors can access more than six million dissertations, 73,000 musical scores, 75,000 videos, 35,000 printed and digital international journals, and over 5,000 historical periodicals spanning 325 years.

The library, which has a cafe for a break, also contains a database of thousands of digital titles that can be downloaded from machines in each of the nine libraries.

There are books in braille for visually impaired readers and a quiet space with reading pods for visitors with special needs.

It also has an Auto Book Store, a subterranean storeroom for the 400,000 titles that don’t appear on the library’s shelves, but members can request a book via the library’s app.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The beneficiaries of the Household Upliftment Programme in Nassarawa Local Government of Kano State are stranded as officials abandon posts without explanations.

The Federal Government had in May 2022 commenced the distribution of debit cards to the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Household Upliftment Programme aims to provide access to targeted cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households as captured from the National Social Register (NSR) based on standard eligibility criteria.

However, some of the beneficiaries expressed worries over how they spent three days going to the distribution centre located at Jigirya in the local government without being attended to.

Our reporter, who visited the Kano State Hisbah Office, Gigirya, where the beneficiaries trooped in hundreds to collect their automated debit cards to withdraw their cash, observed how disappointed they looked.

However, despite arriving at the place early in the morning, the beneficiaries bitterly complained that the officials did not come until around 1 pm.

The Daily Realityreporter gathered that the slowdown in attending to the beneficiaries was due to the failure of the officials to deploy enough staff to handle the issue smoothly.

Zenith Bank, which was in charge of distributing the debit cards to the verified beneficiaries, deployed only six of its staff to handle the people of the local government.

Tension as infant suffocates, paints

An elderly woman at the venue narrated to The Daily Reality how a newly born baby almost died because of the heat and congestion.

She said, “yesterday, we witnessed how a newly born baby of one of us that has been coming here for three days suffocated because of heat and painted.

“We all gathered to see for our eyes the fate of that baby. But at long last, God saved,” she said.

‘Our agent abandons us’

A household, Malam Ibrahim (not real name), who said he was from Tudun Murtala, said today (Friday) was his fourth time at the place, saying he was not attended to.

He said, “It is almost one o’clock, but the agent assigned to our ward has not arrived. Therefore, I think none of us will complete their verification and collect their ATM.”

The Daily Reality learned that a man, identified as Malam Aminu, was said to have caused the delay in attending to the people of Tudun Murtala as he was their agent.

Another household said, “We would have collected our ATM if our agent was around, but he has not arrived yet.”

However, when contacted, Malam Aminu said he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

Discrepancies in benefits noticeable

Efforts by The Daily Reality to know the exact amount of money from one household to another were unsuccessful as the officials refused to speak on the matter.

The officials have kept it a secret to themselves that even the beneficiaries are confused, as they don’t know how much they will get until they pay them.

Some of the beneficiaries have received N70,000, N57,000 and some others N40,000.

One of the households told our reporter, “My sister received N70,000 naira yesterday. What you get depends on the information you give them during registration.”

Another woman said her friend received a sum of N57,000 Friday.

However, when our reporter contacted the woman in charge of the program to comment on the matter, she said she was not allowed to speak on it as they were busy making arrangements to fast-track the distribution.  

An official, who does not want his name in print, said the discrepancies were a result of what he called “old and new systems.”

He said those on the old system were paid a sum in the past. Therefore they will not receive the same amount as those on the new system.