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‘Nigeria now a major manufacturer of illicit drugs’

From Abubakar Auwal, Sokoto

Nigeria has moved from a transit country to a major manufacturer and supplier of illicit drugs in Africa.

A Psychiatric Consultant with Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto Professor Ayodele Obembe stated this in a sensitization workshop on drug abuse organized by the Nigeria Medical Association, Sokoto State branch.

Obembe who said substance abuse crept into the mainstream society shortly after the Second World War and escalated 10 years later, added that in the last five years Nigeria had moved away from being a transit place to a major manufacturer of illicit drugs.

According to Professor Obembe, the country now supplies other countries with drugs which he noted was denting her image in the comity of nations.

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Hamid Ahmed who described drug abuse, insurgency, HIV and poverty as interrelated, expressed the belief that most suicide bombers take drugs before embarking on their mission.

President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Abdulgafar Jimoh said preventing drug abuse requires multi-disciplinary collaborative approach among family, community, religious leaders and government officials.

Sokoto tackles polio vaccine rejection, I million immunized against measles

From Rakiya A.Muhammad,Sokoto

One million children have been immunised against measles and other child killer diseases in the last three months in Sokoto State, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Shehu Kakale has said.

He disclosed this while briefing Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on progress of the on-going immunisation efforts in the state, stating that many children in remote areas had been reached for vaccination following renewed commitment of the state government.

And as part of strategies to reduce cases of the rejection of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and ensure all eligible children are immunised against polio, advocacy committees and special teams have been constituted by the state government.

The advocacy committee comprise traditional and religious leaders across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Speaking on the on-going round of the Polio Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) in the state, Deputy Governor Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu said the advocacy committees were to sensitize the parents across the state on need to ensure that their children and wards are fully immunized against the polio disease.

Lagos inducts 39 new doctors

From Femi Akinola, Lagos

Thirty-nine new doctors were inducted by the Lagos State Government at the weekend.

Daily Trust reports that the new doctors have undergone series of training spanning years at the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASCOM) within the complex of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

Speaking at the induction ceremony which was the 10th in the series, the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun commended the state government for providing the necessary resources for the successful training of the new doctors and urged the graduating doctors to be of good conduct.

Earlier, Provost of the College Prof. Gbadebo Awosanya charged the new doctors to be civil in all situations, stating that civility cost nothing but buys everything.

He said with the kind of training the new doctors have received in the Lagos State College of Medicine, they can compete with any of their peers in the world.

A senior lecturer and consultant in the college and the teaching hospital, Dr. Francis Ajose advised the doctors to note that their profession has life-long learning opportunities.

The medical college which is the only state medical school that runs a dental course has since its inception produced 539 doctors.

Bird flu affects 32 poultry farms, cuts 100 jobs

From Hir Joseph, Jos

The latest outbreak of Avian Influenza in Jos, capital of Plateau State where over 32 poultry farms have of Nigeria (PAN) has said.

been forced to close down, has put over 100 persons out of their jobs, state chairman of Poultry Association

John Dasar told newsmen weekend that more than any city, Jos which is reputed as the capital of poultry farming suffered the latest outbreak of the disease also called bird flu, which occurrence has spanned over a month now.

Over 90,000 birds have so far been depopulated across 32 farms, which have been closed down by relevant authorities, putting farm owners and their employees out of job.

PAN had to mobilize and distribute disinfectant worth N700, 000 to poultry farmers in the state. Dasar said the gesture was to stem further spread of the disease.

‘Fulani aren’t criminals’

From Lami Sadiq, Jos

The Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association yesterday alleged a conspiracy to tag all Fulani herdsmen across the country as criminals, saying it will not do well for the unity of the nation.

National President of the group, Saidu Maikano who spoke to journalists in Jos said a number of Fulani herdsmen were facing persecution in the South-South and South Western parts of the country for offences committed by a few criminals.

While not denying that there were some criminal elements among the herdsmen, Maikano said, “Criminality has no ethnic or religious attachment and therefore should not be used as a Fulani identity. We have criminal elements in all ethnic groups but blaming Fulani is not the solution to the problem.”

The group alleged a conspiracy to evict Fulani herdsmen from other parts of the country but stressed that no part of the country has accommodated other ethnic groups like the North and when some of these people commit offence in the North, northerners don’t brand an entire ethnic group as criminals.

Why we’ll no longer sponsor pilgrimages -Lagos

From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos

Lagos State Government has emphasized that it will no longer sponsor pilgrimage services to Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem.

The government said this became imperative to cut wastages and invest in human capital development and infrastructure.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef who stated this while addressing some Muslim Ummah in the state said the fall in the price of oil and the need for the state to invest more in infrastructural development and capacity building necessitated the decision.

“Individuals intending to visit Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah as well going to Jerusalem should be prepared to bear the economic implications involved, as the state government is resolute about cutting wastages,” he said.