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A measles outbreak has been declared in eight Nigerian states.

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed a measles outbreak in eight states across the country.

The NCDC announced on Friday that Jigawa, Anambra, Katsina, Rivers, Enugu, Delta, Osun, and Sokoto are among the eight states affected, with 908 suspected cases reported so far.

Measles is a highly contagious virus infection that is very common among children.

Measles is characterized by red-brown blotchy rashes and cold-like symptoms.

Measles is spread through coughs and sneezes, and most people are infected before symptoms appear.

The Public Health Agency also stated that a measles outbreak was ongoing in Zamfara, but that it could not be confirmed due to a shortage of testing reagents.

Read also: In Jos, fire kills an illegal petrol seller and his wife.

It added that unvaccinated cases accounted for 58.7% of confirmed cases, and that as of 2021, a total of 15,792 suspected cases had been reported across 683 local government areas (LGAs) across the country.

“A total of 908 suspected cases have been reported in 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory so far this year.”

“A measles outbreak was reported in thirteen LGAs across eight states in 2022. Jigawa, Katsina, Rivers, Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Osun, and Sokoto are the states involved.

“A suspected measles outbreak is ongoing in Zamfara, but this is awaiting confirmation due to a lack of testing kits in the country.”

“Of the 908 suspected cases reported so far, 55.2 percent were from Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, and Anambra.” According to the report, “up to 58.7% of confirmed cases have not received a dose of measles vaccine.”

According to the NCDC, 100% of cases in Jigawa, Sokoto, Enugu, and Katsina were unvaccinated.

According to the agency, 54.4 percent in Borno, 50 percent in Akwa Ibom, 66.7 percent in Delta, 50 percent in Ekiti, 25 percent in Lagos, 83.3 percent in Osun, 8.3 percent in Oyo, and 50 percent in Rivers were not vaccinated.

“Of the 908 suspected cases reported, 88 were confirmed in the lab, 166 were clinically compatible, 148 were discarded, and 506 are still being classified,” it added.

According to NAN, 67,000 cases of measles were reported across the country between January and August 2021.

The number of measles cases in the previous year was 9,300.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 140,000 deaths from measles were recorded worldwide in 2018, with the majority of deaths occurring in countries with low income and inadequate health facilities

In Jos, fire kills an illegal petrol seller and his wife.

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coic
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An illegal petrol marketer and his wife died in Jos as a result of the country’s ongoing fuel shortage.

The couple were killed on Thursday when a fire broke out in their home in the Zawan community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, where Mr Gideon Pam had hoarded petrol.

“Pam runs an illegal petrol business at Zawan Junction,” an eye witness and neighbor, Miss Shantel Alphonsus, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“He was called upon to get more supplies from a fuel station in the morning, so he rushed back home to get some empty gallons to stockpile scarce gasoline.”

Read also: Strike: FG Reassembles Team To Renegotiate ASUU Agreement From 2009

“In an attempt to empty some of the gallons that had fuel in them, a fire broke out in the kitchen where the gallons were kept, trapping Pam.”

“His wife, Mercy, had gone out earlier and returned to find the house filled with smoke.

“She went into the house to save her husband, but she became trapped in the blaze as well,” Alphonsus explained.

She went on to say that the couple left behind a four-month-old baby who had been taken away by Pam’s mother during a previous visit.

Mr Caleb Polit, Director of the Plateau Fire Service, confirmed the incident and expressed regret that the couple had been burned beyond recognition and that the house had been razed before firefighters arrived.

Strike: FG Reassembles Team To Renegotiate ASUU Agreement From 2009

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The Federal Government has named Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs to lead a renegotiation team with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the 2009 Agreement.

Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, announced the committee’s reconstitutions on Thursday in Abuja, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to get striking University lecturers back to work.

In a statement, Mr Ben. Bem Goong, Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, quoted the Minister as saying that all outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement must be resolved quickly in order to achieve the desired industrial peace on Nigerian campuses.

The team will be inaugurated by the Minister on Monday, March 7, 2022, in Abuja, he said.

The following are the members of the reconstituted 2009 FGN/University-Based Unions Agreements renegotiation team, according to the statement: Chairman: Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs (Provost, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo).

Arc. Lawrence Patrick Ngbale (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University) is one of the other members. Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi) -Member (South West) and Sen. Chris Adighije (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi) -Member (North East). Lokoja is a member of the Lokoja group (South East).

Read also: ABU Lecturers Demand Withdrawal Of El-Rufai’s Academic Certificate

Prof. Olu Obafemi (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna) – member (North-Central); Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu (Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology) – member (North West); and Barr. Matthew B. Seiyefa, mni (Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island) – member (North-West) (South-South)

“The inauguration is expected to be attended by all advisers and observers in the Federal Government/University-based Unions 2009 agreements Re-negotiation Team,” Goong said.

On February 14, 2022, ASUU began a one-month strike in protest of the government’s failure to implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with the Union.

ASUU’s demands include adequate funding for public university revitalization, earned academic allowances, Universities Transparency Accountability Solutions (UTAS), promotion arrears, renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FG agreement, and inconsistencies in the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System Payment (IPPIS).

2023: Northern youths give condition to back southern candidate, want Funmi Ayinke as consensus

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Some youths from the north have advocated for power shift to the south ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The group, under the aegis of Northern Youths for Good Governance, in a statement on Thursday, said it has adopted renowned philanthropist, Amb. Funmi Ayinke, as its consensus presidential candidate.

In the statement signed by its president, Comrade Ibrahim Abdulsalami, the group said of all aspirants from the south, Ayinke thicks all the boxes even though she is yet to formally declare her intention to contest.

Abdulsalami said the north is impressed with Ayinke’s credible disposition to growth and development of the country ably “evident in her track record that speaks volumes of an unparalleled and committed Nigerian burning with a passion for contributing her quota to the entrenchment of democracy as well as availing Nigerians the dividends of democracy”.

He further noted that “she is a round peg in a round hole, and only her can galvanize the needed votes across the north as a southern candidate”.

The northern group, therefore urged the south to embrace their own and endorse Ayinke for president.

Read full statement below:

The Northern Youths for Good Governance is issuing this press statement in light of the prevailing circumstances with regards to the 2023 general elections in the country.

There have been various agitations for power shift to the Southern part of the country, which has its merits given the need for an equitable representation in governance in the country.

We hold the firm view that the southern part of the country has contributed immensely to the sustenance of democracy in the country, the undeniable fact that the region is deserving of a shot at governance at the highest level.

In the light of the above and the prevailing circumstances, we wish to inform members of the general public of our endorsement of Ambassador Funmi Ayinke as a suitable candidate for the presidency from the Southern region.

We are impressed with her credible disposition to growth and development of the country, which has been ably evident in her track record that speaks volumes of an unparalleled and committed Nigerian burning with a passion for contributing her quota to the entrenchment of democracy as well as availing Nigerians the dividends of democracy.

We wish to state that Ambassador Funmi Ayinke indeed has what it takes to turn the country’s fortunes around for good, given her track record of the industry, intelligence and patriotism over the years that have witnessed tangible gains in service to the country.

That Ambassador Funmi Ayinke has indicated an interest in the presidency of Nigeria is indeed a piece of cheering news that should elicit the much-needed support from the nook and cranny of the country.

The Northern Youths for Governance believes she is a round peg in a round hole, and only her can galvanize the needed votes across the north as a southern candidate. She is at home with our brothers and sisters from all parts of the country, including the northern part of the country. Her philanthropic activities have been intensely felt.

We believe that the various stakeholders from the Southern part of the country need to take their power shift agitation seriously by quickly convening a gathering that would article the necessity for adopting the zoning of political offices in Nigeria.

This is on the heels that Ambassador Funmi Ayinke has in her kitty an impressive track record in administration and leadership which are necessary criteria for anyone desirous of leading the country at the highest level.

We wish to state that Ambassador Funmi Ayinke has all it takes to lead this country. She has displayed a solid commitment to developing our teeming youthful population. She is adored by our youths and women who have benefited immensely from her wealth of experience in ways too numerous to mention.

The Northern Youths for Good Governance sees Ambassador Funmi Ayinke as a detribalized Nigeria. She knows no religion or ethnicity in all her endeavours. We must admit that Nigeria needs a leader who would serve as a uniting factor in the country.

We, therefore, call on all well-meaning individuals and groups to adopt Ambassador Funmi Ayinke as the consensus candidate for the Office of President of Nigeria. Her towering personality and credentials are impressive and needed in this critical point of our existence.

Nigeria’s First Evacuation Flight Arrives Abuja (Video)

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ABU Lecturers Demand Withdrawal Of El-Rufai’s Academic Certificate

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The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has demanded that Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna, have his degree certificates revoked immediately.

El-Rufai earned a first-class degree in Quantity Surveying from ABU in 1976.

The resolution was reached at the end of the Union’s congress meeting on March 2, 2022, according to Comrade Hussein Abdullahi, Secretary of the Union, which represents lecturers.

ASUU was surprised, he said, that the governor could forcefully seize ABU’s land in Mando, Kaduna, an action he described as a “utter disregard of an order by a competent court of law.”

Read also: Before Buhari, Nigerians faced a similar situation – Femi Adesina

“He forcibly took over land belonging to Ahmadu Bello University, a historic and premier university in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.
The Congress also decided to “visit the Mando College of Agriculture and Animal Science, where the lands are located, to register its protest over the illegal land seizure,” according to Abdullahi.

He said, “We have issued an advisory to relevant organs of Ahmadu Bello University to formally withdraw the degree certificates awarded to Nasir Elrufai by the University because his many actions are in violation of the requirements in character and learning deemed worthy of an ABU degree award.”

As of the time of filing this report, the governor had not responded to the development.

In Ukraine, Shakhtar Donetsk Coach killed In Fight With Russia

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coic
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Shakhtar Donetsk has confirmed that their youth coach was killed while defending Ukraine’s independence.

“One of our employees was killed; he was a children’s coach,” Shakhtar CEO Serhiy Palkin confirmed to Mirror UK on Thursday evening.

“He was hit by a Russian bullet fragment.”

This comes just two days after two Ukrainian footballers were killed in the conflict, according to reports.

Read Also:  Before Buhari, Nigerians faced a similar situation – Femi Adesina

Remember that last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine, sparking a bloodbath in Eastern Europe.

Before Buhari, Nigerians faced a similar situation – Femi Adesina

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The Special Adviser to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Femi Adesina, has stated that the challenges Nigerians face with Premium Motor Spirit, also known as gasoline, are not new in the country.

Nigerians have had difficulty purchasing the commodity since the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited imported contaminated petrol into the country in February.

According to our previous correspondence, oil marketers estimated that about 100 million litres of contaminated gasoline were imported into Nigeria and had been recalled by the NNPC’s Pipelines Product Marketing Company.

The recall resulted in long lines in Abuja, Lagos, Niger, Nasarawa, and other states, with motorists and other PMS users crowding the few petrol outlets that dispensed products.

Read also: Diaspora Voting Council Accuses Nigerians Abroad Of Disenfranchisement

Many other filling stations had closed due to a lack of products to sell, while black marketers greeted motorists on major highways in Abuja and Lagos, selling products at higher prices to interested customers.

However, in response to the crisis, Adesina stated that Nigerians faced similar challenges prior to the presidency of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), and that fuel shortages were a common occurrence in the country.

In an article titled “Knock, Knock,” the presidential spokesman revealed this. Who’s There,’ which he posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, adding that Nigerians had slept in petrol stations while queuing for fuel on multiple occasions.

“It’s obviously not the easiest of times in our country right now,” the article said, “with severe fuel scarcity exacerbating the other existential challenges we’ve been dealing with.” There is no fuel and no electricity in some areas, resulting in a severe energy crisis.”

While acknowledging that the fuel crisis has worsened Nigerians’ living conditions, Adesina stated that the Buhari administration is working diligently to restore normalcy.

“In the past, there have been instances of bad fuel in this country. We slept at petrol stations for days, even weeks, while waiting for fuel. We made it through. We’ll pull it off again. Las las.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has swiftly approved $8.5 million for the evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine. Good. That’s what a caring father does for his children when they’re in trouble. He’s also working around the clock to ensure that the country has fuel, power, infrastructure, and all of life’s necessities.

Read also: NSCDC Secures Vagrant Teenager in Osun

“I’ve come to knock, ring, and tap on your door today to remind you that life in our country isn’t all doom and gloom. There’s always a glint of light, no matter how overcast the sky is.”

“Fuel shortages will ebb and flow. There will be an end to the energy crisis. Nigerians who value good things will gradually be made happy, according to Adesina.

How Visa Facilitators Scramble, Mop Up Visa Appointments Online To Swindle Nigerians

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coic
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An investigation has revealed that illegal visa facilitators who provide Nigerians with US visa interview appointment dates for exorbitant fees spend days scouring the internet for available dates, booking them, and selling them to applicants seeking visa interview appointments with the US embassy.

Although illegal, the business has become a source of income for many people, particularly young Nigerians who set up shop near embassies in Lagos to woo visa applicants who come to them out of ignorance or desperation.

Many of the facilitators told us that all they do is stay online 24 hours a day, grabbing visa application dates provided by the US Consulate.

Read also:  Fidelity Bank Awards N10m To Winners Of 3rd Monthly Draw

Susan Tuller, the US Country Consular Coordinator in Lagos, recently accused these facilitators and travel agents of illegally manipulating visa appointments and extorting Nigerians who are forced to pay exorbitant fees for visa interview appointment dates.

“One of the problems we have with increasing visa appointments is that our visa appointment system is manipulated by the visa facilitators who operate here, especially in Lagos,” Tuller says. Unfortunately, visa facilitators, travel agents, and others take advantage of our visa appointment system to make money. Even though they operate in the same parking lot as our consular operations in Lagos, we have little control over them because they are not on our property and we are unable to police them.

“Unfortunately, the visa facilitators here operate with impunity, for financial gain, and as long as they are allowed to do so and Nigerians continue to pay them exorbitant fees to get an appointment, that will almost certainly continue, making it very difficult for us to truly control the number of visa appointments that we make available.” So, before we get into the details, I’d like to emphasize that there’s no reason to pay extra fees to a visa facilitator or a travel agent.

“For this new interview renewal program, there are thousands of appointments available right now.” They are currently available online, and there is no reason to pay someone to get an appointment if you meet the criteria and follow the procedures. One of the most difficult aspects of paying someone or making an appointment is that visa facilitators book these appointments using fictitious information. So you have no idea what information they have in their system when you buy an appointment from them. This system becomes a part of your consular once the information is entered into it.”

Read Also:  Diaspora Voting Council Accuses Nigerians Abroad Of Disenfranchisement

The facilitators, who set up shop in the car parks and adjacent buildings around the US Consulate on Walter Carrington Crescent, said they charge applicants between N250, 000 and N500, 000 for B1, B2 (tourist) US visas.
Pretending to be an applicant, I asked one of the facilitators, who identified himself as Joseph, for a date.

“I will only charge you N250, 000.” We collect N500, 000 before the drop box (US interview waiver program) opens. The reason for this is that we use the same procedure with B1, B2, and you. However, I can accept N250, 000 from you for this one because you appear to be concerned. Unless we receive that date, we do not collect any money from you. So, once we’ve secured your date and you’ve seen it, you can pay us. We’ll cancel it if you don’t pay,” he said.

Another facilitator stated that what they are doing is not illegal and that it has no negative impact on the United States; “if I did, the United States would not allow it.”
The facilitator also denied that Nigerians working at the US Embassy assist them, claiming that no one can hack into the US server and that the Consular Office makes every visa appointment date they have access to available on the internet.

“Because they are well paid, Nigerians working in the embassy do not engage in such practices.” They have a month to collect up to N6 million. So, how much will you be giving them? Because they have an agreement with the Nigerian government, the majority of the people who work there are Nigerians. They can’t just come in and hire their own people, but the customer service, visa, and consular sections are all staffed by Americans,” he explained.
The facilitator also described how they acquire and sell visa application interview dates.

“You must pay your visa fee in order to get a date.” It is the visa fee receipt number, your data page (international passport), and the bar code of the online application form that we will use to create a profile, user name, and password for you. That’s what we’ll use to schedule an appointment for you, so the date on your appointment and the barcode number on your GS160 form match up. “If it doesn’t add up, they won’t let you in,” he explained.

Read Also:  NSCDC Secures Vagrant Teenager in Osun

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has denied that any of its members were involved in manipulating US visa appointments.
Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, President of NANTA, urged caution when making such remarks about travel agents.

NSCDC Secures Vagrant Teenager in Osun

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Sunday Ademola, a 17-year-old vagrant, has been taken into custody by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun.

The Osun NSCDC Commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja, confirmed this to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday through Atanda Olabisi, the Osun Command’s Public Relations Officer, who stated that the teenager was brought to the Ede North Local Council Development Authority, NSCDC Division after he was found roaming around, naked and with his hands tied to his back, along the Owode-Ede axis of the Gbongan-Ibadan highway.

Read Also:  FG Approves DCP Kyari’s Extradition to United States

Atanda explained that the teenager, Sunday Ademola, was taken in for questioning and medical observations as soon as the matter was brought to the attention of the Divisional Officer, Ede North LCDA.

According to an Osun NSCDC spokesperson, a medical examination revealed that the teenager had no mental health issues.

“Physical observations revealed that the teenager’s hands were tied behind his back,” she said. He had bruises on his head and was believed to have been beaten mercilessly by unidentified person(s).

“After receiving first aid treatment from the Divisional Office’s medical team, Sunday was interrogated and stated, ‘My name is Ademola Sunday, I am from Inisa, Onira’s Compound.’ His photograph and name were sent to the compound, but no one seems to recognize him.

“However, the case was reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Osun State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, and from there, Sunday was taken to the Testing Ground Osogbo Correctional and Rehabilitation Center, with the hope of reuniting him with his parents soon.”

Read Also:  Fidelity Bank Awards N10m To Winners Of 3rd Monthly Draw

Olabisi, the corps’ spokesperson, urged residents of the state to continue reporting any suspicious activity to the nearest NSCDC office for prompt intervention.

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