The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant at the General Hospital in Ogale Community, Eleme Local Government Area.
This initiative is a collaboration between the public and private sectors.
According to a statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chikwudi, the Oxygen Plant was constructed and installed through a partnership involving UNICEF, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Rivers State Government, the Canadian Government, and IHS Towers.
During the commissioning, Governor Siminalayi Fubara highlighted the state’s progress in reconstructing, equipping, and staffing health facilities more effectively than ever before under his administration.
He emphasized that healthcare services are becoming increasingly accessible at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, contributing to a healthier society.
Fubara attributed these achievements to the last six months following the state’s liberation, despite the political crisis aimed at distracting his administration.
He noted that the project aligns with his administration’s three-point agenda.
Fubara said, “We might have had so many things in mind or written down before we came on board. But half way the journey, we found out that we need to redirect ourselves and understand the needs of our people.
“The need for quality education, the need for affordable healthcare services, the need to put food on the tables of our people became more pertinent.
“And that is why we brought this three-point agenda: healthcare, education and agriculture, and you are witnesses to it.
“What we have done, not in one year but in the past six months of our liberation, is that, we have touched healthcare services like never before in our State.
“We have spent and we are spending to make sure that Rivers State becomes health (medical) tourism State.”
According to Fubara, approximately 70 percent of the reconstruction and upgrading work on Zonal Hospitals in the state have been completed.
He noted that the facilities now offer significantly improved conditions compared to before his administration took office.
Fubara emphasized that the Zonal Hospitals have been remodeled to meet international standards, adding that, the various investments made in the health sector have provided compelling evidence to UNICEF and its partners, influencing their decision to establish the Medical Oxygen Plant in the state.
He said, “They saw what we’re doing, and they believed that it will be right to partner with Rivers State. Let’s set the record straight: It is not our project. The Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Plant is a UNICEF project, supported by the Federal Government and other partners.
“But, the unique thing about this project is that it needed to be sited somewhere that people understand its need, people who are spending, making positive investment in healthcare. And that is why we gained that privilege.
“A situation where people from the East, people from other South-South states will be coming to access this facility. You know what it means? On your lands that we’re building more roads for you, people will start buying them to start living here.
“More medical facilities will start to spring up. As a matter of fact, don’t be surprised, most of these international organizations might be coming to set up some plants around here, because what is coming out of here is a very important ingredient in healthcare services.”
Fubara assured that the project will be protected, and enjoined the people of Eleme and the Hospitals Management Board to do everything within their powers secure the plant.
He further appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, who despite the poor state of the economy that he inherited, is doing everything possible to lead it out of the woods.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, described the event as a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and enhance service delivery.
Oreh highlighted the crucial role of oxygen in medical care, particularly in addressing global health challenges.
The commissioner credited Governor Fubara’s visionary leadership with making it possible for patients in Rivers State to access this essential resource.
She said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for a reliable and sustainable supply of medical-grade oxygen to support patients in respiratory distress and other medical emergencies.
“The PSA Oxygen Plant we are commissioning today represents a vital step forward in ensuring that our healthcare facilities are equipped to deliver timely and effective medical care to those in need.
“The oxygen plant can fill 135 cylinders (20-liter bottles) in 24 hours. These can provide 720,000 liters of medical oxygen within the same time frame. This capacity ensures that 100 children with severe pneumonia or 50-60 COVID-19 patients can receive round-the-clock oxygen treatment simultaneously.”
Also speaking, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, said the partners are delighted to handover the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant to the Rivers State Government as an evidence in the collective endeavour of improving health outcomes for Rivers people.
Rivers Govt commissions oxygen plant
Rivers Govt commissions oxygen plant
Alleged killing of protester: Atiku’s aide tackles Onanuga over reaction to Ex-VP’s statement
Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has tackled a presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, over his reaction to Atiku’s statement on alleged killing of a protester by the military.
He said that the recent admission by the military to “mistakenly” killing a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State, was exactly what the former Vice President had alluded to in his statement.
TVN reported that Atiku cautioned the military authorities over the use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters.
Atiku said those who authorise such action against peaceful civilian protesters would be held responsible for committing crimes against humanity, even in the years following their retirement from service.
However, Onanuga faulted the former Vice President for warning security agencies against using lethal force against looters and arsonists.
He went on to allege that Atiku wants the protest to continue in spite of what he described as red signals from the streets.
Responding in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Ibe told Onanuga that Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, knows that even in war there are rules of engagement.
He said: “Following @atiku’s stern warning to service chiefs and military commanders not to shoot at protesting Nigerian citizens else they face crimes against humanity, the @HQNigerianArmy has admitted to “mistakenly” killing a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State.
“The culprit soldier, we are told, has been arrested. That’s accountability.
“This was exactly what the former Vice President had alluded to, that even those who give the orders for such extrajudicial executions will be held accountable under international laws.
“As Commander-in-Chief, @officialABAT knows that even in war, there are rules of engagement. So, @aonanuga1956, there was really no need for you to have been foaming in the mouth.”
Alleged killing of protester: Atiku’s aide tackles Onanuga over reaction to Ex-VP’s statement
Returning petrol subsidy’ll worsen poverty in Nigeria – NOA
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, says poverty will worsen if petrol subsidy is returned, as demanded by #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this statement on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to map out survival strategies amid the economic fallout of the removal of petrol subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
“Anybody who is making a demand that subsidy removal should be brought back is making an emotional demand, not an economic demand, because you have to also prove that if it is brought back, it will solve the issue of poverty; it will not, it will aggravate it,” Issa-Onilu said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast show.
“So, what we should be doing is: How do we survive despite the removal?’ We need to promote all the efforts of this government to ensure that we survive without that subsidy.”
Issa-Onilu, a former spokesman for the President’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, also admitted the trust deficit between leaders and followers in the country due to repeated cases of broken promises over the years.
“It is difficult to talk to people who have for several years been let down. Nigerians feel let down. The first question they ask you is: ‘Is this another promise that will not be kept?’ So, we must prove to Nigerians that this government is keeping to its promises,” he said.
Recall that during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu ruled out the return of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, famously known as petrol.
Returning petrol subsidy’ll worsen poverty in Nigeria – NOA
CDS urges West African defence chiefs to uphold democratic values
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has said the change of government by the military in West African countries has had unintended consequences and threatened their democratic values in the region.
Musa added that the threat of a military takeover of the government must be destroyed, adding that it negated the core responsibilities of the military profession.
The CDS spoke during a meeting with West African Defence Chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.
Musa stated that in democratic countries, the military must uphold democratic values in line with their constitutions.
He said, “Recent challenges like the military coup in some countries in the region have had unintended consequences and have threatened our collective democratic values.
“This threat must be destroyed as it negates our core responsibilities as military professionals. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to emphasise that, as democratic countries, we in the military must uphold democratic values in line with our various constitutions. “
He noted that the meeting would prevent coups and ensure peace and sustainable development for citizens in West Africa.
Musa said, “I am also optimistic that this meeting will assist us in preventing such abnormalities while strengthening our collective resolve to bring about peace and sustainable development to our people.
“Accordingly, the complexity of this meeting demands that we leverage our collective efforts, share intelligence and coordinate our efforts across borders if we must solve these challenges.
“Thus, collaboration is paramount and I encourage you to address both the root causes and symptoms of this security in our region. It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas and build in for our previous engagements.”
The CDS added that “some of these critical areas include the proposed Air Force Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone and the activation of the Air Force Standby Force against terrorism.
“Other issues in line for deliberations are the development of the Air Force Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone and Air Force Peace Support Operations. As we embark on today’s discussions, I must remind us all that your insights and experiences are paramount to support our shared mission.”
Musa said terrorism, insurgency, organised crime, violence, unconstitutional takeover of government and threatened national security also undermined the socio-economic development of the entire region.
He said, “Your presence here reflects a shared commitment and dedication towards living in a sustainable environment for the safety and well-being of our people. It demonstrates a collective drive to address the various community threats affecting the region through deliberate and concerted collaborative efforts. As leaders in our respective armed forces, we are all aware of the threats that confront our nations and regions.
“These threats include terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, violence, education, and recently, unconstitutional takeover of government and national politics. These challenges not only threaten our national security but also undermine the social fabric and socio-economic development of the entire region. “
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu dies at 92
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, the Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese, is dead.
TVN reports that His Grace, Most Reverend Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City disclosed this in a statement signed on his behalf by Very Rev Fr Michael Oyanoafoh, Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of Benin.
Akubeze said Archbishop Ekpu died at the age of 92 after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 7.09pm.
He said the details of his funeral arrangement would be made known later.
He urged priests, religious and lay faithful of the Catholic archdiocese to put him in our prayers.
TVN reports that the late Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese was born in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, in 1931.
He was ordained Priest on July 7, 1963 and made bishop of Benin city on July 5, 1973.
In March 26, 1994, he was appointed Archbishop of Benin city, Nigeria and retired November 21, 2006.
Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu dies at 92
Protest: Senator Bomai reveals those responsible for attack on his Yobe home
Senator Ibrahim Bomai (APC, Yobe South) has condemned the recent attack on his Potiskum home in Yobe State during the nationwide protest, attributing it to the work of his detractors.
Bomai in a statement issued on Tuesday by his legislative aide, Abubakar Madu Bukar, stated that the protesters had not intended to target his house, as the routes they followed were far from it.
“Of the four houses of prominent politicians in his area, it was only his own that was attacked,” the statement noted.
Bomai declared that he remains undeterred and focused, despite the actions of his political adversaries.
“Senator Bomai cannot be discouraged, and neither will he be distracted by the sinister activities of his political detractors both within and outside the APC to bring him down in his firm resolve and absolute commitment to further bring more dividends of democracy to the good people of Yobe South,” the statement reads further.
Protest: Senator Bomai reveals those responsible for attack on his Yobe home
Driver dies, three injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway collision
An unidentified driver was confirmed dead on Tuesday following a fatal crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According Online reported that the fatal crash, which occurred around 3:20 PM near the Forte Filling Station on the Sagamu stretch of the expressway, also left at least three others with varying degrees of injuries.
According to the state police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, the accident involved a granite-loaded truck with the license plate FKJ760XM and a Toyota with the registration number JJJ926YJ.
She added that both vehicles were travelling towards Lagos from Ibadan when the Toyota car driver lost control and collided with the truck.
As a result of the collision, Odutola stated that the Toyota car driver became trapped in the vehicle and was later rushed to a hospital, where doctors on duty confirmed his death.
“After being rescued from where he was trapped, he was taken to Idera Hospital in Sagamu. The doctor later confirmed his death. Two other passengers in the Toyota sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Odutola said.
Our correspondent also learnt that the body of the deceased had been placed in the hospital’s mortuary.
In a related incident reported in late July, a collision on the Ibafo corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed the lives of two people.
The accident reportedly involved a Peugeot bus with the registration number WRA224XA and an orange DAF truck with the registration number ANC711XA.
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Nasarawa Govt ready to pay N70,000 minimum wage – Official
The Nasarawa State Government has announced its readiness to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage for civil servants.
This declaration was made by Mr. Peter Ahemba, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, during his visit to the Correspondents’ Chapel in Lafia on Tuesday.
Mr Ahemba stated that the payment of the new minimum wage would significantly enhance the welfare and productivity of civil servants in the state.
“The issue of ₦70,000 minimum wage is no longer news. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of the said amount to workers.
“Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration is also ready to pay the ₦70,000 to civil servants in the state. The governor has made it clear that he is willing to pay the new minimum wage,” he stated.
Addressing the ongoing nationwide protests, Mr. Ahemba urged citizens to embrace dialogue and peace, noting that the government was already addressing some of their grievances.
“The constitution has provided for citizens to express their feelings through peaceful protests. However, the government will not tolerate any form of criminality, such as looting of property under the guise of protest,” he warned.
Ahemba pointed out that Nasarawa State had not experienced massive protests due to Governor Sule’s effective policies and programs aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by the people.
He reiterated that dialogue is the best way to resolve grievances, rather than protests.
The SSA also pointed out the administration’s commitment to supporting efforts to provide adequate power supply, which is crucial for the state’s industrialization and socio-economic activities.
He pointed to the government’s significant achievements in infrastructure development, such as the ongoing construction of a flyover and underpass in Lafia, which are expected to ease traffic congestion and enhance the aesthetics of the state capital.
Nasarawa Govt ready to pay N70,000 minimum wage – Official
Yobe Govt further relaxes curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru
The Yobe State Government has announced a further relaxation of the curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru towns.
This decision was made following a security council meeting with heads of security agencies, presided over by Governor Mai Buni.
According to a press statement issued by Mamman Mohammed, the Director General on Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, the curfew will now be enforced from 6 pm to 6 am, starting Wednesday.
Mohammed stated that the meeting expressed concern over the emergence of hoodlums and criminals who exploited the nationwide protest to vandalize and loot government and private properties in the affected local government areas.
He urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their wards to prevent them from being used as agents of destruction and looting.
Governor Buni commended the security organizations for their mature and professional handling of the situation.
Yobe Govt further relaxes curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru
Soldiers rescue abducted ex-LG chairman, arrest Boko Haram commanders, others
In a series of operations, the Nigerian Army has rescued kidnap victims and apprehended suspected Boko Haram commanders and terrorist logistic suppliers, among others.
In a statement shared on X.com on Tuesday, the NA revealed that soldiers rescued an abducted former LG chairman and arrested a notorious kidnapping kingpin in Egbe Community of Yagba Local Government Area in Kogi State.
The statement partly read, “The suspect, Mohammed Bello, who belonged to a seven-man syndicate specialised in kidnapping unsuspecting citizens, has been on the security agencies’ wanted criminals’ watchlist.
“The same troops responded to a distress call regarding a kidnapping incident involving the former Chairman of Kabba Local Government Area.
“They engaged the terrorists in Egbe Forest, capturing one suspect and rescuing the victim. He has since been reunited with his family.”
Similarly, soldiers in Ebonyi State were said to have aborted a kidnap attempt in Ezza-Umuhuali Village of Ishielu Local Government Area and arrested a suspect in possession of an Automated Teller Machine card, 48 different international passports, and other items.
Additionally, the army said its troops apprehended two key Boko Haram commanders in Borno State who had been linked to several attacks on military installations.
The statement added, “On 4 August 2024 in Borno State, while acting on credible intelligence regarding terrorists’ movements, troops apprehended two Boko Haram commanders who infiltrated the Damasak Internally Displaced Persons camp in Mobbar Local Government Area.
“The suspects, Bana Yamode and Babagana Usman, who claimed to be visiting their families in the camp, had previously led attacks on troops in the area.”
In the same operation, the troops also apprehended two suspected Boko Haram logistic suppliers, identified as Mustapha Ismaila, 49, and Abdulmudalabi Haruna, 30, and rescued two minors.
Meanwhile, 50 Boko Haram suspects and their families were said to have surrendered to soldiers stationed in Bama, Gwoza, and Dikwa Local Government Areas, following intensified operations against the terrorists.
In a separate operation in Yobe State, three Boko Haram collaborators, who admitted to being involved in kidnapping and armed robbery activities, were reported to have been arrested at Gubio Market in Gubio Local Government Area of the state.
The statement also reported that troops deployed in Jigawa State arrested nine hoodlums involved in looting a shop in Kazaure town, recovering items including 255 bags of fertilizer, three bags of rice, a solar panel, and five motorcycles.
Meanwhile, in Plateau State, the troops arrested five suspected cultists and another suspect involved in motorcycle theft.
In the statement, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, commended the troops for their commitment to the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
He also urged the public to support security agencies by providing credible information to enhance the effectiveness of ongoing operations.
According Online reported in July that troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke arrested two notorious terrorists after a fierce shootout at Geshi Village in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State
