SOLDIERS HOLD FUBARA AND HIS FAMILY HOSTAGE AT RIVERS GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE

Attempts by HE Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his family to pack their belongings out of the Government House have been rebuffed by the soldiers, who suppressed all movements around the premises.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family members are being held hostage at the Government House, Port-Harcourt, by a contingent of heavily armed soldiers Tuesday night, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

The development comes moments after President Bola Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to proclaim a state of emergency in Rivers. The Nigerian leader based his controversial move on a prolonged and rapidly escalating political feud led by state lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, who commenced impeachment proceedings against Mr Fubara last week to settle scores in his fallout with Mr Wike, who engineered Mr Fubara’s election in 2023 despite corruption charges.

Rivers government sources told The Gazette that soldiers carrying out the president’s instructions on declaring the state of emergency barricaded all entrances and exits to the government house immediately after the president’s speech.

Attempts by Mr Fubara and his family to pack their belongings out of the Government House have been rebuffed by the soldiers, who suppressed all movements around the premises.

“We are being held hostage,” an affected official told The Gazette from the scene on Tuesday night. “They said they don’t have instruction to let anyone leave the premises.”

It was unclear whether the soldiers implemented their duties as instructed or were overzealous in following specific orders.

Spokespersons for the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters did not immediately return requests seeking comments about the soldiers’ treatment of the Fubaras.

Mr Tinubu’s declaration to suspend the feuding parties from office for six months, effective Tuesday,  sparked furious debates across social media as netizens argued whether the president had constitutional grounds to suspend an elected governor whom the state lawmakers have not yet impeached. Efforts to impeach Mr Fubara began on Monday, barely 24 hours before Mr Tinubu imposed an emergency ordinance. 

Lawyers like Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana have excoriated the president for taking the law into his own hands without regard for the Constitution’s position.

The president named the retired chief of naval staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the military administrator in Rivers in the interim.

NIGERIA NEEDS 11.6M TOILETS TO MEET ODF TARGET – MINISTER UTSEV

   Prof. Joseph Utsev

    Hon. Minister of Water Resources  and Sanitation.

Nigeria needs an additional 11.6 million toilets to meet its 2030 Open Defecation Free (ODF) target, says Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation.

Prof. Utsev, speaking with newsmen on Friday in Abuja, noted that achieving ODF status involved more than building toilets. He said that while huge progress had been made, ensuring access to and proper use of these facilities remained a crucial challenge.

“The challenge is not only the number of toilets available but also raising awareness and encouraging their consistent use. This is why we are elevating the campaign to a higher level. The Vice President will lead the relaunch of our strategy in a more impactful way,” he said.

Utsev, however, admitted funding challenges, saying that while the initiative required an annual budget of N10 billion, only N5 billion had been released so far. He stated that development partners like UNICEF had made significant contributions by providing toilet facilities, training, and awareness campaigns.

“Our partners do not provide funds directly but support through the supply of toilets and training programmes, their efforts have been invaluable in driving this campaign forward,” he said.

The minister also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to achieving ODF status in Nigeria. He said since the launch of the campaign in 2019, 135 local government areas and over 30,000 communities had achieved ODF status, with more areas undergoing verification.

According to him, despite these achievements, the road to universal sanitation remains long, especially in underserved and vulnerable communities.

“Ending open defecation is about more than toilets, it’s about improving health, boosting productivity, and enhancing the dignity and safety of our citizens,” the minister emphasised.

Utsev called on the media, private sector, and local communities to join the effort to raise awareness and ensure behavioural change at all levels. He, however, urged renewed and collective action to achieve a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.

“The campaign remains a critical component of Nigeria’s efforts to improve sanitation and public health, with the 2025 ODF target in sight but requiring sustained momentum to achieve,” he said.

On strategic advocacy efforts, the minister said the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign’ strategy will be relaunched on Nov. 19, coinciding with the World Toilet Day.

“Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead the event, which aims to strengthen collaboration among state governors, community leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners. We are calling on governors, community leaders, and partners to actively participate in this campaign,” he said.

The event is part of activities marking the 2024 World Toilet Day with the theme: ‘Sanitation for Peace,’ which underscores the significance of toilets as symbols of safety, dignity, and development.

AT LEAST 5 DEAD, MANY HOSPITALIZED AFTER CONSUMING FOOD AT CHURCH EVENT

At least five people have died, and many others are undergoing treatment after consuming a meal during a ‘love feast’ event at a white garment church in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State 

According to a report by Punch, the tragic incident occurred on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at a church located in the Apata area of Ido Local Government Area, according to reports.

The meal, primarily made of beans, was part of a traditional event known as ‘ipese.’

Health officials at the Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo, Egbeda Local Government Area, where the victims were taken, confirmed the death of five worshippers.

They also noted that numerous others were admitted for emergency treatment.

A health worker at the centre, who spoke anonymously, revealed that about 50 affected individuals had already been treated and discharged. “Some of the victims were brought here for care. So far, 50 have been discharged, and others are still being treated,” the official said.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, also confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are currently underway.

The incident has left the local community in shock, although the exact cause of the deaths remains unclear.

A church member, who requested to remain anonymous, questioned whether the beans dish was the cause of the deaths. “I ate the same meal as everyone else, including the victims, and nothing happened to me,” the source said.

The source further added that various authorities, including the police, DSS, and even the World Health Organization, had been investigating the incident. “Their findings have not yet been released, but I don’t believe the ‘ipese’ is responsible,” they said.

WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DAY 2024

Theme: 'Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities Through Disaster Risk Reduction And Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation.’

Environmental Health is the branch of public health that focuses on the health interrelationships between people and their environments, and promotes human health and well-being by fostering a safe and healthful environment, both built and natural. It encompasses aspects of human health (including quality of life) that are determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and psychological factors in the environment, which include clean air, stable climate, adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, safe use of chemicals, protection from radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, sound agricultural practices, health-supportive cities and built environments, and a preserved nature, which are prerequisites for good health.

World Environmental Health Day was inaugurated in 2011 as an initiative of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) - a nonprofit organization established in 1986 and based in London, England, which declared 26th September 2011 as the foundational “World Environmental Health Day, ” at its Council's meeting in Indonesia, to raise awareness on the importance of environmental health and to promote actions to protect human health from environmental hazards. The IFEH is a global organization that represents environmental health professionals from over 70 countries, and working to promote best practices in environmental health, while advocating for policies that protect the environment and human health.

World Environmental Health Day has since then been celebrated annually on September 26th as a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the critical connection between human health and the environment. It is a day to celebrate the work of environmental health professionals who are working to protect the health of the public, and serving as a reminder that the well-being of people is intricately linked to the quality of their surrounding. The theme for this year is, 

"Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities Through Disaster Risk Reduction And Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation." 

Climate Change and disaster risks are fundamental threats to the living and health conditions for all humans on the globe, and in poverty reduction, as well as threat to sustainable development.

Environmental Health plays a critical role in addressing Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and Disaster Risk Reduction to create resilient and sustainable communities. Building resilient and sustainable communities requires addressing both climate change and disaster risks, and integrating these risks, as well as potential opportunities, into development planning and budgeting. The scope of work carried out by Environmental Health Professionals, which include handling infectious disease outbreaks, air pollution, water-borne diseases, food safety and security, water pollution, potable water supply, wastewater management, disposal of the dead, vector borne disease control, emergency shelters, ports and border control, hazardous waste, participation in design of emergency planning, engagement in public information on health risks and prevention, involvement in better housing and health, to mention a few, covers a range of interventions needed to address climate change and disaster risks impacts. By driving climate change, initiatives must be strengthened in terms of mitigation and adaption, as climate change and natural hazards driven by it are increasingly going into full-blown disasters.

In Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives and planning for future policy action to promote successful coordination for creation of resilient communities, which include climate change mitigation and adaptation, the needed response to avoid disasters is combatting Climate Change through reduction in the use of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emission. There is a growing recognition that vulnerability and exposure to disaster risk and climate change impacts are driven to a great deal by social, cultural, economic, and political factors, including multi-dimensional inequalities, discrimination, and marginalization (IPCC, 2014b). Therefore, a reassessment is urgently needed to better integrate disasters, climate change and developmental issues in theory and practice, and enable transformational change on how we foster sustainable development.

Environmental health is important for everyone, but highly essential for vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions. Exposure to environmental hazards can lead to a variety of health problems, including respiratory infections, heart disease, cancer, and birth defects. Environmental Health is a core discipline among lots of other important disciplines, as a concerted and holistic approach is needed in getting this done, both before, during and after disasters. Efforts to reduce disaster and climate change risks have co-existed for a long time, and in the last two decades, they have increasingly been linked, even though negative impacts threaten to obliterate decades of development gains.

The initiatives regarding Disaster Risk Reduction is very much driven by the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Sendai Framework works hand in hand with the other 2030 Agenda agreements, including The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the New Urban Agenda, and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals. With all that high-powered coordination, it is expected that all IFEH members and associate members, as well as non members in Environmental Health related institutions or organisations will use this World Environmental Health Day 2024 opportunity to produce initiatives on Environmental Health in general.

On September 26, the world commemorates World Environmental Health Day, with the focus among others on raising awareness on the critical significance of Environmental Health, along with its seven core concepts of Toxicity, Exposure, Dose/Response, Individual Susceptibility, Risks and Benefits, Environmental Justice, and Community Resources and Action. The special day urges collective actions to safeguard human health from environmental hazards. Let’s unite in fostering a global commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, recognizing that a healthy planet is fundamental to the well-being of present and future generations. Together, we can contribute to a harmonious balance between humanity and the environment.

Credit: QUORA

Jeffrey Whyte Spyda Obadaya

OPEN DEFECATION: FG TO ENSURE ADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT OF SANITATION LAWS

Minister of the Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas has warned that issues of open defecation in Nigeria will no longer be business as usual as his Ministry will henceforth deploy all its regulatory framework to ensure adequate enforcement of sanitation laws in the country.

To this effect, the Minister called on all Environmental Health Officers/Sanitary inspectors across all levels of government to step up their routine sanitary inspection of premises in their various jurisdictions and ensure that everyone everywhere in Nigeria has access to safe toilets.

The Minister said this at the 2023 World Toilet Day commemoration in Abuja on Tuesday.

The World Toilet Day is an annual United Nations observance promoted through a worldwide public campaign that encourages action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.

It is marked on 19th November of every year as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013.

This is aimed to raise awareness about the billions of people living without access to safely managed sanitation.

As part of the activities for the commemoration of this year’s event, the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education carried out advocacy, sensitization and sanitary inspection of Federal Government Unity schools in FCT.

Findings from the sanitary inspection of Federal Government Unity schools in the FCT revealed the following that some of the toilets in the hostels in some of the schools visited were locked because they are not in good condition.

There was poor or inadequate water supply in some of the schools which affects the use and access to toilets by the students who obviously practice open defecation as there are evidence of presence of excreta in the surrounding environment.

Also observed was defective septic tanks which can serve as breeding place for pests and vectors of public health importance such as mosquitoes, rats, snakes etc.

He said: “I wish to therefore use this opportunity to call on the Unity schools across the country which may likely have similar sanitation challenges to take note and improve on their sanitation situation.

“I wish to inform you all that my Ministry in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) will continue with the sanitary inspection of government schools across the country and reward the cleanest school at the end of the exercise as one of the post-World Toilet Day commemoration activities.”

Abbas solicited the support of Development Partners, NGOs CSOs, the Organized Private Sector, Community Leaders and indeed everyone to promote good sanitation and hygiene practices for overall environmental health protection.

The Minister reminded the stakeholders that the countdown to 2030 has begun and we must accelerate progress to ensure everyone has access to toilets by 2030.

He called on the organized private sector and commercial entities to support the government by contributing their quota to the establishment of functional toilet facilities across the country for general public use.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev said that the practice of open defecation was linked to sanitation related diseases which impacts negatively on our socio-economic development and aggravates poverty.

He said access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are basic human rights which are critical to the socio-economic development of any nation.

The Minister said: “It also contributes to human capital development such as early childhood survival, health and educational attainment. Just like other members of the international community, Nigeria is committed to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of which target 6.2 for Sanitation seeks to “achieve by 2030, access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.”

The 2023 World Toilet Day coincides with the 4th year anniversary of the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ Campaign, under the National programme to End Open Defecation in Nigeria.

OYO TO EMPLOY 200 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TO PREVENT DISEASE OUTBREAK

    GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE

The waste management consultant to Oyo State Government, Mottainai Recycling Ltd. has announced plans to recruit 200 environmental health workers to forestall the outbreak of diseases in the state.

Ms Uloma Airhienbuwa, the Chief Strategy Officer of the firm, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

Airhienbuwa said the environmental health workers would educate the people on the best sanitary practices.

“We have concluded arrangements to recruit about 200 environmental health officers to forestall outbreak of diseases in Oyo State,” she said.

Airhienbuwa called on residents of the state to be conscious of their environment and support the efforts of the government to ensure healthy environment.

She added that the environmental health officers to be recruited would be deployed to all the local government areas of the state.

Airhienbuwa added that they would educate residents on the best sanitary practices to avoid the spread of transmittable and communicable diseases.

She said the environmental health officers would be deployed at the state’s gateways to ensure and adequate disease prevention measures across the state boundaries.

“Globally, the job of environmental health officers as preventive health workers is important in keeping our environment healthy and clean at all times.

“We are seeking to employ environmental health officers, environmental health technologists, environmental health technicians and environmental health assistants for efficient waste management in the state,” she said.

Airhienbuwa, however, urged the residents to cooperate with the government in the provision of healthy and sustainable waste management to prevent outbreaks of diseases in the state.

CONTAMINATED SPRITE BRANDS IN CIRCULATION, NAFDAC WARNS NIGERIANS

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to a batch of  unwholesome Sprite brands contained in 50cl glass bottles, currently circulating in Nigerian Market.

NAFDAC said the product was discovered following a consumer complaint received and investigated by the post-marketing surveillance unit of the agency.

The agency said the investigation revealed that over five crates of the implicated batch of Sprite 50cl glass bottles were discovered to be contaminated with particles.

“The affected batch of the unwholesome product has already been sampled for laboratory analysis in the NAFDAC laboratory and the Agency has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to carry out surveillance and mop up the implicated batch of the unwholesome product.

“Similarly, a comprehensive current Good Manufacturing Practice Inspection of the manufacturing site is to be carried out by the Agency, this is to find the route cause of the contamination and ensure compliance to marketing authorisation.

“Furthermore, the company, (Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (Abuja plant) has been directed to recall the implicated batch of the unwholesome product and report to NAFDAC for effective monitoring,” NAFDAC said in a statement on its website.

NAFDAC said the product manufacturer was Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (Abuja plant) with AZ6 22:32 batch number.

It added that the product was manufactured on April 4, 2023.

“NAFDAC implores distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid the consumption, sale, or distribution of the unwholesome product. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

“Anyone in possession of the above-mentioned batch of Sprite 50cl glass bottles is advised to submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you, or someone you know, have consumed this product or suffered any adverse reaction/event after consumption, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional,” NAFDAC added.

EHCON TO GO TOUGH ON ABATTOIRS AND OTHER REGULATED PREMISES

    Dr. Yakubu Baba Mohammed

The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), said it will go tough on all regulated premises in the country especially abattoirs, including filling stations and places where fuel explorations are taking place.

The Registrar/CEO Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr. Yakubu Baba Mohammed has disclosed that the Council will go hard on regulated premises such as the abattoirs, filling stations and places where fuel exploration is taking place.

Dr. Baba made this known in Abuja during the Council’s courtesy visit to Daily Trust headquarters.

The Registrar revealed that so many opportunities of disease transmission is happening within  regulated premises.

“What is happening in the abattoirs, especially, is what is increasing the rate of cancer in Nigeria because, apart from the poor sanitation and hygiene situation, you will see a lot of smoke coming out as a result of using the tyre to smoke the meat. The smoke itself is also affecting the ozone layer and contributing significantly to the issue of climate change”, he noted.

He added that the Council is looking at the issues of filling station’s safety and sanitary measures while also looking at our abattoirs where our meat are processed.

Dr. Baba called for collaboration with Daily Trust and other Media organizations, saying:“we deem it fit to start visiting Media organizations in order to create awareness on the mandate and also the responsibility of the Council so that when we get to the field, it is our belief that the Media are going to play a vital role”.

The EHCON boss further disclosed that, the Council is working with the Ministry of Agriculture to provide a smart abattoir, where generated waste that contain a lot of virus can be converted into bio-gas adding that, “we are here not just to identify the problems but also find solutions”.

According to the Council boss, “with the support of the Federal Ministry of Environment, the council has established the first environmental health reference laboratory.

“EHCON has over fifty thousand environmental health officers who have been empowered by law to ensure that the environment is adequately policed by them”, he said.

Speaking earlier, the Group Executive Director Business Development, Ahmed Ibrahim Shekarau welcomed and thanked the Registrar for his timely visit at a critical moment like this when the Council want to embark on enforcement of the environmental heath laws.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE

The environmental health profession covers all aspects of life, we are a very important group of people and the jobs we do matter to an awful lot of people...keep doing what you do ☺️

EHCON INSPECTS SCHOOL, DISCOVERS SOLAR POWER FACILITY IN SCHOOL EMITTING TOXIC SUBSTANCE

    Dr. Ahmed Baba Yakubu

The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria

(EHCON) paid a visit to Junior Secondary School (GSS) Gui in the Abuja Municipal

Area Council (AMAC) to assess the health

impact of damaged solar batteries.

The school, which has about 300 students

and also teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, shares boundary with Sauka Community, along the Airport road, where discovered to be at risk of contracting lung infection and brain damage as a result of some damaged solar

batteries located within the school premises

A visit to the school by the investigation team

on Monday revealed that the nearly 50 panels were installed in the school due to the absence of electricity in the community.

The school was built in 2019 by the Office of the

Senior Special Assistant to the President on

Sustainable Development Goals OSSAP-SDGs

Abuja.

EHCON Deputy Registrar, Dr Andy Ukah

confirmed that the emission would likely

trigger health risks in the school and the

entire community if unchecked.

Dr. Andy Ukah confirmed that the investigation was directed by the Minister of Environment, Barr. Muhammad Abdullahi upon receiving information on environmental pollution in the area.

He explained that the incident occurred on Thursday March 9, 2023, when the batteries were seen emitting smoke and gaseous substance while the school was in session.

Ukah, who is also the National Coordinator, National Institute of Environmental Health, described the incidence as a public health emergency that required urgent attention.

The Director of Junior Secondary Schools, FCT

Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) Hajiya Rahmatu Nusa, linked the emission to continuous charging of the batteries without discharging energy.

She noted that as soon as the incident

occurred on Thursday, that the batteries were turned off to avoid damages in the school.

Furthermore, the Air Quality Monitoring Consultant, EHCON, Dr Fatima Mohammed stated that a good Samaritan reported the incident on Friday, March 10th, 2023, enabled the EHCON to immediately swing into action and discovered that the entire surrounding was filled with rotten smell.

Dr. Fatima explained that given her knowledge of air quality assurance, it was clearly suspected that the batteries were emitting hydrogen sulphur dioxide, adding that it would take up to 48 days to clear from the environment.

She, however, lamernted that the facility is not safe for the storage of solar batteries, saying that an air conditioner is supposed to be installed in the solar batteries' store including two windows to pave the

way for adequate cross ventilation.

The Environmental Health Officer maintained

that if the swollen batteries should bust, it

could trigger fire outbreak in the school, while also 

lamenting that the batteries released harmful

and colourless gaseous substance that has odour, suspected to be hydrogen sulphide.

She noted that the gaseous substance are

irritants capable of irritating the skin, eyes,

nose and throat, saying that constant

exposure could affect the lungs and cause

brain damage.

A solar panel expert, Engr Kingsley Nwigwe of the 

W. Wireless Mechatronics Abuja, said that

some of the batteries were swollen, which led to the emission. He suggested a routine check on the facility every three months, as the battery emitted some gaseous elements that are harmful to human health.

"It has a controller that regulates the charging

system but in as much as the battery is

unused, it replaces the energy being used. But in a scenario like after school period, the system will be charging and when there is a controller that controls the charging system, it Will never overcharge even when its not in

use.

"But if some batteries are bad, it keeps receiving energy even when they never get filled up. Some will get swollen if they are over charged, " he added.

The Principal of the school, Adamu Danlami

said that he was on official duty outside the

school when the incident happened, noting

that he immediately directed that thhe

batteries should be switch off.

As at the time of filing this report further investigations including air quality index and particulate analysis is ongoing. We shall keep you updated as the news unfolds. 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COUNCIL WANTS PUBLIC HEALTH LAW REVIEW

Registrar and Chief Executive officer of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, Dr Yakubu Baba, has called for the review of public health law in Nigeria to stop the spread of preventable diseases.

He stated this during an interview at the Media Trust Group office in Abuja.

Baba said ending open defecation by 2025 was achievable with synergy among three key ministries: water resources, health, and environment.

He said the mandate of the council was to regulate issues of sanitation, food hygiene, premises inspection, hospitals, hotel services, international regulation, disease control and surveillance, abattoir and many more.

 He called for the review of the public health law to provide for stiffer fines for breaching basic sanitation requirements.

Baba said, “The mandate of the council has been expanded to regulate the 21 components of what we call ‘environmental health’ as defined by the World Health Organization in all its ramifications.”

On ending open defecation by the year 2025, Baba said signing Executive  Order 9 by President Muhammadu Buhari would enable them to achieve their target.

The registrar said Nigeria could eliminate malaria by first attacking the vector rather than spending monies to buy mosquito nets.

 “What we need to look into is that the Federal Ministry of Environment should be given adequate funds to do what we call ‘Integrated First Management.’ It means we apply all the strategy, all the methodology of controlling drastically the number of mosquitoes in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that environmental health components had been neglected over time and there was a need to bring back sanitary inspectors to address environmental issues like flooding within states and local government areas.

SPEAKER GBAJABIAMILA SIGNS BILLS ON BSc/HND DICHOTOMY.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday signed 10 bills passed by the House for transmission to the Senate for concurrence.

One of the bill the speaker signed for transmission to the Senate is the Prohibition of Discrimination Between First Degree and Higher National Diploma Bill, 2021. It seeks to abolish the discrimination that exists between degree and HND holders for the purpose of employment.

Signed:

Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

CELEBRATING WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DAY 2021

World Environmental Health Day 2021 is observed annually on September 26 to create awareness globally regarding the health of the environment. This day highlights the importance to maintain public health especially in the challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic. This day was established in 2011 by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) aiming at the well being of people across the globe. This year the theme of World Environmental Health Day is Prioritizing Environmental Health for healthier communities in the global recovery.

The happiness of human life is in the joyful nature in which they live. Life is good because of it. Happy Environmental Health Day.

THE US, EU COUNTRIES REJECT FOODS EXPORTED FROM NIGERIA

Stakeholders in the Nigeria agricultural food subsector, have decried the rejection of locally produced food crops exported to Western countries.

The stakeholders lamented the situation during the launch of agrochemical Safety Ambassadors in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, an initiative of Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, jointly implemented by Mercy Corps and Save the Children.

Stakeholders who are mostly farmers lamented their produce for export had been rejected because the produce contained high residues of agrochemical substances.

This is just as the Adamawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Daware Iya-Umar, also lamented that locally produced food crops for export get barred from European markets because agrochemical residues arising from wrong use or application of agrochemicals.

He said, ” Most of our goods were returned while exporting, based on the fact that they could not pass the test of quality control. That quality control might entail, the chemical content in our products due to lack of adequate knowledge on the application of agrochemicals.”

Other stakeholders including agricultural extension agents, agrochemical dealers who spoke through their representatives, all blamed the improper use and application of agrochemicals for making it difficult for Nigerian food produce to pass standards set for food safety.

Raymond Abogonye, acting deputy chief of party, Feed the Future Initiative, the United States government’s global hunger and food security initiative, said the United State government is very concerned about safety of the food we eat as well as who produce the food for, as motive behind the launch of agro-safety ambassadors.

He noted that the US and it’s European allies have food safety standards which must be adhered to from crop production up to storage but which had yet to observed by most farmers, particularly in their application and use of agrochemicals.

He said, agro-safety ambassadors which is the first level of awareness in addressing the challenge, in the pilot scheme, is expected to reach 500,000 farmers in the four states of Adamawa, Gombe, Borno and Yobe, where the activity is being implemented in the North East.

“Since we can’t reach everybody we want to use the facilitative market approach to include those who sell the chemicals themselves as those preaching the message of awareness to the farmers.

With over 1,000 agrochemical dealers on our register recruited for the campaign and each targeting 50 farmers on the safety use and application of agrochemicals,” he added.

BILL GATES DID NOT CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL OF COVID-19 VACCINES!

Truth: Bill Gates Did NOT Call For Withdrawal Of COVID-19 Vaccines!

Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim that Bill Gates Calls For Withdrawal Of ALL COVID-19 Vaccines is false and misleading!

People are sharing an article by Daily Expose, claiming that Bill Gates is calling for the withdrawal of ALL COVID-19 vaccines, because they are “far more dangerous than anyone imagined”!

It’s a VERY long article, so please skip to the next section for the FACTS!

"BREAKING – Bill Gates calls for the withdrawal of all Covid-19 Vaccines; “The vaccines are far more dangerous than anyone imagined”

In a shocking announcement, Bill Gates, billionaire Microsoft co-founder and the major force behind the COVID-19 vaccines, called for all the COVID-19 genetic-based vaccines to be taken off the market immediately.

In an often anguished 19-minute televised speech, Gates said: “We made a terrible mistake. We wanted to protect people against a dangerous virus. But it turns out the virus is much less dangerous than we thought. And the vaccine is far more dangerous than anyone imagined.”

By W. Gelles

“These vaccines—Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca—they’re killing people left and right—and they’re injuring some people very badly,” Gates continued, waving his hands in the air at times for dramatic effect.

“The government’s own data shows us this is what’s happening. The CDC’s reporting system is showing, what?…around 13,000 deaths so far in the U.S. and over half a million adverse events. Well, we all know the reporting system is a sham........."

The truth is that the entire article is FALSE – a complete fabrication by Daily Expose. There is nothing truthful in the entire article.

For example, the claim that the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System ( VAERS )captures “only one percent of what’s going on”, and yet reported 13,000 deaths and over half a million adverse events is COMPLETELY FALSE.

The claim that “hydroxycholoroquine is known to be very effective in fighting COVID-19” is also COMPLETELY FALSE. Also false are the claims that the studies that discredited HCQ were retracted.

Everything in their article can be verified as false, but Daily Expose is counting on you not doing that.

Fact #4 : COVID-19 Vaccines Have Been Proven Safe + Effective

Anti-vaccination proponents are not interested in your health, which is why they keep lying about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

The truth is – COVID-19 vaccines are only approved AFTER they have undergone extensive safety and efficacy tests, involving tens of thousands of volunteers.

And even after receiving Emergency Use Authorisation and full FDA approval, they continue to be monitored for safety and efficacy.

The reason why doctors and health authorities STRONGLY advocate vaccination is because the vaccines prevent you from getting COVID-19 in the first place.

And even if you do get infected after vaccination, the vaccine will protect you against hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.

So stop listening to fake news websites like Daily Expose. Protect yourself and your family by vaccinating against COVID-19!

The truth is that the entire article is FALSE – a complete fabrication by Daily Expose. There is nothing truthful in the entire article.

For example, the claim that VAERS captures “only one percent of what’s going on”, and yet reported 13,000 deaths and over half a million adverse events is COMPLETELY FALSE.

The claim that “hydroxycholoroquine (HCQ) is known to be very effective in fighting COVID-19” is also COMPLETELY FALSE. Also false are the claims that the studies that discredited HCQ were retracted.

Everything in their article can be verified as false, but Daily Expose is counting on you not doing that.

Fact #4 : COVID-19 Vaccines Have Been Proven Safe + Effective

Anti-vaccination proponents are not interested in your health, which is why they keep lying about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

The truth is – COVID-19 vaccines are only approved AFTER they have undergone extensive safety and efficacy tests, involving tens of thousands of volunteers.

And even after receiving Emergency Use Authorisation and full FDA approval, they continue to be monitored for safety and efficacy.

The reason why doctors and health authorities STRONGLY advocate vaccination is because the vaccines prevent you from getting COVID-19 in the first place.

And even if you do get infected after vaccination, the vaccine will protect you against hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.

So stop listening to fake news websites like Daily Expose. Protect yourself and your family by vaccinating against COVID-19!

EHORECON BOSS URGES GOVT TO EMPLOY MORE EHOs

    Dr. Yakubu Baba Muhammad

The Registrar of Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Mr. Yakubu Baba Muhammad, has lamented the dwindling number of practising environmental officers, especially as the country battles diseases like cholera and COVID-19.

Muhammad registered his displeasure over the development in a chat with journalists after a Capacity Building For Small Scale food Vendors on Hygiene Application in Food Processing From Farm to Table, organized by the Federal Ministry of Environment and Mukhtar Ahmed of the House of Representatives.

He then urged the governments to recruit more officers to combat the spread of COVID-19, cholera and other diseases ravaging the country.

NIGERIAN FOOD VENDORS USING EMBALMING CHEMICALS TO PRESERVE FISH, MEAT – NAFDAC

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised the alarm that food vendors in the country are applying poisonous chemicals to preserve their food to the detriment of the health of Nigerians.

Adeyeye disclosed that among the deadly chemicals being used by meat and fish sellers was formalin, a chemical substance used to preserve dead bodies.

She revealed that the agency has discovered that butchers have resolved to using formalin which is meant for embalming dead people, for preserving fish and meat consumed by Nigerians.

The NAFDAC boss made this known during a Public Enlightenment Campaign flagged off by NAFDAC in Bauchi State, on Tuesday, held at Double Four Events Centre, Bauchi.

She cautioned that the misuse of chemicals on food products was capable of leading to many serious diseases and death, warning that anyone arrested would be brought to justice.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Fori Tatami, NAFDAC’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, also revealed that Sniper, a brand of poisonous chemical, is also being used to preserve Kilishi (a dried form of suya, made from deboned cow, sheep or goat meat) by food sellers in some parts of the country.

“Sniper is being misused by most Nigerians. If it dries with the Kilishi, it can kill the consumer,” she warned

She said that aside from the task of discouraging Nigerians against patronising drug hawkers, the agency is also warning Nigerians against buying meats from an open place infested with flies.

“Such meats are possibly laced with dangerous chemicals that chase flies away so Nigerians must be wary,’ he stated.

She said Nigerians should also be wary of red palm oil as traders add a dangerous chemical called ‘Azo dye’ to make it reddish and appealing.

She said the public enlightenment was to make Nigerians aware of the development and be willing to give information of such practices to NAFDAC in order to arrest and prosecute suspects.

“We should not allow people to put chemicals into the products that we consume. We need to be careful and enlighten our people," she said.

JOHESU URGE FG TO USE EXISTING TEMPLATE TO REVIEW HAZARD ALLOWANCE

The Joint Health Sector Union and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have urged the Federal Government to review the hazard allowance for health workers based on the existing template.

JOHESU National Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah, in a statement on Wednesday, said the term ‘clinical and non-clinical staff’ was an arbitrary terminology alien to the lexicons and statutes in the Nigerian public services and should not be used for the purposes of ranking or categorisation of Nigeria workers including those in the health sector.

The statement was titled, ‘Facts on the Issue of Hazard Allowance for Health Sector Workers in Government Health Establishment.’

 “This memo seeks to guide the Federal Government team, stakeholders and consumers of health in resolving stress junctures in the negotiation of hazard allowance for health sector workers in government health establishments.

“JOHESU/AHPA is hinging its submissions on the 2014 report of the Collective Bargaining Committee which reviewed the 2009 CBA between the FG and JOHESU.  We shall also rely on the treaties of the ILO and the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution.

“We, therefore, demand that the over two-decade hazard allowance template of flat pay for hazard across board be maintained and should be the basis for the proposed upward review of hazard allowance by the Federal Government. The format prescribed by the FMoH at the inception of the FG-Stakeholders dialogue is most apt in the circumstance.

“JOHESU also demand that the proposed review of the hazard allowance be solely predicated on the distinctive classification of medical and health workers as established in Nigeria by relevant authorities in accordance with the extant schemes of service, rules and statutes in the Nigerian public service which rely on grade levels.

“We always maintain that there is basic humanity that is shared by all health workers which makes them all vulnerable to same general risk factors and hazards. This was the consideration in 2009 when equal hazard allowances were approved for all health workers in Nigeria. In special situations like pandemics or epidemic, special inducement allowances which will focus on personnel skill levels, the peculiarity of exposure may apply to take care of graded allowances,” the statement partly reads.

FG ASSURES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OF ADEQUATE SUPPORT

    Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar                           HONOURABLE MINISTER                                          Ministry of Environment

The Federal Ministry of Environment has assured environmental health professionals of government’s support to their various efforts and laudable initiatives and innovations towards improving societal healthcare.

Dr Muhammad Abubakar, Minister of Environment, gave the assurance on Thursday during the 1st national summit on environmental health held in Abuja.

The summit has as its theme, “REBRANDING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE: BREAKING BARRIERS, UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES.’’

The summit was organised by the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) during which over 3,000 new practitioners were inducted.

Abubakar said the ministry would continue to support the laudable initiatives of the council with the view to providing adequate enablement for effective and efficient environmental health practice.

He stated that the relevance of the profession in controlling communicable and contagious diseases could not be overemphasized and would be improved upon for a healthy society.

The minister also charged the newly inducted practitioners to contribute their quota in nation building by practicing within the confines of their professional ethics.

Dr Yakubu Baba, Registrar, EHORECON, in his remarks, said the summit brought environmental health experts together to identify the profession’s strength, challenges and prospects.

Baba noted that the practice of the profession currently was disjointed with some components domiciled in the ministry of health, environment and water resources.

He emphasized the need for them to be integrated to create significant impact to the society’s health.

“We will discuss to have a unified structure that will allow mobility of our personnel from one ministry to another, one department to another.

“The summit will enable us discuss and come up with a unified structure on where and how environmental health services will be rendered to Nigerians. We will also look at the policies and guidelines and legislations that require amendment and enacting.

“The environmental health officers are using an instrument that gives them power while on duty to enter any premise without a warrant for the purpose of inspection.

“ We want to address the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians who are calling for the reintroduction of sanitary inspection as well as consolidate our manpower and services so that people can see what we are seeing.

Prof. Agwu Amadi of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, said the call for the reintroduction of sanitary health officers into the field was a welcome development.

According to him, “if we get it correctly from environmental health services, we would reduce illness and deaths and also economic burden,” adding that environment health was public wealth and public wealth was wellness.

“It is important for us to achieve environmental health. The call by Nigerians for the reintroduction of sanitary officers in the field is a welcome development. These officers can find out the situation of environmental health,’’ he said.

The minister inaugurated the environmental health practice programme to ensure that the professional practice is done in accordance with the law.

He also inaugurated the environmental health emergency response volunteer scheme, aimed at bridging the gap of environmental health manpower distribution across the country, and unveiled the digital-based service delivery portal, aimed at digitizing the processes of transacting business between EHORECON and its clients.

HON. MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT ATTENDS EHORECON ORGANISED SUMIT IN UNIFORM

    Dr. Mahmood Abubakar, Hon. Minister of          Environment

The Hon. Minister of Environment, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar was sighted wearing the full uniform as an environmental health officer in the on going 1st environmental health summit in Abuja. 

The minister of Environment also delivered a keynote address at the ongoing, 1st National Summit on Environmental Health at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on 4th August 2021. 

He has worked for over 10 years in various organization starting from Kittitas Country (Health Dept.) as Environmental Health Inspector, University of Arizona as Research and Teaching Assistance, E&A Environmental Services Los Angeles, California as Environmental professional (Industrial Hygienist), Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle as Industrial Waste Investigator. He also worked in Nigeria as a Director Planning, Research and Evaluation with the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency and have lectured at Water Resources Research Institute, Kaduna as well as a volunteer Environmental consultant for the United Nations Association, Seattle Washington DC.

Hon. Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar(middle), Registrar, EHORECON, Dr. Baba Yakubu Mohammed (Right) and the Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency(NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro at the ongoing, 1st National Summit on Environmental Health Organized by EHORECON at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on 4th August 2021. 

The occasion which also featured the fellowship investiture of the Honorable Minister of Environment by the West African Post Graduate College of Environmental Health. 

Investiture of the Honorable Minister of Environment by the West African post Graduate College of Environmental Health