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Anambra: Soludo battles touting to redeem Onitsha image

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Mr. Ejike (pseudonym) shared his recent encounter at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State, narrating a disturbing incident involving touts in a voice note that went viral among his friends. According to Ejike, upon arriving from Asaba to Onitsha around 8 pm, as their bus stopped at Upper Iweka, touts armed with cutlasses began robbing people of their belongings. Ejike described it as a traumatic experience, reflecting a recurring issue in Onitsha, known for touting and daylight robbery.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo, however, has taken a stand to eliminate these problems, particularly in Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub. During the recent Ofala festival, Governor Soludo assured the people of plans to eradicate touting, emphasizing the need for a safe business environment. True to his words, the governor launched the Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) to address the menace.

Governor Soludo, during the launch in Onitsha, emphasized the commitment to restore Anambra State to its former reputation for law and order. He acknowledged the challenges posed by touts, affecting both local and national customers, and expressed determination to reclaim Onitsha’s status as a commercial hub.

Less than 24 hours after the launch, SASA reported the arrest of 64 individuals suspected of being touts and criminals around Upper Iweka, Bridge Head, and Chisco Motor Park in Onitsha. The Director of Operations for SASA, Mr. Solomon Onwuemene, declared that the arrests would continue until the city is free of criminals.

However, there are concerns about certain government agency operatives contributing to disorderliness in the state. Mr. Chibuike Uloka, a public policy analyst, highlighted the issue of “official touts” abusing their authority, capturing incidents on video where citizens were subjected to physical torture for traffic offenses or revenue collection.

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Uloka expressed concern that the recent formation of SASA might be inadvertently leading to an increase in touting, with over 53,000 individuals reportedly recruited in just 19 months. He criticized the administration for not addressing the rise of touts and urged a focus on job creation and support for small businesses.

On the other hand, SASA’s Director of Operations, Mr. Solomon Onwuemene, remains optimistic. He reported that since SASA’s launch, over 600 suspected touts have been arrested in various local government areas. Onwuemene assured the public that touting would soon be eradicated in Anambra State and commended the support of Governor Soludo, the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikodili Anara, and the people of Anambra.

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Hospital Board Suspends Doctor Over Negligence In Kano

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Dr. Mansur Nagoda, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, has sanctioned the immediate suspension of a medical officer at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital. This action follows numerous complaints from patients and staff regarding the doctor’s unauthorized absence from duty.

Dr. Nagoda disclosed that the suspended doctor, whose identity is withheld, left the hospital without informing any authority or management personnel. Despite attempts to reach her, she claimed to be on the premises but failed to report to the doctors’ quarters or fulfill her duties, leaving a dialysis patient distressed.

Emphasizing the ethical responsibility of doctors to prioritize patient care, Dr. Nagoda stressed the need for accountability and professionalism within the healthcare system. He warned that proper arrangements must be made with another doctor when absent from duty, and negligence will not be tolerated.

The suspension will remain in effect pending the investigation’s outcome, demonstrating the board’s commitment to upholding standards of conduct among healthcare workers. Dr. Nagoda reiterated the board’s expectation for all personnel to fulfill their duties diligently, emphasizing consequences for those found derelict in their responsibilities.

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Oyebanji approves 50% subsidy on improved oil palm, cocoa, cashew seedlings for Ekiti farmers

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Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State has authorized a 50 percent subsidy on oil palm, cocoa, and cashew seedlings for distribution to farmers in the state during this planting season. Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, conveyed this information in a statement released to the press in Ado-Ekiti.

He explained that this initiative is part of the strategic measures undertaken by the Oyebanji administration to generate employment, foster wealth creation, and revive Ekiti State’s agricultural sector to its former glory, particularly harking back to the prosperous era of the 1970s when it was renowned globally as a leading cocoa production hub in Nigeria.

Boluwade emphasized that the program aims to rejuvenate the state’s agricultural prowess by replacing aging trees in existing plantations and those lost to bushfires with high-quality seedlings possessing shorter gestation periods. Furthermore, concerted efforts are underway to attract enthusiastic young farmers into cocoa plantation farming.

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‘We’ve no hotel’ – Nigerian Correctional Service clears air

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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) clarified that the Correctional Service Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (COCOS) Hotel and Gardens Project was not financed by the Federal Government. Umar Abubakar, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, made this statement in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasizing that the hotel was an investment of the NCoS Cooperative Society.

Responding to concerns raised about the facility, Abubakar stressed that the hotel, featured on the Service’s official Facebook page, was solely aimed at enhancing staff welfare. He attributed its establishment to strategic planning and efficiency within the agency’s cooperative unit.

Abubakar expressed bewilderment at attempts to discourage meaningful investments, highlighting that the “COCOS Hotels and Gardens” was inaugurated on March 1, 2021, by former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. He asserted that the report in question is not only deceptive but also aimed at spreading misinformation. Abubakar clarified that the hotel was constructed in 2021 and is exclusively owned by the Correctional Cooperative Society, established in 1996 for all personnel of the service.

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