₦airaland Forum

IMPACT Ramps UP Cross River Healthcare Digitalization As Otu Receives 196 Laptops At Project Engagement Meeting In Calabar


Healthcare system in Cross River is witnessing a new vista as IMPACT has embarked upon a wholesome digitalization of the system in the state.
IMPACT, an acronym for Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services Project has procured 196 Laptops for onward distribution to personnel in the health records units across Primary Health Centres in all 196 wards of the state.
The state government said the move is consistent with the Governor, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu's commitment to the digitization of health information management.
IMPACT presented the Laptops to the Governor at his office in Calabar, the state capital Wednesday.
The IMPACT Project, funded by the World Bank, aims to reduce maternal mortality, malaria, neonatal mortality, as well as infant and under-five mortality rates.
While receiving the equipment, the governor, praised the World Bank's contributions to the improvement of health services in the state, noting that the newly introduced IMPACT Project will add further impetus to feats already achieved through the symbiotic relationship between Cross River and the World Bank.
"Health has continued to be one of our very major priorities. It is true that without health, of course, we wouldn't even have a state. That is why you can bear me witness that most of the projects that have come out in terms of counterparts funding, we have engaged all of them.
"We'll continue to give that support, whatever it takes, to make sure that we do our best for our people. We have allocated over 5 billion in our 2025 budget to upscale all our primary health facilities. We also have plans for health insurance because we know that health insurance is not where it's supposed to be. We're working very hard to come out with the best health insurance for our people.

"Please, ensure that those facilities are put into use and not left as furniture in those offices. Because, actually, the system we are trying to put in place is something that the local government chairmen, the ward councilors, and everybody will be involved. Both in education and healthcare, we need to ensure that most of the things that are invested get right down to the people. So I want to thank the World Bank for these interventions," Governor Otu stated.

Earlier, the IMPACT Project Manager, Dr. Paul Odey, explained that the project will, in no small measure, improve the health sector of Cross River State.
His words: "This is a World Bank project that started on the 17th of February 2021.However, before now, Cross River State was not part of this project. The People's First mantra came in, and the Sweet Prince approved this thoughtful project to be brought to Cross River State"

Odey further disclosed that the project primarily focuses on immunization for children under five, malaria, pregnant women, training and sensitization of health attendants to ensure that facilities are accessible to those living in rural areas.

The IMPACT project manager emphasized that the importance of digitizing the healthcare system is for effective monitoring and evaluation.

"We have 196 laptops presented here. These laptops will be distributed to the 196 facilities and wards in the states. There are designated facilities with monitoring and evaluation officers that will take charge of these equipment.

"Most times you get flooding or fire outbreak in a facility, and everything including their registers is gone. But with this laptops, they are going to digitalize the entire system. All health records from OPD, antenatal care, immunization, all will be recorded and put in a particular set at a digital health information system."

"To this end, we have 196 laptops presented here, which will be distributed to the 196 facilities and wards in the state. Designated facilities will have M&E officers responsible for overseeing this initiative."

"For monitoring and evaluation to ensure the sustainability of these systems, the Primary Healthcare Director General and her team have established quarterly monitoring to ensure that these systems are functional and that data is accurately captured," he added.
The event was attended by members of the Cross River health cluster, notably, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, the Director General of Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Chief Godwin Iyala, Director General, Cross River State Health Insurance Agency, as well as other government officials.

Nigeria must rebuild military, core institutions to combat challenges- Adebayo
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, says for effective protection of democracy in the country as well as lives and property, Nigeria needs to rebuild its military institutions.
Adebayo was speaking at a public presentation of a book entitled ‘Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs’, authored by Babatunde Bello-Fadile, a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army, held at the Sehu Yar'adua Centre, Abuja, Monday.
He said the problem of insecurity across Nigeria today can be traced to institutional deficiencies and indiscipline among those who are saddled with the responsibilities of steering the wheel of state.
The former Presidential Candidate who recommended the book for students of history, announced the immediate purchase of one thousand copies to be distributed to military schools, formations and institutions of higher learning across the country.
He said aside rebuilding the military institutions, Nigeria needs to rebuild its civil service, Justice System and its intelligence agencies.
"We must encourage the rebuilding of four institutions, and four of them needed to be rebuild immediately. We need to rebuild our military. We need to rebuild our civil service.
We need to rebuild our justice system and we need to rebuild our intelligence.
"In an era where modern challenges are timeless in the face, we need to build these institutions, and to build them, you need to find your way to extract who will say, I dedicate my entire life to one of these four institutions like Retired Colonel Fadile,” he stated.
Adebayo maintained that most of the historical achievements the country recorded can directly or indirectly be traced to the military, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, adding, “So that military is possible.
"Some of the best brains in the country were officers, well-trained as both military personnel and other professional life like Reitred Colonel Bello Fadile who is wearing two caps.
"Today in Nigeria there are hard questions of National identity and National unity.
The military is the one keeping these two. So it is important we know that we cannot do without the military as a country.”
The event which had Adebayo as the book presenter, was chaired by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar Retired, General Martin Luther Agwai Rtd., General Alkali Kashim Rtd, Former Senate President, David Mark, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, OCJ Okocha SAN, Ahmed Raji SAN, Former INEC Chairman,Professor Maurice Iwu and Colonel Sambo Dasuki among other dignitaries in attendance.

Nigeria must rebuild military, core institutions to combat challenges- Adebayo
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, says for effective protection of democracy in the country as well as lives and property, Nigeria needs to rebuild its military institutions.
Adebayo was speaking at a public presentation of a book entitled ‘Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs’, authored by Babatunde Bello-Fadile, a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army, held at the Sehu Yar'adua Centre, Abuja, Monday.
He said the problem of insecurity across Nigeria today can be traced to institutional deficiencies and indiscipline among those who are saddled with the responsibilities of steering the wheel of state.
The former Presidential Candidate who recommended the book for students of history, announced the immediate purchase of one thousand copies to be distributed to military schools, formations and institutions of higher learning across the country.
He said aside rebuilding the military institutions, Nigeria needs to rebuild its civil service, Justice System and its intelligence agencies.
"We must encourage the rebuilding of four institutions, and four of them needed to be rebuild immediately. We need to rebuild our military. We need to rebuild our civil service.
We need to rebuild our justice system and we need to rebuild our intelligence.
"In an era where modern challenges are timeless in the face, we need to build these institutions, and to build them, you need to find your way to extract who will say, I dedicate my entire life to one of these four institutions like Retired Colonel Fadile,” he stated.
Adebayo maintained that most of the historical achievements the country recorded can directly or indirectly be traced to the military, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, adding, “So that military is possible.
"Some of the best brains in the country were officers, well-trained as both military personnel and other professional life like Reitred Colonel Bello Fadile who is wearing two caps.
"Today in Nigeria there are hard questions of National identity and National unity.
The military is the one keeping these two. So it is important we know that we cannot do without the military as a country.”
The event which had Adebayo as the book presenter, was chaired by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar Retired, General Martin Luther Agwai Rtd., General Alkali Kashim Rtd, Former Senate President, David Mark, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, OCJ Okocha SAN, Ahmed Raji SAN, Former INEC Chairman,Professor Maurice Iwu and Colonel Sambo Dasuki among other dignitaries in attendance.

Willing buyer, willing seller

The Ondo State Governorship Election of yesterday is what criminologists would term as victim-less crimes: a spectacle of willing buyers
@OfficialAPCNg
meeting willing sellers in a perfect market that should be an example for
@cenbank
in the foreign exchange markets. Ondo Auction is smoother than the Dutch Auction. Four years sold so freely and openly that no one should lie that they were coerced or intimidated or browbeaten. And
@PoliceNG
and
@inecnigeria
@AIT_Online
@ARISEtv
@KAFTAN_TV
@channelstv
@NTANewsNow
all witnessed it live. No one should pretend that they need someone to interview over this. It is in order to congratulate the buyers on their purchased 'victory' while shedding some tears for the sellers with the Calvary elegy that "Father Forgive Them For They Knoweth Not What They Do." God Bless Nigeria and may God Guide Ondo State.
-Prince Adewale Adebayo

Edu,Guinness World Record Chess Master ,Onakoya Set To Empower Vulnerable Nigerians Across The Country

All is set for the kick off a privately funded social nationwide intervention programme.

The Programme which is an initiative of Dr Betta Edu and Guinness World Record Chess Tunde Onakoya and the facilitators have finalised arrangements to empower vulnerable Nigerians across the country.

The empowerment initiative, according to the duo, is a partnership to expand humanitarian services and imbibe chess culture in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and vulnerable populations in Nigeria

A statement released by her Media Office quoted Dr Edu as saying that the empowerment exercise will comprise of medical outreach, distribution of start-up tools for small scale businesses, instant physical cash gift as a start-up capital for petty trading among others.

She expressed delight at the collaboration with Onakoya to lift the poor, saying it was heartwarming that there are Nigerians out there who have unwavering passion for humanitarian gestures.

"The initiative is targeted at making life more meaningful to vulnerable Nigerians lacking economic base and means of livelihood,especially the IDPs.

" I'm delighted to collaborate with my brother, Tunde Onakoya to put smiles on the faces of vulnerable Nigerians in our midst. It is heartwarming to note that like myself, Onakoya's heart beats for the poor. Together, we shall collaborate and partner to provide humanitarian support and economically empower vulnerable fellow compatriots", she said.

Dr Edu opine that taking vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty should not be left for the government alone and urged Nigerians of means to join hands with the government to fight poverty in the country.

According to the statement, "Part of the noble objective of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda is to address the pressing needs of Nigeria's most vulnerable citizens,thereby reducing poverty to its barrest minimum; to give them a new lease of life.

"Thankfully, Mr President has achieved so much in this regard, however, private individuals with the means to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people should not hesitate to do so, to complement government's efforts.

"My partnership with Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess master, who broks the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon playing chess was as a result of our shared vision to support vulnerable Nigerians, including the IDPs"

The empowerment exercise will be first carried out in each of the six geographical zones of the country, before moving round the states in the federation including the FCT, Abuja.

Dera Nnadi: The Magic Man of Tincan

By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

Comptroller Dera Nnadi is one Customs chief that inspires confidence, trust, loyalty, patriotism and hard work in his men. He is uncompromising when it comes to dedication to duty, especially customs enforcements, bursting of smugglers' fortress and anti- Narcotics fight. Officers who work under Comptroller Nnadi know he is a stickler for excellence and they see in him a role model.
No wonder he has been described at different fora by stakeholders in the maritime industry as a brilliant manager of men and an astute administrator, one imbued with immense leadership capacities and fecundity of ideas.
Comptroller Nnadi's over three decades career trajectory in the Nigerian Customs Service has seen him record streaks of feats in all the positions he has held, distinguishing himself and attracting effusive commendations.
He has continuously left a trail of excellence in all his postings. He is a disciplined, experienced, and incorruptible anti-smuggling czar who, as Custom Area Comptroller, CAC, Seme border, led his men to burst a series of smuggling rings, including the interception of over $6 million in fake American dollar notes in the Gbaji area along the border corridor.
That feat was accomplished notwithstanding spirited efforts by the smugglers of the fake currency to compromise Comptroller Nnadi's men with $150,000 in original currency to allow the fake currency free passage.
Having distinguished himself at the Seme Border Command, the Customs High Command under the dynamic leadership of Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi, September last year decided to send Comptroller Nnadi to Tincan as CAC to replicate his feats there.

Comptroller Nnadi is on a familiar turf having held a robust and strategic enforcement position at the port a few years ago.
Prior to his posting to the Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko as CAC in 2022, Nnadi was the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement at the Tin Can Island Command during which outstanding and eye popping seizures, comprising large cache of arms and ammunition, illicit drugs including large quantities of outlawed tramadol and many other contraband goods were made.
His invaluable contributions to the fight against importation of illicit drugs into the country recently attracted for him an award from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. Comptroller Nnadi was personally honoured at a ceremony in Lagos by the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd).In the past one year, Tin Can port under Nnadi has recorded a breathtaking seizures of varied quantities of narcotics, including the interception of 1000 kg of Canadian Cannabis.

As earlier stated, Comptroller Nnadi didnt come to Tin Can to learn on the job neither did he come to a strange terrain. Apart from being Deputy Comptroller at the Tincan port a few years ago, over a decade earlier, before his current posting to the port as CAC, he had held the position of Public Relations Officer, PRO at Apapa Port.
Given the foregoing, it was not difficult for Comptroller Nnadi to quickly settle down as CAC Tin Can port and immediately swing into action. Characteristic of him, immediately after assumption of office Comptroller Nnadi expressed the determination to meet the N801 billion annual revenue target for the command, assuring that he would increase the command’s revenue collection from 52 percent to 100 percent.

Of course, at the back of his mind were the three key performance indicators for the Nigeria Customs Service and by extension the Tin Can command under his leadership and these include revenue, anti-smuggling, and trade facilitation.
And he did not disappoint.Within a few months of assumption of duty as Tin can CAC, Nnadi's dexterity and foresightedness caused the command to make huge seizures, including 1,264 packages weighing 473.50kg of hemp worth N118.4 million, concealed in various containers from eight seizures.
Others include 10 sacks of used clothing and five used fridges with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.17 million in 1x40ft Container, DFSU 6858264, 3,028 pieces of matches, 435 cartons of De Ruth Tomato Paste, Unregistered Pharmaceutical Products in 1x 40ft container, MRSU 5923970, MRKU 5534321 and MRSU 5923970.
Sized too were 7X40ft containers containing bulk charcoal with a DPV of N24.77 million, 12 different Arms, six different pistols, and 500 pieces of ammunition of different caliber extracted from 1X40ft container, CMAU 8834719.58 bags and three bags of used shoes concealed in 1X40 ft TGBU 4466688 and 1X40 ft MEDU 7552832 respectively, 987 bales of used clothing extracted from three containers, suspected concealment in 2X20 ft declared as gauze rolls, one unit of Land Rover with Chassis number, SALCT2BG4FH527794, Suzuki Carry with Chassis number, MHYESL4152J115591, Mercedes Benz C300 WITH Chassis number, WDDGF8BB9AK093016S, various supermarket items, toilet paper, pharmaceutical and beauty products, 615 sacks of Water Buffalo Horns, 2,500 cartons of frozen poultry, 3,642 bags of basmati rice, household goods, arms and ammunition, and military wear were detected equally and seized.The total DPV of sized goods goods and narcotics were valued at N3.2 billion.
These far- reaching feats by Tincan under Nnadi's command align with his past exploits as an anti-smuggling czar. There is no doubt that Comptroller Nnadi's unparalleled revenue generation wizdary played a pivotal role in the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS revenue generation of N5.07 trillion between January and 12, 2024, surpassing its revenue target. For example between January 7 and November this year alone, the Tin-Can Customs Command under Nnadi, for the first time in history, raked in N1,046,496,593,103.60 thus making him the first ever Tincan CAC to have recorded over one Trillion Naira customs duty collection feat, a feat that has earned him the moniker, "the magic man of Tincan" from some industry stakeholders.
His knack and passion for service delivery and meeting target goals are legendary as testified by officers who have at one time or the worked under him.
An officer who would rather remain anonymous recalls with nostalgia, how, as DC at Tin Can Nnadi bravely superintended the seizure of stolen vehicles illegally brought into the country. The vehicles, gold-colored Range Rover SUV(2014) and black Coloured Range Rover 2015 were later repatriated to the country from where it was criminally brought into Nigeria.
It should also be noted that as a CAC, Nnadi had once achieved and surpassed in about eight months, a revenue target of N1.966,000,000bn with an additional N122,578,048.03bn.
Resourceful, dedicated, and result-oriented, Comptroller Nnadi who enlisted in the service in 1991 as a cadet officer, has transversed various commands in the course of his career. Apart from serving in Seme, Idiroko, Apapa, and Tin Can commands of the service, Nnadi has also served in Yobe, Kwara, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mubi and. Abuja.
A proud alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, and a graduate of Microbiology, Business Management, and Masters Degree holder in Business Administration, Comptroller Nnadi, despite his achievements and feats, are unassuming and humble; always declining to take personal glory or credit for sucessess recorded. For example while addressing maritime reporters recently on Tin Can's historic collection of over one Trillion Naira as Customs duty between January and November, Comptroller Nnadi dedicated the feat to the Comptroller-Gerneral of Customs: "I dedicate this achievement to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team", he had said.
According to Heywood Hale Broun, "Sweat is the cologne of accomplishment", given Comptroller Nnadi's exceptional career accomplishments, perhaps, early in his career and as young officer, he had meticulously internalized the above admonition and made his guiding principle hence his career path has been strewn with hardwork, dedication, honesty and integrity; with astounding career accomplishments as fitting results.

Onyemaizu, a Journalist, Strategic Communication expert and Media/ PR consultant, resides in Lagos and can be reached on 08034931328
Email: elesiokwu@gmail.com

Restore Industrial Peace in Higher Institutions, Adebayo Urges Tinubu


The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in the last presidential election, Adewole Adebayo has expressed concern over the ongoing  strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions,  NASU.

Adebayo, in a press statement issued on his behalf by his Media Advisor, Chidi Onyemaizu, lamented the incessant disruption of academic activities in the institutions of higher learning in the country, saying the situation casts a slur on Nigeria's image and puts a disquieting question mark on the quality of graduates produced by the institutions.

The former presidential hopeful urged the Tinubu led administration to prioritise education over politics and political patronage by restoring enduring industrial peace in the country's ivory towers.

"I'm of the opinion that restoring enduring industrial harmony in our ivory towers is no rocket science, it is doable and it is something that can be done if only the President can prioritise education over politics and political patronage by giving adequate funding to the universities and reaching a just and amicable settlement with the restive teaching and non teaching labour unions.

"The ongoing strike by non-teaching staff of universities is an embarrassment and an avoidable disruption; it would have been avoided if the government had not chosen to pay lips service to the welfare of University workers", Adebayo said in the statement.

Continuing, the SDP chieftain noted that "SSANU and NASU are not asking for anything outside their legitimate earnings.If the Tinubu administration can pacify and patronize political allies and hangers on by the way of maintaining an over bloated cabinet at the expense of our common patrimony, I see no reason it cannot effortlessly fulfil its agreement with members of SSANU and NASU and pay them their withheld salaries.

"Beyond SSANU and NASU, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has also been hinting about another round of strike, this speaks to a failed and decaying system. "We  cannot continue to be a nation that commits a huge part of its financial resources to servicing politicians and their extravagant lifestyles while neglecting the very core of human capital development- the University system"

Adebayo advocated for increased budgetary allocation to the education sector and "or on the alternative, like the judiciary and the National Assembly, funding of the universities, including staff salaries should be placed on the first line charge"

"As a developing country, adequate funding for our university education should at all times take precedence over servicing of political office holders", Adebayo added.

Restore Industrial Peace in Higher Institutions, Adebayo Urges Tinubu


The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in the last presidential election, Adewole Adebayo has expressed concern over the ongoing  strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions,  NASU.

Adebayo, in a press statement issued on his behalf by his Media Advisor, Chidi Onyemaizu, lamented the incessant disruption of academic activities in the institutions of higher learning in the country, saying the situation casts a slur on Nigeria's image and puts a disquieting question mark on the quality of graduates produced by the institutions.

The former presidential hopeful urged the Tinubu led administration to prioritise education over politics and political patronage by restoring enduring industrial peace in the country's ivory towers.

"I'm of the opinion that restoring enduring industrial harmony in our ivory towers is no rocket science, it is doable and it is something that can be done if only the President can prioritise education over politics and political patronage by giving adequate funding to the universities and reaching a just and amicable settlement with the restive teaching and non teaching labour unions.

"The ongoing strike by non-teaching staff of universities is an embarrassment and an avoidable disruption; it would have been avoided if the government had not chosen to pay lips service to the welfare of University workers", Adebayo said in the statement.

Continuing, the SDP chieftain noted that "SSANU and NASU are not asking for anything outside their legitimate earnings.If the Tinubu administration can pacify and patronize political allies and hangers on by the way of maintaining an over bloated cabinet at the expense of our common patrimony, I see no reason it cannot effortlessly fulfil its agreement with members of SSANU and NASU and pay them their withheld salaries.

"Beyond SSANU and NASU, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has also been hinting about another round of strike, this speaks to a failed and decaying system. "We  cannot continue to be a nation that commits a huge part of its financial resources to servicing politicians and their extravagant lifestyles while neglecting the very core of human capital development- the University system"

Adebayo advocated for increased budgetary allocation to the education sector and "or on the alternative, like the judiciary and the National Assembly, funding of the universities, including staff salaries should be placed on the first line charge"

"As a developing country, adequate funding for our university education should at all times take precedence over servicing of political office holders", Adebayo added.