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Teπsion In Nigeria Over Newly Detected Disease

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The Nigerian government has issued a warning about the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant, which has spread to 29 countries globally.

This variant was first reported in Australia and has shown a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health.

The XEC variant is a recombinant strain, meaning it is a hybrid of two pre-existing COVID subvariants. It has mutations that may affect how the virus behaves or its potential impact on human health.

To address this concern, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has written the Chairman, Committee of Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, advising hospitals to activate their alert systems and be on high alert for patients with COVID-like symptoms.

The letter titled: “Letter of conveyance in respect of the newly detected xec covid-19 strain”, with DHS/INSPDIV/017/VOL.1/46 and dated December 5, 2024, was signed by Dr. O. N. Anuma, Head, Teaching Hospital Division for the Permanent Secretary.

The government tasked the committee to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to share critical data regarding this strain and implement enhanced monitoring protocols, which it said will be vital for effective response strategies.

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The letter on Saturday partly read: “I am directed to inform you of a newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant, which has been reported in Australia and has already, spread to 29 countries globally. (Letter attached) You may wish to know that this variant has shown a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health.

Alert systems should be immediately activated throughout our hospitals for high index of suspicion in patients with COVID-like symptoms.

“We request your Committee to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to share critical data regarding this strain and implement enhanced monitoring protocols. Timely information sharing among relevant stake holders including Federal Ministry of Health will be vital for effective response strategies.

“Please accept, as always, the assurances of the Permanent Secretary’s warm regards.”

Meanwhile, here are some key things to know about the XEC variant:

“Transmission: The XEC variant is highly transmissible and has spread to many countries.

Symptoms: The symptoms of the XEC variant are similar to those of other COVID-19 strains, including cough, congestion, diarrhea, fever, and shortness of breath.

“Vaccination: The updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide protection against the XEC variant, although the effectiveness may vary.

“Prevention: The usual precautions to prevent COVID-19 infection apply, including staying away from people who are sick, wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, and following other recommendations provided by the CDC.”

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Labour Party Mulls Expulsion of Its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi

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The Labour Party has announced plans to expel its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi over alleged “anti-party activities.”

The announcement came during a Channels TV interview on Tuesday with National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, who confirmed that a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting will be convened to recommend Obi’s expulsion, which would then be ratified at the party’s next convention.

“Secondly, let me make it very clear. We are convening a NEC meeting where he (Peter Obi) will be expelled,” Arabambi said.

“You know he was on suspension before, before he now went ahead to do the anti-party activities. You don’t go and join a political party and at the same time, you put your leg in another political party. He knows it is so constitutional for him to belong to two political parties at a time. They have been able to deceive him to their side and there he shall remain.

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“So, NEC meeting is going to be called shortly where Obi will be recommended for expulsion and that will now be confirmed finally at our convention in line with our constitution and in line with most political party constitution because when you want to expel an individual who is a member of your party but you know that is not doing things in tandem with your constitution, you go to NEC and you will recommend to expel him and now recommend the final expulsion to the convention.”

Arabambi further accused Obi of engaging in dual-party allegiances and aligning with what he described as “yahoo yahoo coalition.”

“So, Obi will be expelled from our party. He’s no longer a member of our party. It is not within his right to tell us that I’m still a member of the Labour Party and at the same time he will not be hobnobbing, you know, with what we call the yahoo yahoo coalition. We are not going to accept that.”

Peter Obi, who secured over 6.1 million votes, finishing third in the February 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, together with Governor Alex Otti, are aligned with a faction of the Labour Party led by Senator Usman Nenadi.

In contrast, the faction to which Arabambi belongs is led by Julius Abure, who controls the official secretariat. This faction had earlier suspended Governor Otti, Senators Kingibe and Nwokocha, and others, citing anti-party conduct.

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2027 : “I Will No Longer Support Tinubu, Yoruba Traitors—Asari-Dokubo

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Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo Asari

 

Former Niger Delta militant and leader of the defunct Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has declared that he will no longer support Yoruba politicians because they have betrayed him and the Ijaw people.

In a video shared on social media platforms on Monday, Dokubo insisted that he is now politically aligned with politicians from Northern Nigeria because they are not traitors like their Yoruba counterparts.

The ex-militant accused Yoruba politicians and elite of turning against their long-standing allies from the Niger Delta after benefiting politically from them.

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“The Yorubas have betrayed us. After all we did, they turned their backs on us,” Dokubo said in the video.

Comtuinug, he stated that given recent political realignments and what he perceives as a lack of loyalty from the South-West, he feels more positioned to build strategic alliances with Northern leaders, who he claims have shown more consistency and respect.

“The past sacrifices made by the Ijaw for the southern solidarity were not reciprocated,” he noted.

He referenced political cooperation during previous elections and governance battles as moments where the Ijaw stood firm for the South, only to be left out in the cold.

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Hon. Abubakar Bichi donates 13 buses, 11 tractors to varsities, constituents

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Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, the Member representing Bichi Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation facilitated the distribution of 13 Brand new 16-seater buses to universities and colleges of education in Kano and 11 tractors and combine harvesters to constituents.

Representatives from various higher institutions across Kano State attended the event of the distribution, which held on Monday, July 7 in Bichi town.

Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi was represented at the event by the Chairman Education Committee, Dr. Habibu Usman Abdu, Senior Legislative Aides Sabo Ilyasu Saye, Zahraddeen Kabir as well as his other staff.

Beneficiary higher institutions of learning include Bayero University (BUK), which received 2 buses, Northwest university, Kano (2) two buses, Aliko Dangote Science university (2) two buses, FCE (T) Bichi (2) two buses, Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University, (1) one bus, Ibrahim Ayagi College of Health Science Dawakin Tofa, Aminu Kano College of Islamic Legal Studies, (1) one bus, Kano Polytechnic Central Admin (1) one bus, Sa’adatu Rimi college of Education (1) one bus.

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However, eleven tractors and 4 combine harvesters to eleven wards and across Bichi Local Government Area.

Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi said that the gesture aimed at easing transportation challenges on campuses and ensuring effective learning.

He added that the eleven tractors and combined harvesters improve and strengthen the farming system in the eleven wards in Bichi Local Government Area

The event highlighted Hon. Abubakar’s dedication to supporting the education sector through practical interventions aimed enhancing mobility and logistics within academic environments.

Such interventions especially on education and many others are the reason the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe state and the Federal University Dutsin-ma, Katsina conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Abubakar Kabir Bichi.

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