Nigerian Eye

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Veritas University, Abuja, has built a police station on its campus in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, saying the presence of policemen was needed to checkmate the spate of insecurity including kidnapping and armed robbery. 
 
The university noted that the police station serves the institution as well as surrounding communities such as Zuma and Bwari. 
 
The Veritas Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hyacinth Ichoku, stated these at a press conference on Wednesday. 
 
The press conference was to mark the eighth convocation of the university, which holds on Saturday and would be attended by the Peoples’ Democratic Party Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, Peter Obi. 
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The VC noted that the police station was equipped with a patrol van to ensure that there was no security breach around the campus. 
 
He said, “We realise that because of the frequent kidnappings; in fact, there is no place that is safe in Nigeria. We realise that this environment is not excluded from the risk areas. So, what we thought to do was to, first of all, have a police station. We have 12 policemen from the Bwari command on campus for 24 hours. We gave them a vehicle and a patrol van for night patrols. This is to ensure that there are no security threats. 
 
“Our surrounding communities were present at the foundation laying ceremony for the police station at the university. For the first time, the communities said they have a police presence around them. 
 
“Also, there are about 65 private security personnel on our campus who monitor movements and all manner of behaviour. We are ensuring that there is no infiltration into the university.” 
 
The VC added that the university would be awarding degrees to 286 graduates including five postgraduate students, out of which 25 made a First Class honours.

Latest-News Insecurity: Varsity builds police station on campus

Veritas University, Abuja, has built a police station on its campus in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, saying the presenc...

Coronavirus: Nigeria among high risk African countries – Research

11:25 Unknown 0

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Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are at high risk of suffering from the deadly coronavirus, a study released Wednesday suggested. 
 
The study suggested other countries – among them Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya – would all need support with detecting and handling imported cases of the coronavirus. 
 
The Lancet medical journal reported that the three African countries were at particular risk because of higher levels of travel and trade with China, where the COVID-19 virus first arose. 
 
Egypt’s health ministry announced last week the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Africa – a foreigner whose nationality was not revealed. 
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“African countries have recently strengthened their preparedness to manage importations of COVID-19 cases,” said study author Dr Vittoria Colizza, of France’s Sorbonne university. 
 
These include temperature screening at ports of entry, recommendations to avoid travel to China and improved health information provided to health professionals and the general public. 
 
However, she said “some countries remain ill-equipped” to deal with the threat and more needed to be done with surveillance and rapid identification of suspected cases, patient isolation and contact tracing. 
 
While almost three-quarters of African countries have an influenza pandemic preparedness plan, most are outdated and considered inadequate. 
 
Fortunately, Egypt, Algeria and South Africa have “the most prepared health systems in the continent”, the report found. 
 
The new findings are from a modelling study estimating the preparedness and vulnerability of African countries, as well as their likelihood of importing COVID-19 cases from China. 
 
Algeria, Ethiopia, South Africa and Nigeria were included in the 13 top priority countries identified by the World Health Organization (WHO), based on their direct links and volume of travel to China. 
 
China is Africa’s leading commercial partner with high volumes of travel between the two locations. 
 
However, some African countries simply do not have the resources, including beds and quarantine premises, the study warned. 
 
“Crisis management plans should be ready in each African country, and involvement of the international community should catalyse such preparedness,” said Colizza. 
 
The death toll from the COVID-19 virus has risen above 2,000, almost all of them in mainland China where 74,185 cases of infection have been confirmed since it first emerged in late December.

Latest-News Coronavirus: Nigeria among high risk African countries – Research

Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are at high risk of suffering from the deadly coronavirus, a study released Wednesday suggested. The st...

CAN Leaders March for Leah Sharibu

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Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday held a church service and a peaceful march to mark the second year of Miss Leah Sharibu in Boko Haram captivity. 
 
In Abuja, CAN President Rev. Samson Ayokunle and the Senior Pastor, Dunamis International Gospel Center, Dr. Paul Enenche, warned that killings in the country could lead to anarchy 
 
Leah along with over 100 girls were forcibly abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from their hostel at the Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State  February 19, 2018.  Though her mates were later released, she was held back for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. There were reports late January that she had given birth to a boy. 
 
The Yobe Christians, who came out in large numbers, prayed to God for the release of the young girl and later staged a peaceful protest from the EWCA Church to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in  Damaturu. 
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They carried placards with different inscriptions condemning the deteriorating security in the country and calling on President Buhari to ensure the protection of lives and property. 
 
The protesting Christians sent a message of hope to Leah and others in captivity, including Muslims and remembered Mr. Bitrus Zakka from Adamawa State, who was recently murdered by Boko Haram. 
 
The state CAN Chairman Rev. Fr. Philibus  Yakubu,  said the Christian community in the state is still hopeful for the release of  Leah. 
 
“They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you. Yahweh declares to rescue you,” he quoted Jeremiah 1:19. 
 
At a  news conference in Abuja to mark the second year of Leah’s abduction,  Rev. Ayokunle and  Enenche said since the Federal Government was not unaware of the killings in the country, it must take urgent steps to defeat  Boko Haram. 
 
They said it was a shame for a government that has an Army, Air force and Navy to allow the level  killings going on its territory 
 
“The development is a shame and there is a cloud of confusion that hangs over the nation and the people that are governing this nation are not doing the right thing,” they lamented. 
 
Rev. Ayokunle, who was represented by  CAN Vice-President, Caleb Ahima, said: “CAN has been calling and talking to the government and I   think it (government) is obvious of the persistence of this evil. 
 
“We are sure of one thing. We cannot doubt that the government knows what is happening. Looking at the fact that we are a nation, we have the Airforce, the Navy, we have the soliders, we have the weapons, but what is happening in this nation? 
 
“We call on the Federal Government again that we are getting to a point of anarchy. It is the constitutional responsibility of government to protect the lives and property of its citizens. But, where this looks to have been ignored. We have every reason to be suspicious and to speak passionately to government again that Christians in this nation are Nigerians and must not be killed. 
 
“We want the world to know the evil that is happening in the country under the watch of this government. More blood is been shed.   The killing is religious. Boko Haram sect wants to establish an Islamic state. We must stop these killings.”. 
 
Pastor Enenche, who was the convener of the event, expressed displeasure over the way and manner the government is handling Boko Haram. He called on those sponsoring evil to desist or face God’s punishment. 
 
His words: “I think that this day is one of the saddest in the history of our nation. There has been a high level of willful ignorance on the part of the entire nation.  It looks like some people are telling some fake stories. 
 
“What kind of situation have we found ourselves? And who in this nation will be sincere enough to say that everything is right? If this is not a state of emergency of a very calamitous dimension, what are we experiencing? To what extent should it go before people are convinced? A nation is literally being wiped out from the North 
 
“Let the awareness be clear that all is not well in the land. We have a lot of people in the country today, but it is as if their lips have been sealed. People are watching evil going on and nobody is saying anything. 
 
“It is time for everybody to say no to this evil.  Enough of evil and bloodshed. Enough   of the rule of terror. Everybody, who is sponsoring, collaborating or supporting the terrorists and bloodshed, let it be known to you that your days are numbered.” 
 
Some victims of Boko Haram were presented with relief materials.