The cost of diabetes medication has surged by over 500 percent in the past year, affecting over 11 million Nigerians living with the disease. Experts say a worsening foreign exchange crisis and the exit of major pharmaceutical companies combine to drive up prices. Health experts urge the government to intervene, warning that the situation could lead to numerous preventable deaths.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Nigeria’s diabetes patients struggle to afford medication after surge in prices
Nurse who left 10-week-old baby to die while she went to work jailed
Single mother Ruth Auta, 28, abandoned Joshua Akerele in her nurse's accommodation for eight hours so she could work her shift on December 20, 2022.
When she returned to her room, she found Joshua lifeless in his cot and dialled 999, telling operators her son was not breathing.
The infant was pronounced dead an hour later with tests showing he may have 'overheated' due to the layers of clothing and bedding he was wrapped in.
Auta initially told the police that she had collected Joshua from a childminder after she had finished work, took him back home, fed him, placed him on her bed and then fell asleep next to him.
She claimed that when she woke up, she found him unresponsive.
Later in her police interview, Auta gave no comment to questions asked and was freed on bail pending further investigation.
Auta was charged after police found CCTV of her leaving and entering her accommodation without Joshua on the day of the tragedy.
Officers also discovered incriminating texts in which she urged her childminder to say she was looking after Joshua that day.
The childminder told officers she had not seen the infant for a number of days.
Auta was charged with cruelty to a child and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates' court on May 24, 2024 with her case adjourned by a month for sentence.
On June 6, the nurse who worked at Royal Bolton Hospital tried to flee the country.
But she was detained at Gatwick while attempting to board the flight to her native Nigeria, having purchased a one-way ticket.
Auta was sentenced to three years in jail when she appeared at Bolton Crown Court on 10 September.
Sara Davie, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: 'Whilst she went to work to provide care for other people, Ruth Auta left the very person who needed her care the most home alone.
'As a nurse she should have known the dangers of leaving her baby unattended. As she begins her sentence, she must now live with the consequences of the terrible decision she made that day.
'Auta has failed to show remorse throughout the case. She misled police about her childcare arrangements and then tried to evade justice by attempting to flee the country.
'Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who been affected by Joshua's death.'
Prosecutors said she left her nurse's accommodation shortly after 6.30am to carry out her shift leaving behind her Joshua.
At 3.24pm Auta called for an ambulance reporting that her son was not breathing.
Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Joshua could not be saved and was pronounced dead at 4.40pm.
Experts could not confirm the exact cause of Joshua's death as he was said to be a 'healthy baby in all respects'.
An inquest into Joshua's death was opened and adjourned in Bolton in January this year.
By Matt Drake, Daily Mail
Floods in northeastern Nigeria affect one million people
Severe flooding in northeastern Nigeria has killed at least 30 people and affected more than one million others, the authorities have said.
The collapse of the Alau dam on the Ngadda river in Borno State on Tuesday caused some of the state’s worst flooding since the same dam collapsed 30 years ago, and prompted residents to flee their homes.
The state government said on Wednesday that the dam was at capacity due to unusually high rains. Officials expected the death toll to rise.
The current flooding comes nearly two years after Nigeria’s worst flooding in a decade killed more than 600 people across the country.
Ezekiel Manzo, spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, on Wednesday put the death toll at 30.
“One million people have been affected so far,” said an aide for Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, adding that as efforts to document displaced people begin, that number could rise to nearly two million.
Residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, said food has become expensive since the central market was destroyed in the floods.
The swirling waters partially destroyed a local zoo and several animals escaped. Mary Mamza, a Maiduguri resident, said people were afraid to leave their homes after an escaped crocodile was killed near her home.
West Africa has experienced some of its worst flooding in decades. More than 2.3 million people have been affected so far this year, which is a threefold increase from last year, according to the United Nations.
African nations are losing up to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) every year as they bear a heavier burden than the rest of the world from climate change, a new report said on Monday after one of the continent’s hottest years on record.
The World Meteorological Organization said many African nations are spending up to 9 percent of their budgets for climate adaptation policies.
Related story: Dam collapse in Nigeria sweeps deadly reptiles into flooded communities
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Luton confirm signing of former Chelsea and Nigeria winger Victor Moses on free transfer
The 33-year-old has signed a permanent contract at Kenilworth Road, subject to international clearance, having spent the last four years at Spartak Moscow after initially moving to Russia on loan from the Blues in 2020.
Moses told the Hatters' website: "I'm looking forward to it. I had a few offers from Europe, but I said to my agent that I set my mind on staying over here, and here we are. I'm very pleased and honoured to be at this club and I just can't wait to get going.
"I spoke to Rob (Edwards, manager) before I came, I spoke to the directors and they told me the plan and the history of the club, and I just want to be part of the success.
"I want to come here and enjoy my football, work hard for the club and for the team, and get back to where we belong in the Premier League."
After starting his career with Palace and then spending two and half years with Wigan, Moses secured a move to Chelsea in 2012 and was part of the Europa League-winning squad in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
The former England youth and Nigeria senior international also had loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke, West Ham, Fenerbahce and Inter Milan before making the permanent move to Spartak Moscow in 2021.
Edwards said: "Victor is one we've been talking to for quite a while. He trained with us last week and played 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors game, and we made a decision because we think he's able to come in and help us.
"He gives us more strength in depth and versatility, because he's someone who can play both sides or as a number 10.
"He's played for so many different clubs in different ways and shapes, and under different managers, so he's tactically aware. We think he's someone who can provide some really good competition for us."
Nigeria Plans To Block Oil Smuggling Routes
Part of the plan would see the establishment of a centre for linkages and collaboration, bringing together all relevant stakeholders for improved information sharing and joint operations to combat smuggling more effectively.
This is part of agreement reached in a meeting held by the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) at the instance of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The new plan would also explore the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance monitoring and control of petroleum product movement throughout the supply chain.
Prosecuting offenders and significant penalties to offenders would be applied under the current arrangement.
A communiqué jointly signed by the National Security Adviser, NCS, NMDPRA, NNPCL and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) among others, after a stakeholder meeting on petroleum product smuggling held on Monday affirmed agreement to that effect.
The meeting resolved to launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign to educate Nigerians on the detrimental effects of petroleum smuggling on the nation’s economy and security.
“This campaign would be a joint effort of all participating agencies, leveraging various media platforms to reach all segments of society.
“The NNPC Ltd. and NMDPRA, in collaboration with the NCS, agreed to explore the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance monitoring and control of petroleum product movement throughout the supply chain.” the communique read.
It added that the stakeholders at the gathering publicly disassociated themselves from smuggling activities and committed to implementing stricter internal controls even as they agreed to cooperate fully with the NCS and other agencies in identifying and reporting suspected smuggling activities.
The communiqué also disclosed that a formal mechanism was established for regular feedback from stakeholders on anti-smuggling efforts.
This includes periodic review meetings of the operation, with participation from all relevant agencies and associations, it stated.
They also called on the need to support Operation Whirlwind, for stronger collaboration between the service, NMDPRA, NNPC, and other security agencies.
“The meeting acknowledged the significant costs associated with anti-smuggling operations. A resolution was passed to advocate for increased budgetary allocation for Operation Whirlwind, with support from all participating agencies.
“The Operation Whirlwind team, with support from other agencies, will develop a strategy to actively engage community leaders in border areas as partners in the fight against smuggling,” the communiqué stated.
They also agreed that the NSA would work with relevant government bodies to implement existing laws, aiming to strengthen penalties for smuggling and provide greater legal backing for anti-smuggling operations, ‘the forum encouraged NCS to prosecute offenders.’
The communiqué added that the service would collaborate with NMDPRA and NNPC Ltd to develop a long-term, sustainable strategy for combating petroleum smuggling, adding that the platform would be reviewed and updated annually under the supervision of the NSA.
The communiqué also stated that a joint monitoring team, comprising representatives from all participating agencies and associations, was established to monitor the implementation of these resolutions and to provide periodic progress reports to the NSA.
“The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all parties to work collaboratively towards eliminating petroleum smuggling and ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain,”.
By Chika Izuora, Leadership
Related story: Army destroys illegal refineries in Nigeria, seizes crude oil
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