Place your priorities to enhance quike completion of projects. Reps tells NAUTH and others

Chike Ifedi

 

Place your priorities to enhance quike completion of projects. Reps tells NAUTH

 

The management of Nnamdi Aziiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi has been advised to place priority on the ongoing health projects to facilitate movement to the permanent site.

 

The chairman House of Representative Committee on Health Institution, Dr. Paschal Obi who disclosed during the committee  visit when he led members of his committee on our sight function to health institution

 

He frowned at the method where many projects are carried out at once without any being completed.

 

“It is neither help the people or the government. You should prioritize the projects to make sure that funds are used judiciously to get the projects completed so as to be able to move to the permanent site.

 

“When you do this, more funding can come from the Federal Government, individuals and organization. He observed that problem in the Federal Ministry of Health and Budget office has always been that of envelop budgeting stressing that they do not visit the health institution to know their need before money is released to them”.

 

“They only sit down at Abuja and decide how much that should be allocated to the institution”.

 

He stated that the committee will embark on similar visit in future and urged them to always monitor the work being done.

 

“It is our wish that this over sight function would make a difference from what used to be in the past. We will also be pleased to know some of your challenges”.

 

 

STORY 2

 

Pilot breathed for two minutes after crash, says witness

 

One of the witnesses of Friday’s helicopter crash at Opebi had said the pilot, Captain Ernest Chika breathed for about two minutes after he pulled out of the ill-fated chopper.

 

Mariam Olugbile, a resident of 2, Gafari Balogun Street, who said she was one of those who pulled all three occupants from the crashed helicopter, told The Nation that Chika stopped breathing two minutes after they brought him out.

 

Confirming the Bell 206B3 helicopter with registration number 5NBQW belonging to Quorum Aviation hovered for sometimes before crashing into the fence of 16A Salvation Road, Olugbile said people were initially scared to move close to it for fear of explosion.

 

“I was the one who called 112 immediately it happened. It happened at exactly 12pm but the LASEMA people got to the scene around 12:20pm. Before they arrived, NEMA officials and one LASTMA officer were already here

 

“But when the helicopter crashed, a lot of people rushed near but were afraid of going closer because of explosion.

 

“I gathered courage and moved closer and some other people joined me. That was how we knew they were three people inside.

 

“The pilot was still breathing. We brought him out and he breathed for two minutes before he stopped. There was an old man beside him who was not breathing when we brought him out. Also, the third man was still alive and we heard he later died in the hospital,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, a 30-second video being shared across social media platforms showed Captain Chika playing with his colleagues at the company’s staff house on the eve of the flight.

He was seen inside a body bag with one of his colleagues jokingly saying “Chike must go,” and he replied “I am not going anywhere o! Abeg, I no get visa.”

 

 

STORY 3

Students jubilates over re-opening of schools in Lagos

 

Students in Lagos State have expressed pleasure with the announcement by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that schools would reopen in the State from September 14.

 

The governor had on Saturday announced that tertiary institutions will be allowed to open from September 14th, 2020, while primary and secondary schools may be reopened on September 21.

 

The students, under the aegis of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, commended the state government for the reopening.

 

The Amir (president) of the MSSNLagos, Miftahudeen Thanni, made this known in a press statement on Sunday.

 

He, however, urged the state to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols in schools.

 

Thanni said, “We are joyous with this development. However, we appeal that basic amenities should be provided. Considering that markets and other open places have been opened, there would be no convincing reason to shut schools down.

 

“But we must ensure that schools are well-prepared to accommodate these pupils and ensure that this does not lead to community transmission.

 

“We urge the government to provide the required facilities and ensure thorough compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

 

“While we call for the cooperation of parents, teachers, lecturers, and students in ensuring that the government does not regret reopening schools.”

 

The students reiterated calls for the provision of palliatives to private schools in the state.

 

“We also appeal to government across all levels to assist private schools with palliatives. This will help to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on the schools and their teachers. This has been done in other sectors and education should not be left out.

 

“We are scared that there may be a massive job loss in many private schools with COVID-19 not likely to go away any time soon,” the statement added.

 

Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students urged the management of schools to put in place student-friendly policies to cushion the effects of the pandemic.