Day: May 23, 2024

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says air power has emerged as the means of choice in addressing threats of violent extremism, terrorism, and insurgency in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abubakar said this at the opening of the 3rd African Air Forces Forum, organised as part of activities to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF@60) on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, it is widely acknowledged that Sub-Saharan Africa faces a multitude of national security challenges, including violent extremism, terrorism, and insurgency.

‘In addressing these threats, air power has emerged as the means of choice due to its unique characteristics of speed, lethality, and ubiquity.

‘Therefore, this gathering of African Air Chiefs could not have come at a better time than now when the yearning for collaboration towards peace and stability on the continent is at its peak.

‘Accordingly, the all-important issue of partnership in aerospace innovation to sustain our air power capabilities, to
protect and advance our Defence and Security interests would form the crux of our discussions in this forum,’ he said.

The CAS said the forum was a regional platform for advancing air force capabilities and building pillars of bilateral and multilateral partnerships among the air forces of African countries.

He said the forum would offer a unique opportunity for air forces to showcase their technological innovations that contribute to enhance Africa’s aerial defence and security capabilities.

According to him, the theme, ‘Leveraging Strategic Partnerships in Aerospace Innovations for Regional Security’ was carefully coined to reflect a critical aspect of their collective efforts in securing their respective countries and by extension, the continent.

Abubakar said the symposium would facilitate the cross-fertilisation of ideas and the introduction of the latest aerospace and defence systems and technologies in the efforts to provide enduring solutions to Africa’s security challenges.

He expressed apprecia
tion to President Bola Tinubu, for his unflinching support, adding that his visionary leadership had inspired transformative advancements not only in the NAF and all aspects of the national development.

He added that the presence and willingness of the participating air chiefs to share their insights and perspectives had significantly strengthened their collective security.

This gathering, according to him, would undoubtedly deepen our friendships across Africa and around the globe.

Lt.-Gen. Jia Zhigang, Deputy Commander of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Air Force, said that 60 was a magic number in China and a complete cycle symbolising a perfect ending as well as a fresh beginning.

Zhigang wished NAF continuous growth and flourishing with constant development and endless glories.

He said that similarities in history had drawn China and African countries closer in a fight against imperialism, colonialism and racism, adding that the China-Africa relations were on the fast lane.

According to
him, people with conscience call for peace and countries with foresight join hands to cope with intertwined turbulence and uncertainties.

‘This forum is themed as ‘Leveraging Strategic Partnerships in Aerospace Innovations for Regional Security’, answers the call of time and presents the responsibilities of airpower that has far reaching significance.

‘PLA Air Force highly appreciates this forum for its contribution to regional peace.

‘We look forward to working with our counterparts across the world to exchange security concepts, strengthen military to military cooperation, and contribute to world peace with concerted efforts in recent years,’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 20 Air Chiefs and other top officers from about 35 Air Forces from Africa, Europe, Asia and America, were in attendance.

There were also more than 40 exhibitors in military technologies and innovations at the event.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) says it is strategically positioned to administer comprehensive and specialised healthcare procedures and intervention that aligns with global best practices for patients with complex diseases.

The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while highlighting the hospital’s medical strides and plans to accelerate quality healthcare services for citizens.

Fabamwo affirmed that LASUTH had deployed various strategies and programmes to actualise the hospital’s commitment to being a leading advanced tertiary health care provider in Nigeria and Africa.

According to him, the hospital is well-equipped with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities suitable in improving and promoting quality of life and wellness of the populace and reducing medical tourism.

‘We have certain areas of advanced tertiary care that we pride ourselves as being proficient in. First and foremost, let me start
with the cardiac catheterisation lab.

‘A cardiac cath lab is a lab where interventional cardiology procedures are carried out. Procedures like insertion of pacemakers, removing clots from the lungs, from the heart, and so on.

‘We started about three years ago, and as we speak, we have carried out about 350 life-saving procedures in that pathway.

‘We’ve also been lucky to have missions from abroad, people who came with expertise, equipment and consumables, such that we could do quite a number of cases, virtually free of charge,’ he said.

According to him, LASUTH is one of the few hospitals that conduct open heart surgery in the country.

The CMD noted that in the past expatriates came from abroad to assist in performing the open heart surgery, however, in the past three years, it had been running autonomously and conducting regular open-heart surgery with its local team.

‘As a matter of fact, our team is being asked all over Nigeria to come and assist in setting up open-heart surgery programmes in other t
eaching hospitals.

‘Our team is led by Prof. Bode Falase, and he has three other cardiothoracic surgeons that we have intentionally recruited to join him,’ he said.

Fabamwo further said that the quaternary hospital boasts of an ultra-modern obstetric unit – the Ayinke House which was re-commissioned in 2019 after some infrastructural upgrade.

He said that Ayinke House, as a multispecialty medical centre. provided comprehensive maternal services and professional training for medical students and resident doctors in the state.

According to him, the centre has a 170-bed facility with five surgical theatres, 22 consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, handles complications associated with pregnancy with its intensive care facilities, well-equipped Haematology Department and other support staff.

‘We offer multidisciplinary high-end care to high-risk cases and these have assisted to reduce morbidity and mortality among pregnant women,’ he said.

The CMD said LASUTH was one of the few hospitals that has an End
oscopy unit, noting that the unit was dedicated for Endoscopy procedures, a minimally invasive surgical or medical procedure that examines the digestive tract to detect diseases.

Fabamwo said that the hospital also conducts cochlear implants, noting that the procedure was sensitive and devices used were expensive.

Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that improve hearing for individuals with moderate, profound or severe hearing loss.

According to him, most patients that benefited from cochlear implants at LASUTH are usually sponsored patients, disclosing that each implant cost about N6 million.

‘Because the procedure is expensive, we have not done many cochlear implants. Since we started about four years ago, I don’t think we have done more than 50 implants,’ he said.

On strategies to increase uptake and affordability for cochlear implants, Fabamwo advocated increased awareness and sponsors for patients that require cochlear implants from individuals, philanthropists, NGOs.

Besides, Fabamwo em
phasised that consultant nephrologists and consultant urological surgeons in LASUTH are skilled at conducting kidney transplants.

Fabamwo, however, said the programme was slowed down because LASUTH does not accept commercial kidney donation.

‘We cannot, as a government establishment, deal with commercial kidney donation.

‘A lot of family members hesitate to donate their kidneys to their relatives. But we insist that if you are going to do a transplant, the donation of the kidney must come from a family member.

‘So that has slowed down our programme. We are not doing as much as we should be doing. Whereas when you go to the private sector, you see a lot of kidney transplants being done.

‘Because that clause of not using commercial donors is under-emphasised in the private sector,’ he said.

According to him, the hospital takes pride in its Critical Care Unit equipped with the state-of-the-art treatment and monitoring equipment manned by experts in different specialties.

Fabamwo noted that the unit was de
ployed for the care of those in dire health condition that hitherto, predisposed them towards foreign medical tourism.

The CMD, however, said that the volatilities of foreign exchange has been assisting to reverse medical tourism, noting that people are looking inward for solutions to their medical challenges, as seeking treatment abroad was expensive and not easily accessible.

‘Quite a number of people now have been limited in terms of being able to go abroad for medicare. So they are coming back.

‘What is important is that our setup remains excellent so that when they come, we do not fold our hands. We will meet up with their expectations and offer excellent services. And that’s what we are trying to do in LASUTH,’ he said.

Fabamwo affirmed that LASUTH would continue to expand its healthcare infrastructure, leverage cutting-edge technology, enhance knowledge and skills of healthcare workers, foster innovative public-private partnerships to provide quality, efficient, and inclusive healthcare services to
citizens.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has said that Nigeria was transitioning from a mono-cultural economy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Alake stated this during the Ministerial Sectoral Update on the performance of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the last one year, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the President priortised economic diversification in his eight priority areas.

He noted that sectors such as the solid minerals and agriculture were not given the sufficient attention to thrive in other administrations.

‘Since May 29 last year, on assumption of our President, there have been a major plan of the renewed hope agenda, which is contingent on the diversification of the economy away from oil,’ he said.

He said that global upsurge in energy transition has led to the focus on green energy, which relied on critical minerals that Nigeria possess in commercial quantities.

According to the minister, the critical minerals will provide opportunities for
the sector to contribute more to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and develop its local economy.

He said that Nigeria has been showcasing the potential of its minerals, which has been attracting the interest of foreign investors visiting Nigeria to seek more information for business.

He said that to ease doing business for investors, the ministry has unveiled the Nigerian Minerals Resource Decision Support System Software.

He explained that the software serves as a one-stop shop for investors seeking geoscience data and other credible information to make informed decisions.

‘Any investor wants an efficient data about the type of minerals, the volume of minerals, where they are, the tenure of the longevity of the minerals.

‘ These are critical information that any investor in the world will want to make an informed judgement,’ he said.

He said that part of the strategies to develop the sector included the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company through public/private partnership.

‘ This com
pany is to engage in joint venture, partnerships with the big players in the solid minerals sector on behalf of Nigeria.

‘As a private sector driven corporation that will be structured to have not more than 25 per cent of federal government shares, 25 per cent to the Nigerian public and 50 per cent to the private sector.

‘The equity structure is to make it substantially owned and driven by the private sector, so that we leave an enduring structure and legacy for future government.

‘Such that no government after us can exert political influence in terms of managerial efficiency and proficiency of running it,’ he said.

According to the minister, to sanitise the operating environment of mining , ownership of mining titles are being reviewed periodically.

He said that in 2023, 1,619 titles were revoked from operators who failed to meet their obligations to government, adding that more than 900 dormant mining licenses were revoked recently.

He said that ministry has formulated policies on local value additio
n to minerals before its export, to generate revenue, create job opportunities and other multiplier effects to the economy.

He said that the ministry had also reviewed the Community Development Agreement aimed at fostering harmony between mining companies and host communities.

The minister said as part of its efforts to secure the mining environment, the mining Marshal Corp was established comprising of 2,220 personnel, who have been deployed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria