By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Abidemi Omonisi,, at the weekend raised alarm over the N150 million allocation to the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

Omonisi,lamented that the miger N150 million is designated as counterpart funding for CHF, and N50 million for Childhood Cancer Health Funds is grossly inadequate to address the rising number of cancer cases in the country. He said at least N1 billion will be needed to address the rising number of cancer cases in the country. According to 2022 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) figures, Nigeria has about 128,000 new cases of cancer annually and the most common among women are breast cancer, with over 32,000 new cases and over 16,000 death annually and prostrate and liver cancers are more common among men.The NCS boss, lamented that an average of N20 million is needed to treat breast cancer in a woman.Omonisi, revealed this in Abuja, at the sideline of a one day seminar organized for stakeholders, with the title “Enhancing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine Awareness and Uptake in Nigeria”.According to him, the NCS is launching the Cancer Intervention Fund, aimed at mobilising the private sector and philanthropists to support cancer treatment and the society’s activities.According to the NCS boss, “The CHF is a commendable initiative by the Federal Ministry of Health, which provides counterpart funding to support cancer patients. “However, with only N150 million budgeted this year, it is grossly inadequate. “The treatment cost for a cancer patient can average N20 million, and N150 million will not cover the needs of patients with breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. “I urge the National Assembly to review the budget and increase the allocation to CHF,” .Dr. Uzoma Ugochukwu, a Public Health Specialist and consultant for the HPV vaccine uptake project, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about HPV and the vaccine to increase acceptance.He explained that the project is designed to support the government’s efforts to ensure girls aged 9 to 14 receive the vaccine, helping to prevent cervical cancer.“This project is crucial for us at NCS. We believe that engaging the media is essential to addressing misconceptions and myths surrounding the vaccine.”We are committed to ensuring that no girl is left behind in the fight against cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer globally, especially in developing countries like Nigeria,” Ugochukwu said.

Ekundayo Idowu,Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the conduct of the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises for eligible civil/public servants in the state.

A total of 26,764 civil/public servants spanning junior, senior and management cadres across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government are expected to benefit from the exercises, which will involve only oral interviews as the assessment method. A statement by the State’s Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya said the approved promotion exercises, including upgrading and transfers cover eligible civil/public servants within the core civil service, teaching and non-teaching staff of government secondary schools, primary school teachers, and personnel of state-owned boards, corporations, and agencies, including the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH). According to Onasanya, the Governor has also approved the conduct of the December 2024 edition of the combined confirmation/promotion tests and compulsory public service examinations for officers in the senior and junior cadres, usually organized by the Bureau of Establishments and Training, Office of the Head of Service, for the career progression of eligible officers.He said the state government remains steadfast in its resolve to prioritize the welfare of its workers as part of its “Building Our Future Together” agenda, pointing out that approval for the conduct of the promotion exercises by the Governor is yet another demonstration of his commitment to improving the welfare, morale, and professional growth of its teeming workforce.The Head of Service expressed gratitude to Governor Abiodun for his numerous laudable and worker-friendly policies that have significantly enhanced the well-being and career growth of workers and called for their total re-dedication to their duties.

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

Army tanks and personnel have been dispatched into some communities of Yakurr LGA of Cross River State where suspected foreign nationals and illegal miners from the Sahel region of West Africa, particularly Mali, Niger Republic and other Hausa men from northern Nigeria, have reportedly trooped in large numbers, constituting security threats and devastating communal lands.

Natives have also reported that a number of armoured tanks were sighted in Ugep, a major town in Yakurr LGA, to Okomiba and Akpa Plantation as well as Agoi communities of Agoi Ekpo, Ekom Agoi, Agom Ibam. Executive Chairman of Yakurr LGA, Hon. Yibala Igiri Inyang confirmed this in a chat with our correspondentHe said the three truckloads of soldiers and the armoured tanks are to help in the enforcement of the operational plan by the security agencies since the reports of mass arrivals of the armed Sahelians about two weeks ago. He said in the chat that, “We are careful not to direct full military invasion of those communities that are harbouring these miscreants and illegal miners because of its negative effect”.”As a government we have deployed various diplomatic ways of negotiations with the chiefs, youths and stakeholders for the past two months”. “We are not resting on our oars in ensuring that our forest and communities are rid of all the illegal miners and miscreants masquerading as mining labourers.”The Council chairman stated that the state security adviser, Major General Obono and other security chiefs are up and about.A community leader who gave his name as Augustine Eteng said due to the very large number of these armed foreigners, there have been fears, apprehension and tension.According to him, soldiers were already rounding up good numbers of these strange men.He disclosed that their youths are mobilizing into militia groups to counter activities of the strangers.”The increasing presence has caused a sense of unease among my people who worry about the potential consequences of their activities.”The gravity of the situation is that my friend informed me of the youths planning to select a group of individuals associated with a cult group to confront the illegal miners.”While it may seem like a proactive approach to protect our land, the involvement of cultists could spiral into violence and further complicate the issue.”A youth leader, Magnus Mbang said the situations in these communities are disturbing.”The situation of these Hausa miners in our forests, specifically around the Lokpoi River is very alarming”He described a scene that paints a troubling picture of exploitation and environmental degradation.He mentioned that a significant number of ‘Hausa miners’ have set up camps in the forest, constructing tents and bringing in machineries.”This influx of miners has raised critical concerns not just about the environmental impact but also about the safety and security of the community.””Two days ago, two buses filled with these miners arrived in the community all to illegally exploit our natural resources.” at this point, the community’s natural resources are not safe”, he maintained.