From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The Delta State Government has expressed its readiness to address key healthcare issues in the state, pledging to work with health workers to improve services across all health institutions.

This commitment was made by Dr.

Joseph Onojaeme, the State Commissioner for Health, during a courtesy visit by the Executive of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Delta State Chapter, in his office on Thursday.

Dr. Onojaeme recognized the crucial role of general medical and dental practitioners in the state’s healthcare system and reaffirmed the government’s dedication to addressing their concerns.

He assured the delegation that efforts are ongoing to enhance the working conditions of health workers and to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

The Commissioner emphasized that under the leadership of Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who is known for being labor-friendly, the Delta State Government has consistently aligned state health policies with those implemented at the federal level, aiming to improve the well-being of its citizens.

He said the recent approval of N1.6 billion for the hospitals through the Contributory Health Scheme will provide critical funds for maintenance and other essential needs.

Dr. Onojaeme also noted significant strides in medical training, revealing that until recently, only Central Hospital Agbor was authorized to train House Officers.

However, he revealed that Ughelli and Sapele hospitals have now received approvals to train House Officers, and the government has also approved the employment of 40 new House Officers to mitigate the shortfall of doctors, particularly as many seek opportunities abroad for better pay.

Addressing the ongoing challenge of retaining health workers in the state, Dr. Onojaeme assured that the administration would continue its efforts to attract and retain skilled professionals in Delta’s health sector, especially given the national issue of healthcare worker migration.

The Chairman of the Delta State chapter of NAGGMDP, Dr. Joseph Iyasele expressed appreciation for the state government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the healthcare system.

He also noted areas requiring further attention, including the welfare of medical professionals, infrastructure improvements and enhanced medical training programs to better equip the healthcare workforce.

He added that the dialogue between the government and medical professionals marks a crucial step toward enhancing the quality of healthcare services in Delta State, ensuring a more effective and sustainable health system for the people.

Nigerian Breweries Plc says it generated N1.1 trillion in revenue for the financial year ended December, 2024.

The company’s Managing Director, Hans Essaadi, disclosed this at the company’s pre-annual general meeting media briefing yesterday in Lagos.

According to Essaadi, the N1.

1 trillion revenue marks an 81 per cent increase from the company’s 2023 revenue of N599. 5 billion.

He, however, noted that the cost of goods sold rose by 98 per cent, driven by high inflation and the impact of the Naira devaluation.

“Despite these challenges, our operating profit grew by 59 per cent, supported by disciplined cost management,” Essaadi added.

He explained that net finance costs surged by 34 per cent to N253 billion, mainly due to higher interest expenses and the foreign exchange impact on payables.

“This weighed heavily on the bottom line, pushing our net loss up by 36 per cent to N145 billion,” he said.

Essaadi noted that the company’s results from operating activities soared by 53.7 per cent from N44.49 billion in 2023 to N68.403 billion in 2024.

He said the loss for the year 2024 stood at N144.338 billion, a 36.5 per cent increase from the company’s loss of N105.769 billion in 2023.

According to him, the Nigerian Breweries’ share capital witnessed a 201.5 per cent increase from N5.138 billion in 2023 to N15.492 billion in 2024.

He explained that there was also a 614.2 per cent surge in the company’s total equity from N65.17 billion in 2023 to N465.47 billion in 2024.

The managing director explained that during the year under review, the principal activities of the company remained the brewing, marketing and selling of lager, stout and non-alcoholic drinks.

He said the company’s 2024 results were shaped by a complex and challenging business environment, significantly impacting operations and livelihoods nationwide.

He said that economic pressures, including high inflation rates and the devaluation of the naira, drove up operational costs and the price of raw materials.

He explained that Nigeria’s inflation rate soared to a near 30-year high of 34.8 per cent in December 2024.

“In spite of these hurdles, Nigerian Breweries demonstrated resilience through strategic adaptations, including a recapitalisation of the company through a rights issue.

“It was also resilient through increased local sourcing, innovation and further diversification through the completion of the acquisition of majority stakes in Distell Wines and Spirits Nigeria Ltd.

“Our ambition is to leverage diversity, promote equity, and embed inclusion to create business value in a fast-changing and complex environment, which positively impacts our customers and consumers and benefits the company,” he said.

Also, Sade Morgan, Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries, said, “We are hosting this session as a precursor to our AGM to share with you all of the relevant information about our business and to strengthen our relationship with the media.

“We recognise that 2024 was a challenging year for business in Nigeria and for many businesses in Nigeria.

“This was a fallout of the economic slump of 2023, followed by a narrow decline, and all of this also led to a cash crunch, along with foreign exchange scarcity, high inflation and a wealth crisis and we all lived through it.

“In spite of these challenges, we shaped our organisation for transformational growth to meet the needs of our customers and consumers all over Nigeria and beyond.

“So we remain committed to our purpose and are perfectly in the joy of true togetherness and inspiring a better world,” she said. (NAN)

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

No fewer than 20 natives of Bokkos local government area of Plateau state are said to have been killed in less than two weeks with the recent killings of 10 locals on Wednesday by gunmen in broad daylight.

The attackers were said to have stormed villages speaking “Fulani dialect,” and launched a brazen assault on Mangor Tamiso and further moved to Daffo, Manguna (Tagai), as well as invaded Hurti and Tadai communities respectively.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard and the Secretary, Amb. Duwam Bosco yesterday in Jos, calling on their people to rise up and defend themselves from the attackers as farming season is around the corner.

“Bokkos, Plateau State, the peaceful and hospitable people of our local government area are under threat from terrorists who seek to seize our land and impose a caliphate. This agenda must be stopped, and their senseless bloodletting must be confronted by all possible means.

“In just one week, we have lost over 20 community members due to these marauding terrorists, who are engaged in an ongoing ethnic and religious cleansing of five villages. On April 2 alone, they killed over 10 people.

“Survivors reported that the attackers, speaking the Fulani dialect, launched a brazen assault in broad daylight around noon in Mangor Tamiso, then moved to Daffo, Manguna (Tagai), and invaded Hurti and Tadai,” they stated.

While urging the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Advisor and other relevant authorities to reconsider the previous decision of the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the issuance of gun licenses.

The Duo called on their people to defend themselves in the face of unprovoked attacks urging President Bola Tinubu to lift the suspension of the issuance of gun licenses to enable local communities arm themselves against the activities of the marauding gunmen.

“We enjoin citizens to join registered volunteer guard associations like the Hunters and Forest Security Guard Services, VGN and Neighborhood Watch to avoid harassment by security forces when defending against terrorist invasions.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of the recent invasions in Ruwi, Mangor, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai. We call on emergency agencies such as NEMA, SEMA, and the Nigerian Red Cross to swiftly provide relief to the displaced and injured.

“Additionally, we urge the international community including the United States, United Nations, and African Union to pressure Nigerian authorities to take decisive actions to end the violence and protect Christians and other religious minorities from radical Islamists seeking to impose a caliphate in Nigeria.

“This is particularly important as the farming season approaches, requiring increased protection for the majority farming villagers by deploying more troops including the recently introduced agro rangers of the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps,” they appealed.