Politics

Sen. Iya Abbas Bill To Establish National Eye Centre Jimeta, Passes 2nd Reading In Senate

Published

8 months ago

November 7, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

Sen. Iya Abbas Bill To Establish National Eye Centre Jimeta, Passes 2nd Reading In Senate

Bill to establish the National Eye Centre, Jimeta, Adamawa state has passed second reading at the senate

This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill at plenary on Thursday by the sponsor Senator Abbas Aminu Iya(Adamawa).

Presenting the bill, Senator Aminu Iya said the bill was read for the first time on July 10, 2024.

He said cataract was one of the commonest causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in Nigeria .

Senator Aminu Iya said glaucoma has led to several cases of blindness in Adamawa State and the country at large, hence the need to establish more national eye centres anywhere in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.

According to him, Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the chlamydia trachomatis bacteria.

“It is spread by direct contact with the eye or nose of an infected person which causes inflammation of the eyelids and can lead to scarring of the cornea.

“This is one of the eye diseases commonly found among rural dwellers in Nigeria, and Jimeta as well as other communities of Adamawa State is not an exception.

“This, in addition to other conditions like uncorrected refractive errors are found to be among major causes of blindness and visual impairment in Adamawa State and the country at large” he said.

Senator Aminu Iya listed the objective of the bill to include prevention, diagnosis and treatment of eye issues .

He said the centre would also be involved in the coordination of research in eye diseases and training of specialists in eye diseases among others.

The eye centre Jimeta, when established will help to prevent and treat eye diseases.

“The centre will enhance and train more eye care providers and professionals alike.

“The centre will promote research and innovations in the field of eye care for Adamawa State and the country.

“In the overall analysis, the centre when fully established will create jobs, and boost local economy, which will have direct effect on the national economy” Senator Aminu Iya said.

He said the bill would not serve Adamawa State only but the adjoining states.

He said currently, anybody with eye challenge in the aforementioned states would have to travel all the way to Kaduna State for treatment.

This, he said was very challenging for most people in view of the current economic and security challenges bedeviling the country.

The Senator urged the lawmakers to support the bill for the second reading.

President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio after the bill was read the second time referred it to Committee of Health for further legislative inputs.

Politics

Wike: Four conditions to be met before Tinubu reinstates Fubara – Report

Published

9 minutes ago

June 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu has agreed to reinstate the suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Ekwutosblog reported that the resolution of the crisis came during a meeting between Tinubu and the aggrieved parties at the Presidential Villa, Abuja late last night.

However, The Cable reported that Fubara’s reinstatement is to come with four conditions.

According to the report: Fubara will be reinstated to complete his four-year tenure but must not seek a second term in 2027

Also, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike would be allowed to nominate all the local government chairpersons across the 23 local governments in the state.

Fubara was said to have agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister. The lawmakers were before now suspended from the state assembly.

In addition to the above, the lawmakers will not initiate any impeachment proceedings against the governor when reinstated by Tinubu.

Politics

Imo: Reps seek FG’s intervention over devastating erosion in Ideato federal constituency

Published

24 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The House of Representatives on Thursday declared Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo state as an erosion and road disaster zone, calling for urgent intervention from Federal Government and relevant agencies intervention to save Ideato from total collapse.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who solicited for the House intervention.

Leading the debate, Rep. Ugochinyere noted that Section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stated that the primary purpose of Government is to protect the lives and properties of the Citizens.

He also noted the devastating impact of the gully erosion and road disaster in Ideato Federal Constituency, affecting over thirty-two communities including Umueshi, Amanator, Urualla, Isiekenesi, Isiokpo, Umuaghobe,Ozuomee, Obodoukwu, Arondizuogu, Akokwa, Umumaisiaku, Umuobom and surrounding areas.

He expressed concerns that these Communities in Ideato North/South Federal Constituency are currently facing gully erosion and road infrastructure collapse , threatening their lives and access to essential services like healthcare, education, trade and road infrastructures.

Rep. Ugochinyere said: “The House is alarmed that the gully erosion and road infrastructure collapse has worsened, destroying homes, farmlands, causing total road collapse, in Umueshi-Amanator-Isiekenesi road, particularly the Urualla gigantic erosion sites 1, 2, and 3, which is currently threatening to sink the heart of Urualla and Afor Urualla, Umueshi, Amanator, Isiekenesi, Isiokpo, Umuaghobe, Ozuomee, Obodoukwu, Arondizuogu, Akokwa, Umumaisiaku communities and Umuobom Bridge; Recalls that Ideato land is home to influential national figures and patriots like Mbaonu Ojike, K.O. Mbadiwe, Elochukwu Njaka,Collins Obi, Ferdinand Anaghara, and Maduakor, hence the need for urgent intervention to preserve their ancestral heritage.

“The House commends the Federal Government’s previous intervention at the Umuchima gully erosion site, which has been taken over by the Imo State Government.

“The House is aware that the erosion has destroyed lives and properties and if nothing is done urgently to curb the menace more lives and properties will be lost,” he stressed.

Adopting the motion unanimously, the House therefore urged Federal Government to declare Ideato Federal Constituency an erosion and road disaster zone, and take drastic steps to curtail gully erosion and road collapse in the communities in Ideato North/South Federal Constituency.

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministries of Works, Environment, Ecological Fund Office, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to embark on immediate intervention, rehabilitate, reconstruct and remedial works on the Umueshi Amanator- Isiekenesi gully erosion and collapsed Road, Urualla gigantic gully erosion sites 1, 2, and 3, Afor Urualla communities, Isiokpo gully erosion, Umuaghobe , Umumaisiaku, Akpulu, Akokwa, Obodoukwu and Arondizuogu gully erosion and collapsed road, and the sinking Bridge in umuobom.

The lawmakers further urged Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and to provide relief materials for the displaced victims of the gully erosion in Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, Imo State.

To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on Works, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Environment Ecological Fund, South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure compliance and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

Politics

President Tinubu declines assent to NDLEA Amendment Bill

Published

1 day ago

June 26, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu has declined assent to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Amendment Bill, 2025, recently passed by the National Assembly.

The bill proposes granting the NDLEA the power to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug related crimes in variance to the current legal framework.

This is communicated to the House of Representatives as read during plenary on Thursday, by the Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas.

President Tinubu, who cited Section 58, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution, said that the bill, if signed, was a contravention of the aforementioned sections.

Tinubu clarified that under existing law, all proceeds from crime must be deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.

He explained that any disbursement to relevant agencies involved in recoveries must be made by the President, and only with the approval of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.