Okada Ban Complete in Two States

The governor of Kaduna state has just signed a law banning operation of Okada (commercial motorcycles) in the state while the ban on Okadas has been reiterated by the Governor of Niger state.

Mukhtar Yero, the governor of Kaduna state has put his signature to a law banning Okada in the Kaduna metropolis, as well as, some other towns of the state. The law has been approved by the House of Assembly of Kaduna state.

 Ben Bako, the State Commissioner for Information, said that the ban was being enforced for security reasons. Mr. Bako said the ban in Kaduna was due to the influx of Okadas from some neighboring states where the ban on Okadas had already been implemented. These states include Kano, FCT, Niger and Plateau.

The commissioner said that the ban would be implemented in areas like Kaduna South, Igabi, Chikun, Kaduna North, Jema’a, Zaria, Birnin Gwari and Sabon Gari local government areas. The ban was to take effect from May 21st. He warned that anyone found operating an Okada could face three months imprisonment or N 10,000 fine.

He urged all motor cycle owners to desist from commercial activities or be prepared to face the full fury of the law. He also emphasized the commitment of the state government to health, security, and the other issues affecting the lives of the public.

In Niger state, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the governor said that there were some political elements, which wanted to destabilize the state on the issue of ban of Okadas. The state government had begun implementation of ban on Okadas in capital city, Minna starting from January 2014. 

The governor alleged that a plot was being hatched to destabilize the government by some elements that had lost in the political equation of the state and they were bent up on using the issue of the ban on Okadas as cause for trouble.

Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the chief press secretary of the governor, released a statement containing the allegations made by the governor. According to the statement, a protest was being organized on Okada ban by political figures including leaders of the opposition.

The statement said that the Niger state government condemned the cheap blackmail by discontented politicians who had lost in the political game, but were catching any straws to retain their voice.

Aliyu claimed that the government had acted in the best interest of the public and would not repeal the ban on Okadas in the state capital. The governor re-emphasized his conviction that the newly introduced alternative means of transport, the tricycles called as ‘Keke Talban’ had more advantages than the Okadas. He stressed that no responsible government would watch helplessly as more and more people were being killed in accidents involving commercial motor cycles.

The governor said that there was no need to politicize the issue on any ground as all residents, irrespective of what their political affiliations are, suffer a great deal, sometimes even at the cost of their lives, due to accidents involving Okadas.

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Nigerian Hospitals Suffer From Lack Of Funds

Anambra state is one of the few states in Nigeria that has been showing improvement in health indices. This is mainly due to the efforts of the state government to work for achieving the health aspects of the Millennium Development Goals targeting 2015.

 

Diseases like measles and cholera epidemic are now less in Anambra state, thanks to proper use of resources to combat these. Also, the state has not had a case of Polio in the last seven years as the state ministry of health conducts immunization programs on a regular basis.

The government has reformed over 200 health agencies owned by the government like Primary health care centres and general hospitals spread in the rural areas. But there are still many tasks to be completed.  A few of the hospitals revived by the government have yet to function at optimum capacity due to lack of equipment.

For instance, the state government has set up the Teaching Hospital of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, which is fully operating. It has been accredited for training doctors and the other medical professionals by the Nigerian Dental and Medical council.

This teaching hospital has a screening centre for sickle cell disease for newborns. The state government has also set up a dialysis centre in Onitsha General Hospital for patients where costs are also subsidized by the state government.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital is also a hospital set up by the federal government that has churned out medical professionals in the last 15 years. Officials of this hospital are seeking funds amounting to N2.5 billion to help develop infrastructure at its new permanent site at Nnewi. The Nnewi community has contributed a large tract of land for the permanent site of the hospital but the shifting has been stalled due to lack of funds.

According to Prof. Ivara Esu, delay in moving hospital to Nnewi was causing hindrances in proper delivery of health care services. He pointed out that the present hospital was functioning at optimum capacity and could not accommodate more patients. Hence, many patients requiring treatment were being denied the facilities.

 He said that even the N2.5 billion may not be sufficient for the total project but it could help develop priority projects. Knowing that the government cannot achieve anything alone, state governor Peter Obi has tried to enter into partnership with Churches in health and education.

Some of the hospitals which received such assistance were Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Iyi Enu Hospital, Ogidi , Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha Ihiala, Diocesan Hospital, Amichi,  St. Joseph’s Hospital, Adazi-Nnukwu ; among others. Also, recently the governor pressed into service 39 life ambulances to different state hospitals including missionary owned ones. These ambulances are equipped with surgical facilities, and can function as hospitals in times of emergency. The governor said that he admired how funds were properly utilized by the missionary hospitals.

He said state governments would spend another N200 million in all these hospitals in the coming 3 months to help them improve infrastructure. Due to the benign governorship by Obi, the state was procuring most of the funds in the health sector form donor agencies.

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