DAILY RENDEZVOUS

Daily Rendezvous  Nigeria, a Promised land, from North to South is blessed. The East and South of it are unharnessed minerals and human resources. My country is the bible's description of a land that flows milk and honey. It's my country with vested interest from world powers. UK, USA, China, Germany, and France inclusive. Their interest is because of what we have and who we are. Nigerians are brave and brainy, with egghead of hard work. No wonder anywhere they are the excel. They are productive and succeed beyond measures. But it pains me that our enemies seem to gain access to divide us. The divisions along religion, regional and tribal inclination is no doubt the tornadoes, tsunamis, and Armageddon that will consume us all. These are misfortunes that tend to wage war against God's plans, created by whims and caprice of poor leadership. It has all befallen us, the rich are not getting away with it any longer, and they also cry.  The poor are not at ease in Zio...

Daily Rendezvous  Adamawa State Governor, Rt.Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has extended his warmest felicitations to former Governor Murtala Nyako on the occasion of his 80th birthday, describing him as a quintessential leader and passionate lover of his fatherland. Governor Fintiri stated that it was special grace and remarkable feat for the former Governor to attain the enviable age of 80 which calls for celebration. “Admiral Murtala Nyako deserves all the celebrations as one of the best we've had as a nation to date. He is not only a rare breed, but also a symbol of unity, whose life is worthy of emulation by every Nigerian,’’ he said. "Adamawa takes pride in all your achievements for Country and State; you proved to be a statesman who sacrificed alot for the betterment of this nation having distinguished yourself as a fine military officer, democrat and farmer." He commended former Governor Nyako for his strong belief in the growth and development of Adamawa, s...

Daily Rendezvous  Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a resurgence of Ebola late last night, following confirmation of one case in the country’s eastern province of North Kivu.   A 46-year-old woman died on 15 August 2022 in Beni, a town located in North Kivu. She received care at the Beni Referral Hospital, initially for other ailments, but subsequently exhibited symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease   Both the Beni and Goma branches of the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) confirmed Ebola virus in samples taken from the patient. Analyses showed that the case was genetically linked to the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces—the country’s longest and largest.  “Ebola resurgences are occurring with greater frequency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is concerning. However, health authorities in North Kivu have successfully stopped severa...

Daily Rendezvous  20 August 2022 Brazzaville/Kinshasa Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are investigating a suspected case of Ebola virus disease, in the country’s eastern province of North Kivu. Thecountry’s National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) is in the process of testing samples to determine if the patient contracted Ebola.   The suspected case is a 46-year-old woman who died on 15 August 2022 in Beni, a town located in North Kivu. The case received care at the Beni Referral Hospital, initially for other ailments, but subsequently, exhibited symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease.  “While the analysis is ongoing, WHO is already on-the-ground supporting health officials to investigate the case and prepare for a possible outbreak,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.  WHO staff are working with health authorities to identif...

Daily Rendezvous  As global crises continue to threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life is more critical than ever. This World Breastfeeding Week, under its theme Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support, UNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding policies and programmes, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emergency settings. During emergencies, including those in Afghanistan, Yemen, Ukraine, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel, breastfeeding guarantees a safe, nutritious and accessible food source for babies and young children. It offers a powerful line of defense against disease and all forms of child malnutrition, including wasting. Breastfeeding also acts as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting them from common childhood illnesses. Yet the emotional distress, physical ...

Daily Rendezvous  The decision today by Industry Regulator , the National Broadcasting Commission - NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over indebtedness to the Commission was ill advised. The affected stations, according to NBC are said to owe arrears of licence fees amounting to N2.6 billon since 2015. Although the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insist that the action was ill timed and reckless. It should be noted that this wholesale revocation of licences at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel.  While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfill their obligations to NBC, in-view of dwindling resources, we caution against such large scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence. W...

Daily Rendezvous  A TRIBUTE TO AID WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA Today on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, the humanitarian community in north-east Nigeria honors all aid workers stepping up to respond each day to the crisis in the region by providing life-saving assistance to millions of women, children and men. This year’s theme #ItTakesAVillage is built upon the metaphor, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ At an event commemorating World Humanitarian Day today in Maiduguri Mr. Matthias Schmale, United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria stated, “Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community to help people in need; to provide urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, transportation, security, water and much more.” He noted that the humanitarian ‘village’ in north-east Nigeria proudly includes volunteers and paid staff from civil society, national and international NGOs,...

Daily Rendezvous NBC revokes licenses of AIT, Silverbird, Raypower FM, others The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM amongst 47 others over failure to renew their broadcast licences. Director General Mallam Balarabe Shehu, who disclosed this on Friday, directed its state offices to liaise with security agencies to ensure the shut down of the operation of these stations within the next 24 hours. The stations have been owing the Commission N2.6 billion since 2015. Ilelah while briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, said there was no political undertone in revoking the license of the debtor-broadcast stations. He urged the stations to pay their fees before 24 hours to avert total disconnection. Earlier, in May 2022, he said the NBC published in the national dailies, the list of licensees that are indebted to the Commission, and granted them two weeks to renew their licenses a...

Daily Rendezvous  The shape and Context of Adamawa' Politics have become charged and changed by the emergence of  some "superwomen" on the turf of the state political scene. The Nigerian political environment has been characterized by that of obvious marginalisation of women and the youth folk. Women have been heavily under-represented despite being statistically, the largest part of the Nigerian population, although there has been luad outcry for inclusuon of more women into political scene. In Adamawa', that anomaly is changing, although one may not say it is a deliberately commissioned change. It seems as if in most cases, these few women, have through hard work, determination, and share force of will, bulldozed themselves onto the limelight and have taken their place on the political stage and would be writing their names as pacesetters on Adamawa' political scene come 2023. News Rendezvous takes a look at these women and what they bring to the tab...

Daily Rendezvous  Again, the Buhari-led APC government continues to show its lack of capacity and interest in Education as its meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities ends in a disappointing deadlock. According to sources within the negotiating team, the government team didn't really come with any new offer but came pleading that ASUU's demands will be captured in the the 2023 Budget  Multiple sources report that, the meeting between the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari has once again ended in an impasse. Recall the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari scheduled to meet with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), today, Tuesday, August 16, 2022 over its prolonged strike. The ongoing ASUU strike began on February 14, 2022, before the Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, and Allied Education...

Daily Rendezvous The Director General Media to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state has said Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has no hands in the invitation of AA Lawal Uba by security agencies. According to our sources, the Department of state service (DSS) on Friday invited AA Lawal Uba over his vituperation on the speaker, Adamawa state house of assembly, Aminu Abbas. In reaction to the invitation by the DSS, the main oppostion party in Adamawa, the All progressive congress (APC) blamed Fintiri for Uba’s travails and accused him of stifling dissenting voices in Adamawa state. But in a statement issued by the Director General, media and communication, Solomon Kuamangar, today, the Governor’s aide said Fintiri should not be blamed for the travails of the misguided fellow, AA Lawal Uba. The statement said AA Lawal Uba is a misguided critic who ought to know that the Governor on several fora has reiterated and welcome constructive criticism by anyone he should, howeve...

Daily Rendezvous - Seeks Country's Closer Co-operation with Nigeria The need for closer ties and co-operation as catalysts for peace and development among the nations of the world has again been emphasised. Speaking at Port Vila, Vanuatu over the weekend during the presentation of his Letters of Credence to His Excellency, President Nikenike Vurobaravu of the Republic of Vanuatu, the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Australia and the Pacific Region, Amb. Anderson N.Madubike, said his mission on the entire continent was to present to the countries of the region the many opportunities for mutual growth and development,which Nigeria with its over 200 million strong population and its abundant natural resources presents. He said his experience since arriving Australia and the region as a whole was the apparent paucity of information that exists across the continent on Nigeria and its investment opportunities and economic potential. While pointing out that he was working hard...

Daily Rendezvous  The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Muhammad Bukari Tukur says he has noted with displeasure the way the ongoing Federal Government Support Programs, Conditional Cash Transfer, (CCT) meant for the poorest of the poor is being diverted along political lines.   In a press statement signed by the SSA New Media and made available to news men in Yola, Tukur fingered the Senator Representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District and a gubernatorial flag-bearer for the opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC) Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani). According to the SSA, the Senator had hijacked the process by usurpation of the original list meant for the project where the true representation of the most vulnerable in Adamawa State was domiciled. His major worry is that instead of adhering to the list that is a true reflection of the vulnerable in Adamawa State, a new list from the National Assembly brought in stran...

Daily Rendezvous  - Judgement Has Been Secured; Basic Education is Now Free and Compulsory in Nigeria, Failure is Punishable by Law- Barr. Odo A legal practitioner, Everistus Odo, has issued a warning to all Nigerian parents that there is a jail time awaiting parents who refuse to take their children to school. Odo said, in 2017, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project  (LEDAP) obtained a judgment from Federal High court which affirms that by enacting the UBE Act, the National Assembly has made the right to free and compulsory primary and junior secondary education contained in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution an enforceable or justifiable right in Nigeria. According to Odo, the above judgment affirms that every Nigerian child has the constitutional right to free and quality basic education and the Federal and State governments have constitutional mandates to provide adequate funds to ensure its realisation. Odo said several Nigerian parents are alre...