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FG Warns That Ongoing Rainfall Could Worsen Cholera Outbreak
The Federal Government has issued a warning that the ongoing rainfall and consequent flooding could exacerbate the spread of cholera in Nigeria. Joseph Terlumun, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted this concern during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, July 4, 2024. He reported that since the outbreak, there have been 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases of cholera.
Recent heavy rains have already caused flooding in various parts of the country. Terlumun emphasized the need for states and local governments to intensify their efforts to prevent flood-related disasters as the peak of the flooding season approaches. He noted that several areas, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have experienced significant flooding, resulting in casualties, displacement of people, and property loss.
The minister clarified that the release of water from dams, a common cause of floods in Nigeria, has not yet occurred this year. He urged Nigerians living near waterways to prepare for river flooding expected to start this month. States likely to be affected by impending floods include Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba, and the FCT.
Terlumun recommended that states and local governments clear blocked drainage systems and canals, relocate people living along waterways, and desilt river channels to manage runoff water effectively. This advice came two days after Jide Idris, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), listed Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta as the top ten states affected by the cholera outbreak.
Candidates scheduled to retake the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will start receiving text messages from today, Thursday. A total of 379,997 candidates across five South East states and Lagos are expected to resit the exam. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, confirmed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that 206,610 candidates in 65 centers in Lagos and 173,387 candidates across 92 centers in the Owerri zone of the South East were affected. Oloyede took full responsibility for what he described as a “sabotage” of the UTME and apologized to the candidates. Out of the 1.9 million who sat for the exam, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.
A lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Christian Okeke, has called on the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to go beyond shedding tears and take full accountability by resigning from his position.
This comes after JAMB admitted to technical issues during the 2025 UTME. Okeke criticized the decision to have candidates in some centers rewrite the exam, describing it as unfair and emotionally distressing. He insisted that only the release of the original results can truly correct the situation.
According to him, JAMB initially defended the poor outcomes, where over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200, claiming it reflected their academic ability. He argued that it took public outcry and pressure from stakeholders before the board acknowledged its failures.
He described Oloyede’s emotional apology as insufficient, saying, “Tears won’t fix the damage. His resignation is the next responsible step.” Okeke also condemned the planned resit for candidates in 65 Lagos centers and 92 across the South East, calling it an inconsiderate move that shows a lack of empathy for the affected students and their families.
Activist and president of the North Central Youth Council, Sunday Asuku, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with a Christian candidate in the 2027 general election.
In a statement on Monday, Asuku stressed that Tinubu’s choice of vice president could make or break his chances for re-election. He argued that selecting a Christian vice president would not only be symbolic but also a strategic and unifying move for Nigeria’s democracy.
Asuku mentioned that the 2027 elections will be a crucial test of Nigeria’s commitment to unity and inclusivity. He pointed out that the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 elections created division, and that addressing this imbalance with a Christian running mate would help strengthen national cohesion.
He went on to say that religious balance in leadership is still a vital necessity in Nigeria’s diverse society. “Tinubu has a chance to correct the mistake of 2023 and make a strong statement of inclusion. This opportunity should not be missed,” Asuku said.
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