The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) handed over an 18-year-old human trafficking victim to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Friday in Kebbi.

“The girl, who is from Oyo State, was arrested on Thursday on her way to Libya via Yauri and Sokoto.

“She said her name is Wasilat Yusuf and she was going to Libya on her sister’s invitation and assurance of a cleaning job.

“She has HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis test results with her.

“She said it was her sister who insisted that she must conduct the tests before leaving for Libya,’’ Comptroller of the NIS in Kebbi, Mrs. Rabi Bashir-Nuhu, said.

She wondered why in spite of all the opportunities that abound in terms of peace and security in Nigeria, anyone would go to Libya to work in spite of the security challenges in that country.

The NIS comptroller assured that it would not allow any suspicious character or person profiting from human trafficking to get through its net in Kebbi.

Wasilat confirmed to newsmen that she was going to Libya to get a cleaning job at her sister’s invitation.

“My sister is Biodun Yusuf, and she is living in Libya and sells clothes there.

“She invited me to come and get a cleaning job there,’’ she said.

Receiving the victim, the Head of Operation of NAPTIP in Kebbi, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku, said the agency would undertake a thorough investigation of the matter.

“We thank the NIS for making our job easier and we are going to investigate thoroughly.

“We are going to rehabilitate and counsel the victim and ensure that she is united with her parents or guardians,’’ he said.

Atiku also commended the NIS for collaborating with NAPTIP to eradicate human trafficking. 

 At least 73 million Filipinos suffer from dental caries, making the disease a “serious health concern” in the Southeast Asian country, the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

“Dental caries is a silent epidemic,” Manuel Vallesteros, a division chief at the DOH’s disease prevention and control bureau, said this after a committee hearing at the House of Representatives.

Vallesteros said the DOH data is based on the 2018 national health survey, noting that the number now is much higher compared to when the COVID-19 pandemic had restricted access to dental services for more than two years.

Merely for illustration…

He noted that eight of 10 Filipino children suffer from “childhood caries” or “decaying baby teeth” because they are fed with sweetened infant formula.

“The oral health status of Filipino children is alarming,” the DOH said, adding the oral disease “continues to be a serious public health problem” in the Philippines.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dental caries is a major global public health problem and the most widespread non-communicable disease. 

– Xinhua

ReplyForward

Hundreds of residents of the Ugborodo Community in the Warri South-West Local Government area of Delta on Wednesday besieged the Chevron Yard in Escravos, protesting against the alleged insensitivity of the oil company to their plights.

The protesters were drawn from Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho, and Ijaghala Communities under Ugborodo Federated Communities.

The aggrieved protesters, both young and old, were led by the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Mr. Daniel Uwawah.

They were armed with placards of various inscriptions such as: “We want our PIA as host communities Ugborodo”; “Enough of Chevron Divide and Rule Policies”.

“All local content contracts must be brought to the community through the appointed organ”; “Ugborodo Community demands frequent and regular engagement with Chevron”, among others.

In his remarks, Mr. Terry Atete, the Igbajoh of Ugborodo Community, who spoke on behalf of the Eghare-Aja, said that the federated communities had written several letters to the oil company for dialogue in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

The Act is one of the most audacious attempts to overhaul the petroleum sector in Nigeria.

It seeks to provide legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.

If implemented diligently, the PIA will help facilitate Nigeria’s economic development by attracting and creating investment opportunities for local and international investors.

Atete said that since the inception of Eghare-Aja, the Ugborodo Community had also written to Chevron on the Act, concerning the award of contracts and employment.

According to him, the company had deliberately refused to address their grievances.

“We are faulting the PIA process. We are saying that Chevron should come directly and dialogue with our community in line with the PIA Act.

“We are not going to accept it until they come and dialogue with us.

“We will not relent until Chevron comes and dialogue with the host communities, which made up Ugborodo,” he said.

Also, Mrs Oritsematosan Nuko, a Woman Leader in Ugborodo Community, appealed to Chevron and the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the community and shore up the area.

Nuko said that indigenes of the community were almost being chased away by tidal flood.

She, however, urged Chevron to heed to the call and address the demands of the community.

Nuko said the oil company should come forward for a dialogue toward addressing the lingering challenges confronting the federated community, including unemployment and the award of contracts.

Commenting, a Chevron member of staff, who pleaded anonymity, said that all the issues raised by the aggrieved protesters were already being addressed at the company’s headquarters in Lagos.