Development commission verifies projects execution in Kwara

TheChairman of the Governing Council of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), Terfa Ityav, has reiterated the commitment of the body to keep up with its development plan.

Speaking during a four-day visit to Kwara on Wednesday, Ityav said that the policy thrust of the commission includes education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, health, infrastructure and security.

“We are in Kwara State to inspect and verify some of the projects that are being done by the commission which are in line with our two to five years plan,” he said.

The chairman lauded the efforts of the management committee of the commission for the execution of projects with direct bearing on the host communities.

“Kwara is the third state after Kebbi and Niger that we are visiting to assess the level of work done by the management committee.

“We give a vote of confidence to them because projects that have been shown on papers are actually existing,” he said.

Ityav said that the commission would keep improving on the standard of its projects where lapses are noticed.

He said that the commission would consider some of the requests from communities in consonant with its budgetary allocation and capacity.

“We have received a lot of requests from communities and we will consider them under our development plan, budgetary allocation and capacity,” he said.

The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, disclosed that the visit to the communities was to ascertain the level of projects compliance with their design and organizations, including AHF and MSF, wrote a letter to Gilead demanding it expands access to its patented COVID-19 treatment candidate drug remdesivir.

“Gilead holds the patent on remdesivir in 70 countries worldwide, and there are no production sites for the drug outside the U.S. In the face of a huge demand for remdesivir, MSF says Gilead is taking advantage of the patent monopoly to limit access to the drug and prevent generic competition. Meanwhile, millions of people with COVID-19 are at risk of dying due to a lack of access to effective treatments”.

Similarly, AHF Africa Bureau, Director of Advocacy, Policy & Marketing, Kemi Gbadamosi, stressed that greed and ruthless profiteering are a core part of Gilead’s corporate strategy.

She said over the past years, Gilead has been criticized for blocking access to affordable treatment of cryptococcal meningitis – a potentially deadly fungal disease that often affects people living with HIV.

“Gilead holds a patent on the technology needed to produce the drug; therefore, generic manufacturers cannot produce it at a lower cost”.

“Gilead has promised but failed to deliver on a commitment to provide the drug to 116 countries at $16 per vial and has not even registered the drug in these countries, relying instead on local suppliers in countries like India and South Africa, with the price in low- and middle-income countries ranging from $70-$200 per vial.

“For decades, Gilead has exacted a heavy toll upon people living with HIV around the world. By securing successive patents on tenofovir-based formulations for over two decades, Gilead has generated billions of dollars in profit by maintaining a monopoly on some of the most effective and well-tolerated antiretroviral drugs”.

“In 2016, when the estimated cost of Atripla in the developing world was around $100 per patient per year, the U.S. government paid $30,000 per patient per year for the same drug”. She added.

On patent control through evergreening, She said the drastic disparity in price was a direct result of Gilead’s greed and monopolistic behaviour. specifications.

“Through some minor modifications, Gilead has been able to extend the patent on Truvada, a component of Atripla, from the original expiry date of 2017 to 2026”.

“This practice is known as patent evergreening, whereby pharmaceutical companies can extend drug patents by making small changes to the formulations and re-patenting them as new and improved drugs, despite only making small, incremental changes that do not constitute a major innovation”.

“This keeps affordable and better drugs from reaching lowand middle-income countries around the world”.

On her part, NINERELA Exective Secretary, Amber Erinmwinhe, said open market is the best way to create access of the drugs and give room for production.

She added that it will reduce the cost of drugs and help low income earners to patronize.

“Projects executed so far have met the aspirations of the communities and I assure you that the commission will not relent in its efforts to ensure that the right quality of projects is delivered,” Yelwa said.

The working visit saw the members of the governing council and management staff of HYPPADEC paying courtesy visits to traditional rulers in Edu, Patigi and Moro local government areas of the state where projects are monitored and handed over to the host communities.

HYPPADEC has constructed schools, drainages, solar powered street lights, conducted medical outreach and distributed motorcycles to aid the security network of the communities in Kwara state within its two years of inauguration.

It was established by an Act of the National Assembly to address ecological challenges from the operations of Hydroelectric Dams.

Its operations is carried out in six states; Benue, Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau and Kogi comprising 56 local governments, 229 political wards and 1085 communities.(NAN)

Jigawa correspondents congratulates Gov-elect, Umar Namadi

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The members of the correspondent chapel Jigawa state Nigeria Union Of Journalists congratulated his Governor Elect, Malam Umar Namadi for his emergence as winner of the last gubernatorial election in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the chapel comrade Muhammad

Zangina Kura and issued to news men in Dutse.

The statement described Malam Umar Namadi who is a former commissioner of finance and current deputy governor of the state as a man of integrity , moral discipline, selfless commitment, patriotism and compassion to humanity.

According to the statement, Malam Umar Namadi is a rear politician who distinguished him self in public service and earned reputation and confidence of people of Jigawa state in the last eight years.

“Your election as an APC flag bearer and the next Jigawa state governor is a clear testimony of your outstanding performance in public service, simplicity, loyalty and obedient to the rule of law.

“We hope you will operate all-inclusive government as you promised during campaign”.

Flood: MALALA fund, assist 500 women victims in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

No fewer than 500 womenIed households victims of flood disaster are to benefit from integrated basic needs assistance of MALALA fund programmes.

This was disclosed by the program officer of MALALA Fund in Nigeria, Maryam Danburam while delivering her speech during a one-day stakeholders consultative workshop in Jigawa held at Dutse, the state capital.

She explained that, the programme will be executed through My IT consult Ltd. to ensure accountability and transparency among the vulnerable flood victims in the selected communities.

The programme officer who urged the stakeholders to be transparent in selection of beneficiaries said, three local government of Ringim, Taura and Auyo selected for the program.

While given the overview of the program, the executive director of My IT consult Ltd, comrade Mubarak Yussuf said, the flood disaster response will cover a total 500 women-Ied households across three most affected local government in Jigawa.

According to him, the three local government of Auyo, Ringim and Taura were selected base on 2022 flood damages research that carries out by NEMA.

Comrade Mubarak added that, as part of MALALA Fund’s effort to support out of schools girls and flood victims, Cash and non food items will be given to 200 women in Auyo, 150 women from Taura and 150 respectively from Ringim local government.

While making his remarks on behalf of traditional leaders, the Danmajen Ringim also the district head of Taura Alhaji Nura Usman promised to do all their best and ensure the assistance reach the right beneficiaries.

Also speaking on behalf of women-Ied households victims, the coordinator women farmers association in Jigawa Hajiya Hadiza Giwa commended MALALA Fund for the assistance and urged others to emulate.