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Marry us, we are wife materials, deaf women cry out
Marry us, we are wife materials, deaf women cry out
Women in Niger with hearing impairments have urged men looking for life partners to seek their hands in marriage, claiming that the affliction will not impede them from raising a healthy family.
The women talked through their leader, Salamatu Hammed, during this year’s World Hearing Day celebrations on Sunday in Minna.
Mrs Hammed urged men not to neglect deaf women, saying “we are marriage materials like any other woman.”
She, therefore, called on all eligible men to feel free to approach any deaf woman for marriage, adding, “we are like any other woman who gives birth to normal children.”
She called on all tiers of government to employ interpreters at all public health institutions in the state to enable people with hearing problems have access to quality health care.
According to Mrs Hammed, “I was not born as a deaf child, but I started having problem after an operation during delivery which affected my voice. I can hear but lost my voice as a result of the operation carried out on me to bring out my baby.”
She said that none of her children have the hearing problem, confirming that those women with hearing impairment can still give birth to normal children.
In his presentation, an expert on Audiology, Dr. Sidi Maku, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, in the state Ministry of Health and Hospital Services, lamented the neglect of persons with hearing challenges in the country.
Mr Maku said people with hearing impairment are few but neglected, praying God to grant succour to those with the problem.
“You may not appreciate until you see someone who cannot hear, so that is why we are here to celebrate it. The deaf may not know anything happening around them,” he said.
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He warned that hearing impairment can be caused by listening to loud music or slapping toddlers on their ears.
According to him, “using feathers, cotton board to clean the ears can also lead to the defect.
“Hereditary from parents is also a cause.”
The Expert said “it is possible for deaf parents to beget children without hearing problems.
Mr Maku, who was a former Commissioner for health in the state, revealed that the state has only three active audiologists for its Ear Nose Throat (ENT) clinic.
He added that all the three surgeons are based in the state capital.
The Medical Doctor said that over 270 million people suffer from hearing impairment globally as a result of neglects, adding that Nigeria has only 176 ENT surgeons.
He further revealed that the entire Northern Nigeria has one ENT clinic, while the other three centres are in Enugu, Aba and Kaduna.
He decried the inadequate health personnel in the sector and appealed for donations from corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to assist persons with hearing problems.
“To purchase a hearing aid before was N300,000 but now it is about N30 million for a complete hearing aid for one person,” he said.
The event, put together by the Women Advocate for Gender Solutions and Mentorship (WAGS-M), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), was tagged “Changing Mindsets, Let’s Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All.”
At the event, free screening exercise was conducted for ENT people and free drugs given out by the organizers.
Marry us, we are wife materials, deaf women cry out
NAN
News
Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers
Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers
A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour another invitation extended to him over alleged misappropriation of funds.
Bello went to the anti-graft office with his lawyers in the morning.
The ex-Kogi governor reportedly drove himself to the EFCC’s office in a black Toyota Hilux van with some lawyers.
He was said to have been taken by some operatives of the agency and are currently being grilled.
This is coming after the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed a suit brought by some state governments challenging the constitutionality of the agency.
The EFCC at the last hearing on November 14, sought the adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello.
It stated that the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued.
News
Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct
Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced the immediate suspension of two commissioners with a permanent secretary among others for gross misconduct.
Those suspended are the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Francis Ori, and the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
The suspension followed an incident on Saturday night, when the governor reportedly visited the Ministry of Health’s premises and was said to have found six officials diverting government materials.
Others suspended for three months are the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency
The suspension order was announced by the state Commissioner for Information, Jude Okpor, who cited alleged misconduct and dereliction of duties as the reasons for the disciplinary actions.
Okpor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday at the New Government House in Abakaliki, the state capital.
“Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, respectively
“In view of the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended commissioner.
Governor Nwifuru directed the suspended government officials to hand over all government properties in their possession including vehicles to the Secretary to the State Government.
News
Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG
Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG
The Federal Government has defended its decision to borrow to address budget deficits, despite surpassing revenue targets in 2024.
Finance Minister Wale Edun and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu clarified this position during a session with the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Finance, Budget, and National Planning. The meeting focused on the 2025–2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
Last week, the National Assembly approved President Bola Tinubu’s $2.2 billion loan request to fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget partially.
During the session, key agency heads, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO Mele Kyari, Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji, presented their revenue reports.
The agencies reported exceeding their 2024 targets.
- Customs Service: Generated ₦5.352 trillion by September 30, surpassing its ₦5.09 trillion target for the year. For 2025, the agency projects ₦6.3 trillion, with a 10% increase planned for 2026.
- NNPCL: Achieved ₦13.1 trillion in revenue, exceeding the ₦12.3 trillion projection for 2024. Kyari announced a ₦23.7 trillion revenue target for 2025.
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- FIRS: Surpassed multiple tax collection goals, including ₦5.7 trillion from company income tax against a ₦4 trillion target. Education tax collections also exceeded expectations, reaching ₦1.5 trillion compared to a ₦70 billion target.
Overall, ₦18.5 trillion of the ₦19.4 trillion 2024 revenue target had been achieved by September, indicating the goal will be exceeded by year-end.
Despite these surpluses, the government insists borrowing remains essential to cover budget gaps and support vulnerable populations.
Bagudu explained, “Even with agencies exceeding revenue targets, borrowing is necessary to address deficits and boost productivity, particularly for the poorest. This aligns with Agenda 2050, which aims for a GDP per capita of $33,000.”
Edun also reiterated that loans were critical for adequately funding the budget.
The committee, led by Senator Sani Musa, questioned the rationale behind the borrowing and demanded further transparency. The Immigration Service was specifically asked to provide documents regarding an “unacceptable PPP arrangement” before the end of the week.
The session underscored the government’s balancing act between increased revenues and fiscal challenges requiring external borrowing.
Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG
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