Mr Zaphaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, says he has no excuse not to discharge his duties as assigned to him by President Bola Tinubu.

Jisalo said this during his second familiarisation visit to the Management and Staff of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.

The visit was the second familiarisation tour by the minister to the agencies under his ministry.

Interacting with members of staff of the agency, the minister explained that his visit was in line with the policy trust of the president to achieve his 8-points agenda which include job creation.

Jisalo urged the agency to key into the president’s agenda through its capacity as a revenue generating agency.

He added that this could only be achieved through team work by the agencies under his ministry.

“Our visit is in line with the policy trust of President Tinubu, with his 8-points agenda, the agenda which includes job creation and I want team work of the agencies under the ministry to achieve this.

“I owe him a duty and I have no excuse not to perform, I will do my best to give Nigerians what they deserve and I urge the NLTF’s management and its staff to key into this agenda.

“My hope is that in the next one year, my ministry will emerge first when he comes for evaluation, ” the minister said.

Earlier, Dr Bello Maigari, Executive Secretary NLTF, expressed delight over the visit by the minister, saying it was ground breaking as it had never happened since the agency’s establishment in 2005.

“As far as I can recall, the trust fund has never had an honourable minister visiting the agency officially until now.

“We are indeed honoured and grateful for the opportunity to rob minds and extend valuable conversations beyond the usual meetings in the ministry, ” he said.

Maigari expressed hope that the minister’s visit would usher a new era of cooperation and understanding to build a strong commitment to deliver on the aspirations of Nigerians through the lottery industry.

He listed some of the major achievements by the agency to include: provision of healthcare facilities/potable water supplies across the six-geopolitical zones, intervention to support government’s efforts to respond decisively to COVID-19 pandemic among others.

“I am pleased to inform the minister that our commitment to implement projects in this vital sector has helped to strengthen our fragile healthcare delivery systems across the six-geopolitical zones, ” he said.

Maigari however highlighted some of the challenges faced by the agency including lack of befitting office accommodation.
In her contribution, Mrs Ibiene Roberts, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the visit was not for formality but a genuine effort to strengthen the bonds between the ministry and NLTF.

“Let us use this time wisely, sharing knowledge, building connections and laying the foundation for a more productive and collaborative future, ” she said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has conducted more than 19,000 free surgeries on victims of armed conflicts at the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital since inception in 2015.

Mr Adal-Elah Tailkh, ICRC’s Administration Officer at the hospital told newsmen in Maiduguri on Wednesday that the surgical unit admitted 279 patients and conducted 1,090 surgical procedures in the first eight months of 2023.

Tailkh said the unit had been providing surgical care for victims of blasts; those with gunshot wounds and had trained health personnel in Borno.

“Patients in ICRC-supported surgical programme receive support services of national and international standards.

“Beyond the free surgical care, the project works with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital’s Physical Rehabilitation Centre to where it refers patients in need.

“Patients in need can also benefit from access to mental health, psychosocial and physiotherapy at the state’s specialists hospital,’’ Tailkh said.

Some blasts and gunshot victims receiving treatment at the hospital who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) lauded ICRC’s relief efforts.

A 30-year-old pregnant woman, Zainab Abdulrahman, receiving gunshots treatment, said she was a victim of insurgents’ activities on Aug. 15 while travelling in a commercial vehicle inside Borno.

“I was hit by three bullets in my legs and thigh. The army brought me here for treatment.

“This is my second time of coming here for free treatment. Three years ago I was here for nine months after I was hit in the stomach in a Boko Haram attack,’’ she said.

Another victim, a 25-year-old Auwal Danladi said he was first brought to the unit in 2015 as a result of injuries from a bomb blast in Damaturu.

Danladi said he was treated and discharged, but had to return after some years due to some complications.

“I thank the ICRC for the free treatment, which include feeding. We do not know how things would have been without the ICRC,’’ Danladi said.

Also speaking with newsmen, some employees of the Borno Ministry of Health who benefitted from training opportunities provided by the ICRC said it provided them experience and modern facilities that eased their jobs.

Dr Kalakwa Abdulmumin, a consultant said the ICRC intervention gave him and some other personnel the needed opportunity to sharpen their skills.

“There is always that opportunity for weekly training that boost our knowledge,’’ Abdulmumin said.