COVID-19: Senate considers bill to establish traditional, alternative medicine college

The Senate on Wednesday considered a bill seeking to give legislative backing for the establishment of the Federal College of Traditional, Complimentary and Alternate Medicine as an agency under the Federal Ministry of Health. 

The bill which was sponsored by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC /Kwara Central) scaled second reading during plenary. 

According to Sen. Oloriegbe, the need to explore the option of traditional and alternative medicine has become imperative in light of present day realities, especially the ongoing challenge of COVID-19 pandemic and the need to find a cure from available local herbs and traditional medicine.

“With this bill, the Federal College of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine will become a legal institution for the training and re-training of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine professionals in Nigeria and this would enable the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) traditional medicine strategic plan 2014-2023,” he said.

The senator, while emphasizing that the college would boost the standard of practice of traditional, complimentary and alternative medicine in Nigeria, underscored its importance towards improving the coordination of evidence-based medicine in the field of indigenous medicine. 

“It will also update the extent of usage of traditional medicine in Nigeria and facilitate the implementation of national policy on integrative medicine.

“The domestication of the training will prevent unnecessary wastage of hard earned foreign currency which could be put to other essential services. The college would also serve as a training hub for the West Africa sub-region,” Sen. Oloriegbe added. 

The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahamad Lawan, to the Senate Committee in Tertiary Institution and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.  

Meanwhile, A bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act 2010 and to enact the Nigerian Local and Content Development and Enforcement Commission Act scaled second reading during plenary on Wednesday. 

The bill which was sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC /Niger North) was referred to the Senate Committee on Local Content for further legislative work. 

In a related development, a bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority Act also scaled Second reading on the floor of the Senate. 

Sponsored by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (PDP / Akwa Ibom North East), the bill according to him, seeks to stimulate economic development by means of reducing inflationary pressure and insulating the the national economy from volatility in the prices of non-renewable resources.

The bill was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Senate Committee on Finance for further legislative input. 

The Committee which is chaired by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC/ Lagos West) is expected to submit its report in four weeks. 

Bandits kill 18 in fresh attack on Katsina community – Police 

The Police Command in Katsina state on Wednesday said that Monday’s attack by bandits has led to the death of 18 people in Kadisau Village, Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

Gambo Isah, the command’s Public Relations Officer confirmed this while fielding questions from journalists in Katsina.

Isah said that the armed bandits numbering over 200 attacked the village on Monday, but their attempt to steal food items and other commodities was resisted by the unarmed villagers.

“Unfortunately, the bandits began shooting them with rifles, killing 14 people on the spot.

“The bandits injured 26 others who were taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

“This morning, I spoke with the area commander in Funtua who told me that additional four persons died in the hospital, bringing the number of those who died from the attack to 18,” he said.

Isah said that the police, military and other security agents are doing their best to protect lives and property of the residents, particularly those in frontline local government areas.

“President Buhari has already directed the service chiefs, including the inspector general of police to deploy more personnel to bring an end to the problem.

“They are already here and different operations are ongoing. We have captured so many bandits camps, for instance, we have captured Dunya camp, which for the past 10-years cannot be reached by anybody.

“We have seized so many weapons from the bandits, killed a number of them and recovered many animals rustled into the area.

“What is happening now is like the bandits want to ridicule us, we are there doing our best.

“There are over 5,000 villages sharing borders with Rugu Forest and other neighbouring states such as Zamfara and Niger Republic,” the command spokesperson said.

He pointed out that the security agents could not be at all those places at a point.

The police spokesman, urged people to provide security agents with credible information about the plans, movements and activities of the bandits.

He urged people to cooperate with security agents to bring an end to banditry and all forms of criminalities.