Jonathan commissions Defence Intelligence dialysis centre

• Nominates Justice Bello as FCT judge
• Senate passes desertification bill into law

REPRIEVE has come the way of an estimated 23 percent of Nigerian population that has kidney-related complaints as President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commissioned the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Dialysis Centre.

Performing the ceremony in Abuja, President Jonathan said the centre, which would provide homo-dialysis services to the military and security services in particular, brings respite to the frequent reports of kidney-related diseases in Nigeria.

While noting that military hospitals are supposed to be well furnished with the necessary equipment, Jonathan said military hospitals are supposed to treat even the President, his spouse and members of his immediate family, “It is expected therefore that the military hospitals should be well equipped.”

In his opening remarks, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Rear Admiral Gabriel Okoi, said the well furnished facility has four machines and is manned by 10 staff at inception, but “as kidney dialysis require long term man power increase, and huge sums of money to operate, it is our hope that centre would improve on its staff strength and run for 24 hours in order to provide broader services.”

He pointed out that the initiative is informed by the rising number of people expected to go through the initial kidney treatment, even as the “the World Health Organisation statistics predicted that by the year 2020 the burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease would have been increase by 130 percent in Africa alone.

He expressed confidence that the project would be regarded “as our corporate social responsibility to our immediate community. The services to be provided would be extended to the security community in particular and the Abuja community at large.”

In another development, President Jonathan yesterday forwarded the nomination of Justice Ishaq Usman Bello for screening and confirmation for appointment as the Chief Judge, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In a letter dated May 21 and addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, President Jonathan said his request was in line with Section 249 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the composition of a Federal High Court.

According to him, the Constitution provides “that the Federal High Court shall consist of a Chief Judge and such number of Judges as may be prescribed by Act of the National Assembly.”

However, due to the voluntary retirement of Justice Ibrahim M. Bukar from service on March 31 as the Chief Judge of the High Court, Federal Capital Territory, the National Judicial Commission has recommended the appointment of the most senior judge at the High Court of the FTC.

“In this connection, I attached herewith, a copy of the letter CJN/PFRN/A.1/11/527 of May 20, 2015 from the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council.

“I have accepted the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and in accordance with Section 250(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which states that the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

“I hereby present the nomination of Honourable Justice Ishaq Usman Bello for confirmation by the Senate”, Mr. President said.

The Senate also passed the Bill for the establishment of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall into law.

This was upon presentation of report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Environment and Ecology on the bill.

In his lead debate, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, states that the Executive Bill seeks to establish the National Agency for the Great Green Wall. According to him, the bill if finally assented to by Mr. President, would facilitate implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Great Green Wall programme in Nigeria, which include management of draught as well as control of desertification and afforestation.