The 2017 diary: December

December 1 HIV/AIDS cases in Ebonyi hit 260,000. Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezuruike, disclosed that total of 260,000 persons were estimated to be infected with HIV in the state.

December 2. Funding gaps, intrigues, threaten PDP convention. Barely a week to the national convention of the PDP, its lean finances could throw spanner in its works.

In addition to that, with the rancour and deep suspicion that existed among contestants, particularly national chairmanship candidates, the party’s leadership was drawn into a brewing crisis, which if not quelled could lead to dire consequences.

December 3. Atiku rejoins PDP, pledges good leadership, jobs for Nigerians.
The camp of the PDP was upbeat following the return of former vice president Atiku Abubakar who left it for All Progressives Congress (APC) in February, 2014

December 4. Fuel scarcity throws Nigerians into panic. Nigerians were thrown into panic following the re-emergence of long queues at fuel stations in parts of the country. The situation, amid rumor of hike in pump price of petrol, sparked fear that the festive season could be marred by scarcity of the product.

December 5. Terror threat triggers red alert. Warnings by the United States and United Kingdom of possible terrorist attacks in Nigeria set off a red alert across the country. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ordered Commissioners of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some states to “ensure 24-hour patrol of mosques and churches, markets, schools, motor parks, hospitals, recreation centres, settlements, villages, towns and cities.

December 6. 401 Nigerians return from Libya in tears. No fewer than 401 Nigerians stranded in Libya arrived in Lagos amidst celebration and tears of joy. The voluntary returnees who languished in various slave and detention centres in war-torn Libya, descended the aircraft with songs of praises as tears freely flowed from their eyes.

December 7. Osinbajo tasks new Akarigbo on developments. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo asked the newly installed Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, to use his position to galvanise his subjects for the development of the area. He spoke at the installation and presentation of staff of office to the 19th Akarigbo by Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosu.

December 8. Oba Adeboruwa, marks one year coronation. The Aboruwa of Igbogbo, near Ikorodu, Lagos state, Oba Abdul Semiu Orimadegun Kasali Emugoriade marked the first anniversary of his coronation

December 9. FMC Umuahia performs two kidney transplants. The Federal Medical Centres (FMC), Umuahia, Aba, Abia state, carried out two successful kidney transplants. The surgeries were done by team of FMC doctors led by Dr Obi Ekwerina of the University of Tolede Medical Centre, Ohio, USA, in the company of Mr James Ogbuka Umekwe.

December 10. Woman gives birth to “real life mermaid” baby. A 23-years-old Indian mother shocked doctors when she gave birth to the country’s second ‘Mermaid Baby’ whose gender was impossible to be determined, but lost it just four hours later. It was the second such case in the country and fifth in the world.

December 12. Baby girl born mid-air on Pakistani flight. A Pakistani mother gave birth to a baby girl on board a flight taking pilgrims from the Muslim holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, airline officials said. Both mother and baby were healthy, though it was a premature birth.

December 13. Herdsmen strike in Ogun, Police arrest three with arms. Ogun state became the latest in the country to record another attack by herdsmen.

Three herders, who attempted to graze their cattle on a farm in Oke Odo, Ketu Local Council Development Area were confronted by the owners, Ige Orisade. Infuriated by the challenge, the herdsmen allegedly assaulted the victim, who sustained serious injuries.

December 14. Buhari says over 12 million farmers joined rice, wheat revolution.

President Muhammadu Buhari said his government recorded huge success through the Anchors Borrowers’ Programme. He disclosed that over 12.2 million farmers joined the rice and wheat revolution, while the country was moving close to self-sufficiency in major grains.

December 15. Not all Blacks in Libya are Nigerians, Buhari tells AU, ECOWAS, Commissions. President Muhammuadu Buhari met with the President of ECOWAS commission and Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Abuja, during which he emphasised the need for accountability and good neighborliness in both sub-region and on the African continent.

Buhari re-iterated that not every Black man was a Nigerian and it was, therefore, Important to authenticate the origin of the people in distress before they were evacuated.

December 17. Transformation of Africa’s rural area is key to curtailing migration, says Adesina. As Africa joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Migrants Day, the African Development Bank (ADB) called on countries in the continent to reconstruct rural areas from zone of economic misery to that of propriety.

December 19. Buhari vows to sanction culprits over $43.4 million Osborne scandal.
President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja said all those found culpable in the Osborne Toweres $43.4 million scandal would be made to account and be appropriately sanctioned.

December 20. Police arrest couple over alleged abuse of house maid. Lagos State Police Command said it arrested a woman who allegedly emptied a kettle of hot water on her house maid. The woman was arrested along with her husband who allegedly made several attempts to rape the house maid.

December 24. Buhari apologises to Nigerians for fuel scarcity. President Muhammadu Buhari spoke for the first time on the excruciating nationwide fuel scarcity, expressing his sympathy for Nigerians who were enduring weeks of needless queues at filling stations.
*** 2018 Diary is in progress, now on March. For over a decade, The Guardian has eliminated other newspapers from annual diary publication. Gloria Deo In Excelsis – Oshisada