FMC Umuahia records 11th successful kidney transplant…Domestic Debts up…Gas prices up…Anambra goes Clean and Green…plus South East Digest…

FMC Umuahia records 11th successful kidney transplant

Kidney Transplant Nephrologist and the immediate-past Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu, who disclosed this, said the kidney transplant programme of the hospital had been a huge success since its inception.  He said the kidney transplant programme in the hospital, was initiated by the former Chief Medical Director, CMD, Dr. Chukwu Abali, in December 2017 with surgeries performed in collaboration with the University of Toledo Medical Centre Ohio, USA.

 

According to him, the latest successful case was performed on a 68-year-old diabetic and hypertensive patient.  “The patient suffered from end-stage kidney disease and has been on dialysis at Beatitudes Mediplex and Kidney Centre Umuahia”, Okwuonu said. 

The former NMA boss and pioneer member of the transplant team, commended the management of FMC especially the current CMD, Professor Azubuike Onyebuchi, for the uncommon passion and support for the programme. 

He called on kidney disease patients in the South East to come to the hospital for solutions instead of seeking medical attention abroad which is usually very expensive, and sometimes unsuccessful. 

Domestic Debts up

The Debt Management Office (DMO) said the total domestic debt owed by 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory went up by N879.50 billion in 2022 to N5.337 trillion as of December 2022.  China leads list of countries Nigeria owes as foreign debt increases.  

The debts of the five states represent a 16.47% increase from N4.488 trillion as of the end of 2021. Lagos owes N807.20 billion of domestic debt, while Delta State has about N304.24 billion. Ogun State comes third with a total domestic debt of N270.45 billion, and Akwa Ibom and Imo state owe a combined domestic debt of N219.26 billion, respectively. 

Jigawa state leads the list of the least indebted states in Nigeria Jigawa State owes the least debt of N43.95 as of December last year, Followed by Kebbi State. Other least indebted states are Katsina, Nasarawa, and Ondo, with domestic debts of N62.37 billion, N71,43 billion, and N77.15 billion, respectively. Jigawa had the least debt of N43.95 billion as of December, followed by Kebbi (N61.31 billion). Others are Katsina, Nasarawa, and Ondo, with domestic debts of N62. 37 billion, N71.43 billion and N77.15 billion respectively.  Analysts say most state governments have accumulated vat and unsustainable debts, affecting their ability to meet financial obligations.

Cooking Gas prices

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg Cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) increased to N4,565.56 in December 2022.  NBS stated this in its price watch report published on its website and obtained by Legit.ng.  The December retail price for cooking gas is 0.36% monthly increase when compared to N4,549.14 recorded in November 2022.

States with most expensive, lowest price for cooking gas. On a year-on-year basis, the price for cooking gas rose by 27.00% from N3,594.81 in December 2021. States with the highest prices On state profile analysis, Kwara recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg Cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) with N4,950.00, followed by Adamawa with N4,933.33, and Plateau with N4,917.50.

On the other hand, Anambra recorded the lowest price with N4,182.14, followed by Abia and Rivers with N4,196.15 and N4,207.27 respectively. In addition, analysis by zone showed that the North-Central recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg Cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) with N4,841.07, followed by the North-East with N4,593.99, while the South-East recorded the lowest with N4,386.39. Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg Cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) increased by 0.67% on a month-on-month basis from N10,180.88 in November 2022 to N10,248.97 in December 2022. On a year-on-year basis, this rose by 39.78% from N7,332.04 in December 2021.

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

ABIA STATE

Govenor Ikpeazu reacts to non-payment of civil servants salaries during tenure

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says accusations against him that he does not pay the salaries of civil servants and pensioners in the state are false.  Governor Ikpeazu, during a live telecast interview on Thursday, March 30, said his administration had settled the salaries of core civil servants in the state.  Governor Ikpeazu has addressed the accusation that his administration was owing salaries of civil servants and pensioners. His reaction was in response to allegations from the governor-elect, Alex Otti, who disclosed that the state government owes workers and pensioners in Abia state salary.

It was gathered that pensioners in the state staged a demonstration on the streets of Abia in the last quarter of 2022 to protest a 45 months unpaid pension by the state government. 

However, Governor Ikpeazu revealed that the issue of non-payment of pensioners had been a prevalent issue that has been on for over two decades and a half. Governor Ikpeazu further noted that he had paid 29,000 workers out of 31,000 civil servants in Abia state but noted that the remaining 2000 workers are not core civil servants.

Anambra goes Clean and Green

Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has launched the Anambra Drainage Desilting Campaign and Operation towards making Anambra the cleanest state in Nigeria.  The campaign kicked-off at Ochanja market in Onitsha South Local Government Council. 

Addressing the traders and residents who had gathered in large numbers to witness the event, Governor Soludo stated that his visit to Ochanja market was to inspect the level of waste debris in the market. He recalled cleaning up the area last year, but regretted the waste reappeared after the rains.  According to the Governor, Anambra and Ochanja must be clean. He stated that adequate planning will be made to properly channel flooding.

He revealed that previous plans under past governments to address flooding issues were ineffective. He lamented the fact that some vendors sell on the streets and willfully dump their waste in the gutters thereby clogging the drainages. 

Uzodimma approves appointment of Chilakpu as SA on Labour matters

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved the appointment of Augustine Chilakpu as his Special Adviser on Labour Matters.  Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, disclosed this in a statement, last week.

Chilakpu, a consummate and experienced Labour leader, is the South East Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and currently an executive member of the group in Imo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.  He has served in different capacities in NLC, such as former member of the National Executive Council (NLC Federal), former Chairman, Constitutional Review Committee, (NLC Federal), Chairman of many NLC committees on Negotiations and other industrial relation matters, among others. 

A graduate of Business Management from the Abia State University, Uturu, Chilakpu has played key roles in Imo NLC, working in capacities such as former Auditor, former Secretary, former Assistant Secretary, former Vice Chairman, former Chairman, and former member of different boards in the state, to name but a few.  He is expected to bring to his new office, many years of experience in the Labour sector in the interest of the people of Imo.

Chilakpu hails from Ahiazu Mbaise Council of the state and married with children