The Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, has celebrated his 73rd birthday with inmates at the National Correctional Centre in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Okeke said the annual gesture was a way of showing love to the inmates, giving them a sense of belonging and expressing gratitude to God.

In his homily, titled ‘Necessity of Giving Thanks’, delivered at the correctional centre on Tuesday in the presence of inmates and other dignitaries, the archbishop said thanksgiving and gratitude to God were necessities.

He explained that thanksgiving was a virtue that made a person great before God, adding that the more one gave thanks, the more one was blessed by God.

The cleric urged the faithful to cultivate the habit of thanksgiving to attract God’s blessings, describing it as man’s greatest weapon of prayer because it helped people receive more from God.

He also urged the inmates to put their faith in God, pray and remain hopeful for a better future. He said their stay at the correctional centre could serve as a spiritual retreat to strengthen their faith and possibly save them from death or other permanently worse life conditions.

He said, “When you see yourself in prison and think you are being punished, you are not right. What brought you inside the prison could have taken your life. Most times, we consider what God did not give us, but do not consider the ones He has done for us.

“Thanksgiving is a virtue that makes a man great before God. The more you give thanks, the more you are blessed by God. Thanksgiving is our greatest weapon of prayer, because it helps us to receive more from God.

“The highest form of prayer is to give thanks to God Almighty. It’s more blessed to give than to received.”

The prelate also urged the faithful to share with others, saying one of the best ways to thank God for His blessings was to share them with others.

Okeke presented the inmates with food and other relief items, including live cows, bags of rice, toiletries, clothing, detergents and other materials.

He said, “We are happy that the number of inmates in the Correctional Centre is reducing. It is an indication that there is a reduction in the crime rate in the society.

“We pray that the dream of the Federal Government in changing Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service will be realised,” the cleric added.

Also speaking during the Mass, the Chaplain of St. Maximilian Golbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Custodial Centre, Reverend Father Batho Okpalaugo, congratulated the archbishop on his 73rd birthday and wished him more fruitful years.

Okpalaugo noted that for the past 20 years, the archbishop had made it an annual ritual to celebrate his birthdays with inmates, giving them gifts and words of encouragement.

He also thanked Okeke for helping to make the custodial centre a place of happiness by ensuring the establishment of primary and secondary schools, an Open University and a skills acquisition centre, enabling inmates to earn certificates and acquire skills while in custody.

Speaking to journalists after the homily, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Eric Anyamele, praised Okeke for the gesture towards the inmates.

Anyamele said everybody was proud of the priest because of the enormous transformation he had brought to the custodial centre, adding that other religious leaders should emulate such gestures.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Patrick Aghamba, also praised Okeke for his devotion to the gospel and humility.

The Nigerian Correctional Service is responsible for the safe custody, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society. Educational programmes and skills acquisition initiatives in custodial centres are aimed at equipping inmates with knowledge and practical skills to support their reintegration after release.

Aghamba urged the inmates to take advantage of the transformations introduced by the archbishop to improve their lives.

He also assured them that his ministry would partner with Okeke and the correctional centre in efforts to transform the inmates.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kano Sector Command, has confirmed the death of two persons following a fatal road traffic crash involving two vehicles along the Kano-Zaria Road at Dangi Underpass.

The Sector Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Labaran, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday night.

The statement said the accident which occurred at 17:50 hours, involved a Howo tipper truck fully loaded with bitumen , and a Mercedes-Benz C10 adding a total of four male adults were involved in the crash, with two persons confirmed dead.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the crash involved a Howo tipper truck with registration number RMG 332 XA, fully loaded with bitumen, and a Mercedes-Benz C180 with registration number ABJ 783 GB. A total of four male adults were involved in the crash, with two persons confirmed dead,” the statement said.

It added that the crash was reportedly caused by brake failure in the fully loaded tipper truck, resulting in a loss of control. The truck subsequently slid backwards and collided with the vehicle behind it, leading to the fatal incident.

According to the statement, the FRSC rescue personnel and other emergency responders took the victims to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, the Kano Sector Commander, Corps Commander Idris Lawal, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls. He also urged the affected families to find the strength to bear the loss.

The Sector Commander warned motorists, transport unions, construction companies, and other fleet operators against neglecting proper vehicle maintenance, particularly the inspection and servicing of critical components such as braking systems and tyres.

He further emphasised the importance of defensive driving, urging motorists to maintain safe following distances, remain alert to changing road conditions, and ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before every journey.

He stressed that regular vehicle maintenance, responsible driving, and strict compliance with road safety regulations remain essential to preventing avoidable road traffic crashes and saving lives.

The Sector Command therefore called on all road users to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others by adopting safe driving practices and ensuring that their vehicles are mechanically sound at all times.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

The Ogun State Government has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures following the Federal Government’s announcement of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory, assuring residents that no case had been recorded in the state as of October 21, 2026.

The government urged residents to remain vigilant, observe preventive measures and avoid panic or the spread of unverified information.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that Ogun had been on heightened alert since the declaration of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March 2026.

Coker said about 111 persons of interest, comprising passengers from high-risk countries, had been identified, monitored and subsequently discharged from follow-up after completing the required surveillance period.

The commissioner said, “The state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre is also coordinating preparedness and response activities to ensure the prompt identification, reporting and management of any suspected case’

“The government has strengthened the capacity of Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, port health officers, health educators, clinicians and community informants through training on appropriate response procedures.

“Relevant national guidelines, protocols and resource materials have been adapted and deployed to guide the state’s response, while public sensitisation and infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities were being intensified.”

She urged residents to remain calm and obtain information from official public health authorities.

Coker explained that Ebola is a serious disease that can cause severe illness and death, noting that its early symptoms may resemble those of other common illnesses.

She listed the symptoms to include fever, severe weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may also occur in some cases.

According to her, symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure. She stressed, however, that experiencing these symptoms does not automatically mean a person has Ebola, although prompt professional assessment is essential, particularly where there has been possible exposure or travel to a high-risk area.

The commissioner explained that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, the body of someone who has died from the disease, or materials contaminated with such fluids.

She advised residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and running water and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when soap and water are unavailable.

Residents were also cautioned against contact with the blood and body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease and sharing needles, razors or other items that could be contaminated.

Coker urged anyone who might have been exposed to Ebola to contact public health authorities promptly without waiting for symptoms to develop.

She further advised anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility to enable safe referral to an appropriate medical centre.

The commissioner also called on residents to cooperate with surveillance and follow-up teams, provide accurate information when contacted by public health officials and comply with the guidance issued.

She warned against touching the bodies of people who die from suspected or confirmed Ebola, stressing that safe and dignified burials must be handled by trained teams.

Coker also cautioned against rumours, discrimination and stigmatisation, urging residents to share only information from verified public health sources.

She said the Ogun State Government would continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other relevant partners to monitor developments and implement appropriate measures to protect public health.

The commissioner called on healthcare workers in public and private facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control protocols and immediately notify the state surveillance team through the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in their respective local government areas.

She provided the contact number of the State Epidemiologist as 08084250881 and the NCDC toll-free line as 6232 for reporting suspected cases and obtaining public health guidance.

Coker emphasised that early detection, timely reporting and cooperation among residents, healthcare workers and public health authorities were essential to preventing the spread of the disease.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM