The Federal Government has instituted an investigation into the recent bomb blast in Ibadan, Oyo State, to unravel the circumstances around it and the perpetrators of it.
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru, stated this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the Federal Executive Council, FEC’s, discussions on the incident.
Launching official investigation into the bomb explosion in Ibadan is expected to douse the tension generated by so many confusing theories.
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru, said the meeting sympathised with victims of the blast, promising to find ways of preventing a recurrence.
On kidnapping situations in Abuja and other parts of the country, the Minister said security agencies had been directed to pursue the kidnappers and deal with them for good.
“The bandits are fleeing and they are getting shelters around these areas and the security agencies are working very hard to push them out, block the movement and finish this thing once and for all.Mr President called us and all the service chiefs to discuss this issue. So concerted efforts is being done by security and stop it immediately. The President has given us the marching order and all the support that we need and what the security agencies need to end this thing”, he said.
He said the President had set up a committee, comprising security agencies and relevant Ministries to look into ways of protecting the environment, mining areas, and the forests from degradation, illegal mining, and the control of ethics in the mining sector.
Also briefing newsmen, the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, said FEC had adopted decisions to regulate the health sector to prevent arbitrary price increase in drugs and equipment, make Nigerians have easy access to health facilities, and deal with the acute human resource shortage in the sector.
“Prices of pharmaceuticals have escalated and many entities have withdrawn and some of the loca manufacturers in Nigeria are struggling. Mr. President’s intent is that we begin to take steps enable the local manufacturers to survive and to deliver the the basic commodities that are key to saving their lives, and he directed that the Attorney General of the Federation work with us to come up with an executive order, which is the mechanism through which he will act, giving the concern that he has that many Nigerians are suffering from the cost of pharmaceuticals”, the Minister explained.
Professor Pate said the President had directed the continuation of government’s funding of regulatory health professionals to ensure that only qualified personnel would attend to patients.
He also said President Tinubu had directed that the process of replacing health workers be henceforth relegated to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, thereby bypassing the Office of the Head of Service.
The aim, according to him, is to reduce hurdles along the way and make replacements fast.
