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Redeemers School’s Response To My Son’s Death Wicked And Insensitive – Mother Of Drowned Nursery School Pupil

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Nkiru Eze, the grieving mother of Chidera, a five-year-old pupil of the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba, who drowned during a swimming lesson at the Ivory Health Club in Ikeja, Lagos State, speaks with The Punch’s Deji Lambo on the heartbreaking reality her family has faced in their quest for justice for their late son

How has life been treating you a month after your son’s awful death?

Life has changed dramatically, and it has made me realize that the five years I spent with my son were the happiest years of our lives. It does not feel real, but it is real nonetheless. I have been struggling but I just feel I need to stay alive because I still exist. In my head, there are far too many unanswered questions. Chidera was my first son.

How did you find the first week after your son’s death? Walk us through what the experience feels like.

I didn’t even stay in the room with my husband Anthony and second kid Chidubem for the first week. I just wanted to be by myself because when I’m by myself, I just cry. I had to be getting drugs from my cousin since I didn’t feel like myself. I only started hearing the things I did at this point. I’ve been accused of picking up clothing and washing the wall all by myself on occasion and snapping at anything that moves. When I was reassuring my family and friends that I was fine, one of them remarked that I was in denial. I thus took medicines to help me fall asleep. It was traumatic and difficult even to this very moment.

When you reminisce about the circumstances surrounding Chidera’s birth, how was the experience?

After completing my NYSC, I underwent a fibroid operation, and in Nigeria, many believe that having a fibroid treatment makes it nearly impossible for them to have children. The operation took place long before I met my husband. I met my husband and we got married. Chidera entered without our knowledge, and soon after we gave birth to him, it took me almost a year to realize I was expecting my second child. Therefore, God simply said, “You are my child, and I will show you kindness,” by giving me, my two kids.

So the plan has always been to have only two children?

No. Since July 2020, when I stopped using the family planning method we had been using, we have been trying to conceive another child. However, since we already have two children, we were only trying in the hopes that God would grant us success. Personally, I wanted more kids; I’m fine with four or five.

Which do you believe is to blame for your son’s death, the school or the club where he drowned?

Both are. I transferred the liability of my children to the head of the school, Mrs. Adeola Oladipo when I dropped them off at school but the liability was transferred back once I picked them back. I opposed the introduction of the extra-curricular activity but the head explained that they (Ivory Health Club) had a children and adult pool and that they would be using the children’s pool which I confirmed.

Now, the health club admitted children without ensuring that the safety measures were intact. They shared the blame equally but the buck goes to the school. I didn’t rely on them alone to put safety measures in place. I went to the market and bought the safety kits that the school requested. If I could do that much, the Ivory Health Club and the school should have ensured that my child wore the kits.

How would you characterize the school’s response to the incident and current events?

The school’s reaction to the incident was wicked because as I speak to you, no one from the school has told me what happened to my son. We had an agreement that the school did not follow, and no one would tell me that if you turn away from your child for 10 minutes, you will not notice that the child is missing, let alone 30 minutes underwater. This is gross negligence on the part of the school and the facility’s management.

They haven’t visited my house as a school yet, and we haven’t received any formal correspondence. If they’re too hesitant to visit, they can even write to us to let us know what happened. All the administration ever promised was to get in touch with us, but as of now, they haven’t. The first week after my kid died, the Redeemed Church visited the house, but we weren’t there. The following day, they showed up dressed as random parents and church pastors but the school’s administration has not paid an official visit.

Has your son been buried?

Yes, we have buried him. We didn’t want noise over his burial. Surprisingly, after getting the information that we’ve buried him, the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School and the church at Ogba, went ahead to conduct a service for my son without telling me, his father, or our family members. I got to know when they put it up on their school platform.

What other action did the school exhibit that didn’t appeal to your sensibilities while grieving?

Redeemers Nursery and Primary School reopened two Mondays after my son died and started guiding themselves with policemen. If you went to the school when they resumed, you would see policemen and their vehicles everywhere. They know what they did and I am pleading with the whole world to help beg the school and Ivory Health Club to tell me what happened to my son. The school is all about protecting themselves, protection that they couldn’t give my son.

What is your take on the action of the management of the facility where your son drowned?

The health club is at fault; they sent representatives the same week my son died but the entire family was not ready to listen to anybody. The church persisted and they were allowed in as they said they wanted to pray with us. I drove to the club to get information but the security man locked me out. I said my son was here to swim earlier. I wanted to make an inquiry and he called a lady.

I asked to know what happened but the lady said she doesn’t work by the pool and that they are waiting for the management to issue an official response. I asked to meet the management and she said they were at the hospital and I left.

When they came to the house, it was annoying that I came to the facility first to seek information but was locked out. The next time, they came back with the state chairman of CAN, Bishop Adegbite. I told them I was going to communicate their visit to my husband.

Give us an insight into your quest to get justice for Chidera?

The impression we are getting is that ‘Who are we?’, ‘Our boy is dead, what do we want to do?’ I am disappointed at the way the church is trying to downplay the case by all means. A petition was written to the ministry of youth and development, the commissioner for education, among others, two days after my son passed on. They should not be running until they have what it takes to run the school and the club.

The right thing should have been that every form of activity is closed down until the investigation is concluded. So, the ministry of education, the Lagos State Government, the state Governor, and even the Redeemed Church headed by Pastor Adeboye, who has lost a son and knows how it feels, should do something.

Perhaps, he (Adeboye) and his wife have been told that they (school) are handling it but I am saying it out to the whole world that they have been handling my case by going about their businesses like it didn’t matter.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, and the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School are more interested in their image. If you committed a sin, you must face the consequences. If you acknowledge that your negligence took my son away, then do the time. Don’t be interested in your name and fame; come publicly to tell the whole world that you are sorry and do the right thing.

We have written to the school of our further intention to take up this matter if they don’t come through. We want justice because the wickedness that we feel from the school and their sorry are not in tandem and do not give us closure. You can’t say that you are sorry and just move on like that. Justice on all grounds should be served.

You said you’ve resumed work, does that not indicate that you have also moved on?

I believe that the wickedness of humanity was to blame for the premature death of my child. As of today, I have sobbed in my office because staying at home wasn’t helping me. I started working for my well-being. People visit us at home to apologize, and as soon as they leave, I completely cry. As I enter and exit the hospital, my spouse is holding my hands and assuring me that everything will be okay.

When it happened, my husband and I were sleeping with the help of drugs. My colleagues sent me their blood pressure machine to continually check my blood pressure and I said to myself that I need to snap out. So, I came back to work for my wellbeing and for my second son. I am a field officer in my office but I have not been to the field because I am scared of how I am going to react. I am seeking a therapist’s assistance already.

How has Chidera’s younger brother been coping without his brother?

Chidubem hasn’t slept in the room he shared with his late brother for about four years. I started sleeping in the same room with him so he would not worry. One Sunday night, he woke up and said we should go to my room to sleep and I agreed. At 5 am, he woke me up to start asking for his brother and I started saying that his brother is in a better place and later said he had traveled. How do we explain to a four-year-old that his brother has died? They practically did everything together. He is not coping well and has not been going to school.

Can you share your last moments with Chidera with us?

A week before he passed on, he was on a stool washing his younger brother’s plate in the kitchen and I started using my phone to record a video of him, that image has not left my head.

 

Credit: The Punch

BIG STORY

Killing Of Soldiers Communally Orchestrated, We Won’t Retaliate — Nigerian Army

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The Nigerian Army says the killing of its personnel in Delta state was “communally orchestrated” by residents of the Okuoma community.

A lieutenant colonel, two majors, a captain, and thirteen soldiers were among the seventeen military personnel that perished last Thursday while participating in a “peacekeeping mission” in Okuoma, Bomadi LGA of Delta.

The federal and state administrations in Delta had denounced the event and vowed to hold those responsible for it accountable.

Some hours after the incident, several houses in the community were reportedly on fire.

In a statement on Monday, Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, said the Delta community resorted to “media propaganda and shenanigans” instead of “engaging in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime”.

Nwachukwu said the falsehood being peddled is to “whip up sentiments and sway the public to endorse” the murder of the military personnel.

The army spokesperson said no degree of propaganda would “arm-twist the narrative”, adding that the community is “complicit” in the killing.

“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuoma Community in the most gruesome, heartless, and cruel manner, and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect,” the statement reads.

“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“This is again a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.

“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse, or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang.”

Nwachukwu said “there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops” while urging residents to continue with their legal activities.

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Nigerian Army Releases Images Of Officers Killed In Delta Community [PHOTO]

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The Nigerian Army has published the names and pictures of the 17 soldiers killed recently in a Delta state community.

Last Thursday, 17 military personnel, comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers, were killed while on a “peacekeeping mission” in Okuoma, Bomadi LGA of Delta.

The Delta state and federal governments had condemned the incident while promising that perpetrators would face the wrath of the law.

Some hours after the incident, several houses in the community were reportedly on fire.

In a statement released on Monday, the Nigerian Army said the killing was masterminded by members of the community, noting that the troops would not retaliate.

Below is the list of names and ranks of the soldiers killed:

 

Name                                   Rank

1. AH Ali                       Lieutenant Colonel (Commanding officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion)

2. SD Shafa                  Major

3. DE Obi                     Major

4. U. Zakari                 Captain

5. Yahaya Saidu         Staff Sergeant

6.  Yahaya Danbaba   Corporal

7. Kabiru Bashir          Corporal

8. Bulus Haruna         Lance Corporal

9. Sole Opeyemi         Lance Corporal

10. Bello Anas             Lance Corporal

11. Hamman Peter     Lance Corporal

12. Ibrahim Abdullahi   Lance Corporal

13. Alhaji Isah               Private

14. Clement Francis     Private

15. Abubakar Ali            Private

16. Ibrahim Adamu  Private

17. Adamu Ibrahim     Private

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Foreign Reserves Hit Nine-Month High Amid Economic Optimism, Buildup Positive Multipliers

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Nigeria’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves, over the weekend, reached their highest level in nine months as expectations that the country’s ongoing fiscal and monetary authority reforms would support steady forex management and price stability grew.

After rising steadily for the previous month, total reserves increased by almost $209.9 million to conclude the weekend at $34.416 billion, the highest level in nine months. The previous record high, reached on June 20, 2023, was $34.449 billion.

The nation’s forex reserves have risen by $1.50 billion so far this year in a steady build-up that has eased volatility in the currency market and reinforced monetary reforms.The reserves had closed 2023 at $32.912 billion.

Experts agreed that the steady recovery in forex reserves has several positive implications for the economy.

“The naira will appreciate in the forex market. The exchange rate will stabilise. Inflation rate is most likely to moderate given the exchange rate pass-through to commodity prices,” President, Association of Capital Market Academics in Nigeria, Prof Uche Uwaleke, said.

Data by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicated average crude oil price at $88.84 per barrel. Global reports showed that benchmark Brent crude rose by 3.2 percent to close weekend at about $84.71 per barrel.

With the lingering crises in Middle East and Eastern Europe amid elevated oil demand, most analysts expected crude oil price to remain substantially above Nigeria’s budget benchmark of $77.96 per barrel.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its latest report, increased its global crude oil demand projection for 2024 by 1.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) to 103.2mbpd. IEA estimated that extended output cuts by Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its affiliates (OPEC+) would continue to moderate supply output, keeping off any major downside volatility.

OPEC+ members had two weeks ago extended their voluntary production cuts of 2.2mbpd into the second quarter of 2024, with expectation of further extension beyond the first half.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, last week indicated that the country’s oil production has risen to 1.65mbpd, from some 1.25mbpd in June 2023.

OPEC had recently reported that Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.476 mbpd in February 2024, an increase of 47,000 barrels on 1.429 mbpd recorded in January 2024. The data was based on secondary market intelligence sources surveyed by the organisation.

“According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged 26.57 mb/d in February 2024, 203 tb/d higher, mo- m. Crude oil output increased mainly in Libya and Nigeria, while production in IR Iran and Iraq decreased,” OPEC stated in its Monthly Oil Market Report.

The Federal Government’s N28.78 trillion 2024 budget is premised on 1.78mbpd daily oil production, $77.96 oil benchmark price, exchange rate of N800 per dollar and GDP growth rate of 3.88 percent.

Oil sector and currency management reforms are two of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s economic blueprint. A multi-stakeholders reform agenda involving the Ministry of Finance, security services, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the CBN has seen a steady improvement in crude oil management and accountability.

In its latest macroeconomic assessment report, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had sounded upbeat on the Nigeria’s macroeconomic reforms citing the improvement in oil production, ongoing efforts to boost food production and social welfare programmes among others.

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Olayemi Cardoso, has outlined that ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s forex position would lead to increased stability in forex reserves and naira.

According to him, the collaboration with Ministry of Finance and the NNPCL to ensure that all forex inflows are returned to the CBN will greatly enhance forex flows and contribute to the accretion of reserves.

“The expected stability in the foreign exchange market for 2024 can be attributed to the reduction in petroleum product imports and the recent implementation of a market-determined exchange rate policy by the CBN. This reform is designed to streamline and unify multiple exchange rates, fostering transparency and reducing opportunities for arbitrage. The resulting consistent and stable exchange rate will not only boost investor confidence but also attract foreign investment, elevating Nigeria’s appeal to global investors.

“We are implementing a comprehensive strategy to improve liquidity in our forex markets in the short, medium, and long term. Our focus is on addressing fundamental issues that have hindered the effective operation of our markets over the years,” Cardoso said.

He pointed out that the apex bank understands that upholding the integrity of financial markets is crucial for building confidence, thus it remains committed to decisively address any infractions and abuses.

He noted that in efforts to stabilise the exchange rate, the CBN prioritises transparency and a market environment that enables the fair determination of exchange rates, ensuring stability for businesses and individuals alike.

“We believe that the naira is currently undervalued and, coupled with coordinated measures on the fiscal side, we will expedite genuine price discovery in the near term. This coordinated approach will contribute to a more balanced and stable exchange rate,” Cardoso said.

Finance and economy experts were unanimous that the buildup in external reserves was a good indication for the country’s currency management and macroeconomic stability.

Analysts expected that changes in forex management rules, steady improvement in crude oil production and upbeat in global oil price could help the country mitigate its volatile forex situation.

Managing Director, Arthur Steven Asset Management, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, said the continuing increase in forex reserves will support government’s current efforts aimed at fostering liquidity and stability at the forex market.

“The increase is a positive signal for improved liquidity in the forex market. This should ultimately help to stabilize the exchange rate of the naira or even strengthen it against the dollar if the increase is steady and consistent,” Amolegbe said.

Uwaleke said any increase places the CBN in a stronger position to meet forex obligations as well as intervene in the forex market.

“If this development is sustained, we are likely to witness an appreciation of the naira in the forex market and more stability in the exchange rate following improved liquidity. This is one positive development capable of keeping away destructive speculators from the forex market,” Uwaleke said.

He explained that the increase could be due to increase in oil revenue as a result of the rise in crude oil price and the recent increase in crude oil production.

He added that the external reserves could also increase if the government has received any of the concessional loans it has negotiated with the World Bank.

Uwaleke however said Nigeria needs to curb excessive import dependence to support its forex recovery.

“It goes without saying that export- base diversification remains the only sustainable solution to the present forex crisis,” Uwaleke said.

According to him, to curb the demand pressure, government should compel a change in consumption behaviour by enacting a ‘Buy Nigeria law’ akin to the ‘Buy America Act’ of 1933 and recently the ‘Build America, Buy America Act’ of 2021.

“Also, Nigeria’s import data support revisiting and scaling up the CBN’s currency swap deal with the Peoples Bank of China. Given that the bulk of Nigeria’s imports are from China, it stands to reason, therefore, to explore ways of bypassing the dollars and settling these transactions in the Yuan. This was the idea behind the currency swap with China which was largely inadequate in size. In order to increase the stock of Yuan in our external reserves, Nigeria can issue panda bonds, which are bonds denominated in the Chinese Yuan and are considered cheaper than Eurobonds,” Uwaleke said.

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