Blog

Breathing
By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Abuja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) A General Physician, Dr Victor Fayomi, says having difficulty with breathing, chest pain and tightness should be treated as a medical emergency, saying it can be a sign of underlying health condition.

Fayomi, who works with a Private Hospital in Gwagalada, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that difficulty with breathing was also called dyspnoea in medical terms.

According to him, it is a feeling of chest tightness, hunger for air, or not being able to draw a complete breath.

He said that this breathing difficulty could be mild, moderate or severe in nature when experienced and that dyspnoea occurs across all age groups.

“It can be of gradual or sudden onset depending on the underlining cause,’’ Fayomi said.

On some of the causes, the expert said that they could come under numerous medical classifications.

“However, for ease of comprehension, I will just mention a few of these numerous causes, especially the ones most people are familiar with.

“These include common cold and flu, anxiety and panic attacks, choking, aspiration of food particles and fluid into the lungs, asthma, allergies, pneumonia, heart failure, low red blood cell level and blood clot in the lungs.

“Other causes include obesity, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, trauma which may cause air or fluid compressing against the lungs in the chest wall, and upper airway obstruction which may be from aspiration of foreign bodies,’’ he said.

Fayomi said that management would depend on the underlining pathology and that it was best managed in the hospital by a medical doctor.

He said that preventive measures also depend on knowing the triggers for the potential pathology one is at risk of, and avoiding these triggers.

“For example, dust, smoke, pollens, hair from cats and extremes of emotions are triggers for an asthmatic attack in a known asthma patient, and as such, the patient should avoid these.

“People who become breathless easily, anxiety and panic attacks would also do well not to entertain worry or situations that may lead to worrying.

“Obesed persons who experience breathing difficulties are also advised to work on weight reduction,’’ Fayomi advised.

According to him, incidence of heart failure will greatly reduced if patients are compliant with their drugs and follow their doctor’s advice effectively.

Fayomi, however, advised parents to prevent their wards or children from objects, small enough to get down the nose and airways.(NAN)
OEO/VIV/GOK

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye

Youth

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Lagos, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., on Thursday reiterated its commitment to tackling the nation’s rising unemployment rate with youth empowerment initiatives aimed at wealth creation.

Mr Gbenga Shobo, the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the sidelines of the youth empowerment initiative with the theme “Goals. Grit. Grind.”

Shobo told NAN that the bank would remain committed on ways to tackle the nation’s unemployment rate by catching them young.

He said that Nigerian youth must have goals to succeed in life, and must be committed to them.

“We like the youths to start understanding wealth and how to create wealth.

“You also understand that in Nigeria now, it’s a bit of unemployment and we want to start early with the youths to start teaching them how to create wealth, especially outside the formal employment,” Shobo said.

He said that the youth empowerment initiative which started in 2017 was introduced to strengthen financial inclusion and as well make the youths independent, instead of relying on their parents for everything.

“We want to start young and we have two sets of people here today — 9 to 13 years and older ones — we don’t think it’s too young at all to reach out to the youths segment.

“Some of them who were here last year have used what they learnt to be financially independent. A lot of them have started doing things on their own, while waiting for formal employment.

“We will continue to do this series to strengthen economic growth and development,” Shobo said.

He said that the bank, through the initiative, had instituted various investment clubs for mentoring of youths to enhance financial freedom.

“Some of them have investment clubs; we are involved in some of these investment clubs, so, within those clubs, we help to mentor them,”the deputy managing director said.

He said the bank had introduced other financial inclusion strategies that make it easier for people to open an account without stress.

Dr Aderemi Banjoko, Director & Founder, dbkMarkets, a global online trading company, who was the guest speaker, tasked the youths on wealth creation, money management and investment.

Speaking on the topic “Financial literacy for youths”, Banjoko said that knowledge was key to financial literacy and management.

He said that financial literacy entails ability to make informed judgements and take effective decisions regarding the use and management of money.

Banjoko stressed the need for diversification of investment to minimise risk, noting that investing in different asset classes remained the main thing.

He urged the participants to invest in stocks and shares, money market mutual fund such as commercial papers, treasury bills, among others.

Banjoko enjoined them to invest through financial experts in order not to make mistakes, advising that investing through mutual funds would be safer for them. (NAN)
JNC /SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Donation
Ikenne (Ogun), Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) As part of its corporate social responsibility, Ikenne-based Remo Stars Football Club (RSFC) on Thursday donated a new building to the Blessed Assurance Orphanage in Ikenne, Ogun.

The President of the Club, Kunle Soname, said the gesture was part of the club ’s contributions in the support of the less privileged in the society.

Soname, represented by his wife, Oluwakemi, said that creating an enabling environment for the less privileged in the society would give them an assurance of a better future.

He expressed concern over the plight of the underprivileged, especially youths and children.

Soname gave an assurance that the club would not relent in its efforts toward giving care to the needy while rekindling their hope for the future regardless of their condition.

The Secretary of the orphanage, Gold Edouard, commended Soname for deeming it fit to construct a building for the home.

Edouard said that the initiative to build a home for the less privileged and abandoned babies was aimed at providing succour for them.

“Our aim is to provide a decent upbringing for the children as well as infusing in them a sense of belonging, security and above all sound educational values.

“We want to use this opportunity to appreciate Remo Stars FC for putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged and plead with all and sundry to assist in meeting the needs of the orphans,” she said.  (NAN)
YAF/DEB/OJO
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun/Mufutau Ojo)

Dowry
By Aisha Gambo
Kaduna, Dec. 27, 2018(NAN) A 32-year-old suitor Ahmad Sani, on Thursday prayed a Sharia Court in Magajin Gari in Kaduna State, to help him recover the N340,000 he allegedly paid as dowry to his would-be in-law.

Sani told the court that the would be father-in-law, Alhassan Malam, should return his money because his daughter has  refused to marry him.

The complainant said he had sought Sumayya Malam’s hand in marriage from her father, who gave his consent and demanded N20,000 as dowry, excluding other traditional expenses.

Sani said he was shocked when Malam cancelled the wedding due to “my alleged inability to provide a decent shelter for his daughter.”

“After paying the dowry and other traditional expenses which amounted to N340,000, I took her daughter to the house I rented, but I later learnt that she didn’t like the house,” he said.

Sani prayed the court to help him recover all the money he spent for the failed marriage since the defendant had refused him to marry his daughter.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Alhassan Aliyu, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear a case involving the recovery of money over N100,000 as stipulated by Section 22 of the Sharia law, Kaduna state.

Aliyu  prayed the court to transfer the case to an upper Sharia court or dismiss the case.

The Judge, Malam- Dahiru Lawal, transferred the case to an Upper Sharia court for lack of jurisdiction (NAN)
AMG/JI/SH

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editing by Joseph Idika/Sadiya Hamza

Resources
By Doris Esa
Abuja, Dec.27, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Interior, Lt.- Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), has assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s readiness to deploy additional security resources to end the destruction of lives and property in Zamfara.

Dambazau gave the assurance in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Ehisienmen on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister said President Muhammandu Buhari had commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara, following attacks by suspected bandits, which claimed property and lives of innocent Nigerians.

Dambazau expressed Buhari’s deep concern about the unrepentant attitude of the perpetrators of senseless killings in the state.

“We are committed to working closely with the state government to deploy more security resources to the state,’’ Dambazau said.

Ehisienmen said the minister was further briefed by heads of security agencies in Zamfara, in order to put in place additional proactive measures to restore peace needed to protect agricultural and mining interests in the state.

According to the statement, Dambazau was received by the state’s Acting Gov. Mr Sanusi Rikiji and other members of Zamfara Executive Council.

The minister later proceeded to the palace of Sarkin Katsina Gusau, His Royal Highness Dr Ibrahim Bello, the Emir of Gusau.

He said Dambazau, while at the palace also delivered Buhari’s message, and assured the Gusau emirate of government’s commitment to ensure law and order in the state.

He said the minister also visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, as well as the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government area, where protesters destroyed vehicles and other government property. (NAN)
ORD/MUYI/EEE
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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Ese E. Ekama

All my sponsored bills are people-oriented — Rep Olowookere

Bill

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) Rep Afe Olowookere (APC-Ondo) on Thursday disclosed that all the bills he sponsored at the floor of the House were targeted at improving the lives of the ordinary people on the streets.

Olowookere, who represents Akure North/South Federal Constituency of Ondo State, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said within the period of his being at the National Assembly, he had so far sponsored six bills and 19 motions.

‘’By the grace of God, I have sponsored about six bills and all these bills are for the people; to bring some improvements to their lives and well being.

‘’For example, I sponsored a bill on UBEC. It is an amendment to the existing Act in respect of the counterpart funding.

‘’It says that instead of the 50 per cent being required from the states, it should be reduced to 25 per cent so that states can access their funds that are lying idle in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order to use them for renovation of dilapidated primary schools and decayed infrastructure in schools across the country.

‘’This is for the benefit of the poor people who send their wards to public schools,” he said.

The lawmaker said he won the primary election to re-contest the House of Representatives seat for his constituency because he was able to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people.

‘’I was given the ticket to re-contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) because I have been able to deliver so many projects in my constituency,” he said.

According to him, within this short time, he has been able to deliver eight public schools built in different locations;and had also dug nine boreholes and had also been able to install electrical transformers.

Speaking further on his constituency projects, he said some roads were tarred, civic centres and town halls built, among others.

 ‘’So, seeing me actively involved at the floor, contributing to issues, raising motions on some fundamental issues and sponsoring bills on topical matters, they were impressed.

‘’My people were impressed that a member of house could achieve this feat.

‘’They know I was going to give them very robust representation. So, they reposed their confidence in me,” he said. NAN

TOA/KTO/AMY

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo and Abdullahi Yusuf 

Lab
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) says it has a modern state-of-the-art genetic modification detection and analysis laboratory to checkmate any risks associated with the technology.

Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General of the agency, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

“Our agency is able to test, analyse and carry out proper risk assessment on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) before they are approved for release into the market.

“Biotechnology is basically the use of living systems or materials from living organisms to modify other organisms, in order to move a gene of interest from one organism to another one, both related and unrelated, for you to achieve a particular desire.

“It is not necessarily creating a new organism, but altering it in a way that you achieve a desired interest and there is no technology in the world that can be said to be 100 per cent safe.

“The proponents of this technology saw the need for an agreement to ensure that there is holistic bio safety before the product of genetic engineering can be used for planting, processing, or for any purpose.

“So it simply means that it needs measures and procedures to ensure that its activities and the use of genetically modified organisms, do not have any adverse effects on the environment and human health,’’ he said.

Ebegba said that the agency also considered the potential adverse impacts that biosafety should prevent or minimise during risk analysis.

“When we talk about the issue of potential risk in biosafety or GMO, we are looking at the impact of GMO on the environment.

“Will the super organisms with which these organisms have been modified become invasive, more dominant, replace the ecosystem, or affect the ecosystem adversely?

“We look at the issue of genetically modified third party that is how to resist a particular pest so that it would not affect other organisms.

“Then we also look at it from the human front. Will these genetically modified organisms become toxic, affect humans negatively and cause health problems and allergies?

“These are the things we look out for to ensure that no GMO that will cause any adverse impacts will be allowed. We only allow those that after rigorous risk assessment, we considered safe. These we will grant permit for.

“If they are not safe, we won’t grant permit for them,’’ the NBMA director-general said.

He added that his agency also looked at issues of socio-economic concern in GMOs.

“We look at the issue of socio-economic concern to know whether these products are going to be socially compatible with our social norms.’’

Ebegba urged Nigerians to trust government decisions as government had put measures in place to ensure that human health and the environment were safe. (NAN)
EPA/COF/GY
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Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Grace Yussuf

Zakat
By Nabilu Balarabe
Kazaure (Jigawa), Dec. 27, (NAN) The Kazaure Emirate Council’s Zakat Committee in Jigawa has distributed grains worth N4.6 million to 2,562 indigent people in the emirate, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Alhaji Nasiru Lawan, spokesman of the council told NAN in Kazaure on Thursday that beneficiaries cut across the four local government areas of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi.

Lawan said that the grains distributed to the needy included rice, sorghum and millet.

“The farm produce, including millet, rice and sorghum, were recently distributed to the needy by the Zakat Committee chaired by Alhaji Bala Muhammed.

“Grains zakat is an annual exercise in which farmers, who harvest a certain quantity of grains, are expected to give part of the grains to the downtrodden.

“The produce are normally stocked at the residence of either the ward head or the village head, and the committee will later go round and distribute them to the needy in that area,” he said.

According to him, distribution of the farm produce zakat was to complement governments efforts toward poverty alleviation.

Lawan therefore called on large scale farmers and other wealthy individuals to fear God and ensure they give out zakat as at when due.

NAN reports that zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is also paid in cash and on certain number of livestock.

It is obligatory for every Muslims who is financially buoyant to pay zakat to the needy to purify his wealth and seek blessings from Allah. (NAN)
NB/AOS/IS
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Ismail Abdulaziz

Fight
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals (ITSSP) on Thursday called on the Federal Government to be proactive and intensify the fight against cyber crime, for improved results.

The ITSSP President, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, efforts of the government in fighting cyber crime has been at the reactive level while cybercrime is not reducing in Nigeria.

“We have not got to where we ought to be as regards fighting cyber crime because statistics shows that there is still an increase in cyber crime in the country.

“Government should show more concern about cyber crime as there can be so much damage done through the internet.

“We are also witnessing an increase because we are still at the reactive level of fighting cybercrime,” he said.

Sodiya said that the country should be at the proactive level, where plans for the future, unknown attacks and big attacks would be made.

He urged collaboration of relevant organisations in such plans to ensure strategies for mitigating attacks.

According to the ITSSP president, sharing of information on cyber crime as being done by banks would help to mitigate the menace.

“We need to do more, we should not wait until we are affected before we start talking about it.

“Cyber criminals put up strategies, sophisticated techniques and tools to ensure that they are successful in their attempts; so experts needs to get trained on skills to aid the fight.

“We need to encourage research in this area, get skills that will help to protect our infrastructure from collapse,” he said.

NAN reports that the ITSSP was established in January 2014 with focus on information security. (NAN)
CAN/OSA/IGO
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Edited by Shittu Obas/Ijeoma Popoola

31 ships carrying various products expected at Lagos ports

Ships

By Aisha Cole

Lagos, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it is expecting 31 ships to bring petroleum products, food and other goods at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, between Dec. 27 and  Jan. 12, 2019.

According to the NPA, four of the ships will sail in with petrol, the other 27 ships with buckwheat, general cargo, aviation fuel, steel, Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), bulk gypsum and containers carrying different goods.

It also said 25 ships had arrived at the ports and were waiting to berth with bulk wheat,  general cargo,  container, kerosene and petrol. (NAN)

AIC/IKU/SA

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Salif Atojoko

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