Blog

By Modupe Seriboh
Coffee
Ibadan, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) A Professor of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Yinusa Raji, has warned people to desist from taking excessive coffee saying it may affect their reproductive organs and their offsprings later in life.

Raji made the remark on Monday at an Inaugural lecture he delivered at the Trenchard Hall of the institution titled, “Benevolence or Malevolence: The Curious wonder of Natural Agents on Reproductive Physiology”.

Raji, who is a lecturer in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, said excessive intake of stimulants and some medicinal agents could impact negatively on the male reproductive system thereby causing infertility in a man.

“When the intake of these stimulants are taken beyond the normal regular intake and becomes addictive and has no effect again on the body, it will impact negatively on the offspring.

“This research was carried out on the male rat to see the effects of caffeine consumption on the reproductive functions, observation however, showed how caffeine reduced sperm viability and volume.

“Our studies using male rats have shown that nicotine has dose-related deleterious effects on male reproductive function which may be sufficient to cause infertility.”he said.

Raji, however, advised people against the habit of smoking and nicotine use saying cigarette smoke has been documented to contain approximately 4,000 chemicals that include many oxidants.

He further cautioned people to stop the abuse and misuse of some antimalarial and antibacterial drugs which according to him are one of the major contributory factors, to the decline in sperm quality.

“The antifertility action of two antimalarial drugs proguanil and artesunate were further investigated on their anti-fertility action in male.

“The study showed significant degenerative and advance effect of both drugs on male reproductive organs and functions, respectively.

“We, therefore,  cautioned that people should avoid the use of these drugs without doctors’ prescription”.

Raji called on the University management to give individual researcher a marching order with specific mandate to solve specific problems that are ravaging humanity.

“Mr Vice Chancellor sir, physiology is the study of normal functions of the body, from its smallest unit, the cell. Any support given to foster the development of the discipline is given to the sustenance of life.

“The discipline, therefore, requires special attention if we are to maintain normal life and living.’’

He also urged the Federal Government to increase funding for research facilities and activities adding that advanced countries of the world invest heavily on research and development.

“If Nigeria will advance, the government must invest heavily in research and development. It must invest in the education sector, ” he said. (NAN)
MAM/BOLA/MTM
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Tukur Muntari.

Minister tasks healthcare providers, institutions on adverse drug reaction
By Mustapha Sumaila
Drugs
Abuja, Sept 24, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has directed healthcare providers and institutions to monitor, detect and report Adverse Drug Reactions to appropriate authorities.
He gave the order at the opening ceremony of Nigeria Specific Meeting on Pharmacovigilance Africa (PAVIA) on Monday in Abuja.
Adewole was represented by Mr Mashood Lawal, Director, Food and Drug Services, in the Ministry.
The minister said that government had developed policies for stakeholders in health sectors to detect, document and report adverse drug reactions associated with use of medicines in the country.
He said that in line with the Pharmcovigilance policy, the ministry was aware of NAFDAC’s partnership with National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programe (NTBLCP), Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and University of Benin.
According to him, the partnership with the agencies and other stakeholders is to monitor, detect, document and report adverse drug reactions associated with medicines used in the TB programme.
“I will like to use this opportunity to call on all PAVIA partners to strengthen Pharmacovigilance systems in Nigeria particularly those related to NTBLCP.
“PAVIA partners should also effectively detect and report adverse reactions that may be associated with new drugs for Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis.
“This is pertinent because Nigeria is classified amongst the 14 countries with high burden of MDR-TB and TB/HIV disease,” he said.
According to him, TB incidence rate in 2016 indicates 219 per 100,000 population with 407,000 estimated cases.
He said that the mortality rate of all forms of TB excluding HIV with TB stood at 62 per 100,000 population during the period.
The minister urged all the major partners and stakeholders to strengthen their coordination mechanism to effectively implement PAVIA project in the country.
He expressed confident that the meeting would provide the forum for sensitisation and mobilisation for the implementation of PAVIA project in Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, explained that PAVIA project was to strengthen Pharmacovigilance (PV) in four African countries of Ethiopia, Nigeria, Swaziland and Tanzania.
She stated that the project would enhance governance of PV systems by strengthening regulatory and organisational structures as well as defining clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders.
“It will improve efficiency and effectiveness of national surveillance of adverse drug reaction and implementation of tools and technologies for their detection, reporting, analysis and dissemination.
“It will build capacity and skills to sufficiently conduct safety monitoring activities throughout the country,” Adeyeye said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by NAFDAC in collaboration with NTBLCP, IHVN, University of Benin and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. (NAN)
MS/DOE/MST
Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

2019: Sen. Nyako emerges Adamawa ADC guber candidate

Candidate

By Yakubu Uba

Yola, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Abdul-Azeez Nyako, representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District, has emerged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for 2019 general elections in Adamawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nyako recently defected from All Progressives Congress (APC) to ADC.

Announcing the emergence of Nyako at the conclusion of the party governorship primaries on Monday in Yola, the Chairman of the Primaries Committee who is also the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Baba Abdullahi, said Nyako who is the only aspirant for the seat, was endorsed by the 2,235 delegates that voted in the election.

Abdullahi said that 2,274 delegates were accredited and cast their votes out of which 39 votes were invalid.

Also, the Adamawa ADC Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Hammanjulde, lauded the delegates for their matured conduct and called for a more united ADC ahead of 2019.

Hammanjulde, who said there are 90 aspirants hoping to get the party tickets for 2019, assured that it would ensure level playing field for all.

In his acceptance speech, Nyako thanked the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him and promised not to disappoint them.

“This is a very important day in my life. I am humbled and grateful to God.

“We have a big job ahead of us as the people of Adamawa are now highly distressed and need to be rescued,” Nyako said.

While promising to carry everyone along, Nyako said his priority when elected would be education, agriculture, health, youth empowerment and security which included farmers/herders crisis and drug abuse among youths.

He said that with about 300,000 card carrying members of the party so far registered in the state, the party was ready to face any political party at the poll.

“We are eager to go even now. We are waiting for INEC to blow the whistle,” Nyako said. (NAN)
YMU/IA

Train
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Abuja Rail Mass Transit on Monday commenced commercial train services on the Airport-Idu-Central Area metro line, Mr Okey Ugwuanyi, Airport Station Manager, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ugwuanyi said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), had been running free services since the inauguration of the metro line by President Muhammadu Buhari in July.

He said that the cost of the ticket was set at N1,000 for adult on the airport to metro station, N500 on Idu to Airport and N500 on Idu to Metro station.

According to him, children will pay N700 between airport and metro station, N300 between Airport and Idu while persons living with disabilities would pay N500 and N250 respectively on the routes.

Ugwuanyi also disclosed that the management had only approved two trips per day into and from the airport, adding that effort was being made to increase the frequency as soon as possible.

He added that more locomotives and coaches would be added to boost the conveyance of early morning passengers and airport workers.

“We have been running free services for the past one month and today is the beginning of our commercial operation.

“From this airport station to the metro station, we charge N1,000 per adult passenger; from here to Idu, we charge N500 and from Idu to Metro station, we charge N500.

“We charge N700 from the airport to the Metro station and N300 to Idu for children while persons living with disabilities are being charged N500 and N250 respectively.

“Our current operation is two trips per day from the airport to the metro station in the town and from the metro station to the airport.

“The train takes off from Idu at 9:20 a.m. to metro station, leaves for the airport at 10.00 a.m. and arrives at the airport at 10:40 a.m.

“The train departs from the airport at 1:30 p.m, to arrive at the metro station at 2:10 p.m. while the second trip commences from metro station at 2:30 p.m. to arrive the airport at 3:10 p.m.

“Finally, it leaves the airport at 4:20 p.m. to arrive metro station at 5:00 p.m.,’’ he said.

A passenger, Mr Chinedu Opara, described the metro line project as a good development, adding that the system had made movement to the airport so easy.

Opara said the stress of looking for cab, paying high cost and the risk of insecurity on the road had been addressed by the rail line.

He, however, urged the FCTA to look review downward the N1,000 ticket cost and increase the frequency of train service for greater access to more air passengers.

Mr Ahmed Shehu, a legal practitioner, commended the government for completing the project, adding that the train station had added more beauty to the airport.

Shehu, a retired Director from the Ministry of Transportation, said that the train service was cheaper, safer and faster for airport users than to using cabs.

He that that the downward review was imperative in the interest of of the low and medium income earners who might find it difficult to use the train.

“In every respect, this is a welcome development and a great relief because this is the kind of infrastructure that we have looked forward to getting from the government in the past.

“Unfortunately, it is coming this rather late but it is a good development.

“In terms of comparison with using taxi to and from airport, this is a lot cheaper, safer and probably even faster and in terms of the cost, no taxi can charge less than N3,000 to town but this is N1,000.

“But again, relatively speaking, government still needs to consider the low and average income level of not only the users of the airport but the surrounding villagers as well.

“Perhaps, N500 should be appropriate because the socio-economic environment of Nigeria is not so encouraging at the moment.

“Youths are out of job and agriculture is rather unsustainable around here. So, I will say it is a bit costly and I appeal to the authority to see to it that this cost is reduced.

“Our people should be accommodated in a manner that will enable them to enjoy the fallout of democratic government,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that Buhari, had in July inaugurated the metro line into the airport, while the FCTA commenced operation with free train services till Sept. 21. (NAN)
OYS/FF/NKO
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Nkechi Okoronkwo

New Legal Year: S/Court delivers 297 judgments in 2017/2018 legal year.

Judgments

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, Sept.24, 2018 (NAN) The Supreme Court said it delivered 297 judgments by the close of the 2017/2018 legal year.

Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) disclosed this on Monday in an address at the special session to mark the commencement of the 2018/2019 Legal Year in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony also witnessed the swearing-in of 30 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Onnoghen further said the court considered 1,540 matters comprising motions, appeals and judgments.

The CJN said the court treated 824 civil and 273 criminal motions totaling 1097.

According to him, the court has also considered 438 appeals comprising 246 civil and 192 criminal.

“A total of 297 judgments were delivered by the close of the 2017/2018 legal year.

“This is by all means an impressive report considering the persistent and increasing volume of the cases that continued to come before the court.

“I attribute this impressive performance to the hard work of judicial officers, support staff and the reforms we are implementing to improve justice delivery.

“As we sit daily and sometimes conduct special sittings to clear backlog of cases, we remain committed to expeditious dispensation of justice.

“As we acknowledge noticeable improvement in the disposition of cases, we are not resting on our laurels. This court will therefore continue to strive for speedy disposal of cases that come before us,’’ Onnohgen said.

On the international scene, the CJN said the country’s justice reform had attracted recognition and reward.

“I was recently conferred with the Michael Hill Prize by the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law in Montreal, Canada.

“I was also in Vienna, Austria at the launch of the Global Judicial Integrity Network by the United Nations Office on Drugs in April.

“I am happy to inform you that one of our judges, Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State, was nominated to serve on the Advisory Board of this important body,’’ the CJN said.

Meanwhile, Onnoghen urged the newly sworn-in Senior Advocates of Nigeria to shun corruption, adding that the system would not hesitate to withdraw such privilege from anyone who abused the rank.

“The rank is the zenith of the legal practice and the highest honour conferred by noble profession.

“It is rare privilege bestowed on eminently deserving members of the Bar who have distinguished themselves in the knowledge, practice of and contribution to the law, having passed through rigorous processes’’, Onnoghen said.

Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation(AGF), said the commencement of the new legal year offered an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of the past year and to review the strategies to confront them.

Malami, also the Minister of Justice, said the occasion provided legal practitioners another opportunity to rededicate themselves to the rule of law.

The AGF, represented by Mr Dayo Apata, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would continue to ensure the independence of the Judicial and Legislative arms of government.

According to the AGF, such independence will ensure that the two arms of government play their constitutional roles in a more robust manner.

“His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, earlier in the year, assented to the 4^th Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which amended Section 121 of the Constitution.

“This is to provide that monies due to the judiciary in the Annual Budget should henceforth be paid directly to the heads of the courts and that of the legislature also paid to the heads thereof.

“This alteration, without doubt, finally answers to the need to have more independent and impartial courts at the federal and state levels and will certainly advance the cause of the Rule of Law in our country,’’ he said.

Also, Malami expressed delight that the country’s judicial system continued to enrich the inner bar with experienced hands.

The AGF said the roll call of lawyers sworn-in as Senior Advocates of Nigeria was indicative of the quality of legal practitioners the country paraded.

“I am convinced, considering your years of toil and labour and the painstaking selection process through which you have emerged, that you are deserving of this eminent rank.

“I therefore charge you to remain shining lights in the practice of law within and outside of Nigeria. I must however hasten to add that there are corresponding duties and responsibilities that go with your new rank.

“A Senior Advocate of Nigeria has a duty to exhibit the highest form of decorum, discipline and dedication to the course of justice and fair play,” the AGF said.

Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), the President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria must ensure they were responsible to their colleagues of the Outer Bar and in particular the army of young lawyers under their tutelage.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) on July 12, elevated 31 legal practitioners to the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

They were Madu Abuchi, Essien Udom, Prof. Oluyemisi Bangbose, Metong Urombo, Prof. Waha Egbewole, George Igbokwe, Olubowale Taiwo, Oluwole Iyamu, Adekole Olawoye, Stephen Adehi and Olusuen Akinbiyi.

Others are: Emmanuel Achukwu, Kenneth Ahia, Loius Alozie. Prof. Isa Chiroma, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, Johnson Ojo, Wole Agunbiade, Olayode Delano, Tanimu Inuwa, Sonny Wogu and Prof. Offorinze Amucheazi.

The rest are: Adewale Atake, Mosediq Kazeem, Edmund Obiagwu, Prof. Muhammed Mustapha-Akanbi, Cosmas Enweluzo, Isiaka Mudi as well as Olabode Olanipekun.

NAN, however, reports that Ikhide Ehighelua’s conferment was striped on account of a petition brought against him.

The committee had also gone ahead to bar Ehighelua from applying for the rank for the next five years or five applications beginning from 2019. (NAN)

OMO/IA

Resettlement

By Cecilia Ijuo

Abuja, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno), on Monday urged the Federal Government to increase the amount set aside for the reconstruction of the North-East.

Ndume, who made the call when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said the call became necessary in view of the pressures from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and increase in the price of oil to 80 dollars per barrel.

He said that the budgetary allocation of 45 billion naira for the reconstruction of the zone was not enough.

“In one or two areas in Borno State especially Marge and Abadan, the Nigerian Army took over that place for a very long time, but the people have not been able to go back because the houses have not been rebuilt and these things cannot be done by the state government.

“In fact that is why the whole world is so worried.

“In Norway last year, just within four hours, the international community raised over 240 million US dollars.

“This year I think as at last month the international contribution for the humanitarian crisis has gone up to about 540 million dollars; but the Nigerian government is budgeting just 45 billion, which is too small coupled with the fact that now the price of oil has gone up to 80 (dollars per barrel).

“I am using this forum to call on the Nigerian Government to do more or to put in more.

“One of the major challenges that I am constantly facing from my electorate or my people is, they want to go back home. They really want to go back home.

“We have IDPs  in Abuja in 14 camps. I have stopped visiting them because each time I go there, they ask me the same question. When are we going back home and I have no concrete answer for them.

“I think the government should follow the insurgency with resettling the people.

“It is only when people are back to their localities, the schools take off, hospitals off and the civil authority takes off that you will say that  normalcy has returned to those areas,’’ he said.

Ndume, however, urged the people to be patient as the Federal Government had concluded plans to resettle them.

He praised the Federal Government for ensuring that normalcy returned to the zone. (NAN)

CJM/YEE

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Roads

By Tukur Muntari

Kano, Sept. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) has selected 30 dilapidated roads in Kano metropolis for immediate rehabilitation.

The Managing Director of the agency, Idris Dawakin Tofa disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

He said the roads were selected out of 80 requiring urgent attention as a result of their deplorable condition due to the rains.

“We have about 80 dilapidated roads in Kano and its environs but we have selected 30 of them that are in need of urgent attention.

Dawakin Tofa attributed the delay in the commencement of the repair work to persistent rainfall, adding that they are also awaiting the release of funds.

He assured the residents of the state that the agency would commence work on the affected roads in the next two weeks as the rains have started to subside.

According to him, the agency has identified indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water ways as one of the factors responsible for the damage of most of the township roads in the state.

“We have to clear all the drainage blocked by refuse before the commencement of the repairs of all the selected roads in the metropolis.”

The managing director said the state government was committed to providing the necessary funds for the immediate rehabilitation of the remaining 50 roads to ease human and vehicular movement in the city.

He urged the residents of Kano to exercise more patience as the agency would commence work on the affected roads soon.

According to him, the agency had identified other bad roads in some local government areas of the state for immediate repairs. (NAN)
MTM/MZA

Almajiri

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Sept 24.2018(NAN) A  Cleric and Social Activist, Rev. Ladi Thompson, has appealed to government at all levels to initiate policies that are aimed at tackling the almajiri syndrome in Nigeria.

Thompson made the appeal during an interactive session on Monday in Kaduna held on actualising  the potential of Nigerian children forced to beg on the streets and public places in order to fend for themselves under the guise of acquiring Qur’an education.

According to him, establishment of  feeding centres for the almajiris will go a long way towards discouraging the group of children  from going about towns and cities to beg for alms and food.

Thompson, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Non-Violence For African Development (NOVAD), an NGO, said it was urgent and important to address the plight of vulnerable children acquiring Qur’anic education under horrific circumstances.

“If I must confess since 1979 I have been observing almajiri issues, what I am going to do with the issues,” Thompson said.

He said people constituted Nigeria’s most precious resources which should be harnessed for its growth and development rather than natural resources such as petroleum that government was busy prospecting in many states in the country for the riches.

“We must establish it that the most precious and valuable resources a nation has, is its people”, he added.

He further said almajiris was the most important single group in Nigeria and West Africa that carried potentials in terms of its number, adding that the group needed support to give their best.

“ If we don’t invest in their lives, we are creating a wastage that this country will never recover.

“There  are things that are important and some are urgent.

“The almajiri issues in Nigeria are most important and urgent to be addressed,”Thompson said

Earlier, Coordinators  of NOVAD in the state, Rev. John Hayab and Sheikh Haliru Maraya, said in their separate remarks that proper upbringing of children is a collective responsibility involving parents, government, communities and other relevant stakeholders.

According to them, every child has a potential and should  be given access to opportunities to actualise his or her God-given  talents.

On his own part, the state Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, called for the right empowerment programmes for the almajiris in order to address some of  their challenges.

Also speaking  the State Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Malam Ibrahim Kufena, urged parents to take their responsibility seriously by fending for their children placed under the tutelage of an Islamic scholar of their choice.

“Allowing the children jumping around looking for food instead of looking toward education is a serious threat to the society.”

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the NGO provided 50 pairs of clothes, shoes, and four cartons of cream to 50 almajiris at the venue of the interactive session. (NAN)

TJ/OSA/MZA

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Maharazu Ahmed