Blog

Vote- buying
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The European Union (EU) Election Observers say they will  monitor Saturday’s  governorship election in Osun with an eye on vote-buying.

Mr Ketil Karlsen, the EU ambassador to Nigeria,  said this at a news conference on Friday in Osogbo.

Karlsen said that the EU was hopeful that the modalities put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to check  vote-buying during the election would yield positive results.

While commending INEC on its preparation, Karlsen said the global community  would be watching the conduct of the election,  being the last  before the 2019 general elections.

Karlsen, who noted that more than 28 diplomatic observers from different countries were in the state for the election, said EU  was committed to the continued consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

“We are neutral in this election. We are not here to promote any candidate or political party.

“But we are here to promote the process that would lead to credible, free and fair elections  in Nigeria and we hope to see credible election on Saturday.

“We are also here to see stability and continuity in Nigeria,” Karlsen said.

Also speaking, Mr Dominic Williams, the Political Councillor, British High Commission, said the Osun election would be a signal to the 2019 general elections.

Williams said the EU would be watching to see how the election would be conducted and its impact on the 2019 general elections.

“We want free, fair and credible elections  and we want candidates to show respect for the rule of the game and shun violence.

“We also appeal to the more the 1.2 million people that have collected their Permanent Voter Cards to come out en mass to vote,’’ Williams said.

In his remarks, Mr David Young, Deputy Chief of Mission,  United States embassy, said the US was committed to transparent and credible elections  in Nigeria.

Young said the EU would continue to support the process that would promote peaceful elections.

While commending INEC for what it  had done so far, Young urged the security agencies to be neutral in the election. (NAN)
VE/JTJ/OJO
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(Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Mufutau Ojo)

Over 3m people die from harmful use of alcohol yearly – WHO

Alcohol

By Vivian Ihechu

Lagos, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Over three million people are reported to have died as a result of harmful use of alcohol in 2016, a report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said.

According to the report, “Global status report on alcohol and health 2018,” this represents one in 20 deaths.

It said, however, generally, the harmful use of alcohol caused more than 5 per cent of the global disease burden.

The report also said over three quarters of these deaths were among men.

Of all deaths attributable to alcohol, 28 per cent were due to injuries, such as those from traffic crashes, self-harm and interpersonal violence.

It said 21 per cent was due to digestive disorders and 19 per cent due to cardiovascular diseases.

The remaining were due to infectious diseases, cancers, mental disorders and other health conditions.

In spite of some positive global trends in the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and number of alcohol-related deaths since 2010, the overall burden of disease and injuries caused by the harmful use of alcohol is unacceptably high.

This is particularly in the European Region and the Region of Americas, said the report.

It added that globally an estimated 237 million men and 46 million women suffered from alcohol-use disorders.

The highest prevalence is among men and women in the European region (14.8 per cent and 3.5 per cent) and the Region of Americas (11.5 per cent and 5.1 per cent), and that alcohol-use disorders are more common in high-income countries.

The report predicted that the global consumption would increase in the next 10 years.

On the quantity of alcohol being consumed, it is estimated that the average daily consumption of people who drink alcohol is 33 grams of pure alcohol a day.

This is roughly equivalent to two glasses (each of 150 ml) of wine, a large (750 ml) bottle of beer or two shots (each of 40 ml) of spirits.

Worldwide, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of all 15–19-year-olds are current drinkers.

The report said the rates of current drinking were highest among 15–19-year-olds in Europe (44 per cent), followed by the Americas (38 per cent) and the Western Pacific (38 per cent).

School surveys indicate that, in many countries, alcohol use starts before the age of 15 with very small differences between boys and girls.

Worldwide, 45 per cent of total recorded alcohol is consumed in the form of spirits; beer is the second alcoholic beverage in terms of pure alcohol consumed (34 per cent) followed by wine (12 per cent).

The report called for the need for more countries to take action to curb the trend.

“Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke.

“It’s time to step up action to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies.

“We would like to see Member States implement creative solutions that will save lives, such as taxing alcohol and restricting advertising.

“We must do more to cut demand and reach the target set by governments of a 10% relative reduction in consumption of alcohol globally between 2010 and 2025,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, said.

Also, Dr Vladimir Poznyak, Coordinator of WHO’s Management of Substance Abuse unit, said: “All countries can do much more to reduce the health and social costs of the harmful use of alcohol.

“Proven, cost-effective actions include increasing taxes on alcoholic drinks, bans or restrictions on alcohol advertising, and restricting the physical availability of alcohol,’’ Poznyak said. (NAN)

VIV/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

================

World Peace Day: Aisha Buhari canvasses justice, equity
By Isaac Aregbesola
Peace
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has canvassed for a society where justice and equity reigns as the world marked 70th anniversary of UN Peace Day.
She made the appeal on Friday in Abuja at the 2018 UN Peace Day celebration organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).
She was represented by a former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mrs Pauline Tallen.
She described this year’s theme, “The Right to Peace – The Universal Declaration of Human Right at 70’’, as apt in the light of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.
According to her, peace is only possible when there is equal access to justice.
“’Peace is feasible only when we promote peace and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels,” she said.
The UNESCO Regional Director, Ydo Yao, who represented the Director-General of UNESCO, Audray Azoulay, noted that peace would remain elusive as long as cases of human rights violations still persist.
“There will be no peace on this planet as long as human rights are violated somewhere in the world.”
Axoulay explained that on this International Day of Peace, the words of René Cassin, one of the architects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, remind us that “peace will remain an unattainable ideal as long as fundamental human rights are not respected’’.
She said that respect for the fundamental human rights was a prerequisite for a peaceful society, in which everyone can fully enjoy equal and inalienable rights.
“Peace is imperfect and fragile unless everyone benefits from it; human rights are either universal or they are not.
“This intrinsic link between peace and respect for human rights is the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace, as this year we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“The ideals of peace and universal rights are challenged and violated on a daily basis,” she said.
The Royal Father of the Day, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, the Emir of Bade, Yobe State, said there was need for a role for traditional institutions in enthroning lasting peace in the country.
“I appeal to the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and her partners to consider the role of the traditional rulers as consequential to the recovery of peace and sustainable rulers in the country on conflict resolution.
“On daily basis we resolve many conflicts in our respective domains to ensure orderliness.
“I therefore urge the Federal Government to provide IPCR funds for the training of royal father’s in mediation and conflict resolution.
“We shall do our best as royal father’s to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people of the country,” he said.
The Acting Director-General of IPCR, Dr Bakut Bakut, had earlier said the institute had in pursuance of peace in Nigeria and beyond, established National Peace Academy, with the hope to produce peace advocates throughout the country.
Bakut said that the importance of peace in any given society could not be overemphasised, noting this underscored the fact that peace is necessary condition for any development to take place.
He called on political leaders and their followers to pursue peace at all cost as the nation moved closer to 2019 elections. (NAN)
IAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

We’ve no hidden $470.5m, N8bn in commercial banks – NNPC
By Edith Ike-Eboh
NNPC
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has no hidden 470.5 million dollars and N8 billion in any commercial bank as alleged by the Nigerian police.
The NNPC in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja on Friday, explained that the allegation was not only misplaced but equally misleading.
He stated that the corporation had no funds hidden in any commercial bank as the Presidency, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are fully aware of.
According to Ughamadu, the AGF and CBN receives periodic status reports on balances yet to be remitted to TSA by commercial banks.
“Following TSA implementation, the Corporation had made a report to the Presidency on the failure of some commercial banks to complete transfer of US dollar deposits.
“A Presidential directive was issued for the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that the funds were completely transferred to the Corporation’s Treasury Single Account in US dollars.
“Most of the commercial banks have since complied with the Presidential directive and completed transfer to the Corporation’s Treasury Single Account in US dollars, including the reported $470.5 million,’’ he said.
On the purported recovery of N8 billion by the Nigeria Police Force, he said the corporation was not aware of any change in the subsisting Presidential directive to the effect that all of the US dollar balances must be transferred to NNPC’s CBN Treasury Single Account in US dollars.
He noted that no such funds had been deposited into the corporation’s CBN Treasury Single Account.
“Consequently, NNPC’s record of the US dollar funds still yet to be transferred by a few commercial banks cannot reflect the said recovery.
“While the Central Bank of Nigeria executes the Presidential directive to ensure complete transfer of US dollar funds to the Corporation’s CBN Treasury Single Account, it is pertinent to reiterate that NNPC will resist every attempt to subject these funds, which have been in the full view of Government, to five per cent whistle blowing fees,’’ he added.
This, he said, would be unreasonable and a sheer waste of public funds.
Ughamadu said that the NNPC as an entity with fiduciary responsibility to the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, its commitment to transparency and accountability remained unwavering.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Police Force on Thursday said it had succeeded in recovering monies belonging to the NNPC Brass/LNG Investment, which were supposed to be deposited in the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) of the federal government.
According to a statement by the police, the money includes “$470,519,889.10 belonging to NNPC Brass LNG Investment hidden in some commercial banks after the directives of the federal government on TSA’’.
The statement also alleged that recovered by the police was the sum of N8,807,264,834.96 belonging to NNPC/Brass Investment that was not remitted to TSA Account of the federal government (NAN)
ENO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Kwankwaso: Restructuring will speed up Nigeria’s development

Restructuring

By Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Friday said the country would witness accelerated development if restructured.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, expressed the view in Lagos while addressing party delegates at the PDP secretariat.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kwankwaso’s visit was in continuation of his tour of state chapters to seek support for his aspiration.

The aspirant said restructuring would strengthen the various federating units to reach their potential to promote the country’s prosperity.

Kwankwaso said he was a strong advocate of restructuring, and would speed up the development of the country, if elected president.

“There have been agitations for restructuring in the South West and other parts of the country.

“Let me assure you that I am for anything that would promote the country’s progress.

“I am for anything that would deliver democratic dividends. I support restructuring and I am going to implement it if elected, ” he said.

The aspirant said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed in the delivery of its electoral promises to Nigerians.

He said the ruling party had not been able to address security and economic challenges, among other problems facing the country.

Kwankwaso said the PDP would provide the kind of impactful leadership needed to reposition the country, if elected.

He said he had the capacity, experience and passion to turn the country around.

The aspirant appealed to Lagos delegates to vote for him at the convention.

He said apart from having the capacity to deliver, he was the only aspirant with the wide support needed to defeat the APC.

On why he left the PDP in 2014 to join the APC, Kwankwaso said he did so because of the problems in PDP then.

He said he was back because of the new spirit in the PDP, and that it was the only party that could move the country forward.

“When we left the PDP, we thought it was the worst party due to the crisis then.

“Now, the party has been repositioned and we are back.

“We have since realised that PDP is 1000 times better than the APC.

“We are back in the PDP to join forces with our great party men to ensure we defeat the failed APC in 2019,” he said.

The aspirant expressed regret that PDP had never won Lagos despite the strategic importance of the state politically.

He promised to mobilise his supporters in the Kwankwasiya Movement and others to ensure that the party wins the 2019 governorship election in the state.

Speaking, a PDP chieftain in the state, Alhaji Adegoke Adejumo, thanked Kwankwaso for the visit, saying the chapter supported his vision for a better Nigeria. (NAN)
BHB/IKU/SOA

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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Oluwole Sogunle

NiMet predicts rains, thunderstorms for Saturday

Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted chances of rainfall and thunderstorm activities over most parts of the country on Saturday.
NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Friday, predicted partly cloudy to cloudy conditions over the Central states in the morning hours.
It predicted scattered thunderstorms over Abuja, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and Yola in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 28 to 30 and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted partly cloudy conditions over the Northern region in the morning with thundery activities over Southern Borno in the afternoon and evening hour.
It also predicted day and night temperatures in the ranges of 28 to 34 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively during the forecast period.
According to NiMet, Southern states will experience thunderstorms and rain showers throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 27 to 30 and 21 to 24
respectively. (NAN)
OYS/IKU/ABI
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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Association set to educate Nigerian employees on occupational safety
By Talatu Maiwada
Employees
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Occupational Safety and Health of Nigeria (OSHA Association), a Non-Profit International Organisation, says it will educate employees of public and private sector organisations on occupational safety, health, security and environment.
Dr Dalhatu Ahmed, the Regional President of the association, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Ahmed said that the association which has a global commitment of promoting safety and saving lives would be organising a workshop on `Practical Steps to Fire Prevention and Control Techniques’.
“The workshop is part of our corporate social responsibility to ensure that employees in the public and private sectors learn new updates to ensure fire preventions at the work place.
“The Association has been certified by Federal Fire Service as an active supporter and partner in promotion of fire prevention in Nigeria and her effort in upholding safety of lives and properties.
“International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has also recognised the roles and achievements of OSHA Association as one of its key stakeholders,’’ he said.
Ahmed added that the workshop is scheduled to hold on Sept. 28, at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Hall, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, at 9 a.m.
He said that the event would be declared opened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, as good will messages by the Permanent Secretary Service Welfare and other top officials would be taken. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Gynaecologist decries high rate of death resulting from pregnancy, childbirth
By Ummul Idris
Deaths
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Dr Liman Mohammed, a Gynecologist based in Abuja, has decried the high rate of deaths resulting from pregnancy and childbirth in the country.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that about 287,000 women die every year as a result of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth or postpartum across the world.
He noted that almost all 98 per cent of these preventable deaths occur in developing countries.
According to him, the difference in maternal mortality rates between developed and developing countries are the biggest global health inequity today.
He said: “Every year more than 8 million children under five years of age die from preventable causes and many 40 per cent within the first 28 days of life.’’
Mohammed said that concentrating on addressing the direct obstetric causes of maternal mortality was insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
The physician noted that maternal and newborn mortality in low- and middle-income countries was heavily impaired by neglected diseases.
He said “taken together HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are among the leading causes of maternal mortality’’.
He stated that maternal mortality was unacceptably high, adding that about 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day.
According to him, it is estimated that in 2015, roughly 303,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth.
“Almost all of these deaths occurred in lost resource settings, and most could have been prevented.
“The high number of maternal deaths in some areas of the world reflects inequities in access to health services, and highlights the gap between rich and poor.
“The major complications that account for nearly 75 per cent of all maternal deaths are severe bleeding which is mostly bleeding after childbirth, infections which are usually after childbirth.
“Others include high blood pressure during pregnancy, complications from delivery and unsafe abortion,’’ said the expert. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Malnutrition, leading cause of death among children – Paediatrician
By Ummul Idris
Malnutrition
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Dr Anna Shafe, a Paediatrician, has attributed the leading cause of death among children less than three years to malnutrition.
Shafe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that half of all deaths in children less than three years had malnutrition as the underlying cause.
According to her, these children will have recovered from common child diseases if they had not been malnourished, but because they are malnourished they die.
She noted that management of severe acute malnutrition focuses mainly on reducing mortality.
She however said that management of moderate acute malnutrition was more focused on preventing mortality by reducing further deterioration of nutritional status.
The paediatrician described malnutrition as multifaceted, adding that it encompasses both over nutrition which is mainly associated with overweight and obesity.
She added that under nutrition, which is another term in malnutrition, referred to multiple conditions including acute and chronic malnutrition and micro nutrient deficiencies.
She noted that chronic malnutrition results from insufficient intake or absorption of essential nutrients over a protracted period.
According to her, the most commonly used indicator of chronic malnutrition is associated with developmental impairments and reduced economic potential later in life.
She said that micro nutrient deficiency was a form of chronic malnutrition that could have marked impacts on health, development and productivity, over the lifespan.
She said that the impacts of chronic malnutrition were particularly pronounced when they occurred in the first years of life, which she said was a period of rapid growth and development.
According to her, acute malnutrition results from sudden reductions in food intake or diet quality and is often combined with pathological causes. (NAN)
UMD/OOA/MST
Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Muhammad Suleiman Tola