Blog

Expert warns against use of onion, urine, breast milk to treat eye infection

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Practices
By Yashim Katurak Rebecca
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Dr Sewuese Bitto, Head, Department of Ophthalmology, Garki Hospital, Abuja, has warned against the use of harmful substances such as onion fluid, breast milk, urine and battery water in treating eye infection.

Bitto, who gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja said such practices were dangerous and harmful to the eyes.

The HOD, who was speaking on the sidelines of the celebration of `World Sight Day’, a day set aside annually to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.

Bitto, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, urged those with eye infection to seek professional medical assistance in treating infections.

“People need to also stop the use of traditional harmful practices like use of breast milk, urine, onion fluid, battery water, saying these could be dangerous to the eyes.

“Although some of these practices were handed over to us from past generations, they are wrong.

“Please, take this information to your families, neighbours and friends; everybody needs to stop the use of these harmful substances in the eyes, because we are the ones battling with complications that arise from this in the hospitals.

“Immediately something happens to someones’ eyes, you see people advising them to use things like this to treat their eyes.

“We want people to be informed and equipped with the information that these practices are harmful and bad,” Bitto said.

The theme for this year’s celebration is `Universal Eye Health’. (NAN)
KRY/DO/TON
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By David Onilede/Tony Nezianya

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Projects
By David Adeoye
Oye(Ekiti), Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Contractors handling projects at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti in Ekiti State have been warned to complete the projects in November or risk revocation of their contracts.

Mr Musa Odiniya, the Deputy Director of Procurement in the Federal Ministry of Education gave the warning on Thursday when he led a team of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Government Projects to the university.

Odiniya said that the committee would not hesitate to take punitive measures against erring contractors.

He warned that Tripod Nigeria Ltd. and Dumaco Best, handling the Central Administrative Block and the University Library projects, respectively, must stick to the November, 2016 deadline agreed on.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, who conducted the team round the project sites, expressed disappointment at the slow pace of work on the two projects.

Soremekun scolded the contractors for delay.

“The works done so far are not commensurate with funds released to the contractors,’’ he said.

He also warned the contractors to double their efforts or risk forfeiting the contracts.

The vice chancellor applauded the Federal Government for prompt release of funds for the projects, and promised to use them judiciously.

He pledged that his administration would continue to accord priority to projects that would positively impact on both staff and students

NAN reports that the committee comprises representatives of the
Tertiary Education Trust Fund, National Universities Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti is one of the nine federal universities established in January, 2011, by the Federal Government.

The university, which opened for full academic activities in 2012 with Prof. Chinedu Nebo, as the pioneer Vice Chancellor, has two campuses at Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti.

It has four faculties and 27 departments. (NAN)

DAK/AIB/IGO
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-64
Chibok
By Chijioke Okoronkwo
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) A security expert, Mr Lawrence Alobi, has said that the release of 21 of the kidnapped Chibok girls is a good beginning for the country.

Alobi, a former Commissioner of Police in the FCT, made the remark in his reaction to the Thursday release of 21 out of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls in Borno since April 14, 2014.

It would be recalled that 219 schoolgirls were abducted from their dormitory in Chibok
community Borno.

Alobi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that even though details of the release of the 21 girls
was still sketch, it was a commendable move.

He said “I do not have the details yet, but since government has secured their release,
let them release the remaining girls and not releasing them in batches.

“I believe it is sequel to negotiations and agreements.

“It is a good beginning; it is a good thing for the country.”

The Presidency had confirmed the release of 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls from their abductors.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, confirmed the release on his twitter handle on Thursday.

Shehu said the released girls were in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

He said the Director-General of DSS, Malam Lawal Daura, had briefed the President about the development. (NAN)
CJ/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

World bank group ready to support power sector development in Nigeria-Official

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Development

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja,Oct 13,2015(NAN) The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, says it is ready to assist Nigeria to develop its power sector if necessary challenges in the sector are settled.

The IFC Country Manager in Nigeria, Mrs Essien Lore, gave the assurance at the 5^th Annual Powering Africa Nigeria  Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, organised by Energy net, a United Kingdom-based  company, is designed to  forge partnership with investors on sustaining  energy in Africa and Nigeria.

It is also designed to evolve workable measures of ensuring energy access and energy efficiency in Nigeria’s power sector.

Lore said that the challenge with the nation’s power sector was not just the issue of liquidity, but sectorial issues.

She said in spite of the success recorded so far in the nation’s power sector over the years, there was still some sectorial issues that needed the attention of all stakeholders.

She said the power sector was in a state of emergency, adding that solving it required a sense of urgency, coalition of public and private partners  with clear  defined actions.

She identified sectorial deficit, inadequate gas supply, sectorial  governance, transmission bottlenecks and inadequate  generation as  major challenges bedeviling the sector.

She, however, said that the World Bank group was ready to support well designed power projects in the country, noting that the group had eamarked millions of dollars to support  the development of power  in Nigeria.

“ As a member of World Bank group, from our perspective, the only thing that is preventing us from supporting more projects is the sector issues.“

She expressed believe that the challenges in the sector would be surmounted.

“We are on the right part and we are envisaging that the power issues we face today will be a thing of the past and the sector issues need to be  addressed.

She said investing in the power sector was an investment that would have ripple effect on the entire sectors, adding  that IFC was ready to support investment in the sector.

“We don’t have a problem of liquidity; the issue is to get the sector issues right and once we get them right the needed support will com.“

Ealier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Abubakar Magaji, said that buildings were major consumers of electricity generated.

Magaji, represented by Mrs Esther Okougha, Director, Engineering Services in the ministry, said 60 to 70 per cent of the grid generated energy was consumed by buildings.

Magaji said Nigeria had the plan of reaching 10,000 mega watts of electricity generation before 2020.

He said energy efficiency measures represented the cheapest way of improving the state of energy supply in Nigeria.

He said the Federal Government had launched a building energy efficiency guideline for Nigeria builders.

Magaji said the book was designed to guide builders on how to construct houses to ensure energy efficiency.(NAN)

KC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Nigeria registers 22,000 pharmacists since 1970 – Registrar
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Pharmacists
Lafia, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Thursday said it had registered over 22,000 qualified pharmacists since its inception in 1970.
The council’s registrar, Mr Elijah Mohammed, disclosed this in Lafia at a pharmacy stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Nasarawa State Chapter.
“I want to reveal to us today that we have 17 schools of pharmacy in Nigeria with more waiting for approval to commence.
“The council has registered over 22,000 pharmacists in Nigeria since its inception to ensure quality healthcare service delivery,’’ Mohammed said.
The registrar, who was represented by Mr Nwora Okpalaeke, called on drugs regulatory agencies to partner with PSN to tackle drug abuse and improve on the health of the populace.
He said that the council had rolled out plans to checkmate quackery in the profession, as it was hampering quality health care service delivery in the country.
Mohammed warned quack pharmacy practitioners to desist from their illegal activities or face the full wrath of the law.
According to him, pharmacy is the bridge between the product and patient, and the role of pharmacists in the society cannot be over-emphasised.
“Right from the points of manufacturing, handling to administration of medicine to the end-point, it needs to be handled by trained pharmacists in the industry, Muhammed said.
Earlier, PSN Nasarawa chapter chairman, Agada Vincent-Agada, said the stakeholders meeting was aimed at providing solution to the problems associated with drug administration in the country.
Vincent-Agada said: “Any pharmacist that is not operating according to the pharmaceutical ethics and values in the state will be shut.
“This is in the interest of the health of the people and for the overall development of the country,’’ Vincent-Agada said.
He advised the public on the dangers of self-medication, urging them to rather seek medical examination before taking drugs in the interest of their health and wellbeing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by the Police, National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and State Security Service.
The meeting had the theme: “Pharmacy Practice, Regulatory Agencies and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’’. (NAN)
AKW/COF/WOJ
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-62
Girls
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of Enugu on Thursday expressed joy over the release of some Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno in April 2014.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, the residents commended the move by the Federal Government that led to their release and called for immediate psycho-social support for the girls.

The Executive Director, Women Aid Collective (WACOL), Prof. Joy Ezeilo, said the federal government had done well in that move irrespective of the condition of their release.

Ezeilo, a former United Nations Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, said the development had given Nigerians hope that the remaining girls still in detention would be freed by the insurgents.

“The Federal Government should make sure that the girls receive all the counselings and psycho-socio support they need for reintegration into the society,” she said.

Ezeilo said even if the release of the girls was done on a swap deal between the government and insurgents, the process was a standard practice all over the world.

“Swap deal is allowed all over the world. It is done in exchange of prisoners and we welcome anything that will be done to release them,” Ezeilo said.

The Archbishop, Episcopal Province of Enugu, Anglican Communion, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, said the release of the girls was cheering news.

Chukwuma, however, faulted the manner of their release, saying,
“It is a good development but why are they releasing them bit by bit. There should have been a way to release all of them at once.

“We commend the federal government and urge them to make the girls comfortable before reintegrating them back to the society.”

The President, Coal City Literary Forum, Mrs Adaobi Nwoye, said it was gratifying the girls were still alive in spite of whatever condition they were in.

Nwoye appealed to the federal government to ensure prompt rehabilitation of the girls as well as make necessary efforts to release the remaining girls.

“We thank God the girls are still alive whatever may have happened. The most important thing is their release.

“Government should help them to pick up from where they stopped,” Nwoye said. (NAN)
EOA/MNA/IM

(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Ibrahim Mammaga)

NAN-H-47
Appetite
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) A lawmaker in Osun, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, has appealed to Nigerians to cut their appetite for foreign goods, blaming the phenomenon for the present state of the economy.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Osogbo, Olatunji said a cut in appetite for foreign goods would help the nation’s economy.

He said that the manner in which Nigerians spend foreign exchange on unnecessary imported goods was worrisome, and was killing the nation’s economy.

Olatunji, (APC-Ife North) who is the House Committee Chairman on Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, encouraged government at all levels to commit huge resources to agriculture.

He said government should ban the importation of luxury goods, adding that Nigerians also need to reflect on what their appetite for foreign goods was doing to the nation’s economy.

According to him, government needs to identify areas where the nation has comparative advantage and invest in them for the economy to grow.

“We must go back to all those things we have abandoned for foreign goods and invest massively in areas of our comparative advantage.

“It will not come cheap and it will be painful, but if we can endure and take these steps, the country will be better off for it,” the lawmaker said.

Olatunji said that Nigerians had to change their mindset and orientation about made in Nigeria products.

According to him, the country has what it takes to salvage the current economic recession.

The lawmaker also urged Nigerians to be patriotic and always put the country first. (NAN)

VE/AOS/SOA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Oluwole Sogunle

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Industries
By Muntari Tukur
Kano, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government has set aside N500 million as intervention fund for small and medium moribund industries, an official said on Thursday.

The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Rabiu Bako, disclosed this when he visited the Kaura Macaroni Company, Kano, makers of Kaura Macaroni and biscuit.

He said that the state government was determined to revamp ailing industries for economic development.

Bako said that the government had selected 50 small and medium scale industries for support to return them to full business.

He also said that the government had begun discussing with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to assist some of the industries with loans.

“This will enable us to support some of the ailing industries to return to operations and contribute to the economic growth of the state.

“The measure will also go a long way to reduce unemployment particularly among the youth,’’ he said.

The commissioner commended the Kaura Macaroni Company for repaying a loan it acquired, and gave the assurance that the government would give the company necessary support to resume full operations.

“We will visit all the selected 50 companies to see things for ourselves and device ways of assisting them,” the commissioner said.

Responding, the company’s Production Manager, Alhaji Umar Sani-Marshal, said that the company, established about 30 years ago, had the capacity to produce 3, 000 metric tonnes of macaroni per day.

He said that the company had to lay off some workers due to economic challenges. (NAN)
MTM/IS/IGO
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(Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz/Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-HG-8
Fluid
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Dr Adaora Ukoh, an Abuja-based Gynaecologist, has advised pregnant women with low amniotic fluid to constantly go for checkups to avoid complications.

Ukoh made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

She described low amniotic fluid as a condition in pregnancy characterised by a deficiency of amniotic fluid to protect the embryo.

According to her, the amount of amniotic fluid reflects the baby’s urine output which is an essential gauge of the baby’s wellbeing.

The gynaecologist explained that amniotic fluid provides a cushion that protects the baby from injury, allows growth, movement and development during pregnancy.

She also said that during pregnancy the amniotic fluid keeps the umbilical cord from being compacted between the baby and the uterine wall and also helps to maintain constant temperature in the womb.

Ukoh, however, said that chronic high blood pressure, use of certain medications, ruptured fetal membranes could predispose pregnant women to low amniotic fluid.

She also attributed the condition to multiple foetus, placenta peeling away from the inner wall of the uterus either partially or completely before delivery.

The expert noted that some health conditions in babies such as urinary tract and kidney problem, genetic disorder, as well as limited growth could cause the condition.

She then advised the treatment of low amniotic fluid to begin with drinking of more fluid, especially water in order to increase the liquid in the body.

She also suggested the use of amnion fusion, which is putting salty water into the uterus through the cervix by doctors in order to improve the amount of fluid in the womb.

She also recommended delivery of the baby early either by induced labour or Caesarean Section in dealing with the condition, saying it was key to saving the life of the baby. (NAN)
CSO/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

I don’t know source of Dariye’s N66m donation to PDP – witness

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Dariye
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Oct.13, 2016(NAN) Plateau PDP Deputy Chairman Maichibi Bwarji has told an FCT High Court that he has no knowledge of the source of Joshua Dariye’s N66 million donation in 2001.

Bwarji made this known during a cross examination by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), on Thursday.

The witness was shown the former Plateau governor’s statement where Dariye claimed that “PDP collected the sum of N66 million  for 274 wards’’.

He said that party’s National chairman had told the Plateau state party chairman during NEC meeting in Abuja that the money was  disbursed to fund the party.

Bwarji said the money was distributed to the 17 local government chairmen to disburse to the various wards and that the money was received by the financial secretary and given to the treasurer of the party.

He denied knowledge of the source of Dariye’s donation, adding: “as far as I am concerned, if donation is made to the party by a member of the party, it is accepted.’’

He also said that as long as it is government money, “it’s the party of the government.’’

Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the case till Oct. 17 for continuation of defence (NAN)
SET/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha