The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Bungled Abuja CCTV

    Bungled Abuja CCTV

    • Court says Federal Govt. must explain what happened to $460m Chinese loan

    Nigerians owe the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) a debt of gratitude for the serial progress being made in making governments accountable to Nigerians. The project has been tackling the government in this regard, which is a part of its core mandate. The latest of its success story has to do with the bungled $460m Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project.

    SERAP had dragged the Federal Government to court  over the project that was supposed to be executed with a Chinese loan. According to the project, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Government to “publish the total amount of money paid to Chinese and local companies and contractors and specific details of the names of the companies and contractors and status of the implementation of the project.” A statement released on Sunday by SERAP’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said Justice Emeka Nwite made the orders while delivering judgment on a Freedom of Information suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1447/2019, filed by SERAP against the government.

    The suit, according to him, was prompted by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed’s disclosure that Nigeria was servicing the loan but she had no idea of the status of the project. “We are servicing the loan. I have no information on the status of the CCTV project,” she was quoted to have said.

    Justice Nwite found merit in the suit.

    He also averred that SERAP filed the suit as part of its core objectives of promoting human rights, transparency and accountability and anti-corruption in Nigeria. He agreed with SERAP: “there is a reasonable cause of action against the government. Accounting for the spending of the $460m Chinese loan is in the interest of the public. It will be inimical for the court to refuse SERAP’s application for judicial review of the government’s action.”

    The judge dismissed the Federal Government’s claim that it did not receive Exhibit OS2 through which the project requested for details on the CCTV project under the Freedom of Information Act from the finance minister. Apparently sensing mischief, Justice Nwite said a letter sent by post with evidence is deemed under the law to have been delivered. “Following this principle of law and relying on exhibit OS2, SERAP’s Freedom of Information request sent to Ms Ahmed is deemed to have delivered. Therefore, the averment by the government (through her) that they were not served with the letter is hereby discountenance. I so hold.”

    Not only that, Justice Nwite also ordered the Federal Government to provide the details on whether the N1.5bn allegedly paid for the contract meant to construct the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau was part of another loan obtained from China.

    The judgment is a victory for the rule of law, transparency and accountability in government. All too often, government officials in this part of the world behave as if they are a law unto themselves. That is why many of them do so many things with impunity. That is why we have to commend SERAP for taking them to task and thereby helping majority of Nigerians who are fond of sleeping on their rights.

    The civil society group has become a thorn in the flesh of governments, particularly the Federal Government. Indeed, at a point in 2021, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, accused the organisation of engaging in what he described as publicity stunts through filing spurious litigations against President Muhammadu Buhari. He added that the group is little known and that it usually does not follow its allegations to a logical conclusion.

    This is far from being correct because we have had to comment on this page on some cases that SERAP had won against the government.

    With particular reference to the CCTV project, we dare say that but for this case filed by the civil society group, the matter would have been swept under the carpet. Nigerians have characteristically moved on despite the uproar that the project generated when the matter became public knowledge some years ago. We all know the importance of CCTV today, especially in a society with very serious security issues like ours.

    So, the government got a loan to have the Federal Capital Territory covered by CCTV and some people either embezzled or misappropriated the money. Meanwhile, the taxpayers are paying for a facility they are not enjoying as the finance minister said, that we are repaying the loan. This was our experience with many loans that the country obtained in the past.

    The court has ruled that the government owes Nigerians an explanation on how the loan was spent and the government must give the explanation. Where the Buhari government cannot get this done because it is on its way out, its successor must continue where the court stopped. Those saddled with the responsibility are not anonymous.  In or out of service, they must come to tell us what happened to the loan. Where they have no convincing story to tell, they should be arraigned in court with a view to getting those of them culpable convicted.

  • ‘Records of giant strides in employment promotion, empowerment’

    ‘Records of giant strides in employment promotion, empowerment’

    The Special Adviser to Governor Masari on Employment Promotion, Husain Adamu Karaduwa said the state government has not stopped making impact on employment promotion and empowerment

    Karaduwa, who spoke with some reporters in Katsina on the activities of his department in the last eight years, said he was tasked  by  Governor Aminu Bello Masari to do his best for the people of the state.

    He said: “Whatever the governor wanted to do, he will do it to the best of his ability. So, he took us to task to ensure that he got the best of us.

    “The mandates of the department, initially, were two: First, to ensure that youths were trained to acquire skills in many enterprises including plumbing, mechanic, tailoring, computer repairs and operation, fashion design, catering services and hospitality management.

    “The second mandate was employment promotion which essentially has to do with recruitment in two folds: military and para – military on one side, then civilian and federal parastatals. Whenever vacancies were declared and indigenes of the state applied, we will monitor and guide the process. When it was time for the candidates to be interviewed, we used to get there with a letter from the government to screen the candidates to ensure that the vacancies meant for Katsina State were only claimed by the state indigenes.

    “We have come across so many hurdles in doing that. We have detected many impostors and many intruders who  we were able to fish out and stopped from further participation. At the end of any recruitment, anybody  on the list as indigenes of Katsina State has been scrutinised, identified and confirmed as such. “

    Acknowledging the  governor’s achievements on  employment and vocational training development, the special adviser said the administration’s restoration agenda was fully enforced and made to yield fruits due to training and the turn out of many graduates of the vocational schools that are now working in different sectors.  

  • 50th anniversary: NYSC donates foodstuffs, beverages to orphanage home

    50th anniversary: NYSC donates foodstuffs, beverages to orphanage home

    In continuation of its 50th anniversary celebration, a team of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Katsina State visited the less privileged in Katsina orphanage home, “Gidan Marayu”, which literally means “Children Home”.

    The visit was also aimed at assisting the needy in the state.

    The  Katsina State Coordinator of NYSC, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad said the scheme was established by Decree No 24 of May, 1973.

    She said as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary, the NYSC in Katsina State has deemed it fit to visit the orphanage for the purpose of putting smiles on the faces of the children.

    She described the Katsina orphanage as peaceful and tidy.

    She assured the management of the facility that NYSC will maintain a tradition of visiting the home from time to time.

    She also encouraged the home managers to continue the good work they are doing in taking care of children who have no fathers or mothers.

    Items donated included some bags of rice, tins of vegetable oil, cartons of spaghetti, biscuits, toiletries among others .

    Receiving the items, the Welfare Officer in charge of the orphanage, Abdullahi Bala Danmusa appreciated the NYSC for the assistance.

    He also promised that the items donated will be used judiciously for the welfare of the children.

  • Masari inaugurates N4.3b legacy flyover project

    Masari inaugurates N4.3b legacy flyover project

    Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has commissioned a N4.3billion legacy flyover, which is located at the central roundabout in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in the state capital.

    The project, which began last May, was  part of the state government’s urban renewal plan of the outgoing administration.

    According to a former Commissioner for Works, Tasiu Dandogoro, the project was expected to decongest traffic, especially during festive periods.

    The infrastructure was one of the three multi-billion Naira road projects of the administration of Masari.

    The other two underpasses, sited in  Kofan Kwaya and Kofan Kaura roundabouts and executed at the cost of N5.8billion, were earlier commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari when he was in the state on an official visit some months ago.

    The commissioning of the flyover  was considered Masari’s last major official assignment before handing over to an incoming administration of Dr. Dikko Radda on May 29.

    The outgoing governor had earlier met with elders in the state, including the emirs of Katsina and Daura, Alhajis Abdulmumini Usman and Farouk Umar, during farewell visits

    Masari thanked them for their support during his eight-year tenure.

    He solicited the same backing for the next governor.

  • Buhari: I’m battling to cope with last-minute pressure

    Buhari: I’m battling to cope with last-minute pressure

    • Military top brass sends off C-in-C •President charges Armed Forces to do more on security

    President Muhammadu Buhari is battling with enormous pressure as his administration winds down.

    On a day he juggled many activities, including inaugurating no fewer than eight projects, he also left a parting message to the military: do not give up until the battle against insurgency is won.

    President Buhari spoke on Tuesday night at the Regimental Dinner organised in his honour by the Armed Forces at the newly commissioned Nigerian Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Asokoro in Abuja.

    He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Salihi Magashi; the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and Service chiefs.

    The President said he could not wait to exit office in four days as the pressures of the last lap of activities were taking a toll on him.

    President Buhari, who unusually arrived late to the event, apologised.

    He said he had been under immense pressure catching up with the array of events lined out for the transition, coupled with wrapping up official duties of his office.

    He had inaugurated the new Nigerian Customs Service Headquarters in Maitama District of the FCT, before virtually inaugurating six other projects across the country.

    He also presided over another extraordinary Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting from midday till late Tuesday, before heading out for the Regimental Dinner.

    “Please, I will like to digress a bit from the prepared speech. I apologise most sincerely for keeping you waiting for about at least half an hour.

    “Actually, I can hardly cope with the pressure and I’m desperately looking forward to the next six days,” he told the gathering made up of the top brass of the Armed Forces.

    Regimental Dinner is a ceremony to send off an exiting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces by the military hierarchy. 

    President Buhari will step down on Monday, giving way to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

    The President urged the military and other security and intelligence agencies not to relent in their efforts to secure all parts of the country.

    He expressed appreciation to members of the Armed Forces for their sacrifice.

    Paying tribute to “their unwavering loyalty, hard work, dedication and selfless service to our beloved nation”, the President stressed that until insecurity is surmounted, nobody should relax.

    He said: “Consequently, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the other security agencies must always remain resolute in the face of the country’s security challenges. 

    “In this vein, our administration, though winding down soon, will never relent in providing the needed support to the military, to enable them to effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

    “Let me now thank the chief host, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Service Chiefs and heads of other security agencies at this event, for your dedicated service to the nation. 

    “I commend you and thank our esteemed guests for coming to this historic occasion.

    “Let me now pray for the repose of the souls of our fallen heroes. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be in vain. 

    “May the Almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest,” the President said.

    Other dignitaries at the event were Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu; Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele; and members of the National Assembly

  • Nigerian Air plane to fly in

    Nigerian Air plane to fly in

    An aircraft for Nigeria Air will arrive in the country tomorrow ahead of the commencement of operations, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has said.

    Sirika stated that the aircraft would be unveiled in Nigeria’s colours in fulfillment of the promise made by the outgoing Muhammadu Buhari administration to float a national carrier.

    He, however, noted that the only incomplete item was the aerotropolis, which is the airport city that is about 60 percent complete.

    The minister, who spoke on a television programme yesterday, had at an aviation stakeholder’s forum in March said that Nigeria Air would commence full operations before May 29.

    But the carrier is yet to be issued an Air Operators Certificate  (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA)  20 months after the Federal Government announced  Ethiopian Airlines as the preferred bidder for the project.

    Ethiopian Airlines is to have 49 percent stake in the airline and three Nigerian investors like MRS and Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), 46 percent . The remaining five percent was reserved for the Federal Government.

    Read Also : Enugu Airport to be ready by April 2020 – Hadi Sirika

    Sirika explained that the share capital of about $300 million was to be provided by Ethiopian Airlines, which would launch Nigeria Air to its full size of 30 aircraft.

    The minister added that the airline would take off with three Boeing 737-800 in a configuration very suitable for shuttle services between Abuja and Lagos.

    The umbrella body of local carriers – Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)—is,  however, challenging the selection of Ethiopian Airlines as the core investor / technical partner for the project.

    The AON is faulting the 15 years tax moratorium to be granted the new carrier insisting that such preferential treatment will push competitors out of business.

    A suit challenging the airline’s take-off is yet to be determined at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

  • Why we picked Akpabio, by Shettima

    Why we picked Akpabio, by Shettima

     Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima yesterday explained why the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsed a Christian, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as Senate President.

    He said religious tolerance, stability, cohesion and unity of Nigeria were considered before the former Akwa Ibom State governor was tipped as the next National Assembly Chairman.

    Apparently echoing the party’s position, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma said any plot to frustrate the decision will fail.

    Lagos Central APC Senator-elect Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sani and other groups also hailed the APC’s decision to nominate Akpabio, who they described as an experienced and competent candidate.

    Shettima, who endorsed Akpabio for Senate President and Barau Jibrin for the Deputy Senate President addressed over 70 senators-elect, who are members of the Ali Ndume-led Stability Group rooting for their emergence at his campaign office in Abuja.

    He said Akpabio’s choice was the best decision made by the party leadership and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in the interest of a stable polity.

    Shettima said: “Politics shouldn’t be a means of disuniting our people. It should rather be a means of uniting us. The President-elect and the Vice-President-elect are both Muslims.

    “It is in the interest of the stability and unity of this country that the next position be given to the Christian faith. If not, it would further validate the alleged islamisation agenda of the APC-led administration.

    “It would be perceived as a gratuitous insult on our Christian brothers and sisters who stuck out their necks to support us.

    “That was why I was quite pleased with the choice of the party leadership that my uncommon brother and leader in the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio should be the number three citizen of this country.”

    He added: “The stability of this nation is much more important than whatever political considerations we may think of.

    “We need to have a stable and united nation before we can talk about politics and positions. This is what our leader could do to unite this country in the current circumstances.”

    Shettima said Akpabio “has the exposure, competence and experience to occupy the office of the Senate President in the 10th Senate; ditto Senator Jibrin, who has been endorsed as his deputy. Apart from the need for religious balancing, competence and experience also came into play in our choices.”

    The vice president-elect also spoke on the ambition of Senator Abdulaziz Yari for the position.

    He said: “Senator Abdulaziz Yari, is my brother and friend. We became governors together in 2011-2019 on the same political platform, but the nation is superior to other personal considerations.

    “I am quite happy with what I see here today.  It is a reflection of those who crave for the stability and unity of this country in a bi-partisan manner.”

    Shettima thanked Rivers State Governors Nyesom Wike and his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi for their contributions and support for the party.

    He said: “The Governor-General of the Southsouth is a man of honour and integrity. Whatever you see is what you get as far as Wike is concerned.

    “These are people that have contributed immensely to the stability of this country. Umahi is the best performing governor in the Southeast. He’s a man of honour and integrity. He wanted to contest for the Senate Leadership but he had to drop it in reverence to the party’s decison.”

    Shettima promised to get in touch with APC senators-elect, who are yet to come on board with the choices of the party.

    He added: “I have seen the names of those who are yet to join us. Be rest assured that we will positively engage them and make them see reasons why they have to come on board.

    “My Principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a veteran politician. He knows how to go about bringing them into the fold before the inauguration of the National Assembly.”

    Akpabio, on behalf of the Solidarity Group, congratulated the vice president-elect on his election, describing his choice as the right step in the right direction.

    He said: “Your choice is putting a square peg in a square hole.”

    He also thanked the vice president-elect for hosting the group in his campaign office.

    The former Senate Minority Leader, informed Shettima that members of the Group were drawn from all political parties who have decided to come together to produce the leadership for the 10th Senate in order to stabilise Nigeria, not on the basis of political party, religion or tribe but on the basis of conviction based on integrity.

    He said the Stability Group believes that the success of the Tinubu-Shettima administration would be the success of Nigeria.

    Akpabio stressed: “We know very well that once somebody crosses the door into the Red Chambers, you are no longer a senator of a political party but a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Stability Group members are going to work with the incoming administration to evaluate the policies and ensure the stability of the country.

    “We are not here because the party zoned the position to the most ranked Senator from the South South, Senator Godswll Akpabio. We came together to ensure national cohesion and the stability of the polity and to ensure that NIGERIA moves forward in the right direction.”

    Why a Christian from SouthSouth, by senator-elect

    Eshinlokun-Sanni hailed the APC leadership for its sensitivity and wisdom to balance the Muslim/Muslim ticket of the executive arm.

    The outgoing Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly spoke during an award presentation to him in his office.

    Eshinlokun-Sanni said the APC leadership should also consider the three Senate presidential aspirants based on their contributions to the electoral success of the party in the last election.

    He said: “For the 10th Assembly, I believe the party should play a prominent role. There are so many factors that must be considered.

    “He or she must come from the South and must be a Christian, so that the noise about Muslim/Muslim ticket can be nipped in the bud.

    “As we speak, there are three senators that are qualified for the Senate President seat – Senators Godswill Akpabio, Orji Uzor Kalu and Osita Izunazo.

    “So, we have to consider the aspirants based on the contributions of each region to the electoral success of the party in the last election,” he said.

    The senator-elect who said the Northcentral has a right to complain, adding that there were other positions that they could take.

    He said the government and the party would have to find some positions to give them since it was not rocket science.

    Niger Delta group hails Tinubu

    The Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) hailed Tinubu over his endorsement of Akpabio.

    In a release by the NDYM Acting National President, Amutadi Uba Tega, and National Secretary, Ediagbonya Joshua Osamuiyi, the group said Akpabio is most qualified for the position.

    It added: “We make bold to say that Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is a fit and proper person to lead the 10th senate and properly guide the National Assembly to the actualisation of the ‘Renewed Hope’ of the Tinubu led administration upon her inauguration.

    “He understands the workings of the legislature since he had a direct relationship with it as a commissioner in the state executive council for 6 years, as an Executive Governor for 8 years, as a senator of the Federal Republic for 4 years and as a Minister of government for about 3 years.

    “As an executive governor, he was an achiever par excellence, earning the sobriquet as the uncommon governor. His landmark achievement as a governor are too numerous to mention”, the group said.

    ‘Uzodimma not against Akpabio’

    Uzodimma said he was not part of the plot to scuttle the APC’s decision on Akpabio.

    The governor described himself as a loyal party man to the core.

    He spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba.

    In a statement in Owerri, Emelumba said: “At no time did Uzodimma contemplate working against the choice of APC and the President-elect, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the leadership of the 10th Senate.

    “As a loyal party man, the governor will stand firmly behind the choice of any person or persons chosen by the APC and the President-elect  to lead the 10th Senate, and will in fact work  assiduously for their emergence.”

    Emelumba said that “the governor as a loyal party man would never work against the choices of the party, talkless of supporting another candidate,” adding: “Since Uzodimma joined politics over forty (40) years ago, his reputation and integrity as a loyal party man has remained unassailable.”

    Group urges governors to rally senators-elect

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Team Godswill Obot Akpabio (GOA) urged all governors and governors-elect to support Akpabio and Jibrin.

    The group in a statement in Abuja also appealed to senators-elect to vote for the Akpabio/Jibrin ticket as announced by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    The statement signed by the national co-ordinator of the group, Michael Agbor, and Secretary, Orusoso Donpedro, said the candidacy of  Akpabio and Jibrin will foster the development, progress, stability and unity of the country in the next dispensation.

    ‘Let democracy prevail’

    The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) urged President-elect Tinubu to allow the democratic process to prevail when members of the 10th National Assembly elect their principal officers.

    It said Tinubu should recall the incredible promises he made to the North during his electioneering campaign at the Arewa House talk show organised by the Northern leaders and elders.

    DWI National Coordinator Dr. Sunusi Umar, made this know in Abuja, during a press briefing.

    He said no one expected the President-elect to give to the North what it does not deserve.

    Group to APC: don’t bow to pressure

    A group, Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission, called on the ruling APC not to bow to pressure from those who are against the candidacy of the “best man for the job”.

    Its Convener, Okon Mkpafit, described Akpabio as the best choice.

    He said: “We the kinsmen of Senator Godswill Akpabio under Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission, unequivocally declare our unalloyed support for the zoning of the Senate Presidency to Southsouth and throw our weight behind Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    “We recall that the last time the position came to our zone was in 1979, which was the Second Republic, which saw the emergence of Senator Joseph Wayas.

    “We plead with all the senators-elect to join hands to ensure that our zone produces the next Senate President.”

    Group backs APC, Tinubu

    Another group, Amalgamated APC Support Group (AASG) urged APC senators-elect to demonstrate their loyalty to the party.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja, AASG’s Deputy Director, Hajia Mariyam Danjaki said that while it is true that the constitution confers the right on every eligible citizen to aspire to any position, loyalty to the party should be paramount.

    She enjoined those jostling for positions in the senate under the banner of the party to toe the line as disciplined and loyal members.

    “In our position as an arm of the party, we must identify with the interest and position of our party and the president-elect, on the choice of who emerges as the next president of the Senate and other principal officers in the next Assembly.

    “We believe that the party and our incoming president have made the right choice in their preference for the exalted positions.”

  • Paris Club debt: Fed Govt stops deductions from states’ accounts

    Paris Club debt: Fed Govt stops deductions from states’ accounts

    • AbdulRazaq is NGF’s new chair, Makinde deputy 

    The finances of state governments may soon improve as the Federal Government has halted further deductions from their accounts “to meet Local Government Councils London/Paris Club obligations.”

    They are also to get refunds for monies deducted before now from their accounts in connection with the loan repayments. 

     Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman Aminu Tambuwal announced this at the forum’s meeting on Tuesday.

    At the meeting, the NGF members also effected leadership changes with Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq emerging as Tambuwal’s successor and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as vice-chairman. 

    A communique issued after the meeting reads: “Members were briefed by the Chairman of the forum that the   Minister of Finance (Zainab Ahmed) has granted the request of the forum to immediately stop further deductions from the accounts of states to meet Local Government Councils London Paris Club obligations and the monies so far deducted be paid back to the states.  

    “On the leadership of the forum, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emerged the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through a consensus, and the Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde is now the vice-chairman.”

    The NGF also ”expressed satisfaction with the success of the just-concluded induction for new and returning governors that took place between 14 and 19 of May 2023.”

    The members restated their “commitment to sustained collaboration among the states through enhanced peer review, learning at the sub-national level and deepening relationship with the Federal Government and other institutions.”

    The   London/Paris Club obligations and deductions have been a major cause of dispute between the Federal Government and states in recent times. 

    Meanwhile, Governor Abdulrazaq has said that the NGF under his leadership would maintain close relationships with the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly,  all federal and state institutions.

     The governor, who was congratulated by Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu and a former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, hailed his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him.

    Abdulrazaq said: “l want to thank Allah, exalted is He, for the historic event in which my brother governors bestowed upon me the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The significance and the huge responsibilities of this office are not lost on me.

    “I hereby pledge to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF whilst recognising and appreciating the eminent track record of the institution as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations.

    “I will ensure regular consultation with all members in order to arrive at a consensus on all issues for the advancement and promotion of national interest, peace, progress, and stability of the nation.” 

    In Ilorin, Speaker Danladi-Salihu said that the emergence of AbdulRasaq as NGF boss was a great achievement, not only to the state, but the nation at large.

    “I have no doubt that he will bring his wealth of experience, leadership skills, and commitment to the service of the people to bear in this new role,” he said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,   Shehu Abdulkadir- Yusuf. 

    * Olawepo-Hasim hails Abdulrazaq’s choice as NGF boss

    Also, Olawepo-Hashim said that Abdulrazaq’s choice as NGF chairman   ”has confirmed his sterling leadership qualities, which has propelled his performance as Kwara State governor in the last four years.”

    He said that he was particularly happy that Abdulrazaq’s emergence came   on the heels of his recent re-election and a few days before his inauguration for a second term in office,

    The business mogul added that “for a long time, Governor Abdulrazaq has been known as one not only endowed with extraordinary leadership traits but a Nigerian of repute whose sterling qualities, managerial skills and humility in the art of governance, stand him out among others.”

    “I am proud to state that your humility and exemplary life of service have recommended you to your colleague Governors who have found you worthy to be first amongst equals as chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum,” the former presidential aspirant added.

    He also felicitated the NGF members for having such a man (Abdulrazaq) of honour and distinction to lead them.”  While noting the governor’s promise to ensure regular consultation with his colleagues to build consensus, Olawepo-Hashim enjoined the governors, irrespective of party affiliations, to support and rally around the new chairman in this task of building the nation.

  • Malaria vaccine: Nigeria underplaying anti-malaria herbs

    Malaria vaccine: Nigeria underplaying anti-malaria herbs

    There goes Nigeria again, enigmatic as ever. She is blessed in home gardens, farms and her forests with potent anti-malaria herbs. But she is stretching forth her hands for a malaria vaccine which critics say may contain anti-fertility agents for reducing her population. What a naive nation, you may think! Oh, no  government health officials know what they are after… Their own share of what is in it for them for helping the foreign purveyors to vaccinate more than 200 million Nigerians. This column will discuss no fewer than five anti malaria herbs which quieten and cure malaria fever. Many people do not know much about them. Many others have not even heard about them. So, there must be millions of Nigerians perennially troubled by malaria fever that pharmaceutical drugs have not helped, but are not aware that herbs can end their torment. Such Nigerians constitute the malaria vaccine market which Euro-American companies are targeting, probably with population reduction agenda. Thankfully, I have known about them for about 45 years. Since then, neither my wife nor one of my sons, both of whom are genotype AA persons, has been down with malaria , let alone take hospital drugs or need a malaria vaccine. One of these herbs is called CHANKA PIEDRA (also know as PHYLLANTUS AMARUS). The second is MORMODICA CHARANTIA. The third is CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS. The fourth is ENANTIA CHLORANTA. Do not worry about those botanical names. Soon, I will tell you what they are in simpler terms. Meanwhile, if you cannot stand the stress of picking herbs and cleaning them up, Donkat Ali is a proprietary formula you may wish to try. It is a pity that Nigeria’s healthcare system or shall I call it the sick care system, does not appreciate the value of herbs in the prevention and cure of diseases and puts as many ignorant persons it can find in the hospital system for dowsing with chemical drugs …and now a vaccine!

    You may not blame the big pharma oriented health official for supporting a magic bullet vaccine strike against malaria. About 100,000 Nigerians die every year from malaria fever and it’s complications. These cases are among the 50 million or 25 per cent of the population who attend hospitals every year in respect of malaria fever attacks. About 60 per cent of these cases are outpatients.The number of sufferers keeps growing with population growth.The environment still supports safe Havens for the mosquito to thrive. Still undefeated by man is the anophelis female mosquito which needs and steals human blood to make its eggs grow and mature. More eggs means more mosquitoes. Many homes are not well protected against the invation of mosquitoes. Many persons do not know it takes about seven and 30 days from a mosquito bite for malaria fever to develop in the average persons and that anti-malaria herb teas should replace teas which only tickle the pallate. So, by the time they know what is going on, plasmodium falciparum, the parasite injected into the blood stream with a mosquito bite, may have damaged too many red blood cells and organs such as the liver in which it sometimes hides. Nothing on this earth ever wishes to die. Mosquitoes do not wish to die. So does plasmodium falciparum. When it notices the presence of anti malaria big pharma chemicals in the blood stream, plasmodium falciparum may rush for safety in the liver. The physician must be careful to not aggressively pursue it into this very important organ, lest damage to liver cells may occur. One of these drugs is fancidar. It is designed to treat acute uncomplicated malaria, according to www.drugs.com, which lists the side effects to include : 

    “Headache, peripheral neuritis, mental depression, convulsion, ataxia, hallucination, tinnitus, vertigo, insomnia, apathy, fatigue, muscle weakness, nervousness and polyneuritis.”

    Many patients fare no better under other malaria drugs. Thus, the search goes on for newer, more effective and safer drugs . But mother nature never changes her anti malaria herbs, because they were given to man in the will of the All Wise Creator. Man did not create himself or his body or the world in which he finds himself. Yet he always tries to pose in all his endeavours as if he is the boss, without taking mother nature into account. And that is why he is moving again from pharmaceutical drugs for malaria treatment to a vaccine.

    Drug failure

    Malaria drugs have failed or are failing for at least three major reasons.

    1) It causes many side effects which many users cannot stand, such as the ones mentioned above and more.

    2)The way pharmaceutical malaria drugs work is not the way the medicine of mother nature works. Drugs work by directly attacking germs and parasites such as plasmodium falciparum. As I said earlier, nothing which exists wishes to de-exist. So, every living organism adapts itself to any inhospitable environment. Plasmodium falciparum is no exception. Thus, from 1950 when I was born, many malaria drugs have hit the malaria market and gone away after some time. The earlier ones I can recall from my youth include paludrine, quinine, aspro etc. They kept becoming ineffective against plasmodium falciparum. Yet they do not defeat herbs because herbs do not directly wage war on them. Rather, herbs stimulate the immune system to do it’s work. This is a more successful pathway to healing because it is the immune system, not chemical drugs, that the Will of God, through the hands of mother nature, gave the job of defending the human body against infections and diseases. It should be clear from the foregoing that the wrong pathway to the treatment of malaria fever has made many persons endemic sufferers of malaria fever over the years. This situation makes such patients change medication and increase dosage until their bodies become too toxic with drug residues which cause or support the emergence of other health challenges. In this regard, I would forever not only remember but, also, give gratitude to revealed knowledge of the 1920s which gives mankind the following hint regarding their health…Neither drugs nor injections, but the right foods and drinks  bring lasting health.

    Vaccines

    Vaccination is an offshoot of the germ theory. When it became somewhat settled that germs cause diseases, the next step was to develop drugs which would kill disease-causing germs at dosages which would cause little or no health problems for humans. With drugs failing and germs becoming more difficult to kill without the human body itself being hurt or harmed, the idea that immunity holds a better key to disease cure began to unfold. Really, what makes the difference when two persons are exposed to the same environment of germs which clobbers one underfoot as it were and the other goes scot free or unhurt. The African Black Ant displays this sort of resilience to the amazement of researchers, although under another circumstance. In several studies, it has been exposed to an exclusive sugar diet or feed without developing diabetes or symptoms of it. I have an uncle in his 80s who has been drinking beer from adolescence, akin to fish drinking water,but without exhibiting symptoms of alcohol abuse. The resilience has been narrowed to the work of antioxidants from the immune profile. Thus, vaccines and vaccination as a means of boosting immunity became popular. Vaccines are weakened germs introduced into the body which the body’s immune system fights and defeats to develop a memory of them, as the security agencies of a country tracks criminals.

      Today, there are two world views of vaccines.

    1) The first is as described above, namely that vaccines are magic bullets which deal with germs once and for all. It is widely believed that a person vaccinated against a germ can never be successfully attacked by that germ.

    2)The opposing view is that vaccines can be dangerous because their side effects of which we have no final definitive knowledge as yet, may take decades to manifest. In some scientific circles, the multiplicity in the rate of cancers worldwide has been related to some vaccinations of the 1950s which, as children, some members of my generation took for diseases such as tuberculosis and polio.

    Beyond these opposing world views, there is an emerging idea which is gaining currency, of vaccines being used for a hidden agenda against certain population groups. The case has been well made against COVID-19 vaccines. Why was the vaccine forced down the throat of African nations whose people suffered minimal number of deaths when the vaccine was most needed in Europe and the United States where people were dying “like flies”? Even the chief executive officer of one of the companies which manufactured one brand said he did not get vaccinated because he had no immunity problems! The President of Madagascar warned in the heat of the COVID-19 controversy that Africans should not trust that the vaccination then president Donald Trump received before the cameras of CNN was the vaccine sent to Africa. Lately, the controversy has wandered to encompass speculations that a malaria vaccine may include ingredients to make African men and women grow less fertile. It is said that this is a way of curbing African population growth by white supremacists.

    Malaria Herbs.

    I am most at home here. I raised my family on them, still personally use them and have helped many long suffering persons regain their freedom from inefficient drugs and perennial breakdown from malaria fever. As I promised earlier, I will now offer some insight into about four malaria herbs I am familiar with. For want of space, the list cannot be longer.

    Chanka Piedra

    The herb is well known in Asia by this name which means stone crusher. The crushing of stones in the gall bladder and in the kidneys is one of its specialties. To this, some Nigerian researchers have added dissolution of cataracts of the eye lens, also a stone. It is hypotensive. That means it lowers blood pressure. It is also hypoglycemic. That means it lowers blood sugar. It kills all sorts of germs, including the dreaded staphylococcus aureus. Besides, it is an anodyne , that it is pain killing. It is rich in iron and, therefore, good for iron deficiency anaemia. It is a good health support for malaria prevention and cure.

     In Yoruba land, chanca piedra is known by different names, depending on the local dialect. The plant is known, too, to other peoples of Africa, who have local names for it. When I experienced high fever symptoms during COVID-19 season, I placed chanca piedra in glass bottles filled with water to solarise the extract. I also kept some in aromatic schnaps bottles. This extracted all the green colour. The solarised extract produced a golden water solution, like the boiled water extract.

    Professor L.S Gill , Indian author of Ethnomedical  Uses Of Plants in Nigeria, gives us some insight into the herbs I mentioned earlier. Born in 1940, he obtained his first degree, B.Sc Botany/Zoology /Chemistry at the age of 19 in 1959, his M.Sc Cytology in 1963 and Ph.D in 1971. In 1976, he was appointed Professor of Botany at the University of Benin, Nigeria. Professor Gill was actively engaged in Biosystematics, Cytogenetics, Morphology, Ecology of weeds and Applied Botany.

    Of Chanka Piedra (Phylantus Amarus), Professor Gill says:”local names-Benin (Ebe benizo), Yoruba(ehinbisowo/ehinolube/dobisowo). The Bonus use the dried plant as a vermifuge (worm expellant). The decoction of the plant is used as a purgative.”

    Mormodica Charantia

    The yorubas call it Ejirin, and use it for all sorts of health disturbances, including diabetes and uterine fibroids. In large doses and prolonged use, it is believed to offset fertility in both genders.The good news is that the offset is reversible with discontinuation of the herb. Professor Gill says: “English names:African cucumber, bitter gourd. Local names Yoruba (ejinrinwere); Uhrobo (udjiro); Igbo (Alo ose). In Uhrobo land, the decoction of the whole plant is used for the convulsion, nervous disorder and as purgative. In Borno, the decoction of the leaves is used as a cure for cholera. The seeds are used as vermifuge, emetic, purgative, bitter tonic and jaundice. The juice of the leaves and fruit is also used as an antihelmintic and purgative. The juice is also a relief for soles of the feet. It is also applied around the eyes for the cure of night blindness. The fruits, either in the form of cooked vegetable or as a soup is believed to cure diabetes. 

    Stand out for recognition, Mrs Comfort Obayuana. Arguably, she was the first Nigerian to put Momordica Charantia on the Nigerian health food store shelf in a presentable proprietary form. She named it Karela, the name the Indians call it. She presented it at the 2002 Accra A-SNAPP conference at which Nigeria was the single largest African delegation, surpassing even that of host, country, Ghana. Mrs Obayuana also produced other Nigerian herbs in powder form. But, alas, the high cost of diesel to run machines for drying herbs and the huge expense of freeze drying machines scuttled the production capacity of her company, Healthways.

    Lemon Grass

    Lemon grass became very popular in Nigeria as anti-snake and anti–malaria herb long before grasses such as wheat grass acquired their reputation worldwide as power houses of medicinal ingredients. In Nigeria, Lipton tea, a member of the Unilever group, once asked the Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi, (FIIRO) to research lemon grass for anti-malaria purposes. FIIRO found it a great malaria herb. But the parent company in the United Kingdom did not favour the idea of lemon grass being sold by the company to protect Lipton tea sale. Lemon grass proved it could kill plasmodium falciparum in another study carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). I infused about 10 drops of lemon grass oil or the tincture in about 1.5 liters of water which I encourage my friends or acquaintances to sip when they wish to overcome malaria fever or to prevent it, especially when pharmaceuticals have failed. Professor Gill says of lemon grass (cymbopogon citratus)

    “Waapa and Kooko-oba (Yoruba) ; Iti (uhrobo) . The leaves along with honey are used for cough, malaria and chest pain. It is also used for ringworm. It could stimulate the nervous system. It is an ingredient of many traditional healers’ recipes”

    Enantia Chlorantha

    Don’t mind me and the Botanists. This herb is known to the yorubas as awopa. All herb sellers and traditional medicine practitioners know of it. It helped me a great deal with my COVID fever symptoms. In herbal medicine, it is widely used for “jaundice, malaria, fever, infective hepatitis”, according to pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov.

    What does professor Gill say about this herb? “Osopupa, Osomolu(Yoruba); erenba-vbogo(Noni). The root is taken hot in the morning and at night while going to bed for the treatment of malaria and jaundice . The bark is also used for treating leprous spots. The water extract of the bark could cure liver damage. The stem can be used as uterus stimulant.

    Conclusion

    Mother Nature has answers for all our health problems. She made our world in The Will of God. Then, she knew we were coming to the earth and before we did, had provided for all our needs…food and medicinal herbs for whatever illnesses we may expose the body to. We rejected the food of mother nature. We overturned the circadian rhythm. Chickens, goats and birds go to sleep when the sun is down. Not us humans. We live like drunkards who know our nation is governed by laws but cannot understand that our world is governed by natural laws. Pharmaceutical drugs are failing us. We are turning to vaccines with all their health dangers and the possibility of denaturing target populations. Happily, through revealed knowledge, we now know we can do away with pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines. The foregoing medicinal herbs and many more that time and space do not allow me to mention here can be cultivated on plantations and processed by factories working under good manufacturing processes (GMP). Why can we not have these herbs in the form of powder, tea, tablets, capsules, water fluid extracts and even tincture and homeopathic remedies? Let’s think and act more as natural human beings in partnership with mother nature. Malaria fever was never, and still is no big deal. If it was, our forebears would not have survived it to propagate our generation. What kept malaria fever in check in those days, when they had no pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines? Herbs, of course! Malaria need not kill anyone in our country. We do not need a malaria vaccine.  

  • Building healthier, productive future through food fortification

    Building healthier, productive future through food fortification

    Distressed by Nigeria’s frightening nutrition crisis – with millions undernourished, overweight or obese – and the devastating impact on public health, national productivity and economic development, experts have recommended a proven solution: food fortification, a simple and cost-effective intervention that can be used to add essential nutrients to foods that are commonly consumed by large populations, as a strategy to improve nutrition and health. Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF reports

    The speakers’ mien was as stern as the warning message. In the face of startling indices, Nigeria has a choice: sink deeper in the muddy morass of public health/economic crisis or recalibrate itself to its manifest greatness through rigorous implementation of smart policies. That was the mood last Thursday at a one-day media roundtable to launch a third-party advocacy on food fortification and workforce nutrition, held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The roundtable discussion, with the theme, “Fortifying Nigeria’s Future: A Media Roundtable on Promoting Fortification Compliance and Workforce Nutrition in Nigeria,” was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in conjunction with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and E-health Africa.

     Indeed, going by Nigeria’s health indices and what these portend for public health and economic growth, there is cause for worry – since health is now globally recognised as an important determinant of economic development; a healthy population means higher productivity. According to  the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 18.7 per cent of adults in Nigeria are overweight and 4.4 per cent are obese – an increase from 17.4 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively, in 2018. To bring the figures home, experts warn that overweight and obesity are major risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, which are the leading causes of death and disability in Nigeria. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are often defined broadly as conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both.

     But that is not all. The NDHS report also showed that 44.1 per cent of children under the age of 5 in Nigeria are stunted; meaning they are too short for their age. This is a decrease from 46.0 per cent in 2018, but medical experts insist that it is still a high number in a country with huge population. Also, stunting is a sign of chronic malnutrition that can have long-term consequences for health and development; while nothing less than 20.3 per cent of children under the age of 5 in Nigeria are wasted; meaning they are too thin for their height – an increase from 19.9 per cent in 2018. Wasting is a sign of acute malnutrition and can be a life-threatening condition.

     Determined to effect a positive change, CISLAC and partner organisations assembled medical and nutrition experts to dissect the issues – how health indicators affect productivity and economic growth. While explaining the rationale for embarking on a public advocacy on workforce nutrition and food fortification, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, executive director of CISLAC, said because the media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy, he and his partner organisations are ready to spearhead public advocacy that can compel policymakers to do what is required to save Nigeria from its malnutrition crisis, which can have devastating impact on public health, national productivity and economic development.

     “As you know, Nigeria is facing a serious nutrition crisis. Millions of Nigerians are undernourished, and many more are overweight or obese. This has a devastating impact on health, productivity, and economic development. I am here today to ask for your help in raising awareness of the importance of food fortification and workforce nutrition. By shining a spotlight on this issue, you can help to make a real difference in the lives of millions of Nigerians. I am also here today to ask for the support of regulators, members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, and food producers. Together, we can work to ensure that the food fortification policy of 2019 is implemented effectively, and that Nigerians have access to fortified foods,” he charged the media and other stakeholders.

     In his presentation, titled, “The State of Malnutrition and Workforce Nutrition in Nigeria,” Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, said it is important for the government as well as employers of labour to promulgate or constitute effective policies that would promote and prioritise effective workplace nutrition. While charging all stakeholders to do what is good for Nigeria, Oloriegbe called for a complete overhaul of the nation’s existing food fortification policy and laws – a deliberate effort that needs to be complemented by serious implementation to ensure compliance. “The problem is a combination of inadequate regulation policy and poor compliance. The current policy and laws that we have are not adequate enough to address all the issues,” he asserted.

     With the right policies on food fortification put in place and well implemented, Oloriegbe said Nigeria can rebuild the future. Nutrition, he said, has a direct impact on the wellbeing and productivity of the workforce. According to him, workforce nutrition means food for workers in their workplaces, adding that productivity is always affected negatively when workers are malnourished. While pointing out that other things associated with workforce nutrition such as enforcing an environment where drugs, alcohol consumption and smoking are not encouraged, Oloriegbe said in addition to providing  food, lifestyle enlightenment and stress management need to be put in place in work premises.

    In his presentation, “The Role of Fortification in Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies,” Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, President, Nutrition Association of Nigeria (NAN), explained that proper nutrition is critical to building a strong immune system, which helps the body to fight off diseases and infections. Afolabi, who is of the Department of Nutrition and Diabetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun State, called for a large-scale food fortification with multiple micronutrients to ensure improved coverage and effectiveness.

     The NAN President said food fortification is a simple, cost-effective intervention that can be used to add essential nutrients to foods that are commonly consumed by large populations. According to him, fortified foods help to prevent micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia, Vitamin A deficiency, and iodine deficiency. Micronutrient deficiencies can lead to a range of health problems, including impaired cognitive development, stunted growth, and increased risk of infection, he warned. Fortified foods can also help to address the problem of overweight and obesity, which by simply adding micronutrients such as vitamins, fibre and protein to food vehicles during production can make them more filling, thereby helping Nigerians to eat healthier diets.

     According to Prof Afolabi, out of two main micronutrients, the deficiencies in five are of greatest health significance: vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia, iodine deficiency disorder, zinc deficiency and multiple micronutrient deficiencies. While lamenting that the burden of micronutrient deficiency in Nigeria is alarming, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) categorised as severe, the nutrition expert said malnutrition crisis is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is also a challenge in many parts of the world. But he concluded that the challenge waxes stronger because food systems in many countries do not contain nutritious foods, just as many people and families suffer from limited purchasing power, which makes them incapable of purchasing nutritious foods; while limited access to nutritious foods combines with food systems that don’t make nutritious foods convenient or desirable to further worsen the crisis.

    Prof Afolabi painted the ugly picture thus: In 2016, anaemia prevalence in Nigeria was 68.3 per cent, 48.8 per cent and 57.8 per  cent among children, under five years, non-pregnant women 15-49 years of age, and pregnant women 15-49 years of age, respectively. At least, a third of the anaemia is attributable to iron deficiency; about 42 per cent of children 6-59 months are vitamin A deficient; while an estimated 21 per cent of Nigeria’s population is at the risk of inadequate zinc intake, he said.

     Making a case for food fortification, the don quoted findings from a recent systematic review and meta-analysis that showed that large-scale food fortification reduced anaemia by 34 per cent, reduced goiter by 74 per cent and reduced neural tube defects by 41 per cent. For him, it makes sense for government and other stakeholders to embrace full-scale food fortification exercise because of its proven benefits: highest impact in terms of health improvement/sharp reduction in diseases or death, low cost to government, easy to scale where food vehicles are with large processor, and the fact that it does not require any ‘conscious’ action by consumers.

     Also, Prof Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, President and CEO, Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI), said workers need to priotise their health as well as their eating patterns and habits to remain healthy; while employers should show serious concern in the eating habits of their employees to guarantee a desirable level of productivity needed for profitability. While also advocating that workers should have access to healthy food and water at work, Ogunmoyela said employers should put in place a strong health and nutrition policy framework in order to have a healthy workforce. According to him, employees are what they eat, stressing that the health of the next generation of workforce would be determined by the health of today’s workforce.

    Although adults spend more than half of their active hours of the day at work, Oloriegbe said the workforce is particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. The effect, he said, is that workers who are not getting the nutrients they need are more likely to be sick, less productive, and more likely to have accidents, which can have a significant impact on the economy. Nutritionists said fortified foods can help to improve the health and productivity of the workforce, because by providing workers with the nutrients they need, fortification can help to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and improve safety.

     In the communiqué issued at the end of the roundtable discussion, experts agreed that the media, regulators, members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, and food producers should begin to promote food fortification and workforce nutrition as a strategy to promote health and workers’ productivity in Nigeria. Hold governments accountable for their commitments to nutrition. The media can track the progress of governments in implementing nutrition policies. This will help to ensure that governments are meeting their commitments and that Nigerians are benefiting from fortified foods.

    Employers across the country are also enjoined to take the issues of workforce nutrition more seriously to improve the productivity of their employees by providing healthy food options in the workplace, which should include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the cafeteria or vending machines; encouraging employees to be physically active by providing on-site fitness facilities or subsidising gym memberships; creating a healthy work environment by providing a smoke-free workplace and limiting stress levels and supporting employees who are trying to lose weight or improve their overall health.