The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Ekiti seeks end to female genital mutilation

    As Female Genital Mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence continue unabated in Ekiti State, Correspondent RASAQ IBRAHIM examines efforts to end the aged-long practices.

     

    Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is an extremely painful and life-threatening experience. Razors, knives and strings often unsterilised are used to remove their external sexual organs, either partially or completely. This frequently leads to painful inflammation.

    While some girls bleed to death, others who survived suffered physical, emotional and mental pains for the rest of their lives.

    In Ekiti State, it has become frightening despite the promulgation of a legal framework criminalising the practice. Unfortunately, many erroneously perceived the practice as a social norm.

    Despite international outcries against the endemic problem of female genital mutilation, the practice is still on the increase in Ekiti. At the same time, some communities still practice mutilation on teenagers and adults.

    In an effort to end the practice, wife of Ekiti State Governor Mrs Bisi Fayemi embarked on sensitisation tour to the 16 local government areas to raise awareness among the people towards persuading them to appreciate the need to end the dehumanising practice.

    During the the September 9 tour, hundreds of practitioners of FGM surrendered their instruments, which included gleaming knives, razors and calabashes to Mrs Fayemi in exchange of viable empowerment programme.

    The repentant practitioners were made to embrace empowerment packages as alternatives to the ancient practice and in a way to make ends meet.

    Mrs Fayemi praised the women for renouncing the obsolete practice, even as she said the state government is determined to step up its war against rape, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child slavery and open defecation that have constituted a national shame to the state.

    Mrs. Fayemi lamented that Ekiti was ranked first in open defecation and third in female genital mutilation practices in the country.

    Mrs Fayemi said: “A situation where women’s reproductive organs are butchered in the name of cultural practice is no longer fashionable and acceptable. The horrible practice had brought a lot of sexual damage to women through infectious diseases that destroy body sexual nerve cells, thereby causing marital crises in many homes.”

    She insisted that rapists and those obstructing justice in the trials of sex offenders will continue to face the wrath of the law under the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration.

    She added that it was shameful for Ekiti to be leading in Female Genital Mutilation and open defecation in the country, saying such must stop.

    “It is a shameful thing for Ekiti to be ranked third in female genital mutilation. This is unacceptable to us.

    “In open defecation, Ekiti came first in Nigeria. Let us stop the practice, because it endangers our lives. The government will soon provide toilet facilities across the state.

    “The essence of this tour is to engage in advocacy, because we need to pay more attention to the health of our women.

    “Those who are of child-bearing age should go to hospital for medical care. Ten thousand delivery packs (Mama Kit) have been provided for distribution to expectant mothers.

    “The issue of gender violence is also of concern to us. Husbands should not beat their wives. If you are beaten by your husbands, report to the nearest police station. We have a law that prohibits that. Don’t wait until you are killed.

    “If someone defiled any child and you come to beg, the person will be treated as an accomplice”, she warned.

    Besides her advocacy and activism, Mrs Fayemi has shown commitment to give succour to the downtrodden masses that are helpless and hopeless.

    Materials distributed to the elderly (Onje Arugbo) at the event included cash, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers, cooking gas, coolers and food stuffs.

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    Meanwhile, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has commended the state government for its effort to end FGM practice in the state, but suggested the need for legal and policy backing from the state government to curb the harmful practice.

    The UNICEF Consultant on FGM/C, Mrs Aderonke Olutayo, identified cultural and traditional beliefs as being responsible for the practice, noting that some people saw it as a family heritage, “but we must stop it.

    “Some of those who carry out genital mutilation are unskilled; they do it with primitive and unsterilised equipment, thereby causing damage to them.

    “The World Health Organisation has a law prohibiting this practice and it has been domesticated in Nigeria, particularly in Ekiti State.

    “I want to appeal that the laws should be implemented to protect the lives of our women,” she said.

    She urged everyone to see the campaign against FGM as an activism to rescue women from an unprofitable traditional practice, even as she urged stakeholders to mobilise and eliminate the practice.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moji Yaya-Kolade, said the FGM, which was prevalent in the rural areas must be nipped in the bud with concerted efforts from officials of Primary Health Care because of their proximity to the grassroots.

    She said over 72 per cent cases were reported in Ekiti, ranking the state high in the prevalence of the harmful practice. She advised stakeholders to join in the campaign against the act.

    Yaya-Kolade pointed out that FGM had done more harm to women, saying that the victims were either carrying lifetime infectious diseases such as HIV, barrenness, hemorrhage or broken homes due to sexual non-satisfaction and other associated problems due to the cutting of their genitals.

    The commissioner further explained that the state had domesticated the law banning the practice and warned that anyone caught still engaging in the practice would be prosecuted.

    She urged the womenfolk, who he described as “the real victims” to intensify their campaign against cutting of the female genitals to create more awareness.

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Mojisola Fafure, commended Mrs Fayemi for leading the fight to end the myths that perpetrate the violation of the fundamental rights of women with intensive campaign against the harmful practices.

    She said the community campaign and empowerment package was an indication that Governor Fayemi was passionate about issues that affect women.

  • How to keep diabetes, hypertension at bay

    Diabetes and hypertension are killers. The University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Sanofi, a global bio-pharmaceutical company, have moved against these life-threatening ailments, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

     

    It was not one of Nigeria’s political rallies that are usually loaded with razzmatazz, but the event ended up having all the trappings of such popular gatherings. In a health and wellness campaign many participants described as unprecedented, people – old and young – of Udo, an ancient town in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State, trooped out en masse to know their health status.

    As early as 8:00 a.m., the venue had been filled with people from Udo town and nearby communities, eagerly waiting to be screened. As usual, many among the participants that stormed the venue were filled with trepidation; unsure of what verdict the test result might give them. But it was a programme thousands of residents of Udo and its environs embraced with glee, regardless of the fact that some feared what might be the outcomes of subjecting themselves to medical tests. The programme was infused with ceremonial splendour with the presence of the traditional ruler of the ancient kingdom, the Iyase of Udo, His Royal Highness Patrick Igbinidu and his chiefs.

    It was a historic event to commemorate the World Diabetes Day, a day set aside globally to focus attention on diabetes and raise awareness about a disease that affects about 425 million adults and 1.1 million children worldwide- including more than five million Nigerian adults. The programme, which enjoyed massive turnout from the locals who relished the mass diabetes screening exercise held at the town’s Comprehensive Health Centre. It was done under the auspices of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and supported by Sanofi, a multi-national pharmaceutical company focused on health care and human health.

    This year’s event, which had the theme, “The Family and Diabetes,” also witnessed the inauguration of a Diabetes and Hypertension Clinic (DHC) – a public-private partnership initiative between UBTH and Sanofi. The project was aimed at engendering effective management of the diseases by bringing health  care to the primary level of care and closer to people in underserved communities.

    Lamenting that the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes has become a major public health concern,  Folake Odediran, General Manager Rx and Country Chair, Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, said diabetes is also a development challenge because the disease forces many people and families into poverty due to catastrophic expenditures on treatment. Odediran blamed low level of disease awareness, inability to access a health worker or health facility, poorly equipped health centres, inadequate number of health workers and inability to afford the cost of treatment as some of the barriers to effective management of diabetes in the country.

    “Diabetes is not only a health problem but also a development challenge. Diabetes forces many people and families into poverty due to catastrophic expenditures on treatment. It also impacts quality of life and undercut productivity. However, the good news is that diabetes can be effectively managed through interventions that include early diagnosis and access to quality health care,” Odediran said.

    The Sanofi boss said the country needs to do a lot of work to remove the barriers that make access to effective health care service difficult for the people.

    “Our purpose is to understand the health care needs of people in places where we  serve and to help in solving those needs. At Sanofi, we recognise that diabetes is a growing public health issue in Nigeria and we are taking definitive steps in tackling the disease burden through collaboration with stakeholders such as the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH),” Odediran said.

    With the clinic in place, people of the state no longer have any reason to lose their precious lives to the two silent killers. She expressed her joy that the project became a reality, adding that the inauguration of the DHC is in fulfilment of the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the company signed with UBTH in July this year. “It is a social responsibility project of Sanofi to help strengthen the health system and remove some of the barriers of access to health care by promoting public disease awareness about diabetes and hypertension, up-skilling health care practitioners through training and providing easy access for people in underserved communities to check their health status and receive appropriate medical care.

    “The DHC focuses efforts on the primary level of care and under-served population. Under our partnership with UBTH, the Comprehensive Health Centre in Udo was selected as most appropriate for the DHC project. Having worked collaboratively with UBTH under the leadership of the CMD, we are pleased to inaugurate the DHC at this Comprehensive Health Centre in Udo to commemorate today’s World Diabetes Day. I am confident that this initiative will live to its purpose and serve to the benefit of the people of Udo and Edo  State,” she said.

    Prof. Darlington Obaseki, Chief Medical Director of UBTH, said the event was organised by the hospital not only to mark the World Diabetes Day, but also to mobilise the community to a new awareness about the killer disease and measures to prevent or effectively manage it. The CMD described diabetes and hypertension as the two commonest non-communicable diseases seen in UBTH among adults. According to him, more than half of those who have the two diseases are unaware that they are suffering from them and often present for medical care too late. The screening exercise, he said, is necessary so detect the disease early and take necessary medical intervention to avoid complications.

    Read also: World Day for Audio Visual Heritage

     

    Obaseki, a Professor of Histopathology, thanked the Iyase of Udo Kingdom and his council of chiefs for mobilising their subjects to participate in the disease awareness sessions and screening exercise. Prof. Obaseki also expressed delight with the inauguration of the DHC and the support from Sanofi. He commended the people for turning out in their large numbers, even as he urged them to ensure they are screened for diabetes in line with the World Diabetes Day activities. He added that the hospital had mobilised its members of staff to also screen them for other conditions such as hypertension, oral diseases and eye problems.

    The event also featured a lecture delivered Mrs Toyin Ohenhen, an Endocrinologist in UBTH. She said diabetes affects virtually everyone in any society, irrespective of age, gender or race. According to her, there are three main types of diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes, which only occurs during pregnancy. Of the three types, she said Type two is commonest and is due to insulin resistance when the body can’t use insulin efficiently.

    Symptoms of diabetes, according to Dr. Ohenhen, include excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, drowsiness or fatigue, dry or itchy skin, blurry vision and wounds that don’t  heal easily. If not properly managed, she said, diabetes can result in many complications, including heart attack or stroke, eye problems, kidney damage and limb amputations, among others.

    She advised people to reduce the risk of diabetes by eating nutritious food, which should include plenty of vegetable and fruits, indulging in regular exercise and generally embracing healthy lifestyles. Also, she said, people living with diabetes need the support of their family to cope with the financial and emotional pressures that accompany a diabetes diagnosis.

    The World Diabetes Day has been designed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to raise awareness on the impact diabetes has on the family, to support network of those affected while also promoting the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of the condition. Defined as a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces, diabetes kills about four million people annually worldwide and is associated with serious consequences such as stroke, blindness, limb amputation, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.

    Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat pass from the blood stream into the cells in the body to produce energy. Experts say the body’s inability to produce insulin or use it effectively can lead to raised glucose levels in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia), with high glucose levels over a long-term associated with deadly damage to the various organs of the body.

    Also a major public health problem, hypertension is commonly associated with a high level cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. It remains the major risk factor for heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease and chronic renal failure in Nigeria. Hypertension, which was initially considered rare in sub-Saharan Africa, is now a major non-communicable disease with a growing prevalence rate. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said growth of the processed food industry has impacted amount of salt in diets worldwide, and that this plays a role in the high rate of hypertension patients.

    Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death the world over. It’s called the silent killer and it kills millions of people every year. High blood pressure (HBP) often has no symptoms. Over time, HBP if untreated, can cause health conditions such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arterial aneurysm, chronic kidney failure, damage to the eyesight and kidney damage, among others. Nigeria records more than 1.5 million cases annually. Hypertension is defined by doctors as blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120 (Ref range=120/80). Its risk factors include salt, obesity, inactivity, alcohol, smoking, stress and genetics. Management includes adopting healthy lifestyle choices such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating balanced diet, cutting back on salt consumption, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol consumption and monitoring blood pressure regularly.

     

  • FCT residents, vendors waiting for carnival date

    Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and festival vendors are calling for a quick fixing of a new date for the 2019 Abuja Carnival.

    They made the call when News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited some proposed venues of the 2019 Abuja Carnival.

    The Federal Government has announced the postponement of the 2019 Abuja Carnival tagged “Culture for Peace”.

    The annual Abuja carnival was to hold from November 23 to November 25.

    The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Ministry of Information and Culture .

    “The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture has announced the postponement of the 2019 Abuja Carnival.

    “The Ministry apologised to all invited guests for any inconvenience the postponement might have caused.

    “A new date will be announced for the Carnival in due course,” the statement signed by Mr Joseph Mutah, a Chief Press Secretary in the ministry read.

    The Abuja carnival is an annual event, with the objective of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the country and enhancing national unity.

    It is a yearly programme that holds in Abuja featuring road shows, musics, cultural dances, masquerades, durbar and lots more with participation from all the states in Nigeria.

    At the Old Parade Ground, the proposed venue of the Opening Ceremony and Street Carnival, floats and side kiosks were seen with vendors and some contingents hanging around.

    Mrs Grace Ayuba, who sells shoes, bags and other female accessories, said she had already bought wares to be displayed for sale at the carnival.

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    “The sudden postponement of this carnival will really affect us as some of us have already gone to market to buy goods for sale.

    “Whatever the reason for the postponement, just within few days before the carnival, we plead with the government to come up with a new date very soon,” she said.

    Mrs Ronke Adams, who deals on water and soft drinks, said she had stocked her shop with various brands, lamenting that her capital ‘will now be tied down.’

    “The carnival is a period we always looked forward to making sales for the Christmas, but this sudden shift is really a concern,” she said.

    Mr Sunday Johnson, a corps member serving in the FCT, said: “We have been excited, waiting to witness the Abuja Carnival because Calabar Carnival is the one known by some of us.

    “We hope that arrangement for a new date will be made by the government as soon as possible,” he said.

    Mr Suleiman Mohammed, a delegate from Zamfara State, said he had procured some woods and materials to construct a float for his contingents, and was looking forward to disposing them due to the postponement.

    “We were about constructing our float before we heard of the postponement, and we are left with no options than to look for buyers for the materials we have purchased already,” he said.

     

  • Another home for NCC

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) recently inaugurated its five-storey office building to complement its headquarters, reports BLESSING OLAIFA.

     

    The inauguration of a five-storey building constructed by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) is meant to complement the Commission’s headquarters building. Located at 1253 Cadastral Zone, Mbora District, Abuja the project had been abandoned for a long period for lack of funds to complete the massive structure.

    Besides providing nearly a hundred-room office accommodation, it was built with facilities such a swimming pool, lawn tennis courts, underground car parks and a 600 -seater auditorium for conferences and seminars.

    Many give credit for the completion of the structure to the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta. Since his appointment in 2015, the Professor of Telecommunications Engineering from Bayero University, Kano, had left no stone unturned in changing the narratives of the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

    On assumption of office, he unfolded eight-point agenda to drive the vision of a telecom sector that could stand its ground globally, especially given the economic potentials of Nigeria and its population. Within a short period, the industry is perceived to have witnessed unprecedented growth with more Nigerians having access to telephony both in the rural and urban areas.

    Read Also: NCC panel to protect 150m Nigerians against e-fraud

     

    Amongst the eight-point agenda were the issues of improved quality service, protection and empowerment of consumers, expansion of telecommunications infrastructure and consumer-centric regulatory governance and policy administration.

    Under his watch, the telecom industry has grown exponentially contributing about 12 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). As of August 2019, broadband penetration has reached 35 percent while Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the telecom sector have also reached 1.84 billion dollars. From 2015 to 2018, telephone subscribers moved from 151 million to 173 million, while Tele-density and mobile penetration rate moved from 108 percent in 2015 to 123 percent in 2018.

     

    Professor Danbatta also ensured that Research and Development is not left behind considering the rapid expansion and development in the sector with pervasive technology break-through, innovations and inventions in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. In 2013, the NCC awarded only one research grant. But by 2017, it improved to seven and in 2018, it increased to 11 research grants with the research portfolio of the Commission reaching a peak of 252.2 million naira.

     

    Prof Danbatta told a gathering of over 60 University Vice Chancellors across the country at the Third Stakeholders Forum with Academia that the Commission intends to offer Research Fellowship positions for in-depth research and exploration of problems the industry is facing whilst improving the researchers’ experience of the industry.

    The immediate past Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu, had made frantic efforts to convert the newly commissioned building to an ICT university. But the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had rejected the idea. Thereafter, Prof Danbatta proceeded with the project till completion.

    It is hoped that with rapid expansion in the industry and the introduction of the 4G and 5G technologies, coupled with increasing accommodation needs for the workers, the new facility will be put to maximum use for the benefit of the industry.

     

  • Battle against Meningitis

    As the dry season gradually sets in, authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are taking preemptive measures against the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports.

     

    In August 12, 2018, Nigeria introduced the Meningitis ‘A’ Conjugate Vaccine into the routine Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule.

    Findings revealed that Meningitis ‘A’ remains a major global challenge and 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) fall within the meningitis belt; putting 26 percent of the Nigerian population at risk.

    According to a research conducted in April, 2017 which is in the public domain, findings also showed that reported cases of Meningitis is 32, and of that number, 12 people had died.

    With the introduction of Meningitis ‘A’ Conjugate Vaccine, the FCT has commenced an integrated measles and Meningitis ‘A’ vaccination campaign which started November 16, and will be on till November 25, 2019.

    The Acting Executive Secretary, FCT, Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo who spoke with The Nation on the ongoing vaccination exercise, disclosed that government targets 692, 695 children, adding that government has engaged the services of 664 teams who are currently vaccinating the children across the six area councils in the capital city.

    Ndaeyo advised parents and gaiudians to also go to any government health facility and vaccination posts nearest to them for the vaccines.

    He disclosed that the FCT Minister has approved the sum of N20 million as contributory fund. Ndaeyo advised that children should complete their routine immunization before the age of two years in a health facility nearest to them.

    His words: “This is a very important activity and if we do not get the result right, it will not be good. What we are having this time around is not for polio. We all know meningitis. This is a sickness that people live with during dry season. Usually, we are used to having vaccination probably in February or March in the heart of the dry season when there is outbreak, mainly in the northern parts of the country.

    The Federal Ministry of Health used to run up and down during this period looking for vaccine which is usually very wrong. If you want to protect someone against meningitis, it should be three months to the time you expect it will come. Nigeria is a nation where outbreak of meningitis occurs. So we are expected to have this preventive vaccination in September, October or latest in November.

    “So this has been a challenge. What have we done? We have found out that if meningitis vaccine is included in the national immunisation schedule, it will be easier to build a critical defence against the outbreak. That is why the Federal Ministry of Health, professional bodies, donor agencies, in their wisdom, agreed and endorsed that Meningitis-A, vaccine should be used as vaccination for children at nine months.

    “So this was introduced into the national immunisation schedule on August 9, 2019 and all the states of the federation including the FCT, must have this in their immunisation schedule. So children under one year should have meningitis ‘A’ vaccination at nine months along with measles and yellow-fever vaccines. So, we expected that in FCT, just like it is going to happen in other states of the federation, that children that are nine months of age should be fully immunised with Meningitis ‘A’ vaccine.

    “In FCT, we are having the Meningitis ‘A’ vaccination campaign for children, nine months to five years. This is a very clear indication that we do not want people to miss the opportunity to have the immunity. Measles vaccination campaign is expected to take place every two years. Recall that in 2013, there was also a catchup campaign for measles vaccination when children up to 15 years were given this vaccination.

    Every two years, there is supposed to be a follow up campaign so that any child that missed such opportunity at nine months will not also miss it in the year ahead. Every two years we have to do the measles vaccination campaign. The vaccination campaign for measles is also due. This is the second year. The last one we had was 2017. So we have got to combine the measles campaign with that of the Meningitis ‘A’ campaign in 2019. So the Meningitis ‘A’ catchup campaign for children 1 to 5 years down is a follow up campaign for children from 9 months to 5 years.”

    Read Also: WHO, UNICEF, others hail Ugwuanyi on polio immunization

     

    Continuing, Ndaeyo said, “We are expected to ensure that all the children in the target group are not left out and we have done a lot of sensitisation across several stakeholders. Plans have also been harmonised with the FCTA. The cost of vaccinating a child in is about N600 per child. And if you look at our target in financial terms, it is about N40 million. But the FCT counterpart fund on its own is about N20 million for this programme. It has been approved by the Minister. UNICEF also contributed some fund. The training of the staff and those that will work on this programme are all costed in the fund.

    “This is a combined vaccination. Immunisation is not a guaranty that one will not have the sickness but it will minimise the effect. We are aware that 95 percent of people living in the FCT are in the rural areas, with poor amenities, particularly sanitation and security. The local hunters are part of our team.

    “FCT has been known by the Federal Government to be doing very well. Each area council is expected to support this activity. If not for this campaign, it is possible that we would have been having more outbreaks than we are having now. We are targeting 692, 695 children for the Measles and Meningitis ‘A’ vaccination campaign. We are currently working with 664 teams for this campaign. They have been recruited and are working. The vaccines are very save and are not having side effects that would be dangerous or cause panic.”

    As the dry season sets in, Nigeria is trying to contain meningitis epidemic which has killed hundreds of people, mostly children.

    Meningitis is an infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. Viral and bacterial infections are the most common cause but bacterial meningitis is much more serious due to its rapid onset that poses significant death risk.

     

    It is a devastating disease that poses a major public health challenge. Meningitis can be caused by many different pathogens, including viruses and fungi. But the highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis. Together with sepsis, meningitis is estimated to cause more deaths in children under five years of age than malaria does.

     

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) secretariat acknowledged the global relevance of an approach fully aligned with the objectives of the plan for (2019-2023).

    How to prevent meningitis

    Dr. Ndaeyo also spoke on how to prevent meningitis. He said saying it is advisable to avoid overcrowded places, to sleep in well-ventilated places, to avoid close and prolonged contact with a sick person. Proper disposal of respiratory and throat secretions is also advised. Residents are also advised to observe hand hygiene and to sneeze into elbow joint/sleeves, reduce handshakes, kissing, sharing utensils or medical interventions such as mouth resuscitation. They should also get vaccinated with a relevant meningococcal vaccine and avoid self-medication.”

    Many residents, especially those who stay in rural areas, have embraced the vaccination process and time frame.

    Most of the vaccination centres in the FCT have been receiving large turnouts of mothers who have been bringing their children for vaccination.

  • Behold Abuja flashpoints

    Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, is home to the headquarters of all security outfits in the country, yet it has flashpoints that are better avoided, writes GRACE OBIKE

    Abuja, like any city in the world, witnesses armed robberies, burglary, theft, car-jacking, mugging (which is known as one chance), violent protests, drug-related crimes and kidnapping. Many residents have unfortunately been injured; lost properties or their lives to these crimes and residents are advised to be cautious in black spots in the city.

    Visitors to Nigeria, especially foreigners who visit the city, are constantly briefed on flashpoints in the city and made aware of places to be cautious of or completely avoid.

    Recently, when delegates from Liberia visited Nigeria on a mission to understudy the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the agency, Ephraim Timothy, told them that Abuja was relatively safe compared to other parts of the country, adding, however, that there was still need for caution.

    He identified the various flashpoints as Kado – Jabi area, Bolingo Junction, the Mabushi/Jabi Bridge, Behind Sheraton Hotels up to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) axis. Others include Area One Roundabout and Area 3 Junction, Dantata linking Galadimawa/Lugbe Junction (under the bridge).

    Also included are Gudu – Galadimawa area, Masalachi Junction, Wuse Market, Berger Roundabout, Kuje Junction, Wuse II (Central Business District).

    Particularly, Masalachi Junction (along Central Area), walking on or around the bridge linking the famous Yar’Adua Centre and the National Mosque in the early hours of the morning or early evening can be a dangerous affair. There are daily reports of people, especially ladies, being robbed of their handbags, phones and other valuables at knifepoint and other dangerous weapons. The criminals take cover in the thick vegetation around the area to catch their victims unawares and also escape thereafter any “operations”.

    Timothy listed Gudu – Galadimawa area, where he said that the Gudu roundabout, a major passage for those going into Garki and Apo areas of the city, is also a deadly place to go, especially in the evenings or early in the morning. Street urchins, who are never in short supply around the bush in the area, regularly rob people with the aid of dangerous weapons.

    Read Also: Abuja-Kadunna Highway kidnapping: NAF to provide geospatial intelligence

     

    Also, the Kado -Jabi area where the artificial Jabi Lake is meant to be one of the leisure spots in Abuja, has been turned into a den for peddling and consumption of hard drugs like Indian hemp, cocaine, heroin etc. Such, areas around the lake is a no-go area from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

    At Dantata, linking Galadimawa/Lugbe Junction, the bridge along the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport road is also one of the spots where one can get robbed. You could get robbed walking on top or under the bridge, which is some 5 kilometres away from the National Stadium. The area becomes more dangerous in the evening and early morning.

    Another flashpoint is the Area one Roundabout and Area 3 Junction, Garki. It’s a major transport hub for those coming into the city from the suburbs. Criminals also operate in the area, anytime from 8pm to the wee hours of the morning.

    For safety, the CSO advised the visitors to carry proper identification, including a passport with a current Nigerian visa if needed.

    “Be cautious when walking or driving at night. Drive defensively, constantly expecting sudden lane changes. Avoid isolated or overly crowded areas, especially at night and always drive with doors locked and windows closed.

    The visitors were also advised to be careful of the kind of calls they make in public and to avoid exposing or leaving valuables in the car. They were also told to review routes and times to vary predictability; just as they were advised not to physically resist any robbery attempt. The visitors were also warned against giving their telephone handsets to strangers to make calls and to be extra vigilant when visiting bank or ATMs.

    Timothy also enjoined the visitors to endeavour to monitor the local media for breaking events, be aware of their surroundings, to stay alert in locations frequented by foreigners and VIPs. They were also to avoid demonstrations and large political gatherings, review their personal security plans before stepping out and to equip themselves with emergency numbers.

    He assured them that some parts of the city like Asokoro and Maitama are relatively safe with the lowest crime rates and that other parts of the city believed to have high crime rates are still not as bad as what obtained in some states and some parts of cities around the world.

     

  • MultiChoice Group reinforces position as Africa’s leading storyteller

    MultiChoice Group (MCG), Africa’s leading video entertainment group, on Thursday, hosted its second annual media showcase under the theme, ‘Africa’s most-loved storyteller’, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    The event had media representatives and stakeholders from across the African continent in attendance.

    Speaking at the event, Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of General Entertainment, said the group has achieved much since its first showcase event.

    She also stated that this year’s media showcase was the first since being listed as an independent media company.

    “The MultiChoice Group listed on the JSE Main Board on 27 February 2019, an important milestone in our exciting journey of growth,” Phahle said.

    Phahle highlighted the many achievements made by MultiChoice in the past year, including the four million unique views gained on DStv Now platform in the final season of the popular series, Game of Thrones.

    MultiChoice also played a pivotal role in supporting the South African rugby team, the Springboks, who made history at the 2019 Rugby World Cup Finals.

    The MultiChoice CEO also said the group continues to make a significant investment in promoting local talent and developing the African creative industry through initiatives such as the MultiChoice Talent Factory and Magic in Motion.

    Read Also: 20 selected for MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy

     

    “On local content, MultiChoice now has 18 local language channels across all continent. We will continue to increase our local content spend and also industry development.

    “As we continue to develop our various markets, we are committed to consolidating the company’s position as Africa’s most loved storyteller,” Phahle said.

    Also speaking, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Channel Director, Africa Magic, said the portfolio of local content production carried out by MultiChoice is geared towards ensuring the video entertainment industry across the continent thrives and grows to compete with the best in the world.

    Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu noted that the launch of the two brand new telenovelas, Brethren and Unbroken, shown on its Africa Magic channels, reiterated MultiChoice’s commitment not only to create platforms for sharing Africa’s stories, but to continue its investment in the development of local content and local talent.

    “We will not relent in ensuring that our customers have the best local entertainment for Africa, by Africans with our double bill of intense drama and intrigue, airing six days every week”, she said. ,

    In line with MultiChoice Group’s commitment to bringing top-quality international content to African screens, Nkateko Mabaso said: “We travel all over the world to buy the best of international content from the biggest studio in the world such as CBS, Warner, Disney. We also get to produce some really great local content working with the best creators in the industry across the continent.”

    MultiChoice also pledged its commitment to emphasise on improved customer service, noting that the introduction of DStv app, GOtv app and DStv’s Self Service on WhatsApp were geared towards offering value-added service for customers.

  • When private matters go viral

    Do you video yourself having sex or taking nude pictures? The consequence can be more than what you bargained for if the tape leaks, writes ROBERT EGBE

     

    A hospital, a supposed drug addict, his loving girlfriend and a strict mission-based university.  Throw in a little bit of reckless sexual escapade caught on tape and the plot of a juicy scandal is complete.

    This is the latest scandal that has been setting social media on fire since Tuesday.

    The lovebirds, a 300 level student of Babcock University, Ogun State and her 400 level boyfriend, were shown on a leaked tape having a go at in a private room at Saint Bridget Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The story making the rounds is that the boy was in a rehabilitation centre at the time for drugs and other misdemeanours. His girlfriend visited him and he persuaded her to allow him record their sex session as a sort of keepsake for lonely nights. The girl consented. But the video got into the hands of a third party and was uploaded to the internet.

     

    Babcock reacts

    Babcock University is a private Christian co-educational university owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria.

    The university is located at Ilishan-Remo equidistant between Ibadan and Lagos. Enrolment was about 6,000 as of 2009. Wikipedia

    In a statement issued yesterday evening, Joshua Suleiman, the varsity’s director, communication and marketing, confirmed the video, but said the persons involved in the sex tape are no longer students of the institution.

    According to him, “the boy was expelled from the school in February this year”, while “his girlfriend” was asked to leave the school shortly after the video broke out – some months ago.

    He confirmed that the incident took place last April at Saint Bridget Hospital, Abeokuta and not on the school premises.

    “The video above referred is, unfortunately, a sad commentary on the moral decadence that has assailed our society at large, a manner of behaviour that is alien and antithetical to the value of our university. It is not worth a tinge of fascination, but a ground of great concern for all,” the statement reads.

    “The boy in the video was expelled from Babcock University in February this year after investigation and the due process proved that he was into certain grievous misconducts, the acts for which the university has zero-tolerance.

    “His girlfriend in the same video, until the video broke out, was a third-year student of accounting of this university. After due process, she was expelled from the university for violation of university rules and regulations.

    “The place where the immoral act took place, according to her written statement, was at Saint Bridget Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the boy has been undergoing rehabilitation for different destructive addictions.

    “According to the girl, the incident took place in April this year during school vacation when she visited the boy at the hospital. The act did not take place at Babcock University.

    “Babcock University remains committed to the highest moral standards and would remain a standard-bearer for quality education in standard character, learning and in service to humanity. We are happy to be saddled with this challenge as an institution because it propels us to contribute to the greatness of this nation and the security of a bright future for our children.”

     

    Lekki pastor

    In November last year, there was a leaked video of a pastor in Lagos, Chris Omatsola, and his lover.

    Omatsola, who leads Zionwealth of Life Assembly, said his ex-lover, Tamaratokoni Okpewho, recorded the videos on their phones because she enjoyed filming their intimate moments.

    The pastor, in a lengthy post on his blog, Zionweath News, said: “Princess and I had more than 10 sex tapes of ourselves on our phones as she enjoyed filming sex. I had deleted all our sex videos on my phone and she was aware and insisted she delete hers.

    “Honestly, the sex-tapes were recorded sometimes in October 2017. She was holding the camera in some and I held the camera in others. We were both aware but we never knew it would go viral.

    “This day, I make bold to say with all honesty of heart and sincerity of purpose that it is true that I committed sexual fornication with Ms. Princess Tamaratokoni Okpewho.

    “I have since repented and God has forgiven me. But I did not post our sex-tapes on the internet or assaulted her physically as she maliciously and fallaciously claimed and want us all to believe.

    “I met Princess Tamaratokoni Okpewho aka Toks David in September 2017, just before the Lekki Toll Gate after Quilox nightclub around 4:40 a.m.

    “I was returning from a vigil in Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, that fateful day. She flagged down my car on the lonely road. She appeared drunk. Because it was dark and I thought it could be dangerous, I stopped and picked her.

    “When we got to my house that night, she slept on the couch in the sitting room, while I slept in the bedroom.

    “I also think ministers of God should learn from my fall. Watch your steps because the devil is on your tail.

    “Be careful with women. Prayerfully help people. If you have fallen, don’t cover up. Seek God’s face with penitence and repentance.”

    Ms Okpewho accused Omatsola of releasing the video to force her into marrying him, an allegation he denied and accused Ms Okpewho of demanding N200 million from him.

    The scandal forced Omatsola to relocate his church.

     

    What the law says

    No one knows who leaked the tape, but whoever did broke the law.

    Nigerian law has been reworked and updated; however, some parts meant to curtail some sexual offences have been left untouched.

    Section 233(d)(1) of the Criminal Code Act criminalises publication of obscenity.

    “Any person who, whether for gain  or not, distributes or projects any article deemed to be obscene for the purposes of this Chapter, commits an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding four hundred naira or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or by both.”

     

     Why people record

    nude videos/pictures

    Unless you were a Nollywood addict, you had probably never heard of Etinosa Idemudia before March 2019. That was the date she became famous (or infamous) for the craziest reason ever.

    Last March, the Nollywood actress went viral on social media after she stripped naked on an Instagram Live broadcast on Nigerian singer, MC Galaxy’s page.

    Explaining her actions later, Etinosa said she acted under the influence of alcohol and she should have been careful with her drink.

    In a chat with PulseTV, she said: “The people who are judging at the moment, I don’t really blame you guys, it’s fine because I put myself in the spot and I take full responsibility for the incident. I should have been more responsible, I should have been more careful with alcohol, with expressing myself and with whatever it is I want to do. All I have to do now is to ask God for forgiveness and move on.”

     

    ‘Gains’ of publishing

    sex/nude tapes/pictures

    Following the backlash that trailed her Instagram scandal, Etinosa placed her Instagram page on private.

    When she reopened it to the public later that day, she had gained 27,000 more followers. Her followers on the platform jumped from 201,000 to 228,000.

     

     Are we all doing it?

    Reacting to the leaked tape scandal yesterday, Nigerian rapper Ycee criticised those judging the students.

    He suggested that many of the people criticising the duo on Twitter had probably made sex tapes of their own.

    “So all of a sudden nobody on Twitter has recorded themselves in the act of sex … sha na the person wey them catch be thief.”

    If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been tempted to make a homemade sextape. Should you give in to the temptation?” he posted on his Twitter handle.

    Is Ycee right? Are we mostly closet exhibitionists? Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that some people are.

    Should you indulge the temptation to record yourself in the act?

    Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that some people are.

    When the question ‘Why do people videotape while having sex?’ popped up on social media site Quora, it racked up 23,000 views.

    A Quora member, Anubhav Bhatnagar, who answered the question, said: “1. Fetish: Different people have different people fetish, there is a possibility that those who record themselves while having sex {with/without consent of the other partner(s) believes it gives them more pleasure.

    “2. Keeping memory: Yeah, some people have a habit of keeping/recording memories/moments, so for then having sex is a moment and so there is a possibility that they do this to keep it as a memory. {with/without consent of their partner(s)

    “3. Another fetish: Some people like to have sex while watching Porn. This fetish might have given them an idea of recording themself so that they can watch it the next time, they are having sex.

    “4. For show-off: Some people, usually young lads (male), like to show-off their sex moments with their friends, that they had sex, without caring that what they are doing is an offence. This usually gave rise to leaked tapes/clips.

    “5. Defame someone: Whether it be male or female, both can easily be defamed, if their sexual clips are leaked by someone intentionally. Though female partners are framed most of the times, in such clips the face of the executor is blurred, while the victim’s is highlighted.”

    An American George Sawyer, gave perhaps the most sensible answer.

    Sawyer, who said he had been “teaching courses on sex and sensuality since 1989, advised couples not to go down that road.

    He said: “Recording during sex? Never! Don’t. It’s a huge mistake. You should assume that any form of digital recording you make will escape captivity and find its way onto the internet. Recordings can escape even with the good faith of everyone involved.

    “Pretty much everything gets backed up into the cloud now, accounts get hacked. Is a copy of the recording on a phone, a tablet or a laptop? Devices can be lost or stolen.

    “Murphy’s Law almost guarantees awkward recordings will then surface at the worst possible time: job interviews, dating, your mother’s birthday. If you are a woman it may possibly ‘ruin’ your life at that time.”

     

  • Jonathan’s ally: ‘why I left Bayelsa PDP’

    By Raymond Mordi

     

    A political ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Speaker in the old Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Claudius Enegesi, said he jumped ship, prior to the recent governorship election in Bayelsa State, to strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the contest.

    Speaking after the declaration of the APC’s David Lyon as the winner of last Saturday’s election in Bayelsa State, the former stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbia Local Government Area  expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the poll. He said: “I thank Bayelsans from the bottom of my heart for voting for the APC. For the first time in this country, the people have chosen light from darkness, without inducements. In unison, Bayelsans said no, enough is enough; we must move forward. If you go into the villages and communities, you will see that everybody is happy.

    Read Also: PDP senators reject Bayelsa, Kogi results

     

    “Voluntarily, they came out to vote. They were induced by the PDP because the party had a lot of money at its disposal. The electorates collected the money but went ahead to vote for the APC. They said this is our money. We were told before the election that there was no money, now it is time to vote, they are bringing out the money. We will collect it and do the needful.”

    On why he abandoned the PDP and joined the APC, Enegesi said he left the party because of its primitive style of governance. He added: “At this age of development in this country and in this world at large, politics is played as if the hand of the clock has been reversed hundred years ago; medieval politics. It is unacceptable. In a state like Bayelsa, what we really need is development. Since we have the resources, we don’t need anything else. You’ve gone around Yenagoa, our state capital; there is nothing to show for the resources that have passed through the state in the last eight years. Yenagoa is still a glorified village.

    “It is very disheartening that a young man who was out obscurity given the responsibility to govern the state has rather ruined it. While all these were going on, we counseled him that this is not supposed to be so. His attitude was that of a man who knows it all. But I had to say no because I am in politics for the development of my people.”

     

  • Kogi/Bayelsa: Assault on our democratic soul

     By Unoigbokhai Adamu

     

    The major takeaway of the just concluded governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states is that stakeholders in the current democratic process do not give a hoot if the system collapses. They would rather have their way and care less if our collective future is sacrificed on the altar of their selfishness and narrow mindedness.

    The election only took place in two states out of the 36 states of the federation, yet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) found it difficult to organise transparent and credible elections that would satisfy the yearnings of most Nigerians, who see a free and fair election as a sine qua non to good governance.

    Election materials always fail to arrive on time at the various polling stations, and when they arrive, some of the voting kits might not be working. Worse still is the fact that INEC has made itself so biased that Nigerians are calling for the replacement of the chairman, Professor Mohammed Yakubu. The professor has shown by the 2019 and the just concluded one, that he lacks the capacity to supervise a credible poll.

    The police did not fare any better. The thousands of police deployed to the states by the national command failed to prevent violence from taking place in Kogi and Bayelsa. They instead, looked the other way while thugs and other unwanted persons had a field day manipulating the process against the wishes of the people. Indeed, most election observers and those of us watching it on television were wondering if there were policemen in those polling units where thugs were busy perpetrating violence.

    Of course as expected, the Inspector General of Police hasn’t found it expedient to address the nation on why his boys went to sleep when innocent voters were being maimed and killed while exercising their civic duty. Maybe, just maybe, he will find the courage to explain to Nigerians what actually happened and what the Force is doing to ensure that in the future, they would provide a level playing field to all political parties.

    Read Also: INEC presents Certificate of Return to Bello Thursday

     

    The corollary is the implicit approval given to the agencies responsible for organising elections by those in authority, that they are free to manipulate the process in favour of the ruling party. The rush by the presidency to congratulate the governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, when most election observers had expressed serious reservations about the election, is not only disturbing, but an embarrassment to lovers of democracy. And expectedly, the so-called winners have made the proverbial trip to Aso rock to pay homage to the king, for making it possible. It’s sad and shameful!

    It was in this same country that a gentleman called, Goodluck Jonathan, went out of his way and against the strong resistance of his party, to appoint Professor Attahiru Jega to take over from the much discredited, Professor Maurice Iwu, not minding the robust credentials and integrity of the Bayero University Professor of Political Science. Jonathan was to later become the major victim of Jega’s no-nonsense and uncompromising attitude when he lost the 2015 presidential poll, an election conducted by Jega.

    It was to the eternal credit of Jonathan that he accepted the result and congratulated Buhari, thereby saving the nation undue tension and possible crisis. Thank goodness that Jonathan’s altruistic gesture has brought him the much needed global recognition and respect.

    On the contrary, what we saw in Kogi and Bayelsa is the desperation of politicians who are ready to hang on to power at all cost, even when they are not popular and therefore do not deserve to be elected. Hence, the danger of keeping quiet while these rapacious characters rampage the terrain, is that good governance and performance would no longer matter in elections; it would mean that once you have the police, INEC and other relevant bodies in your pocket, the electorate no longer matter. It would only get worse as we approach 2023. Needless to note that we still have election next year in Edo and Ondo states. And Anambra would follow before the general elections.

    I have always argued that the unholy trinity between the ruling party, Police and INEC has been the bane of our failure to conduct credible and transparent elections in this country. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the chief culprit of this for many years before they lost to the All Progressive Party (APC) in 2015. Clearly, the APC has been operating the same template and our democracy has been the worse for it. Or how does one explain the spurious N10b ‘grant’ given to Yahaya Bello by the federal government barely 48 hours to election?

    For sure, it would be difficult to have a totally free and fair election. There is no flawless election anywhere in the world. But the minimum demand is that Nigerians should be free to exercise their right to vote without fear or favour. The way forward therefore, is for those responsible to make this possible. President Muhammadu Buhari should make this part of the legacy to bequeath to the country when his term ends in 2023.

    As we have seen all over the world, democracy is never a destination, it’s indeed a journey. But the stakeholders must make conscious efforts to see elections as a competition among parties and not an avenue to cause mayhem or create atmosphere of fear. Election disruption offenders must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others and the National Assembly should be more interested in churning out laws that would protect our democracy. To me, that should be a priority going forward, because we must avoid a situation where our people would lose faith in the ballot box.

    More importantly, the judiciary should rise up and assert itself. The arm that Alexander Hamilton described as the least form of government has the constitutional responsibility to save our fragile democracy.  And though a co-equal arm of government, the judiciary in my opinion, has not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians. Thus, it has a historical responsibility to help to reinvent the democratic process.

     

    • Adamu, a journalist wrote from Benin City.