The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Nigeria’s transformative strides in maternal health

    Nigeria’s transformative strides in maternal health

     Sir: I write in response to the article published on June 3, 2024, titled “Nigeria is world’s most dangerous country to give birth, says BBC.” While the report highlights past challenges, it does not reflect the remarkable progress Nigeria has made in maternal and child health under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, since 2023.

    In just two years, Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented reforms and investments that are changing the narrative of maternal care across the country:  $1billion Maternal and Child Health Fund: In 2025, the Federal Government approved a $1 billion fund to support all 36 states in reducing maternal and child mortality. This includes upgrading 774 primary healthcare facilities to provide free emergency obstetric care.

    Free Cesarean Sections Nationwide: Under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), the government has made cesarean sections available free of charge in public facilities nationwide—removing a key barrier that once claimed thousands of lives.

    Obstetric Fistula-Free Programme: Launched in 2024, this initiative has successfully treated over 1,600 women across 18 facilities, offering them a second chance at life. All associated costs—from transportation to post-surgical rehabilitation—are covered by the Federal Government.

    Primary Healthcare Upgrades: Through the PHC revitalisation effort, 238 facilities have already been upgraded, with over 2,000 more in progress. These facilities now offer 24/7 services, better equipment, and skilled birth attendants. Health Workforce Expansion: Enrollment quotas for medical and nursing schools have more than doubled—from 28,000 to 64,000 annually—ensuring that Nigeria has the human capacity to staff its growing health infrastructure.

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    Adolescent and Reproductive Health Services: The integration of adolescent-friendly services into PHCs is ongoing through the AGILE Project, offering menstrual hygiene, reproductive health education, and mental health support to young girls.

    These efforts, driven by clear political will and backed by strong policy implementation, are already yielding measurable results. Nigeria is no longer the nation described in 2021 statistics—it is now on an upward trajectory toward safer, equitable, and more inclusive healthcare for women and children.

    While we acknowledge that challenges remain, it is equally important that the media offers fair and current coverage that reflects the nation’s progress. We invite the media to join in amplifying these critical achievements that impact the lives of millions.

    •Isah Abuh Yusuf Abuja

  • The plastic problem: Moving from pollution to progress

    The plastic problem: Moving from pollution to progress

    Sir: For more than half a century, June 5th has marked World Environment Day (WED). This initiative by the United Nations, in collaboration with key stakeholders, aims at spotlighting critical environmental challenges across the globe. From desertification in Africa to melting ice in the Arctic, each year’s observance draws attention to a pressing issue that affects our existence and interaction with the environment, and the planet at large.

    In recent years, one of the most persistent threats to the environment has been plastic pollution. The 2025 theme titled, ‘Putting an End to Plastic Pollution,’ furthers the conversation to the 2023 edition that focused squarely on this crisis, under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution,’ calling for a global end to plastic waste by 2040—a target as ambitious as it is urgent. The emphasis on this plastic issue, therefore, underscores the importance.

    According to Our World in Data, global plastic production has surged from just 2 million tonnes in the 1950s to over 450 million tonnes by 2019—more than doubling in the last two decades alone. These figures are alarming, not just for their magnitude, but because of what plastic waste does after we discard it. Non-biodegradable by nature, plastic waste infiltrates our oceans, clogs our drains, poisons our soil, and harms both human and animal health.

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    For countries like Nigeria, where waste management remains largely aspirational, the challenge is even more acute. The World Bank estimates that Nigeria generates about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with up to 70% of it mismanaged. This places us among Africa’s top plastic polluters.

    In 2024, the Lagos State government, Nigeria’s commercial capital, announced a phased ban on single-use plastics, with full implementation slated for July 1, 2025. The ban excludes PET bottles, water sachets, and plastic bags thicker than 40 microns. While this is a commendable step, it raises an uncomfortable question: Can we truly beat plastic pollution with bans alone?

    Skeptics are right to worry. Nigeria has a chequered history with policy enforcement. Past attempts at banning certain materials or behaviours have often faltered due to poor planning, weak public engagement, lack of viable alternatives, and inconsistent enforcement. The truth is, a well-meaning ban without an ecosystem to support it will not work. Real change demands more: widespread public education, investment in recycling infrastructure, partnerships with private waste collectors, and stronger civic engagement.

    Take, for instance, the recent viral controversy about Lagos “smelling.” Instead of engaging in blame games, both the government and citizens should have used that moment for serious self- reflection. If our environment reeks, it’s because our systems are broken—and fixing them requires all hands on deck.

    As we mark the 53rd World Environment Day, we must remember that the burden of environmental responsibility does not rest with the government alone. It rests with all of us. If we truly wish to see clean cities, healthy oceans, and sustainable communities, we must act in concert—citizens, corporations, and country.

    Only then can Nigeria move from pollution to progress.

    •Oluwatosin Oshagbemi tosinoshagbemi@gmail.com

  • Rethinking commercial surrogacy in Nigeria

    Rethinking commercial surrogacy in Nigeria

    Sir: Medical science has evolved significantly over the centuries. One of the most remarkable breakthroughs in this journey is the art and science of surrogacy, a practice where a woman carries a child in utero (in the womb) on behalf of another woman or couple, whose egg and sperm are fertilised in a laboratory to form an embryo before being implanted into the surrogate mother.

    The choice to become a surrogate mother is bestowed upon a woman who undergoes the implantation process, a complex journey that undoubtedly results in experiencing discomfort, physical and emotional pain.

    Regardless of the outcome, these pains persist as the foetus develops during the nine-month gestation period, which comes with its own set of challenges, including hormonal imbalances and resultant body changes.

    Becoming a surrogate mother is not a knee-jerk decision. Financial challenges, especially in developing societies like ours, and sympathy – a woman wanting to help another woman who has been struggling to conceive or whose womb has been certified unfit to carry a child by a medical professional – are often underlying motivations.

    Intended parents also do not jump into surrogacy headfirst; they may have tried other means before settling for such a tedious process. Others, however, would opt for it due to tokophobia – the fear of childbirth. For this group, it is a case of better safe than sorry.

    Other phobias that make couples consider surrogacy include the fear of losing the baby inside the womb, medically known as stillbirth; fear of dying during childbirth; fear of excessive weight gain and other bodily and hormonal changes; fear of mom brain; and baby blues, among others.

    With all these factors in mind, it is mind-boggling that a woman should go the extra mile to carry and birth another person’s child, only to be left high and dry without any form of compensation!

    On May 26, 2025, the House of Representatives initiated legislative action to prohibit commercial surrogacy in Nigeria and establish a framework to regulate the practice solely for non-commercial, altruistic purposes. This move follows the introduction of “A Bill for an Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Women, Particularly in Relation to Surrogacy and for Related Matters.”

    The provisions in the bill that stipulate “explicit protection against coercion or forced surrogacy arrangements” and “mandating counseling for both surrogate mothers and intended parents” are highly commendable. This is particularly important, given instances where intended parents reject babies based on gender preferences; counseling would help them understand that they must accept the child wholeheartedly, regardless of gender.

    Another twist that underscores the importance of counseling is that, in some cases, surrogate mothers have fought for and claimed ownership of the child, despite prior agreements.

    Secondly, the “endorsement of only altruistic surrogacy, where no financial profit is involved except for reimbursing medical and pregnancy-related matters” is a point of contention. Surrogate mothers should be fairly compensated financially for their role, based on mutually agreed-upon terms and conditions between both parties.

    While the bill in itself may be altruistic, it should consider monetary compensation for women who render such a difficult and time-consuming service, thereby providing them with the necessary tools to maintain proper mental and physical well-being after childbirth.

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    Since the bill seeks to protect the rights of women involved in surrogacy and other parties, the legislators should consider several key factors: What happens if a surrogate mother loses her life? What if a stillbirth occurs? What provisions are made for aftercare? What if the pregnancy leaves the surrogate mother with long-lasting health issues, such as hypertension or diabetes? Addressing these questions will provide balance and add depth to the bill.

    The monetary compensation should be seen as a form of consolation for these surrogate mothers when all is said and done. However, Senator Uchenna Okonkwo, who represents the Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency of Anambra State and sponsored the bill, may have his reasons, which I won’t speculate about. Nevertheless, the bill warrants a second look to make it more comprehensive.

    Lastly, it is no news that baby farms are hotbeds for illicit activities, including human trafficking. Criminalising commercial surrogacy might inadvertently fuel these underground enterprises, whereas a more critical look at the bill to include compensating surrogate mothers could nip the problem in the bud.

    •Arita Oluoma Alih Abuja

  • Police recklessness: Another horrific tragedy

    Police recklessness: Another horrific tragedy

    Sir: On May 16, 2025, Emmanuella Ahenjir boarded a vehicle at Gyado Villa area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital. She was going to Wukari in Taraba State. The 23-year-old student of  Federal University, Wukari, was headed back to school. But she never made it. At the Wurukum roundabout in Makurdi, she was shot dead by another one of many of Nigeria’s trigger-happy policemen, who opened fire on the vehicle when the driver refused to stop.

    Ahenjir’s death predictably elicited a national outcry, with shock running through the country and reminding Nigerians of the fragility of life in the country, and the clear and present danger ironically posed by those paid by the taxpayers to protect them.

    For many Nigerians, the police are the worst nightmare, as frightening as the many bandits who pace Nigeria’s many forests waiting to pounce on innocent people.  The only difference is that while bandits prowl the bush, the police line up on the road, clad in uniform sewn with taxpayers’ money and wielding guns bought with taxpayers’ money, and are no less menacing.

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    Nigerians have lost their lives to police on the road over sums of money as negligible as fifty naira. Are these avoidable incidents collateral damage in law enforcement, or do they betray deeper structural problems? Should those who wield guns bought by Nigerians for the sake of Nigerians not exercise more circumspection in their use, especially when there is no armed confrontation?

    No country has grown or can grow when its citizens die indiscriminately at the hands of law enforcement.

    For the police, there are yet more questions than answers in what is already a difficult relationship with Nigerians. Nigerians are ordinarily suspicious and skeptical of the police. The police have been working very hard to rebuild trust.

    Yet, with each deadly incident like the one involving the hapless Ahenjir, decades of progress made to rebuild public trust in a key institution, crumble, going up in smoke at the hands of a few trigger- happy personnel.

    There is no perfect institution anywhere, but with serious commitment, genuine progress can be made to improve the perception of the police by Nigerians and prevent a repeat of the deadly incidents that leave families heartbroken and grief-stricken. May Ahenjir’s gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

    •Kene Obiezu keneobiezu@gmail.com

  •  Revolutionising Nigeria Customs Service

     Revolutionising Nigeria Customs Service

    Sir: In under two years, the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has dramatically reshaped the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Moving beyond a history of inefficiency and opacity, Adeniyi has diligently steered the NCS towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, championing transparency, technological integration, and national economic security.

    Adeniyi’s proactive stance on revenue generation has been pivotal. Despite a challenging economic climate, the NCS has seen significant improvements in collection, not just by hitting targets, but by streamlining processes, curbing leakages, and instilling accountability. This success is largely attributed to the embrace of advanced data analytics and automation, which enhance efficiency and mitigate corruption risks.

    Crucially, Adeniyi has prioritised border security as a cornerstone of national stability. His unwavering focus on strengthening controls, combating smuggling, and tackling illicit trade is indispensable in a nation grappling with security challenges. His aggressive posture against the smuggling of arms and contraband demonstrates a clear understanding of this imperative, further bolstered by enhanced collaboration with other security agencies for a unified approach to border management.

    Furthermore, Adeniyi has invested heavily in the professional development of NCS personnel. Recognising that a well-trained and motivated workforce is essential, he has implemented comprehensive training programmes covering modern customs procedures, ethical conduct, and technological proficiency. This commitment to human capital addresses long-standing criticisms, and is vital for building a sustainable and efficient customs service.

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    Transparency and stakeholder engagement have also defined Adeniyi’s leadership. By fostering open communication channels with importers, exporters, and other stakeholders, he has built trust, promoted collaboration, demystified customs procedures, and reduced bureaucratic hurdles. His more open engagement with the media and the public further underscores this commitment.

    Adeniyi’s alignment of the NCS with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda demonstrates a clear understanding of the agency’s role in national development. He emphasises facilitating legitimate trade, promoting economic diversification, and contributing to a conducive business environment, signaling a positive shift in the agency’s trajectory.

    While challenges persist, and the journey toward a fully reformed NCS is ongoing, Adeniyi’s tenure has established a solid foundation. His focus on technology, transparency, and personnel development, coupled with an unwavering commitment to national security and revenue generation, positions the NCS for a more impactful role in Nigeria’s economic landscape. The progress under his leadership offers hope that the NCS can, indeed, become a model of efficiency and integrity.

    Adeniyi’s self-discipline and selfless service to the nation are evident in his ability to exceed revenue projections, enhance customs services, significantly reduce smuggling, and strengthen relationships between customs, customers, and agents.

    •Kennedy Elaigwu Awodi

    awodiken@outlook.com

  • Nigeria’s university system dying

    Nigeria’s university system dying

    Sir: When the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) was officially registered as a trade union in October 2022, it did not emerge to merely add to the number of voices in the academic labour space. It was born, among others, out of deep concern over the future of university education in Nigeria, a future that has become increasingly uncertain due to the systematic neglect of academics and the erosion of the values that once upheld the profession.

    CONUA has since then been committed to constructive engagement, principled unionism, and unwavering advocacy for an academic environment free from disruptions, politicisation, and stagnation. Within its short period of existence, CONUA has engaged relevant agencies, submitted position papers, even to the National Assembly, sought and got invitations to the renegotiation table but yet to be brought there actively, and consistently pressed for one fundamental necessity: an urgent review of the conditions of service of university academics in Nigeria.

    It is no secret that since 2009 – for 16 long years – the remuneration of Nigerian lecturers has remained unchanged. In the same period, the cost of living has skyrocketed, the naira has lost significant value, and inflation has eaten deep into every household.

    Yet, university lecturers, the minds tasked with shaping future generations, are left to survive on salaries negotiated in a different era, under vastly different realities. This is an unacceptable tragedy.

    Let us not forget that in the 1960s through the mid-1970s, Nigerian academics were among the best paid on the continent. The universities then were global hubs of research and scholarship, attracting both scholars and students from across the world. Nigerian academic products were sought after globally, not just because of talent, but also because of the quality and rigour of the system. Today, that reputation is in decline, not for lack of competent academics, but for lack of deliberate investment and priority.

    Research funding has also been a casualty of the state’s neglect. Laboratories are either under-equipped or in total disrepair, journal subscriptions are unaffordable, and grants are scarce and sometimes politicised. Academics who want to do cutting-edge research have to fund it from their meagre salaries or rely on foreign grants, which sometimes come with problematic conditions.

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    Meanwhile, the proliferation of universities without direction or adequate funding has worsened the quality crisis. What kind of future is the government building when it expands structures without strengthening their foundations?

    This is why CONUA has repeatedly urged the Federal Government to act fast. The warning signs are clear: low morale among lecturers, increasing brain drain, dilapidated infrastructure, and disillusionment among students.  A nation that devalues its knowledge workers will soon lose the capacity to develop.

    Let this be a final word of caution: if the Federal Government fails to address the fundamental issues of corruption within the system, poor remuneration, inadequate research funding, and the mismanagement of university expansion, then we are racing toward a total collapse of the academic system. Not only would this cripple the university system, it would ultimately undermine national development, security, and sovereignty.

    The time to act is now. Not with rhetoric or tokenistic gestures, but with concrete policy action, fair negotiation, and measurable commitment to the revival of the Nigerian university system.

    CONUA remains available for principled dialogue. But let it be known: no society survives for long after abandoning its thinkers.

    •Prof. Henri Oripeloye

     National Secretary, CONUA

  • Nigeria must end reckless military airstrikes

    Nigeria must end reckless military airstrikes

    Sir: The recent military airstrikes that devastated Maraya and Wabi villages in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State are yet another grim reminder of the growing pattern of reckless, misdirected bombings by the Nigerian military. Reports indicate that at least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded in the unfortunate incident. Many of the victims were local vigilantes who had gathered to repel bandit attacks in their communities. This is not an isolated case. It is part of a disturbing trend that continues to deepen the mistrust between civilians and the state security apparatus.

    Nigeria’s constitution guarantees the right to life, and that right must not be arbitrarily or negligently taken by the very institutions sworn to protect it. The use of air power in conflict zones, especially in civilian-populated areas, demands a level of precision, intelligence, and restraint. Unfortunately, what we have witnessed time and again is the opposite: crude, indiscriminate bombings with catastrophic consequences for innocent Nigerians.

    What makes the Maraya and Wabi airstrikes particularly tragic is the nature of the victims. These were local vigilantes, ordinary men without military training or weapons, organising to protect their families from the relentless violence of armed bandits. Instead of receiving support or coordination from security agencies, they were mistaken for enemies and annihilated by state-sanctioned firepower. It is unacceptable, and it must stop.

    The Nigerian authorities must urgently initiate a transparent and independent investigation into this incident and others like it. Sweeping such tragedies under the rug only encourages further negligence and erodes public confidence in the military’s counterinsurgency efforts. Justice must be served, and those responsible for authorising and executing these deadly strikes must be held accountable.

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    In January, a similar horror unfolded in Tungar Kara of Maradun Local Government Area, also in Zamfara, where 16 members of a community guard were killed in a military airstrike. These consistent errors suggest not just intelligence failure but institutional recklessness and a worrying disregard for civilian safety. If the military cannot reliably distinguish between bandits and civilians, then we must question the protocols and oversight mechanisms guiding its operations.

    While it is true that Nigeria faces serious security challenges, especially in the Northwest where banditry has grown into a ruthless industry, combating violence with careless violence does not bring peace. It breeds resentment, trauma, and an endless cycle of fear and mistrust. Civilians already traumatised by bandits cannot be made to suffer again from the very military sent to protect them.

    There is a fundamental difference between necessary military action and indiscriminate assaults. Airstrikes should be a last resort, used only when there is verified intelligence and a high level of certainty that civilian lives will not be lost. The recurring airstrikes in Zamfara and other conflict zones show a dangerous departure from these principles. They reflect a strategy that appears more desperate than disciplined.

    Beyond demanding justice for the victims, we must also push for structural reforms within the Nigerian military. These reforms should include better intelligence gathering, improved community engagement, and the use of modern surveillance tools that reduce the risk of misidentifying targets. Commanders must answer for their decisions, and there must be consequences for those who authorise attacks without proper verification.

    If we remain silent, or begin to see these tragedies as an unfortunate but inevitable part of the fight against insecurity, then we are complicit in perpetuating a system that values expedience over human life. Military impunity has no place in a democratic society. Nigerians should not have to live in fear of both criminals and the security forces deployed to protect them.

    The National Human Rights Commission must lead an impartial investigation into these killings. We need a full account of what happened, why it happened, and who bears responsibility. Anything less would dishonour the dead and do further violence to the wounded communities left behind.

    This is not merely a military concern. It is also a question of governance and leadership. Elected officials must break their silence and speak clearly against these attacks. The people of Zamfara State deserve the same level of security, dignity, and national concern that would be extended to residents of Abuja or Lagos.

    The military must urgently rethink its approach to internal security. Security is not only about firepower. It is about building trust, respecting communities, and putting human life at the centre of all decisions. A system that fails to do this is a system in need of radical change.

    We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Defence Headquarters to issue new and clearer rules of engagement that prioritise the protection of civilian lives. The use of force must be accompanied by responsibility, transparency, and humility. Nigeria cannot continue to bomb its way through insecurity while sacrificing the people it claims to serve.

    •Kasim Isa Muhammad

     Potiskum, Yobe State

  • Nigeria’s traditional medicine policy lifeless

    Nigeria’s traditional medicine policy lifeless

    Sir: In the heart of Nigeria’s vibrant communities, traditional medicine remains a lifeline. For millions, the village herbalist is not just a healer but the only accessible one. And yet, despite its ubiquity and potential, traditional medicine in Nigeria remains largely relegated to the fringes of the healthcare system.

    Why? Because the one policy that could breathe life into it, “Traditional Medicine Policy” of 2007, is quite frankly a policy without a pulse.

    It exists on paper, yes. But in practice, it drifts in the ether of neglect, underfunding, and governmental lip service. The intent was noble: to recognise, integrate, and regulate traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) in a way that harmonises with Nigeria’s conventional medical framework. But over 15 years later, the landscape remains one of fragmented institutions, unrecognised practitioners, and a glaring vacuum of legislation that could bind it all into something functional.

    The 2007 policy envisioned institutionalising traditional medicine education, promoting evidence-based practices, and protecting indigenous knowledge. It proposed the development of curricula, collaborations between practitioners and scientists, and most importantly, the integration of traditional health workers into mainstream healthcare delivery.

    But here’s the reality in 2025: No functional regulatory council for traditional medicine practitioners, despite repeated attempts to pass the Council for Traditional, Alternative, and Complementary Medicine Practice Bill.

    No constitutionally defined or legally licensed role for herbalists or traditional health workers within Nigeria’s medical profession.

    Institutions like the Nigeria College of Natural Medicine Technology (NICONMTECH), the Ibadan College of Natural Medicine, and the African College of Traditional Medicine, train thousands annually but no professional pathway exists to license or employ them formally.

    Only national diplomas or certificates exist; there’s no accredited BSc programme, no postgraduate clinical practice recognition, and no universal standard for certification.

    The result? A generation of “trained” traditional medicine practitioners with no seat at the healthcare table.

    Counting some blessings, Nigeria’s Ministry of Health did establish the Department of Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2018, but its impact has been symbolic at best. NAFDAC mandated herbal product registration and labeling but that doesn’t translate into practitioner recognition or integration. The Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) was signed into law in 2019 to spearhead research and development, but there is no central governing council, which means that coordination remains chaotic. State governments have made some strides e.g., Governor Soludo’s Anambra State Herbal Practice Law, but an isolated effort with no national backing. In the end, it’s like having a beautifully designed ship without a captain or compass.

    One might ask, why does this matter now more than ever? It is no more  breaking news that Nigeria is bleeding professionals. The “Japa” wave has not spared doctors, nurses, or dentists. With over 65% of qualified health workers seeking opportunities abroad, Nigeria’s healthcare system is being hollowed out from within.

    To compound this, the country now faces blocked financing from global donors like the U.S., partly due to concerns over poor transparency, suboptimal health data management, and systemic inefficiencies. With this dwindling foreign aid and a crumbling workforce, we should be exploring every viable alternative, and traditional medicine stands right at the crossroads.

    But rather than mobilise this ready workforce, we shackle them with policy paralysis, leaving our vast herbal and traditional knowledge base to languish in semi-formal practice, unprotected, unregulated, and unsupported.

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    Time after time, the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) has repeatedly called on the National Assembly to pass the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Council of Nigeria (TCACN) Bill. Their plea is simple: recognise us, regulate us, give us a voice in the national health discourse. In fact, they are not asking for a free ride, but that the years of training at herbal schools, skills acquisition centres, and research institutes across Nigeria be met with a legitimate path to service.

    After all, how do you tell a graduate from the Nigeria College of Natural Medicine Technology that their diploma is valid, but they are legally invisible? How do you justify decades of policy silence when the country desperately needs all hands on deck?

    A living policy is one that evolves with need, responds to gaps, and energises sectors. The 2007 policy is comatose, hanging on by technical documents and departmental charades. What it needs now are: An active national council to regulate, license, and accredit T&CM practitioners; Curriculum reform and NUC-approved BSc degrees to professionalise training; Legal recognition of traditional practitioners under Nigeria’s health law; Clear collaborative frameworks between conventional and traditional health professionals.

    Nigeria cannot afford to sideline its heritage medicine when its hospitals are overcrowded, its health workforce is thinning, and its people are desperate for healing — wherever it may come from.

    •Oladoja M.O.Abuja 

  • Celebrating milk

    Celebrating milk

    Sir: World Milk Day is observed every year on June 1. It was introduced in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations to recognise the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector.

     Milk is the first food we consume when we are born. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants during their first months of life. Children are encouraged to drink up their milk so that they can grow up big and strong.

    However, as we grow older, we may tend to reduce, or even stop drinking this nutritious beverage, and may instead choose to consume more adult drinks like beer, wine, or spirits.  However, even for older adults, milk still offers several health benefits, including improved brain health and strong bones, while certain adult beverages can have negative effects.

    For decades, scientific research has continued to emphasise the importance of maintaining bone health as we age. Gradually, throughout our lives, our bones are constantly changing. Hence, when our intake of Calcium-rich foods is low, our body ‘steals’ the Calcium it needs from our bones – which can cause them to become porous and weak. In Nigeria, bone diseases are quite common. For example, according to data, more than 1.5 million cases of Osteoporosis are diagnosed in Nigeria every year! Osteoporosis refers to a condition in which bones become weak and brittle, and bone loss occurs without symptoms. Consequently, most people are unaware of their deteriorating bone health.

    However, the good news is that drinking milk regularly can help prevent Osteoporosis and bone fractures, and even help you maintain a healthy weight. This delicious beverage – Milk – has always been a healthy drink because it is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and many other nutrients, which are usually under-consumed by many people.

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    However, although milk is a good choice for many, some people cannot tolerate it because they are unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products (dairy products are products containing or made from milk). In such cases, such people are advised to stick to unsweetened varieties of milk, in order to limit the amount of added sugar in their diet. Non-dairy milk alternatives include soymilk, oat milk, almond milk, among others.

    For those able to tolerate milk, however, consuming high-quality milk and dairy products has been proven to provide a number of health benefits. These include: Good for bones; Helps in building strong teeth; Promotes muscle health; Rich in protein; Promotes heart health; Reduces depression; Boosts metabolism; Reduces risk of obesity; Fights multiple diseases; Stress buster; Prevents heartburns; Good for your skin.

    How much milk should we consume daily? There is no hard and fast rule, but too much of something is not advisable. For adults, two full glasses of milk a day – once in the morning and once before bed – will provide an adequate amount of nutrients. For children below 12 years of age, two 250ml glasses of milk a day should be sufficient. And, of course, babies require regular milk intake, as it is their sole source of nutrients. It is good for us to also note that milk has healthy types that can benefit us. It is advised that we choose low-fat or non-fat milk, whole milk or skimmed milk.

    So, everyone, drink milk regularly, and enjoy its rich nutritional benefits from A to Z!

    •Daniel Ighakpe FESTAC Town, Lagos

  • Open Letter to President Tinubu: Plight of NYSC members

    Open Letter to President Tinubu: Plight of NYSC members

    Sir: I write to you on behalf of the NYSC Batch A Stream 1 and 2, Batch B Stream 1 and 2, and Batch C Stream 1 members to express our deep concern regarding two pressing issues that continue to affect Nigerian youths—particularly recent graduates: the persistent non-payment of NYSC arrears and the alarming rate of graduate unemployment.

    Nigeria has made significant investments in education, and institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University and many others continue to produce skilled, knowledgeable, and competent graduates. These young Nigerians are eager to contribute meaningfully to national development. However, the noble objective of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)—to foster national unity and development—is undermined by the financial hardships corps members face due to unpaid entitlements.

    For many ex-corps members, the non-payment of arrears has led to serious financial strain and emotional distress. These individuals dedicated a year of their lives to serving the nation, often in challenging environments, with the expectation of fair compensation and support from the government. The failure to honour this commitment sends a disheartening message to the youth about the value placed on their service.

    Moreover, the broader issue of youth unemployment looms large. Despite acquiring degrees and relevant skills, many graduates are unable to secure meaningful employment. The frustration, disillusionment, and loss of hope that stem from joblessness are growing rapidly. I am experiencing the reality of this crisis first-hand, like many of my peers.

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    Your Excellency, we respectfully urge your administration to address these critical issues as a matter of urgency. Timely payment of NYSC arrears would provide much-needed relief to ex-corps members, while well-structured and inclusive employment initiatives would go a long way in tackling the rising unemployment rate. Policies that promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and private-sector growth would help empower the youth and restore confidence in the Nigerian dream.

    We believe in your commitment to the progress and welfare of Nigerian citizens, especially the youth who represent the future of our nation. We trust that your leadership will bring about tangible changes in these areas and rekindle hope in the hearts of countless young Nigerians.

    •Adamu Isyaku Magama, Toro, Bauchi State