The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Nigeria,US and trial drug for Ebola

    The use of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) trial drugs, Zmapp in the United States of America (USA) gave many Nigerians a ray of hope against the deadly disease which  the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer brought into Nigeria in July.

    Currently, there is no vaccine against the disease that has claimed the lives of over 1,300 persons in the West African sub-region.The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved untested drugs to be administered as research work continues towards finding a cure to the disease.

    Two United States aid workers, Nancy Writebol and Dr Kent Brantly, who were infected with the virus while in Liberia, had responded positively to Zmapp in Atlanta.

    While Writebol was discharged on Tuesday, Dr Brantly was discharged few hours later.

    Dr. Brantly, who was brought to the US along with his colleagues for treatment four weeks ago, thanked supporters for their prayers at a news conference in Atlanta last week.

    Even though the Zmapp trial drug that worked wonders in the two Americans had never been tested on humans, it was not the same story for a Spanish Priest who was given the same drug but died from the disease.

    Three Liberian health workers, also given the drugs, are said to be responding to treatment, as the Liberian Ministry of Health declared last week that they have shown “very positive signs of recovery”.

    To stop those infected in Nigeria from death, the Nigerian government did not waste time to request for Zmapp as some Nigerians who had primary and secondary contact with the late Sawyer were falling ill.

    The request for the trial drugs had not been met even though five persons, including Sawyer, as at last Wednesday, have died from the disease in Nigeria.

    During a visit to the Nigerian Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu on Monday last week, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, said his country was not yet in a position to make Zmapp available to Nigeria as the drug was not available in sufficient quantity to go round all the countries requesting for it.

    While some Nigerians were not happy that the drug, rather than coming to Nigeria, was given for the treatment of some health workers in Liberia, some other Nigerians believed that the US should not be blamed if it is still more attached to its former colony.

    Speaking during the US Ambassador’s visit, Prof. Chukwu revealed that the Nigerian Government was withholding its approval for an anti-Ebola drug Nano-Silver produced by a Nigerian because it did not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code.

    Briefing State House correspondents early this month on bitter cola as a cure for the disease, Prof. Chukwu said: “As the Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I say that right now, there is no scientific proof to suggest that if you just eat bitter kola you will prevent the disease or where you have it, it will help to cure it.

    “However, we are aware that in 1999, Prof. Maurice Iwu worked along with an administration in United States of America and conducted research which at the level of the laboratory …

    “This shows that some extract they had obtained from the bitter cola which is common in West Africa and in Nigeria …. tend to have some activities against the virus. But that research was not concluded and therefore, as at today, there is no evidence to link that as a cure or preventive measure against Ebola Virus Disease.”

    But some Nigerians have continued to wonder why Nigeria has not pushed forward the Iwu’s research work further since 1999 as it won’t be a curse if Nigeria is involved with the international community to develop a drug and come to the aid of other West African countries that are suffering from the disease.

    To tackle Ebola, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Prof. Karniyus S. Gamaniel has called for urgent upgrade of its laboratory towards researching and producing necessary drugs to cope with the threat of the virus.

    He said: “Our laboratories need a little upgrading with facilities like the P4 bio-safety cabinet which will make the laboratory very competent and very useful, and we insist that the situation is an emergency given the position of Abuja as a centrally-placed city.

    “Ebola is a deadly pathogen and the facilities we have needed to be upgraded. We don’t have the P4 facility but we have a structured laboratory suitable for handling the virus and the various studies that are relevant.”

    No doubt, Nigeria has been commended for properly tracing and containing the disease since the virus found its way to Nigeria through Mr. Sawyer, but more needs to be done towards finding a cure in Nigeria.

    Bitter cola, which is abundantly available in Nigeria and has been said to be very active in killing the virus, may be the major ingredient needed to find a cure for the disease in human beings.

    Nigeria should get its act together now and give those concerned with finding a cure in Nigeria, especially NIPRD and other researchers, genuine supports in all ramifications.

    The era must be brought to an end where Nigeria richly blessed with fruits, food crops and other resources like oranges, mango, potatoes, palm trees, oil and petroleum resources continue to import processed fruit juice, palm oil, vegetable oil, potato chips and refined petroleum products.

    Even though some of the items are on the prohibition list of the Nigeria Customs Service, they still find their way into the country.

    The reversal of the trend should be the case now not only for the economic and financial benefit to Nigeria as a country but also to provide the needed jobs for the large unemployed youths in the country.

  • Consolidating prevailing peace in Plateau

    Consolidating prevailing peace in Plateau

    Jos is not like other cities in Nigeria. Its rocky terrains and peculiar weather stand it out from others. This vantage position of Jos made it one of the most attractive cities in the country.

    It soon developed into a miniature Nigeria as it hosted all ethnic groups in Nigeria. However, the unity, beauty and serenity of the city came under serious challenge when religious crisis crept into the once serene city in 1994. The crisis degenerated into full-blown religious riot in 2001.

    While the state was battling to restore peace in the city, a more devastating violence erupted in Plateau-South. This led to the imposition of a state of emergency on the entire state in 2004.

    After the emergency rule, stakeholders have come together in search of peace on the Plateau. To this end, several peace meetings or summits had been held; some with prospects of success.

    The first Jos “Peace and Unity Forum” held after two decades of violent internal conflict came as cheery news to most Nigerians, especially residents of Plateau State.

    The timing of the forum was apt as it held after what looked like an unending regime of violence which the state experienced. During the period, the people prayed and hoped for an end to the incessant violence. God indeed, answered their prayers.

    Today, the people’s preoccupation is not a recollection of happenings of the yesteryear. Rather the people are obsessed with how to make permanent the current prevailing peace. The people have collectively resolved to pick up their pieces and co-exist peacefully once again.

    In 2011, the people unanimously adopted what they termed “The 5Rs of Our Lives”. These include Recovery, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Re-integration.

    Our correspondent gathered that the concepts and principles of the 5Rs arose from the need to recover from the violence era, to rehabilitate the lost love and mutual co-existence, to reconcile with one another, to reconstruct broken relationships and most importantly, to re-integrate all the ethnic nationalities.

    Despite criticisms of steps taken to address the peace situation, the Plateau State Government entered into partnership with the European Union (EU) last year in a bid to enshrine a peace-building project as a post-conflict programme.

    They came up with an 18- month peace-building plan to consolidate the prevailing peace. The task of implementing the peace plans was assigned to a civil society organisation, Search for Common Ground (SFCG), while the Plateau State Government created a Directorate of Peace-Building and Conflict Management with a Special Adviser to coordinate the activities.

    Efforts made at achieving peace after the state of emergency were futile as the state became polarized, especially after the local government election in 2008. The scale of violence witnessed during that election polarised the state along religious and ethnic lines, thereby making peace efforts unworkable.

    While the people were grappling with how to bring about lasting peace, the state again erupted in another spate of violence adjudged by many as one of the worst in the state.

    The Federal Government again responded, but this time, setting up a special military task force to help bring the warring parties to order. Even though the Joint Task Force (JTF) was code-named Operation Safe Heaven, the state was more of hell to residents and visitors.

    The fresh crisis claimed the life of a serving Senator. Yet, the peace became elusive as the state was enmeshed series of violence.

    Worried by the increasing cases of violence, the government and concerned stakeholders went into action, searching for ways of ending the conflict and bringing lasting peace.

    Stakeholders realised that the road to peace in Plateau was through dialogue. Working in collaboration with the European Union, the stage government put in place a peace-building process code-named the Plateau Peace Architecture Dialogue Series” under which stakeholders meet once a month to discuss peace. Speaking at the first meeting of the group, Country Coordinator of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) Chom Bagu said: “The light of peace is currently shining on the Plateau and all efforts should be made to sustain it and consolidate it to enable it last.”

    Special Adviser to the Plateau State Governor on Peace-building and Conflict Management, Timothy Baba Parlong said “even though peace may have been achieved, we need to go further than that to restore love and to unite the people. We also need to restore the glory of the state as tourists’ destination.

    “People have been scared from coming to Jos while the conflict lasted, and now that the conflicts are over, we need to do something to attract visitors and tourists.”

    Determined to achieve peace, the group continued with the dialogue series and at their ninth meeting, an agreement was reached by all ethnic groups to constitute themselves into a “Peace and Unity Forum”. The forum is expected to bring over 300 ethnic groups under one umbrella.

    It will comprise all ethnic, religious and community leaders. With such an agreement arrived at, there was the need to constitute a body that will facilitate the smooth take off of the forum.

    The stakeholder decided to put in place a five-man interim committee which was immediately inaugurated. Parlong described its inauguration as a major achievement in the peace-building process.

    He said: “What we want to achieve here is a declaration by the residents of Jos to imbibe a culture of peace. Peace and unity is now taken as a culture of the people here. The forum is expected to achieve and improve communication among members, know themselves; interact freely among themselves and engage in intelligence networking, among others.

    “The forum will also bring the people closer to government, close the gap of unity and eradicate the ‘no go area’ syndrome”.

    The committee headed by Sunday Gini Musa, has  three months to work out modalities for the operation of the forum and identify ethnic nationalities with structures in Jos metropolis, determine the membership of the forum, set guidelines for the forum, conduct elections and inaugurate its leaders.”

    Mr. Musa assured leaders of ethnic, religious and community groups that the committee will work within the timeframe allotted it, adding that they will be committed to building a solid structure of peace and love for the benefit of all citizens.

    He assured that the forum will put an end to ethnic, religious and political crises.

  • Group advocates clean, safe environment

    The National President, Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Ubina Ubi, has advised residents of the Federal Capital Territory to protect the environment. This, he said, they could do by not throwing away polythene bags, cans and other disused materials that are hazardous to the environment indiscriminately.

    Littering the environment with waste materials, he said, could lead to flooding due to blocking the drainage with them.

    Ubi, who spoke at a briefing in Abuja, said polythene bags when not properly discarded leads to environmental degradation.

    “Empty sachet water polythene bags do not have to end up in the streets or refuse dump or the neighbourhood. We can recycle them to generate jobs for our youths. Let our youths engage in the recycling of these bags as it obtains in other countries.

    “Government should enforce environmental laws on the use of polythene.  Most of our streets are littered with polythene bags and water cans. They can cause environmental degradation,” he said.

    He called on the media to help in mobilising and sensitising Nigerians on the need to imbibe the virtue of environmental friendliness.

  • State House braces against Ebola

    The reality of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria is now overwhelming members of staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The possibility of its outbreak at the Presidential Villa was conveyed in an Internal Circular last week to all State House personnel by the Chief Physician to the President, Dr. Fortune Fiberesima.

    To avert an outbreak of the disease in the Villa, he said the numerous bats and monkeys in the Aso Rock are part of the animals that have been discovered to be hosts to the disease and have the capacity to spread the deadly disease.

    While monkeys freely move around the Presidential Villa from the thick forest surrounding the Seat of Power, bats sling on almost every tree at the Presidential Villa.

    Faeces of monkeys and bats are common sights on anything or object placed within the State House, including cars parked at the various parking lots.

    Dr. Fiberesima, in the Internal Circular, warned State House personnel against contact with these animals, either dead or alive.

    He also warned them against using hands to clear faeces of the animals on their cars.

    Stressing that hand gloves are available for members of staff on request at the State House Medical Centre (SHMC), he warned car owners in the Villa to water-hose vehicles parked under trees (with or without faeces of animal droppings on them) properly before washing them.

    The circular entitled “Precautionary Measures, Re: Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria”, reads: “In view of the recent outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease and that certain animals (bats and monkeys) have been linked with the virus, the following precautionary measures are deemed necessary: “Avoid physical contact with bats and monkeys, whether dead or alive.

    “Do not pick dead bats and monkeys. Please, immediately notify the Public Health Unit of the State House Medical Centre for proper disposal.

    “Avoid using hands to clear animal droppings (animal faeces) on parked cars.

    “Hand gloves are available at the SHMC on request.

    “Water-hose vehicles parked under trees (with or without animal droppings on them) properly before washing.

    “Sanitise hands or wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible.

    “The aforementioned measures are purely precautionary, in view of the large number of bats and monkeys in the Villa.”

    Apart from photocopies of the circular placed on notice boards at strategic points, copies were also given to many members of staff at the Presidential Villa in order to create enough awareness.

    Among the top government officials listed as the recipients of the internal circular are the Chief of Staff to the President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice-President, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, All Senior Special Assistants/ Special Assistants to the President and Vice-President, Permanent Secretary of State House, SCOP, ADC, Chief Security Officer, CPSO, Commander of Guards Brigade and the Office of the First Lady.

    Besides the circular, sanitisers are often spread on the palms of members of staff and visitors to the Presidential Villa at some entry points.

    Last Wednesday and Thursday when many people were at the Villa for the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council meetings respectively, some members of staff were positioned with sanitisers to ensure that palms of visitor are purified after handling the door handles.

    To further prevent any outbreak of the disease at the Villa, the management of the State House has also ensured that hygienic hand washing liquid soaps are placed in most toilets in the Villa.

    On Wednesday last week, President Goodluck Jonathan also demonstrated with hygienic hand washing machine against the spread of the disease during a Special Presidential meeting on Ebola Virus at the State House.

    The meeting was attended by state governors, commissioners of health from various states of the federation, Federal Government officials and World Health Organisation Representative in Nigeria.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, spoke against secrecy and non-disclosure of infected person or persons who show symptoms of the disease.

    He said: “This is not the time to make fast Naira. Next week will be defining for us, to know whether cases have multiplied. This is not something you keep in religious house to pray. Infected persons are not patients you can move by taxis. If they need prayers now, it can be done electronically.

    “We are now 99 per cent following the cases. We need to have a 100 per cent because if we have one infected person, it is a global risk not just Nigeria.

    “We have to drop our traditional behaviours like shaking of hands and nobody should be offended. You have to stop defecating and urinating in public, particularly at this time of our challenges.”

    The Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime said: “From the reports of the meeting, it is clear Nigeria has the capacity to fight Ebola virus, but there is need for standardised practice in combating it.”

    We hope that the ongoing efforts at various levels towards tackling the Ebola scourge will not only keep the disease away from the Presidential Villa and all the areas yet to be infected, but will also kick out the disease from the states that are battling with it.

  • Foundation battles breast cancer in Kwara

    Foundation battles breast cancer in Kwara

    Worried by the incessant cases of cervical and breast cancers and their debilitating effects on women, th wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, has led members of the LEAH Foundation, a non- governmental organisation (NGO), to campaign against the ailments. Members of the foundation took to the streets and some communities in the state to sensitise women on the harmful effects of the diseases.

    The campaigns, during which leaflets were distributed, began at the foundation’s GRA office in Ilorin, the state capital. They visited the Ero-Omo Primary Health Centre and the Egbejila Primary Health Centre, both in Ilorin West and Ilorin South local government areas.

    Mrs. Ahmed, the founder of the NGO, advocated periodic breast and cervical screening for early detection and treatment of the diseases.

    She urged women to use the facilities which the foundation had provided to ensure that they are free from the ailments, adding that breast and cervical cancers do not respect any one, irrespective of her class or status. She noted that all sexually active women are susceptible to the diseases.

    Mrs. Ahmed allayed any fear of financial constraints in accessing the facility, saying the centres in their respective areas would charge a token of N200 which, she said is the fee for speculum, an apparatus with which the screening is conducted. She added that the speculum could only be used on one person.

    She said: “I advise women to make maximum use of the opportunity. We are just starting. We hope to have screening centres in all nook and cranny of the state.

    “I encourage all our women that have been screened to go out there and talk to others about the 16 centres we have already established. With concerted effort, we can reduce, if not bring to an end, the scourge in our midst.

    “I received the vision about this programme after I had a personal experience. The response of our people to the foundation has been very encouraging. In February, we began the massive sensitisation of our people about the danger of these two diseases.

    “I am optimistic that if we educate our people they will comply. Ever since the sensitisation programme started, the response has been overwhelming. That time, we went to about nine local government areas across the state. After our sensitisation campaign at Baruten Local Government Area, the following day, women from that area came for either breast or cervical cancer examination.”

    Mrs. Ahmed said her advocacy drive was borne out of the alarming rate at which breast and cervical cancers affect women, a situation she attributed to lack of adequate awareness and lack of periodic screening.

    The NGO has opened 13 more centres. They are General Hospital Lafiagi, Cottage Hospital Tsaragi, General Hospital Share, Comprehensive Health Centre Shao, Cottage Hospital, Ajikobi, Maternity Dispensary, Oke ogun, Comprehensive Health Centre Ekan meje, Cottage Hospital, Iloffa, Primary Health Centre, Babanla, Basic Health Centre, Oke Oyi, Comprehensive Health Centre, Okelele, Okesuna Ward Clinic, Okesuna and General Hospital Okuta.

    The impressive turn out of women in all the communities where the screening centres had been inaugurated encouraged Mrs. Ahmed to include 10 additional centres to the initial 15. This brings to 25 the number of cancer screening centres which are spread across the state.

    In each of the communities visited for the inauguration of the centres, the mobile clinic team of the foundation was on hand to give free drugs, perform eye tests, check blood pressure and on-the-spot treatments of minor diseases while complex cases were referred to general hospitals for proper handling.

  • Ebola: ‘We may abandon our ancestral homes’

    Ebola: ‘We may abandon our ancestral homes’

    Residents of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have cried out over the decision of the FCT Administration to site the isolation ward for possible Ebola cases in the FCT in their area.

    Wondering why the administration should take “such a decision that may endanger their lives”, most residents say they would relocate to a different area should there be any case of the virus referred to the isolation ward.

    A resident of Kuje who identified himself as Danjuma said: “I don’t know why the government simply thinks it’s reasonable to force ideas on people. People of Kuje are really afraid and I can assure you that there will be mass relocation from Kuje if a case of Ebola is referred to the area.

    “Some people have vowed not to get close to the General Hospital as soon as they hear the news of an Ebola case.  For me, I will take my family away from there as soon as it happens. I don’t care about anything that the minister has said about safety.”

    The decision to site the isolation ward at Kuje, the authorities say, was part of the proactive measures by the administration to contain the Ebola virus when it crops up, as it does not want to be taken unawares.

    Federal and state governments are working assiduously to ensure that the Ebola virus does not become an epidemic. However, some state governments that have not recorded any case of the virus are also taking necessary measures to contain it should they witness any. This they do by designating part of a tertiary health institution as isolation centres.

    This is the situation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which has created an isolation ward at the Kuje General Hospital.

    At an interactive session on the matter, the FCT Administration noted that after deliberations, it decided that Kuje General Hospital in Kuje Area Council was a suitable location for its isolation ward.

    Unfortunately, the action has petrified residents who see the move as a means of “bringing the disease closer to them.”

    Protesting the decision, the residents noted that the FCT Administration only remembers that they exist when negative issues which no other part of the FCT wants to host crop up. They added that if it is something beneficial, it is taken elsewhere. Citing the Kuje Prisons as one of the projects that are not beneficial to the community, the residents said they pray unceasingly that dangerous criminals in the popular prison do not escape and take them hostage, even as they lamented that they have to contend with the Ebola virus isolation ward in the hospital.

    When the rumour began making the rounds that the ward maybe cited in Kuje, the youth staged a protest to the palace of the Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Tanko to register their anger over the purported decision, which they insisted was dangerous to the well-being of the community.

    When the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed confirmed what was once regarded as rumour, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Shaban Tete cried out to the Minister at the FCT stakeholder’s interactive forum on the threat of the Ebola disease in the FCT.

    He informed the minister that the residents were scared, even as he suggested that the isolation ward should be sited elsewhere and not Kuje.

    He lamented that the hospital was in the middle of Kuje and any form of an outbreak of the virus will affect everyone in the area council.

    Tete opined that such a ward should not be cited in a General Hospital but in a specialist hospital far away from Kuje.

    His words: “It seems to us in Kuje that we have now become the FCT centre for Ebola virus and both I and the Gomo are afraid. The healthcare centre is in the middle of Kuje and if there is an outbreak there, everyone in Kuje will be affected. “I believe that there are specialist hospitals everywhere. Why locate it in Kuje?”

    After listening to the council boss, the minister said Tete was ignorant, even as he warned him against inciting the youth of the FCT against the administration based on groundless fear.

    Senator Mohammed informed him that all necessary measures will be put in place to ensure that patients who make use of the hospital are safe by not coming in contact with any Ebola patient, if any.

    The minister further informed Tete that the isolation wards will be located behind the hospital with all the safety measures required, adding that patients will not notice the difference.

    He said: “I believe you spoke out of ignorance. You should not have expressed such fears after professionals had explained to you that the virus can only be contracted through physical contact. That hospital in Kuje belongs to the FCT Administration and not your area council.

    “I can assure you that we do not wish to put your people in harm’s way. Even if it means building a place behind and away from the main building, we will do it to ensure your safety. Please, be assured that this is not meant to harm the people of Kuje.

    “Since you said that you don’t want it site in Kuje, where do you want us to take it to? You want us to take it to another place?

    “I don’t like your attitude. You do not like the people of Kuje more than I do and I will do everything to protect them. I learnt that you are trying to insight your youths against the administration and the idea of the isolation ward. We have security measures in place who have informed us of that. I can assure you that no harm will come to you and we will ensure that all safety measures are put in place to avoid any form of outbreak.”

    Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Development Secretariat, Dr Demola Onakomaiya explained that various steps have been taken by the administration to ensure safety of the people, even though no case of the virus has been recorded or confirmed in the FCT.

    His words: “Earlier before now, we had prepositioned personal protective equipment (PPE) in 16 health facilities (both public and private) and one agency in the FCT.

    “Clinical sensitisation with emphasis on heightening their index of suspicion, case management, infection prevention and control are ongoing in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

    “Social mobilisation and health education, promotion and empowerment are ongoing in the media and all communities in the FCT.

    “An active surveillance has been ongoing through the Department of Public Health and it has been responding promptly to calls whenever cases are suspected.

    “An interactive session with the FCT Guild of Medical directors was held on July 9, this year.

    “A place to be used as isolation ward has been identified in Kuje General Hospital awaiting modifications and prepositioning of relevant materials according to guidelines.

    “A rapid response team (RRT) with specific responsibilities has been set up with five sub-groups namely case management and infection control, surveillance, contact tracing and cross-border activities, social mobilisation, logistic, port of entry and letters are being sent to all relevant sectors and the inaugural meeting will hold shortly.”

    Despite these explanations, residents of Kuje are still afraid and wish that the centre is not located in their community.

    In a related development, theChairman of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Shaban Tete, has rescinded his decision to resist any attempt by the FCT Administration to site an isolation centre for Ebola infected persons in the area, even as he appealed to residents of the area to accept government’s decision.

    Tete overturned his hard stance against the FCTA decision after a meeting with the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and other stakeholders in Abuja on the decision to use Kuje General Hospital as an isolation centre for Ebola victims.

    According to Tete, the appeal became necessary as a result of the wide rejection of the centre by residents of the area who expressed their fears that the virus kills any person infected with it days after infection.

    “We had a meeting with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and he made it clear to me that Kuje General Hospital has been designated as an isolation centre. They also explained clearly to me that the disease can only be contracted through body fluid when you come in contact with an infected person.

    “I was assured that that all necessary facilities would be put in place before any infected person would be brought to Kuje. The FCT is currently free from the Ebola virus and we pray that the situation remains like this. I want to encourage residents of Kuje to remain calm and always main high level of personal hygiene.

    “In the meeting, it was concluded that there will be gadgets to monitor people coming in and out of Abuja for safety purposes. When somebody is too scared, he or she can even die before time. I therefore urge Kuje people to go about their normal businesses,” he said.

    He called on all stakeholders to join hands with the government to fight the virus and save lives.

    He urged residents to adhere strictly to government’s healthcare advice, adding that it would help in preventing the spread of the virus.

  • ‘Implement HYPADEC bill’

    A group under the aegis of North Central Youth Forum (NCYF) has decried the non-implementation of the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Authority Commission (HYPADEC) Bill long after President Goodluck Jonathan signed it into law.

    The group has urged Jonathan to expedite action on the take-off of the commission.

    The youth, in a statement signed by Alhaji Hamzat Idris, (Kwara), Mr. Ishola Olawole (Kogi) and Hajia Hawa Saliu (Kebbi), lamented that the commission had not begun operation, despite the N250 million allocated to it in this year’s budget.

    The youth, who said the bill had been passed to the Ministry of Power for implementation after the President’s assent, enjoined the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, to ensure that the bill was returned to the Presidency for final approval.

    They expressed their hope that the Presidency had approved the composition of the management of the commission, adding that “it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Power to return it to the Presidency for final ratification”.

    The group recalled that it had made similar appeal to the President in a letter sent to him in December, 2013, noting that copies of the letter were also sent to the Chief of Staff (Presidency), the National Security Adviser, Special Adviser on Political Matters and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The group said: “We appreciate your (President Jonathan) good intention which culminated in appending your signature to the bill that established the commission after it was passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly. But, we are, however, constraint to write this letter in view of the importance of the commission to the well-being of the people of the North Central geo-political zone.

    “It is pertinent to mention here that the devastating effect of flood that always ravages most parts of the North-central states during the rainy season could only be tackled by the commission.

    “Rather than an ad-hoc arrangement, it is better, Mr. President, to expedite action on the take-off of the commission.

    “The commission, based on the provisions of the Act that established it, is a position to bring about lasting solution to the incessant flood incidents usually occasioned when excess water is released from the hydro dams situated in Niger and Kwara states.

    “The bill establishing The Hydro-Electric Power-Producing Areas Development Commission vested in it the responsibility of managing the ecological hazard that results from the operations of the Hydro dams and other related matters.

    “We, therefore, appeal to your Excellency to immediately constitute the management of the commission since names of those to serve in it have

    been forwarded to the appropriate quarters since it does not require any confirmation by the National Assembly.

    “We believe that such a move will improve the living standard of the people of the entire North-Central geo-political zone.”

  • ALGON boss advises residents

    The chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Micah Jiba has called on residents not to panic over the reported outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

    He rather advised them to keep their environments clean and adhere to sensitisation programmes on how to avoid contracting the virus.

    Jiba, who gave this advice while speaking with reporters on the plans made by chairmen of the area councils’ to curb the spread of the virus in the FCT, said appropriate health authorities have been undergoing through various training and sensitisation programmes in order to tackle the virus. This, he said, include proper washing of hands with soap and water before eating and avoid coming in contact with fluids of any sick person.

    Jiba, who is also the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), warned residents who eat bats, monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas to desist from such act because these animals are said to be hosts of the virus, adding that they should avoid meat from such bush animals in order not to get infected by the virus.

    “Also, our health workers should have a high index of suspicion and ensure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to suspected infected corpses. Safe burial protocols should be followed by relatives of dead people, because health workers and people that touch dead bodies of relatives with their bare hands are more vulnerable to this virus,” he said.

    He further said chairmen of the six area councils in the FCT have met with health workers to ensure that adequate measures are put in place to ensure that the virus does not spread to any of the communities in their respective area councils.

    The meeting with the health workers, he revealed, will be on a frequent basis, advising residents to report any suspected case of Ebola virus to the nearest health- care centre.

    “As government, we will do our best to protect our people. What we need most currently are prayers. We should continue to pray for our country and ensure that professional medical advice that will serve as preventive measures are followed religiously. I sincerely believe that this deadly virus will not get out of hand. It will be contained soonest,” he said.

  • Security gadgets for FCT schools

    Mindful of the abduction of over 200 girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents on April 15, the bomb blast at EMAB Plaza, Abuja and threats by the Boko Haram sect to attack major places in Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed has held a schools’ security conference to avoid a reoccurrence.

    He said schools in the FCT would be equipped with modern security gadgets before they resume for next session in September. He said the move was aimed at protecting the lives of children and to avert the Chibok experience.

    The new security measures to be introduced in schools will include provision of perimeter fencing, housing for teachers, community policing, school guards, alarm system and deployment of communication equipment. This, he said, is in order to take pre-emptive measures to prevent the insurgents from cashing in on any security lapses to attack any school.

    Emphasis, he added, will also be laid on school alert and early warning systems, attitudinal change, awareness of basic security tips, safety and evacuation drills as well as the erection of both institutional and physical firewalls that obstruct unwelcome guests.

    The minister said the battle against Boko Haram which has declared war on the country’s educational system is a battle of the heart, the mind and soul of the country.

    Senator Mohammed, who was represented by the Secretary, FCT Education

    Secretariat, Mallam Kabir Usman, said: “The FCT Administration considers this conference as part of its ongoing concerns to evolve a foolproof security framework for schools in the territory and the FCT as a whole.

    “The need to pay special attention to protection of lives of our school children gave rise to the launch of the ‘Safe Schools Initiative’ at the recently-concluded World Economic Forum held in Abuja.

    “The measures include provision of perimeter fences, housing for teachers, community policing, school guards, alarm systems and deployment of communication equipment. Even though, the target of this undertaking is the safeguard of school children in states under emergency rule, we in the FCT consider it necessary to take pre-emptive measures to avoid tempting the insurgents by any vulnerability.

    “It is noteworthy that our commitments to school safety and overall emergency preparedness have proved effective in dealing with emergencies. A recent hijack of a school bus in Nyanya was quickly dealt with within a couple of hours. This, for us, was cheery news, even as it sent signals about the effectiveness of the machinery FCT Administration has put in place to ensure the security of lives and property in the territory.

    “It could be recalled that one of the earliest initiatives of this administration at its inception was the procurement of 114 security vehicles fitted with communication and security gadgets to holistically confront criminals and threats of insurgency in the FCT. These vehicles were donated to all the security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Military in the FCT, among others.

    “It is lamentable that education, which is the bedrock of national development, has been singled out by insurgents for constant attacks and raids, often leaving arson, deaths and destruction on their tracks. Our hearts are with the parents and relatives of the Chibok school girls, as our security operatives work round the clock to salvage them and bring them home alive.

    “Without any iota of doubt therefore, the battle against those who have declared war on our educational system is a battle of the heart, the mind and the soul of our country. It is consequently a fight that we cannot afford to lose and the Federal Government has all the means to win it.

    “In your deliberations today, I recommend that emphasis should be laid on school alert and early warning systems, attitudinal change, awareness of basic security tips, safety and evacuation drills, as well as the erection of both institutional and physical firewalls that obstruct unwelcome guests.”

    On its part, the National Association of Private School Proprietors (NAPSP) has

    pledged its support to government in carrying out what it described as important and urgent step to avert crisis.

    The group said: “Since the issue of schools being the target of Boko Haram and especially the abduction of the Chibok girls, children, adult, parents and teachers are now living in fear. It is unfortunate that we have come to this point in our life where our hearts are bleeding profusely.

    “We want to thank this administration for always being sensitive to issues. We support the sensitisation of individuals on security matters. For us in private schools, it is an ongoing thing and it has to be with the support of government, security agencies, parents and the general public.

    “We promise that we will continue to do our best to work with the administration to ensure that things do not go wrong. For the schools that were closed down, we have looked at the list and most of them are not our members. We promise that we will continue to let our members know the necessity of doing the right thing for these children.

    “There is madness and insecurity everywhere. Our children are being used not only to perpetrate crime but also to kill themselves and destroy their souls.

    “Ebola has set in amid all these. We want to plead that this administration should also work on the health issue, especially on sensitisation of schools on Ebola virus. We also promise to work with government to achieve the desired aim. Peace has deserted us and this is a time for reflection, repentance, co-operation, gathering of resources and time for concrete action.

    We must seek peace with ourselves and most especially with God. This is the time for us all to fight the tragedy that has bedeviled us.”

    Royal fathers also joined the call for more security measures.

    The Nyee of Gariki, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Usman Ngakupe advised parents to look after their wards, even as he urged teachers to take their job seriously.

  • Women in men’s world

    Women in men’s world

    Conventionally, the women folk are said to be weaker than men. They are, therefore, expected to engage in activities that are less taxing.

    One of these tasks that was apparently the exclusive preserve of men is sale of newspapers. This is because it requires stamina. As a result, it had, for a long time, been dominated by the male folk.

    It is common to see male vendors running in-between moving cars, going from office to office or home to home selling various newspapers.

    Conversely, it is not common to see women vendors or distributors of newspapers running in-between moving cars, going from office to office and home to home to sell newspapers the way their male counterparts do.

    That was in the yesteryears. These days, the women folk have ventured into places men fear to tread, including sale of newspapers.

    A visit to the newspaper distribution centre on Jos Road in the heart of Kaduna metropolis revealed that young girls are gradually in stiff competition with their male counterparts. Amazingly, they are doing well in the business.

    The female vendors and newspaper distributors are seen daily running from one media house to the other like the men. Sometimes, they wake up so early that they arrive at the distribution point as early as 6:00 a.m. to collect their allotments.

    For the distributors, they are often seen struggling to outclass the men when vehicles bringing newspapers to the town arrive. The shoving, however, does not deter them as they are determined to earn a living through sale of newspapers.

    Investigations by our correspondents revealed that, apart from those who are engaged in the distribution business, some of the girls have also decided to own newspaper stands after understudying their male employers for a period of time.

    One of such girls is 25-year-old Faith John who runs a newspaper stand at the KRPC Junction. Faith said she started selling newspapers in 2007, when she was employed by her former boss, Mr. Lazarus.

    She also told our correspondent that “after her secondary education, she searched for job and was employed by “Oga Lazarus in 2007.  I was working for him as a sales girl. I was receiving monthly salary.

    “In 2009, I went back to school at the Federal School of Statistics to continue my education. I completed my course in 2010. When I finished school, Oga Lazarus invited me to join him again and I did. I was working for him until 2012 when someone advised me to start my own newspaper business.

    “At first, I felt intimidated because all the vendors I know around were men. However, due to wise counsel and pieces of advice I received from well-meaning individuals, I summoned courage and established this stand.”

    Faith, who hails from Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, is not intimidated by her male counterparts anymore, and she does not regret venturing into the business.

    She noted that being a woman has helped her greatly in the business. She said: “When customers stop and ask of the vendor and I present myself, they will be shocked. But, gradually, they became attached to me and even more at home with me than my male counterparts. That is why my business has been booming.”

    She believes that newspaper distributors have found female vendors more reliable than the male folks, because they always remit their sales as at and when due. After deducting all her expenses, Faith said she makes daily profit of about N1, 000.

    Faith is further encouraged to forge ahead in the business because she has not suffered any loss since all unsold copies of newspapers and magazines are returned to the company.

    But that does not indicate that there are no occupational hazards associated with sale of newspapers.

    She said: “The business is usually at its lowest ebb during the rainy season as constant downpour affects the sales. Often, some customers collect papers on credit only to abscond with the money. Young ladies should take advantage of benefits inherent in sale of newspaper rather than engage in prostitution and other vices.”

    For Victoria Binat who manages a newspaper stand at Narayi bus stop, the quest for knowledge prompted her into newspaper business. Prior to her involvement in the newspaper business, Binat said, she had managed a small business in her own apartment. She told our correspondent that she used to go to newspaper stand to read newspapers and listen to people debate issues in the papers.

    She said: “The owner of the stand got a bigger place elsewhere. He asked me if I could manage the stand. I felt reluctant at first, but later accepted the offer for N7, 000 monthly salaries; excluding transport and feeding allowances I received daily.” From what she makes from the stand, Victoria who said she is a divorcee and has one child said she had been able to settle her bills and take care of the education of her child.

    She also said she receives a lot of goodwill from her customers on daily basis which has kept her going.

    Similarly, 20-year-old Gift Dauda manages a newspaper stand along the popular Post Office Junction in the Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna metropolis where she is employed on a monthly salary of N11, 000. She told our correspondent that working at the newspaper stand has affected her life positively since she completed her secondary school education. She hopes to raise enough money to sponsor her education.

    She said: “I have the dream of being a graduate in future. I do not want to over-burden my parents in terms of the fees. I ventured into sale of newspapers in order to relieve them of the burden. All my savings are towards achieving my academic goal. My parents still take care of my other needs.”

    Even though she plan to go for higher qualification, she said she would return to the business after her education, pointing out that one of the things she enjoys about the business is that customers come looking for you.

    “The only thing you need is to get a strategic location where customers can easily see you,” she said.

    In a chat with our correspondent, Mr. Idris Nasir, a businessman who resides at the Barnawa area of the metropolis commended some girls who engaged in the business despite its intricate nature, adding that it is better than engaging in social vices.

    “At least, they are earning a living from doing that. This is no longer the time to say it’s a man’s world. I must commend them for the courage to do this. Sometimes, when I go to Jos Road early in the morning and I see some of these girls doing this job, I wonder how they cope,” Nasir said.