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  • You are what you eat, says nutrition expert

    You are what you eat, says nutrition expert

    To ensure total health, a wellness and nutrition expert, Mr Sam Ayeni, has recommended healthy eating and regular exercise.

    He also advised Nigerians to minimise the toxins in their system, reduce stress and drink plenty of water to stay healthy.

    This, according to him, will improve their overall wellbeing as it is the best strategy to stay healthy.

    He condemned people’s attitude of substituting vitamins and minerals among other supplements for real food. Nothing can compare with natural food, he added.

    On an ideal life, he said, the Federal Government needed to tell the people how long children born today have to live because of pollution, among other environmental hazards, they are exposed to.

    He urged the government to place emphasis on hygiene and proper lifestyle than on immunisation, among other preventive measures.

    Ayeni, who is the Managing Director, Seaduck Nigeria Limited, said an estimated 60 per cent of the population were malnourished, adding that fast life in cities, such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, among others, may be responsible as many often settle for fast food.

    He said: “Nutrition is important for everybody because food gives the body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, grow and work properly. Nutrition is often seen as a combination of some of the most important basic necessities that is food and water.”

    He advised the people to eat right, adding that poor eating patterns early in childhood can be a cause of some diet-related illnesses in later life.

    Ayeni called for the introduction of a healthy eating pattern as early as possible for children. “In our fast moving society, many parents prefer packaged foods to cooking fresh meals. But studies show that many of these meals mislead in nutritional value loaded with sugar and fat.”

    “Eating more sugar in the diet means consuming the lowest levels of many vitamins and minerals. So in order to grow it is essential that the human body receives a fair amount of nourishment. Depending upon the activities the individual is engaged in, the kind and the amount of nourishment is required.”

    Nourishment, he said, is also a prime requirement to maintain one’s health and keep oneself away from illness. The body ensures that the nutrients that are present in the food people consume are equally distributed to the various parts of the body. If there were no nourishment, the regular bodily functions will be altered. This can lead to an increased susceptibility to illness.

    “Foods are made up of six classes of nutrients. Good nutrition means getting enough macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients contain proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Micronutrients include vitamins, water and minerals.”

    Protein, he said, builds muscles and a strong immune system. It is the one of the most abundant type of nutrient found in our body. Protein builds new tissues and repairs damaged cells. It is also needed for the formation of hormones and enzymes which play variety of roles in our body such as metabolism and sexual development.

    He said carbohydrates supply the body with energy and helps in the formation of cellular constituent. “A lack in carbohydrates can lead to the production of ketones in the body which later results into a condition known as ketosis.”

    He recommended that the daily intake of carbohydrates should not exceed 60 per cent of total food consumed.

    On the usefulness of fat, he noted that it gives extra energy. “Fat helps to correct the usage of fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K. It is not always there to make people fat as they usually believe. Fat also insulates our bodies by giving us protection from sudden changes in temperature and at the same time protects our vital organs.

    “Vitamins, on the other hand regulate body processes. It plays an important role to make our body function properly. It keeps your cells working properly, but will not prevent weight loss.”

    He said most people under-estimate the importance water which is a natural endowment.

    “Water gives cells shape and acts as a medium where body processes can occur. It is the well known yet most important nutrient our body needs. It is also the most abundant type of liquid found in our body contributing 70 per cent of our total mass. It helps to dissolve and carry the essential nutrients to all parts of the body. It is also needed to help maintain the body temperature and aids to carry away the body’s waste products.”

    Minerals, Ayeni said, regulate body processes, saying it also responsible for the make-up of body tissues. It also keeps your cells working properly, but will not prevent weight loss, he added.

    “Having good nutrition means eating the right types of foods in the right amounts so you get important nutrients. There are no special diets, or particular foods, that will boost your immune system. But there are things you can do to keep your immunity up. For example if you are underweight or you have advanced disease you should include more protein as well as extra calories in the form of carbohydrates and fats in your diet.”

    He said proper diet can delay fatigue, decrease recovery time, prevent injuries and chronic disease, and enhance overall performance, including endurance and speed.

    Many factors, Ayeni noted affect people’s health, adding that some of them cannot be controlled, such as your genetic makeup of their age, but can be managed through lifestyle changes. “Leading a physically and mentally well-balanced existence is the ideal way to live a healthy lifestyle,” Ayeni said.

  • Herbal remedy for prostate disorders

    Nature has remedy for all kinds of prostate disorders, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer, a naturopath and Provost, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) Nigeria, Lagos, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya, has said.

    According to him, an herbal preparation made from corn silk, Etiponla in Yoruba, known botanically as Boerhavia difusa and Epakun (Culculigo pilosa) can relieve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

    Prostatitis remedy is made from corn silk, Etiponla (Boerhavia difusa) and Ehinbisowo (Phylanthus niruri), he said.

    Prostate cancer, he said, can be managed with a concotion made from Etiponla (Boerhavia difusa), Oruwo in Yoruba (root) known botanically as (Morinda lucida) and oro (Euphobia laferiflora).

    Ogunkoya said prostate cancer is the most common cancer in elderly men and second most common cause of cancer-related death in men. “It appears in 70 to 80 per cent of men in their 70s. It is also a non-cancerous of unknown cause,” he added.

    He described prostate as the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the pennies, saying it is a chestnut shape organ found in all males. “It has fluid which helps to keep sperm found in semen alive and healthy thereby increasing the chances that it will fertilizer the female egg,” he added.

    Ogunkoya said prostatitis is an inflammatory condition of the prostate found in men between 20 and 50 years.

    “This can be non-bacteria and bacteria prostatitis. Non-bacteria prostatitis is the most common form of prostatic inflammation. It causes pelvic pain, problem with urination and discomfort after ejaculation and lower back pain. Bacteria prostatitis can be transmitted sexually. It is the bacteria in the prostate gland lead to infection, swelling, pain and difficulty in urination. The penis may release bacterial fluid and blood may appear in the urine,” he added.

    Prostate cancer, he said, often leads to difficulty in urination, as it progresses, and sometimes bleeding in the urinary track.

    The positive side to natural medicine, he noted, is that it can manage, if not cure, critical diseases with herbs and leaves.

  • Secrets to sleeping well

    There are many reasons why people have a difficult time staying asleep. The good news is that common problems with sleep are often easily addressed without the use of medication – there are no guaranteed natural cures for insomnia, but there are effective steps you can take. Ask yourself these questions (and try the simple sleep aid recommendations) if you find yourself waking frequently in the night:

    Are you physically uncomfortable? A too soft or too firm mattress, an uncomfortable pillow, or an older, worn-out bed can all impede a good night’s sleep. Check your mattress for signs of wear at least twice a year, and consider new pillows. You may also want to see an osteopathic physician who specializes in osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT). A session or two of this safe and effective sleep aid treatment can be life-changing.

    Is your bedroom noisy? Consider a “white noise” generator, an inexpensive but effective device for making soothing sounds to mask jangling ones.

    Is your mind overactive? If you can’t sleep because of thoughts whirling through your head, try the Relaxing Breath – it can help you put aside the thoughts that are keeping you awake. A few stretches can help with sleep aid, too.

  • Descent from Life, as Great Cycles Close

    Sometimes, when reading and writing tire me, and I stare at the world through the large window of my study, but at nothing in particular, thoughts of heart breaking events in Nigeria fill my heart. Inevitably always, I come to the inescapable spiritual conclusion that great cycles of old in which many, if not all of us, were involved, are closing, under compulsion of the natural law which makes everything return to its point of origin. Just as the blood flows out of the heart and returns to it, or as water evaporated into the clouds from the rivers and seas returns to them in rainfall, so do events we once originated or partook of return, for us to experience their consequences or to harvest fruits of their seeds, sour, bitter or sweet, or sour. Today, I remember a young Christian Tutsi woman from Christian Rwanda, a land of the Hutus and Tutsis devastated a few years ago by ethnic Christian -on- Christian genocidal civil war. I remember, also, the 40 or more southern Nigerian Christian students at the Nigerian polytechnic in Mubi, a northern Nigerian town. They were woken up from deep sleep in the dead of the night by radical Islamic militants, asked to renounce Jesus Christ, and then shot in the head or chest. I remember as well the predictions of the great French seer, Nostradamus, who about 400 years ago foretold man’s landing on the moon, the two world wars, great scientific discoveries of today, the possibility of a huge earthquake in America that is likely to convulse western United States, the appearance of a second sun in our solar system which will outshine the present sun, a war between Islamic countries and Christian nations, an earthquake in America just as Islamic forces are close to victory, the consumption of Islamic and Christian forces in the earthquake, the collapse of religion, in its present cast and the search for a better explanation of God and His Creation, a serious climate change in which the earth’s North pole and the South pole will reverse positions, changing configuration of the solar system and turning Africa into a temperate zone and making Europe become tropical, the rising of a huge land mass in the Atlantic which sank long ago, displacement of huge bodies of sea water as the land resurfaces, flooding or submergence of coastal lands and nations as displaced water infiltrates land, the appearance of a huge lake in the Sahara desert, widespread, large scale confusion on earth, loss of the power of technology, return to simple, communal lifestyle …and the emergence of Africa as new hope and leader of earth men as it once was in the days of Atlantis.

    THE TUTSI WOMAN

    For many reasons, I cannot mention the name of this woman.

    She is a Tutsi from Rwanda, a country peopled also by Hutus.

    Both tribes are also found in The Congo and in Burundi, nations that were created with dissimilar peoples in the European scramble for Africa. These artificial political creations, an example of which Nigeria is, is a defiance of Nature which, as the bearer and anchorage of God’s Will in His Creation, has placed kind among kind to produce culturally, historically and linguistically harmonious people together as nations. Look at the human body, as a further example. Cells of the eye are not to be found among cells of the brain. Women who suffer from endometneosis should appreciate this. The endometrium is the lining of the womb. If its cells escape into other parts of the reproductive system, there is “war” with the hosts, so to say, and inflamation, pain and sometimes life-threatening bleeding that doctors may have to scrape out the invaders or surgically remove affected organs. In Nature, dissimilarity does not bring harmony and peace, and, one day, disharmonious people must draw the dagger or pull gun on one another. Ants don’t live with bees. Nor do lions and elephants cohabit. In the sea, salmons have their abode and tilapia theirs. The specie must be homogenous for peace to reign.

    In Rwanda, the Hutus decided to eliminate the Tutsis. I will simply call our friend T. When Hutu soldiers invaded her home, T. her mother and younger sister fled together, Her father and other siblings were not so lucky. T, her mother and younger sister found refuge in the home of a Tutsi woman married to a Hutu. The couple dug a manhole in their compound where they hid mother and children. The refuges came out in the night to feed and returned to their prison cage before dawn. Then, one day, Hutu soldiers came to the house in search of Tutsis. The man told them no Tutsi lived there. But the soldiers knew better. They asked for his wife. They spoke to her in Hutu language, but her Hutu was not fluent. They gave her husband a gun and asked him to kill her. He was reluctant. They told him they’d kill her and then kill him if he did not kill her He …killed his wife, and was never the same again. He fled the house afterwards. Before the incident, mother instinct had made T’s mother leave the house, against pleas by her daughters in search of her youngest daughter who was barely seven. For one week or longer after the murder of their hostess, T and her sister remained holed up without food, water, sufficient air and sunlight. The younger girl was feeble and dying until they would die. T took a risk, brought her sister out and made whatever meals that would sustained them until they would doe. Again, soldiers came, this time, Tutsi soldiers liberating the land. Identified as Tutsi, the girls told their story and led the fighters to their home. There, to their horror, lay the remains of their parents and little sister, chopped to pieces, like logs chopped into bits. It was indescribable trauma. The events in Rwanda, glimpses of which are now occurring in Nigeria in the burning of churches and killing of Christians, by Islamic militants, are going on in many parts of the world, but unknown to us in this country.

    AMERICA AND EUROPE

    Opposition literature, which would appear to be suppressed by the mainstream press, suggests that Arabia and Islam have a stronger hold on the United States today than ever. In the drive for petrodollar, America dined and wined with the so-called Devil” with short spoons. President Barrack Obama, unlike conservative American Presidents, would not avenge the slaying of American diplomats in Libya in an election year. Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State (Foreign Minister), is accused of keeping a Personal Assistant with proven blood links to leaders of the militant Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt. President Obama is accused of being a disguised Moslem who attends church as a Christian to mask his beliefs. But none of his challengers can prove their fears that his high mission is the Islamisation of America! There is no doubt, however, that he has pursued policies which encourage largely Moslem illegal immigrant infiltration into the country. When Hillary Clinton is told her government is too soft on Islamic militants, she canvasses understanding and respect for Islam and race, and annoys her audience with reminders that Christians, too, have been or are still militants, citing the Crusade, the Hutu massacre of Tutsis, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) war on Britain and the Ku Klux Khlan in America. The American gun industry has politicized, along the lines of Islamic take-over of America, President Obama’s bid to dispossess American citizens of personal light arms. He says if no citizen bears personal arms, the high crime rate, for which the country is notorious would decline. But the Opposition says this is a ploy to make America powerless when the Arabs strike, as Nostradamus predicts they would. Under American Constitution, every citizen must be a member of the Peoples Militia and bear personal arm. This is distinct from the Regular Army. It is the Army of Last Resort when all else fails. The architects of the Constitution may have created this mass force to wrest power from the aboriginal West Indians, and, having conquered the land, this Army may have outlived its usefulness. But being a constitutional creation, it cannot be abolished without an amendment to the Constitution, which appears impossible in a country where practically every one loves to own guns and where the personal arms industry is big, big business. So, Obama went through the back door… to the United Nations, to propose a treaty among nations banning their citizens from owning or bearing personal arms as a means of curbing terrorism. Countries which sign the treaty would be obliged to disarm their citizens. So, President Obama, too, would be able to disarm Americans, because the Constitution would have to bow to the Treaty. I almost lost the confidence of some of my anti-Obama American friends when I supported the president on account of my belief that such an international UN Policy, if well enforced in Nigeria, could help the slack and sagged security situation of this country. They thought I was too myopic not to clearly see where Obama was heading. Accordingly, there is mass mobilization on the internet to resist the President. In the campaign are military and other security officers. Some say they are under institution to be on red alert in November. One even warns that, at that time, no one should be too far from his home because, due to unfolding events, he may be unable to return. As I write this Monday morning, I read two posts in the internet. One titled MILITARY & POLICE CALL IN ABOUT GUN CONSFICATION ORDERS says:

    St. Louis city residents have been warned not to be alarmed at the sight of U.S. Army tanks rolling down residential neighborhoods after sightings of the vehicles provoked fears of martial law”.

    The details could not be immediately obtained as the server

    was unreachable. A second post today, obtained on infowars. Com says:

    “The battle lines are drawn and you should prepare for massive civil unrest and civil war. A Federal Appeal Court has ruled that the U.S. Government can still indefinitely detain citizens.

    Nostradamus

    Students and scholars of Nostradamus’ and other prophesies of great import for our time look to the Middle East for the handwriting on the wall. Long ago, long before the time of Moses, this region hosted a people and events which set the ball rolling for the time in which we stand. Few people know about these events and this Arabian tribe whose land lies buried today in the desert, to preserve it for the future world when the cycle of those events begin to close. This is not speaking in tongue or in parable. There are people who know of this anchorage of power in Arabia, which may be one of the reasons why this region is aglow with energy and restlessness which, unfortunately, are being expended in the wrong directions. This tribe was a Chosen people who were to lead earthmen spiritually to God. I believe that, after them, the mantle fell on Jews and, after them , Germans, who blew it up in two world wars, a spiritual mission having been mistaken for political dominion of the earth. I do not think the United States, today unipolar world leader, has a place in these matters. It is a power based on the power of technology. Take technology away from its hands, and it collapses like snow melting in the scorching tropical sun.

    Where in any case, other than the abyss, would a country which legalises homosexualism and lesbianism and forces teachers in primary schools to teach them positively as part of a subject curriculum? I am glad Mark Hitchcock says this much in the just ended conference titled UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES in Eden, Prairie, a Minneapolis suburb. Hitchcock, author of over a dozen books and the well read The End: A Complete Overview of Bible Prophesy and the End of Days was reported by BEN MILLES on face- book. Says Milles:

    “Hitchcock also spoke about America’s role in the Bible prophesy and said that although some try to twist possible hints in the Bible about America, there are far too many problems with those views. Instead, he says, America doesn’t seem to be part of an end-time scenario.

    “He admitted that any conjectures on why America may not be involved in the end times would only be a guess, but he offered a few plausible scenarios”

    Milles quoted Hitchcock as saying: “We could see a nuclear 9/11, or a financial apocalypse or even an oil crisis.”Well, that seems to tally with the NOSTRADAMUS PREDICTION. He said an earthquake of serious magnitude would hit California. It took hundreds of years after for science and technology to discover a huge fault in the California earth plate that could cause such huge earth movement about which science and technology could do nothing. If, as Nostradamus said, America becomes infirm and Japan goes under water as once did Atlantis, with parts of LOWLAND Europe also going under, what would the world of the future look like? In the 1970s when we discussed this in spiritual contemplative meetings, grave pictures emerged. If, as an example, Europe is in no position to sell us water purification chemicals, wouldn’t the municipal water works fail?. Many of us advised ourselves should be build our own houses, to provide no fewer than two deep wells. Boreholes may not work. Where will there be fuel to run generators or spares to maintain them?. Forget about cars or air travel. Forget the computers. We would be back to simple lifestyles. And for Nostradamus’ students and scholars who like to believe the Christianity/ Islam war would start from the Middle East, Miles reports:

    “Hitchcock says today’s news reports indicate a new alliance is developing of nations that haven’t regularly gotten along with each other in the last, oh, few thousand years. And their common foe would be Israel, said Mark Hitchcock.

    “What makes this century different than any other, said Hitchcock, is that Israel has once again been reconstituted as described in Ezekiel 37 in the prophesy on the Dry Bone.

    Milles report Hitchcock as saying that nations from Russia to Iran, Libya and Turkey have never been allies throughout history, and yet here in modern times each of these countries is not only prominent in the head- lines, they seem to be forming alliances none too friendly with Israel.

    As Hitchcock said: “All of the Ezekiel 38 nations are identifiable today and are forging alliance with each other” “He was addressing a packed house at the UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES CONFERENCE in Eden, hustled by Olive Tree Ministries Attendees came from as far as India and Jerusalem for the 15th annual conference at a large church auditorium ”

    He quotes Hitchcock: ”It is as if today’s headlines were written 2000 years ago,” adding

    “He pointed to one prophesies he feels is nearing fulfillment known by those watching prophesy as the Gog-Magog war. The text of the prophesy can be found in Ezekiel 38. It described an alliance of nations that go to war with Israel.

    Nigeria

    We are still a simple, pure but dissimilar people living in a

    complex radical and militant global village in which we

    seem unable to protect ourselves. With that militant world anchoring in northern Nigeria, it is still unclear how a southern politician will be safe in the north in 2015 campaigning for the Presidency. That year will be the 101st anniversary of the forcing together by British colonialists of dissimilar people in breach of natural laws. There is fear in the land. Will President Jonathan re-run or flee? Will a Moslem President turn Nigeria into an appendage of Arabia? Will northern Sudan or northern Mali happen here? Will a northern Christian president such as David Mark be a compromise? If the Moslem North wishes to adopt sharia life should the Christian south stop them? If the militants ask southerners and Christians to leave the north, isn’t it their land and haven’t they got the right to decide whoever they want to live with them? I pity President Jonathan he is the man of the moment. But like Wiston Churchill he would not bring down the Wall, even if Nature so demands, and for its greed. Last week, greed for Bakassi oil drove America, Britain and France on solidarity mission to the Cameroon; as Nigeria prepares to appeal the World court judgment which gave this oil-rich peninsula to its belligerent neighbour. There they go again.

    Cycles of events triggered long ago are closing. The Crusade and the Jchad in particular. Christian have learned from the Crusade that man is unworthy to “fight” for God. Islam, like Christianity, preaches love and peace among men. Who is like God? Who among us men can command underground water to rise and it will, flooding oceans and cities? Who can command the sun to move only one kilometer upward to cause the earth to freeze and life to end? Who else can order it to move closer to the earth and make heat end earth life? Who can else can command the moon to fall over the earth to destroy it? Does God need man to create His world or to run it? These is a lesson radical Islamic militant’s will yet learn. Islam preaches love, not hate; peace, not strife.

    Suddenly, I rouse from seeming slumber and remember I have a column to write. So, here is it.

    White America is paying for the Slave Trade. Whatever is false in Nature that man has forcibly sustained will collapse. A gale of purification will sweep through Africa if, as Nostradamus predicts, it will be the hope of man in the future.

  • House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution poor

    House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution poor

    To a packed House chamber, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday presented next year’s budget proposal of N4.92 trillion to the National Assembly.

    He got a standing ovation at the end of the expectedly long speech, but the excitement was shortlived.

    House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal delivered a damming verdict on this year’s budget: it was poorly implemented, he said in his vote of thanks.

    Besides, according to the Speaker, next year’s proposal does not contain revenue from gas and external burning is not neglected.

    Jonathan said the N4.92 trillion represented a modest increase of about 5 per cent over the N4.7 trillion appropriated for this year.

    He gave the breakdown of the fiscal estimate to include N380.02 billion for Statutory Transfers, N591.76 billion for Debt Service, N2.41 trillion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure and N1.54 trillion for Capital Expenditure.

    The President explained that the budget of “fiscal consolidation with inclusive growth” is underpinned by some parameters which reflect the government’s prudent economic policies in an uncertain global economic environment:

    The parameters are oil production of 2.53 million barrels per day, up from 2.48 million barrels per day for 2012.

    The benchmark oil price is US$75/barrel, a modest increase from the US$72/barrel approved in the 2012 Budget.

    The benchmark price is based on a well established econometric methodology of estimating oil price moving averages, according to the President.

    Projected GDP growth rate is estimated at 6.5% compared to 6.85% in the Fiscal Strategy Paper.

    The revision, Jonathan said, is underpinned by the fact that the severe floods experienced over large parts of the country are expected to impact on economic activity in 2013, especially agriculture.

    He said the growth prospects may improve with the plan to boost dry season farming.

    On revenue, the President noted that based on the above assumptions, the gross federally collectible revenue is projected at N10.84 trillion. Of this, the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s Budget is forecast at N3.89 trillion, representing an increase of about 9 per cent over the estimate for

    2012.

    Non-oil revenue is projected to continue to grow as the ongoing reforms in the revenue collecting agencies, and the implementation of initiatives to further develop the non-oil sector continue to yield results.

    He said: “Based on the above, the fiscal deficit is projected to improve to about 2.17 per cent of GDP in the 2013 Budget. compared to 2.85 per cent in 2012.

    “This is well within the threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility

    Act, 2007 and clearly highlights our commitment to fiscal prudence.

    “We are determined to further rein in domestic borrowing, and this way, ensure that our debt stock remains at a sustainable level.”

    Jonathan said the government’s focus on critical economic and social sectors would continue.

    According to him, some of the sectors are largely driven by private sector activity. Others require a great deal of public sector support.

    Some of the key sector allocations are: Works – N183.5 billion; Power – N74.26billion; Education – N426.53 billion; Health – N279.23 billion;

    Defence – N348.91 billion; Police – N319.65 billion; and Agriculture & Rural Development – N81.41 billion.

    Jonathan said that power and gas sectors require a lot of investments to sustain supply improvements.

    “We shall, therefore, complement available resources with a proposed Infrastructure Euro Bond of about $1 billion in order to complete gas pipelines and other infrastructure investments.

    “We have also programmed other grants and soft credits critical to infrastructure and other sectors in our medium term external borrowing plan,” he said.

    The President said that Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) will continue with expected resources of N180 billion in 2013 augmented by the projected 2012 unspent balances to bring the total to about N273.5 billion.

    The government, he said, hopes to make further progress in the programme, providing additional infrastructure investments and social safety net schemes for Nigerians.

    Jonathan laid the 2013 budget for the SURE-P before the Joint Session.

    On fiscal policy, he noted that to promote agriculture and industry, the government will continue to implement supportive fiscal measures for some priority areas.

    He said: “You will recall that in my 2012 Budget speech, I announced fiscal measures on rice, cassava, wheat and machinery for the agriculture and power sectors.

    “In this regard, I am pleased to announce the following additional measures which will be effective from 1st January 2013:

    *Sugar: Machinery and spare parts imported for local sugar manufacturing industries will now attract 0per cent duty; there will also be a five-year tax holiday for “sugarcane to sugar” value chain investors.

    *Import duty and levy on raw sugar will be 10 per cent and 50per cent respectively, while refined sugar will attract 20percent duty and 60per cent levy;

    *Rice: A 10 per cent import duty and 100 per cent levy will be applied to both brown and polished rice;

    •Aircraft: All commercial aircraft and aircraft spare parts imported for use in Nigeria will now attract 0 per cent duty and 0 per cent VAT.

    •Jonathan noted that the measure will appreciably improve safety “in our skies as newer fleet and less onerous maintenance will prevail.

    •Solid Minerals: Machinery and equipment imported for use in the solid minerals sector will now attract 0 per cent import duty and 0 per cent VAT; and

    •Public Mass Transit: In order to encourage the production of mass transit vehicles in Nigeria, duty on Completely Knocked Down components (CKD) for mass transit buses of at least 40-seater capacity, will now be 0 per cent, down from 5 per cent.

    “Government is desirous of supporting green growth and, in this regard, will explore options for providing incentives for energy efficient vehicles from the 2014 fiscal year,” Jonathan said.

    On gender empowerment, he said his administration is gender friendly and has worked to improve the position of women in society and empowered them economically.

    He added that to further integrate women in the various sectors, “we have developed an innovative approach to mainstreaming gender issues starting with 5 pilot ministries – Agriculture, Health, Communication Technology, Water Resources and Works”.

    These ministries, he said, are signing MOUs with the Ministry of Women Affairs to deliver on specific services for women.

    The President noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, will work with the Ministry of Communication Technology to ensure that “5 million women farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs receive mobile phones to be able to access information on agro-inputs through an e-wallet scheme.”

    Besides, “the Ministry of Health, in addition to scaling up its ongoing ‘Save a Million Lives’ initiative, plans to give back health and hope to one-third of the pool of young girls and women who have been waiting a long time for VVF repairs through surgery and economic rehabilitation.”

    He said the government was in addition, up-scaling routine immunisation.

    The President noted that for 2013, the Ministry of Work plans to increase the number of women are employed in public works programmes as contractors, workers and project evaluators, setting itself a target of 35 per cent for women in FERMA rehabilitation work.

    According to him, in every geopolitical zone, at least three roads leading to areas where women’s socio-economic activities are concentrated, will be prioritised and completed.

    “To support these activities, we have set aside the sum of N3 billion to be disbursed to participating MDAs as incentives for them to deliver on these targets. Our focus on empowering women is part of our agenda for improving the country’s human development indicators.

    “In this regard, we shall not relent in our efforts to improve access and quality in our health and education sectors,” he said.

    On sports, Jonathan said that the performance of the country’s sportsmen and women continues to strike an important chord for all Nigerians.

    He said: “We all recall our disappointment with our performance in the recent Summer Olympics games in London. At the same time, we were very delighted with the success of our paralympics athletes. My Administration is committed to addressing the challenges faced

    by our sports men and women.”

    Jonathan noted that later this month, he will host a Presidential retreat on sports to strategise on ways to support the sports sector to achieve greater heights.

    The President described the proposal as a budget that “gives priority to our concerns for security, infrastructure, food security and human development sectors.”

    He went on: “It is a budget that introduces a series of innovative features. This budget is a push in the right direction borne out of our well thought-out and articulated developmental policies.

    “This is a budget for every Nigerian. It belongs to the farmer, the investor, the entrepreneur, the youth and the elderly.

    “Yes, we have challenges, but also incredible opportunities.

    “Ours is the task of transforming these opportunities into real, tangible outcomes which all our people can experience and call their own.

    “We need the cooperation of everyone to make it work, to grow the economy, and to create jobs for our people. I continue to call on all Nigerians to act. Making Nigeria work begins with you and me.”

  • Soldiers seal off village over UNIPORT killings

    Soldiers seal off village over UNIPORT killings

    University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students yesterday stayed put on the campus, vowing to burn more houses of the suspected killers of their colleagues in nearby Aluu community.

    Twelve houses were burnt on Tuesday in retaliation for the killings.

    But yesterday, soldiers and policemen were deployed in the community.

    The four lynched students are: Biringa Chiadika Lordson, Year Two, Theatre Arts, U2010/1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Year Two, Geology, U2010/5565149 and Mike Lloyd Toku, Year Two, Civil Engineering, U2010/3010094.

    The fourth person, Tekena Erikena, who earlier did Basic Studies at UNIPORT, was yet to be formally identified as a student of the university.

    Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar vowed yesterday that the police will investigate the killings.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) urged the government to prosecute the suspects without delay.

    The soldiers and policemen barricaded the roads, checking the few people and vehicles passing. The community has been deserted by the residents, especially the vigilance members, who allegedly killed the young men.

    The spokesman of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Major Michael Etete, described the heavy deployment of soldiers and other security personnel as one of the proactive measures taken by the security agencies to quickly restore normalcy to the area.

    Rivers police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam, said the security men were there to protect lives and property of law-abiding citizens.

    Some students in the Faculty of Education, who were still on the campus, wondered why they would be forced out of their hostels, while protesting to ensure justice.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, called for the sack of the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Indabawa; Ugwuegbulam and the area’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for alleged dereliction of duties.

    The online video clip of the murder showed that it took some hours before the four students were murdered. They were paraded naked round the community, before being clubbed to death. All of them did not die at the same time.

    “While heavy planks and rods were being used to hit the victims on their heads and other sensitive parts of their bodies, they were struggling to escape, but the mob never allowed it, with one of the killers overhead saying: ‘This one don die, bring tyre and petrol.’

    When the mob was sure that all the four students, who were alleged to have stolen mobile phones and laptops, were dead, they put tyres on their necks and took time to drench them with petrol and set them ablaze.

    The ACN said: “It smacks of irresponsibility and unbecoming of men and officers trained to protect lives and property.

    “ The party also described as dereliction of duty, the failure to mobilise men and officers of the police to the scene of the murder, upon receiving the distress calls.

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers State chapter, also condemned the murder.

    TUC Chairman Chika Onuegbu said: “We have consistently raised the alarm over the manner in which human lives are wasted across the country and the inability of the relevant government agencies to address this ugly trend. We are deeply worried that violence is fast becoming a way of life in Nigeria.

    “We are also worried by the refusal of ordinary Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers in times of need. We note that the UNIPORT Four would not have died, if some of those who witnessed the sad event made genuine efforts to save their lives by reaching the police, other security agencies or even radio stations.”

    Inspector General of Police Abubakar who spoke in Lagos on his way from Turkey, said: “I am aware of the situation. I have been briefed on it even while in Turkey, we are on it, we are commencing investigation; the investigation will tell what exactly has happened. I want to assure all Nigerians that we are doing our best to bring out all the culprits of that very ugly incident and we shall not, under my administration, and this government will not tolerate any such barbaric act in this country and you will hear from me as soon as I get the brief from the commissioner of police and the AIG.”

    He added: “Investigation is on. I don’t want to give you the number of persons that have been arrested.”

    On the killing of students in Mubi, Adamawa State, Abubakar said:” It is still under investigation too. We are making progress and I will say that we are making very good progress on that and you will hear from me soon.”

    He also spoke on the activities of vigilance groups, saying:” No vigilance group is supposed to operate directly, except under the administration and operational control of the police and any vigilance group that is not so registered and which will not comply with the rules and regulations is operating illegally.”

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday called for the prosecution of the killers of the students. Its President, Okey Wali (SAN), spoke at the inauguration of the NBA working group on strategic planning in Abuja.

    “There is no disputing the fact that these show a total system failure. Neither of these dastardly acts took place in a time frame that the security agencies would not have arrived at the scenes and prevented the murders, if there had been timely intervention,” he said.

    “Wali urge the government to intensify efforts to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the inhuman acts and their collaborators to serve as deterrent.

    “Nothing short of the identification and prosecution of the Mubi and Aluu Killers and collaborators will assuage the feelings of Nigerians,” he added.

    Reiterating the call for state police, Wali said the police lacked adequate funding, training and intelligence gathering.

    To address the challenge, the NBA boss said the Bar would go ahead with the proposed National Summit on Peace and Security.

    On the Federal Government’s position on International Court of Justice (ICJ’s) judgment on Bakkassi Peninsula, Wali said “NBA was not part of the committee; so, we are unable to tell the quality of materials available.”

  • Reps condemn Excess Crude Account management

    Reps condemn Excess Crude Account management

    The House of Representatives yesterday expressed concern over the management of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the non-inclusion of the Gas revenue in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sent to the House by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said there were two critical omissions in the 2013-2015 MTEF namely: “That the Revenue from Gas, running into billions of dollars, is not reflected, and External borrowing is similarly not reflected.”

    The House also flayed the high budget deficit in the 2013 budget, saying the reduction of the deficit and domestic borrowing was its reason for increasing the benchmark for crude oil to $80 from the $75 proposed by the Executive.

    The deficit in the 2013 proposed budget is N1.037 trillion.

    Tambuwal was delivering a vote of thanks after the presentation of the 2013 budget by President Goodluck Jonathan to a joint session of the National Assembly yesterday.

    Tambuwal spoke of the Legislature’s concern for the management of the excess crude revenues. He said: “Since 2010, the Appropriation Act has legislated that the excess crude component of the Federation Account be operated under separate records for purpose of transparency and accountability. Besides, Section 30 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act makes it mandatory for the Budget Office to submit budget implementation Assessment reports to the National Assembly and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission on a quarterly basis and to publish same on the Ministry of Finance Website.

    “The President may be unaware that the National Assembly is neither availed evidence of implementation of this policy along with the records of Federal Government’s portion of the excess crude funds nor the quarterly implementation reports, as required under the two Acts. Mr. President may wish to give appropriate directives to ensure full and speedy compliance by relevant agencies.”

    He expressed displeasure at the level of implementation of the 2012 budget, saying: “As I speak, interim field oversight reports from House Committees on the 2012 budget implementation are clearly unimpressive both in terms of releases as well as utilisation and this is a great challenge to all of us. “

    The Speaker charged the President on the composition of the Council for Public Procurement, saying it is very critical for budget implementation.

    “The Composition of the Public Procurement Council provided under the Public Procurement Act is very critical to budget implementation. The sanctity of extant legislations and respect for the rule of law are critical hallmarks of true democracy, we therefore once more call on Mr. President to expeditiously constitute this council so as to free the Federal Executive Council from the burden of contract administration, so they can concentrate on the more sublime issues of their constitutional roles and responsibilities.

    “Incidentally, the present Constitution of the Bureau of Public Procurement has been identified as one of the bottlenecks to effective capital budget implementation.”

    On the huge deficit in the 2013-2015 MTEF he said: “It will be recalled that the 2012 budget contained a deficit and the main source of funding this deficit was domestic borrowing. Figures emanating from the Debt Management Office regarding domestic borrowing are however worrisome.

    “At a whopping $33.6 billion government appears to be monopolizing domestic borrowing to the unhealthy exclusion of the private sector. This is certainly a matter of grave concern because global statistics on sustainable debt-GDP ratio percentages can not continue to be used as guide for an economy that is not keeping pace with global trends.

    “In our effort to address this concern, only yesterday (Tuesday), in passing the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is the basis for annual Budgets, the House resolved to raise the oil price benchmark from 75 US Dollars per barrel to 80 US Dollars per barrel with the objective that the difference of 5 US Dollars per barrel be channeled exclusively towards reducing the deficit in the budget and consequently reducing domestic borrowing for same purpose by 66 per cent.

    “The trend of Nigeria’s foreign reserves has taken an upward trajectory in recent months, on the back of steady production levels and robust oil prices. The latest figure for the country’s foreign reserve, as of 04 October 2012, stands at 41.48Billion US Dollars, a 26-month high.

    “Concerns are however being expressed regarding the management and accounting reportage of our foreign reserve stock as to whether the figures reported are cumulative accruing inflows only or are inclusive of interests accruing from the management process or attributed to other sources of accretion. This matter becomes urgent especially when accruing management fees thereof is not reflected in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

    “There must be transparency, accountability and probity in the management of our resources generally, given recent developments that indicate our exposure to unforeseen natural disasters. We certainly, for instance, cannot take the protection of our environment for granted.

    The Speaker said there would continue to be friction between the Executive and Legislature if the president keeps shunning resolutions of the National Assembly.

    He said: “I am compelled however to state that the National Assembly is becoming increasingly concerned about the disregard for its resolutions and public comments by certain functionaries of the Executive on same. I cite the Senate Resolution on the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the House Resolution on the state of insecurity of the nation, requesting Mr. President to visit and brief the House, the House of Representatives Resolution on the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the concurrent Resolution of the two Chambers on Bakassi among others.

    “This does not promote cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislature and consequently stability in the polity.

    “We must therefore, continue to work together to redeem this nation from the clutches of poverty and disease. The vaunted growth in the nation’s GDP must be reflected in the lives of everyone, not just a few people privileged to hold public office or those enjoying unfair public patronage.”

  • Why oil benchmark is $75, by Okonjo-Iweala

    Why oil benchmark is $75, by Okonjo-Iweala

    Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has explained why the government pegged the 2013 Budget oil benchmark at $75.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said the the executive believed that the $75 benchmark is “the sensible price that will shore up the economy and make for macro economic stability”.

    The 2013 budget, according to her, is predicated on the assumption that the country will produce 2.53 mn barrels per day, but, more importantly, the executive wants to be prudent with its finances.

    To stave off frictions between the executive and the legislature, the minister said the executive will “put forward the argument why government submitted the budget with $75 benchmark to the National Assembly”.

    The benchmark, she explained, “is based on an econometric module that estimates five and 10 years moving averages. Government can not just take the number from anywhere; you have to have a basis for developing the benchmark.”

    However, the executive, she said “can smooth it out with a dollar here or there, to round it up; that is what the government has done.”

    The $75 benchmark price Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala added, is similar to what other oil producing countries use. “The benchmark for Algeria is $37, Venezuela $50, Qatar $55, Kuwait $60, Saudi Arabia $60, Oman $75 and Angola $77. What government is proposing is within the ambit of what other countries are proposing. We don’t see any country with $80 benchmark.”

    The $75 benchmark price Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said, “will safeguard what is precious to the economy which is the macro economic stability of the country. If we go with a high benchmark, a lot of liquidity will be thrown into the system because it’s not just the Federal Government we have to worry about, the benchmark also affects the money that goes to the states.

    “So even if you are trying to reduce federal government’s fiscal deficit; the states are not under that obligation. They will be spending and that will throw up a lot of liquidity, which can lead to higher inflation and depreciation of the exchange rate, which will force the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor to raise interest rates, which is not pleasant for the private sector.”

    She also argued that with the global uncertainty ravaging the world, the impact will be that of low global demand for products “and when you have low global demand, it affects the prices of those products and countries that depend on a mono product will be exposed.”

    The minister said subsidy was provided for N971 billion as against the 2012 figure of N888 billion.

    The 2013 budget she noted, is centered on stimulating the economy by creating jobs, giving specific incentives and “engendering women who are known as the third emerging market because unleashing the potentials of women in any economy contributes vastly to GDP growth.”

    Commenting on the 2013 budget, the finance minister said President Goodluck Jonathan has approved that recurrent spending be scaled down from 71.4 per cent to 68.6 per cent.

    Also in 2013, the federal government will put in place a sensible debt management strategy, with a sinking fund that it will finance every year. Already, N100 billion has gone into the sinking fund to retire some bonds that are coming due in February.

    In 2013, the government has budgeted a N1.03 trillion deficit, representing 2.17 per cent of the GDP. Financing the deficit will be from signature bonuses from the sale of oil blocs, privatisation proceeds, domestic borrowing and internally generated revenue.

  • EFCC operatives storm Imo to probe Ohakim, Okorocha

    EFCC operatives storm Imo to probe Ohakim, Okorocha

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed a team of operatives in Imo State as part of the ongoing probe of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim for alleged mismanagement of N18.5billion out of the N40bilion bond secured in June, 2007.

    The team is also probing Governor Rochas Okorocha over alleged abuse of the Joint state and Local Government Account.

    The details of the allegations against Okorocha have not been made available.

    The EFCC has so far quizzed three former commissioners and two special advisers in the Ohakim administration.

    According to a top EFCC source, the operatives have been in Imo State since Monday, looking into the records of the past and present administration.

    It was learnt that out of the bond sum, N201m was spent on Christmas Rice in 2007 by the Ohakim administration.

    The investigation weighs heavily on Ohakim’s administration because of the inability of some state officials to account for N18.5billion out of the N40billion bond applied for the state under the ex-governor.

    The source said: “The EFCC stormed Owerri as investigation into the case of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and money laundering against Former Governor Ohakim.

    “The operatives of the anti- graft agency have been poring through files and had by yesterday quizzed some ranking officers of the Ohakim administration and carted away vital documents.

    “Among those quizzed are former permanent secretaries of the ministries of finance and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as a former Chairman of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (IMOPADEC).

    “Apart from these officials, other officials of the Ohakim administration have been quizzed in the last few months by the anti-graft agency and released on administrative bail.

    “Some of those earlier quizzed are former Commissioner of Finance, George Irechukwu; former Special Adviser to Ohakim on Project Monitoring and Implementation; Ben Ekwueme; former Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu Obioha; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogaziechi Kezie.

    “They are being probed for their alleged roles in the mismanagement of the N18.5billion secured out of the N40bilion bond applied for by the Imo State Government in June 2009. The bond was supposedly secured to finance the following projects: (1) Rehabilitation of 37 water scheme at a cost of N1.3bilion; (2) Construction of 16 critical roads at a cost of N3.7billion; and (3) Cconstruction of Phase 1 of the Imo Wonder Lake Resort and Conference Centre, Oguta at a cost of N12.5billion.

    “From preliminary findings, we have a strong lead that the proceeds of the bond were misappropriated as the Ohakim administration and the lead Issuing House (UBA Capital) never bothered to file the mandatory quarterly report on utilization of the bond proceeds to SEC. This prompted the capital market regulator to slam a fine of N1.2million on the state. The fine was paid by the Okorocha administration.

    “The Ohakim Government in July 2007 had secured a loan of N10billion from UBA as a bridging facility prior to floating the bond but did not disclose this information to SEC. “From this money, N1.6billion was diverted and misappropriated through mundane expenditure such as the N201m paid for Christmas Rice in 2007, N50m for SSG as logistics for festival, N500m for purchase of Zenith Bank shares, N55m as DTA to Permanent Secretary Governor’s Office, N50m as professional fees to Nwoko

    “Some of the water projects listed for execution with the Bond proceed had been funded and executed under the State’s Millennium Development Goals, MDG

    “The Ohakim administration also allegedly withdrew N6.7billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) Escrow Account without the approval of members of the Committee

    “Above all, in March 2011, barely two months before his exit from Government House Owerri, Ohakim took another loan of N6billion from UBA Plc Mbari Branch Owerri and disbursed it within four weeks.

    “Records available to the EFCC have shown that the disbursement was supervised by the ex- governor’s brother and Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ohakim.

    “Some of the suspects have made useful statements and volunteered document that will assist the ongoing investigation.

    “Governor Okorocha, Ohakim’s successor, is equally being probed by the EFCC over allegation bordering on abuse of the Joint state and local government account.”

  • NBC warns radio, TV stations on violation of broadcasting codes

    NBC warns radio, TV stations on violation of broadcasting codes

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) yesterday warned radio and television stations in Ondo State to stop violating the broadcasting codes or face sanctions.

    The Director-General of NBC, Yomi Bolarinwa, gave the warning at a press conference in Abuja after closed door meeting with the chief executive officers of the broadcasting organisations.

    He said the meeting was convened after several warnings were issued to media organisations on the need to adhere to the broadcasting codes.

    Bolarinwa stressed that any failure to comply with the NBC codes, either prior to or after the election, would attract sanctions from the commission.

    He said: “NBC will no longer tolerate the continuous violation of the broadcasting codes by abusing the need for equal air time for all the candidates contesting the governorship election and engaging in unreasonable and unpalatable method in informing the electorate.

    “I am optimistic that they (broadcast stations) will do the right thing. But if they don’t do the right thing, we’ll do the right thing by sanctioning them. This is the final and last warning, which is part of the sanction procedure.

    “Whether government or privately-owned, nobody owns the stations, they hold it in trust for the people.”

    Bolarinwa assured of equal opportunity for the candidates.

    He said: “We have had a heart-to-heart discussion to secure their assurance that the past violation will stop. That the airwave will be sanitised and that all candidates and parties will be given equal opportunities to meet the indigenes of Ondo State.

    “We have got their assurance that the language of broadcast will be kept decent, reasonable and palatable for the people of Ondo State.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of Adaba FM, Dayo Johnson, said media establishments in the state have resolved to be more professional and work for the interest of the people.

    The Director-General of the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), Ladi Akeredolu-Ale, said: “What is important is for us to go back and make the necessary corrections.”

    The NBC recently fined Adaba FM N400,000 for violating the broadcasting codes in the state after several warnings.