The Nation Newspaper

Tag: breath

  • Breath of fresh air

    THEIR intervention was least expected, but it came at a time many thought there was no way the legal profession could redeem itself. The judiciary, a very important arm of the law profession, is in dire straits. Things were never like this before in the third arm of government. The judiciary is our bulwark against injustice and the many evils which plague modern society. The judiciary stands in a class of its own because it is expected to uphold the scale of justice.

    We know that the symbol of justice is a blindfolded woman wielding a two-edged sword. This tells us that justice is blind. It does not know a judge or even  a president. Everybody is equal before the law no matter your social status. So, anyone, who breaks the law must pay for it. The person must be brought to justice. In the last three weeks, we have seen the state and the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen engage in a tango.

    The state is accusing Onnoghen of false asset declaration. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has since filed a charge against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). But the case cannot go on until the defendant appears in court. So far, Onnoghen has not shown up in court as his lawyers have brought an application, challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction. The same lawyers are making moves for a political resolution of the matter. Their move is not bad, but they should not make it look as if their client is being witch hunted.

    It is the duty of lawyers to defend their clients in court no matter how bad the case may be. But it is not part of their brief to read political or any other meaning into the case or try to pull wool over the people’s eyes. A clear conscience fears no accusation, so goes the saying. Without going into the merits or demerits of the Onnoghen case, it is trite that the CCT should be allowed to handle the case the way it deems fit without anybody interfering. But there is a twist to the matter as it has now gone before the National Judicial Council (NJC). To many, both lawyers and non-lawyers alike, the matter should have gone there first before being taking to court, if need be.

    No doubt, some lawyers have gone overboard over the Onnoghen case. This is why the intervention of the 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) under the aegis of the Justice Reform Project (JRP) is refreshing. In its mission statement released on Saturday, the JRP said it felt embarrassed and deeply concerned by the events surrounding Onnoghen’s suspension. Indeed, virtually every Nigerian is embarrassed by the development because they never thought that their chief justice will find himself in such a situation. The judiciary has known no peace since the story of his non-asset declaration broke because many of our judicial officers are torn between their loyalty to an embattled boss and the oath they swore to uphold.

    Judges who wish to do their job conscientiously are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. They are afraid of doing anything which may lead to their being ostracised by their colleagues. Many lawyers and judges have turned it into a case in which they must show solidarity with the CJN. If Onnoghen was not the defendant, will these judges be this deferential to the accused? This is the question our judges and lawyers must answer as the world is watching what is going on. Judges are expected to wield the sword of justice without looking at the face of the person in the dock before them. When they do otherwise, they show their bias and will invariably pervert justice. As the SANs noted : ‘’the crisis of confidence that is currently shaking the judiciary and the legal profession is unprecedented’’.

    They could not have put it better. They understand the system well because they are key players there. With some of them having been SAN for over 30 years, nobody can accuse them of not knowing what they are saying. They know the system and the people inside out. ‘’Certain facts are hardly contestable’’, they said. ‘’There is a widespread perception that there is corruption in the judiciary and this perception is supported by anecdotal evidence. Unscrupulous litigants and some complicit lawyers, including some SANs, procure judgements and orders by corrupt means. It is also beyond dispute that the system for self-regulation in the judiciary and the legal profession has failed.’’

    This is frank talk and only lawyers, who are not true to themselves, will deny their ‘learned friends’ submission. The first step to correcting yourself begins with admitting your fault. If you do not admit your fault, you will never accept correction. These SANs have exposed some of the ills of the judiciary and the legal profession, it is now left for their colleagues to join hands with them in their search for a remedy. What we are witnessing in the judiciary today is not healthy and the earlier lawyers come together to address the problem the better. May the tribe of these SANs increase.

  • Fresh breath for cocoa

    Fresh breath for cocoa

    The Federal Government’s goal is to achieve 500,000 million metric tons (mt) of cocoa through the rehabilitation of old plantations, expansion programmes and best agricultural practices. Some development partners have joined the government‘s  campaign  to  restore Nigeria to its past glorious position  through  empowerment programmes, reports  DANIEL ESSIET.

    When President Muhammadu Buhari urged cocoa stakeholders to step up efforts towards repositioning the industry, he did this because the country  had  lost its place among cocoa producing countries.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, at the first International Cocoa Summit at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja,  in August, lamented Nigeria’s fall from fourth to seventh position in cocoa production.

    He described the situation  as unfavourable to the nation’s economic growth.

    He said:  “Cocoa is the second largest foreign exchange earner for Nigeria after crude oil, and has generated over two million jobs directly and indirectly along its value chain. The sector has suffered neglect as a result of over reliance on crude oil. This led to a decline in the country’s annual production from 420 metric tonnes in the 60s to 192, 000 metric tonnes in 2015. The country is long overdue to make the shift from being primarily an exporter of commodities and raw materials to becoming an industrial economy.”

    The President called for a return to the use of the hitherto abandoned Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) launched by the previous  administration in 2014, to revive the sector. Nigeria was a leading producer and exporter of cocoa. Until some time in the 1970s, it held an enviable record.

    Revenue  from cocoa helped to sustain the livelihoods of not only farmers, but the entire citizenry, as proceeds were used to build roads, schools and health facilities. But the story is different today. Ageing trees, poor soil quality, and a younger generation in danger of disengaging from cocoa production represent an imminent threat to an industry that had struggled to develop significant productivity-per-hectare.

    The changing weather and poor incentives to farmers combined to reduce cocoa yields from that period to the present day. Today,  the industry is seriously challenged. But, in spite of this, a huge market exists for raw and processed cocoa and its derivatives, locally and internationally.

    Analysts say the global market for chocolate and cocoa beverages is worth over $200 billion yearly. According to them, the beans are the goldmine of the cocoa plant because they are processed into cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and chocolate.

    Markets for Nigeria’s cocoa exist in European countries, such as Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) where demands for chocolate are high.

    All hopes are not lost as  industry  partners have commenced moves to revitalise the industry. One of them is the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), which has mapped out strategies to empower cocoa farmers.

    The intervention is being carried out through its Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE) platform, designed to build Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) at farmers’ level through relevant and accessible training initiatives, which improve  efficiency, ‘bankability’, and sustainability of food production.

    MADE is partnering Syngenta, an international biotechnology company, that has been involved in key transformation projects in agriculture.

    The partners are  working with cocoa farmers on good agricultural practice, post-harvest solutions and market linkages.

    Right now, pests and diseases are a big problem for cocoa farmers. It is estimated that approximately 30 to 40 per cent  of all potential cocoa production is lost to diseases and  pests globally.  Cocoa farmers face a variety of fungal diseases and insects/pests, which attack the leaves, stems and pods.

    These include black pods, witches’ broom, frosty pod, pod borer and brown cocoa mirid.

    Indeed, tackling these pests and diseases has been an issue for some farmers, who lack adequate knowledge on responsible pesticides usage.

    This has affected the fortunes of some of the farmers as European Union (EU), a big  export market for the produce, insists on limited and proper pesticides use.

    But there are chemicals permitted for use on cocoa, which meet EU’s requirements. These are what some development partners are trying to promote.

    At a cocoa stakeholders and farmers’ field-day event, organised by Syngenta Nigeria Limited, in Adejubu, Araromi Igbatoro and Akure North of Ondo State, the company promised to supply cocoa farmers with a new non-copper fungicide called ‘Pergado’, to combat copper based fungicide diseases.

    Pergado, which is already in use in Côte d’Ivoire, has been approved by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).

    Syngenta Nigeria Limited Country Director, Sunny Ameh,  said the organisation had in the past three years trained over 16,000 smallholder cocoa farmers across states with support from MADE Project.

    Ameh said Pergado is a copper free product used to combat blackpod and other fungal diseases affecting cocoa production, with the potency to fight copper based fungicide diseases. He added that once farmers experience the efficacy of the product, they will have an edge on cocoa producing farmers in other countries.

    He added that Syngenta is committed to supporting cocoa industry revival in the country in order to reclaim its position as the top cocoa producing country in the world.

    He said: “Syngenta has been working with development partners  such as MADE in Ondo in agric input value chain, promoting the adoption of new technologies, delivering higher yield, and training farmers to develop the right skills.

    “Our partnership with MADE in the Niger Delta is so unique in the sense that it has helped us to reach more farmers at the grassroot. We are helping farmers to engage superior and best practices that are of benefits to them and helping them to achieve much more from their traditional practices.”

    MADE Team Leader, Olatunde Oderinde, believed empowering the farmers was an important way to free  them from poverty and hunger.

    He said: “MADE wants to see more ownership from our famers. We want our farmers to take ownership of our work with Syngenta. We want the farmers to lead the pilots in the field.”

    Oderinde said his organisation is looking forward to partnering government and cocoa farmers to make the business successful.

    Some farmers, who attended the event, expressed optimism about using Pergado.

    They expect the chemical to help limit losses of about 25 to 45 per cent often experienced by cocoa farmers owing to diseases.

    Highlights of the event featured a field tour of some cocoa plantations for product testing.

    Director/Head, Cocoa Research, CRIN, Dr  Rasheed Adedeji, said the decision by the institute to certify Pergado, is hinged on the quality of the chemical and its potency of taming diseases, especially the cocoa black pod disease which is very aggressive in wet and humid conditions and spread mainly by rain splash.

     

  • Fresh breath for 700 earth roads in Lagos communities

    Fresh breath for 700 earth roads in Lagos communities

    To make the rural areas in Lagos more accessible, the Ministry of Rural Development is working on over 700 earth roads across the state, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

    In line with its mission to enhance the quality of life, human capital and productivity of the rural populace for sustainable development, the Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development has embarked on major repairs of roads across the state.

    The projects involve the grading of earth roads and using laterite to make them accessible and opening up others.

    Work on the projects is ongoing in most of the local government areas, and more rural communities will be reached in the shortest possible time, according to the Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi.

    It is the belief of the ministry that provision of basic socio-economic infrastructure through opening of feeder roads will help drive development in the rural areas.

    Last week, a team from the ministry, led by Ojelabi, inspected some of the roads undergoing upgrading. Also on the team were the ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Dupe Ileyemi; Deputy Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs Gbemisola Rufai and Director of Accounts, Mrs Olabisi Boco, among others.

    Some of the streets inspected were Adoff Road in Iba; Alhaji Kareem, Funsho Bakare, Akanni Ogundare, Orelope Street, Olubiyi, Ogunwoyo, Arowolade, Abuja Layout Zone (all in Ojo Local Government Area); Amosu-Igboro Road in Ijanikin, Out-Awori Local Council Development Area; Paul Ajose Street, Agric Isalu Road, Samuel Ekundayo Road (in Badagry), Esepe Road and Magbon Road (in Olurunda LCDA), among others.

    Hon. Ojelabi said the government’s intention is to make the rural roads motorable which, in turn, will ease movement and open them up for commercial activities.

    “It is the intention of the state government to make sure that most of our roads are made motorable. We know we have over 9,000 roads in Lagos State, and there’s no way we can embark on total construction of all the roads.

    “So, what we’re doing is to take the inner roads and make them motorable. As we speak, work is going on in not less than 700 roads across the state, and if you remove that number from 9,000, you will see that we still have a long way to go,” Ojelabi said.

    Besides, he said major construction is also ongoing on about 300 roads, adding that the grading of the earth roads is more of a palliative measure until major construction begins.

    “While the construction is going on in other areas, we want to see what we can do to provide some palliatives in terms of the existing roads to make them motorable.

    “That is why we have embarked on massive grading of earth roads across the state. We’re matching what we’re doing with the resources at the disposal of the government. So far, we have reached quite a significant number of communities across the state.

    “We’re focusing on the rural roads where we cannot afford to do a total construction of their roads for now, pending when we’ll come back and have the roads constructed. This is just a palliative measure to make sure that their roads are made motorable,” Ojelabi said.

    During the inspection of work on Abuja Layout Zone, it was observed that some homes channelled their waste water to the roads. The commissioner, who was displeased with that development, summoned the Chairman of Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Udegbunam Elias.

    Addressing Elias, he said: “This should not be allowed to happen. As the CDA chairman, you are supposed to address problems like this and ensure that houses do not discharge their water wastes on roads that are undergoing construction. If all of us key into government’s projects and maintain them, the society will be better.”

    Elias thanked the ministry for the roads upgrade. “We will ensure that this discharge of waste water is stopped,” he promised.

    Some traders, old women and children and commercial motorcycle operators were excited at the ministry’s work.

    A woman was heard saying: “Thank you for helping us so that water will not carry us away.”

    The commissioner also warned them against pouring used water or waste on the graded roads.

    A community leader, Alhaji Adio Igboro, said he thought the state had forgotten his street which is named after his great grandfather. “We’re happy that the government remembered us,” he said.

    Ojelabi said: “All of us have to be involved. If we continue to discharge our waste water on the road, no amount of quality job that is done by the contractor or the state government will make the road to last. So, all of us should try as much as possible to key into this project to make these roads much more better for us.

    “If you build a house, and know full well that you are expected to have a soak-away, for God’s sake, try as much as possible to have a very solid one where you can discharge your water waste into other than on the road.

    “Even when the road is constructed and you discharge your water on it, it can’t last. So, people should be aware that even asphalt is not water-friendly.

    “Let us imbibe the mindset that it is our money that is being put on these roads. All of us must come on board and take ownership and ensure that the roads are maintained,” Ojelabi said.

    The commissioner said the 300 roads being constructed are primarily handled by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

    “At the same time, Ministry of Rural Development is also doing some road construction through our engineering department. We’ve worked on roads in Agbado-Okeodo, Ifako-Ijaiye, in Ibeju-Lekki and some other areas.

    “What we’re doing is to complement what the Ministry of Works is currently doing to make sure that we bring some sort of succour to areas that are equally expecting similar construction,” Ojelabi said.

    Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) in Badagry Local Government Area, Mr Kuponu Ebenezer, praised the government on the roads repairs and grading.

    “I am very much happy. If there is another word to use other than happy, I will use it. When I got here this morning and saw the work going on, in fact, I was impressed.

    “It gives me courage to tell people that the government we’re having in Lagos State is one we can rely upon; that we can work together with. So, I am happy, and I wish it will continue like that.

    “I thank Governor Fashola; I thank Hon. Ojelabi and every member of his team in the rural family. I say well done to them and more grease to their elbow.

    “We’ve been suffering for a long time. The students cannot go to school because the roads are very bad. You see some falling into dirty water. Even people going to the market suffered a lot, but with the work being done, we can now move freely and easily,” he said.

    The Ministry of Rural Development was created at the inception of former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in July, 1999 as a consequence of its desire and commitment to develop the rural communities and make it attractive for rural dwellers in order to reduce rural-urban migration.

    It is one of the ministries through which the state’s policies, programmes and projects on rural development are initiated and implemented.

    It started as a department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives and later became the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFRRI).

    Since its establishment, the ministry has embarked on projects that have improved the living conditions of the rural dwellers.

  • Fresh breath for troubled Jos Wildlife Park

    Fresh breath for troubled Jos Wildlife Park

    The Jos Wildlife Park used to be a centre of tourists’ attraction on the Plateau. But due to neglect by successive administrations, the tourists’ first-choice destination is now a shadow of itself. The animals that made the park famous are no longer there.

    After its establishment 42 years ago, the park, which had a collection of about 160 animals, comprising 40 species, received little  attention from successive administrations. As a result, it no longer boasts of more than 50 animals and birds. This is because there were no deliberate efforts to replenish the stock.

    Investigations revealed that some of the animals became very old and died; some died as a result of fire, and others were poached by hunters; a situation that has left the park almost empty.

    The symbols or signs that remind visitors of the past glory of the park are the photographs of animals that habited the park and the labelled but empty cages.

    Some of the animals available at the park are one species of ape, chimpanzee, baboons, vultures; guinea fowls, two lions, a python, one elephant and crocodiles. Major games such as buffalo, zebra, tiger and hippopotamus are not there.

    General Manager of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation John Doy said the Jos Wild Life Park was established in 1972 along with Pandam Wildlife Park and Wase Rock Games Reserve by the Joseph Gomwalk administration in the then Benue-Plateau State.

    Gomwalk, who was a Commissioner of Police, was said to be a zoologist. Doy said: “Jos Wildlife Park is located in Jos South Local Government Area of the state; it covers a land area of eight square kilometres. It was established under the Northern Nigeria Wild Animal Law of 1963, which was enacted primarily for the conservation, preservation, protection and management of indigenous and exotic wildlife resources against endangerment and extinction.

    “It was also meant to promote and encourage tourism and related activities to improve the economy of the state through ecotourism. It was equipped with 160 animals comprising 40 species.”

    Currently, the Wildlife Park is dilapidated because there has been no form of renovation in the past 35 years. However, when Governor Jonah Jang assumed office in 2007, he promised to give tourism the desired attention. He was of the view that revamping the park and other tourist sites will go a long way in authenticating the state’s motto of Home of Peace and Tourism.

    The Jang administration pledged to revive the park. But less than one year to the end of his administration and over seven years after, nothing has been done with regard to resuscitating the ailing park.

    However, the Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Pastor Abraham Yiljab told our correspondent that government has worked out a strategy to breathe life into the park.

    He said: “The administration of Governor Jang has worked out a strategy to secure the Wildlife Park. The project plan is being considered at the state executive council level, after which a contract will be awarded for its fencing. Construction of Safari Road network will be part of it so that tourists can walk and drive around inside the park. The contract will also include the renovation of structures and construction of new office accommodation for members of staff working there.”

    He further said that government deliberately delayed commencement of work at the park as expected since 2007 because tourism itself cannot be handled in isolation. The state itself had to be attractive enough for tourists. The entire state requires total turn-around.

    “So, Governor Jang had to concentrate on opening up the state to tourists through massive road network. The tourism potential of the state will make no meaning if there was no good road network. That was why Governor Jang invested nearly N100 billion on road construction across the state.

    “There are also other aspects of tourism that took the attention of the state government; the gigantic Indoor Theater is one of those. It is first of its kind in Nigeria. It has a sitting capacity of 5,000 and serves multi-purpose benefits to government and citizens. There is also the newly completed Government House which cost about N9 billion and the renovation of the state secretariats, among others.

    “These massive infrastructural developments had to be done in the interest of tourism of the state. The new plan to redeem the wildlife park also includes the construction of animal clinic. The original plan for the establishment of the wild life did not include the medical aspect. But government has come up with a design of a clinic at the park for the animals.

    “Government had to bring in the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) to help in taking care of the animals. The NVRI also took care of the health of members of staff working there so that there will be no infection that can pass from man to animal or from animal to man. So, NVRI with its expertise has been doing very well in taking care of the health of animals and that is why you hardly hear of any form of epidemic.

    There will be restaurants and chalets; this will give tourists an opportunity to stay within a very natural environment.

    “The issue of depletion of the wildlife has already been addressed. We are looking forward to securing more animals. Recently, we have secured a very huge male python which we have introduced to the female python in the park. They already co-exist without any tension among them.

    “Currently, we are working with some other zoo facilities in the country for animal exchange. Where we found we have more males we will exchange with another zoo that has female species. We are currently doing that with Aso Rock Zoo. We are also on exchange programme with the Kano Zoo and that of Maiduguri.

    “These are some of the plans government has towards replenishing the lost stock. Animals have their own lifespan, and so some of them died of age. We lost some of them due to some adverse situation such as bush burning.

    “We lost some of them to hunters who poached on the park. That is why even before we restock it, we have to secure the place. We have to provide adequate security for the animals and protect them from hunters.”

     

  • Stomach cancer now spotted by breath test

    A quick and simple breath test can diagnose stomach cancer, a study findings reveal.

    Scientists from Israel and China found the test was 90 percent accurate at detecting and distinguishing cancers from other stomach complaints in 130 patients.

    At present, doctors diagnose stomach cancer by taking a biopsy of the stomach lining using a probe and a flexible camera passed via mouth and down the gullet.

    The science behind the test itself is not new as many researchers have been working on the possibility of breath tests for a number of cancers, including lung.

    But the work by Prof Hossam Haick, of the Israel Institute of Technology, suggests it is a good way to spot stomach cancer.

    The new test looks for chemical profiles in exhaled breath that are unique to patients with stomach cancer.

    Cancer appears to give off a signature smell of volatile organic compounds that can be detected using the right technical medical kit – and perhaps even dogs.

    As well as accurately distinguishing between these conditions, the breath test could tell the difference between early and late-stage stomach cancers.

    The team is now running a bigger study in more patients to validate their test.

    Researchers say that the results of this latest study are promising, although large scale trials will now be needed to confirm these findings.

  • Get good breath inviting smile

    Get good breath inviting smile

    THERE is no denying it that we generally love a great smile with sparkling white and clean teeth, and brushing your teeth regularly is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.

    Some say that the smile is the first feature that they notice in others. However, oral health is important in more ways than simply making an impression. If teeth are cleaned properly, it prevents the formation of plague around the gums of teeth. Plague forms easily after food is eaten and bacteria thrive in it. Also, it is essential to cut down on sugary foods and drinks because they damage teeth.

    Teeth are an important part of our overall well-being. Therefore, it is important to learn how to brush them properly.

     

    Tips to make your smile inviting

    • Replace toothbrush once a month. This is better than using one for three or four months. Worn toothbrush will not clean your teeth sufficiently and a brush’s bristles can retain germs.

    • Replace your toothbrush after having a cold in order to prevent a relapsed infection.

    • Always use toothpaste that has fluoride -Fluoride, the most common active ingredient in toothpaste, prevents cavities. So you should always be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.

    • Hold toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum-line

    • Brush using small circular motions

    • Always brush your tongue and the upper part of the mouth

    • Chew odour-killing chewing-gum after every lunch, but if you are at home, simply brush with toothpaste.

    • Have regular dental check-ups

    • Have your teeth whitening once in a while

    • Floss at least once a day

    In conclusion, dentists say that the most important part of tooth care happens at home. So, brushing and flossing properly, along with regular dental check-ups, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.