The Nation Newspaper

Tag: deal

  • Kay Jay Ogbonna signs deal with The Boost Entertainment

    Ahead of the November release date of his new single produced by BlaqJerzee, Nigerian singer/songwriter Kay Jay Ogbonna has signed a management deal with The Boost Entertainment.

    According to the multi-million naira deal, the company will handle all the bookings and management affairs of the artiste who was nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2018 ‘Fresh Vibes of The Year’ category.

    Born Victor Ogbonna, Kay Jay, who hails from Abia State, started music professionally in 2012 as a songwriter, composing songs for A-list artists like TundeEdnut (‘Catching Cold’), Iyanya (‘IyanuMashele’), KCEE (‘Burn’&‘Psycho’), Naeto C, Kach (‘Olo’), Chuddy K (‘Go Down’), Stunna (‘Balance’ featuring Iyanya), Samklef, Tillaman, BimbiPhiliphs (Duro Dada).

    His hit songs include ‘Sell Over’ featuring Skales & Omo Akin (Produced by Kenny Wonder) and ‘Work & Pray’ featuring Shaydee (Produced by BlaqJerzee).

    Kay Jay said he signed with The Boost Entertainment because he shared the ‘same vision’ with the company and says he sees himself as a ‘big brand’ in ‘five years’ time.

    “I see them making me one of the biggest artists in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

    “Despite being newly established, this is one of the first and few music management companies in Nigeria that fund the artist, and I feel that is how it should be – it gave me even more assurance to work with them. They are not just bringing funds, strategy and ideas; they are bringing full hands on involvement and direction, with a unique attention to visual content creation.”

    According to the Managing Director of The Boost Entertainment, Miss Kiki Agbakoba, the company was formed to support artistes’ growth.

    “Fate had its way when we crossed paths with Kay Jay while in search for music talents,” she said.

    “With this official signing of Kay Jay, our first artist, we plan to activate and create a new SI unit for music content management and creative business positioning.”

  • New deal for pay-TV consumers

    New deal for pay-TV consumers

    A new and exciting viewing experience is here for consumers of pay television (pay-TV) services in Nigeria. With the introduction of ‘pay-per-day’ or ‘pay-as-you-watch’ service by StarTimes, the latest entrant into the pay-TV market has warmed itself into the hearts of subscribers. This market strategy, which targets low income subscribers, may have ignited a fresh wave of competition in the pay-TV industry. Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU- CHIKEZIE reports.

    A fresh wave of competition is imminent in Nigeria’s pay television (pay TV) industry. Courtesy of the introduction of ‘pay-per-day’ or ‘pay-as-you-watch’ offer by StarTimes, a relatively new entrant into the market, there are indications that the scramble for consumers’ patronage by service providers will intensify.

    The expectation by consumers is that the new wave of competition ignited by StarTimes through the introduction of new and exciting contents, with top-notch audio visual quality and low-priced bouquets, will prompt a response by existing service providers and ultimately, force a drastic reduction in subscription rates and decoder prices.

    Already, a few consumers have started embracing the StarTimes’ game-changing pay-per-day service, which, according to the company’s management, attracts a daily payment of N60 to enjoy all the channels.

    Interestingly, recently launched Telecom Satellite Television (TStv) has also caught the low-priced bouquet bug, offering its pay-as-you-watch model at a daily subscription rate of N200. Three days subscription attracts N500, while its weekly subscription goes for N750.

    The Pay-As-You-Consume cable TV provider in Nigeria charges N1, 000 for 10 days subscription, N1, 500 for two weeks subscription, while its monthly subscription goes for N3, 000.

    Until StarTimes threw its hat in Nigeria’s highly competitive pay TV market, existing pay TV operators had segmented the market with price differentiation for their bouquets.

    For example, Multichoice, owners of DStv, has four bouquets namely, Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium, which are subscribed for at N1,900, N3,800, N6,300, N9,900 and N14,700, respectively.

    But StarTimes may have changed the dynamics with its ‘pay-per-day’ or ‘pay-as-you-watch’ offer. This means that a consumer will only be charged for what he uses, unlike DStv. “Our aim is to ensure that we deliver digital entertainment to every Nigerian home at very affordable rates and we will ensure that this is done in the coming years,” its Chief Executive, Mr. Justin Zhang, said.

    He explained that the cable TV provider reached the decision to introduce pay-per-day service in Nigeria late 2016, but was delayed because Nigeria being the biggest market in sub-Saharan Africa, it would not be a wise business decision to launch a product or service without proper testing.

    Zhang said the launch of the service had to be properly done to avoid any technical disruption, hence the need to test-run the offer for months and make corrections where needed before rolling out a hitch free service.

    He said as a highly innovative company, StarTimes continually seeks new ways to improve its customer experience and satisfaction and pay-per-day is one of such.

    Zhang revealed that apart from introducing the pay-per-day service, StarTimes moved a notch higher by improving its content. According to him, the company has not only upgraded its movie channels, but also added more safe channels for kids to also enjoy.

    He further stated that StarTimes now broadcast new movies from Hollywood, Nollywood and Bollywood, (America, Nigeria and India movie industry, respectively).

    For existing and prospective subscribers to StarTimes, the icing on the cake is perhaps, the broadcasting of the Russia 2018 World Cup live on StarTimes.

    Zhang said this was in fulfilment of the company’s promise to ensure that digital entertainment was delivered to every home. “All our subscribers will be enjoying live matches of the World Cup from the comfort of their homes without putting a hole in their pockets,” he said.

    Explaining further on how pay-per-day or pay-as-you-watch works, Zhang, said: “When you talk of pay-as-you-watch, we may be construing it to mean pay-per-day.

    “If you want to watch a match today you can pay for one day, or you pay for one week or pay for month for your family. I think this is another definition for pay-as-you-go. You can pay-per-day instead of paying per month.”

    Zhang commended the discerning members of the public for the dramatic increase in subscription and promised that they are in business to represent the interest of all potential customers, especially those in the lower rung of the ladder.

    Indeed, the offer has gladdened the hearts of consumers. For instance, a subscriber, Eunice Igbokwe, said she is happy with the competition in the sector, noting that consumers are better off with such. She said though StarTimes has not been too long in the market, but coming up with this innovative payment model will be a plus for them.

    She decried a situation where some operators in the sector practically held consumers to ransom. She lamented that sometimes consumers pay and will not be connected for days and weeks as the case may be.

    According to her, one of the factors that attracted her to the network was the fact that she can travel for weeks without her account reading. Igbokwe related this to the new electricity prepaid regime, which makes it possible for somebody to only pay for what he or she consumed.

    Another subscriber, Dele Abiodun, who also uses StarTimes and has bought the recently launched Kwese, attested to the quality of the programmes. He, however, asked that they continue to maintain the quality of the programmes.

    He went on to say that the purchase of Kwese was because of the free-to-air soccer channels and its flexible subscription plan.

    Another subscriber, Ibukun Oni said she uses the latest entrant, Kwese because of its simplified payment system. “If I am cash strapped I will go for the N990 or N1,800 bouquet, since it will give me the same number of channels for the number of days my subscription will last.”

    The Nation learnt that the new wave of competition in the pay TV markets re-ignited by StarTimes comes in the mould of the competition in the telecoms sector, where the introduction of per second billing by indigenous telecoms giant, Globacom forced other services providers to drastically reduce the cost of their services.

    Recall, for instance, that at the take off of mobile telecommunications in Nigeria, MTN was the premiere company and it only provided call rate billing on per minute while the cost of SIM card was as high as $500 as at 2002.

  • NNPC, Chevron seal $1.7b deal to raise oil, gas production

    NNPC, Chevron seal $1.7b deal to raise oil, gas production

    Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) have signed the second and final phase of an Alternative Financing Agreement that will increase crude oil production by about 39,000 barrels per day.

    The agreement, which was signed in London at the weekend, is also expected to achieve an incremental peak production of about 283 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas.

    NNPC Group Managing Director Dr. Maikanti Baru, who signed on behalf of his corporation, said the increment to be achieved by the agreement would spread “over the remaining life of the asset (until 2045)”.

    The corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in a statement yesterday, said the project, which is about 92 per cent completed, will cost about $1.7 billion, with $780 million expected to be funded by a third-party.

    The project will produce natural gas liquids and condensate extracted from the Sonam and Okan fields located in OML 90 and 91 in the Niger Delta.

    Baru described the deal as a step in the right direction, which would grow the nation’s daily production and support the Federal Government’s strategic domestic gas-to-power aspirations, while aligning with NNPC’s 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFAs).

    He said the project would also include the completion of the Sonam non-associated gas (“NAG”) well platform and Sonam living quarters platform; drilling of seven wells in the Sonam field and the Okan 30E NAG well; as well as the completion of the 20″ x 32Km Sonam pipeline and Okan pig receiver platform and development of the associated facilities.

    “As we speak now, the facilities are 100 per cent completed while wells are 40 per cent executed,” Baru stated.

    “In carrying out the project, the NNPC/CNL JV adopted a two-staged financing approach. Stage 1 which provided $400 million sourced from Nigerian commercial banks (NCBs) achieved financial close on 1st August 2017, Stage 2, (signed today), is set to provide $380mn from international commercial banks (ICBs).

    “Out of the US$780mn total financing for both stages, Chevron’s co-lending totals US$312mn while NNPC’s portion of the total facility stands at US$468mn,” the statement said.

    Baru explained that it was aimed at plugging NNPC’s shortfall in funding JV cash call obligations, including settlement of pre-2016 cash call arrears.

    “It will also enable full funding of NNPC’s JV obligations to restore investors’ confidence and stimulate further Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) as we are beginning to witness,” he noted.

  • How to deal with common disorders occurring in pregnancy (1)

    How to deal with common disorders occurring in pregnancy (1)

    Pregnancy, by all measures, is a normal occurrence or shall we say, should be a normal event in the life of a pregnant woman and the family.  However, by all accounts, most pregnancies will pass without trouble. That said, a significant number of pregnant women may experience illnesses that are either caused directed by the pregnancy or simply occurring in association with the pregnancy.

    In the coming weeks, we will examine some of these disorders and how you and your family can deal with them. These articles will not address infertility as we had dealt with infertility disorders in the recent past. For today, let us consider Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy.  This condition is one that is caused by an ongoing pregnancy though in some occasions nausea and vomiting may be due to other disorder such as malaria that occurs during pregnancy.

    In traditional African culture and in particular in Nigeria at least, a young novice girl might appear to the outside world, as chaste.  Often to the surprise of her guardians or parents, she may start to vomit without the girl knowing the apparent cause in spite of the fact that she had secretly been sexually active.  On intense questioning, she will often deny being sexually active. But the ancient wisdom will often reveal her hidden activities.  Our grandparents, especially older women, would discern a novice girl who is in denial of being pregnant.  Experience mothers will often look at the palm of the vomiting girl or like a doctor would, experience mothers will take a look at the eyes especially the conjunctiva and come to the conclusion, following the examination, that that girl is “pregnant” because the girl looks pale in both her hand and eyes. Suddenly, the girl who had until now been in denial, becomes calm and resign to her fate. Thus, taking the vomiting and the pallor together, our mothers had relied on ancient wisdom to make a diagnosis of early pregnancy.

    Notwithstanding, either planned or unplanned pregnancy, nausea and vomiting is a common development in early pregnancy.

    From about 2 to 4 weeks of pregnancy, one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy is that the woman suddenly feels the urge to vomit (nausea) and as the days go by, this urge to “throw up” may be accompanied with actual vomiting.  This very unpleasant feelings of nausea and vomiting often occurs in the morning hence the name “morning sickness” that is known to billions of our able and honourable women worldwide.  The morning sickness though gets better as the day goes by may however occur at any time during the day. Rarely does nausea and vomiting become troublesome at night.

    Following the experience and the knowledge that she may vomit her food and water that she ingests, the pregnant woman may start to avoid food. So, her appetite goes down as a result.

    The good news is that by the end of the third month or 12 weeks since she last saw her period, the nausea and vomiting may stop.  In some occasions, the morning sickness can continue until 16-20 weeks but rarely beyond.

    The frequent vomiting may give rise to irritation in the chest as a result of stomach acid coming from stomach, towards the throat.  Also, excessive salivation may accompany the nausea. The problem is how to dispose the excess saliva which cannot be swallowed.  Despite the trouble of nausea, vomiting and excess saliva, the pregnant women are often desiring to eat strange food which is not within her reach: a condition that doctors have termed pica!

    Treatment:  The knowledge that the vomiting will stop eventually may be reassuring.  However, eating small bits of food in spaced intervals may help. Avoiding acidic food such as citrus may also help. Spicy foods should also not be consumed at this time. The idea is to reduce stomach acid to as little as possible.  Further, antacids which is available over the counter in pharmacies may be purchased to help this condition.  Bed rest may also help.

     

    Hyperemesis Gravidarum

    In some situations, the nausea and vomiting may be so severe that, the pregnant woman may suffer liver damage, jaundice, weight loss, poor appetite and low level blood vitamins. Such development from the common and benign nausea and vomiting is a very serious medical illness in pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum constitute a gynaecologic emergency and this should be taken very seriously.

    Attending a competent medical doctor is a top and urgent priority as this conditions threatens the life of the mother and the developing baby.

    The treatment is definitely at the hospital and admission is required to replace loss fluid and vitamins. The idea is to help the woman regain her strength, protect her growing baby and improve her liver function as well as bring the nausea and vomiting to a manageable level.

    At the hospital, the medical team is   likely to give medications that will control the vomiting. Admission and monitoring are likely to continue until such a time when the woman is sufficiently improved.

    As I mentioned earlier, the good news remains that the vomiting is likely to stop not later than 12-16weeks of pregnancy.

     

  • Better deal for Ogun workers

    Another tranche of N243 billion Paris Club Refunds was recently released to states of the federation, majorly for the payment of salaries and pension. The funds were released to state governments as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and were specifically designed to support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thereby alleviating the challenges faced by workers.

    The release was conditional upon a minimum of 75 percent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for states that owe salaries and pension. Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Wale Oshinowo, said Governor Ibikunle Amosun had approved that N4.5 billion of the N5.7billion received should be spent on cooperative deduction arrears to all categories of workers.

    Oshinowo said N3.4 billion had been disbursed for the payment of six months’ arrears of outstanding cooperative deductions to all categories of the workforce at the state level; N1.1 billion was disbursed for the payment of three months of outstanding cooperative deductions to workers at the local government level. The balance of N1.2 billion would go into state expenditure.

    He said whereas the Federal Government had advised state governments to use at least 50 per cent for payment of workers’ emolument, Amosun had apportioned 79 per cent to the workforce.

    In December 2016, Governor Amosun had also approved the total sum of N12.5 billion for the payment of gratuities, cooperative deductions arrears and severance allowance of former political office holders in the state. In the earlier transaction, the sum of N5.5billion was disbursed for the payment of six months arrears of outstanding cooperative deductions to all categories of the workforce.

    Another N6 billion was disbursed for the payment of gratuities to pensioners covering the period between November 2012 and January 2014. Not less than 2,429 retirees benefitted from the gratuity payment.

    The Amosun-led administration on assumption of office in 2011 started clearing the backlog of gratuity payments from 2007.

    It should also be noted that in December 2016, the governor had approved the payment of N1 billion to clear the balance of severance allowance due to political office holders who served the immediate past administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel between 2007 and 2011 as well as those who served between 2011 and 2015. The payment in 2016 came from the N10.6 billion Ogun State government received from the Paris Club refund, which the federal government shared to different states of the federation.

    Whereas the federal government had advised state governments to use only 50 per cent of the fund for payment of workers’ emolument, the Ogun State governor decided to spend it all on the workforce.  “Ogun State is not only using the entire fund it received but has also added N1.9 billion,” the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa had said.

    He added then that this was aside the fact that the state government had paid December 2016 salary plus 13th month salary to all categories of workers at both state and local government levels.

    The Civil Service remains the engine room of every successful administration and a vital instrument for the formulation and execution of all government policies in Nigeria. It is the organ of government established by the constitution to ensure continuity through the provision of records and procedures guiding the activities of the successive administration. They also often use historical precedents for reference and guidance, and ensure that similar cases or problems are treated according to the extant laws, rules and regulations.

    Governor Amosun has consistently reaffirmed the important roles that civil servants have played in the execution of major well-thought programmes embarked upon by his administration. In his words, “the Ogun State Civil Service has remained as an indispensable partner to the current administration in the state resulting in the monumental success so far recorded in the area of socio-economic development.”

    The governor is of the opinion that the success or failure of any government largely depended on its relationship with the workforce, admitting that though the economy of the nation was not buoyant; his government would not relent in providing better welfare package for the workers.

    His administration has always viewed Ogun State Civil Servants as the bedrock of any meaningful development in the state. The governor considers that any government that desires to have unassailable achievements must not down-play the all-embracing roles of the civil servants as a needed catalyst for the positive and rapid transformation of the society. It is the sincere conviction of the governor that this cooperation must not only be acknowledged but also celebrated.

    In the past six years, the administration of Governor Amosun has not only continually explored avenues to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the Ogun State workers, he has also been able to put forward a series of exciting programmes and activities to foster amity among the workers across all agencies.

    It is part of the governor’s commitment towards the welfare of the civil servants that he approved the sum of N4.5billion for the payment of cooperative deductions arrears to all categories of workers in the state.

    This is because the governor is not oblivious of the fact that a well-rounded and productive Civil Service is deserving of a whole range of emolument: salaries, running cost, leave bonus and promotion. Governor Amosun has been giving tremendous support and inspiration to the entire Ogun State civil service since his assumption of the mantle of governance of the state in May 2011. To demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of the workers, Ogun was one of the first states to implement the new minimum wage across board in Nigeria. The state had set the base as N18, 250 which is more than the national minimum wage. It also ensures timely payment of workers’ salaries. Indeed, Ogun is one of the few states that have survived the biting economic challenge occasioned by the dwindling allocation from the federal government which has made it impossible for many of the states of the federation to pay their workers’ salary.

    While the governor is not unmindful of the fact that he needed to do more, the fact must be appreciated that the state government is being handicapped by the current economic challenges, which the country is gradually climbing out of. But, all efforts are in top gear to see that the government continues to deliver on its commitments and obligations in pursuit of further enhancing the welfare of its workers.

    As Governor Amosun pledges the commitment of his administration to continue to see to the welfare of the workers, it is important for the entire workforce to continue be partners in progress and avoid unwholesome tendencies that may lead both parties on the path of ignominy, retrogression and unnecessary confrontation. Together, both parties will reap the fruits of patience, sacrifices, pains and hard labour to the greater good of Ogun State.

     

    • Durojaiye is the Special Adviser, Information & Strategy to Governor Amosun.
  • More Chibok girls to return in swap deal, says minister

    More Chibok girls to return in swap deal, says minister

    More Chibok schoolgirls are to be released soon in another swap deal with Boko Haram terrorists, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Aisha Alhassan said yesterday.

    The minister told reporters in Abuja that the recently released 82 girls were undergoing rehabilitation and reintegration in medical facilities in Abuja.

    “Negotiations are ongoing to exchange the remaining girls with Boko Haram detainees.  We can’t afford to keep them any longer,” she said.

    The minister, who condemned insinuations that the Federal Government had been shielding the parents and the media from having access to the girls, said there was  the need for the girls to be taken through a process to relieve them of the trauma of their captivity.

    Said the minister: “Most of them were having nightmares some days after they were released. We need to keep them away from the media for some time to avoid some questions that they might be asking them, we are not keeping or hiding them

    “We are not shielding the girls from their parents. The parents of the recently released 82 girls have already been contacted and they will be in Abuja any moment from now. Most of them live in villages very far from Chibok, so it will take some time before they can get to Abuja.”

    The 21 girls released last October by the terrorists are to return to school in September, the minister added.

    “The 21 girls initially said they won’t like to go back to school in Chibok but after the various rehabilitation and reintegration process they have gone through, they are now set to return to school in September; they are now fit and eager to go back to school.

    “The girls have gone through a lot of reintegration process that will make them fit to return to school. They are now medically fit, they have gone through various vocational skills, including ICT training; their parents are always in touch with them.

    “I always take them to movies and parks during weekend. They are now fit to return home but we must ensure that they forget all the traumatic experience they passed through while in the bush before they can go back to Chibok,” she said

    Presidential Media Adviser Garba Shehu also corroborated the return to school plan.

    “Government is preparing the girls to go back to school in September because they have lost so much academically.

    “It is not all the 103 so far released, but 21 of them,” he added.

    ”None of the girls released on Saturday will be returning to school in September as they are still undergoing medical and psychological treatment that should last two to three weeks”, the government’s Twitter feed stated.

    The minister added that the government was careful about who was granted access to the 24 girls who left captivity last year.

    “They are in Abuja taking part in a rehabilitation programme.

    “The parents of the Chibokgirls are free to visit them at any time. We will never prevent them from seeing their daughters,” a government tweet quoted Alhassan as saying.

  • NPFL hotshot Odey rejects Barca deal, opts for Belgium

    NPFL hotshot Odey rejects Barca deal, opts for Belgium

    SCORENigeria can  exclusively reveal that NPFL leading scorer Stephen Odey has turned down a chance to try out with mighty Barcelona as he has already agreed to join a Belgian club (name withheld).

    This season, the 19-year-old Odey has taken the Nigeria league by storm with 13 goals so far to spark off a flurry of interests from top European clubs including mighty Barcelona.

    The Barcelona proposal was for both Odey and his agent to visit the Catalan giants to see things for themselves.

    Contacts were made to both the player and his representatives, but the representatives turned down the proposal on the basis that they are already committed to a Belgian club.

    “Barcelona are interested, but his agent said they are already committed to a club in Belgium,” atop source informed only SCORENigeria.

    Odey’s camp have long rejected Russian club Rostov as several other European clubs have continued to show interest in the striker.

    The highly promising striker scored nine goals last season in his first season in the NPFL after he led his secondary school at the Principals Cup in Lagos.

  • How Bassey bombed 1 million Euros Barcelona deal

    How Bassey bombed 1 million Euros Barcelona deal

    SCORENigeria has gathered more details why Enyimba forward Ezekiel Bassey will not be offered a contract that would have fetched Enyimba over a million Euros from mighty Barcelona at the end of his much-celebrated loan move to Spain.

    Bassey, nicknamed ‘Hazard’ by Enyimba fans after the Chelsea star, has failed to impress with Barcelona ‘B’ during his loan spell at the Catalan giants.

    Despite joining Barca second team without any trials, he did not impress in training but the deal breaker was his below-par performance for Barcelona B in an international friendly against a Zambian team.

    “Bassey is not Barcelona standard and those who recommended him to the club do not know football,” a top source told only SCORENigeria in sheer frustration.

    “He did not measure up during the friendly match he played for them and even in training he has failed to impress.

    “He has now blocked more deserving Nigerian players from Barcelona.”

    SCORENigeria was reliably informed Enyimba stood to be richer by a million Euros had Bassey been given a contract in the summer.

    It was further understood that his residence papers will come through, but after what he has showed on the pitch, the papers will no longer be necessary.

    Bassey, who has already debuted for the Super Eagles, was to have been offered a permanent deal had he impressed at the end of his loan spell in the summer.

  • How to deal with pain (2)

     Introduction

    Earlier on we defined and described what a pain is. In today’s article, we will consider what an acute pain means and how we can take care of it. Acute pain is the body’s normal response to harm such as a cut, pain due to an infection, or other physical hurts. Put in another way, acute pain is a kind of pain that on average lasts less than three to six months, or pain that is directly related to soft tissue damage such as say a twisted finger, a whitlow, boil, or burn.

    Acute pain plays a vital role in providing a warning signal that something is wrong and in need of further examination.

    We as humans respond to acute pain by our body by developing short term hypertension, rapid heart-beat, facial grimacing, we become restless, our breathing become shallow, we become more guarded, we turn pale , and our eyes becomes more widely opened.

    Acute pain may also be associated with significant, unnecessary physical, psychological and emotional distress in us. In a lot cases, if nothing is done to the acute pain, it may become chronic (which we shall discuss later).

    What causes acute pain?

    Just about anything can cause acute pain. Let’s make a list. Accidents of any nature that causes any damage to any part of our body: The accidents may be at home or it may not. Home injuries such as falls, oil, water or say hot metal burns, puncture wounds by nails and knives can cause acute pain.

    Domestic assault such as between husband and wife may result in cause pain. Sexual assault or forceful sexual entry may also result in acute pain in either sexual partner. Dental injuries such as broken tooth, tooth decay, bitten tongue during eating may all result in painful experiences.

    Diseases such as conjunctivitis, sore throat and gum diseases may cause pain. Chest infections such as pneumonia, peptic ulcer disease, obstructions in the intestines are sources of acute pain.

    If we allow urine to accumulate in our urinary bladder over a long time even while we are asleep may result in acute pain.

    As a lot of women could tell, menstrual periods can be accompanied by various forms of pain. Similarly, skin diseases such as boils can cause acute pain. If you are constipated and you wish to forcefully pass out the stool (poo), the force can lead to a lot of pain as much as the constipation.

    Injuries to the spine, leg, hands and head may lead to serious pain. A visit to a medical doctor with the purpose of giving blood for investigations is perhaps one of the commonest causes of pain in healthcare. Still on healthcare, childbirth, surgical operation of any nature, circumcision in children, are causes of pain.

    Outside the home, assault on the street and any injury to any part of the body may surely result in acute pain.

    Investigations: Do not ignore acute pain for it’s a warning sign of something more serious. Simple causes of pain such as boil may sometimes be taken care at home. If there are multiple boils appearing, its best investigated thoroughly.

    Pain that refuses to go away after say 24 hours should be taken to the doctor for prompt attention and investigation. Most pain especially if the pain is inside the body should be attended to and be investigated by the physician. It’s difficult to provide comprehensive investigations that could be done. As may be appropriate, the doctor may do an X-ray if needed.

    On the other hand, the investigations may be ultrasound or blood and urine test. The investigations may also be a combination of all of the above. The investigation may also extend to using CT-Scan or MRI to help the doctor in the diagnosis. The key message however is that pain requires attention, prompt attention never mind the cause of the pain

    Treatment:  Open wounds may lead to bleeding and infection. Therefore, you should attempt to stop the bleeding first and do so urgently.

    Cover the wound with a clean material and then head to the doctor as soon as possible. Usually, the doctor will determine the next course of action to take.

    There are some medications that are available over the counter that you may use to stop pain on your own. If these medications are not working, you need to go to your doctor urgently. Paracetamol is widely available across many pharmacies. Indomethacin and ibuprofen are other options but both should be taken with food to avoid peptic ulcer.

    Never take steroids without medical advice. Never take steroid with any medication without proper medical opinion. Finally, remember that acute pain is an early warning sign and do not ignore it.

  • The Agatu/Fulani herdsmen deal

    Last week the peace deal between  the warring Agatu people of Benue and the Fulani herdsmen  midwifed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and his Nasarawa  State counterpart, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to rebuild confidence after  what the former described as  “ the massive and unprecedented destruction of Agatu and killings by herdsmen”, and the latter as “the culture of impunity where a group of individuals entered other people’s land and began to kill them or attack others and their cattle” crumbled no sooner it was publicly proclaimed by the peace makers. The highlights of the collapsed peace deal designed to end five decades of reprisal massacre of cows and human beings  include  the call for “forgiveness by  the  victims while keeping silent on the need for genuine contrition;  a creation  of  dedicated grazing route along Oguto Adanyi – Ogumagbo- Bagana  communities for the movement of cattle by indigenous Fulani herdsmen’; a proposal by the peace makers  to make representation  to the Federal Government, donor  agencies, development partners, voluntary organizations and philanthropists to assist victims of the crisis in the affected communities of Benue and Nassarawa states and contribution of the sum of N30m by the two peacemakers  which would be used to provide building materials for the ravaged Agatu Communities”.

    I sympathise with both governors. It was obvious from their body language they were trying to walk the tight rope instead of striking the nail on the head (apology to Alhaji Ishmael Jose). These are governors who under a freely negotiated   federal arrangement   are expected to be independent and equal with the centre but who in reality exist at the behest of a dysfunctional centre that runs a multi-ethnic society without residual powers for the federating units. The result is that the federating units that depend on the centre for payment of salaries of local council workers, primary school teachers, and protection of life and properties which is the major reason they exist as states, cannot publicly admit the problem of our nation is the tyranny of the government at the centre.

    Thus, instead of Al Makura talking truth to the Fulani hegemonic power whose members arm herdsmen with sophisticated weapons, he spoke from both sides of the mouth without making a distinction between the victims and aggressors.  Of course, Ortorn like his fellow  new generation of Middle Belt politicians like Gabriel  Suswam, Joshua Dariye and Jonah Jang  appealed to his compatriots to allow God fight their battle while reminding them that  the only safeguard for peace and  development is forgiveness as if there can be peace without justice. The Middle Belt military politicians are not different. Their genius only find expression in planning coups (military and civilian) or threatening to shoot MKO Abiola if his mandate was allowed to stand. None of the grovelling military Generals-turned-politicians have been able to tell truth to the Fulani hegemonic power, in the manner of  the inimitable Joseph Tarka  who suffered deprivations  from the dominant northern establishment  over his demand for self-actualization  for his people within the context of Nigerian politics in the pre- and post-independence  years.

    Of course, vengeance as Governor Ortorn has said, belongs to God. Of course, the indigenous Fulani born in the land who have no other place to call home and identify with the aspirations of their host communities should be supported by the community to make a living like the rest of the people. But peace as end of justice can only be achieved by listening and coming to the aid of those whose source of subsistence living has been destroyed.  Compensating those whose cattle were massacred and above all, bringing those who engaged in mindless killing of innocent men, women and children to justice.

    Our crisis of nationhood as this column has consistently maintained, is the resistance to restructuring to make our federal arrangement work by the groups that seem to derive temporary benefit from the current unwieldy and unviable 36 states and 774 LGAs. This is why some federal lawmakers with false sense of self-worth will declare during a grazing bill debate that herdsmen have the right to graze their cattle anywhere in the country by virtue of the constitution. The question that follows is which constitution? The current constitution as many informed Nigerians have concluded  is a military document designed to keep the military that has directly or indirectly been in power since 1966  relevant in our national affairs? The document gave an edge to the North because the military leadership was dominated within this period (1967 and 1999) by military officers of northern extraction. Obasanjo, the only influential exception owes allegiance to the North that tolerated him as Head of State following the assassination of Murtala Mohammed in 1976.  (Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe who as the most senior surviving military officer, was rejected as Head of State by the North in 1966). The result of this is the emergence of a new generation of northern politicians who despite lacking the vision and mission of the late revered Ahmadu Bello who once referred the restive Middle Belt region shortly after independence as extension of his great grandfather’s fiefdom, have with this false sense of entitlement   continued to resist restructuring of the country to free federating units from the tyranny of a dysfunctional federal centre.

    It is but a dysfunctional centre that will choose to waste resources it does not generate on grazing  zones over state lands it does not control when it has the options  of either establishing or empowering private  concerns to establish  commercial ranches as obtains elsewhere in the world. And  precisely because the centre has been busy playing politics with resources it does not generate instead of providing leadership, few of the unwieldy 36 states have exhibited the type of resourcefulness  associated with pre and post-independence regional leaders,

    Why for instance can’t the government of Benue, Nasarawa and some other states in the north jointly set up or empower the wealthy Fulani farmers to set up commercial ranches that can provide employment for thousands of unemployed northern youths? Why can’t a Governor Ayo Fayose, currently obsessed with building bridges over land and an airport take a break from chasing errant cows around farms to rehabilitate the dairy farm established by Adekunle Ajasin during the Second Republic in order to take advantage of South-west’s huge market where 10,000 cows are consumed daily?

    And finally for the patrons of Fulani herdsmen in the National Assembly  who want to live in the 19th century  with their thesis of fear about  desertification  forcing  Fulani herdsmen to overrun  the southern states in desperate search for grazing field if the passage of the grazing bill failed, let me call their attention to the miracle of Botswana. Here is a country of two million people, the size of France with 70% of the land covered by Kalahari desert but exports more meat to the world than the combined efforts of other African countries. Cattle are the mainstay of Botswana economy which depends on deep-bore-hole water for 95% of her human and animal water need. Botswana was one of the poorest nations in the world with per capita income of about $70 at independence in 1964 but today one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with per capita of about $18,825.