The Nation Newspaper

Tag: environment

  • Create enabling environment for pharmacy, Fed Govt urged

    Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President Mr Ahmed Yakasai has urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for the sector to thrive.

    According to him, a viable pharmaceutical sector would strengthen the naira.

    Yakasai spoke at the Bi-monthly meeting of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) tagged The Nigeria pharma industry economic outlook 2016.

    The theme was: ‘’Exploring the opportunities of Nigeria’s 2016 non-oil budget for inclusive growth and development in the pharmaceutical industry.’’

    The government, he said, should also give the health sector, especially the pharmaceutical industry a preferential treatment in the allocation of foreign exchange (forex).

    He said the pharmaceutical industry relies on importation of finished formulations, or raw materials, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), additives, machineries and packaging materials for the local manufacturers sub-sector.

    Yakasai called for low lending rate for the sector, adding that this would serve as an a driving force for its growth.

    “Most companies currently produce at a high cost because of our weak currency,” he said.

    The PSN president advocated five percent allocation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for the sector.

    Beaming, he said the industry has been included on the National Council of Health (NCH).

    ‘’Besides, Health Minister, Prof Isaac Adewole has urged us to establish Pharmaceutical Advancement Training Centre (PATC) for research and development.

    ‘’The Ministry of Health will establish a bio-equipment centre,’’ Yakasai added.

    NAIP Chairman, Mr Gbenga Falabi urged the Federal Government to consider the health sector in the allocation of vital forex.

    Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry depends on the importation for its raw materials.

    Falabi said the coming on stream of the vital petro-chemical industry,  an allied component of the Dangote Oil Refinery, was a good development.

    “This will address the issue of sourcing affordable APIs locally for the pharmaceutical industry in not too distant a future,” Falabi said.

  • Group sensitises residents to clean environment

    Group sensitises residents to clean environment

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) has stressed the need to improve the health condition of people living in the rural areas of Lagos State. Sharing With Others says this can be done through the provision of potable water, garbage bins, adequate training for community health workers and the dissemination of health-related information.

    Last week, Sharing With Others took its campaign to the Lagos suburb and riverside area of Ibeju Local Government Area to sensitise residents to the benefits of environmental cleanliness and hand washing techniques to prevent communicable diseases.

    Many of the residents gathered to listen to Folasade Ogunsola, who is a Prof. of Clinical Microbiology and the first woman Provost of the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL).

    She spoke on “Your Life is in Your Hand-The Interplay between the Use of Our Hands and Healthy Living”.

    “Out of an estimated 170 million Nigerians, 53-65 million people have no access to drinking water; 33 million engage in open defecation; 60-100 million people have no access to improved sanitation; 194,000 children die annually from diarrhoea and another percentage from other respiratory diseases.

    “Also, before aged 70, 80 per cent of the male population and 76 per cent of female have chances of dying from diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease.

    Topping the table of killers of toddlers less than five years is malaria. Others are infections; diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS and measles.

    “There are 600,000 bacteria living per square inch of the skin of every person. That means, we carry 0.6kg of bacteria at every given time, which can be passed to others through coughing, sneezing, singing, talking and touching others with dirty hands.”

    She urged them to regularly wash their hands and bodies and clean their environment to keep their surroundings free of rodents and insects-carriers of such ailments; noting that all have a part to play in ensuring that diseases are prevented by timely visits to the hospital at the slightest symptoms. This, she said, will go a long way in helping them and ensuring better treatment for the diseases.”

    She, however, warned that prevention is always better that seeking a cure for diseases.

    Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the project, Dr Femi Ogunbekun, a medical doctor and native of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area who has been practicing for 42 years said the lecture was the 3rd in the series and was aimed at educating the rural and riverside areas on healthy living as well as how to tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases

    Another trustee of the initiative and a retired Prof. of French language, Ibiyemi Mojola, said the main thrust of their endeavours is to ensure that the communities are exposed more to how to prevent diseases.

     

  • Create enabling environment for pharmacy, Fed Govt urged

    Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President Mr Ahmed Yakasai has urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for the sector to thrive.

    According to him, a viable pharmaceutical sector would strengthen the naira.

    Yakasai spoke at the Bi-monthly meeting of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) tagged The Nigeria pharma industry economic outlook 2016.

    The theme was: ‘’Exploring the opportunities of Nigeria’s 2016 non-oil budget for inclusive growth and development in the pharmaceutical industry.’’

    The government, he said, should also give the health sector, especially the pharmaceutical industry a preferential treatment in the allocation of foreign exchange (forex).

    He said the pharmaceutical industry relies on importation of finished formulations, or raw materials, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), additives, machineries and packaging materials for the local manufacturers sub-sector.

    Yakasai called for low lending rate for the sector, adding that this would serve as an a driving force for its growth.

    “Most companies currently produce at a high cost because of our weak currency,” he said.

    The PSN president advocated five percent allocation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for the sector.

    Beaming, he said the industry has been included on the National Council of Health (NCH).

    ‘’Besides, Health Minister, Prof Isaac Adewole has urged us to establish Pharmaceutical Advancement Training Centre (PATC) for research and development.

    ‘’The Ministry of Health will establish a bio-equipment centre,’’ Yakasai added.

    NAIP Chairman, Mr Gbenga Falabi urged the Federal Government to consider the health sector in the allocation of vital forex.

    Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry depends on the importation for its raw materials.

    Falabi said the coming on stream of the vital petro-chemical industry,  an allied component of the Dangote Oil Refinery, was a good development.

    “This will address the issue of sourcing affordable APIs locally for the pharmaceutical industry in not too distant a future,” Falabi said.

  • 41 traffic, environment abusers convicted

    Forty–one of the 52 traffic and environmental abusers tried by the three Lagos State Mobile Courts have been convicted.

    A statement yesterday by Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) said the courts sat simultaneously in open spaces at Apapa, Oshodi-Isolo and Agege Local Governments on Tuesday. They had in their convoy, magistrates, lawyers, representatives from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), registrars, cashiers, policemen, Black Maria and towing vehicles.

    The convicts paid fines in lieu of three and six months imprisonment.

    The case of two motorcyclists and four tricycle revenue collectors were struck out for lack of “proper documentary evidence”.

    Five other tricycle operators’ cases were adjourned till today to enable the prosecuting counsel, Jimoh Quadri, produce and tender videos and pictures of exact location of arrest from Wilson Alaba, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who led the operations, to guide proceedings.

    The cases were handled by Magistrate Nurudeen Layeni (Agege Local Government), Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Bashorun (Apapa Local Government) and Magistrate Patrick Nwaka (Oshodi Local Government).

    A breakdown shows that 14 people were arrested within Agege Local Government, 22 in Oshodi Local Government and 16 at Apapa Local Government.

  • Group explores LPG impact on economy, environment

    The vital role liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) could play in helping Nigeria to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and develop its economy is one of many issues explored by the Oxford Business Group (OBG) in its latest economic report on the country.

    Speaking to OBG’s research team in the report titled ‘Nigeria 2016,’ the President of the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Mr. Dayo Adeshina, said much more could be done to “actively promote cleaner, safer LPG” at a time when combating climate change was high on the global agenda.

    “Nigeria is one of the largest producers of LPG in Africa, yet its per-capita consumption is one of the lowest on the continent,” he said. “While annual production stands at four million tonnes, Nigeria’s total yearly consumption is just 350,000 tonnes.”

    The NLPGA’s Deputy President, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, who spoke in the report, also noted that aside from having the potential to assist the government as it targets bringing down fossil fuel emissions by 20 per cent within five years, LPG was also “tremendously versatile. LPG can be used for cooking, auto gas, heating, cooling and power generation,” he said, adding that with the right policies in place, the domestic LPG industry could really take off.

    With speculation mounting that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government plans to overhaul Nigeria’s subsidy system this year against a backdrop of lower global oil prices, OBG’s report will consider whether subsidies for kerosene, which cost the government an estimated N1.7trillion, could be among those removed. Oil is by far is the biggest contributor to Nigeria’s economy, accounting for two thirds of the country’s revenue and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. However, plummeting prices have taken their toll on government income, giving weight to the government’s drive to diversify the economy.

    These and many other topical issues will be analysed in detail in the report: Nigeria 2016, which is due to be published in the coming months. The publication will contain a detailed, sector-by-sector guide for investors, alongside contributions from leading personalities.

    “We believe LPG has significant potential in Nigeria and that with the right enabling environment it can make a strong contribution to the national effort to reduce carbon emissions,” said Izabela Kruk, Country Director for OBG in Nigeria.

    The report, Nigeria 2016, will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. Oxford Business Group’s publication will be produced in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the law firm Ajumogobia and Okeke and will be available in print or online, he added

    The Federal Government has just stopped kerosene subsidy, and the price has gone up from N50 per litre to N83.

  • How to sound articulate in corporate environment

    Dear Harriet,

    It is alarming at the rate simple courtesy is declining mostly in our corporate environment. Please, give counsel on this. Thanks.

    Tunde Oni, Lagos.

     

    IF there is anything so important now and would play a major role in the life of every worker, it is the

    social and corporate outlook.  A man’s charm is primarily judged by his appearance and utterance.

    A proper blend of both cultivates a perfect man. We are in a society where the recognition and observance of good art of speaking is largely ignored. Also, our general ability to talk intelligently with one another seems to be declining. In fact, bad and terrible talks permeate every level of our corporate and civil lives. Until we master the speaking attitude, our day-to-day business dealings in office, telephone conversation and oral presentation would remain bland and inept. We should first realize that our personality reflects in the way we speak. A subordinate speaking to his boss should be bold to look straight into the eyes of his boss to pass on information or argue a point. Talking to the floor with our heads bowed and our knuckle cracking incessantly in sham obeisance strips us of self-confidence that may yet reside in us. To be a good speaker, you should add value to whatever you say. You must be confident and be willing to say it in the most precise manner. Undue circumlocution only betrays your level of intelligence. The office environment is one good place where a worker’s temperament or his general outlook can be determined. In office, an individual comes in contact with people of diverse backgrounds.

    His or her ability to use words so effectively to indulge in constant chatter without rancor matters a great deal. Simple courtesy words like “may I use your calculator please? Or may I have your magazine for a moment please?” will not only bring a smile to face of our interlocutor, but they could also illuminate the charm in us. If there is one place politeness seems to have lost its value today, it is the corporate environment. The kind of conversation we hear on the telephone, even on casual discussions, is drained of politeness. Speaking on the telephone in the office should be a courteous exercise. Anger or disgust can be expressed in a subtle manner such that the desired result could be better achieved. The use of imperative statements, especially when a request is to be made is disastrous to a telephone conversation. If while making enquiries you say “let me ask you a question”, you would sound less polite than when you say “may I ask you a question please” what if you were receiving a call and the request is for your colleague, do you say for example “she is not back from lunch yet or she is away from her desk, but I expect her soon” no doubt the second option sounds more polite and courteous. In addition still on conversation, for the receptionist the statement “can I help you” has become such a polite cliché that it is said most often with a patronizing glare as if that is just the best that could be offered. This same expression could still be used with more attention and politeness for the visitor to feel more welcome. Imagine how a visitor will feel if the receptionist or the front desk officer with a smile in his or her face says “good morning, how may I help you please” it is pertinent to know that a face conversation is always more compelling than a telephone conversation. Whatever mode we use, we should be conscious that those who master the speaking attitude will always have a much better shot at winning the battle of ascendancy. The world may be agog with new technologies every day but they can never take the place of plain conversation. Speaking well in the office can enhance your career prospect, improve your chances of promotion and enhance your social life. Every worker must, therefore, see it as an act that must be cultivated.

    Harriet ogbobine is a counselor and a motivational speaker. Send your questions and suggestions to her on bineharriet@gmail.com or txt message only 08054682598. You can also follow her on twitter: @bineharrietj

  • ‘Cleaner environment boost for economy’

    The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, has said a clean and healthy environment can attract more investors to boost the economy of the state.

    He spoke at a meeting of PSP Operators, Highway Managers and the Ministry at the Transfer Loading Station of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) in Agege, at the weekend.

    He sought their cooperation with the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to rid the state of filth and ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.

    “If the economic potential in the waste sector of the state were properly harnessed, it would help in creating employment opportunities and generating more revenue for the state government,” the Commissioner said.

    Adejare said the state government was stepping up its advocacy drive on a clean environment to change the behaviour of the people towards the environment.

    He, therefore, appealed for the commitment and cooperation of waste managers, urging them to respond to their responsibilities of clearing the waste generated by the citizenry.

    He warned that any operator found to be inefficient with his truck would be stopped.

    He appealed to Lagosians to shun indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads, highways and drainages but rather imbibe the habit of proper bagging of wastes for easy collection by the operators.

    The government, Adejare further said, will soon establish a mobile court to try defaulters who refuse to pay their PSP dues. He also warned residents against patronising cart pushers as refuse collected by such unlicenced waste collectors are usually dumped in canal and drainages, which eventually end up in the waterways.

    The Chairman, Lagos Waste Management Service Providers’ Forum, Mr. Akin Adewole, gave the assurances of his group to put in a more concerted effort that will ensure that the Lagos Metropolis regain its sparkle and cleanliness soonest.

    Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Mr.Babatunde Hunpe, implored the operators to go back to their duties with renewed vigour and ensure a cleaner environment. He urged all and sundry to join the state crusade to attain a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment, capable of promoting economic growth and well-being of the citizenry.

  • Fed Govt ‘ll create enabling environment for investors, says Osinbajo

    Fed Govt ‘ll create enabling environment for investors, says Osinbajo

    • Huawei to train 2000

    Creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive is one of the key priorities of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration,  Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and a Chinese technology firm, Huawei, he said the government would work hard to make the operating environment congenial to spur  economic growth and create opportunities for gainful employment.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, the MoU would creates 2000 information communication technology (ICT) trainee jobs to young Nigerians next year under the “Huawei  Seeds for the Future Programme.”

    According to the Vice President, who was joined by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige and Communications Minister Mr Adebayo Shittu, “ICT is one of the quickest ways people can get decent jobs, so we think this is absolutely important.

    “In the change agenda, how to grow the economy is important, and we want to create ICT hubs and support existing ones. We thank Huawei for this initiative of advancing technology in Nigeria, apart from the job creation itself.”

    Lamenting the low ranking of Nigeria in ease of doing business,  the Vice President said President Buhari had already given the Trade, Industry & Investment Minister the task of addressing the challenges.

    At an event attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie, Prof Osinbajo described the relationship between Nigeria and China as strategic. He urged Chinese investors and business leaders to consider Nigeria for manufacturing plants. He said Chinese investors “should encourage not just the selling, but also the manufacturing of products in Nigeria.”

    This, he said, would lead to mutual prosperity for both countries.

    According to the Chinese envoy, China is in partnership with President Buhari’s administation in the “change” agenda, adding that China plans to be involved in areas such as agric modernisation, industrialisation, infrastructure, trade and investment, poverty alleviation, peace and security among others.

    Dr Ngige and Mr Shittu whose ministries would select the 2000 trainees, signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government. The Vice President, Huawei West Africa, Mr. Richard Cao, signed for the technology firm.

    Ngige said: “China has blazed the trail,” with the job creation MoU with the Buhari presidency, while Shittu commended the initiative and urged the Chinese people to consider setting up a technology institute or polytechnic in Nigeria.

  • Council chief advises residents on environment

    Council chief advises residents on environment

    The Executive Secretary Ikeja Local Government Area, Mr. Adekunle Dally-Adeokun has said that one of the priorities of the council is ensuring that residents’ well–being is guaranteed.

    Mr Dally-Adeokun, who spoke when he led other officials of the council to inspect residents’ level of compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the council, said the council is determined to sustain the level of cleanliness among residents.

    He maintained that the residents would be sensitised to the importance of keeping clean environment, which, in turn, would enhance their health.

    As a demonstration of the council’s commitment to healthy environment, the council chief and some council officials monitored the exercise in areas such as Afariogun, Seriki Aro-Avenue, Jacob Banjoko, Ajasa and Ogunmade streets and their environs. All are in Ward E of the council where he urged residents to observe the monthly clean-up exercise which, he said, will improve their health.

    During the exercise, the council chief called on the residents to co-operate with the council in its efforts to rid the area of waste, so as to promote healthy environment.

    Mr. Dally-Adeokun, who said strict enforcement of environmental laws in Lagos State and the council, would go a long way in keeping the state in general and its capital in particular clean, expressed his dissatisfaction over nonchalant attitudes of some residents towards the environment. He said incessant dumping of waste in unauthorised places would endanger people’s health and bring about environmental degradation.

    At Ajasa Street near Jacob Banjoko Street, Mr. Dally-Adeokun described an abandoned building filled with waste as danger to both the residents and the environment, even as he advised the council’s Head of Department on Environment to ensure that the owner of the building clears the garbage so that the environment will be dirt-free at all times.

    He said: ‘‘We are in Ward E  which is the largest and very close to Obafemi Awolowo Way. It is also very close to the council headquarter. It must, therefore, be clean at all times. We are not happy with what we met on ground. It makes someone doubt if this is Ikeja Local Government Area which is the capital of the state?

    “We give them one week to get rid of all garbage in the drainage. We will soon visit here to check the level of compliance to the directive.

    “We are planning one-on-one discussion with CDAs and CDCs on how best to handle the sanitation exercise since the council cannot do it alone.”

    Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Dr. (Mrs) Ibironke Sodeinde thanked the council chief for his exemplary leadership, urging that during environmental sanitation exercises, residents should participate actively in order to ensure neat environment. She also advised them not to block water channels with waste, noting that she would work towards ensuring that residents of various communities have attitudinal change to the environment.

    She expressed her indignation over residents’ indifferent attitude to proper waste disposal. She said indiscriminate dumping of garbage in water channels by some residents would have devastating effects on residents’ well-being.

    The Head of Environmental Services and Waste Management Department, Mr. Kolawale Ajanaku said efforts were being made to sensitise residents to the need to keep their surroundings clean always.

  • Lagos urges residents on environment

    Unwholesome sanitary habit of open defecation can be extremely inimical to Lagos citizenry as it poses threat to health, wreaks havoc on the environment, leads to epidemic outbreaks and gives room for perilous diseases to thrive.”

    These were the words of Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Babatunde Adejare during the commemoration of World Toilet Day in Lagos. He said it is imperative for residents to foster a clean and hygienic ecosystem in order to combat the attendant effects of unsafe defecation. He said the high rate of unguided human activities and entropic interaction between man and the environment further increases vulnerability of the state to various forms of environmental degradation.

    “It is worthy to note that proliferation of such environmental sanitation related diseases increase poverty in households and the economy as a whole, diminishing productivity as a result of increased Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). In addition to loss of national and state productivity, the dirty, unhygienic and unsanitary environment created as a result of open defecation and urination reduces the aesthetic of the environment thus discouraging tourists and foreign investors,” he said.

    He further reiterated that poor sanitation and hygiene are linked to stunting and wasting otherwise described as low weight for height which causes irreversible physical and cognitive impairment. “Defecating openly means diseases like diarrhoea and intestinal worms can quickly spread. According to the World Health organisation (WHO), roughly 50 per cent of all malnutrition cases are associated with repeated diarrhoea or intestinal worm infections as a direct result of inadequate water sanitation and hygiene.

    “Improving sanitation can play a big role in the nutritional status of women and children. By safely separating faeces from human contact and the environment, women and children are more protected from disease and malnutrition; children can realize their full potential and women and their babies can live healthier,” he said.

    He however, pledged the Ministry of Environment (MoE’s) commitment to eradicate unhealthy defecation through provisions of public toilets and upgrade of existing facilities in selected areas across the state, adding that this is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) geared towards ensuring improved sanitation, positive nutrition and health outcomes.