The Nation Newspaper

Tag: protect

  • Protect Citizen Thomson

    Protect Citizen Thomson

    •The whistleblower should not be victimised. His is a test case 

    CONTRARY to the assurance by the Federal Government that those who volunteer information on graft and related issues in the public and private sectors would be protected and rewarded, the fate that has befallen Mr. Ntia Thomson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs points to the converse. The civil servant who was a Level 15 officer in the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) had blown the lid on an alleged diversion of $229,000 and N800, 000 in the directorate. And, as the officer in charge of Servicom in the directorate, he was well positioned to have known. Being bold to make public his reservation was an additional advantage as it meant that he would be available to avail the anti-graft agencies the evidence at his disposal.

    However, that was the beginning of his travails. As is usually the case, corruption fought back vigorously. Citizen Thomson was relieved of his job without much ado. It is good that the vice president swung into action immediately he was apprised of the development. He instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the development and report to his office immediately. We hope the government would get to the root of the matter and punish whoever is at fault. The whistleblower policy of the government is one of the most important guiding principles to have been released by this administration. It is meant to institutionalise the anti-corruption crusade and get the people fully involved.

    It has been said many times that law enforcement agencies cannot work alone. Intelligence is very important and it is usually anchored on vigilant and responsive citizens.

    To lay off a Level 15 officer involves  carefully laid down procedure in the civil service which appears not to have been followed in this case.

    Nigeria must move with other countries if it is to be drawn out of the pit. It is unfortunate that the legislature at the federal level is yet to support the policy by passing the supporting Bill. The first attempt at having a legal framework for protection of whistleblowers was introduced in 2008. When it failed to receive the attention of the lawmakers, it was re-introduced in 2015, believing that the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) control of the two chambers of the National Assembly and its avowed commitment to fighting corruption would mobilise support to pass the Bill in good time. This has not been the case.

    On the contrary, India that does not have the same experience of sleaze as Nigeria enacted the Whistleblower Act in 2011. South Africa’s Protected Disclosures Bill was passed into law in 2000. All the member-countries of the G20 have the law in one form or the other. It was a conscious decision taken in 2010. Nigeria cannot be paying lip service to fighting corruption without all the three arms of government demonstrating commitment to the cause.

    Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had said while proclaiming the policy that: “If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint. If you have suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered.” This is a test case. We look forward to the decision that would be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the vice president, who himself is a legal luminary.

    In addition to restitution, the Federal Government should ensure that whoever is indicted by the investigation is duly punished. Only then would Nigerians be convinced that the fight against corruption is not a mere slogan and would-be whistleblowers assured of their protection. Nigerians should prevail on the lawmakers to cut down on frivolities and face the major tasks they were elected to do.

     

  • Fed Govt ‘ll protect, reward whistleblowers, says minister

    Fed Govt ‘ll protect, reward whistleblowers, says minister

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has reiterated that the Federal Government will protect and reward whistleblowers, who provide information that lead to the recovery of stolen funds or assets.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the minister said the Federal Government would protect the identity of all whistleblowers, whether in the public or the private sector and also ensure that the information they provide is kept secret.

    “For those who may have suffered any backlash as a result of the information they provide, their cases will be reviewed and appropriate mitigating actions taken,” he said.

    Mohammed said the assurance followed the presentations made to the Presidential Assets Recovery Committee by concerned citizens and groups about the safety of whistleblowers.

    “Whistleblowers have nothing to fear, because the committee has put in place the necessary measures to safeguard those who give useful information. As a matter of fact, whistleblowers have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” he said.

    The minister said any whistleblower, whose information leads to the recovery of up to N1 billion would receive five per cent of the amount, adding that the reward for any amount between N1 billion and N5 billion  will be five per cent for the first N1 billion and four per cent of the remaining N4 billion.

    He added that any amount over N5 billion would attract 2.5 per  cent reward.

    “What we have done by making this information public is to reassure potential whistleblowers that the plan to reward is real. We are not just saying we will pay all whistleblowers, but we are letting them know in advance what they are entitled to, once the information they provide leads to the recovery of looted funds,” he said.

  • Protect endangered wildlife, envoy urges Nigerians

    The United States Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. David Young, has urged Nigerians to stop destroying the habitat of the country’s endangered native species, including the Cross River gorilla and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.

    At an event organised by the U.S. Consulate-General, Lagos and the Lekki Conservation Centre in commemoration of the World Wildlife Day, Young welcomed actions by the Nigerian government to adopt legislation against trafficking of endangered animals. He contrasted the economic benefits of sustainable ecotourism with the potential socio-economic impact continued wildlife trafficking could have on the country.

    “Sustainable ecotourism is important to many nations of Africa, creating numerous tourism sector jobs.  Conserving natural resources is vital. If Nigeria loses its precious large apes and other mammals, ecotourism revenue and jobs disappear with these animals,” Young noted.

    He observed that communities  have the most important role to play in the matter, urging them to refuse to do business with illicit traders and poachers.

    Young said  in the social media age, it has become possible for everybody to hold people accountable for what is happening – documenting the dangers, and joining together for action.  “So I urge you take up the challenge to preserve your forests, and the wildlife that depend on the remaining forests to survive,” he added.

    The United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013, declared March 3 yearly as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

  • Lagos’ll protect citizens’ rights, says AG

    Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Mr Adeniji Kazeem, has assured the people of the protection of their rights.

    Kazeem spoke during Public Advice Centre (PAC) Advisory Day at Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos.

    He said access to justice is one of Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s priorities.

    According to him, the Public Advisory Day was designed to give people free advice on any matter.

    He said access to justice meant access to information, which will enable people to make the right decision.

    The government, he said, would always be there to support the people.

    PAC Director Mrs Tola Akinsanya said PAC serves as the first point of call to people in distress, those seeking to know their rights on any issue, those seeking how to take action and who do not know where to go.

    “We aim in the coming years to take PAC to each local government, as the traditional rulers have agreed to partner with us to take PAC to the grassroots. All our services are free, Lagosians must not pay anybody.

    “At PAC, we refer people to where their issue will be addressed within a short period of time. It is better to come to government agencies like ours to get issues resolved without going to the court,” she said.

  • IDPs: UN rapporteur calls for urgent action to protect refugees

    After a four-day visit to Nigeria, the United Nations expert on internally displaced persons (IDPs) has said that there is an urgent need for the West African country to take action to protect the hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the Northeast.

    “The situation must no longer be downplayed and it is not too late to save many lives,” said Chaloka Beyani, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs. “The government must act urgently to ensure that food, shelter, medical care, water, sanitation and other essential services reach IDPs without delay.”

    Beyani appeared to be especially disturbed by the lack of international attention on the severity of the situation in Northeast Nigeria, and he urged donors to fulfill their promises and commit to long-term support of the IDPs. “Due to a gross underestimation of the crisis, the existing supplies will only cover needs for a very short period of time and will be soon outstripped by demands,” Beyani said.

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) believes at least 2.2 million people are trapped in areas that are under Boko Haram’s control. This is in addition to more than 2.6 million people currently displaced in the Lake Chad region due to Boko Haram’s menace.

    The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the situation resulting from the Boko Haram violence could lead to crisis of the highest order. OHCHR reported that victims suffer from advanced malnutrition and deep trauma. Meanwhile, access to humanitarians is limited due to security concerns.

    According to Beyani, so many IDPs live outside camps, with little or no assistance. Many of them are forced to endure different kinds of abuse.

  • Buhari to protect foreign investments

    Buhari to protect foreign investments

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday night, assured existing and prospective foreign investors that their investments in Nigeria was secured and protected.

    He made the promise while speaking at a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Nairobi, Kenya.

    President Buhari outlined steps by his administration to secure the country and ease doing business in Nigeria.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President told the Japanese leader that with the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists by the military, the attention of the administration is now focused on stopping the destruction of the country’s economic assets by militants in the Niger Delta region.

    He said the militants must dialogue with the Federal government or be dealt with in the same way as Boko Haram.

    “We are talking to some of their leaders. We will deal with them as we dealt with Boko Haram, if they refused to talk to us.

    “As a government, we know our responsibility, which is to secure the environment. It is clear to us that lenders won’t fund projects in insecure environments.

    “We realise that we have to secure the country before we can efficiently manage it,” he said.

    President Buhari told the Japanese prime minister that security in the Gulf of Guinea, which is greatly affected by piracy and robbery at sea, was a priority for the Nigerian government.

    ‘‘We have provided funds to our Navy to buy new platforms, train and effectively organise the personnel to protect the area. We are looking forward for support from developed nations for satellite surveillance covering the Gulf,’’ the President said.

    Recalling his audience with G7 leaders in Germany, which was attended by the prime minister, President Buhari thanked Japan for responding positively to requests by Nigeria for the rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and rebuilding of infrastructure in the Northeast.

    He, however, said there was still more to do on education, health and other infrastructure to ensure quick and voluntary return of displaced persons to their native communities.

  • Fed Govt urged to protect property

    The Federal Government has been urged to protect  its properties nationwide. Besides, it should encourage harmonious relationship with states where the properties are to protect concessionaire’s interests.

    Mr. Olu Adenodi,  Chief Executive Officer of BHS International, the concessionaire to the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), who made this call in Lagos, urged the government to secure a “no objection approval” for the concessioned properties to  check the hurdles on leaseholders’ and investors path.

    He noted that the government’s failure to fulfil its obligation to asset ownership will put the concessionaire in a precarious position and hinder its financial obligation to lenders and investors.

    Adenodi warned that if such properties are not adequately protected or checked, host state governors where Federal Government properties are situated or located may be tempted to show interest, with a view to converting or taking over such facilities from the Federal Government.

    “It could also expose the Federal Government to damages in several billions of naira as seen in the old Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi, Lagos, transaction, where an Arbitration Panel has ruled in favour of a concessionaire ordering the Federal Government to pay a huge sum as damages for breach of contract,” he warned.

  • How to protect your eyes

    Exercise more frequently. According to the AAO, some studies suggest that regular exercise – such as walking – can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70 percent.

    • Protect your eyes from harmful UV light. When outdoors during daytime, always wear sunglasses that shield your eyes from 100 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. This may help reduce your risk of cataracts, pinguecula and other eye problems.
    • Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Numerous studies have shown that antioxidants can possibly reduce the risk of cataracts. These antioxidants are obtained from eating a diet containing plentiful amounts of fruits and colorful or dark green vegetables.

    Studies also have shown that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration. Also, consider supplementing your diet with eye vitamins to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of the nutrients you need to keep your eyes healthy.

    • Get your eyes checked at least every two years. A comprehensive eye exam, including dilating your pupils, can determine your risk for major eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, which has no early warning signs or symptoms. An eye exam also can ensure that your prescription fo reyeglasses or contact lenses is up to date.
    • Don’t smoke. The many dangers of smoking have been well documented. When it comes to eye health, people who smoke are at greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis and other eye problems.

     

    • Source: www.allaboutvisionon.com

  • How to protect expectant mothers, others from Zika virus

    Zika virus broke out in Brazil a few weeks ago. It has spread throughout the Americas and to some parts of Europe. There are fears that it may spread to Africa, where the virus was discovered in Uganda in 1947.  OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on how to stay safe.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) is not keeping quiet on the face of the geographic spread of Zika virus from Brazil to virtually  all parts of the globe.

    WHO Director-General Mrs Margaret Chan has said scientific findings showed that people catch the virus when bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito – the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

    According to her, only female Aedes mosquitoes bite; they are intermittent feeders and prefer to bite more than one person. Once the female mosquito is fully fed, it needs to rest for three days before it lays eggs. The eggs can survive up to one year without water. Once water is available, and small quantities of standing water are sufficient, the eggs develop into larvae and then adult mosquitoes.

    Mrs. Chan said there was  no treatment at the moment because there is no vaccine available. “Zika Virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika Virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice,” she said.

    According to the organisation, there are two types of Aedes mosquitoes capable of transmitting the the virus. In most cases, Zika spreads through the Aedes aegypti mosquito in tropical and subtropical regions. The Aedes aegypti mosquito does not survive in cooler climate temperatures.

    The Aedes albopictus mosquito can also transmit the virus. This mosquito can hibernate and survive in cooler temperature regions. The Aedes mosquito is a weak flyer; it cannot fly more than 400 meters. But it may inadvertently be transported by humans from one place to another (e.g. in the back of the car, plants). If it can survive the temperature of the destination, it may theoretically be capable of reproducing itself there and introduce Zika Virus to new areas.

    WHO said Zika Virus usually causes mild illness; with symptoms appearing a few days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people with the virus disease will get a slight fever and rashes. Others may also get conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and feel tired. The symptoms usually finish in two to seven days.

    Health authorities are  investigating a potential link between Zika Virus in pregnant women and microcephaly in their babies. Until more is known, women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should take extra care to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

    Expectant mothers

    If you are pregnant and suspect that you may have Zika virus disease, consult your doctor for close monitoring during your pregnancy. If not, the baby when born may develop microcephaly.

    Microcephaly is a rare condition where a baby has an abnormally small head. This is due to abnormal brain development of the baby in the womb or during infancy. Babies and children with microcephaly often have challenges with their brain development as they grow older.

    Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of environmental and genetic factors such as Downs syndrome; exposure to drugs, alcohol or other toxins in the womb; and rubella infection during pregnancy.

    For most people diagnosed with Zika virus disease, diagnosis is based on their symptoms and recent history (e.g. mosquito bites, or travel to an area where Zika virus is known to be present). A laboratory can confirm the diagnosis by blood tests.

    What can you do to protect yourself?

    The best protection from Zika virus is preventing mosquito bites. Preventing mosquito bites will protect people from Zika virus, as well as other diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes such as dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

    This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets. It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold even small amounts of water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

    WHO advised that travellers should stay informed about Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases and consult their local health or travel authorities if they are concerned.

     

  • Bayelsa to protect mother tongue from extinction

    Bayelsa State has attained a milestone in its efforts to rescue Ijaw language from going into extinction. The state recently mobilised teachers it trained in Ijaw language to various schools. The state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on assumption of office, vowed to restore the dying Jaw dialects.

    Dickson, through the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs headed by Dr. Felix Tuodolor, went through the process of developing curriculum for the teaching of Ijaw languages. He inaugurated experts to conduct research on the subject matter and develop books to aid learning. He went further to send teachers to the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) to be trained in the language and art of teaching it.

    Recently, in an event held at the Ijaw House, Tuodolor formally gave the teachers appointment letters to commence work in selected schools. To simplify their jobs, he also presented books, teaching and learning materials to the benefitting schools. The event was attended by representatives of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the state Ministry of Education.

    He said the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, SUBEB and the Ministry of Education are involved in the task of teaching the language. He also said the teachers were sent to three selected schools from each local government area.

    According to him, the state recently conducted interviews for different categories of teachers for employment. He said the language teachers were the first batch to be engaged, adding that other categories would be employed later.

    He said: “There are specific instructions that, before any other employment, we should start with the Izon language teachers; the Nembe, Epie and the Akassa. We were asked to start with these people and give them employment before any other. Today, their appointment letters are out.

    “These teachers will be posted to different schools in the state. In addition, all those schools that we are posting teachers to will receive many learning and teaching materials from our government.”

    In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, SUBEB, Mr. Walton Liverpool, said 36 letters of appointment were issued to successful language teachers. He recalled that Ijaw language was almost dead when the present government came on board. He said Pidgin English and the English language dealt a deadly blow on local dialects.

    He said the matter became worse in schools where persons who spoke Ijaw language were laughed at by their peers.

    He said: “When this government came on board, it was a fact that our different dialects in our communities had been given a big blow by Pidgin English. We also noticed that we preferred to speak English language even during our festivals and ceremonies to the detriment of our dialects. It became worse in schools where some students were laughed at and mocked because they could not speak correct English but they can speak their dialects.

    “There was that apathy. Meanwhile, if you go to other parts of the country, in lgbo land for instance, people take pride in speaking their language even in our market the lgbo man takes pride in speaking his language to you.”

    He said Governor Dickson made conscious efforts to arrest the development, insisting at many forums that language remains the most important identity of a people.

    “Language gives us voice. It sustains our culture and tradition,” he said.

    He added: “So, government today is doing all that is possible for people to acquire and speak our languages. We want to become fluent while speaking our languages and then work towards having one language for all Bayelsans; a common dialect.

    “We are doing this beginning with our different dialects because we don’t want any dialect to die and also we don’t want anyone to feel oppressed or marginalised. Everyone’s languages will be there but there will be a general language.

    “We are going to work on all the languages then have one general language. Parents are advised to always speak their languages to their children at home so that we will preserve our culture and tradition.

    “For each dialect, we have several books that cut across Mathematics, English language and other forms of reading and we have indigenous people who did great works on this. In all, we have 43 different translated books in our language here for distribution.”