The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rehabilitation

  • Combating drug abuse through rehabilitation

    The decision of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to construct a modern rehabilitation centre at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and other parts of the country is laudable. This development was made known at the grand finale event marking the 2017 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme; Listen First; Listening to Children and Youths is the First Step to Help them Grow Healthy and Safe. The move though long delayed is highly commendable and stakeholders are encouraged to be part of this great initiative.

    Rehabilitation is the process of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for drug dependency on alcohol, cocaine, heroin and any other substance. It is a priceless intervention mechanism for reducing the growing threat of substance abuse. Drug use disorder is an equal opportunity infection cutting across the entire gamut of our society regardless of sex, age, religion and status. The negative effect of drug abuse is gradually taking its toll on citizens particularly the youths who are more vulnerable due to various predisposing factors. These factors range from ignorance, peer pressure, unemployment, availability of drugs, use of drugs by parents and desire to experiment with drugs among others.

    The addictive nature of drugs affects the brain and ultimately compels users to keep taking drugs to repeat the euphoric sensation derived from drugs. In all, family members are left to bear the brunt and agony when loved ones drop out of school or work on account of substance abuse. Others incur huge medical bills as a result of the debilitating health conditions arising from drug abuse. Some also die in the process from an overdose, damaged body organs, accidents, and violence associated with drug abuse. When a breadwinner in the family becomes unemployed or starts to experience dwindling income due to drug abuse, other family members are inadvertently forced into economic hardship.

    Over the years, several metric tonnes of narcotic drugs have been confiscated and numerous drug traffickers convicted yet the problem of substance abuse appears to be growing in an alarming proportion. The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd) recently raised alarm on the growing obsession of youths with the use of psychotropic drugs and unconventional substances like lizard excreta, fumes from pit latrine, gasoline, tippex, and rubber solution. Others are nail polish cleaner, local concoctions called goskolo and a natural stimulant plant called zakami. These are bizarre habits that must be addressed with every sense of commitment.

    The gloomy picture of inordinate desire and craze for substance use has left many perplexed. It is important to understand the reason behind the strong desire and compulsion to use drugs despite negative consequences. What must be done to prevent this ugly situation and encourage drug dependent persons to seek medical care? How can they be treated and empowered to quit drug use to be useful to themselves, family and society are some of the difficulties that the proposed rehabilitation centre seeks to address. One of the features is that the centre shall be located within the town but isolated from NDLEA command offices making it a complete health care facility.

    This will go a long way in encouraging patronage by members of the public who are ignorant and reluctant to seek professional help. Understanding drug use disorders as a health problem like a headache, diabetes and any other ailment will further eliminate the problem of stigmatisation. Patients are empowered to confront drug dependence and discontinue drug use. Rehabilitation covers medication for depression and other disorders, anti-drug counselling by experts and sharing of experiences with other drug dependent persons.

    There are different behavioural therapies to successfully assist patients in recovery. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps clients to recognise situations that make them to relapse and avoid them. Some clients after a successful rehabilitation do relapse due to lack of effective follow-up by family members. A multi-dimensional family therapy is designed to support patients in managing their success. Besides, motivational interviewing and incentives increase a patient’s motivation to embrace behavioural change and encourage abstinence from addictive substances. Another key strategy is peer support, where individuals in recovery use their experiences in helping others in speedy recuperation.

    Provision of employment and educational support is equally a component of rehabilitation. Counsellors and case managers assist clients in acquiring skills to be gainfully employed and establish their small scale businesses. Others are encouraged to study and acquire degrees certificates in fulfilment of their academic dreams through scholarship schemes.  These are enduring support services designed to positively engage clients towards self-sufficiency.

    Official statistics by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the 2017 World Drug report states that availability and access to treatment for people with drug use disorders remain limited at the global level as one out of six people are provided with the requisite treatment each year.  The situation is not different in Nigeria. Expectedly, the proposed rehabilitation centre by NDLEA is a project that must be supported by every stakeholder in changing the narrative of drug control. Government at all levels, local and international donor agencies, civil society groups, individuals and much more are expected to play an active role.

    The Honourable Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello has taken a noble step by providing a parcel of land for the construction of a pilot centre in Abuja. Stakeholders can support this public health project by building a rehabilitation centre. Individuals or groups can provide drugs, food, scholarship grants and funding to enable clients who have acquired skills establish their small scale businesses. Let’s give this lofty project the breath of life by contributing our quota individually and collectively towards making it a huge success.

     

    • Mitchell is Head Public Affairs of the NDLEA.

  • Bidding for facilities’ rehabilitation transparent, says Water Corporation

    Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has said the bidding for the rehabilitation of its facilities is transparent.

    It was reacting to an article by Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, the deputy director, Environmental Right Actions/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), published by the Development Cable on May 7. The article urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to allow transparent and competitive bidding in the selection of companies to carry out rehabilitation of waterworks.

    LWC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Akinmuleya Feranmi, said in a statement: “Having perused the complaints and points raised in the article headlined: ‘Transparency in the Rehabilitation of Lagos Waterworks’, it becomes necessary to put the facts on the selection process in the public domain, not only for the writer to be well informed, but also for the understanding of stakeholders.

    “First, Lagos State government established the Lagos State Procurement Agency on April 2, 2012 under the Lagos State Public Procurement Law, 2011 with the responsibility of ensuring probity, accountability and transparency in public procurement. The Ambode administration is committed to compliance of the public procurement procedure in government’s transactions.

    “Governor Ambode is committed to ensuring that water runs in every home. That was why he approved the rehabilitation of 48 waterworks across the state. In compliance with his directive, Lagos Water Corporation began the bidding process for rehabilitation of waterworks in conformity with the laid down rules and regulations as contained in the Lagos State Public Procurement Law of 2011.

    “Prior to the bidding process, the Expression of Interest as Contractors/Consultants/Suppliers to LWC was advertised on January 19 in three national newspapers, namely The Punch, The Nation and The Guardian. The prospective firms expressed their interest, through submission of proposals. Standard evaluation process was carried out in accordance with the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LPPA) on category and class basis, and the firms were shortlisted into Lagos Water Corporation’s contractors, consultants and suppliers database, after which the contracts were arranged in lots of 10, representing the 10 regional business districts of Lagos Water Corporation.

    “The standard procurement documents were prepared for the contracts and LWC sought and received (No Objection) approval from the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency. Due to the emergency nature of the work, tendering method of procurement was used to effect the contract, considering the listed contractors on the database, based on relevant experience as evaluated from the Expression of Interest.

    “As part of due process, standard procurement document, as approved by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, was issued (sold) to 93 firms shortlisted from LWC database, who submitted their bids within 14 days according to the provision of the procurement law for Selection Tendering Process.

    “The bid opening was done on April 4 at the LWC’s boardroom in Ijora, Lagos, in the presence of bidders and their representatives, while the directors of the firms were not present. The evaluation was, however, carried out on the bids submitted during bid opening in accordance with the requirements of the issued bidding document. Ten most responsive lowest bidders were considered for each of the lots, while other bidders that were not successful due to the non-responsiveness of their technical and financial bids were rejected in accordance with the requirements of the bidding documents.

    “After completion of the process, the evaluation reports were submitted to the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency for non-concurrence.

    “I want to place on record that the Lagos Water Corporation conducted the process of selection of the contractors in compliance with due process. The process was not done in public despite that prospective bidders were invited to witness the opening of the bids.

    “I want to state that Governor Ambode is committed to the provision of water for Lagosians, and will never compromise their interest in his drive to expand water facilities that will guarantee uninterrupted supply to every home.

    “Lagos Water Corporation carries out its functions in a transparent manner. The writer is advised to do his findings before going to press.”

  • Abuja runway rehabilitation 80 per cent complete, says FG

    Abuja runway rehabilitation 80 per cent complete, says FG

    The Federal Government yesterday said the ongoing rehabilitaion work on the runway of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport was 80 per completed.

    It also said the terminal building will wear a new look on when the airport will be re-open to traffic on April 19.

    These disclosures were made in Abuja when the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, inspected the runway and other facilities at the airport.

    The Vice President also assured that there would not be any delay in delivering the work as promised.

    He said: “I have looked round, and from what I have seen and the Information from contractors and  consultants, it looks as if things are going very well.

    “We are told that we are now nearing 80 per cent completion and that we are clearly on schedule.”

    On his assessment of the ongoing work, the Vice President said: “We expect to see that this will be completed well on schedule, and I don’t think we should expect any delay whatsoever.

    “We have assurances from the consultant contractors that we are clearly on schedule. So, by the 19th of April, the runway will be set. I have no reservations.

    “And looking at all of these, inspecting it and listening to contractors,  personnel from FAAN and the Ministry of Transportation and  Aviation, I  think a lot of work has gone in here.

    “The contractors were doing 24 hours shift, working round the clock.

    “I think they have taken the job very seriously and we expect to see that the work will be completed and done by the 19th as promised.”

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Engr Saleh Dunoma, however, said to forestall future closure of any airport across the country, the solution is to have a second runway.

    According to him, “to avoid shutdown of any airport across the country  in future, we need a second runway.”

    Dunoma also hinted that mechanical, electrical and civil renovation was ongoing at the terminal building, adding that the work would also be ready by April 19.

    Giving status report, he said: “The total overall completion of the work is 80 per cent as at today.

    “The other critical elements of the work that we have is asphalt laying, which is about 73 per cent; air field lighting re-installation is about 40 percent.

    “The next critical item is marking, which will start on the 10th.

    “Also, there will be general cleaning, because at the end of the day, our regulator will have to come and certify what we have done and then we will be ready for opening on the 19th.

    On the work that is ongoing at the terminal, Dunoma said: “We are siezing this opportunity of empty building to make sure that we rehabilitate the entire terminal building, and that includes all the facilties that are there: mechanical, electrical and civil.”

    On whether the terminal building will be ready on the 19th when the airport will be reopened for operations, he said: “That’s the plan. All the works that are going on there will be completed by the 19th.

    “I am assuring Nigerians that April 19th remains sacrosanct.”

     

  • ‘Lack of centre hinders drug addicts’ rehabilitation’

    ‘Lack of centre hinders drug addicts’ rehabilitation’

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has appealed to Cross River State government to build a rehabilitation centre for illicit drug users.

    Commander Mrs. Anthonia Edeh told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

    in Calabar that non-availability of a rehabilitation centre made it difficult for the agency to counsel and rehabilitate drug addicts.

    “It is unfortunate Cross River has no rehabilitation centre where we can rehabilitate drug addicts.

    “We appeal to the government to establish one. There must be a rehabilitation centre in Cross River. It is very important,’’ she said.

    Edeh said due to lack of a rehabilitation centre, the agency referred drug addicts to the Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, after counselling.

    Said she: “One problem with this is that because of the nature of psychiatric hospitals, people regard these people as mad. This scares parents, who prefer returning them home.

    “Our job is not complete until a rehabilitation is carried out.’’

    The commander said the government had yet to play any significant role in the fight against drug abuse, adding that it regarded drug abuse as a personal issue.

    “This is very unfortunate,’’ she said.

    Edeh urged the government to assist the agency in providing utility vehicles to ease operations.

    She said drug abuse had reduced due to the agency’s efforts.

  • Rehabilitation of Oko Oba Abattoir begins

    Rehabilitation of Oko Oba Abattoir begins

    The Lagos State Government has started the rehabilitation of the Oko Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex at Agege in fulfilment of its promise to develop the red meat value chain and restructure the facility for improved operations.
    Commissioner for Agriculture Mr Oluwatoyin Suarau, who led officials to inspect the level of work done, said the rehabilitation include perimeter fencing of the complex; removal of slums, shanties and heap of solid waste.
    According to him, the rehabilitation will also involve reconditioning and management of mechanised slaughter line at the complex; installation of facilities for waste conversion known as bio-gas plant; construction of transit camp; provision of general cleaning services; construction of stripe processing facility, rehabilitation and maintenance of waste recycling plant.
    Suarau said the installation of facilities for waste conversion known as bio-gas plant will help convert large volume of waste generated at the abattoir into bio-gas to reduce the adverse effects of waste.
    “The rehabilitation will also involve the construction of a transit camp; housing facilities comprising 100 units of self-contained rooms to accommodate cattle merchants on transit and construction of head, hide and stripe processing facility to curb unhygienic processing of meat products,” he said.
    Suarau said the waste recycling plant would also be rehabilitated to ease the removal of the blood and gut content of the wastewater generated from the open slaughter slab and the mechanised slaughtering house.
    The government, he said, would continue to train butchers, dislodge illegal abattoirs, seize stray animals and monitor meat transportation to and from the complex and other abattoirs and slaughter slabs.

  • Osun library needs rehabilitation

    SIR: Despite the spate of controversies that has so far journeyed with the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, his laudable  feats in the education sector, among others, cannot be denigrated.

    For instance no sooner had he been sworn in in November 2010 than he announced an enormous slash in the school fees regime hitherto operational in all the state-owned tertiary institutions to make tertiary education more accessible to people.

    Besides, he has built many magnificent and ultra-modern primary and secondary school buildings across the state to replace the old fashioned and dilapidated structures his administration inherited from his predecessors as part of efforts to change the trend of low patronage hitherto encountered in public schools. In a similar vein, the Governor introduced free meal in all primary schools in the state, an innovation already coveted by one federal government.

    It is however appallingly contradictory that the state library where students are expected to go for personal development is in a deplorable state. The environment is busy and unkempt. The toilet, built outside the library hall is not maintained and therefore no longer serving the purpose of its erection. The library hall is a total disappointment. The ventilation is extremely poor and alarming. The windows can best be described as relics of a by-gone era. Almost all the ancient ceiling fans in the library are moribund. The effect of the only two or three that are still functioning cannot be felt more than a person sitting beside a pregnant woman inside a moving bus can hear the kick of the foetus inside her womb. This makes intense heat to always have a field day inside the library without the slightest fear of been checkmated, hence the users become the helpless casualties.

    Governor Aregbesola, kindly assist to rehabilitate the library.

     

    • Jide Bakare,

    LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.

  • Boko Haram: UN tasks Nigeria on rehabilitation of IDPs

    Boko Haram: UN tasks Nigeria on rehabilitation of IDPs

    A delegation of the United Nations (UN) has warned that the nation risks future crisis if it fails to properly resettle those currently displaced activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    The UN delegation, which visited the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja, was led by two Special Rapporteurs of the global organisation.

    The visiting UN experts were led by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children Prostitution and Child Pornography, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio‎, and her counterpart on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health, Dainius Puras.

    They said they were in the country to assess measures‎ which the government had put in place for the rehabilitation and the reintegration of returnee Boko Haram victims in the country.

    Speaking on their mission to the country, Boer-Buquicchio, said the delegation would make appropriate recommendations to the Nigerian government after its meetings with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and individuals at the various Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in the region ravaged by insurgency.

    “Without these measures, the future of Nigeria is at risk because this involves women and children who are future of the country and whose attitude to life as full-fledged citizens is important,” Boer-Buquicchio added.

    ‎On his part, Puras said the delegation would be assisting Nigeria in tackling the challenges of rehabilitating and reintegrating the returnee IDPS with its “expertise and knowledge” in the areas of provision of “essential healthcare” to victims of the insurgent activities.

    He said his team would also‎ assist Nigeria in ensuring that the victims were protected from violence and other crimes.

    In his welcome address, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, commended the international community for the e support rendered to Nigeria shortly after over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.

    “The display of solidarity by the international community resulted into new efforts being put in place by the Federal Government to address insurgency i‎n the country,” Angwe said.

    Angwe, who commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for its efforts towards addressing the plights of the returnee victims of Boko Haram activities, lamented the state of abandonment in many IDP camps in the North East.

    “Let me inform you that most of the returnees have no home to return to. Most of the returnees’ homes have been destroyed.

    “The present administration in Nigeria is putting in place some measures to address these concerns.

    “The Federal Government has put in place initiatives to address the problems of the IDPs.”‎

  • Faleke begins road rehabilitation

    Mr. James Abiodun Faleke, running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, has begun the rehabilitation of the Mopamuro-Isanlu Road in Yagba East Local Government.

    The road, which connects five local governments and links Kogi with Kwara State, has, for years, been in a bad condition.

    Faleke, according to a statement in Lokoja,  embarked on the rehabilitation to ease movement.

    He was quoted as saying that it was unfair for the Yagba Federal Constituency to have been cut off because of bad road network, which the authority in the state was less concerned about. Faleke noted that it was time the people’s representatives woke up from their slumber.

    He said the bad road had impoverished residents.

    Faleke said the neglect of the strategic road linking Yagba with Ilorin under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration at the national and state levels was a testimony that the party had no good plan for the constituents.

  • NNPC may sell refineries that don’t meet ultimatum on rehabilitation, says GMD

    NNPC may sell refineries that don’t meet ultimatum on rehabilitation, says GMD

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it may sell refineries that fail to work optimally by the expiration of the 90-day ultimatum for their rehabilitation.

    Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the NNPC Group Managing Director, disclosed this at an interactive session with news men in Lagos.

    Kachikwu said: “By the end of December when the 90-day ultimatum will expires, any refinery that does not work optimally will be sold.

    “I am determined to make a difference during my tenure. We are losing N2.2 trillion monthly to refinery inefficiency. As at today, the average refining performance is 30 per cent.

    “If by December the refineries don’t work, I will export crude allocation and import refined petroleum products until we fix the refineries.

    “Right now, the Port Harcourt refinery is showing signs that it will meet the December deadline.

    “However, I am not saying Warri and Kaduna refineries will not meet the deadline, but I hope they all make it, so that we can continue to utilise our crude allocation to boost domestic refining.’’

    Kachikwu assured that we would continue to advance the transparency agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    According to him, it is the entitlement of Nigerians and not a privilege to know how oil money is gotten and spent.

    He stated that for the first time since 2010, he would make sure that NNPC audited account is done before the end of the year, adding that he would make the result public.

    On pipeline safety, he said  several measures had been mapped out, but “the corporation is starting the surveillance this weekend with the army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps”.

  • IDPs: Focus shifts to rehabilitation, reconstruction

    IDPs: Focus shifts to rehabilitation, reconstruction

    The details may not be quite out yet, but it is clear that with the liberation of most communities in the Northeast from Boko Haram insurgents, coupled with the massive return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon and Niger, focus has shifted from handing out relief packages to comprehensive rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of other affected persons and communities.

    The Director General of National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi disclosed this at an African Union Regional Consultative meeting for West Africa for the development of a common African position on the World Humanitarian Summit in Abuja.

    He said the agency was collaborating with State Emergency Management agencies with the support of the UN System and has undertaken damage and loss assessment of the affected communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

    He added that the agency has also made submissions to the government for appropriate intervention by line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    He noted that the humanitarian outcome of the insurgency has equally impacted the contiguous states of Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba and the neighboring Republics of Niger, Chad and Cameroun.

    He said there were about 57,743 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger, with Cameroun having 40,366 who were taking refuge in Minawayo, Mora, Fotocol, Limani, Amchide, Douala, Kentzou and Garoua Bouali refugee camps; 15,000 in the Republic of Niger who were taking refuge in Diffa, Bosso, Maine and Kablewa, and 2, 377 in Chad   taking shelter in Ngouboua, Lake Chadi region.

    Responding to questions, the Director General lamented how about 12,000 Nigerian refugees were expelled by the Camerounian authorities and dumped at the border while UNHCR was watching. “I expressed my concern to UNHCR when the Nigerian delegation went to Chad, Niger and Cameroun for assessment of the condition of Nigerian Refugees which was misconstrued as forceful evacuation by UNHCR.”