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Tag: solution

  • Some causes of pain and some solution…2

    There’s no doubt that ours is a near-empty civilisation, when it comes to healing simple body ailments with simple provision for them from Mother Nature. When my younger sister was a teenager, she suffered almost every month from severe migraine headache which seemed incurable. She had to be taken to our maternal grandfather in the village who possessed bit of knowledge of healing herbs. He took her to a nearby bush, picked a leaf which he placed on her head, asked her to hold it there with a head scarf, remove the leaf at sunset and bury it in the soil. And, pronto, she hasn’t had migraine headaches ever since. She was 63 last September. Unfortunately, we his grandchildren were too young to appreciate what he did, and he died with this knowledge just as I was about to proceed on national youth service in 1977.

    Today, many people suffer not only from migraine headaches, but from other types of headache as well. But rather than seek to understand the cause(s) and avoid them, or address the symptoms with natural remedies, these headache sufferers gobble pharmaceutical pain killers which may compound the problems.

    To begin with, it is important to know that there is not only one type of headache, but many which may include:

    (1) Migraine headache, (2) Cluster headache and (3) Tension headache

    Tension headache: Believed to be the most common, originates from tensions in the muscles of the head, the shoulders and the neck. But other researchers see muscle contractions in these.

    People say it may be caused by “Heightened sensitivity to stress” or a “sensitised pain system”, whatever the cause, the symptoms are clear. According to MAYO CLINIC, these may include dull, aching head pain, sensation of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head, tenderness on your back, neck and shoulder muscle.” If the muscles are tense, in tension headache, the next step towards a healing is how to relax them. There are a thousand and one suggestions. Eno Asam, of Abuja, eulogizes massage with coconut oil or palm kernel oil and speaks well, also, about massage with Guardian Angel, a hand-held acupressure device. Many people find that a Guardian Angel massage relaxes muscles, perhaps by causing tension in them to drain off and, thereafter, promoting blood circulation. Tightening of muscles produces lactic acid which makes them sore unless it is drained off or neutralised by alkaline agents. Today’s lifestyles filled with emotional and work stress cause muscles to tighten. At the work place, especially when we sit behind the computer, we tend to slump, launch, or slouch. When we sit before a desk to read or to write, some of us lean over so badly that our eyes are just about a foot from the print! In this condition, some muscles are over worked and stressed up. One of the solutions to posture problems, especially, in this computer age is the ergonomic (adjustable) chair and table. Back to massage, I find Magnesiumoil soothing and relaxing. Even in severe menstrual cramping and pain, massage with this oil helps to relax muscles and quiten pain. Tension depletes magnesium levels in the blood and tissue. According to www.ancientminerals.com: “Ancient mineral Magnesium Oil is considered the gold standard for rapidly restoring cellular magnesium level through the skin… Magnesium benefit can include reduced symptoms from condition such as chronic pain, fatigue, and insomnia. Magnesium may also provide protection from a number of chronic diseases, especially those associated with aging and stress. Recently, rediscovered as an overlooked key to good health, a number of medical researchers are recommending increases to the RDA for Magnesium sometimes suggesting as much as double the current recommendations to ensure protection from diseases such as osteoporosis, and hypertension. Essential to life, necessary for good health, and a vital component within our cells, Magnesium benefits help our bodies maintain balance, and illness, perform well under stress, and maintain a general state of good health.

    his column speaks always of the need to add Magnesium supplement to the daily diet, suggesting NATURAL CALM for stress, insomnia, pain etc. and OSTEO CALM for serious bone joint disorders. www.ancientminerals.comoffers an insight into the value of this ancient mineral: to good health: “without Magnesium, we could not produce energy, our muscles would be in a permanent state of contraction, and we could not adjust the level of cholesterol produced into the body stream. Magnesium is the central element in chlorophyll and the basis of early life on the planet. Magnesium ions regulate over 300 biochemical reactions in the body through their role as enzyme co-factors. They also play a vital role in the reactions that generate and use ATP, the fundamental unit of energy within the body’s cell.”

    Magnesium is plentiful in deep green vegetables, particularly spinach and kale, which in powder form, I enjoy for their vast amounts of LUTEIN and ZEAZAN THIN, two eye antioxidants which protects the lens of the eye against cataract formation, and the retina against free radical damage, a cause of vision loss. To rice, beans, soups or stew or yoghourt, water or juice, I add pinches of the powder of Inash, Kale, Chlorella and Cayenne, the anti-inflammatory, anti-pain and heart health and blood circulation African pepper. Lately, I have shifted to a breakfast of the porridge of ground whole millet and ground whole guinea corn to which I add Spirulina, the blue green algae, and the aforementioned powder of vegetables.

    The bar is inexhaustible. When it comes to massage therapy to chase away tension and their headaches,Aromatherapists often prescribe Lavender, Rosemary or peppermint essential oils. These may be too “hot” for some skin types and may, therefore, not be applied directly on them but diluted with water or Olive oil.

    In www.naturalremedies.com, Dr. Axe says: “In a 1996 study, 41 patients (and 174 headaches attacks) were analyzed in a placebo controlled, double blind cross-over study. The peppermint oil was applied topically 15 and 30 minutes after a headache began. Participants reported headache relief in their health diaries and peppermint oil proved to be a well-tolerated and cost effective alternative to usual headache therapies.

    There were also no adverse side effects reported after peppermint treatment. Another important study was conducted in 1995 and published in the International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytophamacology.

    Thirty-two healthy participants were evaluated and essential oil treatment was investigated by comparing the baseline and treatment measurements. One effective treatment was a combination of Peppermint Oil, Eucalyptus Oil and Ethanol. Researchers used a small sponge to apply this mixture, which has a muscle soothing and mentally relaxing effects, to the participants’ foreheads and temples. When Peppermint was mixed with just ethanol, researchers found that it reduced sensitivity during a headache.

    In order to improve blood circulation, reduce pain and relieve tension, dilute two to three drugs of Peppermint Oil with Coconut oil and role it into the shoulders, forehead and back of neck.

    As for Lavender essential oil, www.naturalremedies.com says:

    “Lavender essential oil has a variety of therapeutic and curative properties. It induces relaxation and relives tension and stress, working as a sedative, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, anti-convultant  and calming agent.

    There is also growing evidence that Lavender Oil serves as an effective treatment of neurological conditions and disorders. According to researchers, aromatic and topical use of Lavender oil affects the Limbic system because the main constituent Linaline, and Linalyl acetate are rapidly absorbed through the skin, and are thoughts to cause central nervous system (CNS) depression. For this reason, Lavender oil can be used to treat headaches caused by anxiety disorders and related conditions.”

     

    Cluster Headache

    This is a battery or group of headaches which pounds together, or one after the other, making one part of the heads a punche bag. This pain affects more men than women and is likely to go away today only to return the day after. This cycle may run from weeks to months before the sufferer gets a remission. Often, it brings aches and pains in and around one eye. In a remission period, this headache may disappear for months or years, and then suddenly end its holiday, coming on often in the night and following a calendar. Some researchers believe that a cluster headache arises from the activation of the trigeminal nerve, which causes the eye pain associated with this type of headache. This nerve is also believed to stimulate the eye tearing and redness and nasal congestion and discharge of cluster headache attacks.

    The trigeminal nerve is reported to be the fifth cranial nerve located within the brain. Its primary job is to transmit sensations from the face to the brain. It has three main branches. One goes to the eyes, another to the cheeks and the last, the mouth. Years ago, I saw a young woman of about 24 in my housing estate who suffered twisted cheek after a headache. She was too young to be considered a candidate or victim of partial stroke. The trigeminal nerve had probably contracted or become Suboptimal in tone and function. Happily, her face is normal again. She may, therefore, have overcome trigeminal neuralgia. The late Maria Treben, the legendary Austrian herbalist and author of HELP THROUGH GOD’S PHARMACY, recommends St. John’s Worth tea and St. John’s Wort Oil (for massage) to treat this condition.  She says: “A tincture of St. John’s Wort, easily prepared, is described as ‘arnica of the nerves’ and is effectively used for nervous complaints, neuritis, neurosis nervous debility. Speech disorder, fitful sleep, hysterics, sleep walking are remedied with St. John’s Wort, as well as bed wetting and depression.” Trigeminal neuralgia usually occurs when a blood vessel (vein or artery) in the brain expands or enlarges and piles pressure on the nerve. Rarely, it is said, do brain tumour cause this condition. But tumour occurrence cannot be ruled out. One of my “O” Level classmate died a few years ago from multiple tumours in the brain. He hadn’t responded well to headache medication. A brain scan suggested a few tumours which the neurosurgeons at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan thought they could handle. But when they opened the skull, they found far too many tumours for their competence and facilities, and closed it up. He was then left to die. One of the natural solutions for cluster headache is CAYENNE PEPPER. It blocks pain transmission by nerves. In nutrition facts.org, Dr Micheal Gregar, M.D., reports on a study in which medical student placed pepper cuts in their nostrils. At first, it hurt badly and their noses ran. But they felt no pain and the nose stopped running after a few days. It was determined that a substance in pepper, capsaicin, had blocked a pain transmitting substance in the nerves called substance P. When the experiment was resumed after the break, the pain and runny nose resumed, indicating that the nerves had made new substance P in the interim. Today, Cayenne is used as a dietary supplement for a variety of reasons, which includes anodyne (anti-pain/anti-inflammatory), anti-congestant, anti-fungal, anti-cold and anti-flu, anti-irritant, anti-allergen, digestive aid, saliva production for digestion, dissolution of blood clots, detoxification support, anti-bacterial, possible anti-cancer agent, weight loss support, heart health promotion, remedy for tooth ache e.t.c. Blocking the pain of cluster headache is not enough. What causes blood vessels to inflame and inconvenient the trigeminal nerve is important. If there is too much blood entering the brain, a cold compress may be placed on the nape of the head to constrict the vessels while, simultaneously, the feet may be immersed in hot or warm water to cause dialation of blood vessels there. Less blood flows through constricted muscles while more circulate in dilated vessels. Orthodox medicine believes there is no permanent cure for cluster headache. For this reason, many pharmaceutical drugs are presented only for its management. Among the protocol suggested by MAYO CLINIC which interests me is the inhalation of pure oxygen during acute attacks. It is said to often bring relief in about 15 minutes. May it not help, I wonder, if sufferers regularly take oxygen capsules or oxygen-rich herbs (Spirulina, kale and chlorella for example) in their diet? Additionally, Nature presents powerful anti-inflammation to present blood vessel enlargement. An example is CURCUMIN. In Nigeria now, there is a preparatory blend of Curcumin with Cayenne (Curcumin 2000 X) which is saidto make Curcumin 2000 times more effective.  Also available now is AMAZON CNS SUPPORT. CNS stands for Central Nervous System and may help, although the Trigeminal be longs to the Autonomic Nervous System. The Homeopathic remedy NATRUM MUR has been known to resolve many types of headaches. Magnesium remains a great anti-inflammatory mineral. We cannot ignore Fever few. Both the British Medical Journal and Harvard Medical School Health Letter have mentioned this herb as a migraine reliever. Clinical studies suggest it may work better than some Non-Steroidalanti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin. It inhibits the release of two inflammatory substances, serotonin and prostaglandins which cause headaches and migraine, skullcap, too, is anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic and is widely used in Alternative Medicine to treat all sorts of nervous system conditions. Two more herbs worth mentioning are orange peel, to which about 50 health benefits, including headache remedy, had been ascribed, and Walnut leaf.

     

    Migraine headache

    ll remedies suggest so far are helpful in this condition as well. Migraine headaches usually affect one side of the head, inducing nasal problems, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Dr. Max Gerson (see Gerson therapy on the internet), a German doctor, suffered migraine headache for an average of two weeks in one month until a medical lay person advised him to try vegetable and fruit juice. He did. And his migraine disappeared. Dr. Gerson was to discover these juices contained a lot of potassium and was to successfully employ them to treat some causes of cancer and tuberculosis of the skin. More women and girls than men and boys suffer from migraines. Sometimes, migraine are hormone related, especially when estrogen out strips its level. In a 2011 study published in PHARMACOGNOSY REVIEW, it is reported that Fewer  can prevent and curb migraine. The small-flowered Willow herb, used to reduce prostate enlargement, helps in the treatment of migraine. It is from the bark of the Willowtree that Aspirin, a pain killer, was extracted. Willows has been used since the time of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, in about 400BC to treat conditions such as fever, inflammation, headaches, tendonitis and lower back pain. Other useful tips are Valerian root, Ginger, Peppermint, Lavender oil, rosemary, lime, raw potato, Honeysuckle, Mullein,  and Yarrow.

  • HarvestPlus chief offers solution to micronutrient deficiencies

    The Director, HarvestPlus International , Dr Howarth Bouis, has said developing and delivering crops that carry essential micronutrients required by the body cells to function adequately to target vulnerable population is key to solving the global problem of micronutrient deficiencies, also known as hidden hunger.

    Bouis said this during a lecture he delivered at the Conference Centre, IITA, Ibadan.

    He highlighted why mineral and vitamin deficiencies constitute a significant public health problem and efforts by stakeholders to address the problem through dietary diversification, supplementation to children aged zero to 59 months, food fortification, and biofortification.

    He described biofortification, which is the breeding of crops to increase their nutritional value, as the most viable and cost-effective strategy in the chain of solutions adopted by policy-makers. This is so because 75 percent of target vulnerable population lives in the rural areas where they eat mostly what they plant and making the staple crops carry essential vitamin and minerals provides a great opportunity to reach them in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

    In the lecture titled: “Biofortification of food staples: progress and future strategy,”  Bouis gave account of the progress HarvestPlus made on biofortification project from conceptualisation, breeding of crops, delivering of seeds to farmers for multiplication, production, value addition to selectfood staples, marketing and consumption of food products in over 27 countries where the crops – cassava, maize, cowpea, sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, and orange sweet potato – have been released.

    Examining the consequences of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, Dr Bouis said, “Available record shows that 375,000 children go blind every year and a sizeable others died due to vitamin A deficiency. Iron deficiency leads to impaired cognitive abilities that are not reversible while zinc deficiency increase incidence of severe diarrhea and stunting as well as over 450,000 deaths annually.”

    HarvestPlus currently works in 43 countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America to deliver vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize, vitamin A sweet potato, iron beans, iron pearl millet, zinc rice and zinc wheat, targeting over 2 billion affected people globally. In Nigeria, HarvestPlus has delivered vitamin A cassava to over one million households while plans have been concluded to deliver vitamin A maize from 2016.

    According to Bouis, over 2 million households are currently multiplying the biofortified crops while ongoing research is focused on a number of other crops, which have capacities to deliver these essential micronutrients to target population.He added that HarvestPlus’s biofortification project is gender-sensitive and has continued to empower women farmers alongside their male counterparts because of their crucial role in decision-making at household level and in nation-building.

    Bouis thanked the donors who have made biofortification possible and called for sustained efforts to enable a continuous delivery of biofortified food staples to vulnerable population across the globe until hidden hunger is eradicated and consumption of more nutritious foods become a lifestyle for all.

     

     

     

  • Saraki: When solution becomes the problem

    SIR: The establishment of the judiciary was necessitated by the desire of a nation to dispense justice to all manners of people. It is in manifestation of this lofty expectation that our courts through the instrumentality of the law have been equipped with powers in the exercise of their functions. It is therefore right to say that the existence of judiciary, nay court system, is predicated on the twin assumptions of justice and fairness.

    It is however a disappointing and strange development when the same court system become an instrument of manipulations and a readymade tool for the taking by the untouchables. The attempt to stall the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal through an ex-parte application from the Federal High Court is to say least unfortunate and amounts to using the court to achieve inglorious ends.  Ex-parte applications have been employed by some lawyers to halt criminal trial in high profile cases and sadly the courts have continued to encourage this ugly jurisprudence in our land.

    Criminal trials do not by themselves translate to guilt of an accused. It is the proof of evidence that decides conviction or otherwise. And this is why we feel the Senate President should have demonstrated some modicum respect for the judiciary by appearing before the CCT to raise whatever defence he has rather than turning the courts against themselves. This may be politics to them; it is law to us! It stands logic on its head that a court would attempt to halt the proceedings of another court with coordinate jurisdiction. This is the level in which our court system has degenerated into. It is this type of practice that has confined our country to a banana republic and a clown in a comity of nation.

    It is a strange jurisprudence, not to mention shocking, for a lawyer to raise issue of jurisdiction on behalf of his client to attempt in another court other than the court/tribunal in which the accused is being tried.  It is hoped that the judiciary would halt the unfortunate drift to judicial precipice.

    AlatiseTaofeeq,

    Lagos.

  • NASS crisis: Solution in sight, says Rep

    NASS crisis: Solution in sight, says Rep

    A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, has expressed optimism that the leadership tussle in the National Assembly will be resolved before it reconvenes on July 28.

    Babatunde, who spoke to our correspondent in a chat, disclosed that series of meetings have been held by members loyal to the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and his main rival, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    While reiterating that members of the House have resolved to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the country, Babatunde added that the peace committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors headed by the former Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, had met with major stakeholders in the crisis to resolve the issue.

    The lawmaker added that the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari has also assisted in resolving the leadership crisis in the House.

    The lawmaker, however, noted that the appointment of Lasun Yusuf as the Deputy Speaker may affect the choice of Gbajabiamila as the Majority Leader of the House since he comes from the same geo-political zone as the deputy speaker.

     

  • ‘Indigenous refining solution to fuel scarcity’

    To find lasting solution to the lingering fuel scarcity, the Federal Government has to ensure the refineries work at full capacity and new ones built to support them.

    The former Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the immediate past Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, told The Nation that ensuring the refineries work was key to self-sufficiency in petroleum products supply.

    He said the way out of the protracted fuel scarcity is ensuring minimal importation and making the refineries work. “One thing is that the Nigerian economy no matter what anyone says has been expanding. The refineries are at best with the current capacity that is on ground. I think it is approximately 18 million litres per day.

    ‘’During my time, it was 30 million litres per day that was required, which meant that about 12 million litres was imported. But it was more than that because the refineries were not working at full capacity. So what we had then was probably about 12 million litres and we were bringing in about 18 million litres. The key thing is to get the refineries working, get additional ones in, so that whatever we require within the economy is produced within the refineries in the country.

    “There must be minimal importation. It is only the deficit that can actually be imported. So, the refineries have to be given the latitude and capacity to function very well. From what I read, I think with Mr. President’s body language even though he has not tinkered with anything, you will understand that the refineries will start working from this month. By the time, he brings out his policies I think we might just be at full production and whatever will be imported will be very minimal. I’m optimistic about that.”

    On how to reduce fuel subsidy, considering that during his tenure at the PPPRA, subsidy payment was about N200 billion until 2010, when it shot up to N280 billion, it has since gone up to about N2 trillion yearly.

    He said: “I wouldn’t speculate on what has happened, I can only speak for the period that I served. During the period that I served, marketers must give us notice of readiness; they must let us know when the vessels would come in and I would station staff at various jetties, depots and as these products come in, my staff are in and I also make sure that DPR and the auditors (Ithink Akintola Williams then) were around. They saw the product and while the products were coming in, they take the figures and send to the headquarters in real time. Having the aforementioned monitors present, quality and accuracy are ensured. We all worked in unison to ensure that things worked out well and we were able to keep subsidy figures down as much as possible. I understand some people don’t bring in products but get paid, I don’t know how they get around that but that never happened during my time.”

    Oluleye frowned at the frequent changes of chief executives at the PPPRA after he left office in 2009. He was the Executive Secretary of PPPRA between 2003 and 2009 but between the time he left and end of 2013, the agency has had four chiefs.

    He said: “So far, I think I have been the longest serving. I don’t know what I did right or wrong but there has been greater turnover of Executive Secretaries in the agency. I may be wrong, but the Act establishing the agency says it reports to no one other than the President because of the sensitivity of petroleum products prices and I can only speak for my period.

    “While I was working there, I had the full backing of the Presidency and we just tried to do what was right. Mr. President never interfered, he just felt that we knew what we were doing as he kept a lead on the amount of subsidy that was to be given out, and that was why you saw the PPPRA coming out incessantly to adjust prices trying to make the template very plain and insisting that those who cannot stay in the industry should exit.

    “He was not pampering anybody to stay to import. It was free entry and free exit during the period. So he gave us that latitude but I don’t know what happened when I left but with the high turnover in executive secretaries, there must be either some differences in policy issues or directions. There was just some instability.”

  • Group proffers solution to education’s woes

    Worried by the poor quality of education in the country, the Executive Director of Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI), a non-governmental organisation, Dr Nasir Ariyibi,  has called for concerted effort to see to the improvement of the sector.

    Ariyibi spoke at the group’s annual seminar for secondary school leavers, tagged: Youth Orientation Programme (YOP).

    Ariyibi said last yera’s November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result where only 29 per cent made the benchmark of five credits including Mathematics and English, further heightened the group’s concern.

    On its part, he said AEI would help bridge the knowledge gap of students so they can perform better academically.

    “AEI is a stop-gap between the academic ambition of students and all forms of obstacles that may hinder them. The body will hence mobilise personnel, materials, support and fund on behalf of students and judiciously manage same to develop students of unparallel educational achievement and moral rectitude,” he said.

    He explained that the YOP seminar, among others, was conceived to guide pupils towards achieving lofty goals in their academic pursuit and having a focus after school.

    “Youth Orientation Programme is aimed at giving the secondary school graduates a sense of direction on what to embark upon after their secondary education,” he said.

    Speaking on the topic: ‘Treading the uncharted path’ the guest speaker, Dr Musa Dambele, told the participants they would face challenges, but overcome if they plan their programmes effectively.

    “Manage your time wisely, plan your day, week and months ahead; decide up front how much time you want to give to yourself, friends and spiritual; stick to your schedule to avoid unneeded stress; form good study habit and be responsible regarding your academic work,” he said.

    One of the participants, QudusAkande said the seminar has afforded him opportunity to know how to channel his energy towards achieving his goals in life.

    “The programme has afforded me the opportunity to develop my skill further towards my academic performance; set my goals correctly and work hard to achieve it, I am really grateful to have attended this programme,” he said.

     

  • N100b textile fund: How solution became problem

    N100b textile fund: How solution became problem

    Despite the challenge of unbridled importation of cheap and substandard textile materials and the infrastructural deficit in the country, the Federal Government went ahead disbursing the N100b Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) Revival Fund. Stakeholders say the government may have put the cart before the horse thus nailing the coffin of the ailing textile industry, reports Assist. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.  

    It a generous interest rate of six per cent and a repayment period of five years, operators in the textile industry ought to be falling over themselves to access the N100 billion Cotton, Textile, and Garment (CTG) Revival Fund. But this has not been the case. Rather than scramble for the loan, most textile companies are said to be avoiding it like plague. Only about 20 textile firms have so far accessed the loan, according to the Director General, Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Mr. Jaiyeola Olarewaju. He also disclosed that very few cotton and garment firms have taken the loan, which sought to revitalise the CTG industry along the entire value chain, including textile, cotton, and garment production.

    Olarewaju told The Nation that the fund introduced in 2010, and currently managed by Bank of Industry (BoI), recorded some noticeable improvements in the fortunes of the CTG industry such as the re-opening of United Nigeria Textiles Limited in Kaduna, and Arewa Textiles, which indicated interest to come back. Besides, the industry, he said, recorded relatively less factory closures and redundancies, as some of the 20 textile companies who took the loan deployed it either as working capital or used it to refurbish their machines.

    Olarewaju however, expressed regrets that those who took the loan got their fingers burnt when they discovered, shortly after accessing the loan, that over 80 per cent of the market has been taken over by cheap imports from Asian countries. According to him, the influx of foreign textiles into the country made locally produced textiles less competitive, as they are often costlier than imported or smuggled ones. The result, he said, was that other companies yet to access the loan chose to avoid it. Most of them became afraid that they may not be able to repay the loan considering the prevailing unfriendly operating environment particularly with regards to lack of infrastructure.

    As far as the textile firms are concerned, government put the wrong foot forward when it failed to first reduce smuggling and address the more fundamental challenge of lack of infrastructure particularly power supply before coming out with the bailout fund. Because of Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit particularly, inadequate and unreliable electricity supply, manufacturers, including textile companies, are forced to rely on generators at huge cost, resulting in rising cost of production.

    Cost of manufacturing textiles in Nigeria is considered too high partly because of high energy cost. For instance, the price of gas was increased by 15 per cent from January 2014 and price of black oil, which is an important input in the production process, remains high due to scarcity. In textile production, companies either use gas or black oil. But in a state like Kaduna, there is complete absence of gas. What is found is black oil, which is often in low quantity. Besides, the insecurity situation in the country especially in the Northeast made nonsense of the intervention fund, as most textile companies in that part of the country could not operate.

    “We are stagnated now; the problem goes beyond money,” says President, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Oladele Hunsu. Hunsu toldThe Nation that although, there was a significant improvement in the industry, as 1, 500 jobs have been saved through the intervention, efforts to put the industry back on track have been frustrated by government’s policy inconsistency. He said before the introduction of the fund, government had banned the importation of textiles into the country, which was why operators hailed the initiative and also embraced it. He however, lamented that the same government pulled the rug off the feet of operators when it again unbanned the importation of textiles, thus opening the floodgate for cheaper textiles to come in from Asia.

    Comrade Hunsu lamented that the situation is regrettable considering the fact that the real sector rather than the service sector remains the real growth diver. He said the textile industry is the second largest employer of labour after government, which is why government must put necessary measures and policies in place to salvage the industry. His position was in line with the communiqué issued at the end of a three-day workshop for union organisers and self-employed tailors and small scale garment makers organised recently by his union in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    The communiqué noted, for instance, that the performance of the Nigerian textile industry remained at low ebb in the first half of 2014 due to lack of an enabling environment and inconsistency in government policy. NUTGTWN observed that there are 25 textile mills employing about 24,000 workers, while capacity utilisation in the industry remains below 50 per cent, with growth remaining stagnant since 2012. The communiqué noted that government had talked about a new textile policy in February 2013, but regretted that there has been no progress. It therefore, argued that unless government takes effective steps to revive the industry, gains achieved in 2010 when the revival fund came on stream would be lost, resulting in job losses, which would aggravate the unemployment situation.

    One of the effective steps the union is canvassing to breathe life into the comatose textile industry is to immediately checkmate the influx of smuggled goods, which the union insistsoccupy over 90 per cent of the market. “It is estimated that Nigeria ‘imports’ N300 billion worth of textiles and garments annually, most of which are illegally imported without paying any duties and taxes. The total amount of revenue loss on account of Customs duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on this volume is estimated at N75 billion. Such rampant evasion of taxes lost to smuggling when the government is running from pillar to post to mobilise revenue should be an eye opener,” the communiqué read.

    The communiqué further noted that the huge backlog of Negotiable Duty Credit certificates (NDCCs) accumulated over last two yearsunder the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) has thrown the CTG industry into serious financial crisis, which the N100 billion funds has so far failed to resolve. “This has been caused by an arbitrary suspension imposed by the Federal Ministry of Finance on utilisation of the certificates, issued by the same ministry, for duty payment. Textile manufacturers who exported their goods by factoring the grant in their price are facing a severe liquidity crisis,” the union observed.

    However, textile companies are not the only ones lamenting over liquidity crisis induced by the backlog of unutilised NDCC. Earlier, manufacturers under their umbrella association, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had cried out that the same issue had virtually paralysed their operations and simultaneously affected their image as reliable international partners. MAN said the shoddy implementation of the EEG, a Federal Government’s incentive introduced to help manufacturers for export compete favourably with their counterparts in the international market, created continued reluctance in the acceptance of NDCC for duty payment since 2010.

    The Nation learnt that under the EEG, benefitting exporters are entitled to some claims based on the value of export proceeds received, duly certified by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while the approved claims are paid to them by government through the use of a negotiable instrument known as the NDCC, which entitles the exporter to offset part or whole of subsequent Customs and Excise duties payable to the government.

    But members of MAN and NUTGTWN have been expressing concern over the administration of the EEG scheme, which they say created challenges for their members who are actively involved in the export business. They associations therefore, called for timely policy pronouncement on rendering the backlog of unutilised NDCC by the Federal Government. “This will go a long way to stem the frustrations of majority of the genuine exporters who are desirous of growing their businesses and creating  value addition in the economy. It will also address the issue of leakages in government revenue and bring sanity into the administration of the scheme,” MAN argued, for instance.

    In the case of textile companies, the liquidity crisis caused by the backlog of NDCCs made it extremely difficult for them to pay the interests on the loan from BOI due to low capacity utilisation. The tenure of the loan matures in 2016. Already, the textile companies, in the communiqué, jointly signed by Hunsu and General Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu,appealed to BOI to extend the repayment period of the loan by 10 years. They also requested flexibility to redeem the EEG certificates in lieu of loan instalment.

    These, NUTGTWN noted, became necessary due partly to the havoc wreaked on the industry by smuggling and partly due to lack of patronage of made in Nigeria textiles as a result of lack of effective policy enforcement. The union observed that most government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) such as police, customs, immigration and army still prefer to use imported fabrics rather than those locally made.

    While emphasising that there is need for some sort of protection for the CTG industry, Hunsu told The Nation  that Nigeria should borrow a leaf from developed countries of the world including some African countries that have been highly supportive of their textile industry to improve their competitiveness. He cited the United States of America, which he said dished out a whopping $75 million to bail out General Motors. Also, while Ghana has three large textile mills and allows import of all raw materials, dyes & chemicals and spare parts at zero per cent duty, Kenya continues to be a hub for readymade garment exports.

    Curiously, while textile manufacturers are groaning that the N100 billion CTG revival fund has not significantly improved their lot, BOI’s records appear to paint a picture of an industry on its way to recovery. For instance, BOI says that over 60 per cent of the fund has been committed to 52 companies in the CTG industry as at March, 2013. The bank cited the re-opening of United Nigeria Textiles Limited in Kaduna as one of the numerous positive impacts of the scheme.

    BoI also said that a mid-term evaluation of the CTG industry commissioned by BOI/UNIDO to evaluate the impact of the scheme reveals that over 8,070 jobs had been saved through the intervention, while capacity utilisation for most beneficiaries increased from below 40 per cent to about 61 per cent. Besides, over 50 per cent of those making losses has started reporting profits.

    But the textile companies are not swayed by BOI’s statistics. While saying that “BOI must be commended for the way it has so far managed the fund, Hunsu however, pointed out that the figures churned out by the bank indicating the success of the fund do not reflect the reality on ground. He said while only about 1, 500 jobs have been saved through the intervention, capacity utilisation remained very low. He reiterated that financing is just one out of the numerous challenges facing the textile industry in particular and manufacturing industries in general.

    The textile industry was once the bride of the nation’s industrial sector. In its heyday, around the1980s, the textile market was acknowledged as third largest in Africa, with over 160 vibrant textile mills and over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. By 1985, the number of textile mills had increased to about 180, engaging about one million workers. The country’s textile capacity accounted for 60 per cent in West Africa.

    However, the fortunes of the industry started nose-diving in  early  1994 when most of the textile firms started caving in under the weight of smuggling, unstable business and political climate, and high production costs due to poor infrastructure. By 1995, government, according to experts, plunged the industry into deeper crisis when it pushed the country into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

    The WTO adopted Agreements on Textile and Clothing, which states that all quotas on textile and clothing will be removed among WTO member countries. For Nigeria whose industrial base was considered as very weak, the agreement was seen by many as a fundamental error, as it opened the floodgate for the importation of inferior and cheap textiles in Nigeria.

  • Don seeks solution for food contamination

    Ensuring seed quality is the best bet for enhanced agricultural productivity, a don, Prof Stephen Fapohunda, has said.

    Speaking at the 37th International Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, in Abuja, Fapohunda of Department of Biosciences and Biotechnolog, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, he said ensuring the quality of seeds will result in higher and better yields, labour savings and will also allow for crop diversification and address production constraints.

    He said aflatoxins, a group of toxic compounds produced by fungi, contaminate stored crops due to heat, humidity and the activities of insects and rodents and that it continue to constitute a major health hazard.

    In Africa, he said aflatoxin contamination is a major cause of post-harvest losses and constitutes a significant threat to food security and livelihoods. It also poses a major public health challenge to consumers all over the continent.

    Fapohunda said the government and the private sector should support programmes aimed at controlling contamination of key staple foods by aflatoxins.

    He said there is Country Assessment for Aflatoxin Contamination and Control in Nigeria,which documents the extent of contamination across the sector.

    He said studies indicate that aflatoxin contamination could be responsible for impairing the growth and development of children.

    According to him, livestock are also affected through consumption of contaminated feeds which can lead to reduced growth, yields and even death.

    To improve food safety, he called for larger effort to modernise the safety system and focus public and private efforts on preventing safety problems, rather than relying primarily on responding to problems after they happen.

    He said there is a biocontrol project being implemented within the country and focus on developing biocontrol products.

  • ‘Solution to Celestial Church crisis’

    The leadership crisis rocking the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) won’t end unless its leaders adhere strictly to the instructions of its late founder, Pastor Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa, by recognising the church in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, which he first established as its supreme headquarters.”

    This was the admonition of Rev. Pastor Bennett Akande Adeogun, the church’s Supreme Head Worldwide, during a sermon at this year’s harvest thanksgiving held in Porto Novo.

    Adeogun said the crisis was occasioned by greed and selfishness on the part of some leaders of the church, especially those in the Nigerian diocese, whom he accused of flouting the laid down rules and regulations of the late Oshoffa.

    “Pastor/Reverend Oshoffa did the job according to how he was directed by God and what the founder planted is what we are improving upon. This church was established by the holy spirit and not by human wisdom, knowledge or power,” he stressed, adding: “What we are doing here is in accordance with the order of the founder as commanded by God, and which must be obeyed by all faithful of the Celestial Church of Christ all over the world.”

    Pastor Patrice Lashile, first Vice President, said unless every member recognises the Port-Novo church as the mother of all celestial churches, there will continue to be leadership crisis in the fold.

    He said any pastor that was not ordained by the Porto Novo church is not a bona fide member and warned pastors who claimed to have been ordained by other persons apart from Pastor Adeogun to stop doing pastoral work in the name of the church.

  • Varsity students create flooding solution

    Final year students of the Niger Delta University have created the “Floating Complex”, a prototype designed as a solution to the severe flooding situation in the Niger Delta.

    It is a housing complex erected on materials that can withstand floods and stay afloat.

    The complex is solar powered to deal with power outages that occur during floods and has facilities that can store food and manage waste.

    The Floating Complex won first place during a session on Innovation and Creativity at the recently completed Internship Centre Clinic for graduates at the University, supported by Afrigrants Resources Ltd.