By Funmilola Gboteku, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Adoption of mobile money systems started in the mid-2000s with the Philippines, Kenya and Tanzania being among the first to do it.

The first mobile money system was launched in the Philippines in 2001.

In 2007, Kenya launched M­ PESA, which represents the most successful mobile money platform.

Since then, this innovation has spread across countries.

In Nigeria, eTranzact, a financial solution company, in December 2010, piloted the scheme and started with the brand name eTranzact Mobile Money before changing the name to PocketMoni in January 2011 after it was licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to fully continue with the operation alongside 11 other operators.

After two decades of remarkable expansion, mobile money is now a widely-used financial service that features in the day-to-day lives of many people.

For millions of people around the world, it remains a reliable way to buy goods and services, send money to loved ones at home and abroad, purchase health insurance, etc.

Today, more money and more transactions flow through mobile wallets, bringing a range of financial products into the hands of hundreds of millions of users and disrupting traditional financial services.

Based on data collected between 2013 and 2022, the total Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in countries with mobile money services (“mobile money countries”) was almost 1.5 per cent higher than it would have been without mobile money services.

Mobile Money Operators in Nigeria, comprising the likes of OPay, Palmpay and others, witnessed a surge in transactions in the first quarter of 2024, hitting N17.2 trillion.

This is according to data released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS).

Mobile money transactions figure for the first quarter of 2024 represents 89 per cent year-on-year growth when compared with the N9.1 trillion transactions recorded in the same period in 2023.

An analysis of the three-month data shows that mobile money transactions maintained steady growth each month.

In January, transactions valued at N5.2 trillion were recorded, and by February, mobile money deals shot up to N5.5 trillion, while the figure went up higher to N6.5 trillion in March.

According to a Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) state of industry report, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to be the global leader in mobile money adoption.

The region’s sustained momentum has been largely helped by growth in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal.

Since 2013, the number of registered mobile money accounts in West Africa has doubled, driven mostly by growth in these three countries.

This has made Sub-Saharan Africa central to mobile money’s success, as it now boasts of almost three-quarters of the world’s mobile money accounts.

Some industry experts are of the opinion that adoption of mobile money system has had a positive and statistically-significant impact on most economies’ GDP.

Mr Mats Granryd, the Director-General of GSMA, during a recent webinar organised to release the Mobile Money State of Industry Report 2024, said that mobile money was often considered an African success story.

He added that Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest levels of mobile money adoption in the world.

According to Granryd, there are 1.75 billion registered accounts processing $1.4 trillion a year, or about $2.7 million a minute.

“In 2023, SSA accounted for $912 billion of the global transaction value, with West Africa contributing $347 billion.

“East Africa remains the largest mobile money market in the region, with $488 billion in transaction value.

“Mobile money’s impact extends beyond transaction volume. In the 10 years to 2022, it contributed $600 billion to the GDP of countries with a mobile money service.

“Between 2013 and 2022, mobile money increased GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa by more than $150 billion or 3.7 per cent,” Granryd said.

According to him, today, millions of users are making and receiving payments, taking out productive credit to meet short-term financing needs, paying for government services or accessing savings and insurance products to protect themselves from shocks.

“Mobile money growth has also led to a surge in mobile agents, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where registered agents grew to 18.6 million, while active agents grew to 8.3 million in 2023.

“These agents were responsible for digitising more than two-thirds of all the money entering the mobile money ecosystem: $307 billion in 2023, 12 per cent higher than the previous year.

“The rise of mobile money penetration is closely linked to improved financial inclusion and access to digitally-enabled services in places like Nigeria.

“Overall, as more mobile money providers have emerged, digital payment use has grown in Nigeria,” GSMA added.

Mr Jide Awe, a science, technology and innovation policy advisor and Founder of Jidaw.com Ltd., believes that mobile money has boomed in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria, due to several reasons.

He is convinced that a major driver is the limited traditional banking and finance structure nationwide.

Awe says the mobile phone offers a large number of the underbanked and financially excluded a convenient and accessible route.

He says the rapid growth in mobile phone penetration contributed greatly to enabling the offering of mobile money services.

Awe strongly believes that, as with any service, especially digital service, the proven reliability has grown trust.

He adds that this has led to wider acceptance.

“The additional features beyond sending and receiving cash are a real driver of adoption.

“It should be said that government has been supportive of financial inclusion with particular emphasis on mobile money.

“The Naira cash shortage in 2023 also led many individuals and organisations to adopt mobile and digital money options in order to survive,” he argues.

According to him, Nigeria’s tech-savvy youths are a major driver.

”They are comfortable in the mobile and digital environment and have embraced the mobile money culture.

“They have been active users, entrepreneurs, advocates and influencers, ” he says.

On job creation, Awe says mobile money operations have significantly created direct and indirect jobs.

He explains that the direct jobs are those linked directly to mobile money operations such as mobile money agents and mobile money providers’ staff, who develop and manage mobile money services.

These, he says, include product developers and managers, information technology professionals and software developers, operations managers, and compliance and regulatory officers.

“The indirect jobs are those not directly employed by mobile money providers but which support the mobile money environment with some as spinoffs and spillovers from the growth of mobile money,” Awe says.

According to Awe, this category comprises marketing and advertising professionals and customer service representatives.

Awe, however, notes that there are challenges associated with mobile money operations.

He listed them to include fraud, money laundering, extortion, blackmail, physical robbery of agents, and terror financing.

” These are some issues of criminality attached to it.”

He says such crimes cause harm to mobile money users and providers and erode trust.

He equally regrets that the crimes threaten the growth and sustainability of mobile money services and the digital economy itself.

On his part, Mr Ahmed Ogundimu, a Senior Product Manager at Amazon, points out that in Nigeria, infrastructure deficit, including inadequate internet access, remains a major challenge faced by operators in the mobile money market.

Ogundimu also admits that other logistical issues also hinder mobile money operations in Nigeria.

He argues that Nigeria does not have adequate access points for financial services, adding that low quality of mobile phone service in Nigeria has made users to constantly complain of low quality of mobile money services.

He lists the complaints to include those about glitches in transactions and network interruptions.

Analysts are convinced that ensuring a strong mobile money market in Nigeria and the entire Africa is important for economic transformation.

They call for more government support for mobile money system in appreciation of its impacts on financial inclusion, job creation, innovativeness and economic growth.

They also urge efforts to tackle the challenges associated with mobile money operations as well as proactive focus on digital inclusion. (NAN Features)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

***If used, please credit the writer and the agency **

By Joy Odigie, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Ms Augustina Effong (not real name), a 28-year-old single mother, faces the heart-wrenching reality of raising her six-year-old son alone. His father, Mr. Francis Osagie, has abandoned them, refusing to take responsibility for their child.

Efiong recounts how she became pregnant for Francis, who initially promised marriage but later reneged due to tribal differences.

“His family members told him not to marry me because I am not from their tribe. I am still single but the father of my son is now married to another woman who has children for him.

“I am a cleaner and earn N15, 000 monthly. This money is too small for me to take care of myself and my son.

“My son doesn’t know his father because his father left me when I was pregnant. He is aware that I have a child for him, but he hasn’t come to see his son. I learnt that he lives in Benin with his family.

“All I want is for the father of my son to take full responsibility of his upkeep, education, health and otherwise.

I will not allow my son to have any dealing with him in future if his father doesn’t take care of him now”, she explained.

Mrs. Loveth Osaro (not her real name), a 30-year-old health worker in Edo, shares a similar tale of suffering. Married to an Uber driver in 2021, Loveth endures constant beatings and neglect from her husband.

“He does not provide for my upkeep and that of our child, he beats me anytime we have misunderstanding. He is a commercial driver and he is financially okay, but he doesn’t want to take care of his family.

Desperate for justice, Loveth learned about the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law through a friend who connected her with a Non-Governmental Organisation in Edo.

The VAPP Law aims to punish perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and provide justice for victims like Loveth.

Following the NGO’s intervention, her husband has stopped physically abusing her, but his family pressures him to evict her from their home.

Loveth is not certain about his intentions especially as he communicates with another woman.

In recent years, GBV has become a major social issue in Nigeria, with Edo being among the worst hit.

The UNDP’s GBV Factsheets: January 2020 –July 2022, recorded about 7, 349 incidents of GBV in Nigeria.

According to 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey statistics, 28.3 per cent of women aged 15-49 in Edo State have experienced intimate partner violence, compared to the national average of 23 per cent.

In response to this alarming trend, the Edo government passed the reviewed VAPP law in 2021 to eliminate violence in private and public life, provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punish offenders of GBV.

The law is aimed at protecting both male and female, and vulnerable groups from all forms of violence, including domestic violence and sexual harassment.

It also criminalises harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and imposes stiffer penalties on offenders.

Notwithstanding the good intention of the law, stakeholders, including civil society organizations, women’s rights groups, and legal practitioners, argue that awareness about the law is abysmally low hence it is not achieving the desired results.

According to Mrs Ufuoma Akpobi, Coordinator, Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (AACSGB), Edo chapter “the domestication of the VAPP law in Edo State will help to reduce the crisis in the state when people are aware of the law.

“A lot of people are not aware of the VAPP law. During one of our sensitization programmes at Uselu community in Benin, we realise that there’s the need for awareness creation of the law because most persons we interacted with were not aware of such law,” she said.

She said though there had some convictions that were tied to the VAPP law, a lot still needs to be done.

“Justices have been served using the VAPP law, one is the case of the girl that pepper was inserted into her vagina, the perpetrators were convicted using the VAPP law.

There are also some rape cases that have been prosecuted using the law”, she said.

Mrs Nosazeme Lambert-Okao of Edo State Ministry of Justice said that sensitisation about the law would enable victims to seek redress through  proper channels.

“The male gender needs to know that rape and other forms of GBV are wrong. They should also know that there are laws put in place to punish violators and that justices must be served.

“Let people know that there is a VAPP law that says that such violence are offences; we know that violence is both ways, however, the women are the ones that suffer more than the men.

“People should know that the VAPP law is in place and that anyone who perpetrates violence against anyone will be prosecuted.

“The truth is that a lot of offenders do not know that they are committing crimes, some know and they believe that they can get away with it. But right now in Edo, nobody gets away with GBV.

“Everybody is against it and all hands is on deck to make sure that this menace is curbed; and the ministry tries to attend to such cases speedily and efficiently”, she said.

Mr Olumide Dosumu, Edo State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, concurs that more publicity should be given to the law.

“Unfortunately, quite a number of people are not still aware of the law especially law enforcement officers, particularly the Police.

“A situation where someone who is meant to enforce the law doesn’t know about the law, it becomes difficult. Once they have the law, the next step will be to train them on the implementation”, he said.

He also advocated community-based women sensitisation on the contents of the VAPP law, saying that “this will help to eliminate violence against women and girls.

“Our advocacy should centre more hence forth on building the capacity of women and girls to become socio-economically strong to take decisive discussions that can lift them away from toxic environments and relationships.

“Achieving gender equity and empowerment of women and girls is not only a key human rights issue but also one of the 17 Sustainable Goal enshrined on goal 5 and also mainstreamed throughout the whole Agenda 2030”

Similarly, Dr Bright Oniovokukor, Project Manager, Indomitable Youth Organisation, said although the domestication of the VAPP law was helping in the mitigation of GBV cases in Edo, there was a need for more awareness.

“The VAPP law is currently in use in the courts and a couple of progress has been made in the utilization of the law.

“We believe that with continuous awareness creation and use of the VAPP law, significant improvements would be made with respect to reducing the prevalence of GBV cases.

“However, awareness about the VAPP law remains very low. During a recent programme, we organised in Egor Ward 6, the research aspect of it revealed that awareness on the VAPP law is still low’’, he said.

According to Blessing Eromon, Programme/ Administration Officer, CLEEN Foundation, and NGO, sensitisation should be taken down to the family unit to allow for much impact in the larger society.

“The adult man is raised as a child in the family; once we start training the male child to respect the rights of the female child, he will do that when he becomes an adult’’, she said.

She further said, apart from advocacies and sensitization, the society should be intentional about mitigating GBV.

“We should focus on a set of persons, like children within the ages of 5 and 10 years; let’s start imbibing in them values because the value of our system is falling and it hurts a lot to see that the values that we upheld are now fading away.

“We should bring back the values, teach our children, so that they grow with them for a better future.

“As CSOs, we cannot reach everybody, so everyone should have the correct knowledge about GBV and share it with others especially at the community level.

“A lot of persons need to be aware about GBV and the VAPP law and Gender Policy are good documents to handle GBV, so that people don’t talk laws into their hands and do jungle justice”, she said.

Mr Obi Oyenbuchi of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons said: “It is better that we stop preventing GBV from happening by raising awareness about actions and laws that crimilisizes violence.

“We should at all times try to protect the fundamental human rights of everyone; both male and female.

“The message is that we should create more awareness to let people know about their rights. Most of the times, ignorance is a cause of SGBV.

“A child is being abused but the parents don’t know that it is their right to report the perpetrator for justice to be served.

“They think t it is wrong for them to report and it is also exposing the child to stigma”, he said.

Gender rights activists say the VAPP law is a step in the right direction towards tackling GBV in Edo.

It is therefore important that all stakeholders work together to ensure that awareness about the law as well as its implementation is created in a manner that will facilitate the achievement of its aims and objectives.

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

On May 14, the High Powered-Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project was in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee came to brief President Bola Tinubu on recommendations given to Nigeria regarding its submission for an extended continental shelf by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).

The briefing was led by veteran diplomat, Amb. Hassan Tukur, the Chairman of the committee.

The update with the president featured technical presentations by Prof. Larry Awosika, a renowned marine scientist and Mr Aliyu Omar, Member/Secretary of the Committee and former staff of the National Boundary Commission (NBC).

Omar also served as the Desk Officer for the project office in New York for several years.

Worthy of note, Nigeria’s request to have it continental shelf extended was approved by the CLCS in August 2023.

The project, which aims to extend Nigeria’s maritime boundaries in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has granted Nigeria sovereignty over an additional 16,300 square kilometers of maritime territory.

This is roughly five times the size of Lagos State.

The CLCS is mandated to, inter alia, consider the data and information submitted and provide recommendations on the outer limits submitted by the coastal state.

Article 76 of UNCLOS (1982) allows a qualifying coastal state to extend its continental shelf up to a maximum of 350M (350 nautical miles) or 150m nautical miles beyond its traditional Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 nautical miles.

Continental shelf is the natural submerged prolongation of its land territory.

The journey to extend Nigeria’s continental shelf project began in 2009 with the country’s submission to the CLCS.

The project faced delays due to a lack of funds and administrative challenges; in 2013 the Senate of the Federal Republic in its resolution of Feb. 14, 2013, urged the Federal Government to fund the project and set up an independent body to handle it.

However, it was only in November, 2015 that the then President Muhammadu Buhari revitalised it.

Subsequently, he appointed the High-Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC), headed by the former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami, to oversee the project.

The HPPC operated as an independent technical body, effectively managing the project by cutting down on government bureaucracy.

Omar had led the Nigerian Technical Team through the question-and-answer sessions with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).

He was also the Member/Secretary of the HPPC with strong institutional memory of the project, highlighted this during the committee’s briefing to President Tinubu on May 14.

Omar said that when the HPPC briefed Buhari in 2022 on the status of the project, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) was still considering Nigeria’s submission and having technical interactions with the HPPC.

”These interactions and consideration have now culminated in the approval for Nigeria to extend its continental shelf beyond 200M (200 nautical miles).

”As it stands now, the area approved for Nigeria is about 16,300 square kilometers, which is about five times the size of Lagos State”, he said.

Nigeria’s extended continental shelf is in an area that is referred to as the ‘Golden Triangle of the Gulf of Guinea’ due to its abundance of natural resources such as hydrocarbons, natural gas, and a variety of solid minerals.

Awosika, a pioneer member and former Chairman of the CLCS, explained that the technical team’s work involved lengthy processes.

He said it also required highly technical steps in the acquisition, processing and analysis of extensive marine scientific data offshore Nigeria’s margin for the submission to the UN CLCS.

He said that the Nigerian team had to defend the submission with the CLCS which involved highly technical question-and-answer sessions and provision of additional data and information.

Receiving the report, Tinubu commended the members of the technical team for working tirelessly.

He applauded their high technical and scientific expertise and solidarity to national cause throughout the eight years of service to the nation before an agreement was finally reached with the UN CLCS in August, 2023.

It is instructive to note that Tinubu highlighted the interactions he had with his predecessor, Buhari, on the project; given that it was him, Buhari, who set up the HPPC to oversee the project in 2015.

Tinubu recounted how Buhari briefed him on the importance of the project.

”This is big congratulations for Nigeria. I commend the team and we must take advantage of this and invite you again to have a repeat of this knowledge exploration on geography, hydrography and the marine life.

”Nigeria is grateful for the efforts that you put into gaining additional territory for the country without going to war; some nations went to war; lost people and economic opportunities.

”We lost nothing but have gained great benefits for Nigeria; we will pursue the best option for the country,”Tinubu said.

Tinubu has also promised to ‘pursue the best option for the country’ on the project, even though the CLCS recommendations fall short of Nigeria’s submitted claim.

Perceptive observers say the achievement is a lesson on the importance of continuity in government projects. Abandoning projects due to changes in administration can lead to wasted resources and lost opportunities.

The extended continental shelf is a significant achievement of Tinubu’s administration and to Nigeria.

According to experts, this is something that has never happened in the nation’s history, and may never happen again.

By learning from the ECS project, Nigeria can improve its approach to governance and project management, ensuring that with perseverance and continuity strategic initiatives are completed despite challenges.

The ECS project, initiated in 2009, faced delays and funding issues but persistence through the efforts of the immediate past administration paid off, and was finally approved by the UN in August 2023, shortly after Tinubu assumed office.

The country has taken note of articles 7 and 8 in the Annex II to the Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning recommendations received from the CLCS.

The project also demonstrates the importance of long-term thinking in governance.

Discerning stakeholders hold that while the project’s benefits may not be immediate, it will surely have a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy and maritime boundaries in the future. (NANFeatures)

By Tosin Kolade, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In Nigeria, flooding remains the most prevalent natural disaster, particularly affecting vulnerable communities residing along riverbanks and floodplains.

The ramifications of floods extend beyond loss of lives and property, encompassing disruptions to agriculture, industrial productivity, infrastructure, and overall socio-economic stability, health and academic activities.

Consequently, effective flood forecasting and early warning systems are imperative in mitigating these adverse impacts.

Nigeria has encountered severe flood disasters, with the 2012 and 2022 floods being particularly devastating.

The 2022 flooding in Nigeria, as reported by the Global Rapid (Post Disaster) Damage Estimation (GRADE) Assessment Report, indicated losses ranging from $3.79 billion to $9.12 billion based on statistics available until November 25, 2023.

The report highlighted severe damage to crops, water infrastructure, fisheries, and livestock, with over 650,000 hectares of crops destroyed, resulting in an estimated loss of $1.8 billion to the agricultural sector.

Jigawa, Rivers, Taraba, Cross River, and Delta were identified as the worst affected states, emphasising the critical need for comprehensive flood mitigation strategies.

In response to these challenges, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the National Economic Council Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness, and Response.

The committee was tasked with developing a roadmap to enhance Nigeria’s flood resilience and response capabilities, underscoring the government’s commitment to proactive disaster management.

The 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), unveiled by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), identifies 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in high flood risk areas across 31 states, and 249 LGAs in moderate risk zones.

The high flood-risk states include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano.

Others are; Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.

Additionally, urban centers such as Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt are susceptible to flash and urban flooding, while coastal regions face the threat of severe flooding due to rising sea levels and tidal surges.

Recognising the importance of proactive measures, NIHSA has disseminated the AFO publication and maps to state governors, urging swift action and preparedness.

The theme for this year’s flood awareness campaign, “Promoting the use of Data Analytics and Modeling for Flood Risk Assessments and Food Security,” aligns with the government’s commitment to food security and poverty alleviation.

Recall that Nigeria aims to uplift millions out of poverty and foster sustainable economic growth, hence the crucial role of flood resilience in achieving these objectives.

As outlined in the AFO, Stakeholders and decision-makers are urged to heed the insights and collaborate on effective flood mitigation strategies, including aggressive sensitisation campaigns and improved waste management practices.

Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, emphasised that the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook serves as a vital tool for strategic planning and risk reduction efforts.

He said by prioritising early warning systems, community engagement, and coordinated response mechanisms, Nigeria aims to minimise the impact of floods and safeguard its citizens and infrastructure.

Utsev said state governments have alerted residents living in flood-prone areas to consider relocating as the rainy season approaches.

This proactive measure, he said ensures necessary preparations are made to mitigate flood impact in affected states.

Corroborating Utsev’s position, Mr Ola Oresanya, Commissioner for Environment, Ogun, issued a flood advisory during a news conference recently on the 2024 flood alert.

He said the Federal Government had notified 31 states, including Ogun, about expected flooding between April and November 2024.

According to him 16 out of the state’s 20 LGAs are expected to experience the highest rainfall, emphasising the need for residents in wetland areas to relocate to safer ground or elevate their residences before heavy rain.

Regarding agriculture, Oresanya said the farming season in coastal areas spans between 250 to 292 days, while inland areas experience a shorter growing season ranging from 200 to 250 days.

Other state governments have implemented similar policies, urging relocation to higher ground and the avoidance of floodplains.

Following the FG’s directives, Benue is demolishing riverside buildings, Lagos State is directing residents near rivers, canals, and the Atlantic Ocean to relocate.

Ongoing campaigns for environmental protection are also taking place in Sokoto and Edo states.

State governments stress the importance of clearing drainage systems and flood paths to mitigate flood risks, aiming to safeguard lives and property during the rainy season.

Stakeholders have observed that early preparedness and effective disaster management strategies are key to saving lives and reducing disaster impacts.

At a recent workshop organised by NEMA and the World Bank, the agency’s Director-General, Zubeida Umar, underscored the importance of drawing lessons from previous flood disasters to avert their repetition.

Umar highlighted the devastating impact of floods in 2012 and 2022, which resulted in significant loss of lives, injuries, and displacement across Nigeria.

The workshop aimed to identify areas for improvement and promote Nigeria’s emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, particularly in the face of ongoing climate-related hazards like flooding.

Collaborating with the World Bank, NEMA sought to provide insights into systemic opportunities for enhancing emergency preparedness at both national and sub-national levels.

The workshop provided a platform for key government officials and emergency relief entities to engage in constructive dialogue, evaluating Nigeria’s systems, procedures, and experiences related to emergency response.

Drawing lessons from the 2022 flood disaster, participants discussed strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities, with a focus on coordination and collaboration among relevant stakeholders.

A senior disaster risk management specialist at the World Bank, Nkem Joseph-Palmer, stressed the critical need for investing in disaster preparedness and response systems in Nigeria.

He cited a striking statistic that for every $1 spent on preparedness, up to $18 in potential disaster response costs could be saved.

He noted the importance of strengthening systems and capacities at all levels of government to protect local communities during disasters.

Dr Clement Nze, Director-General, NIHSA, urged stakeholders, policymakers, and relevant government departments to heed the information outlined in the 2024 AFO and prepare proactively.

He said there was need for collective efforts in maintaining cleanliness in the environment, waterways, and flood paths, alongside proper waste management practices to mitigate flooding.

Nze highlighted floods as the most common natural disaster in Nigeria, emphasising their profound impact on vulnerable populations living along river courses and dependent on fertile floodplains for their livelihoods.

Stakeholders believe that addressing Nigeria’s annual flood disasters through preparedness requires a multifaceted approach involving proactive measures, collaboration among stakeholders, and community engagement.

Experts say by adopting a holistic approach to flood preparedness, Nigeria can reduce the impact of annual flood disasters, protect vulnerable communities, and build resilience to future flood events.

They argue that through proactive measures and collective action, the country can minimise loss of lives and property, safeguard livelihoods, and promote sustainable development. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria

By Abujah Racheal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Obstetric fistula, a global affliction disproportionately affecting women in low-resource countries, continues to devastate lives.

According to experts, obstetric fistula, is an abnormal opening between a woman’s genital tract and her urinary tract or rectum.

Primarily striking young, impoverished women lacking adequate medical care, the condition manifests in urinary or faecal incontinence, leading to social isolation and rejection.

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

While surgical intervention offers hope, research on outcomes remain limited, underscoring the imperative for preventive measures.

For over two decades, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has spearheaded the Global Campaign to End Fistula, operating in 55 countries with a holistic approach encompassing prevention, treatment, survivor reintegration, and advocacy.

Grounded in human rights principles, this initiative strives for equality, participation, and accountability.

According to the National Institutes of Health, in sub-regional analysis, West Africa had the highest successful surgical closure rate for obstetric fistula, with 91.74 per cent of the global total, while Central Africa recorded the lowest rate at 84.04 per cent.

Also, the successful surgical closure rate of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) with unknown urinary incontinence status varied widely across African countries, ranging from 63 per cent in Eretria to 100 per cent in Liberia and Nigeria.

The pooled estimated rate of successful closure of VVF with unknown incontinence status from 55 articles is 86.31 per cent.

In spite of the progress, achieving the 2030 goal of eliminating fistula requires intensified efforts.

In Tanzania, obstetric fistula remains a poignant reality, with approximately 3,000 cases annually.

Yet, stories of resilience emerge, exemplified by survivors like Mrs Anastasia Beni-Majasho, at 29 years old, developed obstetric fistula during a difficult childbirth after losing her second child.

Beni-Majasho faced social stigma and isolation until she discovered the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT), providing holistic fistula treatment and support services.

Through surgical intervention, counseling, rehabilitation, and skills training, she embarked on a journey toward recovery and empowerment, benefiting from a supportive community of healthcare providers and fellow survivors.

Another inspiring story is that of Mrs Sofia Mwema, who sought solace at CCBRT after enduring 19 years of social isolation due to obstetric fistula.

Through comprehensive care, including surgery, counseling, and skills training, she regained physical health, confidence, and purpose, becoming a beacon of hope for her community.

For 70-year-old “Mama”, who shares her daily struggle to overcome the suffering caused by injuries sustained during childbirth, the determination is to ensure that no woman is left behind.

She recalled how the only child she gave birth to caused her severe injuries, resulting in incontinence, and later died.

This left her ostracised by her husband and community. However, surgery provided the only cure that restored her confidence from obstetric fistula.

CCBRT, led by CEO Dr Brenda Msangi, has transitioned from a community-focused NGO to Tanzania’s leading provider of disability and rehabilitation services.

Msangi emphasised safe childbirth as a fundamental right, ensuring CCBRT facilities were accessible and staff are trained to offer compassionate care to all expectant mothers.

Highlighting the distressing statistic of an 85 per cent fatality rate for babies during obstructed labour, she said that CCBRT offered hope by providing free childbirth services to alleviate anxieties.

She dispelled misconceptions surrounding fistula, adding that it is a medical condition, not a curse.

“Through a comprehensive approach including eye surgery, prosthetic limbs, and physical therapy, CCBRT transforms lives daily.

“The organisation addresses prevalent myths, financial constraints, and cultural barriers hindering women from seeking help for fistula, offering education, free surgery, and transportation assistance through a network of community ambassadors,” she said.

She commended Tanzania’s progress in maternal healthcare under President Samia Hassan’s leadership, highlighting CCBRT’s community outreach programs like the Mabinti Centre, empowering fistula survivors through skill-building and economic independence.

With continued support, she believed these programmes could significantly enhance the lives of women across Tanzania.

Tanzania’s approach to combating obstetric fistula offers valuable lessons for other countries.

The emphasis on community-based rehabilitation and holistic care, as demonstrated by CCBRT, highlights the importance of addressing not only the medical aspects of fistula but also the social, psychological, and economic dimensions.

By providing comprehensive support services, including counseling, skills training, and reintegration support, Tanzania demonstrates how a multi-dimensional approach can enhance the well-being and dignity of fistula survivors.

Furthermore, Tanzania’s commitment to promoting safe childbirth as a human right, as advocated by Msangi, underscores the importance of ensuring universal access to quality maternal and obstetric care.

By prioritising accessibility, equity, and compassion in healthcare delivery, Tanzania sets a precedent for other countries striving to improve maternal health outcomes and prevent obstetric fistula.

Meanwhile, Nigeria grapples with a significant burden of obstetric fistula, with an estimated 400,000 to 800,000 affected women and inadequate surgical capacity exacerbating the backlog of untreated cases.

According to Dr Fatima Ahmed, an obstetrician, addressing this challenge demands a comprehensive response, encompassing political commitment, evidence-based policies, preventive initiatives, and robust healthcare infrastructure,

Ahmed said that Nigeria’s efforts to end obstetric fistula included implementing a National Strategic Framework for elimination, capacity building for healthcare workers, community outreach programmes , collaboration with NGOs, and legislation and policy reforms targeting factors contributing to fistula.

She said that by investing in healthcare infrastructure, engaging communities, and advocating for women’s rights, Nigeria aimed to prevent fistula and improve maternal healthcare nationwide.

She added that other African countries can learn from Nigeria’s experiences by adopting national strategies tailored to their contexts, investing in healthcare infrastructure, and engaging communities through awareness campaigns.

The obstetrician recommended educational programmes, enacting and enforcing laws and policies to protect women’s rights, and fostering partnerships and collaboration between governments, NGOs, and international agencies.

In spite of the notable rate of successful closure of obstetric fistula in Africa, a considerable proportion of women still experience residual or persistent incontinence.

Experts say successful surgical closure rate of combined VVF and RVF still falls significantly below the recommendation set by WHO.

Dr Na’ima Idris, a Kano-based reproductive health expert, said that implementing a comprehensive package of fistula care through a dedicated fistula facility or a mobile surgical outreach programmes , holds promise in addressing this issue on the continent .

Addressing this challenge will help Africa in its efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No 3 which entails ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

Idris said that ensuring increased access to timely and high-quality fistula treatment, along with comprehensive post-operative care, was essential for achieving high success rates and reducing residual incontinence among women with fistulas in Africa.

As the world unites in the fight against obstetric fistula, the voices of survivors like Mama, whose resilience embodies hope, echo with resilience and determination.

Through collective action, advocacy, and investment in healthcare systems, the African continent can pave the way for a future where no woman suffers the indignity of obstetric fistula, where every childbirth is safe, and where every woman receives the care and support she deserves. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.