By Adeyemi Adeleye
The All Progressives Congress Committee of Diaspora Chairmen (APC-CDC) has applauded the Federal Government for removing bottlenecks in the international passports application process.
The APC-CDC Public Relations Officer, Mr Elas Abone, said this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
Abone said that President Bola Tinubu deserved huge commendation for spearheading an initiative that enables Nigerians living abroad to apply for their Nigerian international passports from the comfort of their homes.
Abone said: “This landmark decision not only streamlines the passport application process but also underscores the government’s commitment to serving its citizens both at home and abroad.
“The committee acknowledges the significance of this progressive step in fostering closer ties between the Nigerian diaspora and their homeland.
“By facilitating easier access to passports, the government is empowering Nigerians in the diaspora to maintain their connection with their roots, contribute to national development, and participate in the democratic processes of the nation.”
He described the passport initiative as commendable.
Abone said that the committee also underscored the urgent need for the government to address the prevailing economic challenges facing the nation.
“The high cost of living, inflationary pressures, and unfavourable exchange rates have significantly impacted the importation of goods by Nigerians in the diaspora, thereby hampering their ability to support the Nigerian economy through remittances.
“The current economic situation has not only posed hardships for Nigerians at home but has also affected the livelihoods of those in the diaspora.
“As staunch advocates for the welfare and prosperity of all Nigerians, the committee calls upon the government to implement decisive measures to mitigate these economic challenges.
“Addressing inflationary pressures, stabilising exchange rates, and implementing policies to stimulate economic growth are imperative steps towards fostering a conducive environment for sustainable development and prosperity,” he said.
He, however, reiterated the diaspora leaders unwavering support to the federal government’s initiatives aimed at enhancing the welfare of Nigerians, both within the country and abroad.
According to him, by prioritising the needs of the diaspora community and taking decisive action to address economic challenges, the government has demonstrated its commitment to inclusive governance and national development. (NAN)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says the introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) for pregnant women in Nigeria will reduce high rate of maternal and infant mortality.
The fund’s Chief of Nutrition, Nemat Hajeebhoy, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in 2020 stood at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, making it one of the countries with the highest MMR globally.
NAN reports that the Federal Government, has, however, taken steps to transit from Iron and Folic Acid Supplements (IFAs) to MMS for pregnant women to ensure better birth outcomes.
The Federal Government adopted the use of MMS based on the 2020 WHO recommendation on antenatal care for positive pregnancy experience.
This led to the inclusion of MMS for pregnant women in the “National Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Micronutrients Deficiencies Control in Nigeria” for improved pregnancy outcomes, compared to IFAs supplementation.
Hajeebhoy said if a mother is healthier, then the chance of death during pregnancy and birth reduces.
According to her, one of the worries of public health and nutrition practitioners is the high rate of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality, a situation which can be reversed through MMS.
She added that with MMS, the proportion of children born small for gestational age reduces and there is reduced risk of pre-term and stillbirth babies.
“Similarly, if a child is born healthy, then the probability that the child will die within the first few days of life or even within the first year is significantly reduced.
“So, if we want to preserve the health of our women and children in Nigeria, especially in those early years and days, then this is what I would call a best buy in public health.
“We also know that if a mother is not nourished, there is the risk of her having a preterm baby or a stillbirth.
“The first 1,000 days from pregnancy to the time the child is two years of age is a very important period in terms of growth as human beings and I don’t just mean physical growth, but also mental growth.
“When a woman is pregnant, she needs to preserve her health so that the child in the uterus can be healthy. So, MMS gives her that boost and all the vitamins and minerals she needs.”
She also said that if a child growing in the uterus does not get enough nutrients, the child is small for the gestational age, which means the child is already malnourished in the womb, but with MMS, such situation is prevented.
The chief of nutrition said there is also a reduction in low birth weight because babies born with low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilogrammes) are at higher risk of infection and even potential death.
She explained that when a woman gets pregnant, her body is supporting two lives and she needs different types of nutrients to develop well, hence the transition from IFAs to MMS.
She further explained that “one of the most important nutrient a woman needs when she’s pregnant is iron, and for the child to develop, she needs folic acid.
“So, over time, the world came up with IFAs and that was the basis for the pill — MMS, for pregnant women for many years to ensure that their health is preserved and their child is healthy.
“IFAs contains iron and folic acid but one MMS pill contains 15 different vitamins and minerals. It contains IFA, but it also contains other vitamins such as B12, many B vitamins and many other good nutrients.
“What we’re realising is that women in general need the multiple nutrients not just the two, but the 15, and we have observed globally that birth outcomes of women given MMS better than those given the IFAs.”
She added that due to these reasons the world was trying to slowly but gradually transit from IFAs to MMS, adding that in many of the high income countries, they have already moved to MMS.
The chief said UNICEF and other partners are working with the Federal Government at all levels to ensure that the supplements are widely available and accepted in the country.
She said that the organisation was working with the government to develop the step by step processes on how to transit appropriately.
Also, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the Director of Nutrition, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that according to the 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), about 61 per cent of pregnant women in Nigeria were anemic which has an impact on the unborn child.
She, however, said that WHO in 2020 recommended that countries should transit from the use of IFAs to MMS to improve pregnancy outcomes.
“Then in Nigeria in 2021, the National Guideline on Micronutrient Deficiency Control was revised, which included MMS for pregnant women through the antenatal care platform.
“So, every woman that goes for antenatal care will be provided with MMS.”
She, however, said that the Federal Government was not phasing out IFAs, as itwould still be accessible for pregnant women at health facilities when they go for antenatal care.
“However, we are now doing a gradual transition from IFAs to MMS and we are starting in batches.
“So, we are currently carrying out implementation research in Bauchi State, but government has plans to carry out the implementation research in all the six geopolitical zones.”
Bako-Aiyegbusi said that the data collection tool has just been pre-tested in some communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and that in March, the ministry in collaboration with one of its partners would be going to some communities in Oyo and also in FCT to interface and get evidence.
The evidence gathering, she said, would be on how ready the pregnant women are to accept the MMS.
She added that collaborations were ongoing on how to carry out the research in other geo-political zones of the country.
She also said that just like the IFAs were distributed free of charge to pregnant women in public healthcare facilities, MMS would also be dispensed free whenfully operational.
Bako-Aiyegbusi added that pregnant women would be expected to take the tablet once daily for 180 days in the course of the pregnancy.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), is partnering with the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) to address gaps in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and vaccine sectors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Sunday that the partnership is in line with the Presidential Initiative to unlock the health sector value chain.
According to a source, both organisations are set to organise a High-Level Meeting on March 18 to March 19, aimed at driving the purpose.
“The one -day High Level Dialogue is targeted at identifying and addressing sector-wide contextual technology gaps in pharma, vaccines, and related industries.
“It will be followed by a technical session expected to strengthen public health-oriented patent guidelines and intellectual property (IP) policies.
“It has an overall goal of achieving sustainable local manufacturing of medicines and vaccines in Nigeria,” the source said.
NAN gathered from the source that the High-Level Dialogue and the Technical Session to be held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja will be attended by the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa.
The source said that international delegations from several countries, including Rwanda and Cote D’Ivoire had also confirmed attendance to the event.
“Notable among confirmed delegates are Prof Padmashree Sampath, the Chief Executive of the APTF and Prof Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, the Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation at the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“The Nigerian Team will be led by Dr Obi Adigwe, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIPRD.”
“Other dignitaries include the Senate Committee Chair for Health, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo and Dr Yanko Yordanov the Amb. of Bulgaria to Nigeria, among others.
According to the source, the meeting will discuss critical themes, including the best ways to measure technology gaps in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and vaccine sectors.
The source said policy options to address private sector development, strengthening public sector engagement, and the exploration of existing intellectual property laws and policies would be deliberated.
The source said other areas include patent and related capacities for assessment of health technologies; and a review of the implementation of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) flexibilities at the national level for Nigeria.
“The event will promote discussions and deliberations among key stakeholders from the private sector and key public sector institutes and national agencies.
“ It also includes capacity building activities for all stakeholders while exploring peer review, country exchange initiatives and collaboration growth opportunities.
“The event will set the stage for a longer programme on technology needs assessment to build Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector for which the APTF will partner with NIPRD and the Federal Ministry of Health,” the source said.
NAN reports that NIPRD is a government agency under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The Institute was established to enhance the development and commercialisation of health products such as phytomedicines, pharmaceutical inputs, drugs, and biological products, including vaccines from Nigeria’s indigenous natural resources.
The APTF is an independent regional agency established in Kigali, Rwanda, by the AfDB .
It aims to support African pharmaceutical companies to build technological capacity to diversify their product baskets, and enhance access to technological know-how of manufacturing products and processes.
The APTF also aims to strengthen the capacity of local research and development ecosystems, including through skills building to support the creation of new knowledge in the domestic pharmaceutical sector. (NAN)
Nigeria’s Diana Paul is attempting to break a Guiness World Record (GWR) of 105 hours in singing marathon event
She is attempting to set a new record of 150 hours or more.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the GWR marathon event is one-of-a-kind experience expected to bring together music lovers, aspiring singers, and industry stakeholders for an unforgettable celebration of songs.
The longest singing marathon by an individual lasted 105 hours and was achieved by Sunil Waghmare (India) in Nagpur, India, from March 3 to 7, 2012.
The record attempt started at 11.06 a.m. on March 3, with a variety of popular Indian songs.
No song was repeated within a 4-hour period.
The attempt ended on the evening of March 7, after which Mr Waghmare joined in with a sing song with his supporters.
However, Nigeria’s Paul, resident in the FCT, is a song writer, author, girl-child enthusiast and an advocate for goodwill.
She said at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja that her application to set the new singing marathon record had been duly approved and sanctioned by the GWR.
Paul explained that she was not only attempting to set a new record, but also to use the platform as an opportunity to challenge the youth in the country not to give up on their dreams.
“My goal is to stir up the youth to pursue their passion, commemorate the international women’s month and take on feats that promote human existence and peace.
“Music, like football, brings people together which provides a unique platform for networking, showcasing products/services, and fostering collaborations among participants,” she said.
Mr Henry Ajifoh, the C.E.O of Big TV Space, the organiser of the event in collaboration with GWR, said the event had been scheduled to hold at Blake Resort, Garki, Abuja on April 22.
He stressed that the sing-a-thon event was a highly anticipated gathering that would attract a diverse audience from various industries and backgrounds.
He called on sponsors to come on board and lend their support for the event by showing their commitment to the arts and music industry.
“We have a strong track record of organising successful events such as this and creating impactful partnerships that drive value for all stakeholders involved.
“We are actively seeking sponsors and partners to support this unique event.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Nigeria has been selected to host the 7th African Spelling Bee competition in December.
Mr Abdulsalam Ibrahim, National Coordinator of Nigeria Spelling Bee, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
He expressed pride in Nigeria’s rich history of spelling excellence and its dedication to nurturing young linguistic talents.
According to him, Nigeria’s selection is a recognition of the country’s commitment to promoting education and culture.
Ibrahim explained that the the goal of the competition was to promote literacy among students and reward learning with remarkable prizes and scholarship grants.
The spelling bee coordinator said the Federal Ministry of Education had tasked them to showcase Nigeria’s finest during the competition.
He said that the association had developed a study guide to assist in mastering spelling rules and make students better spellers.
The national coordinator said mastery of spelling helps students to develop communication and public speaking skills, as well as boost their self esteem.
According to him, the African Spelling Bee is a prestigious international competition that unites the champions of the participating countries in the continent.
He said that the previous editions of the competition were held in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, among others.
NAN reports that more than 23 African countries are expected to participate in the 7th edition of the competition in Abuja.
“With such a diverse range of participating nations, the event promises to be a melting pot of linguistic talent and cultural diversity,” Ibrahim said.
The national coordinator added that it was an opportunity to celebrate the linguistic prowess of the youths and display their African identity. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Nigerians can no longer afford to eat eggs as one egg is being sold for between N150 to N200 in spite of its health benefits.
Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said that the increase in the price of eggs had left them no option but to stop buying or buying in smaller quantities.
NAN reports that a crate of egg which has 30 pieces, is currently sold for between N3,500 to N4,000 in the FCT.
The latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Food Price Report for January 2024 said the average price of a crate of medium-sized agric eggs rose by 54 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N850.49 in January 2023 to N1,309.75 in January 2024.
While the average price for one medium-sized agric egg increased by 33.45 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N87.23 in January 2023 to N116.41 in January 2024.
The NBS said that Abuja recorded the highest price of N140 for one medium-sized agric egg in January 2024, while the lowest price was recorded in Gombe at N100.
NAN reports that eggs are used for both domestic consumption and commercial purposes, prepared in different ways, and as a major ingredient in pastries, enjoyed by both the young and old.
Hajiya Jummai Hassan, the Assistant Director, Clinical Nutritionist and Dietitians, Gwarimpa General Hospital, listed the health benefits of eggs.
Hassan said eggs were an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin D, and A.
“The protein in eggs is useful for children and adolescents, helping to assist in their growth and development. Eggs also help older adults/senior citizens maintain muscle mass and strength.
“It is also a source of choline which helps in cellular maintenance and growth,” she said.
Christiana Okorie, a registered dietician, said it was okay to eat an egg per day depending on the individual’s health status.
Okorie also said that there was no specification for the daily requirement of eggs, however, children could eat an egg daily as well as adults and there would be no negative effect on the heart.
“However, for those with high cholesterol levels, I discourage them from eating the yolk frequently, they can eat more of the egg white. ”
Suleiman Idris, an egg seller in Area 2 market said patronage had dropped because of the price increase.
“People are still buying but not like before. I have some customers who used to buy a full crate, now some buy half crate, others buy a quarter crate, others buy a few pieces.”
A civil servant and mother of three, Oyiza Shehu said eggs had become unaffordable in spite of the nutritional benefits to the body.
“If you notice, the price of eggs has been on a steady increase since 2022. I remember when I used to buy a crate for N800 to N1,000, now a crate is N3,500. This is alarming.
“I can’t afford to buy eggs like I used to. Before I could give my children an egg every other day. Now we go a week without eating eggs. This is the sad reality,” she said.
A petty trader, Mabel Johnson, said she could not remember the last time she and her family ate eggs because she could no longer afford it.
“One egg is now N150 and I have four children. So it is better I use the money to buy other food items in the house instead of buying eggs.
“My children are not happy but what can I do? Is it not better for them to see garri or beans to eat than egg?”
Mr Chuka Nwanfor, a bachelor and private sector worker, said “the last time I checked, one egg was N150 and since then I have said bye-bye to eggs.”
Paul Bulus, a gateman said in the last four months he has not eaten an egg because of the price increase.
“I usually eat two twice a week, that has been my standard practice for years. But two eggs now costs N300. I cannot afford to spend that in one week on eggs alone. How much is my salary? ”
Akada Adesina, a taxi driver, laughed, saying “is egg food? It is difficult for me to afford to buy rice, beans, garri, or even meat, so how will I think of buying eggs? I don’t bother with eggs.”
A housewife, Jumoke Ayodele said, “I have to share one egg between my two children now so they can at least eat eggs and that is like once or twice a week ”
Nora Paul, a professional baker, said business had been slow due to the price increase of most ingredients used for baking cakes.
“Flour, sugar, and eggs have skyrocketed. It is scary. I don’t even know how to charge customers again because its not their fault.
”We use 12 to 15 eggs to bake an eight-inch cake depending on the size, while for a 10-inch cake, we use 15 to 18 eggs and for 12 inches we use between 18 to 20 eggs.
“So you can see how much bakers spend on just one ingredient. We have not talked about flour, sugar and butter, and other ingredients that are also on the increase,” she said.
Mustapha Abba, a tea seller, popularly called “mai shayi” said he sold one egg for N150, adding that many customers were eating without eggs now.
“Many of my customers do not request eggs with their indomie and bread again.
“Some that used to buy two eggs have reduced to buying one egg. They keep complaining that the price is too much,” he said.
Joyful Samuel, a poultry farm owner, said the cost of bird feed, and the maintenance of the birds were responsible for the increase in the price of eggs.
Samuel said the birds were vaccinated every four weeks and given daily multivitamins for their maintenance.
“We make our own bird feed. It costs a lot of money but it is still cheaper than buying outside and the prices keep increasing. However, there is a challenge in buying the materials we use for our feeds.
“Some people go to the markets to buy these materials in large quantities and hoard them and it becomes scarce for farmers like us who want to formulate their own feed.
“Another challenge is the cost of transporting these materials for the feed and even the ready-made feed. We know how bad the economy is, the prices of everything have gone up.
” So you can relate the price increase in eggs to all these things needed for production before finally the eggs are ready, ” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
An NGO, the African Centre for Human Advancement Social and Community Development (ACHASCOD) donated food items to vulnerable women in Shere community, Abuja, on Sunday to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day.
Executive Director of the NGO, Amb. Opeyemi Aderinto, said the gesture was designed to put smiles on the faces of the needy.
She called for investment, support and empowerment of women, saying such investments would result in the collective well-being and prosperity of the society at large.
“To make women’s lives better, they need empowerment; not just in provision of food, but also in job provision.
“Governments should remember that there are people in this community who need their support and empowerment and they should come to the community to assist.
“Statistics paint a sobering picture of women’s health worldwide.
“According to the World Health Organisation, women face unique health challenges, including higher rates of non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular ailments, cancers, and mental health disorders.
“Maternal mortality also remains a pressing issue, with disparities starkly evident across regions.
“These statistics underscore the urgency of targeted interventions to safeguard women’s well-being,’’ she said.
Aderinto noted that empowering women to prioritise their health fostered resilience, strengthened families, and drove sustainable growth, stressing that investing in women’s health is the cornerstone of a bright future.
In his remarks, a member of the Board of Trustees of the NGO, Oba Olasunkanmi John, called for investments in rural health for the benefit of rural dwellers.
Sensitising beneficiaries of the food distribution, John charged the women to take proper care of their health and ensure they lived in hygienic environments.
He also urged governments to factor in the interests of women, particularly the vulnerable ones when planning for poverty eradication.
“One of the objectives of ACHASCOD is the empowerment of women, particularly those in rural communities.
“Government can invest in rural women by investing in rural healthcare centres; by providing quality pipe-borne water, electricity and good roads.
“Women are the ones who go to fetch water from distances and they waste a lot of man-hour in the process.
“Government should provide pipe-borne water in rural areas so that women of communities like Shere will have access to potable water instead of fetching same from unhealthy sources,’’ he said.
Appreciating the gesture, a community leader in Shere, Malam Bala Ahmed, appealed for increased support in terms of empowerment and skills acquisition particularly for widows so they could become self-reliant.
“Our roads here are bad and we suffer a lot, particularly during the rains. The bridge we have here was constructed through communal efforts to ease the stress on our people.
“We do not have potable water and electricity. We have transformer that was brought here about 10 years ago and nobody has turned up to fix it for us,’’ he said.
A community member, Hajia Jedidiah Ibrahim, canvassed for job creation for youths of the community who had gone through one form of formal education or the other, but were jobless.
She said also that empowering women to become self-reliant would assist the community to contribute to national development. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Snake: The dilemma of a misunderstood utility creature
By Hajara Leman, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The snake, a word that sends shivers down the spine of even gallants. It connotes many things to many people.
For ages, snake and man have been archenemies. From Christian perspective, snake first emerged on the scene following its encounter with Eve, the matriarch of human race, according to Bible account.
The story chronicled the role of snake in the pains and anguish of humans by bamboozling Eve into eating the forbidden fruit against God’s instruction.
She later convinced her husband, Adam to join her in the disobedience.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his head’’, God said.
That antagonistic relationship between man and snake as decreed by God, according to that Bible account, has continued till date.
Snake at home
Some years ago, a colleague of mine in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had written a features story highlighting the “Economic importance of Snakes”, and behold, the reaction of other reporters in the newsroom was palpable.
Does this imply that the snake can be of no benefit to man or vice versa? How about economic and environmental benefits?
This writer witnessed a scenario that reinforces the enmity between man and snake. Traveling in a commercial vehicle which was on a top speed, the passengers observed an object on the road.
As the vehicle drove closer it became obvious that the object was a snake struggling to cross the highway.
Immediately, the entire passengers started urging the driver to meet up and crush the reptile. Behold an enemy has been sighted! The driver obeyed.
Instantly, the universe was deprived of a colourful reptile, which allure would have continued to feed many eyes, and perhaps continued to add beauty to the universe.
The experts say the hatred for snakes that often results in eliminating them, most times out of fear than provocation, has disastrous consequences for humans and the ecosystem.
They say in spite of the perceived dangers of these reptiles, the snake-to-human relationship is shrouded in economic, medicinal and environmental advantages.
Snakes
The town of Kaltungo in Gombe State, Nigeria, lies within the snake belt region of Northern Nigeria, with a high population of the reptile. The most common species are Carpets Viper, Puff Adder and Cobra.
The presence of the snakes makes farming and animal rearing activities in the area very difficult and risky.
In Kaltungo lies the Snakebite Research and Treatment Centre, where most victims of snake bites, mostly peasant farmers and herders, seek treatment to survive snake bites.
In 2023 alone, no fewer than 2,794 people were bitten by snakes in Gombe state alone, with 30 deaths recorded from the incidents.
For this and other reasons, the local community initiated efforts to reduce the snake population or eliminate them.
One of the initiatives is the payment of N200 as reward to whoever could kill a snake and present its remains as evidence.
This reward approach, initiated by the traditional institution in Kaltungo, reinforces the belief that reptiles are nuisance to the society.
However, Dr.Abubakar Balla, the Research Officer, at the snakebite treatment centre, said snakes have numerous benefits to advantages to man and the environment,
Balla said snakes cleanse the ecosystem by reducing rodents, mice, insects and other creatures that destroy crops.
“When there are no snakes in a farm, that farm will suffer from mild or severe destruction; people always think about the negative side of snake, but it has its advantages.
“Snakes are always on the defensive; they are always hiding, unless they are trampled on, or taken by surprise; they will hardly bite,” he said.
Snake bite victims
According to him, snakes who prey on rodents, have contributed in reducing the spread of rodent-transmitted diseases like Lassa Fever, Hantavirus, and Hemorrhagic Fever, among others.
“The treatment of these diseases caused by rodents costs millions of dollars, apart from millions of jobs lost annually the world over as a result destruction of crops by same,” said Balla.
He cited examples of U.S. where rodents destroy crops worth 1.8 billion USD Dollars annually, and India where they destroy 8 million tonnes of assorted grains.
He said the challenge posed by the rodents could be tackled by non-poisonous snakes.
Balla said in the 1990s in Nebraska, the U.S. brown snakes were deliberately imported to checkmate the excesses of birds and ticks.
According to him, the ticks are capable of transmitting diseases like lyme, tularaemia relapsing fever and anaplasmosis, among others.
He also said in pharmaceutical industries, snake venom is being used for the production of cardiovascular and hypertensive drugs like Captopril, Epitibatide, Tirofiban, Enalapril, Perkinson, Alzheimer’ and the Antisnake Venom itself, a life-saving drug.
He also said snakes were beautiful creatures that inspire awe, saying some people kept them as pets and traded them as export to countries like Indonesia, earning millions of dollars each year from export.
Balla also said that snake venom is used in the cosmetic industry to produce cream for anti-aging and the removal of wrinkles and black-spots.
Snake venom used for production of cardiovascular/hypertensive drugs
Balla said snake farmers also earned huge money from selling its venom, with an ounce of it attracting a huge amount of money because of its importance.
He said that in addition industries used the snake skin to manufacture bags, shoes, belts, bangles, and many things, which increased the country’s GDP.
Snakes have also become a major source of revenue for Gombe State government, which according to media reports, exports no fewer than 400 snakes to United Kingdom every month.
In the Entertainment Industry, Balla said the placing of snakes in Zoos worldwide, generated over two billion dollars, as people often trooped there to catch glimpse of their eye-catching features.
Dr. Amobi Maduabuchi of the Department of Biological Science, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State reiterated the biodiversity importance of snakes.
Maduabuchi said snakes play an essential role in the ecosystem by controlling rodents’ populations, he said, adding that without predators like snakes, rodent populations could explode, leading to agriculture and health challenges.
He said exterminating snakes could disrupt the natural balance of an ecosystem, thereby leading to unintended ecological consequences.
Maduabuchi further said most people consider snakes as dangerous animals, but that in reality, they are not troublemakers but also fear humans.
“Snakes attack people because most of the time, man always encroach on their natural environment.
“When you encroach, they will naturally try to defend themselves; it is in the process of defending themselves that they bite,” he explained.
Bags made from snake skin
He said the snakes also play important roles in cultures.
Maduabuchi cited the case of some parts of southeastern Nigeria, where pythons are never killed, but seen as gods, thereby attracting worshipers some of whom perceive it as ‘protectors of rivers and streams’.
He said the snake also played a significant role in the traditional treatment of ailments, with the scales used in the treatment of wounds and scares.
But not everybody is excited about snakes and their importance to mankind.
For Mr Williams Attah, a resident of Gombe metropolis, saying that snakes are friendly to humans is akin to saying that ‘fire does not burn human beings’.
“I do not think snakes are of any relevance in the society. I only hear some people saying the reptiles help in clearing rodents on the farm whether this is true or false I do not regard them as being important,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Alice Joseph, a resident of Kaltungo, said there is no love lost between her and snakes after losing a brother to the reptile 17 years ago.
“I hate snakes with a passion; I lost a brother 17 years ago, after being bitten by a snake,” she explained.
A cross-section of other respondents in Gombe also said that a ‘snake will always remain a snake’ and that no degree of ‘embellishment’ would change the reality.
However, in spite of the snakephobia experts have not relented in laundering the importance of the reptile, insisting that snakes are utility creatures that only react to human provocation in self-defense. (NANFeatures)
**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says it is committed to collaborating with international community in addressing Nigeria’s food and nutrition challenges.
Dr Donal Brown, IFAD Associate Vice President Rome, made this pledge at the International news conference on Saturday in Abuja tagged “Dr Brown High-level Mission to Nigeria.’’
Brown said the mission was to deepen IFAD’s partnership with the Federal Government and also support government’s efforts at food system transformation.
According to him, the gesture is geared towards food and nutrition, security, improved livelihoods of smallholder farmers and inclusive agro-industrialisation.
“My mission is not only to strengthen our partnership but secondly is to look at the future direction of support that IFAD can provide the government.
“My visit is also to review IFAD partnership with Nigeria on food security and agriculture and to think about the future directions support we can give.”
The associate vice president, who decried many challenges facing Nigeria ranging from inflation and food among others, said that President Bola Tinubu’s emergency declaration on food would make a difference in that context.
Brown said IFAD worked in rural communities with smallholder farmers to improve food security and agriculture,adding thatthe organisation had strong partnership with government.
He assured that the organisation would design a new project to support the government’s food production value chain on climate adaptation.
“Most of our programmes, like the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) are really performing very well.
“We have a very good project in Niger Delta focusing on youth entrepreneurship and value chain project and also supporting the African Development Bank on Special Agro Processing Zone (SAPZ) project.”
On his assessment of the organisation’s ongoing projects in some states of the federation, Brown said the projects were impactful with few challenges.
“LIFE-ND is extremely successful and I am looking at extending the project for two years; VCDP which has been in the country for 10 years also has very good result.
Dr Yaya Olaniran, IFAD Executive Board Member Nigeria and Permanent Representative to IFAD, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP), Rome, said the country was dealing with four terrible situations.
Olaniran identified the challenges as climate change effect, COVID-19 effect, conflict and high cost of input describing the challenges as diverse of inflation.
“These situations will not go away until some of the necessary palliative measures are put in place and the two projects LIFE-ND and VCDP are talking about addressing right, front and back.
“So, whatever we want to do if the government is prepared, ready to play her part and the needful are done it will be easier for other countries to come in and assist.
“For the president to declare a state of emergency on food means all hands must be on deck, take care of what you can take care of particularly in the rural,” he said.
Dr Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, Nigeria, identified the priority challenge to be addressed as resilience to economic shock regarding prices.
According to her, internally, there is need to work to get the most out of the funding by ensuring that all the implementation is done more efficiently.
“When we invest efficiently; we can drive more result,” she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has lauded the remarkable achievement of Calabar Port irrespective of inherent challenges.
The Director-General, Mr Michael Ohiani, stated this when members of the commission visited the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and terminal operators in Calabar.
Ohiani stated that in spite of the inherent infrastructure challenges, the port had been able to find innovative ways of doing business.
The ICRC chief executive officer said that the visit was to live up to its commitment to monitor activities of concessionaires in the port facility.
”This visit will enable us to ensure that concession agreements signed with the Federal Government are complied with.
”Our visit is part of our regulatory function to see if terminal operators are complying with their responsibility as entrenched in the concession agreements,” he said.
Ohiani further said that the commission would find out the challenges facing the operations of the port.
”This is taking into consideration the fact that the National Assembly will soon commence its assessment of how the concessionaires are complying with agreements.
Mr Olumati Festus, the Calabar Port Manager, while responding, commended the ICRC team for the visit, describing it as a good omen.
He said that although there were challenges in the system, the port authority had been doing its best to remain afloat.
”The state of the Calabar Port channel is the reason bigger vessels are not coming to the port. This is making the facility to be underutilised,” he said.
The manager said that the deplorable road network connecting Calabar and other states was making it difficult for clients to patronise the port.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team also had a brief facility tour at Integrated Logistics Services (Intels).
It also visited Shoreline Logistics Nigeria Limited (SLNL) and Ecomarine Terminal Nigeria Limited (ECM). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed and Azubuike Okeh
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He assured that the organisation would design a new project to support the government’s food production value chain on climate adaptation.
Dr Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, Nigeria, identified the priority challenge to be addressed as resilience to economic shock regarding prices.
