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There is a
noticeably high increase in mental health cases across the country, and
this is linked to too much anxiety and depression resulting from the
harsh economic environment, Adegboyega Ogunlesi, the Provost and Chief
Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital,
Abeokuta, said yesterday at a press conference in Abeokuta.

Dr Ogunlesi, who
also canvassed for the establishment of more mental health centres
across the country, said the establishment of such centres would help
reduce the high rate of mental illness.

“The truth of the
matter is that mental illness is on the increase,” he said. “The level
of awareness is, however, low. The gospel we are preaching today is
that all stakeholders have something to contribute. Even the MDGs are
connected to mental health.” The Medical Director reiterated his calls
for the provision of mental healthcare services at every health centre
in the country so that mental and physical health care can be received
at the same point.

“It is in unfair to
concentrate mental health services in the urban centres alone,” he
said. “At every General Hospital, there must be a mental health unit.”

Neglecting the poor

He said the current
tendency of creating a sharp divide between physical and mental health
is no longer tenable because there is absolutely no health without
mental health.

“There is,
therefore, an urgent need more than ever before, to develop health care
delivery systems which efficiently integrate physical and mental health
services,” he said.

Mr Ogunlesi also
said that about 30 per cent of psychiatric patients were not being
given proper medical treatment, adding that those involved preferred
patronising herbalists or spiritualists.

He said, in line
with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation, federal and
state governments should evolve a system whereby primary health care
providers can address physical and mental health problems.

“It beckons on government health planning authorities at national,
state and local government levels to pay close attention to the
importance of this issue in setting up services,” he said, announcing
that the hospital had commenced a programme of integration of mental
health service into the primary care at the local government level in
the state.

Chairman of the
Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform, Akin Mabogunje,
yesterday attributed the scarcity of functional industries in the
country to the inability of local and foreign investors to have access
to land for industrialization.

Mr Mabogunje, who
disclosed this in Akure on Tuesday during a courtesy call on the Ondo
State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, by members of the committee, said the
lack of proper land survey and management had resulted in
under-utilization of vast hectares of land for economic development.

He pointed out that
more industries are not springing up in the country because many
investors fail to access lands, as land owners do not have certificates
of occupancy.

He advised that
land allocation, survey and regeneration be accorded more attention
with a view to guaranteeing the rights of land owners.

“Lack of proper
land survey and management had resulted in under-utilization of vast
large hectares of land for economic development. For Nigeria to attain
socioeconomic development, her land resources must be well managed and
put into full utilization,” he said.

Land for wealth

He said every
Nigerian must ensure that his or her landed property was judiciously
used for the purpose of wealth creation and empowerment, stressing that
his committee has been working to ensure safety of the property of
every Nigerian.

Mr Mabogunje said Ondo State was chosen by his committee for the pilot scheme of its land reform programme for the south-west.

Mr Mimiko commended
the team for its contributions to nation building, especially in the
area of effective utilization of land resources. The governor expressed
the readiness of his administration to collaborate with the committee
for the development of the state’s land resources.

“Our administration has already put in place a committee, which is
working on the state’s land digitalization for proper management,” he
said. “No doubt, we’re going to ensure that at least 50 per cent of
land owners in the state have titles for their land. This will enable
them to use the land to create wealth, as they will be able to use it
as collateral for loans.”

Ahead of the
congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State,
Okwesilieze Nwodo, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), on Tuesday, wrote to the Inspector General of Police,
Hafiz Ringim, asking that he provide security for participants during
the exercise.

The chairman’s letter followed the conflicting court orders in respect of the state chapter of the party.

In the letter
titled: ‘Security for the conduct of PDP Congresses in Anambra State’,
Mr Nwodo explained that “following conflicting Court Orders in respect
of the Anambra State Chapter of the PDP, our National Working Committee
(NWC) has directed the Zonal Working Committee of the Party led by
Chief Olisa Metuh, National Vice Chairman (south-east) to conduct fresh
Congresses at ward and local government levels in the state for
purposes of producing our candidates for the forthcoming Local
Government Elections in Anambra State”. The chairman also appealed to
the IG to accord Mr Metuh his maximum corporation to enable him
discharge the assignment.

Mr Nwodo, who said
that the congress may take place in the next two weeks, added that “the
Zonal Working Committee shall remain the only legitimate authority with
whom the Nigeria Police may relate with for this purpose.”

An FCT High Court
had last week dissolved the Anambra State Congress Committee, but the
NWC immediately filed an appeal. The NWC also asked the committee to go
ahead with the exercise since an earlier order of the High Court of
Anambra State directed the PDP to hold Congresses in the state which it
said was still subsisting.

Support for democracy

The candidates for the forthcoming ward and local government elections in the state are expected to emerge during the congress.

Mr Nwodo also
yesterday apologised to world leaders who were in Nigeria during 50th
independence anniversary celebration, over the bomb attacks. He made
the apology while receiving the President of Saharawi Arab Democratic
Republic (SADR) Mohammed Adbulaziz in his office.

He assured that the
PDP will do everything it can to help the growth of democracy in
Africa, and insisted that African nations owe it as a duty to allow its
citizens determine who governs them.

The party boss said
that Nigeria’s position in supporting self determination for the people
of Saharawi stems from the belief that the power to select rulers
should rest with the people.

Mr Nwodo expressed
regret that SADR is being colonised by a fellow African nation and
urged Morocco to ensure that the will of the people of the troubled
region prevailed.

He said that the
PDP will liaise with the African National Congress (ANC) of South
Africa and other ruling parties on the continent to persuade Morocco to
have a rethink.

SADR is the only African country yet to gain independence.

Aides sack

In another development, Mr Nwodo has sacked two of his aides.

Those sacked,
according to a statement by his spokesman, Ike Abonyi, are Ogbene-aga
Orugbo, Special Assistant (Special Duties) and Frank Igwebuike, Special
assistant (National Assembly Matters).

Although no reason
was given for their sack, the national chairman was quoted as saying
that there is a lot of work to be done and that a system under his
watch would not tolerate any shortfall.

The statement also
said that Mr Nwodo has appointed Buhari Bala, a 52-year-old former
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, as his political adviser while
Godson Nnaka, a 47-year-old lawyer from Imo State, was named Special
Assistant, Special Duties.

The PDP boss
reiterated his determination to raise the image of the party by
ensuring very high moral standing among the staff and members of the
party. He also charged the two new appointees to strive to make their
impact felt in the drive to reform the party.