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The Social Action and Ogoni Solidarity Forum, two
Niger Delta based community groups, have called for the immediate sack
of Mike Cowing, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)’s
project coordinator in the ongoing assessment of the environmental
impact of oil contamination in the region.

In a statement issued by Celestine Akpobari, the
national coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum during a protest in
Port Harcourt against the interim report, the groups expressed concern
over the final outcome of the investigation, the final report of which
is expected to be submitted in January next year.

“UNEP’s reliance on data provided by weak government
regulatory agencies and Shell, a major polluter in the Niger Delta and
sponsor of the said exercise, has totally discredited the anticipated
report and should be considered a fraud,” said Mr Akpobari.

“We are worried that if an agency of the United
Nations is unable to protect oppressed citizens, then the people must
begin to find every lawful means of protecting themselves, and this may
be the beginning of a global crisis.” The groups decried the interim
report submitted by UNEP which claimed that 90 per cent of the oil
spills in Ogoni are caused by the locals in the process of stealing
crude from the pipelines.

Open secret

“It is an open secret that Shell and the Nigeria
government are all parties to the Niger Delta conflict. Relying on data
from their officials as a basis for assessing damages to the once
beautiful Niger Delta environment is, to say the least, the greatest
disservice to humanity, and we reject it.

“The mere allocation of figures (90:10 per cent) to
such an important issue is a complete devastation of a people’s
God-given environment and the total destruction of their livelihood.”
Mr Akpobari described the report as “a soft landing and a face-saving
measure for Shell after the show of shame in the Gulf of Mexico spill”
and called for its rejection.

The UNEP interim report, which was submitted to
Goodluck Jonathan last week, led to international controversy over its
independence. Amnesty International accused the group of being
sponsored by Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil company, while the
environmental rights group, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of
the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), described the report as “not only
outrageous, but scandalous.”

UNEP, in its reaction, had said its report was interim and that the study was yet to be concluded.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) said on Monday that its officials in Kwara State arrested two
local government chairmen for alleged financial misconduct.

According to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi
Babafemi, the arrested chairmen were Tajudeen Bada of Irepodun and
James Olaniyi of Oke-Ero Local Government Areas.

Mr Babafemi said that some other persons in the
state, who were linked to the alleged misconduct, had fled Nigeria. He
said that the commission was committed to fighting corruption in our
country, in spite of what he described as “unpleasant statements from
some Nigerians”, adding that the EFCC would not be intimidated by what
it called the “level of propaganda”.

He added that the commission had a legitimate duty to investigate
and prosecute all forms of economic and financial crimes in all parts
of the federation.

In spite of
uncertainties over his membership status in the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP), former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday declared
that there is no cause for alarm over the waiver that will determine
his eligibility for the party’s presidential primaries.

Mr Atiku spoke with
the press after an inspection of the party’s secretariat which was
damaged by fire last week, and a closed-door meeting with national
chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, which lasted for more than 45 minutes.

Mr Atiku said that
the issue of his waiver did not come up during the meeting, saying that
their discussions centred on the “state of affairs” of the party.

“The issue of
waiver is left for the party leadership,” he said. “You people are
always with the party leadership and should find out and let me know
their position, which other Nigerians are interested in knowing, too.”

Constitutional obstacles

Mr Atiku left the
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to join the PDP in April, but faces a
number of restrictions within the party’s constitution before he is
eligible to run for office on its platform.

Article 8.9 of the
PDP’s constitution specifies that anyone who rejoins the party will be
placed on a year-long probation, unless granted a waiver by the party’s
executive committee. The party’s constitution also demands that
returnees have to be recommended for a waiver by the party’s chapter in
their state of origin.

However, the Adamawa State chapter of the PDP has distanced itself
from the former vice president. In addition, Mr Atiku was not on the
list of those granted waivers at the party’s National Executive
Committee (NEC) meeting last month

Ondo State
governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday lamented the depleting nature of
the agricultural sector which had been neglected because of the
discovery of petroleum.

Mr. Mimiko, who
disclosed this while presenting N1 billion large Scale Agricultural
Credit Scheme letters of offer to the beneficiaries from the 18 local
government areas of the state in Akure said the agricultural sector was
stuffed with subsistence characteristics such as: low productivity,
lack of credit facilities, storage facilities, and relatively scarce
mechanisation infrastructure.

He, however, noted
that agriculture, if given the deserved attention could go a long way
in reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country. He also
informed that the state was the first in the Federation to benefit from
and disburse to farmers, the N1 billion large cale Agricultural Credit
Scheme put in place by the Federal Government for on-lending to States.

The credit scheme,
according to him, is to fast-track the development of the agricultural
sector and boost food production in the nation.

Mr Mimiko disclosed
that the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme was meant for the
production of crops such as maize, cassava, vegetables adding that
livestock, fisheries and agricultural processing activities were also
involved.

According to Mr
Mimiko, the Scheme offered to States by the Federal Government was to
upscale productivity, employment generation, diversification of the
revenue base and increase in foreign exchange earning capacity, as well
as availability of raw materials for the industrial sector of the
Nigerian economy.

He said, “In line
with our strategy, the State has accessed the N1 billion Commercial
Agriculture Credit Scheme Credit facility for on-lending to our
farmers, the State Executive Council, as part of its implementation
strategy, constituted both the Cabinet and Technical Committees working
in collaboration with officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, United
Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and other stakeholders to determine the modus
operandi for the loan scheme.

“Eligibility
criteria for accessing the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme include
among other things, genuine and practicing farmers, non-indebtedness of
beneficiaries to financial institutions amongst others. The Commercial
Agriculture Credit Scheme interest is 9% including all charges, maximum
tenure of 2 years and moratorium period of 6 months.

“I wish to say for
the avoidance of doubt that the N1 billion Agricultural Credit is
guaranteed by the State Government because of its genuine interest in
the well-being of our farmers and promotion of the agricultural sector.
Every beneficiary must, therefore, endeavour to utilise the credit
facility and pay back within the stipulated time frame. This would
enable others to benefit from the facility if and when repayment
schedule is duly honoured.”

Adamawa State has moved to provide health insurance coverage to civil servants in the state.

According to the
state governor, Murtala Nyako, increasing medical cost and the vagaries
of health has informed the decision of his administration to take
advantage of the health insurance scheme as a way of relief.

The governor, who
spoke on his assessment of projects embarked on by his administration
in the health sector, said, “Right now, the office of the governor is
overwhelmed by requests from people looking for small monies to go for
one form of health care or health examination, but with a good health
insurance scheme, this is totally unnecessary.”

He said the scheme
would free the civil servants partaking in the scheme from the
occasional challenge of not being able to pay for health service
delivery when they take ill. He called on the managers of the scheme
not to handle lightly, the security of the information on their
database.

Legal backing

The Director of the
health insurance scheme in the state, Saleh Shelleng, said the bill to
provide legal backing for the scheme had passed its second reading. The
passage would provide for the sustainability of the scheme. “Once the
law is enacted, the issue of sustainability of the scheme will no
longer be an issue. The law says the civil servant will contribute 5
per cent of his basic salary, and the insurance covers him, his wife
and four biological children,” he said.

“Under the health
insurance scheme, the government is required to make a contribution not
less than 10 per cent, to make up the insurance sum for each civil
servant partaking in the scheme.”

Mr Nyako said the state government was calling on the organized
private sector to partner with the government to extend coverage to the
rural areas.

Thirty officers of
the Nigeria Customs Service, Ondo/Ekiti command, were yesterday
decorated with new ranks for the first time in three decades, as part
of efforts to boost their morale.

This is the first
time officers in the command will be promoted in the last 30 years,
since its establishment,” the Ekiti/Ondo State comptroller, Umar Yusuf,
stated while decorating the officers at the ceremony.

He commended the officers for their brilliant performance and urged them not to relent in their efforts.

“I want to salute
the 30 officers that are elevated to the next rank. I don’t want you to
rest on your oars. Continue do the job diligently.” He noted that since
the establishment of the command over thirty years ago, no single
officer has been elevated, giving the issue of irregular transfers as
one of the reasons why no one had been promoted.

Mr Yusuf advised
others to be dedicated to duty, saying all efforts must be geared at
reducing smuggling to the barest minimum in the country. According to
him, the command is poised to tackle the activities of smugglers in
Ekiti/Ondo State through regular combing of major state boarders.

Mr Yusuf added that
about eight projects being carried out in the command will be
commissioned by the Customs Controller General, Abdulahi Inde Dikko,
before the end of the year.

New projects

The Custom boss
said the projects to be commissioned include: a new hospital, women
barracks of five suites each, a new conference hall, new restaurant,
and a Senior Officers Mess, among others.

According to him,
the projects became necessary in order to ensure that the officers in
the command are motivated to put their best into the service. He said
the projects are meant to make life comfortable for the officers while
they discharge their duties.

“What I met on
board when I resumed office was not palatable, that is why we have to
embark on projects that will transform the Nigerian Customs and make
our workers perform well,” the area controller said.

He added that the
revenue base of the command has increased geometrically from N445, 000
in January to N4 million in July, 2010, representing a total percentage
of 889.

Mr Yusuf noted that
the command was generating funds from excise duties recovered on
Tokunbo vehicles, which are discovered by the Task Force which he set
up shortly after assumption of duty in the Command, together with
vigilant Custom Officers on patrol.

He assured that the Command is working assiduously to complement the
N660 billion targeted for the Controller General for the year 2010 by
the federal government.

The Cross River
State government, on Sunday, presented the Super Eagles team that won
the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying match played against
Madagascar in Calabar, a N10 million cheque for good performance.

The match, which
was played at the U. J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, was won by the team
who thrashed their opponent, Barea of Madagascar, two goals to nil.

The governor, who
also bank-rolled the expenses of the African Cup of Nations qualifier
against the Islanders, said it was just a token to the boys for a job
well done while he enjoined the football house to bring more matches to
Calabar where they will always be welcome.

The deputy governor
of the state, Efiok Cobham, who made the donation on behalf of the
state governor, Liyel Imoke, during a banquet organised for the team at
the Peregrino Lodge, Calabar, challenged the new look national team to
scale up their performance in order to regain public confidence in them.

Mr. Cobham also
challenged the new leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)
to brace up for a more profound responsibility of improving on the
performance of the new team, claiming that the donation was made in
recognition of how they have redeemed their image with the 2-0 victory.

Claiming that
football was first played in Nigeria in Calabar, the deputy governor
expressed regrets that the round leather game was yet to develop
professionally and managerially, and implored football administrators
to make sure that the senior national football team becomes a force to
be reckoned in the world.

Brilliant future

According to him,
although the past has been replete with a chequered history and dismal
performances, the future was still bright if there is zeal and
commitment by all the participants in the success of the most popular
sport on earth.

“I see the ability
to rise again,” Mr. Cobham said, “and Nigerians expect the re-branded
team to bring victory and glory to them in all outings.”

He said that the
government is making efforts to ensure that Calabar remains the home of
football in Nigeria, as it started years back with some members of the
then national team coming from the state.

In his response, the chief coach of the Super Eagles, Austin
Eguaveon, said he was overwhelmed by the gesture of the Cross River
State government and assured that the team will continue to do the
nation proud in subsequent outings.

Attahiru Jega, the
chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must
be ready to become a miracle worker or magician to deliver all that he
has promised Nigerians ahead of the 2011 general elections, Ishola
Williams has said.

Speaking at the
11th Mike Okonkwo annual lecture held in Lagos yesterday, the retired
military general who spoke on the coming elections while referring to
the N87 billion for the commission said, “I do not know why he is
asking for that amount of money. He must have some reasons for doing
that, therefore, let us see what the outcome will be.

“But like I said
when he was taking over the job, he must be a superman or a magician to
do all that. Whether we like it or not, we have to vote.”

Forfeited chance

Mr Williams who
narrated his experience during the late Sani Abacha-led junta said, “I
will not agree with the cancellation of the election (1993 election)
and I told them then that if they are going to take over the
government, I will go, and then I left. I left with three days notice.
I couldn’t agree when Abacha took over and I left because I felt very
strongly and I still feel strongly about that election. That was the
second greatest mistake after decree number one that Nigeria made.

“That was the best
election we ever conducted, and what did we use? Option A4. In fact,
when my name was been tipped as the chairman of INEC, I said one of the
conditions that can make me take the job is if they allow option A4.”

Nigerians arise

Mr Williams also
urged Nigerians not to be disappointed if the Jega-led INEC’s promises
were not delivered and things did not turn out as expected, citing the
fact that Nigerians have so much relied on the leadership class for
change, despite the fact that the abetting and compromise of a teaming
percentage of the followers have allowed the leadership to go on
unchallenged.

According to him,
no matter the integrity of those that the government may be packing
into the electoral commission, Nigerians must realise their role in
ensuring the success of installing true governance.

After a decade
devoted to the research and development of African traditional
medicine, researchers, practitioners, scientists and policy makers
alike are still dissatisfied that it is not given proper recognition in
the national healthcare system.

The Africa Union
(AU) had in July 2001 declared the year 2001-2010 as the decade of
traditional medicine in recognition of its vast potentials and its
immense contribution to the continent’s sustainable development in
health and wellbeing of her people. This is based on the WHO’S (World
Health Organization) premise that 85 per cent of the people utilize one
form of traditional medicine or the other.

It also recognizes
it as a source of poverty alleviation, wealth and job creation with an
estimated annual global trade worth USD100 billion.

But at the
commemoration of the ‘End of Decade for Traditional Medicine last week
in Lagos, the conclusive remark is that much more still needs to be
done to officially incorporate this form of medicine into the national
healthcare delivery system.

According to the
director general of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency,
(NNMDA), Tamunoibuomi Okujagu, progress has been made in the area of
sensitization and popularization in the last decade.

“However, more
needs to be done in issues of policy, legal framework
institutionalizing traditional medicine, inauguration of National Board
to regulate traditional medicine and establishment of centres of
excellence.”

A bill too long

One of the efforts
made at institutionalizing the practice is an attempt to pass a Bill on
traditional medicine into law. The Bill titled ‘Establishment of
Nigerian Traditional Medicine Policy and the Bill to establish the
Traditional Medical Council of Nigeria’, was developed by the Federal
Ministry of Health in 2006, but has only passed through the second
reading since then. Subsequently, the house was dissolved in 2007 due
to the 2007 national election. Researchers believe a change of
government may affect the success of this Bill.

“Presently, I don’t
see much to be again done this year,” Mr Okujagu says. “The elections
are coming up again (2011 polls) and the House will be dissolved soon.
We hope that when a new House is constituted it may push it, but that
means we have to begin again. And of course the success of the Bill
will depend on someone in the House who will be able to champion the
cause.” The Bill, if passed is expected to regulate the practice by
polishing the knowledge of existing practitioners thus preventing
quackery. Studies have continued to show that a large percentage of the
population will definitely patronize herbal medicine practitioner
because they are the most accessible especially in rural areas and they
are affordable.

The chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Bunmi Omoseyindemi emphasizes the need.

“We just have to
sensitize them enough so that they can pass the bill. Our current
healthcare delivery system cannot effectively meet the need of the
population alone; patients.” He adds, “so there is a need to develop
the manpower in traditional medicine so that they can effectively
support orthodox medicine for health promotion and illness prevention.”

So far, so good

So far, NNMDA has
made progress in developing traditional medicine through research of
medicinal plants in collaboration with university scientists and
traditional medicine practitioners who possess the indigenous
knowledge. This has led to the publishing of books on medicinal plants
of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The Agency also houses a
digital virtual library said to be first of its kind in Africa. It
contains up to 589 books on traditional medicine and 80 CDs.

Dr Omoseyindemi remarks that this is commendable but not enough compared to other African countries.

“We need an institute for traditional medicine. In countries like
Ghana for instance, they have a several institutes, even universities
where a master’s degree in traditional medicine can be obtained. But
here we have only one agency for traditional medicine and one digital
library that has documentation on it.” He adds that the Lagos State
Board is also doing quite a lot in the area of training of
practitioners and accreditation to prevent quackery.

The National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) has formally demanded the prosecution and
dismissal of an army personnel who viciously attacked a civilian with a
combat belt, leaving him blind in both eyes, in a typical case of
unrelenting violence by security operatives against civilians.

Joseph Agu’s fate
was brought to the fore during a public tribunal on police abuses held
in Imo State by the commission in collaboration with the Network on
Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) a forthnight ago. A former truck
driver in Enugu State, Mr. Agwu was allegedly assaulted by Francis
Ogah, an army sergeant attached to the force 82nd division, Enugu, in
January 2009.

Although details of
the previous events are unclear, the sergeant reportedly cornered Mr.
Agwu’s truck with a Mitsubishi bus, hauled him out, before handing him
several blows on the eyes with the metallic belt fastener, severely
injuring the victim’s both eyes, Mr. Agwu said in testimony at the
tribunal.

Rather than a
relief after medical treatments spanning more than one year, Mr. Agwu
totally lost his sight amid repeated complaints to the military
authorities, who allegedly offered him no proper medical attention or
compensation.

He said in his
testimony that he personally financed the treatment through proceeds he
raised from the sales of his family and personal belongings.

The public
tribunal, which had appointed adjudicators, featured several such heart
rending tales, mostly against the police and its officers in numerous
abuses against the civil populace they are paid to protect.

Sanctions for perpetrators

In the communiqué
released at the weekend, the NHRC recommended sanctions against the
perpetrators, and compensations too for their victims or the families,
with a promise to table the complaints to the highest authorities.

The commission also
formally demanded the prosecution and dismissal of Mr. Ogah, in a
petition sent to the minister of defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, dated
August 30, 2010, in one of a few such cases championed by the
government institution.

“Your urgent
intervention will be in accordance with the principle of rule of law
and respect for human rights of which you are one of the key proponents
in this administration,” the letter, signed by Tony Ojukwu, on behalf
of the commission’s executive secretary.

Amongst other things, the commission asked Mr. Kayode to ensure that
the accused is released for full investigations and prosecutions while
a befitting medical attention and compensation is given Mr. Agwu.